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Unemployment Edges Up to 8.2 Percent; Weak Jobs Report Sends Stocks Tumbling; Juror: Edwards Trial Emotional, Frustrating; 8th Grader Wins National Spelling Bee; Subway Gets Heart Association Seal; Parts of East Brace for Nasty Storms; Wisconsin Recall Vote Splits State; Kidnapped Tourists Describe Fear; Forest Versus Football; A Darker Take on "Snow White"; London Security Stepped Up; Lawn Mower in Traffic, Truck in a Bar
Aired June 01, 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: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Happy Friday.
Just ahead in the NEWSROOM, the jobs report released this morning shows a concerning trend. It is the worst one in the past year. And Wall Street and Washington are already reacting.
Nine days of jury deliberations, 50 hours of discussions, and it ended in one mistrial. This morning, jurors in the John Edwards case are revelling in what happened behind closed doors and talking about reports of their bizarre behavior.
Can you spell spelling bee champion?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a champion of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: She is awesome. A super speller beats almost 300 other contestants to take home the crown. In less than 10 minutes, she is talking to us live about her big win.
Plus, remember this? Yes, Snow White in all of her peaceful glory. Well, the 21st Century version hits theatres today, and it's not the Snow White you grew up watching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why does the queen want you dead?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You should know. You're the one hunting me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: We are talking to the stars of "Snow White and The Huntsman" about this action-packed remake. All right, let's talk about the latest jobs report. Wall Street is paying for it. Republicans are pouncing on it. The report shows 69,000 jobs were created last month, and it's the fewest number of jobs added in a year.
The unemployment rate also inched up to 8.2 percent. The news sent the markets reeling this morning. The Dow down, you can see it there, 165 points.
The White House issued a statement, trying to stay positive, but admitting the economy is not growing fast enough. Our business guru, Christine Romans is here. And I think the best advice today is don't look at your 401(k).
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: You're right. And look, because stocks are down, but also for a lot of people, the job is the engine of your personal finances, right? It's the thing that pays the bills.
So the jobs number, that's why it's the most important economic report, frankly, in the world. It shows now, Carol, three months in a row of subpar economic growth. And we always tell you, don't just look at one month of data.
It takes a few months to see a trend. It's really clear now, when you look at the course of the last few months, that there's a trend here of slowing job creation in this country, 69,000 jobs created in the world's largest economy is not enough.
And that's been the big disappointment here. I mean, you can see by that chart, Carol, just how quickly things have slowed down here. And you've got now the slowest job creation we've seen in more than a year.
A big part of this is Europe, Carol. Eurozone unemployment hit 11 percent. Europe is the biggest destination for American exports. So if you're an -- if you're a big company in this country and you see what's going on with your customers.
Some of those countries in recession, you're not necessarily hiring a bunch of people here because you're worried about your own orders slowing down. That's part of it that we're watching.
And also small and mid-size businesses are telling me, Carol, that they just don't feel the robust certainty of demand back yet in this country.
So they're not hiring if they don't have to. And that's where this leaves us. One bright spot, Carol, I've been looking into these numbers, trying to find an area that continues to grow. It's health care --
COSTELLO: Good, because it's Friday.
ROMANS: Three hundred forty thousand jobs added in health care so far this year. The political part of the story, though, is that the public sector continues to shed jobs, 13,000 more public sector jobs shed.
So that's where you'll get the fighting over who has got the right -- who has got the right prescription to get us out of this mess and whose policies make sure jobs are being created for everyone.
COSTELLO: And the argument started actually before the jobs report came out. Christine Romans, live in New York for us.
Jurors in the John Edwards trial are speaking out this morning. They probably let him of the legal hook for good. Not with their decisions so much as their indecision. The jurors found John Edwards not guilty of campaign finance fraud.
But they could not decide on five other charges. The judge declared a mistrial, as you know. Three of the jurors appeared on the "Today" show.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID RECCHION, EDWARDS TRIAL JUROR: We had motions. Each day was a new day. We would start with calmness. We actually prayed together as a group. We would finish the day and challenge ourselves every bit of the day.
CINDY AQUARO, EDWARDS TRIAL JUROR: There were times that got very frustrating. The emotions got high and we would have to take a minute, step back, and just everyone calm down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Joe Johns was there for the verdict. And listening to these jurors, they were stressed out. And we heard a lot of strange shenanigans during the trial.
JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Yes, well, there were -- they appeared to be pretty stressed out in the jury room, too. I can tell you that or at least in the courtroom when I saw them.
Just the eye contact and the sort of body language told you that they were having a struggle back there. The take-away, Carol, I think from all of this is that the government did not meet its burden of proof.
And there are some of the jurors who suggested, well, yes, maybe -- I think he must have done something. But that's a whole lot different from 12 people saying that John Edwards is guilty of anything by reasonable doubt.
And they just didn't get there. Some of this is because, you know, people said this case was doomed from the start. The facts weren't clear, the law wasn't clear. And the lawyers basically did the best they could, Carol.
COSTELLO: I know that the jury foreman also said it's time we looked at campaign finance reports -- reform seriously in this country, because that was a big part of the problem in coming to any sort of conclusion. A lot of people talking this morning too about what John Edwards said after the trial.
JOHNS: Right. What he said right out here on the steps, essentially is, yes, I've sinned, but in my view, I haven't broken the law. Take a listen to the sound bite.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN EDWARDS (D), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I want to make sure that everyone hears from me and from my voice that while I do not believe I did anything illegal or ever thought I was doing anything illegal, I did an awful, awful lot that was wrong. And there is no one else responsible for my sins.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JOHNS: So a lot of people this morning are saying the Department of Justice should not try to retry this case. Of course, that decision completely up to them -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Joe Johns reporting live for us from North Carolina.
An amazing picture to show you now. It might have been one big splash in the ocean. But the "Dragon" space capsule is one giant leap for the commercial space industry.
We're seeing more pictures of the capsule after it landed yesterday in the Pacific Ocean. Both NASA and Congress are praising the company that created SpaceX. It's the first time a commercial spacecraft completed a mission to the International Space Station.
An eighth grader from San Diego says she knew she would spell the winning word in the Scripps National Spelling Bee correctly because she had seen it before.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SNIGDHA NANDIPATI, SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE WINNER: Guetapens, g-u-e-t-a-p-e-n-s, guetapens.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have a champion!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: So excellent. That's Snigdha Nanipati. Last year, she tied for 27th place in the spelling bee. Guetapens is a French word, by the way, meaning an ambush, snare or trap.
Snigdha won $30,000 and other gifts, and she joins us now live from Washington. Hi!
NANDIPATI: Hi.
COSTELLO: Are you feeling like a superstar this morning?
NANDIPATI: Yes. It's quick. COSTELLO: You are a superstar. So when you got the word, and you say, I've seen it before, were you still nervous when you were spelling it?
NANDIPATI: Yes, I really wanted to get it right. I did not want to mess up.
COSTELLO: Has that ever happened to you?
NANDIPATI: No. I always try to be really careful.
COSTELLO: Were you spelling it extra slowly?
NANDIPATI: No. I just was kind of keeping my pace, but being careful.
COSTELLO: OK, you sound very matter-of-fact about this, but I know you must be excited. So when all that confetti started falling from the ceiling, what went through your mind?
NANDIPATI: My goodness. OK, well, I was hoping that I would get a word that I knew, and every time I was at the microphone waiting for Dr. Bailey to pronounce the word, I was hoping that I could recognize the word immediately. And I was able to recollect all of the words I got.
COSTELLO: So we're looking at pictures of your family hugging you. And you seem a little shellshocked there. How did it feel when your family ran on stage?
NANDIPATI: I was like, whoa, is this really happening?
COSTELLO: OK, so you, what, got $30,000. What's next for you?
NANDIPATI: I don't know yet. I haven't decided. I'm kind of going to -- I don't know. Take a break from everything, and then I might just, like -- I don't know. I think I still have some time to decide.
COSTELLO: Yes, you're only 14. You have plenty of time.
NANDIPATI: Yes.
COSTELLO: No more spelling bees in your future, though. So is there a next challenge for you coming up?
NANDIPATI: Well, I don't necessarily have a challenge yet. But when I'm older, I do want to become a neurosurgeon or psychiatrist.
COSTELLO: I should hook you up with Sanjay Gupta. He's a neurosurgeon. Would you like me to do that?
NANDIPATI: Well, I mean --
COSTELLO: It's all about connections. You'll learn that when you turn 18.
NANDIPATI: OK.
COSTELLO: Thank you so much for joining us and congratulations.
