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Protesters, Police Clash Over 'Occupy Oakland'; Student Loan Crisis; Mexico Braces for Hurricane Rina; Anger at NYC's New Sex Ed Class; Police: Mom Kept Sons in Cage

Aired October 26, 2011 - 14:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, everyone. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Let's get you caught up on everything making news this hour, "Rapid Fire."

Let's go, beginning with this. Did you see that? A brand new iReport video. Flash-bang grenades being fired at protesters trying to reoccupy Oakland last night.

Several hundred people returned to this protest site police had cleared before dawn on Tuesday. Police say they did fire tear gas after some of the demonstrators threw things at the officers.

Meantime, in Atlanta, more than 50 people arrested there overnight, and police peacefully chased Occupy Atlanta from a city park.

Hurricane Rina now bearing down on some of the huge beach resorts in Mexico. It is a Category 1, but still carrying 85-mile-per-hour winds.

We have a live report from Cancun coming up in just a couple of minutes.

Also, have you seen these pictures? Look at this.

Winter doesn't officially begin for two months, but you would never know it looking at these images. This is Colorado. Up to a foot of snow fell overnight in parts of the state. In fact, ski resorts contemplating opening a little early to take advantage of the snow.

Awesome. Love to ski.

Also, European leaders in Brussels trying to tackle the Eurozone debt crisis. This is an emergency summit, and we're getting late word there is growing doubt a comprehensive deal can be reached. There are also fears the Greek debt crisis, that whole crisis, could spread to both Italy and to Spain.

A remarkable protest. This is Yemen. Many women publicly protesting the government's crackdown on anti-government demonstrators by burning -- what are they burning? Their veils. This follows the government's announcement of a cease-fire that never really took place, and recent brutal attacks both on women and children there.

Also, five killer whales at SeaWorld are expected to file suit in federal court today. Say what?

The Orcas don't know it, but PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, filing suit on their behalf against SeaWorld. The animals' rights group claims these five whales are enslaved and in violation of the 13th Amendment. SeaWorld, meantime, calling the suit a publicity stunt.

(MUSIC)

BALDWIN: Grammy Award-winning singer Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning. A pathologist says the 27-year-old's blood alcohol level was more than five times the legal limit.

Winehouse, she had struggled with both drug and alcohol abuse for years. Her death came less than two months after her latest release from a stint in rehab.

A former Goldman Sachs director indicted on insider trading charges. Rajat Gupta, also a former Procter and Gamble director, was charged with six broad counts. He did surrender this morning. Gupta's attorney says the accusations are totally baseless.

And the world's population will hit a first-ever milestone this upcoming Monday. Seven billion people -- this is according to the United Nations -- and just to try to put the number in perspective for you, there are one billion more people now than back in 1999. So it's kind of like adding the nation the size of India to the world.

And we are just a couple of minutes in, got a lot more to cover for you in the next two hours, including this --

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): Sex ed is getting a whole lot more graphic, at least in New York, where a new curriculum is setting off fireworks. I'll speak with the parents group up in arms over this.

Tensions hit a boiling point in the protest against Wall Street, why police used tear gas against Occupy protesters.

Plus, we can do better. Two young children locked in dog cages, and what police found inside this family's home takes this horrific case to a whole new level. I'll speak live with the investigator.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If they won't act, I will.

BALDWIN: Since Congress isn't budging on his jobs plan, President Obama declares he's going at it alone. We're going to break down his new plan.

And --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When I got off the bus, my mom wasn't here. And I miss her so much. BALDWIN: -- a 5-year-old girl finds herself home alone because her mom's in the hospital, and the girl gets so worried that her next move is a call to 911.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've got to get her quick.

BALDWIN: Wait until you hear this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Chaos breaks out as protesters try to reoccupy this plaza near Oakland City Hall in California. Here are the images from our iReporters.

About 500 demonstrators marched to this plaza last night, less than 24 hours after police dismantled this Occupy Oakland camp. And it wasn't too long before this situation got out of control.

(SCREAMING)

BALDWIN: Police say some of those demonstrators threw paint, threw bottles at those police officers. So they responded. They fired bean bags, flash grenades, tear gas into this crowd, and scores of people just had to run for cover.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I heard these loud bangs, and apparently it was the tear gas going off. And then you feel like you want to throw up and your eyes are stinging and get red. So then I ran a couple blocks out of the way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dozens of people were arrested there in Oakland.

