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Michael Jackson Death Trial; Fugitive Caught After 41 Years; Health Care Costs Climb; Dangers of Misusing Propofol; Chris Christie Keeps Voters Guessing; Michael Jackson's Doctor on Trial; Heart Scare Jokes
Aired September 28, 2011 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: We've got a very busy one straight ahead. Live from studio 7, I'm Fredricka Whitfield in for Suzanne Malveaux. Let's get you up to speed on this Wednesday, September 28th.
A jury in Los Angeles today will hear details about the day Michael Jackson died. The singer's personal assistant is expected to testify at Dr. Conrad Murray's manslaughter trial. It resumes in about 45 minutes. Murray cried when prosecutors played chilling audio of Michael Jackson during opening statements Tuesday.
Jackson's slow, slurred speech made it pretty obvious that he was drugged. Marcia Clark, the prosecutor in O.J. Simpson's murder trial, told our Anderson Cooper, Jackson should have been hospitalized.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARCIA CLARK, FMR. LOS ANGELES DEPT DISTRICT ATTY.: I have to say, given especially what we've seen and heard of Michael Jackson, his behavior, it was absolutely -- it was beyond negligent. I think it was reckless not to have been weaning him in a hospital setting where he can take care of him.
Beyond that, Anderson, there's also the issue that they talk about, at some length, that doctors when they administer Propofol, they do it in a hospital because you must monitor a certain way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: A judge may decide today whether Tucson shooting suspect Jared Lee Loughner should stay in psychiatric treatment or go on trial. Authorities have forced Loughner to take medication for schizophrenia since July, hoping to restore his mental competency.
Six people were killed in the shooting rampage. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was among those wounded.
And it took 41 years, but the FBI got a longtime fugitive. George Wright escaped from prison back in 1970, driving off in the warden's car.
He allegedly hijacked a Delta jet in 1972 dressed as a priest. The FBI says Wright then forced agents to deliver $1 million ransom. Dressed only in swim trunks to prove that agents had no guns, Wright flew to Algeria and then vanished until Monday.
The FBI found Wright, now 68, living the good life in a Portuguese resort town. He is now fighting extradition.
For a second day, workers are hanging outside the Washington Monument at the very tippy top there. They're checking each marble block. That earthquake that shook the East Coast last month did more damage than first thought.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: These engineers are going to have to inspect every stone. It will take at least a few days. Park officials say they can work through heavy rain, but if there's any threat of lightning, they'll have to stop. The monument's been hit by lightning several times in its history.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Engineers say despite the cracks in the monument, it is structurally sound.
Tribal fighters say they shot down a Yemeni war jet north of the capital of Sanaa today, and captured the pilot. The fighters are aligned with a prominent Yemeni general who defected to the opposition. They apparently raided a military base for anti-aircraft weapons.
Iran says it might station Navy warships off the Atlantic coast of the United States. The state news agency says Iran is taking this step because, "The arrogant world power keeps ships in the Persian Gulf." There is no immediate reaction from the Pentagon.
Amazon unwrapped its new tablet today just in time for you to wrap it up for Christmas, perhaps. It's called the Kindle Fire. The device will be a direct competitor to Apple's iPad, which commands 75 percent of the tablet market.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO ARMSTRONG, HOST, SIRIUS XM'S "DIGITAL SPIN": If you think about the iPad, the ecosystem is what makes it so smooth -- the app store, the music, the videos, all of that.
So Amazon has that. They have a music service. They have a video service. They have online streaming. So they have all of the components at an apps store, so they have all the components.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Apple says it will have a big announcement Tuesday. It is widely expected to show off the new iPhone 5.
He's been complaining on Sunday nights for 33 years. Well, now Andy Rooney is done.
He is giving up his weekly segment on CBS' "60 Minutes." Rooney once said, "Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes." Well, he can slow down now at the age of 92, and riding off into the sunset of retirement.
All right. Now back to our lead story, the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray.
Testimony is set to resume this hour in Los Angeles, and we'll take you there live. Just minutes ago, Jackson's family members arrived to court. Jackson's personal assistant is expected to testify about the chaos that played out the morning of the pop star's death.
CNN's Ted Rowlands is outside the courthouse in Los Angeles.
