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Penn State Head Coach Fired; Rick Perry's Embarrassing Blunder; Defense of Marriage Act Vote; Finding the "Black Mark Zuckerberg"; Alleged Satanic Sex Stabbing; Colin Powell on 2012 Race; Deadline Looming for Deficit Cutters; Reality TV Explores U.S. Muslims
Aired November 10, 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, joining you live right now, as mentioned, from the nation's capital.
Let's get you caught up on everything making news at this hour, "Rapid Fire."
Let's go, beginning with a huge story this week. Head coach at Penn State, Joe Paterno, out. His plans to retire at the end of the season preempted by the board of trustees of the university.
The board stepping in amid charges of serial child sex allegations against a former longtime assistant, charges that Paterno knew about but never reported to police. The university president, out as well.
Much more live from Pennsylvania in just a matter of moments.
Also, armed kidnappers grab one of Major League Baseball's most promising rookies in Venezuela today. Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was taken from his family home just south of Caracas.
Ramos was home in Venezuela just to play with his winter team. No word yet on the kidnappers' demands. Ramos' abduction raises all kinds of questions about the safety of pro athletes playing in Venezuela.
And what a story this one is. At Dover Air Force Base, in Delaware, the Air Force admitting cremated body parts of dead troops were sometimes dumped in landfills as medical waste. The practice only applied to severed body parts.
Families were informed of the disposals, but not of that particular method. Top brass did address the disturbing revelation today on Capitol Hill.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. NORTON SCHWARTZ, U.S. AIR FORCE CHIEF OF STAFF: Secretary of the Air Force Mike Donley and I take personal responsibility for this. Our obligation is to treat our fallen with reverence and dignity and respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: The Air Force says it changed to burial at sea back in 2008. Much more on that story as well coming up in our second hour.
The National Archives has just released new Richard Nixon files, including transcripts of the former president's grand jury testimony back in 1975. Also released, nearly 45 minutes of audiotapes made by Nixon. Included in the collection is his recollection of an impulse visit to the Lincoln Memorial to visit anti-war protesters.
And later on in the show we're going to play you just a piece of that audio.
An ex-banker and former vice president of Europe's Central Bank is the new interim prime minister of Greece. Lucas Papademos says his main job is to implement a controversial European bailout. He has to sell the Greek parliament on this plan which calls for a new round of cost- cutting measures. If the bailout plan is passed, more Greek government workers will lose their jobs.
Celebrity chef Mario Batali is apologizing for saying bankers are like brutal dictators, specifically Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.
Here's what he said Tuesday as part of TIME's "Person of the Year" panel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIO BATALI, CHEF: So, the way the bankers have kind of toppled the way money is distributed, and taken most of it into their own hands, is as good as Stalin or Hitler and the evil guys.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Well, of course now he is apologizing via Twitter. Take a look.
He tweets, "To remove any ambiguity about my appearance at yesterday's TIME Person of the Year panel, I want to apologize for my remarks. It was never my intention to equate our banking industry with Hitler and Stalin, two of the most evil, brutal dictators in modern history."
Let's go to eastern Turkey. A race against time there to save more than 100 people buried in the rubble by that 5.7 quake. At least seven people are confirmed dead. The aftershock collapsed more than a dozen buildings damaged in last month's 7.1 earthquake.
And new revelations about Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and her recovery from January's shooting in Tucson. In an excerpt from the new memoir she co-wrote with her husband, Giffords reveals she was desperate to be a mother. She wanted to have a child. She had been undergoing fertility treatments when she was shot. She also describes the intense struggle to regain the ability to speak.
Prince William putting his Royal Air Force training to good use next year. He is being deployed to the Falkland Islands. The British Defense Ministry says the prince will be there for a total of six weeks. It will be no frills for Will. He's going to be living in basics military facilities. Prince William will have to be back in the U.K. for the queen's Diamond Jubilee next June, marking her 60-year reign.
And we are just a couple of minutes here live in Washington, D.C., a special edition for this show for us. Got a lot more to cover for you in the next two hours, including this --
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN (voice-over): The head coach is fired --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the first time in 60 years, Coach Paterno will not be coaching.
BALDWIN: -- the president removed.
JOHN P. SURMA, JR., VICE CHAIRMAN, PENN STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Joe Paterno is no longer the head football coach, effective immediately.