NANDIPATI: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Coming up in the NEWSROOM, a recall move in Wisconsin is now up to the voters. We'll talk about Tuesday's election for governor, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: It's 13 minutes past the hour. Checking our top stories now.
Several jurors in John Edwards' corruption trial are speaking out, saying the evidence just wasn't there. Case ended in a mistrial. On the morning shows, jurors said prosecutors simply didn't meet the burden of proof, and the foreman said the case highlights the need for stronger campaign finance laws.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney will receive classified intelligence briefings after he formally secures his party's nomination at the convention, but not sooner. President Obama isn't breaking a tradition that has been in place since the 1950s.
In business news, Subway gets the seal of approval from the American Heart Association. It's the first chain to get the heart check certification.
Subway says eight of its sandwiches, nine salads and four kids' meals meet the AHA's healthy criteria, but the certification has its critics. They say some 200 companies are already heart-check approved and they had to pay for the seal.
In sports, their 20-game winning streak is over. The Oklahoma City Thunder shut down the Spurs last night, 102-82, making the western conference finals interesting again. The Spurs led the series in two games to one over the Thunder.
In weather, today is the official start of the hurricane season. The National Hurricane Center is saying we should see an average number of storms, 9 to 15. In the meantime, parts of the eastern United States will see some nasty weather today. A string of thunderstorms could bring damaging winds, hail and tornadoes to Raleigh, the D.C. area, Pittsburgh and Charleston.
Big-name politicians are hitting the campaign trail in Wisconsin today, but not for the presidential election. It's for Tuesday's recall for the Wisconsin governor.
The incumbent, Scott Walker, was pushed into the recall by people angered by his move to cut union power in the state. He's facing Tom Barrett, Milwaukee's Democratic mayor.
South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley will be stumping for Walker today, while Bill Clinton speaks at the top of the hour for Barrett. Our Ted Rowlands spoke to the governor and the challenger.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Scott Walker shouldn't be campaigning until 2014. But the now second-year governor of Wisconsin made so many people mad in his first few months in office, he's facing a recall.
(on camera): Were you surprised at the fact the recall did go through, and what could you have done to prevent it?
GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER (R), WISCONSIN: Well, eventually I was -- if you would have asked me a year-and-a-half ago, I would have been totally surprised. I tried to fix things. What would I have done differently? Simple. I would have spent more time last January and February making the case for our reform.
ROWLANDS (voice-over): Those reforms slashed the power of public employee unions, which set off a firestorm.
Thousands of protesters were angry that Walker had launched what they saw as a surprise attack against labor unions. Walker's new law, which he signed last year, also makes employee contributions to the unions optional.
Walker's opponent in the recall, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, says Walker's grand plan from the start was to attack labor unions.
MAYOR TOM BARRETT, MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: I look back at 2011, and Governor Walker, and these are his words, these are not my words, said he was going to drop the bomb. That was his first phrase.
ROWLANDS: Drop the bomb is from this phony phone call when Walker thought he was talking to billionaire donor David Koch.
WALKER: I had all my cabinet over to the residence for dinner. Talked about what we were going to do, how we were going to do it. We already built plans up. It was kind of the last hurrah before we drop the bomb.
BARRETT: The second phrase he said was he was going to divide and conquer.
ROWLANDS: Divide and conquer is from this documentary clip showing Walker talking to a supporter shortly after he was elected.
WALKER: The first step is, we're going to deal with collective bargaining for all public employee unions.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right.
WALKER: Just use divide and conquer.
BARRETT: He started this political civil war.
ROWLANDS (on camera): He says you started a civil war in Wisconsin, is that true?
WALKER: No. If it anything, what we did was we said we were going to stand up and taking on the special interests that had dominated things in both the state and local level. Instead, stand with the hard- working taxpayers in Wisconsin.
ROWLANDS (voice-over): Both candidates agree that Wisconsin voters are split.
BARRETT: You have situations where neighbors don't want to talk to neighbors. Workers won't talk to fellow workers.
WALKER: This is not the Wisconsin way. I think we've had passionate debates before back in 2000, 2004. We were the closest blue state in America and we still got on.
ROWLANDS: With less than a week to go, Scott Walker has a slight lead in the polls. He says win or lose, he has no regrets.
WALKER: I'm doing everything in my power to win in terms of reaching out to voters. But I've never been afraid to lose.
ROWLANDS: And even if he does lose, his new union law will remain in place. Ted Rowlands, CNN, Milwaukee.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And with me now is Mahlon Mitchell who is running for the Democratic lieutenant governor of Wisconsin. Welcome.