So, Ted, give us a preview of what we are likely to hear in court today.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, when testimony resumes, Fredricka, at 8:45 local time, on the stand will be Paul Gongaware. He's the co-CEO of AEG.
This is the guy that negotiated the contract with Dr. Murray. And prosecutors are trying to establish that Murray was greedy and he first asked for $5 million to take care of Jackson, and then eventually settled on $150,000 a month. After that, we'll hear from part of Jackson's security detail and his personal assistants, and that's when the prosecution will start laying the groundwork with what exactly happened in the hours before Michael Jackson died.
WHITFIELD: And Ted, a lot of dramatic moments during the opening states, the recording of Jackson slurring his words, the picture of his corpse on a hospital gurney.
What has been the reaction to all of that thus far?
ROWLANDS: Well, I'll tell you, it was shocking, initially, because the prosecution typically, you know, in a lot of cases, is fairly stale, if you will, in their delivery. But David Walgren really, in a lot of people's opinion, hit it out of the park with not only an engaging, but an abrupt opening statement that, like you said, had not only that photo, which was jarring, but then that incredible audiotape of the slurring Michael Jackson. The reaction inside the courtroom clearly was palpable, and it was the family, of course, that endured the most significant reaction, as you might imagine.
I mean, just imagine hearing your son speaking that way. Michael Jackson's mother and father were visibly upset in the courtroom. And then that has been the talk, obviously, from everybody outside the courtroom as well.
Now, as you look here, Michael Flanagan, one of the defense attorneys, is arriving at court here. The judge has asked the attorneys to arrive here to court a little bit earlier than the jury. They're going to deal with some housekeeping details, and then they'll get at it at 8:45 local time -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, Ted, the defense team arriving there. Some family members have already entered.
You mentioned that Michael Jackson's mom and dad seemed to be, you know, pretty tearful, as was the defendant, Dr. Conrad Murray, in court yesterday, kind of wiping away his own wet eyes.
At what point was he showing that kind of emotion, and was there any response coming from the family or even the courtroom to that?
ROWLANDS: Well, no. You know, it was interesting.
He was very stoic, and actually didn't look really at the jury much during the prosecution's open. But when his attorney Ed Chernoff started to address the jury, he was more engaged, and then you saw him wiping the tear away.
It was when Chernoff was talking to the jury about the relationship that Murray had with Jackson, and he was detailing how they first met and how they became friends, and he became his doctor. It wasn't a dramatic moment where everybody felt some sort of emotional reaction, it was just Murray. Clearly, he is obviously the focus of all this, and he had a moment there for, whatever reason, just broke down in court.
WHITFIELD: All right. Ted Rowlands, thanks so much, outside the courtroom. Of course, we'll check back with you,.
And again, in about, now, 40 minutes or so, court is to resume there in that trial.
So, we've heard a lot about this anesthetic, Propofol, and its role in Michael Jackson's death. We're going to also talk to an anesthesiologist about how the drug is misused and how it is supposed to be used.
Dr. Zeev Kain will be joining us at the half hour, around 11:30 Eastern Time. Stick around for that.
All right. Now here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. Today's question: Why do Republicans love New Jersey Governor Chris Christie?
Carol Costello has more from New York.
Quite the buzz. Is he in, is he out? What's going on?
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I know. It's relentless.
Chris Christie is not running for president until he is -- maybe. The only thing we know for sure is many Republicans want him to run desperately. Christie is enjoying every single moment of it, and he delivered a speech fit for a presidential candidate at the Reagan Library.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: -- insisting that we must tax and take and demonize those who have already achieved the American dream.
That may turn out to be good re-election strategy, Mr. President, but it is a demoralizing message for America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Sold. You could feel the crazy for Christie vibe at the Reagan Library.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My Italian mother, she told me to tell you that you've got to run for president.
(APPLAUSE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need you. Your country needs you to run for president.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: "The Daily Beast" says Republicans, unhappy with the current field of candidates, have a messiah complex. They want a conservative, authentic, man's man.
You mean like Rick Perry? It seems just like yesterday that conservatives were begging Rick Perry to run, but that was then. Christie is now.
