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Fast-Rising Floodwaters Drench Florida; Homes Underwater In Florida; Home Prices Climb; Ready For Action; Enlisting Docs In Obesity Fight; Swayze's Wife Fights In His Name; Police Fire On Police; Best Places In the World To Be A Mom; Big Business of Morning TV Wars; Not At My University
Aired June 26, 2012 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: On the move, raising money. The president is making stops in the south today, bringing in campaign cash. He arrived in Atlanta just a short time ago. And before heading to the big money event with deep pocketed donors, check this out, he arrived at The Varsity. An institution in Atlanta. Folks there shout, "what do you have" when you walk up to the counter. Bought a couple of chili dogs, we're told. A couple of onion rings. And when he actually got to his fundraiser, he offered a stirring defense of the health care law, which the Supreme Court will rule on this Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And the American people understand that we're not going to make progress by going backwards. We need to go forwards. They understand we don't need to re-fight this battle over health care. It's the right thing to do. That we got three million young people who are on their parents health insurance plans that didn't have it before. It's the right thing to do to give seniors discounts on their prescription drugs. It's the right thing to do to give 30 million Americans health insurance that didn't have it before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: So that was the president a short time ago.
Also, Mitt Romney on the road today as well promoting his energy policy at a Virginia business that sells machinery to the coal industry. But the president's health care law and the upcoming Supreme Court decision very much so on Mitt Romney's mind as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: As you know, the Supreme Court is going to be dealing with whether or not Obamacare is constitutional. If it's not, if Obamacare is not deemed constitutional, then the first three and a half years of this president's term will have been wasted on something that has not helped the American people. If it's not -- if it is deemed to stand, then I'll tell you one thing, we're going to have to have a president, and I'm the one, that's going to get rid of Obamacare. And we're going to stop it on day one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Also, it is primary day in a handful of states. And Republican Senator Orin Hatch is one incumbent facing a spirited challenge. But he is favored to survive the attempt to deny him a seventh term. Also, 82-year-old Democrat Charlie Rangel facing four challengers for the New York House seat he has held for 21 terms. Rangel says he has overcome ethics and health problems and that his age is actually an advantage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. CHARLIE RANGEL (D), NEW YORK: The only thing that age really means to me, it is symbolic of the experience I have as a former prosecutor, as someone that served as a state legislature. And I've been in the halls of Congress. I'm a legislator with success. So, I don't really just follow the vote. I lead in the vote. And you said that in the announcement. So, you can't get a record like this and be 25 years old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Congressman Charlie Rangel.
Also today, some are calling it a catastrophic flood. Neighbors all across Florida holding their collective breath as Tropical Storm Debby makes the slow, unrelenting march all the way across the strait. I'm talking rivers and lakes and streams -- look at these pictures -- spilling over their banks, flooding homes, business, highways. A portion of Interstate 10 is closed in both directions because of standing water. And Debby, not finished yet. The storm, we're told, could bring in another foot of rain. And add to all of that, this concern. Check this out. Sink holes. Because you have the rain-soaked ground making it unstable for walkways, roadways.
And on a tiny island just off the Florida panhandle, this family is safe and sound after some pretty quick actions, thanks goodness, from the U.S. Coast Guard. High winds, rapidly rising water forced them from their home. Let's go to CNN's John Zarrella. He is in Tampa for us today, next to some water there as well.
I know the storm surge is an issue, John. And tell me about these new mandatory evacuations we're learning about.
JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, those evacuations took place north of us in Pasco County. They evacuated a couple of thousand people up there. Well, they ordered them to evacuate. It doesn't necessarily mean people are going to leave their homes. But a low- lying community. A lot of -- a lot of flooding. Rainfall flooding. Fresh water flooding.
What you're seeing behind me here, Brooke, is not rainfall flooding, but this is tidal flooding. This is Bay Shore Boulevard, one of the main arteries in Tampa. And it is susceptible to flooding, historically, but nothing like this. They haven't seen this in a long, long time. And this is low tide, Brooke. And let me walk you right across the street here just real quick. This over here is Tampa Bay. So you can see that --
BALDWIN: Careful.
ZARRELLA: Yes, it's not deep. It's less than a foot deep here right now and it's low tide. But you can see Tampa Bay. It's broiling in. The problem they've had is two days of this constant on shore flow. It just keeps pushing the water. Pushing it up inland. So that's the problem. You don't get an outgoing tide. It all just keeps coming in.
And down here to the right, Brooke, about 400 yards from me --
BALDWIN: Yes.