And Will Tran is covering Occupy Oakland for our affiliate, KRON, in California.

And Will, do me a favor. Set the scene for me. Tell me what it looks like in Oakland right now. And are any of the protesters planning another march tonight?

WILL TRAN, REPORTER, KRON: Well, Brooke, 12 hours, what a difference it makes.

That video that you just showed is a drastic difference from that. Here is a live shot from City Hall, right in front of City Hall. You can see the protesters our here, although only a handful.

Twenty-four hours ago, we saw hundreds of them out here, but this morning only a handful. They are holding up signs asking drivers to go buy and honk, as well as the police officers. We saw so many of them yesterday, right here behind the barricades, at one point going beyond the barricades, pushing back the crowds. But that is not the case.

It is very peaceful. And who knows? This might be the calm before the next storm, because 24 hours ago, it was wild, then it died down a little bit. Then, all of a sudden, when the sun came down, is became wild again with protests happening.

But for now, it is quite calm. But they're not giving up, Brooke. They've vowed to be here.

And as we zoom beyond the protesters, take a look at that. That is City Hall.

They were there for more than two weeks. For them, that is ground zero. They have removed all of the tents and they want to make sure that that place is clean before they allow the protesters back. However, the caveat is they can go back there.

BALDWIN: Let me jump in just because you mentioned the word "clean." I don't know if you can hear me over the buses out there, Will, but mentioned "clean." I want you to be specific. I mean, tell me about the conditions at this particular Occupy Oakland camp that really made the city say, OK, enough is enough, it's time for these people to clear out.

TRAN: Well, the city is sensitive to the First Amendment rights to protests. They have said that.

What they are doing now is they're cleaning up the area. They were power-washing the City Hall area, in some cases even uprooting the grass to make sure it's sanitized.

They claim that that area became a health hazard, which is why they were trying to move in there and to clean it up. Once that area is clean and sanitized, they will allow the protesters to come back. But they can only protest during daylight hours. They are not allowed to camp overnight, while the protesters are saying, that's not good enough, we're not going to compromise.

So we'll just have to wait and see once the barricades are lifted and the police officer pull back a little bit. We'll see if there is another clash. So far this morning, here, 11:00 Pacific Time, it is peaceful, but then again, like I said, this might be the calm before the next storm -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Right. Anything could change.

Will Tran for us from Oakland and our affiliate KRON.

Will, really appreciate it. Thank you for the live report for us there.

Still ahead, vacation hot spots a direct target. Take a look as Hurricane Rina, rolling through here, getting stronger, evacuations escalate. We're going to take you live to Mexico.

Plus, it's part of the reason protesters are speaking out against Wall Street, the younger generation strapped with massive debt. Well, now, President Obama is pitching a new plan and he's doing it all alone. Find out what it means for your wallet.

Also, how graphic is too graphic when it comes to sex ed? Outrage, it is brewing over one city's new curriculum. And this story coming up might make you blush.

Stay right there.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: All right. I want you to have a look at this debt clock. Take a look with me.

This is not the national debt. We've seen that clock. This is the student loan debt.

Student loan debt, folks, it is nearing $1 trillion. And as of 2010, outstanding loans to grads exceed credit card debt. Do you believe that?

According to a group that tracks these kinds of things, grads are leaving college owing an average loan of $27,000. And when they enter this weak jobs market, that just doesn't make things any better. Not exactly the picture-perfect American dream.

So, a short time ago, the president entered the picture. President Obama announced a little relief, and he told some students there in Denver he's been there. In fact, so has the first lady.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We were paying more for our student loans than we paid on our mortgage each month. And look, obviously we were lucky to have gotten a great education and we were able to land good jobs with a steady income, but it still took us almost 10 years to finally pay off all our student debt, and that wasn't easy, especially once we had Malia and Sasha, because now we're supposed to be saving for their college while we're still paying for ours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Dan Lothian is in Denver as well.

And I wonder, Dan Lothian, is the president hearing the cries of the Occupy Wall Street folks? We've been hearing a lot from them, specifically about student loan debt.

DAN LOTHIAN, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, we have. But what top aides and the president himself will point out is that his administration has long been focused on making things better for students in order for them to be able to afford college tuition and to bring down the cost of those loans.

