Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Newsroom
Rescue Ship Unable to Move Forward; 1.3 Million Lose Jobless Benefits; PIN Data Stolen in Target Breach; Man Charged with Hate Crime; The Highs and Lows of 2013; Washington Says Goodbye to 2013; Prices Going up in 2014; The Business of Being Britney Spears
Aired December 28, 2013 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top we're following in the CNN NEWSROOM. Seventy four people stranded in Antarctica are anxiously awaiting help. Now the rescue ship is also struggling in ice.
A Texas man has been charged with a hate crime in connection with the so-called knockout game. Investigators say he punched a 79-year-old black man. The suspect's lawyer speaks out about his defense.
And an about-face on "Duck Dynasty," the star is back in action after a very short suspension, say some. What that could mean for the network A&E, coming up.
All right, new video coming in on that ship stuck in the frozen waters of Antarctica.
Chris Turney, the expedition leader, gave an update on the crew's condition.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS TURNEY, EXPEDITION LEADER: It's the 28th of December, 2013. And as you can see, the weather is closed in. We've got some snow falling. But it's not too windy. Unfortunately the weather forecast is this sort of condition to continue for the next few days.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: It's been four days since the ship got stuck and although a rescue vessel is within sight, it's not able to get close enough to the ship.
Our Isa Soares is following the situation from London.
So, Isa, what's the status?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, it's so close yet so far, isn't it? Really, it doesn't seem like they're very bothered, though, to be honest. They seem pretty upbeat.
The situation as it stands is like this. The Chinese vessel, if you remember, the icebreaker, could not actually break the ice, couldn't go any further -- any closer to the stranded vessel. It was about six nautical miles away from the stranded vessel, but the -- but the ice was so thick that really it stopped it -- and enabled it to penetrate the ice any further.
So really what it had to do it had to reverse the lane it had taken and it's now in open sea just sitting there waiting in case this stranded vessel does need help.
Whilst it waits and whilst the stranded vessel waits, Australia is sending over a vessel, its own vessel that's expected to arrive on Sunday night to really help them. And the hope is that the Australian vessel, which is much bigger and much stronger than the Chinese snowbreaker, will be able to break through that ice and really help those passengers on board.
WHITFIELD: So is this within days or are we talking weeks now?
SOARES: Well, the hope is within days, but unfortunately, reports are the ice is so thick, Fred, it's like two meters deep.
WHITFIELD: Wow.
SOARES: And this Australian vessel can only break through up to 1.35. So they're really just saying -- you know, when I spoke to the maritime -- Australian maritime authority today, they said to me, you know, we're going to get there, we're going to assess the situation and we're goin to see how far we can take it.
If we feel that we can't push it any further, the vessel itself cannot push or the weather does not permit, then we'll have to go plan B or plan C, although I think they've gone through so many plans now, which will be the helicopter.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: Right. All right. Isa Soares, thanks so much. Keep us posted.
SOARES: Will do.
WHITFIELD: So earlier my colleague Bill Weir spoke to three people on board that ship. They're rather upbeat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LAURENCE TOPHAM, ABOARD STRANDED VESSEL: I was with expedition leader Greg Mortimer when he first sighted the Chinese icebreaker on the horizon and he said to me that, psychologically, that was a really important moment because as soon as the Chinese captain visibly saw us, the incentive to get to us was that much greater then suddenly. We were suddenly then a real thing rather than just a blip on a radar. So he said that that was a really crucial moment in this rescue operation.
ALOK JHA, ABOARD STRANDED VESSEL: And it's a crucial moment actually for all the people who've seen and following us. And we're in a bit of a bubble here. Chris and I have been using social media to share what we've been doing but it's very hard to see the reaction outside.
Yesterday, Lawrence tweeted a tiny picture of the Xue Long, the ship that was coming to rescue us. And within five minutes, it had been sent around the world 200 or 300 times. I mean, this is attention that we're not used to. Maybe Justin Bieber is, but we're not.
(LAUGHTER)
We've been doing a series of very well produced Vine videos describing the trip. And they've gone viral, too. What do you think?
CHRIS TURNEY, EXPEDITION LEADER: They have. They've been fantastic. It's wonderful, the satellite technology we can use today just allowing us to chat to you now. It's just superb. In the old days, we'd -- you know, we'd be stuck off the edge of a map and no one would know where we are. Today we can chat to you from one end of the planet to the other.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: They're not in duress at all. They're having a good time about all of this. But, you know, researchers, after all, so they're on an incredible expedition here.
So the leader there, Chris Turney, also says that everyone on board in fact is doing as well as those three there.