MAHLON MITCHELL, DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR LT. GOVERNOR, WISCONSIN: Hi, Carol. Thanks for having me on again.
COSTELLO: Thanks for being here. We appreciate it. So Bill Clinton is on his way to Wisconsin. Why did it take so long for a big-named Democrat to come and help?
MITCHELL: I don't know if it took so long. But definitely, President Clinton brings a certain star power to the state. But this has always been about the people of Wisconsin, and it's going to continue to be about the voters and the middle class citizens of our state.
So that's where our focus has been and that's where our focus will stay. But we're glad to have the president here, and we're headed over there right now after the show.
COSTELLO: Great. Mayor Barrett has struggled to raise money. His Republican recall opponent, Scott Walker, has raked intense tens of millions of dollars from out of state. The Democrats haven't managed to do that. Why do you think that is?
MITCHELL: Well, we never -- we knew from the start that we would not have the money that Scott Walker or Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Clayfish would have. He raised $5.1 million in one month.
But this is not about money. If this were about money, we would have lost. This is about the people of the state. There is no doubt our state is divided, right down the middle, so it's going to come down to June 5th, Tuesday and the get out the vote effort.
COSTELLO: You know, sometimes money translates to enthusiasm. Maybe Democrats just can't sustain enthusiasm for long periods of time. This is how the "Daily Beast" put it today.
It said, comparing the storm of activism in Wisconsin last winter to the election Tuesday is like comparing a Wisconsin blizzard to the kind you order at Dairy Queen.
I mean, if this is true, and there's an enthusiasm gap here, Democrats will lose Tuesday.
MITCHELL: Well, you know, I don't think there's an enthusiasm gap. As a matter of fact, I know there isn't. We've been traveling the state for the past two-and-a-half months, and people are enthusiastic.
I think what you're not seeing, what you're seeing last year were a lot of protests and rallies, where we had hundreds of thousands of people storm the capitol. Last year, that was needed at the time.
But right now, you're seeing people in their districts and canvassing, filling phone banks and that's where we're need now to talk to our neighbor, because this is a split vote, and we have to get the people to the polls and make sure they vote the right way.
COSTELLO: And just one final question. The polls show, depending on which poll you look at, that Scott Walker has the edge right at this moment. Some Democrats are saying this recall.
The push for a recall was a mistake by Democrats. It should have just waited until the election rolled around because if Democrats lose, it will look really bad for them.
MITCHELL: Well, I've got to tell you, Carol, the recall wasn't put together by Democrats. This recall was put together by the people of the state of Wisconsin. So this recall was going to happen, regardless because the people want their state back.
And you look at polls, I don't put a lot of credence in polls, and maybe that's because I'm not a career politician. Polls don't vote. Signs don't vote. People do.
And that's what we're doing is talking to the people, and the people have decided, over a million people have decided they want to recall their governor. So that's why we're on board.
COSTELLO: Mahlon Mitchell, thanks so much for joining us this morning.
MITCHELL: Thank you.
COSTELLO: Mitt Romney supporters are heckling President Obama's top campaign guy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can shout down speakers, my friends, but it's hard to etch-a-sketch the truth away.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Mr. Romney says, Obama supporters heckle me, so my supporters can heckle him so there. But is heckling a good thing? We'll heckle our "Political Buzz" panel, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Now is your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning, is there a second act for John Edwards?
John Edwards is off the hook. It's likely he'll never have to pay, despite prosecutors' belief he violated campaign finance laws. But that doesn't matter in the court of public opinion.
Take a look at the cover of the "New York Post" today. It says John Edwards is still guilty of being a really lousy human being. Right now, it's hard to remember this John Edwards, the John Edwards from back in 2008.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: There is one man, there is one man who knows and understands that this is the time for bold leadership. There is one man that knows how to create the change, the lasting change that you have to build from the ground up. There is one man who knows in his heart that it is time to create one America, not two. And that man is Barack Obama.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: But that was before we found out about the $400 haircuts, the cheating on a cancer-stricken wife and the love child. Still, after court was over, Edwards sought redemption from you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EDWARDS: I don't think God is through with me. I really believe he thinks there are still some good things I can do. And whatever happens with this legal stuff going forward, what I'm hopeful about is all those kids that I've seen, you know, in the poorest parts of this country, and in some of the poorest places in the world, that I can help them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: By his own admission, Edwards put his family and friends through the ringer. Some say despite his acquittal, the trial alone was punishment enough.
