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Deadly Clashes in Egypt; 652 Confirmed Dead in Philippines; Payroll Tax Cut Extension in Danger; Major Winter Storm Expected; No Payroll Tax Cut Extension Could Impact Economy; No Pre-nup Could Effect Kobe Bryant Divorce Settlement; McQueary Takes Stand in Sandusky Preliminary Hearing; An NFL Player Is Accused of Being a Big- Time Drug Dealer

Aired December 18, 2011 - 18:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Don Lemon. Thank you so much for joining us here in THE CNN NEWSROOM.

We'll start with this: the brutal beating of protesters in Cairo caught on tape, fueling the fury in Egypt. At least 11 people have been killed since Friday, the violence means all bets are off for Egypt's political future.

Journalist Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, excuse me, joins me now by telephone. We spoke yesterday, Mohamed. And so, now, this video and the fact that people are -- it's being caught on tape, it's really fueling what's going on there?

MOHAMED FADEL FAHMY, JOURNALIST (via telephone): Well, since we spoke, Don, the clashes have still been on going between the protesters and the police and the army. Today, the video we acquired -- CNN -- the video of the woman that was beaten severely and stripped of a substantial amount of her clothes, I spoke to the man who filmed the video, and he was very devastated because when he was filming he saw how brutal the army was. They were beating elderly, children, and the girl herself was extremely beaten.

Just now, I spoke to a friend of hers, and she told me that the girl does not want to speak to the media. She's worried that the situation might be escalated. Her parents still don't even know what happened to her. They don't know she's the one in the video, especially that the picture has been on the front page of several newspapers here in Cairo and it has fueled a lot of rage. And many protesters I spoke with

LEMON: Mohamed, hold on one second. Can you hold on a second here?

FAHMY: -- actually joined the protest only because of that video -- Don.

LEMON: Can you hold on?

We should have warned our viewers. If you have kids in the room, this is very disturbing images. Can we take this down for a second please? Come back on camera here. Sorry.

If you have kids in the room, you may want to take them out. I didn't realize how horrifying that video is.

Mohamed, we'll continue. And as people get their kids out of the room, we'll talk about it.

This doesn't usually happen with women in that culture, right?

FAHMY: I mean, this is an Islamic conservative country. It's a shocker for people to wake up and see that even the man in the army officer is stomping her stomach after her torso is revealed.

And I personally was also running away from the army at that time when this attack was happening. And I saw an elderly woman being beaten, I saw doctors being beaten. The army has clearly gone aggressive, and they have really gone all out, if I may say.

And people don't understand why this is happening. Egyptians in general have a saying that the army and the people are one hand. This definitely has changed in the past day.

As for the situation today, 11 people are killed with -- most of them are killed with live ammo. Just a while ago, I spoke to the lawyer for one of the people who died in police custody because of torture wounds. Lawyers are urging the prosecutors to transfer the wounded detainees to hospitals. The prosecutors are refusing to do that -- Don.

LEMON: It's very tough to continue to look at this video. But I have to ask you, you said her family doesn't know. You spoke to her friend. Any repercussions at least, do we know for now, anything going to be done because of the video? At least now you see it on videotape?

FAHMY: Well, basically the situation is that when I spoke to the military and I questioned them about why they're doing that and specifically about that specific incident. The military were unapologetic. They were saying why is a woman like that in a conflict area? She must have been throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks.

I think the media exposed the military for what they're doing. Yesterday, they were clamping down on journalists, beating journalists, confiscating their cameras because they knew that that's the only way they're going to be exposed is through the eye of Western and local journalists -- Don.

LEMON: And they have, the library that was burned yesterday, any update on that and any other buildings? Because these were historic buildings that were burned.

FAHMY: Yes. The library, I was there at the site today to see what happened. It's a 200-year-old library with manuscripts that can't be replaced. Today, there was a rescue mission ongoing as we speak. Many protesters and residents have been trying to salvage whatever is left from these books and manuscripts that is clearly a big loss to Egypt as a nation.

And, you know, they are trying to save whatever they can. There are people who are -- the churches are helping, the mosques are helping. And it's basically finger-pointing, again, the military saying the protesters caused the loss, the protesters saying the military caused the loss because the military was actually on the rooftop of the library building throwing chairs and glass bottles at the protesters. So, they were responding back with Molotov cocktails and rocks -- Don.

LEMON: Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, thank you very much. We appreciate you joining us.

And, again, I want to apologize to the viewer, not for showing the video, but I should have given you a little bit of a warning ahead of that video, just in case you did not want to look at. So, thank you for bearing with us here and thanks again to Mohamed.

