Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

James Cameron's Historic Dive; Obama To Sign Jobs Act; Sandusky Back In Court; Your Health, Their Authority; Sky News Admits And Defends Hacking; Sandusky Lawyers: Dismiss The Charges; JetBlue Pilot To Get Psych Exam; New Sequel To "Kony 2012"; Final Damage Figures Not Ready; Tracking Your Cell Phone With No Warrant; Ali's Miami Appearance Silences Fans; Mega Millions Lotto News Conference; Kony 2012 Video Sequel Goes Online; Mary J. Blige, Burger King Criticized

Aired April 05, 2012 - 10:00   ET

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


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you. I'm Carol Costello. Just ahead of the NEWSROOM. Creating jobs, putting more money in the pockets of Americans while not adding a penny to the federal deficit, President Obama is set to sign the Jobs Act into law in just a few hours. And it says it will accomplish those goals, but critics say that the law will victimize Americans. We'll take a closer look.

Happening right now, Jerry Sandusky just wrapped up a hearing inside a Pennsylvania courtroom. Lawyers for the former Penn State assistant football coach wants the child sex abuse charges against him dismissed. We'll learn exactly why they're asking a judge to throw out the case.

The American Civil Liberties Union says numerous police departments across the country are breaking the law and tracking cell phones without a court order. We'll have more on the effort to hold those officers accountable.

Plus, the queen of hip-hop/soul is getting some heat over a Burger King ad. That's nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige singing about chicken. Some African-Americans are crying foul. Now she is responding to their criticism.

But first this morning, it is the number one issue on the campaign trail, jobs. And in just a few hours, President Obama will sign a bill he says will create jobs, but will not add a penny to the deficit. Critics say it sounds too good to be true.

Alison Kosik is at the New York Stock Exchange. So Alison, the unemployment rate is, what, 8.3 percent? How will this bill create jobs to combat that?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: OK, so what this bill does as that will be law in a few hours is it sort of gives a back-door way to create jobs. The idea with it is to get more money into the hands of these medium-sized businesses.

Because the thinking is, if they have more money, they're going to grow, they're going to expand and they're going to hire, but how are they going to get this money? They're going to get this money by going public. They're going to sell shares.

But the key here is that this Jobs Act is going to relax these SEC rules making it easier for these companies to go public because before a company goes public, Carol, they have to go through a lot.

It has to have an independent company look at its book. It has to disclose certain financial information to investors so they know what they're buying into.

But now, what would happen, once this becomes law is that companies won't have to do all these audits. They won't have to make these disclosures right away. They can wait a few years.

President Obama says what this does is it removes some red tape because the thinking is it creates more entrepreneurship, more innovation, helps the economy, boost the job market as well. And this bill looks to encourage more of that -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Republicans supported this bill, too, which is important to point out. Critics, though, they say that this law could open the door to more investor fraud. How so?

KOSIK: Exactly, so they say because by relaxing the regulations that could weaken some of the protections for investors, just so you know, AARP, consumer groups, unions, even the SEC is against this bill because they say it could open the door to more failed IPOs and more fraud.

One more issue with this bill, it allows companies to actually solicit investors by advertising your IPOs. AARP says what that winds up doing is making easier for these companies to take advantage of seniors, but people, because people could be lured into these IPOs to make a quick buck.

And the reality with these IPOs, Carol, is not all IPOs do well. But just like with any investment, there are risks and when anyone makes any kind of investment it's a big risk.

But this some people say could wind up spawning the next Google, the next Apple. It encourages that entrepreneurial spirit that this economy need at this point -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Alison Kosik live at the New York Stock Exchange.

Also on the president's radar this morning, new questions and a new deadline for his health care reforms. Government lawyers have until noon today to submit a paper summing up the administration's view on federal courts.

Specifically, whether the Obama White House believes that fed rattle judges have the power to strike down a law they believe is unconstitutional.

The issue grew heated this week after President Obama seemed to challenge the authority of the Supreme Court justices who are reviewing his health care plan.

The White House says those comments were misunderstood. The Supreme Court ruling is expected this summer.

We are following breaking news out of Great Britain right now. Sky News now says it did authorize its reporters to hack into people's personal e-mail accounts.

It's the latest bombshell in a scandal that forced media mogul, Rupert Murdoch and his son to testify before parliament. CNN'S Zain Verjee is in London. So they're admitting to a crime now?

ZAIN VERJEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is illegal. I'll tell you what specifically they're saying, but basically, "The Guardian" newspaper just a short while ago broke this story.