BALDWIN: -- and students are rioting. Penn State is unraveling over child rape charges against a former assistant coach.
Plus, two young women are accused of kidnapping a teenager and torturing him for two days, cutting him 300 times.
Plus, the new reality show "All-American Muslim." We'll talk live to cast members about the risks of coming out as Muslims on national television.
And the man behind this incredible video, the surfer who broke records riding a 90-foot wave.
The news starts now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: As we first suggested yesterday, Joe Paterno will never coach football ever again at Penn State University. This time yesterday, Paterno was saying he would quit at the end of the year under the heavy weight of serial child sex allegations against a longtime former assistant coach.
So, we asked the question then, should Paterno be allowed to coach at all? Well, guess what? We got the answer last night, 8:15 p.m.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SURMA: Joe Paterno is no longer the head football coach, effective immediately.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: You hear some of that yelling? That set off pandemonium outside.
What seemed to begin as a tribute to Joe Paterno quickly descended into chaos in this normally placid town of State College, Pennsylvania. Students flipped a news van, chanted expletives. Look at the crowd trying to take down that light pole.
At the same time, a recognition of these horrendous allegations seems to be sinking in. I want to you listen quickly to the newly named interim head football coach, Tom Bradley, speaking late this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM BRADLEY, INTERIM PENN STATE FOOTBALL COACH: And first off, I grieve for the victims. I grieve for the families. I'm deeply saddened by that. It's with great emotion that I say that.
And, you know, the football part, we will get working on that right away. Right now, I think you should know where our team is toward this whole issue and is toward those children, toward their families. And our thoughts and our prayers are with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Let's go straight, live, to the Penn State campus.
Jason Carroll, you've been there all week long covering this. I mean, talk about the last really 12 hours. I mean, if you can, just set the mood for me there. Is it anger? Is it bitterness? Or do students there realize there really may have been no choice at all but to fire Coach Paterno?
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Honestly, Brooke, I think it's a combination of all three of what you just mentioned there.
Today, obviously things feel much calmer out here. But then, all of a sudden, just when you think it's calm, you'll have a student who will walk just behind our camera here and give us the finger or shout some sort of obscenity.
So a lot of the anger is still here. A lot of that anger directed at the board of trustees and directed at the media, because a lot of the feeling was too much attention was focused on Paterno, and not enough attention was focused on the man at the center of the investigation, Jerry Sandusky.
But if that is the case, I asked the Penn State student body president, why, then, flip over news vans in terms of taking out your anger in that way? Why not find a way of having a vigil, or finding a more decent way to express yourself?
Well, that is the question I posted to the student body president. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: In term of taking ownership of you what you do -- T.J. BARD, PENN STATE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT: Yes?
CARROLL: -- there could very easily have been a candlelight vigil here for the victims last night, and that would have been a way to show support for the victims. How do you show support for victims by turning over a news van?
BARD: I think that -- it's a great question, and I think it's something that a lot of students are struggling with.
CARROLL: OK.
BARD: I think, fundamentally, it's just the emotions are running so high in the student body. There's so many questions that are really unanswered in the community, and students just don't know how to react. They haven't really been guided by anyone in this institution as of now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL: So I think that's what some students are looking for this morning, Brooke, looking for a little bit of guidance in terms of how to deal with everything that's happening. You've got the victims you've got to deal with, you have got this beloved man at this university who is no longer going to be allowed to coach. You've got to remember, some of these people are young and trying to find ways to deal with a lot of what's happening here.
BALDWIN: Sure. And I think, Jason, to your point, let's steer the conversation back to the center of the story, which is, as you mentioned, former defensive coach, defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.
I mean, bring me up to speed as far as where those allegations stand. Are there any new details today and any more alleged victims?
CARROLL: Well, as you know, Brooke, Sandusky is out on $100,000 bail. And a source close to the investigation has told me that even though he is currently charged with assaulting, sexually assaulting eight victims, we are told there have been calls into the tip lines from more than a dozen people saying they, too, were victimized by Sandusky.