So the "Talk Back" question today: Why do Republicans love Chris Christie?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're about to find out based on your viewers, those comments. All right, Carol. Thanks so much.
COSTELLO: Sure.
(NEWSBREAK)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: After more than four decades on the run, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives is back in police custody. George Wright hijacked a plane when Richard Nixon was in the White House, and he had been on the run ever since. Finally, he's caught. The story now from CNN's Deborah Feyerick.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: U.S. Marshals started tracking George Wright about a decade ago, and they finally got the lead they needed. Along with FBI agents and Portuguese authorities, they arrested George Wright in Sintra, Portugal, which is a charming tourist town about an hour from Lisbon.
That's where Wright was living under an assumed name, and he is now fighting extradition. Why? Well, in the early '60s, he was convicted of killing a World War II veteran during a gas station robbery. He was serving up to 30 years for that crime when he escaped a New Jersey prison in the warden's car. He made his way to Detroit, where he joined the Black Liberation Army.
Then, in 1972, Wright and four other Black Liberation members hijacked a Miami-bound Delta flight out of Detroit. Wright, who was dressed as a priest, apparently smuggled a gun on board in a hollowed- out bible. Once the plane landed in Miami, Wright and the other hijackers demanded $1 million in cash, the most ever asked, for the safe release of some 80 passengers.
FBI agents had to deliver the money wearing bathing suits, a way of guaranteeing that they weren't carrying any weapons. The hijackers forced the pilots to fly to Boston, where they got more fuel and another pilot. They then flew across the Atlantic to Algeria, where they asked for asylum. The government there briefly detained and then released them.
Now, four of the hijackers were arrested in Paris about four years later. Wright's next appearance in a Portuguese court is expected in two weeks.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The 1970 hijackings actually led to new laws. The FAA ordered all airports to inspect passengers and their carry-on baggage before boarding.
(NEWSBREAK)
WHITFIELD: And you've probably noticed a hefty jump in your family's health insurance premiums lately. And actually, it could be worse. A lot of that money is not coming out of your own pocket.
We'll go live to the New York Stock Exchange for a breakdown of those numbers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: You've probably noticed your family's health insurance costs are taking a bigger bite out of your budget. A new report shows annual premiums jumped this year, but a lot of that is not coming out of your pocket.
Alison Kosik with us now from the New York Stock Exchange. So, Alison, fill us in on how much the average policy costs and who is paying for it.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, first of all, we're all paying for it. And as far as health care costs go, we're paying nine percent more in health care costs this year, compared to last year. In fact, the rate of this increase is moving faster than the rate of inflation. But listen to the interesting part of this.
Your employer, your boss, is actually paying a bigger share of this. Look at this.
It costs about $15,000 for a family's annual health insurance. Now, workers pay about $4,000 of that. Employers pay almost $11,000. But you can see how this hurts everybody, companies especially, because they're paying for more health insurance. They're going to be more reluctant to hire. And then, of course, it hurts workers because we're paying a bigger share out of our pockets, we're going to spend less on everything else -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: OK. So, this year's health care overhaul, how does it factor into this, or was it even a factor?
KOSIK: It was factor. Kaiser says that there's really no one reason why health care costs went up the way they did but, yes, you made a good point, that health care reform, it seems to have pushed up prices anywhere from one percent to 2 percent because more people are being covered. But really, you're seeing the bulk of the increase because medical costs have gone up, and also, we've got an older population seeking more medical services -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's talk about the markets now. How are they looking?
(STOCK MARKET REPORT)
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Alison. Appreciate that.
All right. Here's your chance to "Choose the News." Text "22360" for the story that you want to see.
Text "1" for "Aussie Female Fighters." Australia is about to become one of only a few countries with women on the front lines, but not everyone is hollering for joy.
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You can vote by texting "22360." Text "1" for "Aussie Female Fighters"; text "2" for "World War II Sunken Treasure"; or "3" for "Liz Taylors Jewels."
The winning story airs next hour.
All right. Propofol -- most of us had never heard of it before Michael Jackson's death. Well, now it's a central focus of his doctor's trial. We'll talk with an anesthesiologist about the issue, we'll talk about the use and the misuse of the drug.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: We're waiting for the second day of testimony to begin in the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Conrad Murray. Court convenes in about 15 minutes or so from now. Already, we know that family members of Michael Jackson have arrived, as have attorneys for the defense.