All right. The U.S. State Department says it's still trying to piece together details in Libya after four Americans were detained and then released late last night. The four military personnel were working to strengthen security at the U.S. embassy in Tripoli. The White House says the president was briefed but no further comment on that.
All right. Your phone and Internet records are still fair game for the National Security Agency. A federal judge says the NSA's spying program that includes those records is constitutional and a critical weapon in the fight against terrorism. The program is part of the Patriot Act. And just last week another federal judge ruled the program was likely unconstitutional.
Well, a lot of Americans don't know how they'll put food on the table or even pay their bills after today. Federal emergency unemployment benefits run out today for 1.3 million people. Congress left town earlier this month for recess without including the extension in the budget deal.
CNN national correspondent Sunlen Serfaty is following the story for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is what the last six months have been like for Paul Hallasy.
PAUL HALLASY, UNEMPLOYED: I've answered over 500 want ads just on one Web site alone. SERFATY: At 52 he's been out of work in educational publishing and now another blow. He's one of 1.3 million Americans losing unemployment benefits. On average they've been getting $300 each week. Hallasy's check wasn't nearly enough to cover the $1100 rent on his New York apartment and now it will stop coming.
HALLASY: I won't be able to buy food. I won't be able to pay my bills.
SERFATY: Extended unemployment benefits beyond the usual 26 weeks were started during the Bush administration to help Americans hit by the recession. Since 2008 they've been renewed 11 times.
But not this time. Congress failed to pass an extension in the budget deal, teeing up a nasty fight for the New Year.
RYAN LIZZA, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: It's going to be classic messy Washington politics over an issue with the two parties just don't have a united view. This is one of those issues that the right flank wants to fight on.
SERFATY: Some Republicans say it's time to end the program altogether. They argue it's too expensive. A year's extension costs $25 billion. People have gotten dependent. And they say the economy is strong enough now without them.
CHRIS EDWARDS, CATO INSTITUTE: When you extend benefits to, you know, 73 weeks or 99 weeks, it encourages some people to stay unemployed too long, and that makes it increasingly hard for them to get back into the workforce.
SERFATY: Democrats say benefit checks get spent right away, spending that's necessary to boost the economic recovery.
CHRISTINE OWENS, NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW PROJECT: This is what these people need in order just to get by, and it's what the economy needs in order to keep its momentum. Removing this bare minimum safety net, beyond just being cruel, is not going to be productive in terms of getting them back in the labor force or getting them a job.
SERFATY: But the political blame game doesn't help Paul Hallasy's new reality.
HALLASY: It's extremely stressful. I mean, I've gotten physically sick. I haven't been able to sleep.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: All right. Sunlen with us now.
So 1.3 million Americans losing their benefits right now, but if Congress isn't able to pass anything soon, once they get back, what does this mean for these Americans and more?
SERFATY: Well, unfortunately, Fred, this means that the numbers are only going to grow over the course of the year without a resolution. That's because additional people will start hitting that 26-week mark. They'll lose their benefits and they'll join the others who have already lost their benefits.
Now the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, they say there could be as many as 4.9 million people by the end of 2014 who could lose these benefits without a resolution. So these numbers really are going to put additional pressure on Congress come the new year.
WHITFIELD: Wow. The number's already big and possibly to get even bigger.
Thanks so much, Sunlen. Appreciate that. From Washington.
All right, one of the stars of "Duck Dynasty" didn't stay suspended for too long. A&E has reinstated Phil Robertson. The network put the reality show star on the side lines after he made controversial remarks about homosexuality and race. But A&E now says shooting will resume this spring with the entire cast.
GLAAD responded to the decision, saying this, "If dialogue with Phil isn't part of next steps, then A&E has chosen profits over African- American and gay people, especially its employees and viewers."
Straight ahead, it's called the knockout game. But it has life- threatening consequences. Now one suspect being charged with a federal hate crime.
And coming up next, Target is backtracking when it comes to its massive security breach. The superstore now admits thieves did steal ATM PIN numbers. What this means for shoppers.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Target customers are even more on edge after a new update that hackers did indeed steal PIN data in a massive credit card breach. The retailer initially said it didn't happen. But yesterday they said PINs were compromised.
Alexandra Field is live for us now in New York.
So, Alexandra, what's latest from Target and the customers.
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're admitting this is a bigger breach than what was initially reported. Initially we knew that card numbers and names had been taken, now we know that PIN numbers had been taken. But Target says the data was scrambled and it would be very difficult to decipher. They're trying to reassure shoppers and customers that that information is protected.
Here's the statement that their spokesperson put out. It reads, quote, "The PIN information was fully encrypted at the keypad, remained encrypted within our system and remained encrypted when it was removed from our system."