So this investigation is not over. And I think when things start to die down about who is resigning, who is staying, who is going, the thrust of this story is going to turn back to what it really should all be about, and that is the victims and this man at the center of this investigation -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: I want to pause. Let's take a quick look, Jason, at some of what happened in the hours following the big announcement that Paterno is out.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SURMA: The board of trustees and Graham Spanier have decided that, effective immediately, Dr. Spanier is no longer president of the university. In addition, Joe Paterno is no longer the head football coach, effective immediately.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: We want Joe! We want Joe!
BRADLEY: With very mixed emotion and a heavy heart that this has occurred, that I'm going through this, I just want to do the best job I can do for this football team.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: We want Joe! We want Joe!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're here to get Joe Pa for our last home game. He's (INAUDIBLE) the season. Let him play his last game. It's that simple.
UNIDENTIFIED GROUP: Joe Paterno! Joe Paterno!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's right. We want Joe! We want Joe!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's been absolutely crazy. It's really overwhelming. It's hard to study. It's hard to concentrate.
But you know what? I'm here for my school. I'm going to stand behind my school.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But I love Joe Pa and I love Graham Spanier. To see such two amazing figureheads go, and such a disastrous thing for our Penn State community, and just for the student population in general --
JOE PATERNO, FMR. HEAD COACH, PENN STATE: Thanks. And pray a little bit for those victims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coach!
PATERNO: We are Penn State!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BALDWIN: Gosh. I mean, just the emotions, Jason, the anger, the passion these young people have for this man, 84 years of age. Does the depth of the anger speak to the love, the respect they have for him? I suppose that's not so unusual in a place like State College.
CARROLL: No, not so unusual at all. I think the larger question becomes, Brooke, if you believe what the attorney general has laid out in their grand jury report, and that this man, Jerry Sandusky, is guilty of sexually assaulting these young boys, where is the outrage and the anger for them?
And I wonder, Brooke, if a number of these students who are young will look back at that tape at some point and realize, was that the best way to represent their school? And was that the best way to think about the victims? Imagine what the victims, if they are out there, are feeling when they see images like that.
BALDWIN: That's a good point, Jason Carroll.
Jason Carroll for us in State College.
Thank you so much.
Let's talk politics. One-time GOP front-runner GOP Rick Perry squirmed. Is that the appropriate word here? We'll call it squirming for nearly a minute as he tried to remember his own plan to shrink the government.
One man who certainly knows Perry best joins me live, next.
Plus, tied up and tortured for two days, that is what two women are in jail for. They're accused of holding this young man captive for 48 hours. Detail on that horrific story coming up.
Plus this --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming down, I didn't really realize it was as big as it was. Somehow, by the grace of God, I made it through.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Yes. I kind of feel like "big" is an understatement when you look at that. What is it like to ride a wave nine stories tall? We're going to ask the guy who did it. He pulled it off in Portugal. He's going to join me live.
Stay tuned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Rick Perry has done it again. He had another awkward moment in a televised debate. Maybe the worst yet. You could call it -- let's call it a brain freeze. Watch and listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And I will tell you, it's three agencies of government when I get there that are gone: Commerce, Education, and the -- what's the third one there? Let's see.
(LAUGHTER)
RON PAUL (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: You need five.
PERRY: Oh, five. OK. So Commerce, Education, and the --
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: EPA?
PERRY: EPA, there you go. No.
JOHN HARWOOD, MODERATOR: Seriously, is EPA the one you were talking about?
PERRY: No, sir. No, sir. We are talking about the agencies of government. The EPA needs to be rebuilt. There's no doubt about that.
HARWOOD: But you can't name the third one?
PERRY: The third agency of government, I would do away with the Education, the --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Commerce.
PERRY: Commerce. And let's see -- I can't. The third one I can't. Sorry. Oops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Oh, "oops" is right.
Let me read you a couple of quotes here. Steve Schmidt, veteran GOP strategist, "I think his campaign just ended."
Political Science's Larry Sabato at the University of Virginia, "Painful, embarrassing, like a stricken high school student."
Wayne Slater, "Dallas Morning News," "Mr. Texas Politics," we'll call you, with us now live.
Wayne, Wayne, Wayne. When Rick Perry officially entered the race in August, a lot of folks thought he would blow doors. Instead, he keeps blowing tires.
What is going on with your state's governor?