Dr. Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death. The trial got under way with a dramatic recording of Jackson drugged, his speech slurred.
CNN's Randi Kaye recaps the first day of trial.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once again, Michael Jackson had the world's attention. This time, though, he was wasted, slurring his words. Listen to this recording by Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, made six weeks before his death.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
MICHAEL JACKSON, MUSICIAN: When people leave my show, I want them to say, "I've never seen nothing like this in my life."
(END AUDIO CLIP)
KAYE: Prosecutor David Walgren says Jackson was drugged up and that Dr. Murray was not only aware of his addiction, but continued to feed it by supplying and administering drugs that eventually killed the pop star.
DAVID WALGREN, PROSECUTOR: It was Dr. Murray's repeated incompetent and unskilled acts that led to Mr. Jackson's death on June 25, 2009.
KAYE: Prosecutors continued to hammer Murray's so-called gross negligence, leaving the room while Jackson was hooked up to a Propofol IV, calling the pop star's bodyguard when he stopped breathing instead of 911, and urging him to hide the drugs and vials in the room.
And this bombshell. Prosecutor Walgren told the jury, as paramedics fought to save Jackson's life, Dr. Murray held back a critical piece of information, that he had given Michael Jackson Propofol, the powerful anesthetic.
WALGREN: They were told Lorazepam, and Conrad Murray never once mentioned the administration of Propofol. KAYE: Then it was defense attorney Ed Chernoff's turn. He said there was nothing Dr. Murray could have done to prevent Jackson's death, because Jackson died at his own hand, taking more Propofol without Murray's knowing.
ED CHERNOFF, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Michael Jackson swallowed up to eight pills on his own without telling his doctor, without permission from his doctor. And when Dr. Murray gave him the 25 milligrams and Dr. Murray left the room, Michael Jackson self-administered a dose, an additional dose of Propofol. And it killed him. And it killed him like that. And there was no way to save him.
KAYE: As Conrad Murray listened, he wiped away tears. The defense portrayed him as a good doctor, a friend to Michael Jackson, a friend trying to wean him off Propofol.
CHERNOFF: The evidence is not going to show you that Michael Jackson died when Dr. Murray gave him Propofol for sleep. What the evidence is going to show you is that Michael Jackson died when Dr. Murray stopped.
KAYE: Leaving Michael Jackson, according to the defense, to take the drug himself.
Later in the day, prosecutors called their first witness, Kenny Ortega, the director and choreographer behind Jackson's "This is It" tour. Prosecutors attempted to establish Jackson appeared in good health. They played this rehearsal clip in court.
JACKSON: This is how we rehearse.
WALGREN: What was his demeanor, what was his condition on Tuesday, June 23?
KENNY ORTEGA, DIRECTOR/CHOREOGRAPHER: He entered into rehearsal full of energy, full of desire to work, full of enthusiasm. And it was a different Michael.
KAYE: Two days later, Michael Jackson was dead.
Randi Kaye, CNN, Los Angeles.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: The coroner says Michael Jackson died from acute Propofol intoxication in combination with sedatives. Propofol is an anesthetic commonly given to sedate patients during procedures like colonoscopies.
In his opening statement, the prosecutor talked about how much of the drug Jackson's doctor ordered.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID WALGREN, PROSECUTOR: We learned from these shipments that from April 6th and the shipment of June 10th, Conrad Murray ordered 255 separate vials of Propofol, totaling 155,000 milligrams of Propofol, equivalent to 15.5 liters, or 4.09 gallons of this general anesthetic agent.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So we want to talk more about the use, the misuse of Propofol, as well as the role it may have played in Jackson's death.
Dr. Zeev Kain is chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of California, Irvine. He joins us now from Los Angeles.
Good to see you, Doctor.
All right. First of all, why should Propofol only be used or administered in a hospital or a medical setting?
DR. ZEEV KAIN, CHAIRMAN, DEPT. OF ANESTHESIOLOGY, U.C. IRVINE: Well, Propofol is basically an anesthetic. It is there to induce -- medically induce coma. Therefore when you give Propofol you need to monitor the patient's blood pressure, the heart rate, the oxygen levels in the blood and how well they are reading continuously. These are the standards of the American Society of Anesthesiology. So therefore it must be administered in a medical setting.