And then Sky News, the main TV channel here, basically was forced to make a statement. What they're saying is this that they had authorized its journalists to hack into the e-mails of individual members of the public on two occasions.

They say this, Carol, "We stand by these actions by editorially justified and in the public interest." Now one of those two occasions at least from what we understand is there was a situation where someone known as the "Canoe Man" basically faked his own death, Carol.

And then wanted to claim all this insurance and by hacking into this guy's e-mail, they were able to give police enough evidence so they could prosecute this guy who's now in jail. But yes, it's illegal.

But what Sky News is saying this was justified and this was in the public interest. They're also saying that the reporter checked with the editor and the editor said OK, go and do it. So it's nowhere near of what we understand for now at least the scale of what we saw in "News of the World" and the whole big phone hacking scandal.

But it does raise a big question now here, Carol, because now you're going to have television channels under scrutiny for hacking and whereas we have seen in the past, newspapers and print journalism targeted and investigated for phone hacking.

So we'll see how extensive this is. But for now, this is a pretty big deal in this country.

COSTELLO: Zain Verjee live in London.

Also more breaking news to pass your way, just a short time ago, Jerry Sandusky and his lawyers left court. They had asked the judge to dismiss more than 50 child sex abuse charges.

Sandusky as you know is the former Penn State assistant football coach. He's been under house arrest until his trial begins in June. Jason Carroll was in the courtroom. So, Jason, tell us what happened.

CARROLL: When Joe Amendola, Jerry Sandusky's attorney entered the courthouse, he was asked what he was looking for today. His response was justice.

For him, his version of justice is going to have to wait, Carol, because -- simply because all of the major issues that were supposed to be addressed today are basically now are going to be put on hold so that the judge can take it under advisement.

Let me sort of backtrack and explain the reason why. As you know there are 10 alleged accusers that Jerry Sandusky and his team are dealing with.

Earlier, Joe Amendola basically said that with seven of the accusers that all of the evidence that he has received so far from the prosecution has been insufficient.

He basically said, Carol, he has not received enough information about when these alleged attacks occurred, where they occurred so he said for that reason, he filed a motion, which basically say with those seven accusers, the charges should be thrown out.

Now again, there were 10, with the three others, he said that the information that he did receive on the three other alleged accusers was not specific enough.

So he said in that situation, those charges with the three should be thrown out as well. The prosecution has been saying all along that this is ongoing investigation. So they're still in the process of gathering information, turning it over.

They said we've already in accordance with the law, turned over numerous amounts of information to the defense. So, the judge took a look at this. Looked at both sides and he sat for moment.

And then he basically said, look, given what I'm hearing on both sides of this issue, he said, quote, "It would be premature to make any decisions on what can and cannot be prosecuted at this time."

So he said basically this -- this proceeding is somewhat in flux while the prosecution is in this process of continuing to gather information.

So, this trial is basically right now scheduled for June 5th and given what we heard today, given that the judge now is deciding to put things on hold for a little while, we could basically see this trial postponed until after June 5th.

Right now, we're waiting for Joe Amendola to come out and address us to see what he has to say about all of it.

COSTELLO: Yes, I see they're setting up behind you. So when Jerry Sandusky's attorney begins speaking, we'll head back to Pennsylvania. Thanks, Jason.

The JetBlue pilot who had a break down during a flight, may not be fit to stand trial. Clayton Osbon was supposed to be in a detention hearing today in Texas.

But a judge has ordered him to undergo a psychiatric evaluation. Prosecutors believe he might have a mental disease and they want to know if he understands the charges.

They also want to know if he was sane during the incident. Osbon is charged with interfering with a flight crew. He could face up to 20 years in prison if he's convicted.

And just a couple of hours ago, a new video hit the internet and it's almost certain to go viral, the sequel to "Kony 2012," a wildly popular documentary that targets Uganda warlord, Joseph Kony.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Releasing this film to explain the creation of the campaign. The progress that's already been made and what we can all do now to support the ongoing efforts.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The first video, "Kony 2012" racked up a staggering 86 million views in just a few weeks.

Coming up later in the NEWSROOM, I'll talk with the CEO of "Invisible Children" about his group's new video and criticism it's faced and the campaign to bring Joseph Kony to justice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My God, please. Shoot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Like that, man's disbelief. The more we learn about the Texas tornadoes, the more we're amazed someone wasn't killed. New figures tell us winds were clocked as fast as 150 miles an hour and the damage assessments keep getting worse.

Telling the story of the storm's destructive force, now 200 homes destroyed, 650 damaged. Let's turn to Alexandra Steele now for -- I guess, you know, has the weather calm down in Texas? I heard more storms were coming, but I don't know exactly where.

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, more storms are definitely coming, but the new news is that the National Weather Service now has gone out to Texas as expected, process, of course, of surveying the damage.

New information that they have said now they were and have confirmed 11 tornadoes touched down. They said it could be as high as 15. Take a look at this. Here are the three most notables what they found, of course, from Tuesday.

An EF-2, EF-3 and of course, Arlington, Texas, we saw a lot of video from that and talked a lot about that. How strong the winds were? Anywhere between 130 and 150 miles per hour, and the path of these three that we're talking about, anywhere between 6 and 8 miles.

So here's one of them, in Arlington, Texas, this was the EF-2, maximum sustained winds there 135. You can see that past length. Lancaster, of course, we talked about that EF-2 as well, 130 miles per hour and there has been an EF-3 as well. That's in Forney, Texas, 20 miles east of Dallas. Maximum sustained winds of 100, past length there 8 miles.

Here, Carol, you talked about the severe weather threat, the atmosphere, believe it or not, exactly the same as it was on Tuesday, the axis of it just farther eastward. So showers and thunderstorms, you can see we have had tornado watches and warnings. Right now, we do not.

But again, there's the severe weather threat, farther east into the southeast, including Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. Everything is the same, but finally the good news, see that front to west, that blue cold front.

That finally has come into play. That will push it out, this whole severe system. Push it east tomorrow.

COSTELLO: I like those kinds of weather fronts.

STEELE: Yes, finally progression.

COSTELLO: Thanks, Alexandra.

Muhammad Ali knew how to silence his opponents in the ring, but his appearance in Miami's opening day quieted the crowd for a far different reason.

You probably couldn't live without your cell phone. It's so convenient right? Well, it turns out they're really convenient for law enforcement, too. Cops might be tracking you without your ever knowing it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: This story might conjure up visions of big brother. The American Civil Liberties Union found that many law enforcement agencies track cell phone signals in their investigation.

Sometimes they get warrants, but most times they don't. In short, you talk, they track and you have no clue. Amy Gahran covers mobile technology news for cnn.com. Welcome, Amy.

AMY GAHRAN, MOBILE TECHNOLOGY CORRESPONDENT, CNN.COM: Good morning.

COSTELLO: So you wrote this story, it was fascinating and a little scary I must admit. So what about this study sticks out to you?

GAHRAN: What amazed me first of all was how many police departments do this. The ACLU did records requests to 380 law enforcement agencies around the country, only 200 of them responded. But of those 200, a very small percentage, you know, literally you could count them on one hand, were consistently get a warrant, almost all of them do this, but only a small handful consistently get a warrant.

COSTELLO: So, how are they able to do this? Don't they need the cooperation of the cell phone industry?

GAHRAN: Yes, the cell phone industry is an interesting player on this. They aren't being very transparent about how long they keep cell phone user's data.

Keep in mind, this works whether or not you're on the phone, your cell phone is constantly talking to all of towers around it saying, I'm over here right now in case anybody calls.

And all of that data gets saved whether or not you're making calls or sending text messages. So the ACLU one of the things they're asking for carriers to be more transparent about what they're keeping and for how long.

COSTELLO: Well, is there any way that I can find out. My phone is on right now, so, I mean, some police department could be tracking me, right? So is there any way --

GAHRAN: Yes.

COSTELLO: Is there any way for me to find out if they're doing that?

GAHRAN: Well, you can -- with any law enforcement agency or any government agency you can do an open-records request to ask if they have any files on you. People have done that for decades with the FBI for instance.

But, the thing is, is that, this is going to happen, no matter what whether you like it or not. Probably, the most sensible approach is to make sure their legal safeguards that the law enforcement agencies that do this that they get a warrant.

It's really probably not that much different from the recent Supreme Court case where they've ruled that police needed to get a warrant in order to put a GPS tracking device on somebody's car. It's not that much different.

COSTELLO: Wow, so the only way you can really like is don't use your cell phone and to keep it in the off position. That's the only way you can really protect yourself. If you want to make sure that police aren't tracking you.

GAHRAN: Yes, you can power it down. You can put it in the airplane mode. If the radio isn't working it can't talk to any towers. You can even pull the battery if you want. This is not something that I think most people should be scared of on a daily basis and remember there are some good uses.

Like if somebody's been kidnapped, the cell phone might be an indication as to where they are. But it's not a failsafe and you know, don't be paranoid about it. But the ACLU has a lot of information on their site.

You can look up a map to see what police departments in your state responded and they have all the documents that they got from the police departments are online. So you can look it up if you're really curious to see what your local police department has been doing.

COSTELLO: I got a busy afternoon. Amy Gahran, thanks so much.

GAHRAN: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Checking stories cross country now. In the Gulf of Alaska today, the coast guard will get some gunnery practice and eliminate a hazard to navigation.

The target, a deserted fishing trawler swept out to sea by last year's tsunami off Japan. It has floated all the way here as part of a huge debris field. A cutter will use its canon to sink the boat.

How would you like to have your own town? You can. Buford, Wyoming, population 1, is for sale. For a minimum bid of $100,000 you could walk away with the whole place including a convenience store.

In Galveston, Texas, a surveillance camera caught this burglar who suddenly felt compelled to bust a move. He's become quite an internet sensation. Police hope he'll be dancing to the tune of jailhouse rock very soon.

Muhammad Ali is one of the most recognizable people on the planet, but Miami Marlins fans were stunned by his appearance at the game last night.

Mitt Romney said that the president is saying one thing to world leaders and another thing to voters. And accusing him of running a hide and seek campaign. Our "Political Buzz" coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Miami Marlins fans won't forget the team's opening night in their new stadium, but not because of the baseball game necessarily.

Instead this is the image no one can forget, Muhammad Ali, the boxing legend bringing out the first-game ball. It wasn't the champ we, of course, remember so fondly. Ali shook during his time on the field the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Clear to see, after chanting, Ali, the crowd then grew quiet and afterwards, they lit up Twitter with their criticism. John Zarrella is in Miami with more. So, what is this all about?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Carol, I remember not that many years ago, the great, Yankee great, Jo Dimaggio throwing out the first pitch at a game, an old timers' game, to benefit the hospital here named after Dimaggio. Of course, he's gone now and the Marlins don't have great tradition.

They have only been around for 20 years. You're not going to find a Dimaggio to throw out a first pitch for the Marlins and the big secret yesterday, all day, and talked about on radio here, who's going to throw out the first pitch?

Of course, we know now who it was. All over Twitter, you know, you're hearing words like sadness, uncomfortable. Some of the things being written on Twitter, and in social media, I'm sorry, this doesn't feel right seeing Ali like this.

Crowd, this is the part where you keep cheering for Ali. This isn't coming off particularly well. I wonder if Ali even knows where he is -- ugh. Hard to watch, man.

Now some people have come out in support in fact saying Ali made it special, simply the greatest. And Jeffrey Loria, the Marlins owner on the marlins.com page saying today, he was great. He is so strong, I was holding on to his hands and he just about destroyed my hand.

He is as strong as he ever was. The disease is debilitating, but he's the still the most famous person on the face of the earth. It's a big up for the crowd and for me.

So clearly, the Marlins defending the use of Ali and you know what, Carol, quite frankly, if Muhammad Ali's presence last night and it clearly has is bringing renewed interest in Parkinsons disease and how debilitating it is and can be.

You know, former Attorney General Janet Reno has Parkinsons disease. You know, maybe in some way, shape or form, there's a positive that could come out of this -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I think it's a case of there by the grace of God go I. I mean, it's not necessarily that people didn't want Muhammad Ali there. They were just uncomfortable seeing how this disease has ravaged him.

ZARRELLA: Yes, and it goes back to 1996 when you saw him at the Olympic games in Atlanta, lighting that torch and the huge contrast to the way he was then, even suffering from the disease back then.

And now, you know, just how much further along the disease has progressed in his body. So, there is that, too, that people are playing off of then and the now and it was quite clearly, pretty tough to watch.

COSTELLO: Yes, it was great seeing all of the Marlins players to surround him, though, that was quite touching. John Zarrella --

ZARRELLA: Yes, really was. I was going to say, Carol, your Tigers look like the beast of the central division.

COSTELLO: I know. I can't wait. They play at 1:05 Eastern this afternoon and I'll be watching on my little iPad.

ZARRELLA: I'm sure you will.

COSTELLO: I will. Thanks, John.

Actually, John's report brings us to today's talk back question, we wanted to ask you, why was it controversial for Muhammad Ali to throw the first pitch? Tell me what you think. Facebook.com/carolcnn, I'll read some of your responses later on in the show.

President Obama has invited one of his biggest political foes to the White House today. Majority Leader Eric Cantor will be on hand when the Jobs Act is signed into law at the White House and it's reefing a few eyebrows when you consider their contentious past. Our "Political Buzz" coming your way next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM today.

There's a new deadline regarding your future healthcare and the power of federal courts, government lawyers will have to answer critical questions on whether federal courts strike down some or all of the President's health care law if they deemed the law unconstitutional.

Jerry Sandusky left a Pennsylvania courtroom a short time ago. His lawyers asked the judge to dismiss his child sex abuse charges. Most of the motions have been delayed. There are 52 counts alleging the former Penn State assistant coach committed sex act with ten boys dating back to the 90s. Sandusky says he's innocent.

And the Maryland lottery will hold a news conference this afternoon and might finally tell us who hit the $656 million jackpot last week. There have been at least two claims to the winning tickets. But now both people are back pedalling. Other winning tickets were sold in Kansas and Illinois.

"Political Buzz" is your rapid-fire look at the best political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing today: on the left Sirius XM political talk show host and comedian, Pete Dominick; in the middle, Patricia Murphy, she's founder and editor of Citizen Jane Politics and a "Daily Beast" contributor; and on the right, CNN contributor Will Cain. Welcome to all of you.

PATRICIA MURPHY, FOUNDER/EDITOR, CITIZEN JANE POLITICS: Good morning Carol.

PETE DOMINICK, POLITICAL TALK SHOW HOST, SIRIUS XM: Good morning.

WILL CAIN, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi Carol.

COSTELLO: Good morning.

Ok, so Mitt Romney blasted the President accusing him of running a hide and seek campaign. Basically Romney says the President says one thing to world leaders and another thing to voters. Does that resonate with Independent voters -- Patricia?

MURPHY: Well I think that does resonate with Independent voters. I think that that was a particularly bad moment for the President when he was speaking with the Russian President. And said he would do one thing after the election.

The only problem for Mitt Romney, though, is that Republicans are saying the exact same thing about him, his campaign manager had the etch-a-sketch comment. Ann Romney has said that they're going to unzip the real Mitt Romney so he could come out and play and tell everybody what his real views are. He had another -- he had another surrogate say that Mitt Romney will come out and tell us all what he really thinks once we get pass this primary.

So I think that it is a good attack on the President. But it's not good coming from Mitt Romney.

COSTELLO: Will.

CAIN: I totally agree, I think it's - I think it will resonate for two reasons. One, there's a visual, there's actually a video of President Obama saying to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev I'll have more flexibility after my election and two, it's somewhat true. He has a list of things now that he's saying in an election year that are contrary to positions he's held over the last several years.

And beyond just what he's saying now I think even if you're on the left, you could say, you know, you campaigned against the healthcare mandate, but then you wanted to enact one when you became President. The whole narrative is what do you really want to do?

Now let me just print Pete in two ways, one it's rich that is coming from Mitt Romney and two, all politicians do it. I know both are true.

COSTELLO: That said, Pete?

DOMINICK: Yes, I mean, I agree a lot with -- I mean, the question is does it resonate with Independents voters? I think everything that Romney says will resonate with Independent voters. It's how we hear these things and how we felt them. Mitt Romney also said yesterday that he called it a government takeover of healthcare and that President Obama apologizes to the world which are both pants on fire lies according to PolitiFact. It will resonate. President Obama caught with that open mike.

But if you think about it for just a second, does anybody really think that -- that our world leaders, that the U.S. president doesn't meet with other leaders and tell them what their situations are. This is how they talk, do we really not believe that?

COSTELLO: Ok. Second question, President Obama is offering an olive branch to his political arch-enemy, Majority Leader Eric Cantor. He's invited Cantor to be by his side as he signs the Jobs Act into law. What does this mean for their relationship, Will?

CAIN: It mean something. I mean, I think he has to put this in the context that this hasn't happened a lot in the recent -- in recent history, recent past. I mean I think the last really big one that they had was a couple of months ago and if Republicans are kind of chapped about the fact that in October of last year, they had this free trade agreement with South Korea and it was kind of rescheduled and shifted around to eventually not have Republicans present for the signing. And they feel like, I don't know if it's true now the President is denying them some image of bipartisanship.

Of course, the President's response is you don't really want it anyway. So I would say it's somewhat significant because it's rare.

Pete?

DOMINICK: You know I don't know what it means for their relationship, Eric Cantor and President Obama, maybe they'll be going golfing next. Or maybe they'll take their wives out. I don't think there's a lot of love lost between these two.

But remember when Charlie Crist, the former Governor of Florida, hugged the President that was terrible for him. Jon Huntsman worked for the President that was terrible for him. There are a lot of people in this country that hate President Obama. And Eric Cantor having his picture taken with him I'm not sure it's going to -- it's going to help him. Maybe we're seeing the beginning of it but you know McCain-Feingold more recently Inhofe and Boxer or -- or old Romney and new Romney.

COSTELLO: Patricia?

MURPHY: Yes, I think Eric Cantor actually needs his picture taken with the President right about now. The American public, Republicans in particular do not want House Republicans to get nothing done. They don't want the President to have his full agenda enacted that the House Republicans have done a lot of blocking of legislation and very little passing legislations.

So Eric Cantor to his credit has now very small narrow pieces of legislation that he can work with the President on. I think it's a -- it's a realization that he has to do something. So the Jobs Act. They didn't make a big think over the payroll tax cut, they got the Stock Act through. It's Eric Cantor facing the reality. And his numbers are up too first time up to 12 percent the House Republicans.

COSTELLO: All right, your "Buzzer-Beater" 20 seconds each. Here is your third question.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said if the GOP were in office, the Ryan budget would be passed immediately and then he went on to explain why.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Because everyone supports this. It's not this sort of idea -- the rump idea, you know idea of the rump faction of the Republican party, this is the -- this is what now is main stream Republican thinking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So what exactly is a rump faction, Will?

CAIN: I'm not an expert but I don't think it's what Jay Carney -- it's not meant in the way he used it there. I think he tried to basically use it as a replacement for the word radical or marginalized. My understanding is a rump faction is what's left over when the entire party moves towards one ideology or changes their point of view on a certain position. And it's the remainder, rump, it's the remainder of what's left of the party. That's my understanding of what a rump faction is.

COSTELLO: Patricia?

MURPHY: Will and I both read the Wikipedia on the rump faction. Yes he's saying that it's not -- it's not just a little bit of the Republican Party that feels this way, it's the whole Republican Party that feels this way. And the fact that it sounds a little bit like a donkey caboose is a bonus for Jay Carney and why he gets the big bucks and that's why he's got the job.

COSTELLO: Pete?

DOMINICK: Yes, Patricia, a rump faction is the part of the animal, Carol, nobody really wants to eat and that's clearly what Jay Carney was referring to. It's the part of the Republican Party that nobody really wants to be. I have no idea. I have never heard of it before. Rump faction. I think it's like this breakaway idea. But the Republicans have moved so far to the right it will be like Democrats embracing known --

COSTELLO: Oh man, I don't even know how to respond after that.

DOMINICK: Rump faction.

COSTELLO: It just made me think of rump roast. Because you said --

CAIN: I've never heard of it.

COSTELLO: I know.

DOMINICK: It's a new segment, it's a new segment you're going to be doing. It's a new segment you're doing every morning -- Carol. The rump faction.

COSTELLO: That will be the name of the show. The Rump Faction. Thanks to all of you, it's been fun.

MURPHY: Thanks Carol.

COSTELLO: The Kony 2012 campaign brought worldwide attention to the hunt for a notorious warlord. It also brought an avalanche of criticism down on the group that made the sleek video that spurred an online campaign. We're going hear from the group's CEO, that's just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Will the real mega millionaire in Maryland please stand up? The Maryland Lottery will hold a news conference this afternoon and finally they may tell us who gets that $656 million jackpot in Maryland last week. As you know, a woman had claimed that her son won. But her son claims that his friends made a fake ticket that looked like the winner.

And then there's that woman in the hat, she's claimed to be the winner. Now she says she's not sure if she even has the ticket. She does have a lawyer, though.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EDWARD SMITH, MIRLANDE WILSON'S ATTORNEY: I would caution anybody, until it's presented to the lottery commissioner for processing that it doesn't. We're only preparing in the event that there are people who might challenge what we believe to be a legitimate claim.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Winning tickets were sold in Maryland, in Kansas, and Illinois.

Detroit dodges though what could have been a major embarrassment. The city council passing an agreement to share financial power with the state. The deal gives Michigan officials a say in how to fix Detroit's finances but it avoids a complete state takeover. The agreement is fiercely opposed by labor union.

How would you like to be the most important, influential person in your entire town. Well, you can and all you have to do is buy your own town. Buford, Wyoming is called the nation's smallest town. It has a population of one and it's for sale. You can start with a minimum bid of $100,000. You could walk away with this whole place, including a combination of a convenience store and gas station and a three-bedroom home among its five buildings.

In today's "Health for Her", five medical tests you may not need. They are considered routine now, but according to a new report, if a patient is basically healthy they do not need any kind of scan after they fainted, an annual cardiac stress test, chest x-ray before outpatient surgery, back scan within the first six weeks of lower back pain, or repeated colon cancer screening if the first one was fine.

The study was done by nine physicians -- nine physician groups, rather -- the Consumers' Union and the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation. They agreed that sometimes these tests are needed but they're often overused. Invisible Children had the goal of bringing a war lord to justice with a viral campaign. The first video campaign was a hit. Time will tell if the second is, too.

I'm going to talk to Invisible Children CEO about their new online effort and the criticism his group has been receiving.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: As we have been telling you this morning the group behind the Kony 2012 viral video started releasing a sequel within the past two hours. Here's a peek.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ADAM FINCK, PROGRAMS DIRECTOR, INVISIBLE CHILDREN: We were contacted by the U.N. who asked us to design flyers that would be culturally sensitive and reach out to the LRA directly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Invisible Children's first clip created incredible online buzz -- it's first video, rather. It did create this incredible online about the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. The second one looks to build on that and more. And the group hopes the excitement will keep growing up to their April 20th day of action -- that's what they're calling it.

The new video can also blunt some of the criticism aimed at Invisible Children since the group's first movie exploded online.

Invisible Children CEO, Ben Keesey, joins me now from New York. Welcome, Ben.

BEN KEESEY, CEO, INVISIBLE CHILDREN: Hi, thanks for having me.

COSTELLO: Thanks for being here, what are you hoping to accomplish with this second video?

KEESEY: Yes, absolutely. Well, the goal of the first film Kony 2012 primarily was to raise awareness and to make Joseph Kony known and make the atrocities of the LRA known around the world.

The second film goes deeper than that. And it says what are the solutions being proposed by leaders on the ground as far as how the world can support the effort (inaudible)? And then it basically asks any viewer, and any viewer watching this right now, if you want to help, the most important thing you can do is message your policymakers so that our policymakers and our governments around the world support the ongoing regional effort now led by the African Union to permanently disarm the LRA and stop the violence.

COSTELLO: One of the criticism from the first film was that you called only for military action, for Kony to be captured and killed. Is there another way solution in this second video? KEESEY: Yes. Well, we definitely did not say that in the first film. The -- absolutely the goal Invisible Children is for Joseph Kony to be arrested and delivered to the International Criminal Court as he was the first man indicted by the ICC in 2005.

And so, what the film shows in the second film is it makes it more clear though that that's going to take a comprehensive approach. There's multiple things that need to be done from civilian protection to encouraging peaceful surrenders, rehabilitation reconstruction and then apprehension.

But listen to this story. So, right now, right now, in the DRC, there's a group of LRA fighters that are trying to defect, They're trying to escape, they sent letters Manuska (ph) which is the to the U.N. Peacekeeping mission saying we want to leave, but it's actually more difficult. So those are the types of programs that the world needs to invest in. Those are the types of programs we at Invisible Children are investing in, in supporting missions like the U.N. disarmament of folks who are doing that amazing work to get fighters out peacefully and safely.

COSTELLO: Got you. And I know you in part made this second video to answer your critics. Some critics said they didn't know where the money was going, the money donated to your cause. Does this video explain that?

KEESEY: Yes, absolutely. The video goes more into the solutions about how to address the atrocities of the LRA. But have answered a lot of questions about our financials. You know, we have been committed since the very beginning to be honest and transparent all the way around. So if you go on our Web site, you can read -- you can see all of our financial statements, our tax returns, our annual reports.

You can also read a lot of the other kind of responses to common questions. Any time something grows this big this fast, people are going to have questions. We totally understand that. So go on our Web site and you'll find all the information very transparent right there.

COSTELLO: I also wanted to ask you about Jason Russell because we know, he's having some problems now and you know, we all saw that terrible video, it was all over the Internet. I know you must not have expected this huge response to your video, I mean 86 million hits. Was it the pressure that got to him or what was it, do you know?

KEESEY: Well, you're right that we did not expect this. You know, our stated goal was -- our hope was for 500,000 people to watch the first film. So it went a little beyond that. And that took a toll on all of us. And I think Jason's wife released a statement recently and addresses kind of the condition (AUDIO GAP) is that Jason is on his road to recovery. It's a long process but slow and steady. He'll be back.