WAYNE SLATER, "DALLAS MORNING NEWS": It's unbelievable. I am actually at this moment with Mitt Romney. Maybe I've switched candidates. I'm at a wonderful Polish-American center in Troy, Michigan.
I mean, "oops" is right. This is astonishing.
I have to say that much of what I've seen over the last couple of -- the last few weeks has not totally surprised me, but this did, this total inability to debate, to keep his mind on things, these brain freezes. This is not the Rick Perry I've seen in the past.
And to be serious for just a moment, I think in part it's because Rick Perry has been sort of in a bubble for the last 10 years. He easily can win elections, no problem. And so his political team has discouraged him from engaging in debates, engaging in exchanges with the media, dealing with editorial boards. And this is what you get in the end, a guy who's not ready.
BALDWIN: So, it's one thing to be the governor of Texas for many a year, it's quite another to strive to be the president of the United States. You mentioned the last couple of weeks, Wayne Slater. Lest we forget, Rick Perry is still trying to live down this one, this YouTube sensation. We've got to take you back to October 28th. It was Manchester, New Hampshire.
Let's roll it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PERRY: You know, it's pretty easy math. Subtract it, send it in. It's awesome.
Why not?
That little plan that I just shared with you doesn't force the Granite State to expand your tax footprint if you know what I mean. Like nine percent in expansion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: OK. The narrative was supposed to be that Perry had all this money to burn, he would use to it his advantage, flood the airwaves with TV and radio spots, rise in the polls.
But, Wayne, what's the use of all the money if he continues to look less and less presidential?
SLATER: Well, you're exactly right. He's burning it.
I mean, this campaign, more than any campaign that I have seen at a presidential level, certainly in the last few decades, is one in which the debates have defined the event. There are candidates who barely have a real, sort of what we would traditionally call a campaign operation. And their basic campaign is to show up at debates, and they're doing pretty darn well with that.
Now, this is a real -- an amazing problem. I don't think it's over for him, but I think this is not necessarily the end. But I do think you can see it from here.
BALDWIN: You mentioned, Wayne, you're in Troy, Michigan -- I guess you mentioned facetiously you're switching candidates -- at this Romney event. Have you had a chance to talk to the Romney folks? I mean, did they expect this kind of implosion we've been seeing from Rick Perry? I mean, are they saying anything, or are they just kind of standing by silently and watching?
SLATER: Yes, they are. I mean, remember, this event that I'm at right now, a lot of Reagan Democrats, some moderate conservatives from Michigan. And these are folks who knew Romney's dad, some of them, or recall or remember when Romney's father was the governor of Michigan.
And I have to say, I was surprised when I talked to several people here and they basically were giving Perry a pass on this night last night. They said, well, this kind of thing happens. But one woman -- and this can maybe manifest itself and represents the upper Midwest -- one very delightful woman I talked to said, "The thing I really think about Perry is, he is from Texas, and those Texans are really proud. And I don't like that."
So I think they sort of Texas myth of, you know, mythology is something that doesn't play well up here in the upper Midwest.
BALDWIN: Hey, quickly, Wayne, did you hear CNN was able to confirm that Perry, in fact, will be doing the "Top Ten List" on The Late Show tonight? Will you be watching?
SLATER: You betcha, I'll be watching. It sounds absolutely great. I assume it's the top ten reasons why he forgets stuff and I can only imagine --
BALDWIN: Maybe he'll just do one through seven.
SLATER: What is it?
BALDWIN: Maybe he'll just do one through seven.
SLATER: Yes. Well, actually, he can always say, look, I forgot because I was distracted because Herman Cain put his hand on my knee. So maybe that will work.
BALDWIN: Ooh. Wayne Slater, we'll all be watching. Thank you so much from Troy, Michigan.
Our guy that covers all things Rick Perry.
We cannot overlook Herman Cain at last night's Republican debate. This was his first debate since those allegations surfaced of sexual harassment dating all the way back to the late 1990s. Cain was stone- faced, he was defiant. And when moderators put the sensitive issue to Cain, the audience seemed to relish his response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA BARTIROMO, MODERATOR: Why should the American people hire a president if they feel there are character issues?
HERMAN CAIN (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The American people deserve better than someone being tried in the court of public opinion based on unfounded accusations.