And, in fact, today at this event, you heard the president refer to more than a year ago, when his administration was pushing to get banks out of the way of these loans so that they would be more affordable for students. So, yes, no doubt the loud voice out there on the streets certainly impacts some of the thinking. But, again, the administration trying to show that this is something they've been working on for quite some time.

BALDWIN: Dan, I want to you stand by. I'm going to spare a little work for you right now, because Christine Romans has actually broken down some of the details of this student loan plan that the president was talking about today.

The president is actually speeding up a program that's already been enacted by Congress. So, stand by, Dan. Let's listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: The White House is speeding up a program that Congress has already passed, quite frankly, that means it's going to cap how much you're going to pay for your student loans.

It reduces your repayment amount. So say it would be 10 percent of your discretionary income. Right now, your payments could be capped -- your student loan payments could be capped at 15 percent. The White House wants to lower that to 10 percent.

Also, it's going to accelerate your loan forgiveness date. What that means is, after 20 years of faithfully paying your student loans every month, on time, that 10 percent of your income, if you still have a loan balance, the government would just forgive it, and you'll be free and clear of those loans after 20 years.

Also, another part of the program would give you a chance to consolidate your loans. So this is for people right now who are graduates, who have different kinds of federal loans. You'd be able to consolidate them all together and get about a half a percentage point lower interest. All of these would put a few hundred dollars maybe in some people's pockets every single month, and the White House says that would help now.

Now something very clear -- I want to be very clear about. Congress passed a lot of this back in the health care reform. What the White House is doing right now is stepping up and speeding it up so the class of 2012 can start to benefit from this.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: OK. So that's Christine Romans with the details of the president's plan.

So, Dan, then my question to you is, this is something else that the president is doing on his own. Looking ahead, he doesn't need the Republicans to go along with him, Congress.

We're seeing a little bit of this lately. Aren't we, Dan?

LOTHIAN: That's right. And the new line that we heard from the White House during this West Coast trip is that we can't wait.

And the president, even today, pointing out that he has moved forward, aside from Congress, to help veterans, to help small businesses. We saw just a couple of days ago, in Nevada, where the president was unveiling a plan to help those homeowners who have loans that are under water, he is, again, going out on his own to help them.

And the president making it clear that this is something that we will continue. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: I intend to do everything in my power right now to act on behalf of the American people, with or without Congress.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: We can't wait for Congress to do its job. So where they won't act, I will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LOTHIAN: The president saying that these actions, though, do not take the place of big action taken up on Capitol Hill. So he's still pushing for lawmakers to pass his jobs bill. But nonetheless, the president saying that these small steps do help in the meantime.

BALDWIN: Yes. We heard over and over, we can't wait, going ahead without them, with regard to Congress.

Dan Lothian in Denver.

Thank you, Dan. Enjoy the snow, I suppose.

Coming up next, investigators now revealing who they plan to interview in the case of the missing baby in Missouri. And let's just say Lisa Irwin's parents are not happy about this.

Plus, Hurricane Rina, heading straight for resort towns. Rafael Romo is standing by for us live in Mexico. We'll talk to Rafael next.

But first, a quick look at the Big Board. The Dow, it is up 115 points this afternoon, as we are less than two hours away from the closing bell.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In the search for missing baby Lisa -- little Lisa Irwin in Missouri -- authorities plan to interview the two young brothers of the missing 11-month-old this week. The boys are both ages 5 and 8 years of age. Both were in the Irwin home the night little Lisa vanished right out of her crib.

Both were first interviewed right after she disappeared, and Kansas City police stress that the boys won't be interrogated. They say a police officer won't even be in the room. A highly-trained child services specialist will interview these little boys this upcoming Friday.

Now let's turn our attention to Hurricane Rina.

A late-season storm clearly now bearing down on some of the famed resorts of Mexico. And it's a pretty impressive storm.

Take a look at this. This is actually a view from the ISS, the International Space Station. We just kind of were looking at it earlier and thinking -- go with me, maybe not -- kind of like an upside-down jellyfish? You see tentacles? I don't know, maybe not.

Anyway, at last word, Category 1. The storm has weakened just a little bit.

Let's go to Rafael Romo, live for us now in Cancun.

And Rafael, what kind of hit are you looking at there? Obviously, a beautiful day right now. And when is Rina coming ashore?