So Target is saying there's no reason to believe that that data is not still encrypted. But we spoke to security experts and asked them if it's likely or possible for that data to be decrypted. They're saying the likelihood of that or the event that it's even possible will depend on the specifics of the encryption system.
Of course, if you're a customer who uses a debit card and you're concerned about the money in your account, you probably don't just want to sit around waiting to see if the hackers can decode some of this -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: That's right. All right. Alexandra, thanks so much. In fact we've got an expert to tell us what you do with that kind of information that you're sharing with us now.
John Ulzheimer is from Creditsesame.com.
OK, so first off, you heard Alexandra explaining that Target says the information is encrypted and stays encrypted within that keypad. Plausible?
JOHN ULZHEIMER, CREDIT EXPERT: Right. Plausible, but, you know, trust but verify.
WHITFIELD: Oh boy.
ULZHEIMER: Look, this wasn't -- this hack was not performed by some dude breaking a window and grabbing your microwave and running down the street. These are very, very sophisticated hackers.
WHITFIELD: Very savvy.
ULZHEIMER: Extraordinarily savvy. They realize that the data is encrypted. And right now what are they doing? They're trying to figure out how to break the key.
WHITFIELD: How to figure it out.
ULZHEIMER: Which puts your money, your money, in your debit card accounts at great risk because now all -- now they have the two pieces of information that they have to marry, the number and the PIN in order to get right at your information.
WHITFIELD: So what do you do in the meantime while they're trying to figure out how do I, you know, sort out the numbers and get the right PIN number? What do I do as a consumer who shopped at Target, who used my cash card?
Last weekend you told us, you know, stay away from your cash card. Go ahead and use your credit card. But now that we know the PIN numbers were compromised, if I was one of those shoppers, what do I do with this information in order to protect myself? ULZHEIMER: Well, if I were you, if you were one of the folks who shopped at Target during what I'm calling the period of exposure, Black Friday through December 15th, and you you're your debit card, make the assumption that your information is currently being unwound by hackers somewhere on the globe and that eventually they're going to get your information.
So if I were you, come Monday morning, I would call the bank and have them reissue the debit card.
WHITFIELD: New card.
ULZHEIMER: I would have already had them reissue the credit card if you used a credit card. In that way you're not essentially waiting for something to happen and then you're now in a reactive position while money is being siphoned away from your checking account that needs to be there to pay things like rent, which is coming due in a couple of days, groceries, car payment and things like that -- and that money is certainly not going to be there and there's really not much you can do about it while you're waiting to get it back.
WHITFIELD: So what if I'm the first who say, I don't want to be inconvenienced by getting a whole new card. Can I just change the PIN number? Is that enough?
ULZHEIMER: I have -- I have met with considerable resistance for that very reason. It's inconvenient to change all the auto draft from the card, so I'm just going to wait to see if it actually does happen to me. Very, very dangerous.
If I were you, changing the PIN is fine. But remember the hacker still has half of the information, the account number. If I were you, I would go all the way to safety land and change not only the number but the PIN, have the card reissued, and then you don't have to worry about what Target's next announcement might be which is maybe something else was breached.
WHITFIELD: Oh no.
ULZHEIMER: That we -- haven't heard about yet.
WHITFIELD: And you know what, if it happens to Target, then many of us have to believe that other retailers are just as vulnerable if not more so. So while you and I last weekend talked about this as it first broke, it certainly influenced me in my shopping. I refrained from using my cash card as a result of our conversation, instead used a credit card even though you really don't want to deal with the interest rates but you want to be most safe.
So at this point forward, are we saying that no matter what, using our debit cards, we're just so much more vulnerable, we need to lean toward our credit cards or what is this doing, or what will this do, and how will it influence how we buy things now? ULZHEIMER: You know, debit cards are great, budgetary control, no interest, no late fees, no due dates.
WHITFIELD: Right.
ULZHEIMER: They're great right until they get stolen, and then they're terrible. Because you have very limited protections and it's your money that's being taken, versus a credit card where it's the bank's money that's being taken and you have ultimate protections.
Look, if I were you, I would seriously consider converting from a debit card to a credit card. Having a debit card is great, but the problem is that it acts as an incentive to keep a large amount of money in your checking account where it is extremely vulnerable to hackers versus a credit card where there's not a dime of your money on that card. It's the bank's money.
And look, all this is, is you being kind of in control of these impulses to use the card and getting yourself into credit card debt --
WHITFIELD: And of course the credit card companies love this because that means they're going to make more money off you in interest.