(APPLAUSE)
CAIN: And I value my character and my integrity more than anything else.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Lawyers for two of Cain's accusers say the women are considering holding a news conference to tell their side of the story. And we know the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, as it's often referred to, it's a union between a man and a woman. But a Senate panel has just voted to repeal it. That happening today on the Hill.
Is this a tipping point for same-sex marriage? We're going to ask the first openly gay man to serve this country as a U.S. ambassador.
Plus, a bit of breaking news by this man here. Piers Morgan quits, but it's not what you're thinking. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: As expected, a Senate committee voted 10-8 today to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. That's the federal law defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman.
The vote was strict party lines. The repeal effort is not expected to get much further through Congress, especially not in the Republican majority House.
I want to bring in former Ambassador James Hormel. He is the author of "Fit to Serve, Reflections on A Private Life, Private Struggle and Public Balance to Become the First Openly Gay U.S. Ambassador."
He is good enough to join me today live from New York. Mr. Ambassador, it's nice to meet you. I know your good friend, Senator Diane Feinstein, the bill's chief sponsor.
Even she says she doesn't have the votes for a full passage. So for you, what does today's vote on the Defense of Marriage Act, what does it mean for you?
JAMES HORMEL, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LUXEMBOURG: Well, thanks for having me on, Brooke. What it means to me is a great start, actually for a bill like this to get out of committee hearings is a major move.
The so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which is patently unconstitutional is one of the worst pieces of legislation that we've ever had in this administration or in any other. So getting rid of it will be a blessing for our constitutional republic.
BALDWIN: I want to get back to Defense of Marriage Act, but I do just want to ask you about your story. I know in your book "Fit to Serve," it was the late '90s. You had your eye on this diplomatic post and you could have gone, as I've read, to Bermuda.
I hear there are pretty beaches there. You could have taken a general counsel job, right. But instead you wanted an ambassadorship even if that meant facing a pretty nasty battle over your nomination. How brutal was that?
HORMEL: Yes, it was not -- even though it was also because -- because I felt that it was important for the Senate to go on the record on a nomination of that kind.
BALDWIN: Why? HORMEL: Unfortunately, they didn't. Unfortunately, they managed to block a vote from coming to the Senate floor for almost two years, until finally the president did a recess appointment.
BALDWIN: Right. He did the recess appointment. But at the time, I mean, you were willing to that take risk, put yourself out there as the first openly gay potential hopeful ambassador. What was that like for you?
HORMEL: Well, as I describe it in the book, it was not fun at all, but at the same time, I felt that it was very much worth it. Every time I visited the State Department, somebody would come up to me and say, I can't tell how much we appreciate what you're doing for us, for the in service officers. That by itself made it worth it for me.
BALDWIN: On the flip side though, sir, well, how ugly did it get?
HORMEL: Well, it got pretty ugly. Pat Robertson went on the 700 Club and told people that I was a pedophile advocate. And that was one of many charges that were just shamelessly drawn out of thin air.
And put out as if they were real. So I heard a lot of that and I had to say to myself, well, they're talking about something, they're not talking about me.
BALDWIN: Are you hopeful, Mr. Ambassador, that the Defense of Marriage Act will be repealed in your lifetime?
HORMEL: I'm very hopeful. I'm very hopeful. I'm approaching 80 and nonetheless, I'm hopeful. I think that the law is so bad that people are beginning to recognize that all it does is deny equal rights to a whole constituency.
And when people realize that, when they realize that being gay is not a choice that we make, being gay, like being left-handed, is innate then when people come to that understanding, I think many more will be supportive.
And frankly, I believe the general public is way ahead of its legislators on this now. I don't know why Republican senators and Congress people are so afraid to go on record about this. They ought to show a little courage themselves.
BALDWIN: Former Ambassador James Hormel's book is "Fit to Serve." Mr. Ambassador, thank you so much.
HORMEL: You're very welcome.
BALDWIN: How about this story? This is a tough one. A man allegedly tortured and held for two days, escapes, calls 911. Now two women are accused of a sadistic crime. The sort of details coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: The world of new media still very much so one dominated by young white men. Now a couple young business leaders are giving minorities an on-ramp to the information super highway.
Soledad O'Brien introduces them to us in this preview of her "Black in America" special.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this unassuming three bedroom home in Mountain View, California, Angela Benton and Wayne Sutton hope to make history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here? See what this thing looks like.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One of them was supposed to be a sofa bed.