RAFAEL ROMO, CNN LATIN AFFAIRS EDITOR: It's been really interesting, Brooke, because just about a half hour ago, we had torrential rains here. And then, all of a sudden, nothing. A little bit of wind. And as you can see behind me, waves have picked up a little bit, but not too bad.

People here, officials, say that sometime between midnight and sunrise it's going to make landfall in this area. I'm in Cancun. It can hit Cozumel or Cancun at the same time.

And as you well know, this is favorite tourist destination for many Americans. As a matter of fact, officials here tell me that at the beginning of the week, there were 83,000 tourists between domestic and international, many of those Americans. The problem is that many of those tourists couldn't get a flight to get out of here, so they are basically stuck.

And it's a city inside of a city, because this area here is densely populated, about 750,000 people. And you're talking about more than 80,000 tourists. But the good news is that the resorts here have good facilities, and at least 11 hotels are offering shelter for tourists who are stuck here -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: They're stuck, and I know some of them who you've talked to, they're disappointed.

Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOANNE ANDREWS, AMERICAN TOURIST: We were upset. We waited a long time to come here, and we thought we were going to have fun. And the first thing they told us is we have to evacuate, and we weren't here 20 -- what, 23, 24 hours? (END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Rafael, are any flights going out at all? I mean, what's being done for the tourists who are stuck there in Mexico?

ROMO: No. People who are still here are completely out of luck.

We got here last night, and I was talking to a tourist from Spain. She was telling me that she was trying frantically to get a flight out of here. Not a chance.

If people didn't do arrangements for flights yesterday, basically they have to stay here or the airport. It may be close to any moment now, so they're going to have to ride it out -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. Rafael Romo, thank you.

(WEATHER REPORT)

BALDWIN: Coming up next, a firestorm is brewing over sex ed. New York City introducing this new curriculum that introduces 11-year-olds to everything. And I mean we're talking everything from partners to techniques.

So, how graphic is too graphic? Many parents are up in arms over this.

I'm going to speak live with the man representing them. Don't miss this interview.

But, first, where are America's rudest cities? According to "Travel & Leisure," these are the cities where you won't exactly get a warm welcome.

Number five, our nation's capital, Washington, D.C. Rude, apparently.

Number four, Miami.

Number three, the City of Brotherly Love, or perhaps not so much, Philadelphia.

So what are the top two rudest cities in the country? Could you be living in one of them?

Yes, send me a tweet, @BrookeBCNN.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: So before I left you, we were talking about travel leisure's top five rudest cities in America. We have to run back to five, four, three -- Washington, Miami, Philadelphia. So, number two: the Big Apple, New York City. And the number one rudest city in America is, West Coasters, Los Angeles. Let's talk New York -- the battle over what and when to teach kids about sex is playing out in New York. Many parents of 11 and 12 year olds are fighting the city's first mandated sex ed curriculum in nearly 20 years.

Here's why part of this curriculum, the materials include content from this Columbia University Web site, "Go Ask Alice," this is what it's called. Some other topics if you take a peek of this Web site, you know, it includes where to find pornography, how to have a menage a trois, description of fetishes and other things that might make you and me blush.

So, the "Go Ask Alice" site is based on the controversial book from the '70s of the same name. And the book tells a story of a trouble teenage girl and it tackles some topics the New York parents complained are just too graphic for middle school kids.

Keep in mind, this Web site itself is not mandated, but all sixth and seventh graders will be required to take these new sex ed classes.

I want to bring in Michael Benjamin. He is the spokesman for the group that's battling sex ed plan. He joins me from New York.

Michael, thanks for coming on.

MICHAEL BENJAMIN, NYC'S PARENTS CHOICE COALITION: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Your group says that the curriculum that will be presented is just too graphic for, you know, 11 and 12-year-olds. What is it specifically that you and these parents object to?

BENJAMIN: Well, we object to the graphic nature of the "Go Ask Alice" site.

We also object to the fact that we would like to have one that's abstinence-centered and that one that's basically about condoms and contraception, and giving a wink and a nod at teenage sex. We think young people should abstain from sex, that parents believe that and they themselves believe it. And all we were only asking the city of New York to offer a curriculum for parents opt into that would more reflect their values and their interests. And that would be abstinence-centered sex education.