ULZHEIMER: They're going to make more money off you in interest and they're going to make more money off you in interchange because the cap on interchange did not happen to credit cards like it did in the debit cards. The problem is that the banks don't like any of this, frankly, because this is just as inconvenient for them as it is for the consumer because they're the ones that are getting all these phone calls and reassuring callers.
So at the end of the day, they're, you know, damned if you do, damned if you don't. But in my mind, if I want to get a good sleep at night knowing that my money is safe, I'm using credit over debit.
WHITFIELD: That or cash.
ULZHEIMER: Yes. Or cash. That's right.
WHITFIELD: Total cold cash. All right. Thanks so much, John Ulzheimer. Thank you so much. Appreciate it.
ULZHEIMER: You bet.
WHITFIELD: All right. Fans of the reality show have been feeling a little ducky this morning?
Are you among them, John?
ULZHEIMER: You know, I don't watch it.
(LAUGHTER)
WHITFIELD: OK.
ULZHEIMER: I'm rather with you, I guess.
WHITFIELD: Well -- there you go. There are millions who do. And they couldn't wait for one of the stars to make a comeback. And now apparently Phil Robertson will be back on. We'll explain why and how. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A 27-year-old could spend 10 years behind bars for playing the knockout game. Prosecutors say Conrad Barrett's vicious attack on an elderly black man was racially motivated. The feds also claimed Barrett laughed and said "knockout" as the man fell to the ground. A district court judge denied bail Friday for Barrett. Margaret Conley has the latest on the attack and the history of this dangerous game.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARGARET CONLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): 27-year-old Conrad Barrett has been charged with a hate crime for knocking out a 79-year- old African-American man. A Houston judge said today that the crime was vicious and Barrett, quote, "stalked his victim. There is strong evidence he committed his offense. It is a hate crime."
According to the federal complaint, Barrett attacked because of the man's race and color and he made a video of the attack where he allegedly said, quote, "The man is to see if I were to hit a black person would this be nationally televised."
In a separate video, Barrett allegedly uses the N word and says that African-Americans, quote, "haven't fully experienced the blessing of evolution."
The brutal attack happened here in Katy, Texas, in November. The victim, who does not want to be identified, suffered two jaw fractures and was in the hospital for several days according to the federal complaint.
Barrett's attorney claims he is bipolar but was off his meds the night of the attack. Later he went to this bar and showed up the video to bystanders, one of them an off-duty police officer.
Knockout incidents have dated as far as 1992, according to the Justice Department. But a string of cases over the last year has garnered more national attention with video that has gone viral, from states like Illinois to Washington, to New York.
The purpose of the so-called game is to knock unsuspecting pedestrians out cold with a single punch. The Barrett case has prompted lawmakers to re-examine state versus federal hate crimes.
DANNY CEVALLOS, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: State law just enhances hate crimes. In other words, your sentence is enhanced if it is proved that you committed a hate crime, however that's defined in a particular state. But under federal law, hate crimes are a separate crime, which again raises some questions about the constitutionality, about the equal protection clause.
CONLEY: Barrett's attorney says he is sorry. He will now await trial and if convicted could face a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.
Margaret Conley, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And the attorney for the knockout suspect spoke to our Don Lemon last night. And Don asked him how his client's actions are a result of bipolar disorder. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Your client was a functioning member of society. Had the wherewithal to plan this.
GEORGE PARNHAM, ATTORNEY FOR "KNOCKOUT" SUSPECT: Correct.
LEMON: To pick out a victim, an elderly man who could not defend himself. And then now, since he has been caught doing it, it appears to most people that using bipolar disorder as a defense is an excuse for racist behavior.
PARNHARM: Well, I think the bipolar disorder is a mitigation, if you will, and can be viewed as such. I don't think that there's an insanity defense in the works in this particular case. And certainly I think that the federal definition of insanity precludes using that particular type of defense in this case.
LEMON: Seems like he planned this out, every single detail. He could have gone and stolen a car. He could have gone and shoplifted. He could have gone and done a number of things, but he planned this out in a manner that used race as the focus. And you don't see that as a federal hate crime?
PARNHARM: Well, what happens is that, first of all, people that are mentally ill make rational decision all the time, premeditate matters all the time. Secondly, this individual did something very bizarre. After the action, he brags about it. He shows the video around to individuals saying that, hey, look what I've done. I have hit a knockout. Not being aware of how severely injured the individual was that he hit.
And again, that all has to be proven. I'm sure you understand that. But I'm saying that you've got to take into consideration the Supreme Courts have said whether it's a hate crime or not a hate crime, that you take into consideration all in mitigation, the mental aspects of the individual that did the action in question. And that's all we're saying here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: The elderly victim told the court that he hopes Barrett will not be released. He says he is afraid Barrett may try to hurt him again.