WHITFIELD: Continuously, so when you hear the testimony of Dr. Murray may have administered this Propofol, may have left the patient, may have left Michael Jackson, gone to the bathroom, et cetera, prosecutors say he was abandoned, would you agree with that? That you would have to watch as this drug is constantly being administered to the patient?
KAIN: In my opinion and based on the standards of the American Society of Anesthesiology, you must continuously monitor a patient who is getting Propofol. With all the monitors that are indicated. Now let's just remember, not only the patient was not monitored continuously, but he also did not have all these monitors on him.
WHITFIELD: So the danger of this being administered at home and that this was allegedly being used to help Michael Jackson sleep, describe for us the difference between putting one to sleep and putting someone into a medically induced coma, which is what Propofol would be used for.
KAIN: Absolutely. These are two different things. OK? Going to sleep at night basically generates some changes in your brain waves, and you just fall into sleep naturally. As we know since birth. Medically induced coma means that we basically are suppressing, we're decreasing the activity of all the brain waves in your brain.
So this is -- as you said this is a medically induced coma. This has nothing to do with sleep. Now, occasionally we do tend to use these terms interchangeably when we are trying to describe the patients before they undergo anesthesia surgery, oh, you're going to sleep, but it is not the same. It is absolutely not the same. It's two different phenomena and let's just remember that the medically induced coma, once you stop monitoring the patient, the patient will die.
WHITFIELD: So what would a patient feel like when they come out of this medically induced coma? Whether it be one time, over a period , you know, days or weeks? Are they feeling revived? Is that patient feeling like they've had a lot of rest?
KAIN: Well, that's an interesting question. Propofol infusion is known to give you a feeling of energy and vitality when you actually stop getting the Propofol. And that's the basically the source of people getting addicted to it. You've got a -- you know some Propofol. You wake up. You feel great. Or you just fall to sleep again, and this time it's naturally induced sleep. And that's why there are some reports about people who are abusing Propofol.
WHITFIELD: How common would it be, or uncommon, that a doctor, personal doctor or otherwise, would administer Propofol at home and not in a medical setting?
KAIN: This is the first I've heard about such a case. And as I've indicated before, this basically goes against all the rules and the medical practice. Remember, Propofol infusion can cause you to stop breathing, can drop your blood pressure, can practically kill you.
That's why you must be monitored by medical personnel and all these monitors. So very, very uncommon. I've never heard about a case like this.
WHITFIELD: Dr. Zeev Kain, thanks so much for your expertise.
KAIN: You're welcome.
WHITFIELD: And we are about 10 minutes away now from day two of the Conrad Murray trial. We're monitoring the testimony and bring you live coverage as developments happen. For complete trial coverage throughout the day, you want to tune into our sister network, HLN.
All right. On to politics. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is keeping everyone guessing about his plans for 2012. Last night he delivered a foreign policy speech that sounded kind of like a stump speech. That straight ahead, live from our political desk.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A reminder to vote for today's "Choose the News Winner." Text 22360 for the story that you want to see. Text 1 for "Aussie Female Fighters," Australian women will soon be on the front line of battle, but not everyone is happy about that. Text 2 for "World War II Sunken Treasure." We'll take you to an amazing underwater discovery. A shipwreck worth millions. And text 3 for "Liz Taylor's Jewels," a look at the star's jewel collection that's making its way around the world before going off to auction. The winning story airs next hour. All right. Florida will likely push its presidential primary to January 31st leaving candidates not yet in the race even less time to declare their intentions. Speculation is swirling around whether New Jersey Governor Chris Christie will jump into the Republican field of candidates.
Jim Acosta, part of the best political team on television, is live from the political desk in Washington.
All right. Jim, so Christie, he hasn't said yes.
JIM ACOSTA, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right.
WHITFIELD: He has in the past said no, but he didn't necessarily say that last night in his speech.