BALDWIN: Let me pick up on the abstinence issue because I do know that this curriculum will be teaching abstinence and I do want to read a statement that CNN obtained from New York's department of education. So -- and I'm quoting, "Abstinence is the only way to be 100 percent safe but one-third of the new cases of Chlamydia in New York City are in teenagers and a significant part of our teenagers have had multiple sexual partners, so we cannot stick our heads in the sand about this."

So, I mentioned, the course is teaching abstinence but it sounds like they also have a reality check as well.

BENJAMIN: Yes. But that's not emphasized. The emphasis is on really on mitigating risks. It really isn't about risk avoidance, which would be the focus of an abstinence centered sex education program for our young people. And it's something that kids are interested in and that parents want.

You know, this week is partnering with parents week in New York City with the Department of Education. But somehow they don't want to give parents the ability to choose which curriculum they want. Do they want a free sex for all curriculum or do they prefer an abstinence- centered one that reflects their values, anything they're teaching their children at home.

This isn't 20 years ago. We're not fighting over whether to have sex education in our schools. What we're saying is what you're offering is too explicit, it's too soon for 10 and 11-year-olds. We need to have it focused on abstinence, which is what parents want and children themselves have talked about. We want to have the same consistent message from home also coming out of the schools.

BALDWIN: Michael, I have read article upon article and article, and the views reflected from your group, I know these parents are very, very upset, but the Web site that I just mentioned, this "Go Ask Alice" Web site, affiliated with Columbia University, but New York's board of ed says none of their books for this upcoming sex ed class will direct kids to that particular Web site.

So why has this Web site become such an issue among these parents that you represent?

BENJAMIN: Because the city's (INAUDIBLE) is being disingenuous. It's part of the curriculum that they've ordered. It's part of the set of books. They've actually bought it.

And now they are saying that it's up to the principal or the instructor of the program to use whatever they would like to use, which is even more troubling. We think, offer parents the opportunity, the option themselves, to choose the option or to choose an alternative sex education program that focuses on abstinence- centered education. And that's what we're asking for.

And those parents who want much more liberal, they can choose to stay in the city's program. But offer an ability to have more reflective of their values.

BALDWIN: From what I understand, and you are correct, this sex ed course is mandated for these students. But there is a process, there is a way if parents do want to opt out, they can. Though I understand some of these parents are frustrated that the process is too complicated. Is that correct?

BENJAMIN: That's correct. It's complicated. It has to be based on your religion. You have to get the forum from your principal.

You know, it's not about opting out of anything. It's only opt-out of city. It's not out of the explicit lessons.

But in reality, no one should opt out. They should be able to opt into a program that allows their children to get accurate information about healthy sex education, to understand that abstinence is 100 percent effective. Condoms are not 100 percent effective. You can still be exposed to sexually transmitted diseases.

You know, we have a mayor who tells everyone they can't smoke, we can't have trans fat in our restaurants. He wanted the poor not to be able to purchase soda, sweets with their food stamps, but yet he's saying it's OK for teenagers to have access to condoms in school. It's OK for students to talk about it's nowhere to go for contraception and where to go for abortion if necessary. That's not --

BALDWIN: But, Michael, on the flipside, and forgive for interrupting, but I think from the perspective of the other side, you know, you have those who absolutely subscribe to kids wanting to be abstinent, but at the same time, you know, the New York Department of Education says that look, realistically speaking, we have to educate our kids on condom as well.

Do you not see that as well?

BENJAMIN: No. See? We agree as well. We're saying it should be an abstinence-centered program that focused on abstinence. It discusses contraception, it discusses condoms, but does not present them as an equal alternative to abstinence. And the city's program presents abstinence as being on the same level of using protection.

BALDWIN: OK.

BENJAMIN: And that's where we have a lot of objection. And the city keeps obfuscating the issue. Our issue is not about whether or not to offer sex education. We want to provide sex education for our children for our children, from an abstinence perspective that their parents support and the children themselves. And survey after survey has said they want to hear the abstinence message so it's reinforced in school from what they're getting at home.

BALDWIN: Sure. And I do also just want to mention that we did invite Chancellor Walcott from the New York Department of Education to join us for this segment. They told us that he was not available today.

But, Michael Benjamin, we appreciate you being available. Thank you so much for coming on and explaining what some of these parents are frustrated about. Thank you.