In the meantime, in New York City tonight, one of the most terrible heartless crimes we have ever reported. An elderly woman doused with a flammable liquid and then set on fire inside an elevator. Police have made an arrest in the fatal attack. Apparently, the woman owed the man a couple thousand dollars.

And I should warn you the facts you're about to hear in this report from our affiliate, WCBS, extremely disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVE CARLIN, WCBS REPORTER (voice-over): A horrifying crime caught on tape. Police releasing three images of a man entering the elevator at 203 Underhill Avenue. There in his hand, a container of flammable liquid.

What you can't see is a helpless victim, a beloved fifth floor tenant, burned alive as the man fled the scene. The victim's neighbor John also lives on the fifth floor. He was home when he heard screaming around 4:00 p.m.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I smell smoke like electrical fire. I go back outside. I see smoke pouring out of the elevator. Go back on my apartment, call 911.

Myself and someone from the sixth floor, we were running down knocking on everyone's door to get out, you know, knocking on door, telling people there's a fire, get out, get out.

CARLIN: Neighbor Carmen Martinez says she knew the victim.

CARMEN MARTINEZ, NEIGHBOR (through translator): She was real nice. I know her for 30 years. She used to give toys and gifts to the kids all the time.

CARLIN: Police say the victim was returning from a shopping trip. The elevator doors opened and the man douses her with a flammable liquid using a lighter to set her on fire. The victim lives with one of her two adult sons. Police believe she knew the man who killed her.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: WCBS' Dave Carlin reporting there.

The suspect is 47-year-old Jerome Isaac. Police say he claims he was owed $2,000 for work he did for the woman. Much more on this horrifying story next hour when we'll speak with NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne. You don't want to miss that.

All right. We want to go to the Philippines. The death toll rising rapidly from a devastating tropical storm that engulfed the islands just this weekend. More than 650 people are now confirmed dead. At least 125,000 people have been displaced or otherwise impacted.

Maria Ressa joins us now by telephone.

And, Maria, the images really so disturbing, the destruction just mind-boggling there. Are people getting any help?

MARIA RESSA, JOURNALIST (via telephone): They are, but it is difficult to deal with this devastation. This third day since walls of thick muddy water erased coastal villages. It's just an hour after sunrise. People are still struggling to cope.

But more than 800 people are still missing. They're looking for their loved ones. But with each passing day, the chances of finding them are slimmer.

Thirty-five thousand people are in evacuation centers. In one city, an evacuation center is also functioning as the funeral home. People are talking about the stench of death.

There's no electricity in the most affected areas. Everything is covered with mud. Water is a major problem. The government and aid agencies are appealing for water, food and dry clothes -- Don.

LEMON: Maria Ressa, thank you so much. We appreciate your reporting. We'll continue to watch that.

Now, back here in the States, a tug of war over your paycheck may go back to square one. House Republicans aren't happy with the plan that the Senate passed yesterday to extend the payroll tax cut for two months instead of a full year.

As our Athena Jones reports, the House may end up starting from scratch tomorrow.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): House Republicans are balking at an effort to push through the two-month extension of payroll tax cuts passed by the Senate.

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: Two months is just kicking the can down the road. The American people are tired of that. Frankly, I'm tired of it.

JONES: Fearing more wrangling over tax cuts next year could benefit the president, House Republicans say they want to pass a year-long extension now.

BOEHNER: It's time to just stop, do our work, resolve the differences and extend this for one year.

JONES: Republican aides say leadership will likely try to change the bill which could lead to another showdown with the Senate.

And more disagreement over how to pay for the extension. The White House thinks House Republicans will pay a political price if 160 million workers see their payroll taxes go up after the New Year.

GENE SPERLING, NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL DIRECTOR: The compromise to extend the payroll tax cut unemployment for 60 days into next year had 90 percent support. The only things that get 90 percent support in the United States Senate these days are mom, apple pie and chocolate ice cream.

So, I really think it is very unlikely that the House would disrupt this compromise, overwhelming compromise.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: If lawmakers don't figure this out, well, your paycheck will probably be lighter. That's starting January 1st, as we look at a live picture of the Capitol tonight.

He's not just a quarterback, he is a cultural phenomenon, talking about Tim Tebow, invades politics, straight ahead.

And also, basketball superstar Kobe Bryant is headed to divorce court without a prenup. What? We'll talk to a family law attorney about his fate. That's straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The war in Iraq finally over. We brought it to you live right here on CNN last night, as the last U.S. combat troops crossed into Kuwait less than 24 hours ago. It's certainly was a sight to behold.