ZARRELLA: That's where the Republican National Convention is going to be held in about two months, the end of August or so. And, of course, one of the big concerns here, that's the height of hurricane season. What if you get something like this then, you know, in the Tampa Bay area.
You know what. I just talked to Mayor Bob Buckhorn before I went on the air and he said that when Tampa bid on the Republican Convention, they figured out the analysis, less than 1 percent chance that they would have a hurricane in Tampa Bay the same week that they had the convention. But, he said, I don't want to be the mayor of Tampa when that eventuality takes place.
So, but you can see it's pretty close.
BALDWIN: Yes.
ZARRELLA: And, you know, they do not want to have to deal with a hurricane or high water conditions during the convention.
BALDWIN: Yes. It's -- I know exactly where you are. I was right there in Tampa for the Florida primary day. The mayor is so excited to have everyone come into town.
ZARRELLA: Right.
BALDWIN: But, you know, add to all them, then you have the crazy wildlife in Florida, the snakes and the gators, I just want to say, stay away. Stay away.
ZARRELLA: Oh, yes.
BALDWIN: John Zarrella, we appreciate it. And stay away from that crazy wildlife as well. Stay safe.
ZARRELLA: Sure.
BALDWIN: Also, you know, one of the areas worst hit here, Stark County. That's in north central Florida. They have gotten all kinds of rain, like a half a foot of rain already, and could see as much as another 10 inches. So joining me by phone from Stark is Brad Green. Brad owns a rental home there.
Brad, I know you've passed some pictures along to us and we're going to look at them here. I know water's already flooding in. And as we talk through these photos, tell me, how high was the water in this backyard?
BRAD GREEN, HOMEOWNER (via telephone): The water in the backyard got up to about three and a half foot deep.
BALDWIN: Oh, three and a half feet deep. We're looking at some of these pictures. This is the backyard. Just to be clear, this is a home you rent. No one was home. The home is not rented, correct?
GREEN: Correct. There was no one in the home at the moment. We had actually just moved recently. But it was empty at the moment, thank God.
BALDWIN: So how heavy was your heart when you went to take these photos, when you knew the rain was there, the rain was coming? And, I mean, the last thing you want to do when you have a rental property is pay a bunch of money to fix it up.
GREEN: Yes. And we also had a storage unit out back which had a lot of personal family photos and personal items that were ruined. We had about a foot to 18 inches of water inside of the storage facility that is just pretty much now ruined.
BALDWIN: I am so sorry to hear that. And we're looking at these pictures of the sandbags. Were the sandbags at least successful in keeping some of this water out of the main part of the home?
GREEN: Yes. We had about a quarter of an inch of water that did get into the house. Ruined some baseboards and sheet rock and a little bit of the carpet. So -- but all in all, I guess it could have been a lot worse.
BALDWIN: Yes. You lose the family photos but at least you and hopefully your family are a-OK. Tell me about the rest of town, because I know we're just looking at this particular house. Does the rest of the town sort of mirror what we're looking at here, or did you sort of fair the worst?
GREEN: Well, we live very close to Alligator Creek. And everyone that lives next to that was probably hit the hardest. One of my neighbors actually had -- they woke up and stepped out of bed into about six inches of water. They ended up with about 12 inches of water inside their home and everything is ruined. All along the creek is hit the hardest.
BALDWIN: And when you say Alligator Creek, Brad Green, are we talking gators possibly as well lurking through some of this water we're looking at? You laugh. Not so funny.
GREEN: Well, hopefully not. Hopefully not. But in Florida, there's alligators in water almost everywhere. So it's something you get used to. But hopefully there's not any alligators in my backyard. We'll see.
BALDWIN: Hopefully not. Don't go wading in any water you can't see. Do me that favor. Brad Green, we appreciate it and we appreciate your photos. Thank you so much.
Just a quick reminder to everyone. You know, as long as you're safe, send us those pictures, ireport.com.
A lot more news coming in. take a look.
The rules of engagement are changing after Syria reportedly shoots down this Turkish jet and now Turkey says any more action is a threat.
I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.
The race to find survivors. A landslide buries entire villages and hundreds are missing.
Plus, a shootout inside an airport. As passengers run for their lives, police stray bullets at each other.
Also, it is perhaps the scariest form of cancer in America. I'll ask Patrick Swayze's widow what she's begging Congress to do about pancreatic cancer.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: American home prices climbed higher in April for the first time in seven months. So the average price rose 1.3 percent in 20 major markets. That's according to the Case-Shiller Home Price Index. But prices are still near record lows. They're now back to where they were in early 2003. Let's go to Alison Kosik at the New York Stock Exchange.