BENJAMIN: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And now this --

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

GIRL: It's really dark around her and I looked everywhere.

DISPATCHER: OK.

GIRL: When I got off of the bus but my mom wasn't here and I miss her so much. (END AUDIO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Oh, a 5-year-old girl left home alone. What she doesn't know is that her mom is in the hospital and what this girl does next prompts a call to 911. That was actually just part of it. You've got to hear the rest of it.

Plus, President Obama reveals what he thinks of the race for the Republican nomination. Wolf Blitzer is standing by, news just in from the world of politics. Be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: In just a couple of minutes -- by the way, these are live pictures -- a couple of minutes from now, you're going to see here on CNN something we almost never get to show. This is a large hydroelectric dam. This is along the Washington-Oregon border. It's going to be blown to bits. Take a good long look at it as it sits right now.

This is the Condit Dam. This is along the White Salmon River. It's 125-feet tall, just about a century old, and it is just one of three huge dams being removed in the Pacific Northwest.

And if you read "The Seattle Times," they are reporting that 800 pounds of dynamite should do the trick in blowing this up.

Removing the dam is expected to recreate about 30 miles of salmon and trout habitats. Newer and more efficient hydroelectric dams will pick up the power generation. Demolition is set for the top of the hour. As I mentioned, we're going to bring this picture back up live and we'll see the massive explosion right here on CNN.

In the meantime, time for America's Choice 2012 update with Wolf Blitzer with the latest news fresh of the Political Ticker.

Wolf, did you stay up late last night and watch President Obama?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, CNN'S "THE SITUATION ROOM": Of course. Didn't you?

BALDWIN: I read the transcript in my e-mail.

BLITZER: Not really? You know, you can always watch it online.

BALDWIN: Pass my bed time, Wolf.

BLITZER: I'll play a clip for you and for some of our viewers that didn't see it, watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY LENO, COMEDIAN: Have you been watching the GOP debates?

OBAMA: I'm going to wait until everybody's voted off the island.

LENO: Really?

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Once they narrow it down to one or two, I'll start paying attention.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Very cute line. Nice line. You'd think he sort of spontaneously made it up or he came into that interview with Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show" with some good one-liners ready to go. What do you think?

BALDWIN: I think he definitely came in prepared.

BLITZER: Yes. He's got some good writers. And that worked. He had good timing, good audience reaction. It was a nice -- it was a nice touch.

You know, he keeps saying that he's not watching these debates. I don't know. I think he's watching --

BALDWIN: Do you believe him?

BLITZER: I'm not so sure. He's a political guy. He should be watching.

BALDWIN: You got to watch the competition.

BLITZER: He should be watching the debates.

BALDWIN: You got to watch the game videos (ph).

BLITZER: They're really interesting TV. I would watch them and I think they are fund to watch if you are a political news junkie and you know he is. He's in politics.

You got to watch these debates. It doesn't make any difference how many candidates are there. You got to watch them.

BALDWIN: Especially that one in Tampa. Some guy

BLITZER: I like that one. Yes, some guy -- that was the only one with the guy with the beard. Is that right?

BALDWIN: Something like that.

BLITZER: That was -- something like that. Nice, trim beard.

BALDWIN: Yes.

BLITZER: OK. Let's talk about a little bit about this new Rick Perry ad. It's very positive, touting his career as a job creator, as governor in Texas. I'll play a little clip of that. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: As president, I'll create at least 2.5 million jobs and I know something about that. In Texas, we created over 1 million new jobs while the rest of the nation lost over 2 million.

I'll start by opening American oil and gas field. I'll eliminate President Obama's regulations that hurt other sources of domestic energy, like coal, natural gas.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: All right. So, you get the point. It's a nice, positive ad. I think a lot more effective than some of the negative ads that we're seeing simply tearing down the opposition.

It's not necessarily a great idea for a presidential candidate to personally engage in the negative campaigning. That's why you got aides who can do that, you've got super PACs who can do that. You got other outside groups who can do that.

I think the presidential candidate is best off taking the high road, showing he or she can really get the job done, create a lot of jobs. That's just my assessment, for what it's worth.

We got a great show coming up at 4:00 right here in "THE SITUATION ROOM," 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

Peter King, the chairman of the House Homeland Security, Brooke, he's going to be joining us. We're talking about new allegations that he's making about Iranian diplomats serving at the Iranian mission to the U.N., as well as the Iranian interest section here in Washington.