The "Talk Back" question for you today, is there a second act for John Edwards? Facebook.com/carol cnn. I'll read your comments later this hour.
Snow White, she is back and she has come a long way, baby, from her Disney days. Don't miss my chat with Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth, the stars of the new "Snow White and The Huntsman" action adventure movie.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Thirty minutes past the hour. Checking our "Top Stories" now.
George Zimmerman's defense team and Florida prosecutors joined forces in court today. They're fighting several media companies, including CNN, who want more information released in the case.
But the lawyers want the evidence sealed, because of the intense public attention. Zimmerman is accused of murdering Trayvon Martin, but has claimed he acted in self defense.
SunTrust Mortgage has agreed to pay $21 million to resolve a discrimination lawsuit. The suit claimed the lender discriminated against African-American and Hispanic borrowers. A two and a half year Justice Department investigation found that between 2005 and 2009, SunTrust increased loan prices for qualified minorities.
We're now hearing from those two American tourists kidnapped at gunpoint in Egypt. The gunmen released Brandon Kurtz and Jon Szaflarski yesterday. They told CNN affiliate KPRC, they feared their captors would kill them.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
JON SZAFLARSKI, KIDNAPPED IN EGYPT: Bars on them and they nailed the door shut and they were outside shooting their assault rifles the whole night and all the way through the morning. They were all very loud and aggressive and speaking in Arabic and I mean, we didn't -- we had no idea. No clue what their intentions were.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: The two men were driving to their hotel in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula when they were abducted.
A bid for a new sports stadium usually sparks a bit of controversy, mainly over how to pay for it. But for Virginia Tech the battle is over the school's plan to build in an area some say is rich with history.
Brianna Keilar traveled to the school's campus in Blacksburg, Virginia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN (voice-over): If trees could talk, the stories these woods could tell.
(on camera): What has this tree been around for?
JOHN SEILER, FORESTRY PROFESSOR, VIRGINIA TECH: We've got the moon walk, we've got World War II, World War I.
KEILAR: The tree was around for the American Revolution.
SEILER: Yes. In fact, the tree was probably 10 to 12 inches in diameter at the American Revolution. So they could have sat under the tree at that time. It would have had a lot of shade.
KEILAR (voice-over): The stadium woods are located on the campus of Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Forestry Professor John Seiler has found trees older than 300 years here.
SEILER: In an urban environment this is probably the single largest collection of old white oaks in an old growth forest anywhere in the eastern U.S.
KEILAR: It's now in danger. Virginia Tech's Athletic Department wants to build an indoor practice facility for football, baseball and other sports on four of these 11 wooded acres.
SEILER: That pink flag right there, that represents the wall of the building.
KEILAR: Eight-time conference champs and eyeing a national title, the Hokeys' $40 million football program is looking to attract the nation's best high school recruits.
JOHN RANDOLPH, COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: An indoor practice facility is kind of a key part of that element. A lot of the big schools are adding them. And we've had this project in the works for a decade.
KEILAR: Urban planning professor John Randolph is trying to find a solution. He chairs a committee that is considering alternate locations for the facility, where a parking lot or tennis courts currently stand. Until that committee issues its recommendation in June, Professor Seiler and a Grass Roots organization of Blacksburg residents and Virginia Tech students are publicizing the cause, locally and on the Internet.
(on camera): Vashion (ph) Island, so you have people from Washington State, New York.
SEILER: I'll look, there's Vashion, New York, Knoxville, California, Oklahoma. This is all over the United States now.
KEILAR: Virginia Tech is feeling the pressure.
(on camera): When you see people like prod you, is it on both sides of the equation, or is that mostly people who are saying keep those trees there?
RANDOLPH: Keep the trees.
KEILAR (voice-over): As it decides, what happens to this forest that has survived so much.
Brianna Keilar, CNN, Blacksburg, Virginia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: "Political Buzz", is your rapid fire look at the political topics of the day. Three questions, 30 seconds on the clock. Playing with us today, CNN contributor and managing editor of the conservative blog, RedState.com, Erick Erickson; and Jason Johnson, professor of political science at Hiram College in Ohio and chief political correspondent for Politics 365. Welcome to both of you.
JASON JOHNSON, POLITICS 365: Good morning.