And, Alison, what's going on?
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there's always a plus and a minus to the housing picture, isn't there? You know, the prices may be super low still, but today there's kind of a glimmer of hope for those trying to sell their homes. You know, even though one month doesn't make a trend, that 1.3 percent that you mentioned, that 1.3 percent rise in home prices from March to April, guess what, it is a positive sign. A closely watched index of 20 major cities showed the biggest price increases are happening in Washington, D.C., in Phoenix, in Cleveland and Atlanta. Even Portland and Seattle also showed some decent gains.
Overall, though, when you look at the housing picture, prices are still down almost 2 percent from where they were a year ago. No doubt it's going to take a long time to make all of that value up. You know, there's still this huge inventory of unsold homes on the market, not to mention all those foreclosures. And it's still, Brooke, very tough for people out there trying to get a loan.
BALDWIN: Still some bright spots. Some places in the country where the prices are going up. KOSIK: Exactly.
BALDWIN: Are the markets at all reacting to the news?
KOSIK: You know what, at first they did and they continue to right now. They're seeing the positive side of things. The Dow is up 56 points.
You know what's limiting the gains today? All those worried about Europe's debt problems and also a report that came in here about consumer confidence here in the U.S. It actually fell again for the fourth month in a row. That is a big worry because the big worry there is, if consumers aren't confidence, they're not going to get out there and spend. But, still, the market is higher today on the housing news. Brooke.
BALDWIN: Alison, thank you.
Firefighters appear to be winning the battle for now, let me says that, to save homes, save people in these wildfires in Colorado. They say they've had no injuries or even homes destroyed from the aggressive Waldo Canyon Fire. It has now grown to 5,100 acres. It's just 5 percent contained. And officials say it could be as long as three weeks before Waldo Canyon's flames are totally contained. Coming up next hour, I'm going to talk to one of those people considering evacuation. I actually went to high school with her. And she is quite nervous indeed. So we're going to talk to Clarissa (ph).
Also, rescue crews are trying to save anyone who may be trapped under the rubble of this collapsed mall. This is Ontario, Canada. It is possible one person may still be alive. Rescuers bringing in a crane and heavy equipment to dismantle the outside portion here of the mall. And the scene is so dangerous, we're told, that the crews were actually at one point told to stop working, but the community outcry just couldn't be ignored.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We come from a mining town where mine recue never gave up on their people. And it didn't matter how bad it was. They stuck it out. They were there. You never left a man underground, ever. You can't let them die. What if it were your son or your daughter or your wife?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That's awful. The Algo Centre Mall collapsed Saturday killing one person.
It is the ultimate home alone fear. Burglaries break into a Florida house with an 11-year-old boy inside all by himself. But the child's call to 911 led to the arrest of not just one, not two, three people. Our affiliate WSVN reports his dad had gone on a food run. Five minutes later, this boy heard glass shattering. Goes to the bedroom. Hides. Calls dad. Told him to call 911. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
911 DISPATCHER: Is the person inside the house?
LUIS GUTIERREZ, 911 CALLER : Yes. Yes, ma'am.
911 DISPATCHER: What are you doing?
GUTIERREZ: Hiding.
First I thought it was two people, but then there actually was three. They were yelling across the room.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What were they saying?
GUTIERREZ: I couldn't really hear them. I had to whisper to the operator.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why?
GUTIERREZ: So I wouldn't get caught.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Dad finally did rush home and police rescued the boy through the window.
No rainbow flags at this LGBT celebration. The Pentagon's first Gay Pride event comes less than a year after the repeal of the "don't ask, don't tell" law on gays and lesbians in the military. President Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta kicked things off with recorded speeches and then a defense department lawyer gave a keynote speech, which was followed by a panel discussion on diversity.
Hundreds of people are missing after this massive landslide. Rescue efforts now underway as survivors try to find their missing loved ones.
Plus, those tensions, they are escalating between Turkey and Syria. And Turkey promises, if you hit one of our jets again, you're going to pay.
A quick note for those of you heading out the door. You can keep watching CNN. Just hop on your mobile phone. Or if you're sitting there at work, pop open your laptop, your desktop. You can watch us on CNN live. Just go to cnn.com/tv.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Close to 100 people injured and so many more missing after this massive landslide buried three different villages in Uganda. Clearly people are absolutely devastated. This is a mountainous district and torrential downpours in the region triggered this landslide. Survivors are being asked to move to safer locations. Just listen to the whaling. The death toll stands at 18, but that number is expected to rise. More than 80 people killed in relentless violence in Syria today. Opposition activists tell CNN, 86 people died in gun and shelling attacks. Much of the violence in and around the capital city of Damascus. Twenty people are reported dead in the suburbs. Opposition groups gave documented 840 people killed in Syria in the 10 days since the U.N. suspended its monitoring.