ACOSTA: That's right. That is exactly right, Fredricka. Everybody is looking at that speech last night and saying, hmm, maybe Chris Christie hasn't made up his mind yet, even though he has said repeatedly that he is not running for president. He appeared to leave the door open just a crack, ever so slightly, by basically telling a crowd in California last night at the Reagan Library that, you know, that he's very flattered by all of the pleas that he get into this race.
He doesn't feel it in his heart in terms of having that fiery passionate jump into the race for president, but there was one woman last night who made this impassioned plea to him, really implored him to run for president, and here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do it for my daughter, do it for our grandchildren. Do it for our sons. Please, sir, don't -- we need you. Your country needs you to run for president.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: It's extraordinarily flattering, but by the same token, that heartfelt message you gave me is also not a reason for me to do it. That reason has to reside inside me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ACOSTA: And I talked to a close adviser to Governor Christie yesterday who basically said, look, this is -- this storm of speculation is incredible, but this is a decision that will come from Chris Christie.
Fredricka, it's interesting that that adviser would sort of use that language and yes, we can be guilty of parching these things too much. But, you know, we all thought this decision was played. He wasn't running for president but yet here's his adviser saying, well, the decision will come on his terms when he's ready to make that decision. So make of that what you will.
WHITFIELD: OK. Well, let's try to reflect in a different way now.
ACOSTA: Sure.
WHITFIELD: You know who was leading the polls at this time during the last presidential election?
ACOSTA: Well, you know, it's amazing to look at these polls from four years ago, because it does tell you that at this point four years ago, you know, we were all looking at very different candidates in terms of who might win the nomination.
Take a look at September 2007. The Republican choice for nominee in 2008. Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson were on top, they were going neck and neck, and everybody thought it was going to be one of those two guys. It ended up being John McCain.
Look at the Democratic field. Hillary Clinton was on top of that field by a healthy margin. Yes, Barack Obama was starting to catch fire and people were talking about that, but Hillary was really -- Hillary Clinton was really the odds-on favorite to win the nomination there.
So, you know, taking this all -- circling back to Chris Christie, you know, there is a reason why there are all these Republicans saying, well, maybe Chris Christie should get into the race. They know that even though it's late, it's not too late.
WHITFIELD: All right. Jim Acosta, thanks so much.
ACOSTA: You bet.
WHITFIELD: And of course, for the latest political news, you know exactly where to go. CNNPolitics.com.
All right. Meantime, we also want to let you know, the president right there. He is beginning his roundtable discussion that will involve D.C. high school as well. We're going to continue to monitor the discussion that he is part of right there out of Washington, and we'll share with you that information as we get it.
All right, meantime, both sides lay out their cases in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. We'll talk with a legal insider about the bombshells so far and what we can expect in the next round at the Conrad Murray trial.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Court is set to convene any minute now in the manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. This is day two of the Conrad Murray trial. We expect to hear testimony from Jackson's personal assistant about the day the pop star died.
Joining us right now with some insight on the trial so far, Holly Hughes, a criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor.
So, Holly, so far what stands out to you? This is going to be a very complicated case, in your view. Why?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: It's going to be the battle of the experts. It's coming down to the science. You know, do you believe the prosecution's expert, that Michael could not have possibly ingested or injected himself with additional Propofol once Dr. Murray administered the initial dose, or do you go with the defense who is now saying, well, Michael took additional pills?
He helped himself to these eight pills and in conjunction with the Propofol, Dr. Murray is not responsible because he didn't know. So it's coming down to the science.
But again, Fred, like we were talking about on the break, this is about standard of care. So even by the defense's own admission, even if you believe Michael took those pills himself, you still have to look at that doctor and say, but you knew he was an addict, you knew he was desperate to sleep --
WHITFIELD: Even if your patient is paying you handsomely.
HUGHES: Right.
WHITFIELD: And said I want more, I want more, you as a medical professional, the licensed professional.
HUGHES: Right.
WHITFIELD: Still should have the upper hand on, I really can't give this to you. And that's what's on trial here.
HUGHES: That's exactly what it is. It's that standard of care. You know your children would beg you to eat Snickers every day for lunch, but you're not going to let them, because it's not good for them. So if your patient, who is an admitted addict, you know he said that in his interview back in 2003, if you know that about him and you leave him in a room with access to drugs, you are still negligent. You're still not operating with the proper degree of care.