Ducking controversy. Phil Robertson's comments got him suspended but now he's back on "Duck Dynasty." Could Phil's controversial comments actually spike the show's rating?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, bottom of the hour now. Welcome back, I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are three stories crossing the CNN news desk right now.
Number one, 74 people on an expedition ship stuck in ice off Antarctica are still waiting to be rescued. It has been stuck there since Monday. A Chinese rescue vessel is within sight, but it, too, is stuck. The expedition leader says everyone on board, however, is doing just fine.
And number two, in Juba, South Sudan, 72 new peacekeepers, rather, have arrived. And another 5500 are on the way. The U.N. is ramping up security to prevent more deadly violence in that country. Supporters of the president and former vice president have been fighting for two weeks. Meanwhile East African leaders have told the government and rebels to stop fighting or face harsh consequences.
And number three, sometimes patience pays. Watch this. A robber walks into a Florida drugstore and then demands money from the clerk, but instead of handing over the cash or calling the police or doing something else more drastic, the woman says, she needs to ask her manager if it's OK.
So the robber agrees to wait while the clerk goes to get the manager. And lo and behold the manager then comes back over, waits until the clerk finishes with a customers. OK. Robber still waiting. And then actually comes around and the manager hands over hundreds of dollars in cash to the alleged robber.
The robber gets away, but police hope someone perhaps recognizes that person in the video as the alleged robber.
Wow. "Duck Dynasty's" Phil Robertson will be back at work when the show resumes rating -- or shooting rather in the spring. The A&E network lifted its suspension of the reality show star for comments he made about homosexuality and race.
Well, Bruce Fretts joins us now. He is with "TV Guide" magazine.
OK, Bruce, here we go again. Just when people thought they were done talking about "Duck Dynasty" there's yet another chapter here. So A&E says, OK, suspension over, we're going to start shooting again. So who's the real winner here? Phil Robertson, "Duck Dynasty" as a whole, the network? Is there a winner?
BRUCE FRETTS, ARTICLES EDITOR, TV GUIDE: I'm not sure there -- I'm not sure there are any winners in this. Actually A&E didn't really acquit itself very well. They tried to play it cute and do this temporary suspension from the show, which really didn't mean anything so they already shot nine of the 10 episodes for next season. They were still showing it on air. They got a big backlash against them and they caved and said OK, you can come back on this show.
This indefinite suspension lasted all nine days. And they'll do some public service announcements, although they haven't said whether the Robertson family actually participate in the public service announcements or not. So there was a lot to lose here for A&E. There was also a lot to lose for the Robertsons. So they managed to make it kind of a quiet settlement buried on a Friday of a holiday weekend and hope that the franchise --
WHITFIELD: Yes. FRETTS: -- just keeps on generating money for them.
WHITFIELD: So, Bruce, we know it was a hit show, millions of people were watching. But this seemed to have put it, you know, I guess, heightened its awareness among the viewing audience out there. It probably has more viewers now once that season were to resume, than it did simply by virtue of the publicity, do you think?
FRETTS: It could. Yes. I mean, the show was already growing by leaps and bounds. They do about 1.8 million viewers four years. This most recent season debuted with 11.8 million viewers. So if some people are turned off by Phil's comments, probably just as many will be curious to watch the show.
So it may end up being awash, but the show is still going to be a huge hit, still going to make a lot of money for A&E and the Robertsons. And so in the end they'll all be happy.
WHITFIELD: All right. There have been lots of controversies this year on television. And, you know, 2013, "Duck Dynasty," you know, got in there right at the end of the year. But you say, you know what, there were other things that are really much more prominent in your view.
FRETTS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: And among them, there goes that Miley Cyrus again.
FRETTS: Yes, she's arguably the top TV moment of the year or maybe the bottom TV moment of the year depending on how you look at it. But people are still talking about her performance at the VMAs. She redefined herself in the public eye. Got a huge amount of publicity for herself. Went on and made fun of herself on "Saturday Night Live" afterwards.
It's the moment that is burned in all of our consciousness from 2013 for better or worse.
WHITFIELD: And so why is -- I mean, how did this come about? Is this, you know, brilliant marketing, brilliant strategizing on her part? I mean, in a recent interview she said, you know, she got exactly what she wanted. Everyone is talking about her.
FRETTS: Yes.
WHITFIELD: But at the same time it really could have gone the other way. I mean, these were not, I guess, the proudest moments --
FRETTS: Right.