O'BRIEN: The friends connected online. Two black internet entrepreneurs trying to succeed in an overwhelmingly white industry.
ANGELA BENTON, CO-FOUNDER, NEWME ACCELERATOR: For whatever reason, African-Americans tend to be consumers of technology and not really creators of technology.
WAYNE SUTTON, CO-FOUNDER, NEWME ACCELERATOR: Name me one black web tech founder or start up CEO? Here's the example of a black Mark Zuckerberg?
O'BRIEN: Last year, only 1 percent of internet start ups that received funding were funded by African-Americans. So Angela and Wayne created the New Media Accelerator, NewMe for short. A ground breaking program designed to speed up the development and success of minority-led start-ups in Silicon Valley.
BENTON: If you're going to be an actor, you go to L.A. If you're going to be in fashion, you go to New York. If you're going to be in technology, then you come to Silicon Valley.
O'BRIEN: Modelled after similar programs, NewMe offers its dot com founder's immediate access to deep pocketed investors, well connected mentors, and opens doors at some of the most successful internet companies in the world. The down side?
BENTON: Everyone will be living together.
O'BRIEN: Eight people, nine weeks, one house, one goal, changing the face of Silicon Valley.
BENTON: For it to be successful to me, founders have to get investment.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks for your enthusiasm for coming to Google.
O'BRIEN: The high stakes program backed by sponsors culminates in demo day when each entrepreneur will have just six minutes to pitch their company to a roomful of investors. For "In America," Soledad O'Brien, CNN, Silicon Valley.
(END VIDEOTAPE) (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: I want to you look at these two women. These are two Milwaukee women. They're in jail accused of luring an 18-year-old man into their apartment, tying him up, and torturing him for 48 hours.
Police say he was cut, he was stabbed and slashed more than 300 times during this alleged satanic sexual encounter before he was able to manage to escape, find a phone and call 911.
According to court documents, one of the women admitting to cutting the man during consensual sex, but she claimed her roommate who says, is apparently into satanic rituals, joined in and the cutting got a little out of hand.
Police found knives, bloody robe, duct tape and a cult book, and the "Werewolves Guide to Life" inside this apartment. Milwaukee polices will not comment on the case.
We called, they're not talking, but our affiliate, WISN says charges are expected in this case by the end of this week.
Colin Powell, a pillar of the George W. Bush years, secretary of state for half of them, but remember when he shook things up by endorsing Obama back in 2008?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL COLIN POWELL, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the -- on to the world stage, on to the American stage. For that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So one whole election cycle later, is he going to rock the boat or is he going to endorse Obama yet again? CNN's own Piers Morgan got an exclusive interview with Mr. Powell. Here is just a preview.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PIERS MORGAN, HOST, CNN'S "PIERS MORGAN TONIGHT": The argument people have with Barack Obama, who you supported, is that he hasn't fought back against the modern weapon, which is multimedia, the internet, all these things. He hasn't beaten his chest and behaved like you would in a battlefield.
POWELL: I think that's a fair criticism of the president. He is somebody who was used to getting people to compromise and seeing if we cannot quietly find a way in almost a lawyerly manner. But he still has that spark. He still has that enthusiasm about the country and about his job that got him elected in the first place.
(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: And you can watch that entire interview tonight 9:00 Eastern when Colin Powell answers the many, many more questions including where he was when Osama Bin Laden was killed.
Watch as Colin Powell sits down with our colleague, Piers Morgan, right here at CNN 9 p.m. Eastern Time. Speaking of that Piers Morgan, he is also saying a very big goodbye.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MORGAN: I can exclusively reveal that I'm leaving "America's Got Talent." I've been a judge since the show began six years ago. I've loved every single second.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: He will be focusing more on news and CNN and the 2012 election just like he's doing tonight with General Powell. You're going to be seeing all of his efforts, of course, right here on CNN. So much more of that. Also, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Being in Dearborne has allowed to us practice our faith without losing our sense of American patriotism.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Have you heard about this upcoming TV show? What is life like as a Muslim-American? We're going to ask a couple who is getting the chance to share a look into the Muslim life in America. This is all part of this big reality show. Stay tuned that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: All right, let's go not too far away from where I'm sitting here in our Washington studios. Let's go to Capitol Hill and bring in CNN's congressional correspondent, Kate Bolduan to talk about something she's been talking a lot about, the "Super Committee" and efforts to find ways to cut the country's deficit.