WHITFIELD: And as we're talking right now, trial has actually just started. One more time from my producer, what we understand to be -- OK. So right now they're questioning the CEO of AEG live right now. So that was something that was expected.
And you know what? They're going to be talking about, or likely to testify about, is the demeanor of Michael Jackson the day before he died. We know from previous testimony and interviews that they're going to be able to say that, you know what, he seemed like he was functioning fine. He seemed like a healthy man. How is it the next day he could just be dead?
HUGHES: Right. Exactly. And that's where it all comes down to each side doing its job. What the prosecution is doing, and rightfully so, is humanizing Michael. They're not just making it about the science. They're bringing in his friends, they're bringing in his producer, they're bringing in his co-creative director, and saying, how was he acting? Is this a man that was so on the edge that he would willingly over-inject himself with Propofol the very next day? If he had all that energy, he'd obviously gotten enough sleep. He wasn't going to be that desperate.
WHITFIELD: And if the doctor stood by his practice, why would he hide? Why would he not share with first responders that Propofol was being used here?
HUGHES: Not with first responders, not with the paramedics, and not with the ER doctors trying to save his life. It's what we call in the law consciousness of guilt. When you're running around trying to clean up the scene, and trying to preserve your reputation, I would think as a doctor the first thing you'd want to do is preserve your patient's life.
WHITFIELD: All right. Holly Hughes, thanks so much. I know we're going to be checking with you throughout the day as testimony just now underway in the trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.
Thanks so much, Holly.
And, again, we're going to bring you live coverage throughout the afternoon as developments happen, but for complete trial coverage throughout the day, you can tune into our sister network HLN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A Texas wildfire has forced thousands out of their homes and destroyed hundreds of houses. Now we're getting new information on just how much damage those fires actually caused.
Jacqui Jeras in the Weather Center now with more on that.
Jacqui, I know it was bad.
JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we knew it was bad, but we didn't know it was going to be this bad. And it's now officially the most destructive wildfire in Texas history.
We have some numbers that have been just released for you now out of Bastrop County. Remember this is outside of the Austin area in the eastern parts of Texas. The cost of that thing, about $250 million. So that makes it, number one, they are on that list. Thirty-four thousand plus acres have burned, 1500 plus homes have been destroyed, just in this one fire.
And believe it or not, the whole thing isn't out yet. This is still 90 percent contained. So there are firefighters that are still actively working on this thing, they're cleaning up, they're doing what they call mop-up. They're putting out any spot fires or hot spots that still happen to be out there.
So this thing has been going on for weeks and weeks and, you know, the drought has been such a big part of this fire and just no rain in the area. When you combine the drought along with the heat wave that you've been dealing with in Texas, also with the wildfires, and you combine those things together, the total damage is over $5 billion.
So that's one of the top 10 billion-dollar weather disasters that we've seen so far in this year. And speaking of the drought, we have this new animation I want to show you, Fredricka, and this is just incredible. Take a look. That brown is where we see that vegetation and we see that drought that has been building. And this is the animation since January.
And you can see, as we progress in time, as this spreads throughout parts of Oklahoma, into Kansas, into New Mexico, as well as Colorado, just how intense this is. It's worse than the dust bowl of the '30s.
WHITFIELD: Terrible.
JERAS: This is really the worst thing that we've seen in our lifetime.
WHITFIELD: Boy, that's remarkable. And so many lives were just upended, you know, just turned upside down completely.
JERAS: Absolutely.
WHITFIELD: All right. Thank you, Jacqui.
JERAS: Sure.
WHITFIELD: And a reminder to vote for today's "Choose the News" winner. Text 22360 for the story that you want to see. Text 1 for "Aussie Female Fighters." Australia women will soon be on the front lines of battle, but not everyone is happy about that. Text 2 for "World War II Sunken Treasure." We take you to the bottom of the sea where a team of treasure hunters is working to recover what may be the biggest shipwreck haul ever.
And text 3 for "Liz Taylor's Jewels." Diamonds certainly seem to be among her best friends. You'll get to see Elizabeth Taylor's famed jewel collection.
The winning story airs next hour.