But like the war itself, a decision to bring the troops home is being criticized. Republican Senator John McCain is among the critics, calling it political expediency. Well, and others question what happens if Iraqi government forces can't keep the country secure.

So, let's talk about it now. Will Cain, L.Z. Granderson -- Will is a contributor to CNN.com, L.Z. contributes to CNN.com and he is a senior writer at ESPN.

So, L.Z., off-camera we're going to talk about Kobe. What? No prenup? We'll talk about that.

But we've got to stick to politics. L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN.COM CONTRIBUTOR: Yes, sir.

LEMON: Was it time to bring the troops home, L.Z.?

GRANDERSON: You know what? You know, first of all, I'm going to tell you I don't think anyone really knows when is the right time to pull out of a situation like Iraq, right?

We've been in there eight, nine years. We've seen what the numbers are in terms of people lost on both sides, in terms of money spent. We're still trying to figure out exactly what the mission is I think at this point.

LEMON: Was it a political decision though as John McCain says?

GRANDERSON: You know what? Here's the thing with John McCain, right? Here is a guy who was one of the earlier sponsors of the DREAM Act. And then when he was challenged in 2010, in the primary, he was against it.

Here is a guy who said that when the general said, they come to me and want to reverse "don't ask, don't tell," I'll do what they say. Then in he's 2010 in the primary, he's against it.

And so, he has no right to talk about people using politics in terms of flip-flopping and changing their position.

LEMON: So, Will, I'll ask you, was it time to bring the troops home? And is it political expediency like John McCain said.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Second one first, it is a political decision. We know it's an unpopular war. It's unpopular to leave troops in Iraq. The president himself has been against it from the very beginning.

Although just because it's political doesn't mean it's right or wrong. To know whether it's right or wrong, honestly, Don, I don't know the answer to that like L.Z., but I know the analysis, and that is when you think of Iraq, think of Iran. If Iraq as a client state of Iran, or within the sphere of influence of Iran is unacceptable, if that's a threat to the United States, or even if it's not worth the blood and treasure you poured into Iraq, then you say this probably isn't the right move. We should have negotiated harder to have troops like we have in Japan, and Germany, and Korea in Iraq.

LEMON: Yes. We're going to -- we still have troops there. There's still a lot of people there, just that they're not combat troops.

Let's talk about the presidential race now. It's getting started for real now. And just days, Iowa caucuses are January 3rd. But a "USA Today"/Gallup poll finds that people are already tired of it. And I know this; you don't need a poll for this.

You hear people saying, ah, enough already. It's not even started yet.

Seventy percent of Americans say they can't wait for it to be over, and it hasn't even started.

What does this poll say to you, Will?

CAIN: It says to me two things, and this isn't going to make me popular. But it says to me for one thing, I think Americans are kind of lazy. At the same time, we're tired of this. Seventy percent of us would like to see it over with.

We're also ill-informed. This is a bunch of people who think that Newt Gingrich is conservative and the way you balance the budget is to never touch entitlements but just tax rich people.

But I also think the media has a responsibility here as well. We should be informing then. I think all three of us would go, well, we're putting information out.

Well, you know what, then, we need to make it more entertaining, we need to sugarcoat it more. We need to make this information more accessible so that people are better informed and we wouldn't worry about who is ready for it to be behind us.

LEMON: Do you remember the last time someone said lazy in public, they got scolded. I'm talking about the president. So, yes, you are taking a risk there.

But, L.Z., we notice that the poll --

CAIN: Good thing I'm not a politician.

LEMON: The polls break down evenly. People in both parties are ready for it to end. What does that tell you?

GRANDERSON: It tells me that, one, I think everyone basically has their minds made up. Liberals and Democrats have taken a look at the other side of the field. They've already given their analysis and they've made their decision already. And I don't think there's anything that can happen over the next 365 days or 200 days, if you will, that's really going to change their mind.

I think the same is also true for Republicans. They've already made up their decision. They're not trying to figure out whether or not they're going to vote for President Obama. They're just waiting to see who comes out of the GOP primary.

So, I don't think there's a lot happening in the general election that's going to change people's hearts and minds at this point. And I think that's what the numbers reflect.

LEMON: Do you think it's over already?