WHITFIELD: -- you would think for a celebrity. But it turns out for her maybe it is.
FRETTS: Well, she's following a well-worn playbook. I mean, Britney Spears did this, it's how you go from being a child star to an adult star, and the answer is sex, and sex always sells. So in that sense it's worked for Miley, it's redefined her. It's kept her in front of mind for people where other teen idols, Selena Gomez, people like that are maybe fading away a little bit.
And she seems to be a little bit more in control of her career than even, say, Justin Bieber who seems to be all over the place right now. Miley seems to be taking charge of her career, so in that sense she's winning some new fans as well as turning some people off.
WHITFIELD: And then another big hit on television was the show "Breaking Bad". And, you know, folks were at the edge of their seat about the season finale. Some liked it, some didn't. What was controversial about this in your view?
FRETTS: Well, I think that what was amazing about this is how the show grew so quickly. It really was a benefit of binge viewing, people catching up online. And so a show that only had a couple million viewers to start closed out with 10 million viewers and the finale was critically acclaimed.
Certainly a lot of people who watched the show all along felt like they did a really good job wrapping it up as opposed to other series like "Seinfeld" and "Sopranos" that left a bad taste in some people's mouths.
So the "Breaking Bad" finale was probably the artistic high point of the year in terms of television. And it got a lot of publicity, it made a lot of money for AMC. And it goes down in history as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.
WHITFIELD: Wow, well, lots of highs and lows in 2013. And something tells me it's just the prelude of what's to come in 2014.
Bruce Fretts, thanks so much, of "TV Guide" magazine. Appreciate your time.
FRETTS: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right. And this may be one that Washington will be glad to leave behind. Which political stories made the top 10 list? Find out next in the NEWSROOM.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: And this just in to CNN, the NEWSROOM, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to the Middle East next week for peace talks. We're just getting that word from a senior State Department official. Kerry has been working with Palestinian and Israeli officials on a peace accord.
Meantime, speaking of Secretary Kerry, it's not every day that you see him fist bumping with a rap artist. Maybe that's why an Instagram video of Snoop Dogg chatting with John Kerry is getting so much attention.
The video appears to have been shot on the day of the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony where Snoop performed a tribute to jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Kerry and Snoop appear to be talking about Hancock's influence on music.
And one of the other honorees at the Kennedy Center Honors was Shirley MacLaine. We'll have an interview in fact with her tomorrow right here in the CNN NEWSROOM.
All right. Fist bumps aside, take a dysfunctional Congress, throw in a derailed presidential agenda and add the never-ending battle over Obamacare, and what do you have? The year in politics, of course.
CNN chief political analyst Candy Crowley has this recap.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the year of living angrily.
SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV), SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Sit down and shut up.
REP. JOHN LARSON (D), CONNECTICUT: Do you stand for your country? Or do you want to take it down?
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: This place is a mess.
SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I resoundingly reject that allegation.
CROWLEY: White hot rhetoric, icy cold relationships.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I, Barack Hussein Obama --
CROWLEY: That said, 2013 started as inaugural years often do.
OBAMA: So help me God.
CROWLEY: Nicely enough.
OBAMA: My fellow Americans, we are made for this moment and we will seize it.
CROWLEY: He was a popular president with an ambitious agenda, revamping the tax code, reforming schools, better job training, a new energy policy and improve the voting process, immigration reform and gun control.
None of it has happened. Turns out, January was the kindest month. The president ends the year with an approval rating that has gone south and focused on saving the health care reform he won in the first term.
OBAMA: There was a time when I was a young invincible.
(LAUGHTER)
After five years in this office, people don't call me that anymore.
CROWLEY: Another year like this and they will call him lame duck.
Paul, Cruz and Rubio, sons of the Tea Party, newbies on the block, 2016 rising. This son of Cuban immigrants catapulted to star status pushing his reluctant party toward immigration reform.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLORIDA: And I simply wasn't going to just leave it to Democrats alone to figure out how to fix it.
CROWLEY: Libertarian at heart, Republican by party, Rand Paul blocked a presidential nominee trying to get clarity on the administration's use of drones.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: I will speak until I can no longer speak.
CROWLEY: And a one-off politician from the Lone Star state.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: Keep up the good fight. Thank you very much.
CROWLEY: Ted Cruz staged an overnight faux filibuster to make the case against Obamacare, filling time with a bedtime story for his kids.
CRUZ: I do not like green eggs and ham. I do not like them, Sam I Am.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Welcome to New Jersey.
CROWLEY: In a moment all his own, another of the 2016s rising, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wins a landslide re-election and sounds like he's opening a presidential campaign.