Obviously, Kate, no laughing matter. Is there any news today? That dead line is looming November 23rd.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The deadline is looming and that's of course the headline, looming over all the news that comes out of these negotiations. The clock is ticking.
The "Super Committee" is under deadline and they are also under huge pressure to get something done. The latest here is that Democrats and Republicans on the committee have been trading offers if you will.
For the first time this week, Republicans put tax increases on the table. Something they call a major concession. Something some Democrats even say is significant in these negotiations because that has been a major sticking point throughout the talks here of how they can get more revenue.
Will Republicans put more revenue on the table? But I should warn you, of course, unfortunately the bad news here, that doesn't mean they're necessarily any closer to a deal as some Democrats are accusing Republicans more of a PR effort to show that they're working rather than engaging in substantive negotiating.
My colleague, Deidre Walsh, she caught up with the top Democrat in the Senate, just a short time ago, Harry Reid who called the Republican offer of tax increases, quote, "phony" saying that he isn't encouraged by it at all.
I'll tell you bottom line, the co-chairs of the committee, Brooke, Republicans as well as the Democrats, they say that they're still working. We spoke to them today. They're still working, they're still talking. They understand the deadline.
And both sides say they've already made major concessions, Democrats offering entitlement cuts, Republicans now offering tax increases. The problem here is, of course, both sides say other has not offered enough.
So in the meantime, they seem to be - both sides seem to be engaged in a bit of a jockeying for position on who should be to blame if the "Super Committee" fails. We are watching. I know you are and the clock is ticking -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: The old line in the sand. Kate Bolduan, thank you. You talk politics here in Washington. I don't really not talk politics, but in other cities, I know sometimes, you're brought up. You don't really talk politics and religion at dinner, let's say. But what if you're an American-Muslim? Can you avoid it? Two new stars, they're about to be stars. Just regular folks who live in Dearborn, Michigan.
They're all part of this new show, "All American Muslim." They're going to join me. Share their story. What's the purpose of this new show? We'll find out next.
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BALDWIN: This upcoming Sunday, get ready for the latest entry into the world of reality television. This slice of real life will not take you inside the secret lives of celebrities or behind the scenes of high maintenance housewives. You take a look yourself.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The city of Dearborn, Michigan. Dearborn is a whole other world. Number one most concentrated community of Muslims outside the Middle East. Being in Dearborn has allowed us to practice our faith without losing our sense of American patriotism.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: After 9/11, the environment was a bit more hostile.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unexpected unrest at the international festival in Dearborn.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say we're Muslim. We're barbaric or we're terrorists.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It got bad.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So I want to bring Shadia and Jeff McDermott. They are a semi-newly married couple, right? They told me on the commercial break, the day was July 3rd so congrats to both of you.
Taking part in the TLC series, it is called "All American Muslim." If McDermott doesn't exactly sound like your typical Muslim name, as they laugh, Jeff converted.
And that's part of the show. Shadia, my first question to you, you know, when TLC first approached you, said they wanted to make should show. How did they pitch it to you? What was your initial response?
SHADIA MCDERMOTT, TLC'S "ALL AMERICAN MUSLIM": Well, when TLC had pitched it to us, we are pretty interested because my family has been very active in the community and trying to dispel misconceptions all our lives.
With it being TLC, it was a lot more comforting for us. I think that was a big selling point for us. It is a great opportunity for everybody to come in, get into our homes, get into our hearts and see how normal we really are. Well, some of us.
BALDWIN: So part of your story, right, is the fact that Jeff converted. And as you sort of say in this initial show, he wasn't like all the Muslim boys. You wanted to marry him.
Therefore, he had to convert. You're this modern couple. But the show features some very, very religious people as well. Both Jeff and Shadia, what do you want people to take away from this?
SHADIA MCDERMOTT: For me, I would hope that this show will open the minds of people who are curious and who don't have the opportunity to ask others questions that they've been wondering. I want people to see a Muslim and not be afraid to smile. We're just like everybody else. We really are.