GRANDERSON: I think it was over back in 2008. I think people -- there are a lot of people who already made up their minds that they weren't going to reelect or vote for President Obama. And, you know, the fact that he's made some victories and had some defeats, that doesn't really factor into their logic. I mean, his is also a country that, you know, what was it, January -- Donald Trump was leading the GOP primary. So, they're looking for anybody to unseat Obama. And that's why I think in this case, yes, it is essentially over.

LEMON: All right. Let's get to this. I want to show you -- here is Tim Tebow. He's become a phenomenon now in the most recent debate, Rick Perry. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RICK PERRY (R-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: There are people who stood up and said, well, he doesn't have the right throwing mechanisms or he doesn't -- you know, he's not playing the game light. And, you know, he won two national championships, and that looked pretty good.

We're the national champions in job creation back in Texas. And so -- but am I read difficult for the next level? Let me tell you, I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK, "SNL" just last night. Roll it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're welcome, all right? Yes, I, Jesus Christ, I am indeed the reason you've won your past six football games.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I knew it!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whoa, Tim, easy, easy. Buddy, leave a little room for the holy ghost, OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So, he's factoring in the process. Will, what do you make of that?

CAIN: You know, it's hard not to get into this Tebow phenomenon. I mean, here is a guy who basically has less talent than every other quarterback out there.

This morning, I saw on "Sports Center," they were playing a Rudyard Kipling poem interlaced with the critics saying Tebow will never make it. He doesn't have it. And yet, he keeps winning -- despite his lack of talent, not total lack of talent, but less talent.

And maybe it appeals to you because of his faith. For that to be invoked in politics, that's great.

LEMON: L.Z., was that a gasp?

GRANDERSON: Dude, you know the thing with athletes is so many times people focus in so much of what they can't do, they overlook what they can do. You know, there's a lot of things that Tim Tebow does that no other quarterback in the NFL can do. You can't have Tom Brady running the football for 20 yards out for the game running touchdown, but you can have a Tim Tebow do that.

So, I think the guy is getting a raw deal right now basically because he wears his religion on his sleeve, not because of the way he plays.

LEMON: All right. That's it. Thank you, sirs. It wasn't fighting this time.

GRANDERSON: Thank you.

LEMON: I'm so happy for you. You guys are in on the Christmas season.

CAIN: We're all friends here. We're all friends.

LEMON: Peace, brothers.

GRANDERSON: Yes, it's all good. It's all good in the hood.

LEMON: Thank you, guys.

Hey, this is my last weekend before the holidays, merry Christmas to you, happy New Year. OK?

GRANDERSON: Merry Christmas and Kwanzaa to you, too.

LEMON: Happy Kwanzaa, happy Hanukkah, all of that.

History in the making for the U.S. military. The last combat troops cross the border from Iraq into Kuwait. The border gates have closed.

CNN's Michael Holmes was there. You saw it live. His firsthand report next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: It was quite amazing to watch it happen live last night. Nearly nine years, almost 4,500 U.S. troops killed, another 30,000 wounded, the toll of the Iraq war. The conflict now officially over after the last remaining U.S. troops left the country overnight.

CNN's Michael Holmes was at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border when the last convoy rolled through.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They began crossing a little after 3:00 a.m. local time, the first of four separate groups that made up this last convoy of U.S. troops leaving Iraq, leaving the way they went in right across the Kuwaiti border. Four groups of about 25 vehicles in each group make up this last convoy, nearly 500 men, many of them weren't even in the Army, probably most of them weren't even in the Army when this war began nine years nearly and $1 trillion, 4,500 troops dead, more than 30,000 wounded.

And the Iraq they leave behind, what is that now? Well, its foundations politically are shallow. The divisions run deep.

What's going to happen to the Iraqis that these men are leaving behind as they head home? What happens to these men now? They head down the road about a kilometer, they're going to unload their heavy weapons. There's a bit of a check, a bit of a torque and they head to Camp Virginia where they'll spend the next four or five days sorting out the details, the bureaucracy, and then they get on the planes and they fly home.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: So you may have missed it overnight when it happened live here on CNN. But many of you did watch the final drawdown live on our air last night. We're going to replay some of that for you next hour. You won't miss it.

Make sure you tune into that. It's quite something to see.

Florida A&M's alumni association delivers a message: politics shouldn't get involved in the hazing scandal that's going on there. But does it think FAMU's president should stay on? We'll answer that question for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: "Oh, my" is right. This is the first story in our headlines right now. Seven people were injured when this runaway cart plowed into them in Cowboys Stadium last night. It happened after a high school play-off game. All seven people were treated for minor injuries at the stadium. But ESPN reports one man was taken to the hospital as a precaution.