COSTELLO: Ok.
ERICK ERICKSON, REDSTATE.COM: Thanks.
COSTELLO: First question. John Edwards has sinned, but he says God isn't through with me yet. He still believes there are good things I can do, that from John Edwards. So the question, does God have a plan for John Edwards? Jason?
JOHNSON: God does have a plan for John Edwards. He wants him to go forth and speak the gospel of campaign finance reform. I actually talked to a Democratic strategist at corporate communications about this. If you look at this case, the reason Edwards got in trouble is because his bundlers used this money to hide his mistress back in 2008.
Under the current laws, they could have put together a restore our mistresses Super PAC and he could have been completely covered from any investigation from the FEC so that is God's plan for him. Campaign finance reform, the John Edwards way.
COSTELLO: Erick.
ERICKSON: Oh, I think that God has a plan for everybody, but I'm pretty sure the voters don't have a plan for John Edwards.
COSTELLO: Oh we're having trouble with the shot. This is coming out of Macon, Georgia. We've lost Erick Erickson. Should we take a break and then come back? We're going to take a quick break so we can get Erick back.
Sorry, Jason. We'll be back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Ok. We're in the midst of "Political Buzz", a rapid fire look at the best political topics of the day; 30 seconds on the clock. We lost Erick Erickson, but we got him back, at least on the phone.
So Erick, sorry about that. ERICKSON (via telephone): Not a problem.
COSTELLO: Oh, good, I'm glad to hear your voice. We're going to go on to question number two. A cavalcade of stars descending defending on Wisconsin to lend last-minute support in the gubernatorial recall election. Republican South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Democratic Bill Clinton, among others. When this Wisconsin recall election is over, what will it say about the nation? Erick.
ERICKSON: Not a whole lot. It will say that voters in Wisconsin really got tired of all these recall efforts. They may or may not like the policies, although I think they're starting to see the benefit of them up there. Joblessness has gone down in Wisconsin, jobs are up in Wisconsin.
And you know the one person missing in action there is Barack Obama, who Republicans really want to see there, because he's batting 1,000 and campaigning for people for statewide office who go on the loose.
COSTELLO: Jason.
JOHNSON: It's not really going to say anything about America as a whole. It says something about Wisconsin. This state is going to go blue. It's also another example of how the Republicans overreached after winning many governors mansions in 2010. It's not going to be an indicator of anything larger going on, but Democrats better make sure they don't lose badly in this election or it's going to be a huge problem for them heading into the fall.
COSTELLO: Ok on to question number three. Your "Buzzer-Beater", 20 seconds each. Third question. You heckle me, I'll heckle you. Mitt Romney says, yes, he did send hecklers to an Obama campaign event in Massachusetts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: For many of the events I go to, there are large groups of, if you will, Obama supporters there, heckling me. And at some point, you say you know what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. If they're going to heckling us well, we're not going to sit back and -- and play by very different rules. If the President is going to have his people come into my rallies and heckling, why we'll show them that you know we -- we conservatives have the same kind of capacity he does.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Hey, tit for tat, but helpful? Erick?
ERICKSON: I'm not a big fan of heckling anywhere. But you know he's right. Democrats have been heckling all over the Republicans, in fact Clarence Thomas, even. Justice Thomas gave a speech and had people for common cause outside the speech calling on him to be lynched. I mean, you had Republicans in Ohio supporting John Kasich who were shouted down by Democratic protesters with mega phones. It's not helpful on either side. I'm just surprised that Mitt Romney thought of doing this.
COSTELLO: Jason.
JOHNSON: This is absolutely pathetic. I mean, look, for Mitt Romney to live in this paranoid universe where Barack Obama is actually going to send protesters out, people do that anyway. It's called being enthusiastic. If anything, Romney should be happy that hecklers are showing up, he might actually break a thousand at one of his rallies.
This is a really a bad example of how he operates as a presidential candidate. He should leave this alone. This is not something that you want to do if you want to say I want to be the leader of the free world, let alone the country.
COSTELLO: Jason Johnson and Erick Erickson, thanks for playing today. We appreciate it.
ERICKSON: Thank you.
JOHNSON: Thank you.
COSTELLO: We're going to talk to Snow White. Kind of like -- she is kind of like Joan of Arc these days. We'll explain after a break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COSTELLO: Snow White is still the fairest of them all, but forget about her skipping through the forest while (inaudible) flowers and singing silly songs with the seven dwarfs or forest animals.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(WALT DISNEY'S "SNOW WHITE")
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COSTELLO: Today's Snow White is all about girl power. And I mean power.