Did you know that there are Iranian diplomats who serve at the Iranian diplomatic interest section that is technically part of the Pakistani embassy here in Washington? He wants them all, by the way, kicked out. We're going to go in depth with Peter King on that.

We got a lot more coming up as well. Just fascinating stuff that we cover every day, including a lot of news.

BALDWIN: Fascinating. Yes, Wolf. We'll talk to you next hour and see what else you got going on. Thank you very much.

Coming up next, though, this is a horrific, horrific story out of Nebraska I wanted to share with you. You have these two young children in locked cages, forced to live like dogs, and what investigators found inside their family's home takes this case to a whole other level. We'll speak live with an investigator.

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BALDWIN: If you watch this show often enough, you know that we share stories like these stories that make me sad, make me mad, and I know it does you as well. They deal with children in troubling situations and the adults around them who let them down. We do this story just to remind every one of us that we can do better. So, I want to take this story. This is happening at a trailer park in North Platte, Nebraska. It's here where police say they found four children living in complete filth, ages 4 and 5 were found living in a kennel that you keep your dogs.

Take a look at these mug shots, four of them, four adults in jail right now in North Platte, Nebraska. They face all kinds of charges, from childhood abuse to false imprisonment.

This, though, this is Ashley Clark. This is the mom of the two kids police found in the cage. But let's not forget this very important point here. Four adults were in that trailer when police arrived, not a single one of the adults had called for help.

Here she is.

Lieutenant Rich Hgaglund is with the North Platte police. He joins me on the line from Nebraska.

And, Lieutenant, as you mentioned, in the dog kennel specifically, you have these little boys, 3 and 5 ages, in this wire kennel. I want to you describe it in detail, please.

LT. RICH HGAGLUND, NORTH PLATTE, NEBRASKA POLICE (via telephone): Well, when the officers arrived, they were allowed into the residence. Inside, they found that the residence reeked pretty bad from animal feces, urine, trash, that kind of thing.

When they actually were able to inspect the bedroom they found two boys ages 3 and 5 were at least sleeping in a SPCA type wire kennel, about 40 by 28 by 20 or by 30. And two boys were sleeping in there together on a little plastic covered mattress. This happened -- they were at least sleeping at that time. It was about 11:00 at night when the officers were contacted.

BALDWIN: So, I know the mother when she was arrested, she was brought in. Police asked her why she did this. What was her answer?

HGAGLUND: Well, at that time, she told the officers that she was basically trying to keep the kids from getting into stuff, she indicated to try to keep them from getting out of the trailer. But the officers felt that that wasn't probably that they wouldn't be able to climb out of the windows of this trailer any way. But that was initial contact with them, and that's what the officers were told.

BALDWIN: So, sir, beyond the filth and feces that you describe, were there any signs of physical abuse on any of these four children? Let's keep in mind, there was four children in total.

HGAGLUND: No, there was four children in total. There were only two that were in the wire kennel. They were sharing it together. There was no other physical abuse that we could see. The parents were charged, you know, obviously with child neglect due to the condition of the residence and the cruel confinement as far first-degree false imprisonment for felony charges for the felony child abuse based on the confinement of the two children.

BALDWIN: And this case -- let's bring this mug shot again. We have four adults. What are these four adults' relations to these kids?

HGAGLUND: Bryson and Samantha Ayton (ph) are parents to the children. Lacy Buyer (ph) is apparently a friend, is what we can find from the information, she was just living there. And then the other individual, Ashley Clark, is the mother of the two boys.

BALDWIN: OK. And just kudos to the neighbor who apparently didn't know these people but heard the screaming and called police.

My final question to you, Lieutenant, you've been a police officer for 36 years. Have you ever seen kids living in something like this?

HGAGLUND: Absent the wire cages, yes. We've seen situations where people don't take care of their animal feces, their animal urine, various stages throughout the year, it's not that unusual to find that situation from time to time. To find the kids being housed in an animal cage is a little different.

BALDWIN: Lieutenant Rich Hgaglund, North Platte, Nebraska, thank you so much for calling in.

Again, a reminder, we can do better. Coming up in the next seven minutes -- this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sometimes I get my up and downs. You have aches and pains everywhere. But it still hurts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: This little girl is facing a serious illness and finding a cure is harder for her because she's biracial. Soledad O'Brien reports.