Florida A&M's alumni association says the university president should not be suspended over the hazing scandal while the investigation wears on. Drum major Robert Champion died last month. An autopsy ruled he died from blunt force trauma during a hazing incident. His death was ruled a homicide. And today, the alumni group says hazing needs to stop at historically black colleges.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOMMY MITCHELL, PRESIDENT, FAMU NAA: We are 70,000 graduates strong and we call for an end to senseless hazing rituals. We anticipate prosecution and penance. Since hazing is a nationwide problem, we stand ready do take the lead with FAMU administration, other SUS institutions, other STCUs (ph) in the Florida and the United States, other universities, as well as middle and high schools around the state and the country to solve this age-old problem across the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And we should tell you that no one has been charged in Robert Champion's death.

During a military hearing, prosecutors called Bradley Manning a calculating traitor known for his computer expertise and emotional outbursts. A defense expert also said Manning's computer in Iraq had an unusual amount of problems. Manning is the Army private accused of providing secret government documents to WikiLeaks. The hearing will determine if he'll face a full military trial.

A man considered a cold war hero has died. Former Czech president, Vaclav Havel, dies in his sleep last night at the age of 75. The playwright-turned dissident led his country's Velvet Revolution in 1989. He persuaded the communist regime to step aside, preventing what could have been a bloody revolution.

As many as 5,000 protesters showed up for what's being called the Fight for Christmas. This was the scene in Athens, Texas, yesterday. People rallied to keep this nativity up after an atheist group asked the county to remove it. Supporters of the atheist group say their request is based on First Amendment doctrine separating church and state.

On to weather now, a major winter storm moving in just in time for the holidays. Jacqui Jeras is here to tell us how bad it will be, who will be affected.

Maybe it's good. Maybe white Christmases all over the U.S.

(LAUGHTER)

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It will be good for some people who will get that certainly. It will be bad for travelers for the early part of the week. But if you're traveling later in the week, things will be looking better. Hopefully, this will sweep through and not impact your travel plans.

This is potentially a crippling storm and it will be impacting quite a few people. This is the area we're most concerned for travelers tomorrow. Blizzard watches have been upgraded to warnings. We're looking at Interstate 25, I-40 and basically south of I-70. This is the area that will have the most accumulating snow. Over a foot will be possible. With winds gusting from 35 to 45 miles per hour, that will make travel near possible at times.

So later in the day you get, the worse the conditions will be. This storm really doesn't get started for you until tomorrow in the morning hours. In fact, as we take a look at it here on radar and satellite, it hardly looks like anything at this time. As it heads eastward, it is going to be picking up in intensity and forward speed. Those of you living out east saying, what do I need to pay attention in the southwest? Guess where it's going. Heading your way. So this is the track of the storm. Something to keep in mind if you're traveling. Tomorrow, that is when we'll see the heavy accumulating snow through Tuesday morning. We'll also a threat of severe thunderstorms across southeastern Texas. That includes you into the Houston area. Rain then spreads into the Ohio Valley and Tennessee River Valleys and pushing towards the east on Wednesday. By Thursday, the storm is in New England and heads out of here.

The good news is for you travelers here, we're looking at a rain event, not a snow event for you folks there. That's a little good news. The bad news is that accumulating snow. There's the big bull's eye for the 10 to 16 inches just north of the Amarillo area. Cold air sinking in behind it. The big cool down is coming in. So those 60s and 50s we've been seeing across the east, Don, will go bye-bye for the weekend. For Christmas though, so to get you in more of the wintery spirit.

LEMON: But we're still going to be warm and sunny here, right?

JERAS: We'll cool down this weekend.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Jacqui, come on already.

JERAS: Well --

LEMON: Can't you talk to Mother Nature?

JERAS: -- It's December. The Winter Solstice comes Thursday.

LEMON: I like it when we have Christmas and you can open the windows and doors open and walk outside in your barefoot. That's the Christmas I like.

JERAS: OK.

LEMON: The fake snow is good for me.

JERAS: I'm going with the real.

(LAUGHTER)

We had that last year.

LEMON: Thank you, Jacqui. Make it happen.

(LAUGHTER)

Everybody wants a payroll tax cut. But what happens if there isn't one? Can the economy take a hit or does it matter? The managing editor of CNNmoney.com knows everything, gives his take, straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: If you make less than $106,000 a year, you had, on average, $1,000 more to spend in 2011 because of the payroll tax cut. But 2012 may not have the same benefit since Congress has yet to officially extend the tax break. If it does -- if it does not happen, I should say, how will this impact the economy?