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CHARLIZE THERON, ACTRESS: Black as night, bring me your heart, my dear, dear Snow White.
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COSTELLO: The latest movie about Snow White hits the theatres today. It's called "Snow White and the Huntsman" and stars Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth. And they join us now. Welcome.
CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ACTOR: Thank you.
KRISTEN STEWART, ACTRESS: Thank you so much..
COSTELLO: Ok. So I'm just curious. Kristen, did you even see Snow White as a little girl?
STEWART: Yes. I did not remember it well enough to have it as any reference when we went to go -- when we went to go to shoot the movie in London, I had to watch it again. And I didn't really remember it. So I know that I watched it, but --
COSTELLO: Well, the Disney version of Snow White, Chris, probably wouldn't have given you much, I don't know -- many ideas about how to act in this latest movie.
HEMSWORTH: No, it's a different version. Definitely. The huntsman -- I always thought the huntsman was in like "Red Riding Hood". But so I didn't do my research there either. I think we all know the fairy tale, whether we were avid readers or whether we, you know, watched the cartoon.
It's just been around for so long and existed in the story- telling. But this is a far more kind of epic detailed version of that. And on the scale of "Lord of the Rings", more than the cartoons.
COSTELLO: Kristen, is that how you would describe the movie, as sort of Snow White meets the "Lord of the Rings"?
STEWART: Yes. Absolutely. I think we really do -- even though it looks like this darker twist trying to like really turn it on its head and all of that, it is definitely dark. But it shows how beautiful things can be, because of how dark it gets. And that's very, you know -- that's hand-in-hand with what you imagined Snow White to be.
And it does live in a world that is a lot more dangerous, and very reminiscent of -- I guess like -- like it feels as big as "Lord of the Rings", but what really is awesome about it, and, you know, I can't say this about too many studio movies, for whatever reason, it does feel unique.
I mean, we have -- our director is pretty great, and for whatever reason, it has a tone. It feels like it's own world. I so believed in this world, I wanted to live there. It's why I wanted to make the movie initially.
COSTELLO: And just a last question, because fairy tales seem so hot right now. I mean TV both "Grimm" and "Once Upon a Time", Hollywood goes "Mirror, Mirror", and now your movie, "Snow White and the Huntsman", Chris, why the fascination with fairy tales these days?
HEMSWORTH: Well, there's always been a fascination, I think, just for a long, long time. Because there is a message and a story in there, and good versus evil and betrayal and love and heroism. And, you know, it's classic emotions that we sort of, you know, humanity resonates with and always has.
And at the moment, it seems to be the trend. And I understand it cycles all of the time. Comic books, fairy tales. I think it's just new ways. And we also have access to such incredible technology to, you know, see these stories like we have never seen them before.
COSTELLO: We do. And we can't wait to see the movie.
STEWART: Considering what everyone holds on to is -- sorry.
COSTELLO: Oh, that's ok. I think our satellite window is going to like go away here in a moment. So we have to say goodbye. And thank you so much for being with us this morning.
HEMSWORTH: Thanks for having us.
STEWART: Thank you.
COSTELLO: These rats could hold new hope for people with spinal cord injuries. Still to come, details of a promising medical study.
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COSTELLO: In today's "Daily Dose", a ray of hope for people paralyzed by spinal cord injuries. Scientists say they have successfully used electrical stimulation of the brain to train paralyzed rats to walk again, and even to run. Researchers are now working on plans for a human trial.
Checking top stories now at 50 minutes past the hour. Campaigning heating up in Wisconsin ahead of Tuesday's recall election for governor. Incumbent Scott Walker is facing a challenge from Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Walker's critics began the recall drive after he pushed through legislation last year to reduce the power of unions representing state workers.
The Los Angeles school district sends the discipline cases of 604 teachers to a state board. Cases covering the past four years will be reviewed to determine whether those teachers will lose their jobs and their licenses. The move follows a scandal at one Los Angeles school where two teachers were charged with committing lewd acts on students.
In money news, government regulators are widening their investigation into the massive trading losses at JPMorgan Chase in May. The "Wall Street Journal" reports investigators are issuing subpoenas, requesting the bank's internal e-mails and documents. Last month, JPMorgan Chase revealed a $2 billion loss in trading after making a series of risky bets.