All right, well, it wasn't funny for Ellen DeGeneres when it happened. She was checked out for possible heart problems two days after feeling some pressure in her chest. Now she is able to joke about it and she's not the first celebrity to turn a heart scare into something funny.
Here's CNN's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ellen DeGeneres may have called paramedics for chest pains, but that didn't stop her from dancing. She described how she felt in the middle of the night.
ELLEN DEGENERES, TV HOST: A tightness like in my chest and all the scary things, and like something was heavy on my chest, and it was a cat, so I moved it.
MOOS: She joked about her heart, she joked about the fireman who came to the Warner Brothers lot where she tapes her show.
DEGENERES: And they come in with an ax, break the door down, which it was open, I don't know why they did that.
MOOS: And thus did Ellen joined the ranks of comedians who take heart by using heart trouble for material.
ROBIN WILLIAMS, COMEDIAN: Normally a heart is like, mine is like --
MOOS: Robin Williams had a heart valve replaced with a cow valve.
WILLIAMS: I can't eat meat now because obviously he's one of us.
MOOS: There he was with Letterman showing his scar.
WILLIAMS: Already it's starting to grow back. That was five minutes after the surgery.
MOOS: Remember Dave the first day back from his own surgery?
DAVID LETTERMAN, TV HOST: While I was gone, I had quintuple bypass surgery on my heart. Plus, I got a haircut.
MOOS (on camera): There's a lot of show-and-tell after celebrities have heart surgery. Regis and Letterman, for instance, compare legs.
REGIS: They take the arteries, you know, the stuff that they bypass your clogged arteries --
LETTERMAN: What do you think they're going to do, go to Home Depot?
REGIS: This thing will not heal.
LETTERMAN: That'll be -- that'll be fun.
REGIS: Look at that. It's all the way up my leg.
LETTERMAN: Look at that. It's gone.
MOOS (voice-over): And Dick Cheney has practically been giving people heart attacks with his show and tell.
BARBARA WALTERS, TV HOST: Mr. Vice President, I want to talk about this little bulge here.
JON STUART, TV HOST: I'm guessing that line was especially unsettling on "The View's" radio broadcast.
MOOS: Former VP has an implanted pump that helps his own heart.
RICHARD CHENEY, FORMER VICE PRESIDENT: It's battery operated. This is the control element.
MOOS: He's been setting the thing off --
CHENEY: It will bleep in a moment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that means you better put it back.
MOOS: In interview after interview.
CHENEY: When you take them out it beeps.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Please put it back in.
MOOS: Like some heartfelt practical joke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What does that mean?
CHENEY: It means --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Put the battery back.
MOOS (on camera): Robin Williams' talks about how emotional he got after his heart attack. Wait a minute, are those palpitations or is that a punch line I hear?
(Voice-over): Jeanne Moos, CNN --
WILLIAMS: Mine is like --
MOOS: -- New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right, today's "Talk Back" question might have a few hearts racing. Why do Republicans love Chris Christie. Richard says, "Maybe because he's a true honest, caring American. Something we lack these days."
We'll read more of your responses straight ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Carol Costello has your responses -- Carol.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fredricka, the "Talk Back" question today, why do Republicans love Chris Christie?
This from Andy, "Because it's a new day, and they were told they can no longer love Bachmann, Romney or Perry. They can't officially love Palin yet, so this week, it's Chris Christie." This from Autumn, "He's a loving guy, but in all fairness, and I get to criticize this because I am obese, wouldn't people be worried he would have a heart attack during his presidency due to his health issues?" Remember he had that asthma attack a couple of months ago but he is in good health, according to him.
This is from Barbara, "Because he stands for no BS and he speaks for what's right for the people and what's wrong with the system. I like him, too."
This from Ben, "The base of the party is full of rage and want a candidate that matches that mood. The only problem is, Governor Christie would also not be able to stand the scrutiny. He is a moderate conservative and has policies and views that would burn under the heat of the base."
And this is from Nick, "Flash, it's not just Republicans who love him. I bet he gets more votes for honesty than any other liar gets for saying what he thinks we want to hear."
Please continue the conversation, Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll be back with you in about, oh, eight or nine minutes or so.
WHITFIELD: OK. We'll look for that. Thanks so much, Carol.