Lex Harris, the managing editor of CNNmoney.com, is here to discuss it.

Lex, first of all, in order to have the payroll tax cut affect you, you have be on somebody's payroll. A lot of people aren't.

LEX HARRIS, MANAGING EDITOR, CNNMONEY.COM: Very true. But there are 160 million workers that will be affected by this. It was $1,000 last year and it would be another $1,000 in 2012. There's no question that the economy would start to feel this if it didn't go away. Right now, it's right up in the air on how this is going to go.

LEMON: Yes, because we reported earlier, Lex, the Senate approved the extension. But now the House has to weigh in on it. What's the word? Do we know? Has the House of Representatives passed it? And how important is this to the economy?

HARRIS: Right. Well, right now, it's a complete mess. If you had to bet, it seems you would think they would come through with a deal. Congress has a long history of, when they're giving stuff away, like tax cuts, they usually come through. It's usually when they're taking things away, like cuts to popular programs, that it gets a little more difficult. So if you had to bet, I'd bet on a deal. But with this Congress, you know, who knows.

As far as what it's going to do to the economy, if you have that many people with $1,000 less to spend, there's no question it would be a drag on the economy. Just that much more difficult to bring the unemployment rate down in 2012.

LEMON: OK. We've been hearing a lot about, oh, we need another stimulus. The stimulus wasn't big enough. Do we need more stimulus? There have been signs of strength.

HARRIS: Absolutely. I spoke to two CEOs in the past few weeks. One is a small business owner with maybe 15 or 20 employees. The other is actually CEO of a pretty big global company. Both -- this is surprising. They both said they're having great years, closing out the year, and stunned by how good business is. At the same time, both are very worried about 2012. The small business owner is worried about tax hikes. He's saying, believe me, if his taxes go up, he's saying I'm going to invest less and hire less. The CEO of the bigger company, he says the U.S. is really strong. He's worried about Europe right now. A concern you're hearing from a lot of economists and policymakers.

LEMON: Lex, I'll change your name to Lex Luther. I like that better because of the alliteration.

(LAUGHTER)

Can you take us forward to next week, Lex? HARRIS: Absolutely. Some fun stuff. I use fun loosely, of course. There's an existing home sales report coming out on Wednesday. It's not -- it comes out every month. It's not one I usually pay a whole lot of attention to. It tells you how many homes were sold in the prior 30 days. What's interesting about this one is it comes out from the National Association of Realtors, and the chief economist for the realtors group came out last week and said this would have a huge revision. Basically, they had been miscounting home sales for the past four years. He said it's going to be a meaningful decline and show us that housing was worse than we thought, if that's at all possible.

LEMON: All right, Lex.

HARRIS: We're also going to be looking at GDP.

LEMON: Oh, OK. Lex, we've got to move on. Sorry. I know there's a lot happening next week.

HARRIS: That's all right, Don.

LEMON: -- with GDP as well.

Lex "Luther" Harris, thank you, sir. We appreciate it.

(LAUGHTER)

HARRIS: All right.

LEMON: The wife of basketball star, Kobe Bryant, files for divorce after 10.5 years of marriage and there is no pre-nup. What does that mean for his financial future? You can probably guess next.

But first this. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta has launched a new program. It's called, "The Next List." Each week, it will profile innovators from all walks of life and all fields of endeavors. This week, he talks to Heather Knight, who is -- a word I've never heard of -- a social roboticist.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HEATHER KNIGHT, SOCIAL ROBOTICIST: My name is Health Knight and I am a social roboticist. A social roboticist is someone that makes robots that interact with people in a human way. When I tell people that I make robots, they're like, that's really cool.

(LAUGHTER)

When I tell people I make social robots, they're usually a little confused at first. I've found the best way to talk about what I actually do is by example.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: So now you know -- a social roboticist. Tune in Sundays to watch "The Next List," or set your DVR, 2:00 p.m. eastern. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Wow. Let this be a lesson kids. No pre-nup. Kobe Bryant is about to join the long list of athletes that learn that "happy ever after" isn't a guarantee. Bryant's wife, Vanessa, has filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage. The couple doesn't have a prenuptial agreement, which means Kobe could have to cough up an amount that would make most men cry. As a matter of fact, most men don't really have that much money.

Also this weekend, football Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, announcing he and his wife, Pilar, are also calling it quits after 11 years together.

I want to bring in family law attorney, Jennifer Brandt, who handled more than her share of divorces.