Syria's neighbor to the north says, you want to get tough, let's talk tough. Turkey escalating its rhetoric today, says it is prepared to take military action if any Syrian military approaches -- approaches the Turkish border. Syria shot down a Turkish jet last week after Syria says the plane crossed into its air space. Turkey says the jet may have crossed into Syrian air space just for a bit but corrected itself and was actually in international waters when the plane was shot down. Turkey's prime minister says any potential threats from Syria will be dealt with accordingly. CNN's Ivan Watson is once again for us in Istanbul.
And, Ivan, so we have Turkey today. They're announcing it's changing its military rules of engagement right along the border with Syria. How serious a situation are we talking about here?
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not entirely clear yet. This announcement just came out today. But since the Syrians have argued that they shot down the Turkish jet in self-defense after it crossed into their air space, the Turkish prime minister came out and said, hey, we've had at least five Syrian helicopters cross intentionally or unintentionally into our air space within the last couple of months. And Turkish officials privately are saying, maybe we're not going to tolerate that in the future. We haven't escalated in the past, but perhaps we have the right now to retaliate in kind. And I've been saying throughout the day, if I was a Syrian helicopter pilot, I would be very nervous as I approached -- approached Turkish air space in the coming days and weeks.
Brooke.
BALDWIN: As we know, Turkey, a member of NATO, Article 5 of NATO's Washington treaty basically says, you know, look, if you go after one of us, you're going after all of us. And NATO secretary general sounded pretty tough after meeting with other NATO countries just today. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSEN, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: We consider this act to be unacceptable and condemn it in the strongest terms.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Now, NATO isn't promising any action in response to the incident. Turkey isn't calling for any per say. So probably safe to say we don't have to worry about U.S. military involvement in Syria right now.
WATSON: Now. I mean there's no appetite that we can see. This uprising has been going on in Syria for a year and a half. And no western government has been willing to put boots on the ground or even jets in the air to try to put a stop to it. And the Turks aren't asking for that right now. They clearly don't want to be dragged into war in Syria.
What we could see, however, is perhaps a change in the support for the Syrian rebels inside Syria. This could give incentive for the Turks or other sympathetic countries to perhaps provide more support to the rebels. And, of course, the Syrian government has been accusing Turkey and other countries of doing that from the very beginning.
And, meanwhile, the loss of life continues inside Syria as well. And the Turks continued their criticism of the Syrian regime, Brooke. The Turkish prime minister saying that the Syrian president is not a legitimate ruler of his country because his military kills women, children and the elderly, their own citizens.
Brooke.
BALDWIN: Fifteen months and counting. I know you've reported from in country and I feel like we can't talk about Syria without talking Russia. Because they're now coming forward and they're saying that the downing of this Turkish jet was not a provocation. Russia clearly has very significant diplomatic and financial ties to Syria. How is that being received in Turkey where you are?
WATSON: Well, you know, when this fighter plane was shot down, they Turks went on a full court press diplomatically. Not only did they reach out to their traditional NATO western allies, but they also made calls from their top diplomat to the Russians, the Chinese and the Iranians, who have all been much more sympathetic, if not direct supporters of the Syrian regime. And in the case of all these countries, the Turks are just trying to make their case. Listen, the Syrians shot down our plane in international air space, even though the Syrians are arguing the opposite, that it was in Syrian air space.
And the Turks have passed another message alone to the Russians. In the past, we've had disagreements with Damascus over their treatment of their own citizens. This will not -- no longer be viewed in that framework anymore. This has now become a bilateral issue between Turkey and Syria. And it could lead to the use of force in the future. This has completely changed the debate and the argument between these two neighbors. We've never seen relations this bad between these two neighbors in the last decade.
Brooke.
BALDWIN: Could lead to that. Not yet, but it could. Ivan Watson for us in Istanbul. Thank you.
As we await the Supreme Court's ruling on Obamacare, obese Americans can now get help from doctors to count calories and lose weight. And insurance companies required to then cover those costs. But there is a big if here. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BALDWIN: Obese Americans can get help losing weight from their doctors under these updated guidelines announced by this federal health panel. And insurers are required to cover those costs if -- it's a big if here -- if the Obama health care plan survives Thursday's Supreme Court decision. Our senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, is here to talk about this -- this panel recommendation.