And students at a Bakersfield, California Elementary School got quite a shock. They looked out their classroom window to see that -- a bear running past their playground. Animal control officers captured the bear cub in a nearby apartment complex. They say they will relocate the bear.
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COSTELLO: It's being called the largest military operation in the U.K. since World War II. The British are stepping up security with its Queen's diamond jubilee celebrations beginning this weekend and then the Olympics later this summer. 5,500 police will line the River Thames during the jubilee pageant. 12,000 police officers will be on duty at Olympic events on peak days.
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BOB MILTON, FORMER METROPOLITAN POLICE COMMANDER: This will be the largest military operation on Mainland U.K. probably since the Second World War. We're involving huge numbers of military forces, more than we've got deployed in Afghanistan today, and, of course, very, very large numbers of police.
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COSTELLO: Besides having snipers on rooftops, the Royal Navy will deploy snipers in helicopters. You can watch the celebrations marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth's reign here on CNN. Our coverage begins Sunday morning at 11:00 Eastern.
We asked you to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The "Talk Back" question for you this morning, "Is there a second act for John Edwards?"
This is from Mike. He says "His statement speaks for itself. His political life is over. He admitted that he has failed as a person, but this is a political prosecution that also failed."
This from Larry. "Edwards went public with a new angle on his personal life. I give him credit for that. We all make mistakes at some point. I feel no one should have a right to judge Edwards."
This from Deeanne. "He needs to focus on all of his children and stop craving being in the public eye. He should stick to philanthropic activities and stay out of the limelight."
This from Aaron. "He made a mistake, he apologized. Why do you still want to judge him? We give several political people another chance. Edwards deserves a second act."
Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/CarolCNN and thanks as always for your comments.
A man rides a lawn mower into traffic, a truck piles into a bar, and a car drives through a restaurant. Sounds like fiction, but it all happened. Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He sure wasn't mowing a lawn, but at least he didn't mow down any pedestrians as he waved at the officer in not-so-hot pursuit behind him.
KYLE HENNING, POLICE OFFICER: I hit my siren a few times to try to get his attention and he just kept saying "I'll go around. I'll go around."
I have traffic with a lawn mower.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's in the street (ph)?
MOOS: The officer pulled him over into a parking lot in Jackson, Wisconsin, where a curb stopped him.
HENNING: Charles, how much have you had to drink tonight?
CHARLES GRAY, DUI ON A LAWN MOWER: One beer.
HENNING: Just one beer?
GRAY: One beer.
MOOS: 69-year-old Charles Gray wasn't happy about having to take sobriety tests. Turns out he had three previous drunk driving arrests in cars. When he took the breathalyzer, it resulted in his first arrest for DUI on a lawn mower.
HENNING: You had more than one beer. You have 2.19.
GRAY: No, I had one beer.
HENNING: You're over double.
MOOS: It's been a weird week for vehicles ending up in places they shouldn't be.
In a place called Little Canada, Minnesota, customers at this bar were shooting the breeze. Watch the woman on the end take a last sip, and then, boom. Police say the 51-year-old woman who drove her truck into the bar likely had a diabetic condition.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It happened like that. You didn't have time to react.
MOOS: Pat Szinski, the bartender, he just barely got out of the way in time. Three people were pinned, a total of six went to the hospital. But no one died.
The impact left this customer dazed and watch the woman who had been beside him get up and lift debris out of the way.
In Huntington, Long Island this week, a 21-year-old accused of being drunk drove a red Mercedes through a house, ending up in the backyard. The homeowners weren't hurt. The "New York Daily News" dubbed it a drive-thru.
(on camera): And speaking of drive-thrus, how about the guy who police say went loco over a taco after a beef about too little beef or maybe it was chicken.
(voice-over): 23-year-old Michael Smith picked up his food at a Taco Bell drive-thru in the suburb of Dayton, Ohio. The police say he came back to the restaurant saying he was short a taco. Words were exchanged.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was just very sarcastic and rude.
MOOS: He then drove through the front entrance.
Police followed a trail of fluid from his truck and arrested him at home. When they say takeout, they don't mean take out the entrance.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
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COSTELLO: Makes you want to get right into your car and hit the road, doesn't it? Be careful out there.
I'm Carol Costello. Thank you so much for joining me today.
"CNN NEWSROOM" continues right now with Kyra Phillips.