CHRISTIE: I know that if we can do this in Trenton, New Jersey, maybe the folks in Washington, D. C., should tune in their TVs right now. See how it's done.
CROWLEY: Also in a league all her own, the former first lady, former Senator, former secretary of state, left Washington for, hmm, something else, but not without a few choice words.
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The fact is, we had four dead Americans. Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they'd go kill some Americans? What difference, at this point, does it make?
CROWLEY: Hillary Clinton's Benghazi moment. If she runs for president, expect Republicans to make it a TV ad moment.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I now declare you spouses for life.
CROWLEY: Number five, brought to you by the U.S. Supreme Court. Less a 2013 moment, than a page in history for gay rights.
Under the cover of boring, Senate Democrats blew up the status quo with the first major rules change in more than three decades, banning filibusters for all presidential nominees, except the Supreme Court and sending Republicans into orbit.
SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), SENATE MINORITY LEADER: And let's not forget about the raw power, the raw power at play here.
CROWLEY: The change will essentially give any president with a Senate majority the power to reshape the lean of federal courts. This 2013 moment, another one for the ages.
Coming in at number three.
UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESSMAN: Further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
CROWLEY: The moments that didn't happen -- work left undone, mega problems unaddressed, gridlock. It's not just about traffic anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED CONGRESSMAN: Senate stands adjourned.
CROWLEY: The first government shutdown in 17 years and people -- read that voters -- largely blamed Republicans, producing the Democratic talking point of the 2014 election, Republicans as obstructionists.
PELOSI: If we don't have our own way, we're going to shut government down. You and that attitude are a luxury this country cannot afford.
CROWLEY: By year's end, Republicans had a counter point, the president's Affordable Care Act. Obamacare got off to a troubled start with the Web site from hell.
OBAMA: If you like your health care plan --
CROWLEY: And his broken "You can keep your insurance" promise.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH), HOUSE SPEAKER: When we get to January 1st, it will be clear that more Americans will have lost their health insurance than will sign up under the new Obamacare policies.
CROWLEY (on camera): As it happens, the final moments of 2013 are the tee up for the politics of 2014. Shutdown versus meltdown, let the midterm elections begin.
Oh, and happy New Year.
Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: And CNN's top 10 of 2013, we're counting them all down with Don Lemon tomorrow night, 6:30 Eastern Time.
All right, "YOUR MONEY" with Christine Romans comes up at the top of the hour. Christine has a look at what's ahead.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi there. How's this for spending your Saturday smart? Chief international correspondent Christiane Amanpour and chief political correspondent Candy Crowley, they sit down with me for a year-end brunch and we want you to join us. That's coming up at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on an all-new "YOUR MONEY."
WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much, Christine. Be sure to stay with us for "YOUR MONEY" at 2:00 Eastern Time.
All right. Going grocery shopping in the new year might hit your wallet a bit harder. Prices on many items you buy are going up. We'll tell you what will cost more in 2014.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Christmas came two days in a row this year for some Delta customers. A computer glitch resulted in steeply discounted tickets being sold online Thursday. Customers snapped up super cheap tickets for several hours.
This is how cheap we're talking. Boston to Honolulu, $68. Tallahassee to L.A., $27. New York to Seattle, 25 bucks. New York to L.A., 40 bucks. Oh, no fair.
Delta says it will honor the incorrectly priced ticket purchases. Lucky.
All right, it's time to start making a new budget for 2014, and some of your basic expenses, like groceries and gas are going to be changing this year.
Here to tell us what's going to cost you more in the new year is consumer spending analyst Hitha Prabhakar.
All right. So, Hitha, good to see you. So we're going to be hit by higher prices in lots of different areas. Before we get to the specifics, why is this happening?
HITHA PRABHAKAR, CONSUMER SPENDING ANALYST: Fredricka, it's basically a perfect storm of a combination of an aftermath of the drought that we saw back in 2012 and 2013. If you remember, we had that huge drought in the summertime. Now we are seeing the ripple effects of that.
Also, just general inflation, and also, there's a farm bill that's supposed to be passing that is still on the fence. No one knows if it's going to pass or not. That's a subsidy that's going to, you know, basically subsidize dairy farmers and wheat farmers. I think people are anticipating that that's not going to be passed, and therefore, we're anticipating these prices to go up.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy. So let's talk about those groceries then. We're talking about milk, eggs, those basics, especially because of that farm bill, they're going to be going up. What are some of the items -- what are some of the other items that you have in mind?
PRABHAKAR: Exactly. Well, because of the farm bill, we might see a gallon of milk go up to as high as $7 a gallon.
WHITFIELD: What?