Jennifer, in the case of the Bryants, there's reportedly no pre-nup. What does that mean under California? Probably, not good for Kobe?

JENNIFER BRANDT, FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY: It's not good for Kobe. It might not be as bad as you think. Apparently, Kobe and his wife have been negotiating some settlement agreement. At least that's what's being reported. If so, Kobe still has a little control over what will happen in the outcome of his divorce. It doesn't mean he won't have to pay. He will have to pay. But it will keep it out of the hands of the court, which could be possibly a worse result for him if it ends up in a judge's hands as opposed to his own.

LEMON: Jennifer, but his wife is asking for half of everything Kobe made in the last 10 years. By some estimates, that's $40 million. Could she actually get that much?

BRANDT: Absolutely. California is a community-property state where the property acquired during the course of the marriage becomes open to division upon a divorce. So anything that he earned during that time -- of course, expenses are detected out. It's estimated that number is around $80 million, half of which would be 40. That's what she is estimated to get. So it's very likely she might get a sum around that amount. She might even get more if they negotiate some kind of settlement to get this over with quickly.

LEMON: Jennifer, you remember, 2003, he admitted to adultery with his wife and then he was accused of rape charges that later were dismissed. TMZ reporting very recently his wife caught him cheating again. That's TMZ reporting. So could it be worse for him because of that if that turns out to be true?

BRANDT: Probably not. I mean most states in the country are no-fault states. Meaning you don't have to prove someone did something wrong in order to get a divorce. People don't get punished for the acts that went on during the course of the marriage. If he used marital funds to support a girlfriend or support another lifestyle, and Vanessa could prove that, it's possible some of that money would come back into the marital estate and be divided that up. So that's where it could hurt him. LEMON: She's asking for reportedly spousal support, joint custody of the two kids. If he ends up paying $40 million or whatever, 40, 20, 30, whatever the millions are, why would a court say he still needs to pay the support?

BRANDT: Well, he may or may not. The court looks at the overall lifestyle. This may be a lavish lifestyle for the average person. Don't forget she was married to Kobe Bryant. She's not the basketball star. She doesn't have another income as far as we know. She hasn't had a lot of work experience.

LEMON: OK, stop. Stop right there.

BRANDT: She's been dependent on him.

LEMON: Stop right here.

(LAUGHTER)

You said she's not the basketball star. She doesn't have the income. Then that's what -- so why should she get so much money?

BRANDT: But she was married to him.

LEMON: And she's not the one on the court. She's not earning the money, that much money.

(LAUGHTER)

Why should she get half? She doesn't have half the talent. I'm just saying.

BRANDT: You sound like a lot of clients.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: It's true though.

BRANDT: Because she --

(LAUGHTER)

Well, it's true and it's not true. She was married to him. She supported him. She was at home making their home and making appearances with him and supporting him in his career and standing by him when he had the accusations against him. She stood by him this whole time. There were two children born of this marriage. She helped raise those children, presumably. So from that time together in building this empire together, she deserves some money.

LEMON: I see the kids. I see the kids. You have to take care of your kids, even if the situation was reversed. Let's say she was wealthy and he wasn't as wealthy, I don't see half. That's just me.

BRANDT: That's right. LEMON: I just don't see it as half. You don't have half the talent. You're not on the basketball court. Why should you get half? That's how I feel.

BRANDT: He'll go on with his career and make more money and she's not going to be able to --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: And she'll marry somebody else.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Life goes on.

(LAUGHTER)

BRANDT: Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. We'll see.

LEMON: Don't send me the e-mails or the tweets. Don women hates women. That's not true.

(LAUGHTER)

Even if it was reversed, I would feel the same way.

It was a pleasure. Thank you, Jennifer. I enjoyed it.

BRANDT: Thank you.

LEMON: A football player picked up in a drug sting. Here is the amazing part. Police say he wasn't just a user. He was a dealer. John Wertheim, "Sports Illustrated," next.

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LEMON: Two former Penn State officials are heading to trial on charges related to the school's child sex abuse scandal and an NFL player is accused of being a big-time drug dealer.

Jon Wertheim is here, a senior investigative reporter for "Sports Illustrated," always educates me about sports.

And here is the "S.I." cover, of course, featuring none other than Tim Tebow.

OK, Jon, we're going to put your law degree at work. Let's start with Penn State. You were there early in the week for Jerry Sandusky's brief court appearance. Friday, Mike McQueary took the stand and described in graphic detail what he saw back in 2002. Was McQueary an effective witness, in your opinion?