So, you know, look, you go to the doctor. They weigh you. They look at your height. If a doctor per this, you know, panel's recommendation says, all right, you are obese, you need some help, what kind of help are we talking about?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. This panel says doctors should weigh you, measure your height and then do the math and tell you if you're obese or not. And you would think that would be like a reasonable thing to do and everyone would be doing that.
BALDWIN: Right.
COHEN: But they found that they're not. Forty-two percent of obese patients are not told to lose weight by their doctors.
BALDWIN: But why is that? I would think that's --
COHEN: Oh, I'm sorry. Let me correct that. Forty-two percent of obese patients are told to lose weight. That means that 60 something percent are told not.
BALDWIN: The majority are told not.
COHEN: Right.
BALDWIN: But that's a disservice to the patient.
COHEN: It is a disservice to the patient and some doctors I've talked to said, you know, doctors don't like to make their patients unhappy. It's not a fun thing to hear that you're obese and you need counseling.
BALDWIN: So if the counseling happened, now successful is the counseling?
COHEN: What this group found is, they reviewed all the studies, and they found that if people got counseling once a month, which they considered intensive, once a month, it worked. People lost weight. Anything less than once a month, didn't work. They didn't lose weight. And, again, we're talking about obese people here.
BALDWIN: Right. Right. Who then pays for all of this?
COHEN: Right. That's the problem. Is that if you want intensive counseling 101 with like let's say a dietitian or some other clinician, that can get expensive.
BALDWIN: Sure. COHEN: And so what a lot of people do is they do online groups or they do other kinds of groups where they can get a lot less expensively. But as you said before, if health care reform --
BALDWIN: Thursday.
COHEN: Survives Thursday, then insurance companies will have to pay for weight loss counseling if someone is obese.
But I want to talk a little bit about how much weight people lost.
BALDWIN: Sure.
COHEN: Because I don't want people to get the idea that this once a month counseling solves everything. So let me give you an example.
BALDWIN: OK.
COHEN: What they found, for example, if someone weighed 200 pounds and was obese, that this intensive counseling helped to get them down to about 188 pounds. So that's not gigantic.
BALDWIN: OK, so 12 pounds. Right.
COHEN: I mean it's good.
BALDWIN: But it's not huge.
COHEN: And, of course, if you started out lower, it would be less, because it's the percent of body weight.
BALDWIN: Right.
COHEN: So it wasn't as if these people got, you know, all of a sudden weren't obese any more necessarily. It helped them lose some weight, but they weren't necessarily losing tons of weight.
BALDWIN: So it's not a tremendous help?
COHEN: I mean it's some help and it's a good thing and you want that to happen, but I think people need to remember that even when you go into a program, you're still going to need to do your own work and also you need to do your own work to keep it off. And I think that's the important part is that you need to be able to keep it off.
BALDWIN: Yes. And as you mentioned, the cost. The, who pays for it angle contingent upon what happens on Thursday. We will wait and see. We will be talking all about this over the next 48 hours. Thank you.
And to another tough topic. Perhaps this has touched one in your family. Pancreatic cancer, it is perhaps the scariest form and once folks get the diagnosis, for most their time is short.
One of cancers most famous victims is Patrick Swayze and today the woman who stood by his side is on Capitol Hill begging Congress to act.
She is going to talk to me live. We're going to ask her what her husband told her moments after doctors delivered the news and why she is raising awareness today. That is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: He was well on his way to becoming a star well before he became the iconic bad boy who spoke these now immortal words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PATRICK SWAYZE, ACTOR: Nobody puts baby in a corner.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: Yes, Patrick Swayze's character, Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing." Swayze's personal battle against pancreatic cancer ended in 2009 after a nearly two-year fight.
But his wife of 34 years continues the fight on Capitol Hill today. Lisa Neime Swayze is here now from Washington with Julie Fleshman, CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Network.
Ladies, nice to see you. I'm glad we all have on, of course, purple for pancreatic cancer awareness here, me accidentally. But it's lovely to have you on.
Lisa, if I may just take me back a couple of years. Take me back to that room when you're with your husband, Patrick. He gets the news. He's diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The nurses, the doctors leave the room and he turns to you and says what.
LISA NEIMI SWAYZE, HUSBAND DIED OF CANCER: I'm a dead man. He knew more about pancreatic cancer than I did at that moment. His opinion had always been what he heard, which was actually pretty accurate.
He's out of here. But of course, my husband wasn't about to take it lying down. We did everything we could to fight it as best we could with the tools that were available, which is, of course, why we're here today. They are pitifully few, if nonexistent.
BALDWIN: I want to talk about the why because, Lisa, I was on your blog today. I saw the pictures. The balloons you set off in the sky at sunset.
You know, you said it would have been your 37th wedding anniversary this month. You could have mourned his death. You could have crawled into a corner and let this go.
But you didn't because you're in Washington as you pointed out. You're fighting and raising awareness for the Pancreatic Research and Education Act, why? Why?
SWAYZE: You know what, both of us, Patrick and I were of the same opinion that when things that are tough and challenging in your life happen, if you don't take them and do something constructive with it that you're dishonoring the experience in way.
I'll tell you what for me it sensitized me so much to other people's suffering. I tell you what I want to see people have the help that my husband fought so hard for and it's such a brilliant way.
This disease has been long ignored. It's time for it to change. It's time for it to change now, this year.
BALDWIN: Now, today. Julie, to you, why does it take an act of Congress to raise awareness for a decease that I know touches so many people. Why has this been so ignored?
JULIE FLESHMAN, CEO, PANCREATIC CANCER ACTION NETWORK: Right. Well, the squeaky wheel gets the oil. You know, there are no survivors for this decease. Survivor rate is just 6 percent. It's the only major cancer that has a five-year survivor rate in the single digits.
And so we needed to create a movement and bring people to Washington, D.C. to get the National Cancer Institute to create a strategic plan for pancreatic cancer.
That's really what the Pancreatic Cancer Research and Education Act will do is to force the National Cancer Institute to create a strategic plan for this disease and a focus on pancreatic cancer.
SWAYZE: We're talking about a disease that's so lethal. It's the fourth leading cause of cancer death and it's also a major cancer. It's the most fatal. The fact that it hasn't got the attention yet is un-excusable.
BALDWIN: Lisa, what do you miss most about him every day?
SWAYZE: There's a long list. There's a long list. I tell you what? We were married for a long time. You know you learn a lot about love in that time. Love can be perfectly imperfect as I have come to say. I miss all the challenges along with all the brilliantly wonderful parts.
BALDWIN: Love is perfectly imperfect. I like that. You talk about how your husband, it's a disease that really does take a lot of people quickly.
He amazingly survived, you know, something like two years with this cancer. People are diagnosed very often, the symptoms come on quickly.
So while these research dollars come in, while you ladies are there pounding your fists on Capitol Hill, you know, Lisa, final question, what advice can you provide to people today who are waging that same battle that you waged with Patrick several years ago?
SWAYZE: You know what, this is why we're here today because we want, we're going to provide that help for them. Also, there's a reason why we're working so hard here today.
Why doctors are, why researchers, scientists, because you know what, at some point there's going to be breakthroughs and amazing things are going to happen. Why not it be you?
You know, that was always our attitude. You never know. We have survivors here today that have really beaten the odds that are 10 years into their survival, five years. So it can be done. Why not you?
BALDWIN: Why not you? Julie Fleshman and Lisa Neime Swayze, we thank you both. Best of luck to you.
Shots rang out inside a major airport. People running for cover, dodging bullets so who pulled the triggers here? Police against police.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: An incredible and absolutely frightening scene at the Mexico City Airport. Gunmen shoot and kill three police officers. Gunmen who turn out to be police officers.
Fernando Del Rincon is here with some new information. Why? Why are they firing upon officers?
FERNANDO DEL RINCON, CNN EN ESPANOL: Well, authorities have confirmed already that the three dead guys were federal police officers. The shooters were also federal police officers. They seem to be involved in some trafficking network.
BALDWIN: Drug trafficking.
RINCON: Yes, drug trafficking network inside the airport. So they were going to arrest them at the moment they started shooting at the other three police officers.
So this is not new. According to Mexican authorities, it's a result of an ongoing investigation because this is eight pounds of cocaine intended to be sent to Italy from Mexico's International Airport.
BALDWIN: At the airport?
RINCON: At the airport.
BALDWIN: So how often do you see this kind of violence at the airport?
RINCON: At the airport, it's the first time. That's actually why it's big news because this is the first time that this kind of situation happens there over there at Mexico's International Airport. So it's not a common situation.
BALDWIN: OK, we talk a lot about drug trafficking, of course, coming and going out of Mexico, but to hear that people are running for cover through a huge airport.
I've come and gone through there. I know you certainly have many times. To think that's happening at the airport to me is a sort of a new frightening story.
RINCON: It is. You have to think about this, airports are actually very busy as a drug trafficking site. Let's see the numbers. We're talking about so far more than 440 pounds of cocaine.
This is double than last year. I mean, it's increasing. The traffic is increasing at the airport. So when they start doing something, we're going to start watching this kind of thing.
BALDWIN: What about just corrupt police officers in general in Mexico. It's been a problem. Is it becoming increasingly so?
RINCON: Actually, yes. I don't know if you have that video, but a few weeks ago there was a video of some police officers kidnapping civilians from a hotel.
There were a lot of rumors, but there was no proof. That video proved that they were working for somebody else, not the police.
So now when you're talking about police officers, federal police officers at the airport being investigated because of drug trafficking. There's a lot of corruption and they are trying to clean the house.
BALDWIN: It's frightening when you think of it at the airport, the Mexican City Airport, the biggest airport in all Mexico. Fernando, thank you.
RINCON: Thank you, Brooke.
BALDWIN: See you next time. Big network spending big time cash to make sure you wake up with the right people on television.
Today, reports say Ann Curry is getting the boot. So who gets the gig, who gets the job and how many millions of dollars are at stake? We're going to talk about that.
But first, do moms in America have it better than fellow moms around the world? The 2012 mother's index ranks the countries with the best conditions for motherhood.
The top five, number five with a one in nearly 11,000 chance of dying during childbirth is Denmark. Number four, education a huge priority for ladies in New Zealand. Number three with 45 percent of seats in government held by women that is Sweden.
So where are the top two best places in the world to be a mom and where does the U.S. factor in here? That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BALDWIN: Back to the list. You were thinking about this over the break. The 13th Annual Save the Children Mothers Index rank the places with the best conditions to be a mom in the world.
Before break, we ran through the top five. So you have Denmark, New Zealnd, Sweden. Top two here, number two, it's good to be a mom in Iceland.
And the number one best country in the world for motherhood with high female education rate, women in politics and a generous maternity leave, Norway, the best place in the world to be a mom. I know you're curious. The U.S. is coming in at number 25.
Well, this next story has a lot of people talking. NBC's Ann Curry reportedly on the way out just after one year of co-hosting "The Today" show, but this is more than just entertainment gossip, folks. This is huge business.
Broadcast networks pay some serious cash to make sure you wake up with the right people each and every morning. Here is Alina Cho.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the set of the "Today" show, it's business as usual.
Matt Lauer and Ann Curry co-hosting the show as they have for the past year, but if you believe all the recent media reports, there could soon be a change.
BRIAN STELTER, MEDIA REPORTER, "THE NEW YORK TIMES": Now there's this a very strange situation going on where she's on the show every morning acting like nothing's going on.
CHO: Behind the scenes amidst declining ratings, reports are rampant that Curry is negotiating her exit and that she could leave the "Today" show as early as this week. Why? Insiders say it all comes down to chemistry.
STELTER: More TV anchors are like husband and wives on TV. The research showed Ann was great on her own and the viewers loved her. But being paired with Matt may not have been the right fit.
CHO: The "New York Times" media reporter, Brian Stelter, broke the news that Curry could be leaving. Why now and so soon? For one, the competition.
The numbers don't lie. Though the "Today" show has been number one for 16 years and still is, in April, ABC's "Good Morning America" took the lead and has won the ratings battle several more weeks since then.
STELTER: Maybe that's because those people on GMA now are people you want to hang out with. People you want to spend more time with. Right now, GMA, which has always been the number two feels fresher.
CHO (on camera): And the "Today" show?
STELTER: And the "Today" show feels stale.
CHO (voice-over): NBC isn't commenting on the reports, but in a recent CNN interview, Matt Lauer said this. MATT LAUER, CO-HOST, "TODAY": When people start to write articles about what might be wrong with the "Today" show, you know where you should point the finger, point it at me because I've been there the longest and it's my responsibility.
CHO: As for Curry, in an interview for the August cover of "Ladies Home Journal," when asked about the ratings decline, she said it's hard not to take it personally. You worry. Am I not good enough? Am I not what people need?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is isn't non-profit theatre, it's advertiser supported television. You know that, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'd rather do a good show for a hundred people than a bad show for a million. That's what you're saying.
CHO: Problem is, viewers count. The more people watch, the more money TV morning shows make, which is why who sits in that anchor chair is so closely watched.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHO: How much money? A lot. The "Today" show generates an estimated $300 million a year for NBC. That makes it one of the most profitable shows, Brooke, not just in the news business, but in the television industry as a whole -- Brooke.
BALDWIN: Alina, thank you.
You have health insurance, but you still get the sticker shock when you see the medical bill. Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta goes inside the operating room so you can see that $1,200 stapler.
Plus I'm about to speak live with a professor who is none too thrilled that President Obama's future library could end up with at the University of Chicago. Hear his reasons why, live.
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BALDWIN: President Obama won't know whether he had a second term for another four months. So it's a bit too early to talk about where his presidential library and museum will go unless you live in Chicago.
There's a quiet campaign right now going on to bring President Obama's library and museum to the University of Chicago. There is no proposal, no location picked out, no fundraising.
But already the idea is alarming some people who think it could hurt the university's image. Charles Lipson is a political science professor at the University of Chicago.
Charles, welcome. I know who have been speaking out against the idea, against this possible proposal. What is your main objection? CHARLES LIPSON, PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: Well, I don't object to President Obama being honored and I don't object to the University of Chicago honoring him.
It would be fine to have a presidential library in the city of Chicago. But we're an academic institution, and not a partisan, political institution.
So whether the library was honoring Ronald Reagan or President Barack Obama, I would still prefer it to be independent, like the Reagan library is, like the Clinton library is rather than affiliated with a university.
BALDWIN: OK, just so I'm clear. You certainly don't object to him being honored, but you object to the idea of a presidential library on campus at the University of Chicago?
LIPSON: That's right. I think people misunderstand a bit, Brooke, what a presidential library is. Part of it is the keeping of all of the papers from the administration. That's run by the government and that's perfectly fine.
But the other part of it is really a celebratory museum and a foundation associated with it that celebrates his presidency, downplays any particular problem, hires his friends, gives him place to nest politically for a number of years. And I don't think that's appropriate for our university.
BALDWIN: Let me jump in and say you say this would celebrate his presidency and stir clear of criticizing him per se, but you know, for example, Nixon library, they have an extensive section on Watergate. Why can't your university present a balanced view of President Obama?
LIPSON: Well, it's possible that it could. I'm not saying that it couldn't. But the fact is President Nixon was president a long time ago. He's no longer living.
The longer the time goes. The more it's possible to get a balanced view. But the main point of our university is to do scholarly inquiry rather than host of something like the museum that the Kennedy Museum celebrates John Kennedy's presidency. There's nothing wrong with that.
BALDWIN: In Boston. But I just have to ask. Are you a Republican? Is your objection based upon your political leanings here?
LIPSON: My views about the library are not based on any political leanings. In fact, President Reagan lived for a year virtually on our campus. If they had tried to bring the Reagan library here, I would have said exactly the same thing.
BALDWIN: Now you also have Hawaii, they would like to have this, University of Hawaii. It's also on a mission to land a library museum. There's a resolution for the legislation actually asking please, please come to Hawaii. I mean, if actually does go there, has it the University of Chicago I don't missed a change, missed a shot to add what presumably could be a major draw to your campus.
LIPSON: I'm happy to have the museum come to Chicago.
BALDWIN: But what about your campus, specifically?
LIPSON: It's not a matter of the campus. It's a matter of whether or not the museum would really be part of the university itself. As for Hawaii, I'd be happy to take a number of trips out there to investigate the possibility.
BALDWIN: Investigate the possibility, but it could be draw for them and not a draw for your university.
LIPSON: I'm happy to have it in Chicago. That's not the issue. The issue is whether it should come to our university.
BALDWIN: You say, no, thank you.
LIPSON: Well, exactly.
BALDWIN: Charles Lipson, thank you so much. We'll have to wait and see what happens. I appreciate it.
President Obama and Mitt Romney on the move raising money. The president is making stops here in the south today bringing in campaign cash. In fact, he arrived in Atlanta just a little while ago.
Before heading to these big money events with the deep pocketed donors, he popped by "The Varsity." This place is a bit of an institution. There he is.
When he got to the fundraiser, the president offered a stirring defense of the health care law, which the Supreme Court will rule on, on Thursday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The American people understand that we're not going to make progress by going backwards. We need to go forwards.
They understand we don't need to refight this battle over health care, it's the right thing to do that we've got three million young people who are on their parents' health insurance plans that didn't have it before.
It's the right thing to do to give seniors discounts on their prescription drugs. It's the right thing to do to give 30 million Americans health insurance that didn't have it before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BALDWIN: That was the president a little while ago. You also have Mitt Romney on the road today as well promoting his energy policy at a Virginia business that sells machinery to the coal industry. The president's health care law, the upcoming court decision on Thursday, very much so on Romney's mind as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The Supreme Court is going to be dealing with whether or not Obama care is constitutional. If it's not, if Obama care is not deemed constitutional than the first three and a half years of this president's term will have been wasted on something that does not help the American people. If it is deemed to stand, then I'll tell you one thing. We're going to have to have a president and I'm that one that's going to get ride of Obamacare. We're going to stop it on day one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