Plus, a child left home alone scared that something is going to happen to her does something pretty drastic. The aftermath caught on this 911 call.

Also right now, we are waiting. We are mere minutes away from a big boom, as crews are getting ready to blow up the second tallest dam in U.S. history. Don't move. We'll be right back.

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BALDWIN: A bone marrow transplant can be tough even under the best of circumstances. But when the patient is mixed race, finding a suitable donor becomes much, much harder. In fact, in today's "Black in America," CNN's Soledad O'Brien has the story of this young girl who has to overcome great odds just to get the medical treatment she very much so needs.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) IMANI CORNELIUS, MDS PATIENT: One of my birthdays at Chuck E. Cheese.

SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT: Your mom is telling me, you love birthdays at Chuck E. cheese.

I. CORNELIUS: Yes.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Imani Cornelius just wants a normal childhood.

(on camera): You look like the perfectly healthy 11-year-old girl.

I. CORNELIUS: Yes.

O'BRIEN: Do you feel OK?

I. CORNELIUS: Yes, I'm OK. Sometimes I get my ups and downs. You have aches and pains everywhere. But it still hurts.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Imani has myelodyplastic syndrome or MDS, which means her bone marrow doesn't produce enough blood cells. It could lead to leukemia if she doesn't get a bone marrow transplant.

(on camera): How did you feel when they first diagnosed her?

DARRICK CORNELIUS, FATHER: It scared the heck out of me.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Finding a donor match is always difficult, but it's more difficult for Imani because she's biracial.

LEILA JONES, MANAGER, NMDP REPOSITORY: You know, with mixed race people, what it's so difficult is that there's so many possible combinations. So, just tissue type is very complex. That's one level.

And then if you match that with half of one ethnicity, half of another ethnicity, the number of possible combination just explodes into the millions.

O'BRIEN: Outreach groups like Mixed Marrow are trying to lower those odds.

ATHENA ASKLIPIADIS, FOUNDER/DIRECTOR, MIXED MARROW: Me being mixed race, I noticed there wasn't any current organization or outreach specifically targeting the mixed race community.

We do community events. We also do college events. And then do the donor drives there.

JONES: If you're of a mixed race background, you know, consider joining. It's really a wonderful --

O'BRIEN (on camera): All right. I'm in. You've talked me into it.

OK. That wasn't that hard.

JONES: Perfect. Perfect. O'BRIEN (voice-over): The check swab is easy. Waiting for a match is the hard part.

(on camera): How does that make you feel?

I. CORNELIUS: You feel like you're cut off from the rest of the world when they get to do what you can't do.

TAMMY BERNDT, MOTHER: We don't to have, you know, sympathy case. We want a cure.

O'BRIEN: And that's the bone marrow transplant?

BERNDT: That's the only cure, is a bone marrow transplant.

D. CORNELIUS: We need a donor.

O'BRIEN (voice-over): Reporting for "In America," Soledad O'Brien, CNN, Minneapolis.

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BALDWIN: Soledad O'Brien special report "Black in America" airs Sunday night, November 13th, 8:00 p.m. Eastern. It's called "The New Promised Land: Silicon Valley."

Top of the hour here on CNN, I'm Brooke Baldwin. Any minute now, we are watching live pictures. This is the Condit Dam, right along the Oregon-Washington border. We are waiting for the big boom, Chad Myers. Waiting, waiting, waiting. Again, what's the purpose of today's demolition?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well, it was going to cost $100 million to renovate this dam, $33 million to take it out. So, it was not worth redoing. They were going to have to redo it to put fish ladders in and all that.

And now everybody who is excited about steelhead salmon and all that, excited that this possibly could let the salmon run back up the river and having another spawning bed.

And they said, wait a minute, fish haven't lived here for so long, 100 years. How would you do that? They have actually taken fish from below the dam, netted them, taken up in the past couple of years and allowed them to swim up the stream and now new fish have new grounds that eventually in three or four or five more years, they will go back and they will spawn again.

BALDWIN: OK. Do me a favor. Be my eyes on this dam. As we know, it could happen any second time. We're going to move along, but, of course, we will bring you back to this live picture as soon as we see the big boom here on CNN.

Chad Myers, see you in a second.

MYERS: All right.