JON WERTHEIM, SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: We had this tremendous irony. Yesterday, police were called to the Penn State practice facility, teammates got in a fight, the quarterback ended up in the hospital. It was the absence of police at that same facility nine years ago that got us where we are today.

McQueary took the stand Friday. I thought his testimony was forceful, unambiguous. And this wasn't the trial. It was just a preliminary hearing. But clearly, he was credible enough we're going on with the trial. The charges could have been dropped. They weren't. As we go forward McQueary is the pivotal figure for all three defendants. We'll see how it plays out.

LEMON: So he is -- you're saying he is the key to this entire case pretty much because he is the eyewitness so to speak or alleged eyewitness?

WERTHEIM: Yes. Granted, there are nine other cases now against Jerry Sandusky. But if McQueary can be impeached, this goes in a totally different direction. But again, he was very forceful in his testimony on Friday.

LEMON: Let's talk about Sandusky. You mentioned his name. Where do things stand?

WERTHEIM: He's home for the holidays, which displeases a lot of people. He's out on bail. He's home. And he's been very adamant that he's not interested in a plea bargain. So we're on to the discovery phases in the trial. But this is going to be a big story in 2012. But right now, Jerry Sandusky's home.

LEMON: This Chicago Bears story, the receiver, Sam Hurd, free on bond following his arrest on charges that he tried to set up a major drug ring. I mean, Jon, we're used to hearing about pro athletes using drugs, occasionally we hear about it, but an NFL player. Why would someone get involved in dealing drugs? What was he thinking?

WERTHEIM: The possession of marijuana, we're used to. The possession of 1,000 pounds of marijuana is a new one. If money is a motivator, this guy, they say, from the complaint, stood to gain $700,000 a week. This is just an unbelievable story. Here is a guy in the NFL making a million dollars-plus and to be involved in this is just -- I've never seen anything like it, not to this scale.

LEMON: His attorneys say he's, of course, not guilty. They're denying it. But was he trading in any way his celebrity status to make these alleged deals?

WERTHEIM: That's what's so interesting. If you read the complaint, it seems this is a double life, that he's a football player, but it seems like he's a drug dealer full time who just happens to play football. It's not like he was trading one for the other. His teammates have expressed surprise, as you would expect. The flip side is, if you read this complaint, it's not as if he was using his football playing status. It sounds like it's two separate entities and he got caught obviously with one of them.

LEMON: And let's get through this one quick, because there's something else I want to ask you. Talking about Barry Bonds, that whole saga, two years' probation and a month of house arrest for obstruction of justice. A charge related to the Balco steroid scandal. After the all these hearings, all the investigation, all of this in the steroids, it seems like it was much ado about nothing when you look at what he got sentenced to. A waste of time. And is he really -- the second question -- baseball's homerun king? Do people consider him that?

WERTHEIM: The records do, but I think most people, if you ask them, would give the nod to Hank Aaron. The government says, look, the guy lied to a grand jury. You can't let him skate for that. But at the same time, we talked just the last five minutes about Penn State and a huge drug ring. Clearly, there are offenses out there more worthy of multimillion-dollar investments by government investigators. Maybe we can close the chapter on Barry Bonds, as you said, now.

LEMON: Let's you and I talk here. All the ladies in the studio, when I spoke to the attorney about Kobe Bryant, are, what are you talking about? That clearly is when you hear about the Kobe Bryant case. And when it came across the wires, and I got the alert, and it said no pre-nup -- I think people involved in sports probably knew that. I mean, that is what everyone is talking about. And I think most -- I think most guys kind of feel that way and, I hate to say it, that's the truth. Hey, half, really?

WERTHEIM: My wife is a divorce mediator. I have to watch what I say here.

(LAUGHTER)

I think the real question is, why does he not have a pre-nup? Obviously, Kobe Bryant is an exceptional case, too, if you recall what happened around 2003. But, no, I think there's a spirited debate we could have here. He has clearly an exceptional skill and, on the other hand, look, I'm sure she would say, look, I supported the family. I was there supporting him and the law is the law, no question. Not unlike Tiger Woods, a big check will be cut here.

LEMON: Absolutely.

WERTHEIM: How is that for a duck?

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: That was pretty good. That was pretty good.

Jon, thank you. Appreciate it. Happy holidays to you.

WERTHEIM: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: I won't see you until the next year. Thank you very much.

WERTHEIM: Thank you.

LEMON: Coming up next, 'tis the season for giving and some people are giving in a very big way. Find out what gifts some layaway customers are receiving this holiday season.

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