JEFF MCDERMOTT, TLC'S "ALL AMERICAN MUSLIM": I would love to dispel any misconceptions about Muslims and Arab-American community.
BALDWIN: Jeff, the show doesn't shy away from what must have been a pretty tough moment for you and your mom. Was she, let's say, a little hesitant that you wanted to convert? Is that putting it lightly?
JEFF MCDERMOTT: She was very hesitant at first about it as many of us were. It was something that I was full blown ready to do it. I took a lot of time researching and learning about the religion. And I spent a lot of time talking with her parents, her family, and her extended family about it and I felt it was the right decision. My mother supported it. She supported me. She loves the family.
BALDWIN: Final question for both of you, when you look at the title of the show. Something I was thinking about. You know, it's called "All American Muslim." When you talk to some Americans, you know, they may say that's an oxymoron.
Doing my homework to talk to you two, you know, apparently TLC has said they've gotten hate mail that they're even doing the show. What's your message for Americans on both sides here?
SHADIA MCDERMOTT: You know, it's amazing to me that people think that you cannot be American and Muslim because this country was founded on being able to have the freedom of religions and we work like everybody else.
We follow the laws of land like everybody else. You know, for the few lunatics who hijack the religion's name and did all these bad things, we don't claim them. You know, we are a very diverse people. We're very different.
JEFF MCDERMOTT: And give the show a chance. It hasn't even aired yet before you make your decision about it, please.
BALDWIN: Speaking of Sunday, TLC. What time?
JEFF MCDERMOTT: It's 10:00.
SHADIA MCDERMOTT: It's 10:00 Eastern Time.
BALDWIN: It's 10:00 Eastern. Jeff and Shadia, thank you so much.
So imagine this. Imagine being on top of that wave, 90 feet. The ride was record-breaking. We're going to talk to the man who makes it look like no big deal next.
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BALDWIN: I can't get enough of this next video we're going to show you. This is what's trending. Watch this with me. This is breathtaking. This big wave surfer, Garrett McNamara look at him go. This wave, just to put it in perspective, it is 90 feet.
This is a world record. He may be a pro on the giant waves, but this, of course, off the coast of Portugal. This was ridiculous!
Garrett McNamara joins me live from Portugal. Nice, with your board behind you. All I thought when I saw this, dude, are you nuts? Were you nervous?
GARRETT MCNAMARA, BIG WAVE SURFER: That wave, everything just came together perfect. So it was like a perfect moment. Everything, I was not really nervous at all, to tell you the truth. BALDWIN: So, from what I understand, the waves off Portugal, you can't paddle out to them. You have to be taken on a Jet Ski to hop on. Is that correct?
MCNAMARA: Yes. Yes. These waves are just not humanly possible to catch. You can't even get out to them. And then if you got out to them, there is no way to paddle into them.
BALDWIN: So, you know, I have been on a board for like 0.2 seconds before falling off myself. Here you are on a 90-foot wave. How long were you riding the wave and what in the world was it like?
MCNAMARA: Well, I would say about 20, 30 seconds. And it was like riding down a black diamond mogul, icy black diamond, and the mountain is moving and chasing you the whole way down and you're trying to stay under it and stay close to it without letting it crush you. Maybe that can put it into perspective for everybody out there.
BALDWIN: And are you holding your breath? And what are you looking at?
MCNAMARA: The whole time I was looking at the bumps. It's like looking at the moguls to make sure you don't hit them wrong. And this wave took so long to get to the bottom, I actually had a few seconds to look back at the wave two or three times, which I never really get to do. I usually just get to the bottom and turn.
This one took forever. So I actually got to see, check it out and go, OK, am I all right, am I in the right place?
BALDWIN: I feel you reliving this, Garrett. What in the world is next for you? How do you top 90 feet?
MCNAMARA: I don't know. I'm trying to figure it out. I'm not sure.
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MCNAMARA: We're going to have to go back home to Hawaii and surf for Eddie Aikau at the Waimea Bay Eddie Aikau Invitational. That's what I'm hoping to do next.
BALDWIN: All right. As my California surfer friends, they would say, you caught some serious stoke.
Garrett McNamara, bravo. Thank you so much. Good talking to you.
MCNAMARA: Right on. Thank you.
BALDWIN: Thank you.
Now this:
