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U.S. Markets Expected to Dip; Weiner Continues with Campaign; Huma Abedin's Decision to Stay; "Rocky" Spin-off in the Works; Pope in Rio De Janeiro; A Name Fit for a Prince; A-Rod Doctor: "I don't see any sort of Injury"

Aired July 25, 2013 - 09:30   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. Thank you so much for joining us this morning. Stories we're watching right now in the NEWSROOM.

We've got to head out to Brazil and show you this picture because it's pretty amazing. In that -- inside that Corolla with the window rolled down is Pope Francis. He is on his way to a poor neighborhood in Brazil to talk to those who are in need of his blessing, or in need of so much more.

The Pope's whole purpose on this visit is to convince people that they should give to the poor and support them more. But as you can see the window is down in that Corolla and the Pope is sitting in the backseat just like a normal guy.

You see the motorcycle cops driving alongside that Corolla and many, many security vehicles behind the Corolla. The security risk is high in Brazil. They want to protect the Pope as much as they can, but you see the problem they're having. The Pope just wants to be a normal guy, wants to sit in that Corolla with the window down.

When he gets to that neighborhood, we'll take you back to Brazil.

Also happening this morning, the Opening Bell, I think it probably did ring -- yes. It's ringing on Wall Street. Markets looking to open flat this morning, backing down from those record highs we've seen recently.

Alison Kosik is live at the New York Stock Exchange.

Good morning, Alison.

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol. The markets overall taking a bit of a breather again. You see stocks starting in the red. There are some concerns about China, a slowdown in growth today that's hanging over the market, so a little bit of an excuse to take some profit off the table especially as we see stocks sitting at all-time highs.

But guess what? There is a monster day going on for shares of Facebook right now. Facebook shares up 26 percent. Facebook reported a huge jump in the number of mobile users and a corresponding increase in mobile advertising revenue. It's now getting more than 40 percent of its ad revenue from mobile, so that is music to the ears of any Facebook investor.

And there are a lot of them this morning. Just to give you an idea. Eighty million shares of Facebook have traded hands in just the first few minutes of the trading day. Four million shares have traded hands for Bank of America. So people are flocking to Facebook to trade today.

COSTELLO: Wow.

KOSIK: Also in focus, General Motors. GM's profit fell in the second quarter, hurt by China but there are good things going on the U.S. Profit in North America is up 4 percent. And guess what, Carol? GM says it plans to hire more people so that's always good news -- Carol.

COSTELLO: You're right about that. Alison Kosik, thanks.

Anthony Weiner back on the campaign trail, and facing fallout from his latest sexting scandal. At this appearance in New York, several women in the audience turned their backs on the mayoral candidate as soon as he started talking.

Weiner could also face new details from his self-described sexting partner. CNN has confirmed the sexting partner is Sydney Elaine Leathers. And that is her real name. She's 23 years old. There are reports she could go public as early as today.

In the meantime we're hearing from her confidant who spoke exclusively to CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOU COLAGIOVANNI, CONFIDENT OF SYDNEY LEATHERS: She initially contacted him through Twitter. She was a fan. She said he was -- she said that she was a fan. I assume that based on how beautiful a young lady that Sydney is, Anthony Weiner had no choice but to act on his instincts and go after any pretty young woman who gives him the time of day.

One conversation I had with Sydney, she remarked that he contacted her less than a week after he had done this big magazine and this capitulation in public asking for a second chance, so this idea that Anthony Weiner somehow reformed or that he somehow is sorry for what he did is not true.

He's sorry just like every other person who's ever been sorry when they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: So why is Weiner's wife standing by her man? Our Alina Cho joins us with a closer look at that.

And, Alina, you talked with some of the people who know Anthony Weiner's wife. What do they say?

ALINA CHO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Carol, the close friends that I spoke to say they're not at all surprised that Huma Abedin is staying with her husband Anthony Weiner. They tell me that nobody is forcing Huma to do anything she doesn't want to do.

Maybe the public thinks she's standing by her man, but those closest to her say she's very much her own woman.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)'

CHO (voice-over): When Huma Abedin spoke of her devotion to her husband Anthony Weiner on Tuesday.

HUMA ABEDIN, ANTHONY WEINER'S WIFE: I love him. I have forgiven him. I believe in him.

CHO: The public may have been surprised, but not those who know her. Members of her inner circle say Huma was out there because she wanted to be. A good wife, she is not.

Look no further than the September issue of "Harper's Bazaar." A revealing essay written in Huma Abedin's own words. She writes, "Yes, I'm out on the campaign trail. It's where I want to be because the choice for me is simple. I love my husband and we both love this city."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was struck by how much I could feel her love for her husband, and her clarity about why she believed in him.

CHO: One friend from the Clinton White House days, who did not want to be identified, says back when the sexting scandal first broke in 2011, she, meaning Huma, wanted him to keep his congressional seat, not resign.

ANTHONY WEINER (D), NEW YORK MAYORAL CANDIDATE: My wife is an enormous asset to the campaign, she's the not-so-secret-weapon of this campaign.

CHO: Another close friend who spoke to her just before she gave the remarks Tuesday says Huma found out about this latest transgression last fall, months before the public, and in the friend's words, was furious and this close to walking out the door. For a second time. Now she writes in "Bazaar," the scandal has made her husband a better man.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: Huma Abedin also tells "Bazaar" that, "New Yorkers will have to decide for themselves whether or not to give him a second chance. I had to make that same decision. And I know in my heart I made the right one."

And, Carol, her friends agree that Huma Abedin may be a lot of things, elegant, stylish, dignified, but above all she is ambitious -- Carol.

COSTELLO: You wonder why, why doesn't she just run for office like get rid of her husband and run herself? CHO: Well, it's interesting that you should say that, Carol, because I think that people tend to forget they want to call her the good wife. They want to call her the scorned woman, the long-suffering wife, but the reality is, is that Huma Abedin is very much her own person with a very strong career.

Remember she was the body man, the so-called body man to Hillary Clinton. And she's really just a heartbeat away from Hillary Clinton. This is a woman who could be the next president of the United States, the first female president of the United States. She speaks Arabic. She is -- nobody is closer to Hillary Clinton.

In fact, as I have said, at Huma's wedding Hillary said overheard -- was overheard saying, if, you know, I have one daughter, but if I had a second daughter, it would be Huma. So the two are very, very close. If Hillary Clinton goes on to become president, she will be just a heartbeat away.

COSTELLO: All right. Alina Cho, thanks so much.

CHO: You bet.

COSTELLO: The great film series "Rocky" is getting a spin-off. Want to know who the hero will be this time around? Not Sly. We've got all the details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The iconic film "Rocky" just might be getting a redo.

(LAUGHTER)

I love this part. Haven't you gone to Philadelphia? Haven't you run up those 72 steps and done this very thing?

Nischelle Turner, I bet you have because I have done it.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I was thinking the same thing.

COSTELLO: Like whoo.

TURNER: I was doing the same move, Carol, when you just did it.

(LAUGHTER)

Isn't that music and that -- didn't it just do something to you, though, when you see it? Still after all these years, it really does. I don't know if I'm just the weird one in the room.

COSTELLO: No.

(CROSSTALK)

TURNER: I mean, you know, it gives me goose bumps still a little bit. And, you know, after six sequels, it's about time for a spin-off. You know this movie that we're talking about, the new one is reportedly going to be about the grandson of Apollo Creed and not actually focused on Rocky Balboa.

Now this is all according to deadline.com, which broke this story. The movie will be called "Creed" and it will follow Apollo's privileged grandson as he decides to become a boxer. Now he needs a mentor. One plus one equals two.

You see where this is going.

COSTELLO: Yes.

TURNER: He finds his father's old nemesis turned friend. He convinces Rocky to come back to boxing and train him. But you know what has really me excited about this movie, Carol, Creed's grandson is reportedly to be played by Michael B. Jordan who is currently starring in "Fruitvale Station."

And "Fruitvale's" director Ryan Coogler is going to be behind the cameras directing it. It will be his sophomore film. Now I can't tell you how much I love, love, love "Fruitvale Station." If you haven't seen it, go see it. It opens in wide release this weekend on July 26th.

Now, you know, Michael B. Jordan, if you look at his face there and you think where have I seen him? He's got a cult following. He's been on "The Wire," "Friday Night Lights" but this is really a huge step-up in terms of Hollywood stardom for him, and also for Ryan Coogler, who is a very talented young man, just graduating from USC Film School.

So this is going to be I think very cool. Seeing them with Stallone back in -- in the ring and working them out. I love this idea. I love it.

COSTELLO: I do, too. I can't wait.

Nischelle Turner, thank you so much.

TURNER: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: All right. I got to take you back to Brazil for these unbelievable pictures. You see the Popemobile there. The Pope is on his way to a poor city in Brazil outside of Rio de Janeiro. We showed you pictures earlier of the Pope traveling in the Corolla. Well, he got into his Popemobile and moments ago, you can see what happens. Security again having trouble keeping people away from the Pope. In fact, from what I understand, some people were throwing things at the Pope.

I don't know why that was, whether it was in anger or love or what it was but as you can see security surrounding the Pope having a hard time keeping people away. The Pope decided to use that modified Pope mobile with the open sides, because he wanted to get close to people. He wanted to reach out and touch people. Often he'll kiss babies who are standing by in the crowd. But the security risk in Brazil is now at high. They are concerned about the Pope. We understand that shortly the Pope will actually, after he visits the poor in this community will then walk a short distance to the soccer stadium. That too has security in Brazil very concerned.

Our Miguel Marquez is in Brazil out -- I think he's in Rio De Janeiro or he may be in this town. We're going to take you there live at the top of the hour, so stay with CNN. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Forty-eight minutes past the hour, checking our "Top Stories".

A Wisconsin State Trooper, you see him standing there, he is just giving someone -- and then a semi runs into his police cruiser and then just keeps going. Oh I bet that trooper hopped in his car and went after the truck. You can bet he did because he did site the driver for not paying attention and failure to move over. Wow.

The new Chevy Impala is rated best new sedan by "Consumer Reports" it's the first time an American sedan has been rated that high in at least 20 years, but Impala -- my dad had an Impala, but Impala used to rank at the bottom of the heap. "Consumer Reports" today though says the car has transformed from woefully uncompetitive to a modern and enjoyable vehicle.

Jason Sudeikis is leaving "Saturday Night Live" he tells David Letterman, "I'm definitely done".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JASON SUDEIKIS, COMEDIAN: Me yes? No, I'm definitely done.

DAVID LETTERMAN, TALK SHOW HOST: You're leaving?

SUDEIKIS: Yes I'm going to leave. Yes I'm not coming back next fall.

LETTERMAN: You won't be back in the fall.

SUDEIKIS: No, no.

LETTERMAN: Now, do they know that? Well I mean have you -- have you run this by someone?

SUDEIKIS: I don't know what kind of ratings you're getting these days, but I mean you know I would hope that someone would tell them --

LETTERMAN: Oh you should have called first.

SUDEIKIS: I should have right?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Sudeikis went on to say he almost left last year. But the show asked him to stay because his impersonations of Mitt Romney would be needed during the election.

And while we say goodbye to Sudeikis we say hello to Britain's baby prince, George Alexander Louis of Cambridge. It's a traditional name but with a modern twist. Erin McLaughlin is in London to explain. Good morning Erin.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning Carol. Well they named George pretty quickly by royal standards anyway. Diana and Charles took a whole week before announcing Prince William's name. All of that anticipation now over the great baby name debate has ended.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MCLAUGHLIN (voice-over): Introducing his royal highness, Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge. The name is already a hit on the streets of London.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A good old fashioned British name.

MCLAUGHLIN: And a tribute to Queen Elizabeth who met her great grandson for first time Wednesday at Kensington Palace. George was the name of the Queen's father King George the VI who famously had a stammer as portrayed by Colin Firth in the movie "The King's Speech".

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not here to discuss personal matters.

MCLAUGHLIN: Alexander for Queen Victoria who's name was Alexandrina and Louis is his third name, a nod to the Queen's husband, Prince Philip whose much beloved uncle was Lord Louis Mountbatten. And unlike other royals this little man only has three names.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most royals have four names. Some have five. Henry VIII have seven. What they're trying to do here is make their son a bit more like all the other little boys when he goes to school. Only problem is he's going to be a king.

MCLAUGHLIN: After spending his first night out of the hospital at Kensington Palace Kate and William whisked Prince George away to more humble surroundings -- her family's home in Bucklebury. They released a statement saying this is now a private and quiet time for them to get to know their son. The future king now living the quiet life in a commoner's accommodation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLAUGHLIN: And the name George, of course, splashed across this morning's headlines. Here is the cover of "The Sun." It's quite sweet. "The Baby formally known as Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge". And then you have the "Time" which says -- "Kate and William stick to tradition, by George". And then there's "The Daily Mirror". "Boy George".

COSTELLO: Oh my favorite.

MCLAUGHLIN: What do you think of that Carol? COSTELLO: I love that. I don't know if the Prince and --

MCLAUGHLIN: There you have it.

COSTELLO: -- Duchess will love it but I do. Erin thanks so much.

Coming up in the NEWSROOM, the strange relationship between Alex Rodriguez and the New York Yankees -- well it just got stranger. Learn why another doctor says the slugger is not injured. He should return to playing baseball.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: The relationship between A-Rod and the New York Yankees took another bizarre turn as the third baseman sent a doctor on a media tour to say A-Rod is fit to play. Andy Scholes with "Bleacher Report" -- good morning.

ANDY SCHOLES, BLEACHER REPORT: And good morning Carol.

According to a source, A-Rod believes he's healthy enough to return to the lineup but he thinks that the Yankees are conspiring against him to keep him off the field just so they can collect the insurance money for the more than $25 million he's owed this season.

Now without permission from the Yankees, A-Rod hired his own doctor to take a look at the MRI of his quad and the doctor said he didn't see any signs of an injury. Now the Yankees meanwhile say that A-Rod is the one who first complained about his quad and they continued to insist they want him back on field as soon as he's physically able to play.

But of course, we all are waiting to see when and for how long Major League Baseball suspends A-Rod for his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs.

The New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaking publicly for the first time since former Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged with murder. Belichick, who is usually very vanilla (ph) when it comes to speaking with the media, was much more forthcoming and genuine while discussing the Hernandez situation yesterday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL BELICHICK, PATRIOTS HEAD COACH: I and other members of the organization were shocked and disappointed in what we had learned. Having someone in your organization that's involved in a murder investigation is a terrible thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCHOLES: Well bang-bang play first base looks like it will end this season for Atlanta Braves for Tim Hudson. He was trying to cover first base in routine ground ball and Eric Young Jr. unfortunately stepped right on his ankle. Hudson goes down immediately in pain. Eric Young Jr., would stay right by his side during the whole thing and apologized over and over again. The Hudson as you can see right here as Hudson was going out on the stretcher.

Great moment right there Carol but very unfortunate for Hudson and the Braves; he's got a broken ankle and he's going to need surgery and likely miss the rest of the season and the postseason.

COSTELLO: Oh it's just hard to watch. But boy, Eric Young is sticking right by him, tears in his eyes. That's amazing. And Tim Hudson saying it's ok, young man.

SCHOLES: Yes nothing he can do. Hudson's leg is a little bit over the bag as you can see in the replay. As you know it's such a quick play. It's just very unfortunate.

COSTELLO: Thanks Andy.

The next hour of CNN NEWSROOM after a break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)