PRABHAKAR: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Oh, boy, we're in trouble.
(LAUGHTER)
PRABHAKAR: We're also going to see beef prices go up. Beef hit its highest point in terms of pricing this summer. And again, it was because of a lot of demand, a short supply because of that drought. There wasn't a lot of grain to feed those cattle, herds started depleting, and a lot of international demand.
So these prices are going to go up as well. We're also going to see a higher price on wild fish. I tend to go for the wild salmon. Expect to see that go up to around $8 to $10 a pound.
WHITFIELD: Whoa.
PRABHAKAR: Also, another thing, it's not really in my wheelhouse, but chocolate. The price of chocolate is going to go up 28 percent. So expect to -- expect to pay, get this, almost $8 for two ounces of chocolate.
WHITFIELD: Oh, my goodness. That's incredible. So we're all going to have to dig a lot deeper. And that all pertains to how we drive our cars and how far we're going, because we're going to see price hikes at the gas pump as well?
PRABHAKAR: Exactly. Well, right now, the price of gasoline is actually a bit lower, but because of volatility, we're still at a pretty -- you know, a lot of the consumers are still pretty uneasy about the economy and we still don't know what's happening overseas. There's still a lot of unrest in the Middle East, especially in Syria. If that continues, we might see gas prices in tandem rise as well.
WHITFIELD: What are some of the other areas that we're going to expect to, you know, pay more?
PRABHAKAR: Right, well, I don't know if you've heard this, but come January 29th, the Postal Service -- excuse me, January 26th, the Postal Service is going to increase the price on Forever stamps 3 to 4 cents per stamp. So I'm advising everyone to get those forever stamps now.
Also, home prices, which isn't a bad thing necessarily, Fredricka, but if you are out there in the market to buy a home, that -- the prices on homes are going up because of, again, a shorter supply of homes out there that's going to drive up demand as well as prices.
WHITFIELD: All right, Hitha Prabhakar, thanks so much.
PRABHAKAR: Thanks so much.
WHITFIELD: And I still say happy new year.
(LAUGHTER)
PRABHAKAR: Happy new year to you, too.
WHITFIELD: All right, thank you.
All right. Coming up next, the business of being Britney. The eye- popping amount the pop star is making, particularly for her Vegas residency.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Eye-popping, energy-packed, artful. These are just some of the reviews from last night's opening of Britney Spears's Las Vegas spectacle. The pop superstar is raking in big bucks for her two-year residency at Planet Hollywood. Our chief business correspondent, Christine Romans, has more on the big business of being Britney.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS (voice-over): Britney Spears is back to work. With a brand new album, "Britney Jean." And she's headed to Vegas. Not to get married this time, but to make money. A two-year Planet Hollywood residency. Earning a reported $15 million a year or $300,000 a show.
More money for a woman who topped "Forbes" list of highest earning female musicians last year bringing in $58 million.
She's come a long way from "Mousketeer." Then teen pop icon. Her first single became one of the best-selling singles ever.
And her first album, the best-selling debut in history. Thirty million copies worldwide.
Her second album sold 25 million copies. And Britney was all grown up. Two more albums. And a big screen debut. That film, "Crossroads" brought in more than $60 million worldwide.
With success came personal struggles and the professional pause. Playing out in front of flash bulbs. Her dad taking control of her finances. He still controls the money today. But fans wanted more. Spears gave it to them with her comeback album "Blackout." The follow-up, "Circus," with her first number one single since her "Baby One More Time" days.
The "Circus Tour" earned more than $130 million worldwide.
In 2011, "Femme Fatale" was her sixth album to reach number one. As a judge on the "X Factor" last season --
BRITNEY SPEARS, SINGER: I want to know who let you on stage.
ROMANS: -- she earned $15 million for those opinions. And with fame, came endorsements. A perfume empire with Elizabeth Arden. Deals over the years with Candie's, Hasbro, Toyota and Pepsi. All while at just 32, she's worth more than $200 million.
The business of being Britney Spears is --
SPEARS: Crazy.
ROMANS: Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Wow, that is some big business. That's good business for her.
All right, coming up, you've got your gifts, right? Well, some of them just might have to be returned, so you might as well shop a little if you're going to the store. Who has the best deals and when should you buy, coming up.
Plus, here's one thing Democrats and Republicans can probably agree on, this Congress may have been the worst ever. Could those feelings spark bipartisanship in Washington? We'll have a debate.
And Kerry Washington's show has nothing on these stories. We'll count down the top 10 scandals of 2013.
We'll be right back with all this great stuff and more, 2:30 Eastern. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. See you then. "YOUR MONEY" right now.