COSTELLO: Will we be seeing him soon? KEESEY: I hope so. You know, the family will release more details about his kind of medical process and the road to recovery. But what I can say, what Danica's (ph) last statement said is that that is happening. And the family -- he's in great hands. His family is so gracious. The medical team is really on point.

But the family has been so gracious also to say that their job is to look after Jason and our job is to look after the mission. He's devoted almost ten years of his life to -- in consultation with myself and incredible local partners on the ground in Central and East Africa who ultimately, you know, that's the purpose, that's the whole point of the campaign is to stop people living in fear of the LRA from having to do that anymore.

COSTELLO: Ben Keesey, thanks for joining us this morning.

KEESEY: Thank you so much for having me.

COSTELLO: The queen of hip-hop getting some, I don't know, she's in hot water over a Burger King ad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC VIDEO OF MARY J. BLIGE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: That's nine-time Grammy winner Mary J. Blige. She's singing about chicken and some fans don't like it much. She's now responding to their criticism.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: So, the much-admired queen of hip-hop soul decided to do a commercial for Burger King. Not unusual, but the backlash is.

Here's the ad.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's in those new chicken snack wraps?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's in the new chicken --

MARY J. BILGE, SINGER: What's in those new chick wraps.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mary?

BLIGE: Crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So, this ad came out on YouTube this week, but Burger King has pulled it. Blige is a nine-time Grammy winner and she reportedly got $2 million to do the ad but it has created so much buzz, negative buzz that Burger King pulled it. Look at the comments from Twitter and Facebook, and also on the morning talk shows. Some in the black community are surprised she would promote what they call a racial stereotype. Ashley said, "I thought the commercial was more funny than anything until people started having issues with it. I see how it could be stereotypical."

Tiffany said, "Performers give into stereotypes for money."

And Barb says, "Play the commercial. I live in Georgia, and everyone here eats chicken and no one cares.

Host of the "Ryan Cameron Show" on Atlanta's V103 is with me now by phone. Good morning.

RYAN CAMERON, RADIO HOST: Hey how are you doing.

COSTELLO: I'm good. So what is your audience saying about this?

CAMERON: Well, I think they're kind of torn right now. Because, you know, now that Mary has come out and we may have rushed to judgment a bit on that, Burger King apologizing for basically going for some viral marketing instead of a finished television spot saying hey, let's just put this up on YouTube and see what happens. And now they're asking for forgiveness instead of permission.

Mary saying, you guys know me. You know I would never do anything like this. It was supposed to be a dream sequence and basically, you know, Burger King who is number three right now is enjoying the buzz of the fact that they kind of ambushed Mary on some of this stuff.

COSTELLO: So explain to us why some of your listeners find this so offensive?

CAMERON: Well, I think that, you know, since we have been around America, there's always been a problem with stereotypical ads and commercials, everything, from dancing and singing and fried chicken and watermelon. I was telling people earlier on Twitter, you go back to MC Hammer with the (inaudible) popcorn chicken. His tour bus is stuck in the town and he doesn't know what to do, they bring on the popcorn chicken and they barbecue wings. And the next thing you know, everybody's really upset about the fact that here we go again with another stereotypical ad.

But you know, it's a problem for African-Americans, because it seems like we're always the first ones to launch these chicken products.

COSTELLO: Do you think that in the end this will really hurt Mary J. Blige?

CAMERON: No, I don't think that at all. I mean I believe that even going back to what I said earlier, Mary has said, you know, this was supposed to be a dream sequence. And if you look at the commercial that they put on YouTube, it kind of jumps around a little bit. It goes from the beginning of the restaurant, to the end of the commercial, to her being on a stage.

It just seems like Burger King saying, they're still talking about this, we're trying to take the company public. Let's go ahead and just put this Mary J. Blige spot up and then see what happens. And I've seen it in contracts myself in music. You know, those people that are in corporate America they find legal loopholes.

I'm sure Mary had an ironclad contract about stuff being on broadcast television but maybe not so much on YouTube and now they found this loophole and she's suffering from the fact that somebody probably pulled a fast one..

COSTELLO: Ok. Well, I don't think that ad will be appearing on YouTube anymore. Thank you very much.

CAMERON: Burger King's happy.

COSTELLO: Ryan Cameron, thank you.

CAMERON: Thank you.

COSTELLO: We're going to take a break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Thank you for joining me.

"CNN NEWSROOM continues with Kyra Phillips.