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Ice Breaker Gets Closer To Stranded Ship; Suicide Bomber Kills 16 At Russian Train Station; FBI: Alleged Cop Killer And Bank Robber Dead; More Cold Air Blowing Into Northeast; "New York Times" Report Busts Benghazi Myths; Ice Breaker Gets Closer To Stranded Ship; Formula One Legend Injured While Skiing; Ringing In 2014 With Pedal Power; A&E Reinstates "Duck Dynasty" Star; "New York Times" Report Busts Benghazi Myths; Public Sees Poor Economy, Despite Gains; Who Will Take Control In 2014 Midterms?; Washington Says Goodbye To 2013; Minneapolis Metrodome To Be Demolished
Aired December 29, 2013 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Stranded on frozen waters and the crew on board is trying to figure out how to rescue the 74 people on that ship. It has been stuck in ice for almost a week now. Although a Chinese ship got within sight of that ship earlier, it was still not close enough to rescue the people.
Our Rosie Tomkins is following the story from London. So Rosie, the trapped ship is surrounded by miles of ice. So how soon might we expect that Australian ship to make contact?
ROSIE TOMKINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's all a question of conditions, Fredricka. This is really a waiting game. All of these vessels at the mercy of the weather and that is once again hampering efforts because the Australian vessel as you say now 28 nautical miles away so getting closer, but it had to stop because of snow showers. So they just don't have good enough visibility to make an assessment of the situation or to proceed.
So the captain of the ship is now waiting for the snow to clear. At that point, he will decide whether or not he can go through the ice because the other question is whether or not this ship can even cut through the ice. This ice breaker only has the capacity to cut through about one and a half meters or less of ice. So it is really a question of what the conditions are like once they can actually see better -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: My goodness, so if the issue is, you know, this ice breaker can't actually get to the Russian ship, where all these researches are, is there kind of a backup plan or how might they get to the people and actually pluck them off the ship or rescue them? Is that something they are considering?
TOMKINS: They have had a plan be in place because they knew that there was no guarantee they get through. Plan B is helicopter it's a last resort (inaudible) rescue before the Australian vessel had actually been waiting in the wings on the edge of the (inaudible). Just six nautical miles from the Russian vessel and it has a helicopter. So that is the plan B. If they can't get in there, which is, of course, the preferable course of action, a much simpler course of action, then they will use a helicopter to move people out because there is just no other way at this stage.
WHITFIELD: Wow, and then if they were to do that, it is an issue of just leaving that Russian ship, that research ship there and what towing it at a later date?
TOMKINS: Yes, I spoke to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority a while ago. They said to me that probably some of the crew will actually remain on the ship because they do have plenty of food and resources and they are not in any danger so they will stay with the ship and they will monitor, again, coming back to the weather, they have to wait and see will the ice melt and will things soften. You know, it isn't a question of if. It a question of when, but it could be days, weeks, month. They cannot possibly tell at this stage.
WHITFIELD: Wow, incredible. Rosie Tomkins, thanks so much. This is actually considered summer there now. All right, we'll check back with you.
All right, Russian investigators meantime say a bombing at a train station may have been the work of a female suicide bomber. At least 16 people were killed in the attack in Volgograd. No one has claimed responsibility, however, for this attack yet. Volgograd sits about 600 miles from Moscow and about the same distance from Sochi where the Winter Olympics begins in less than seven weeks. CNN's Diana Magnay has the latest on the investigation from Moscow.
DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, a huge blast in Volgograd main railway station. This around noon on Sunday and of course, this is just two days ahead of Russian New Year, the biggest Russian holiday so timed for maximum damage. We are hearing this was carried out by a female suicide bomber. She has been identified in Russian state news media already as a 26-year-old called Oksana Aslanova who was on the Russian Intelligence Agency.
On that wanted list since June 2012. She is believed to have been married to a former militant from Dagestan who was killed in anti- terror operation there and who is also himself involved in attacks here in Moscow in early 2011. This was two months after another suicide bombing in the two of Volgograd, another female suicide bomber who got onto a bus and killed six people when she detonated her device.
This is all in the region of the southern Russia to southwest of Volgograd. You have Sochi where the Olympic games are going to be happening to the southeast you have the troubled region where this is (inaudible) insurgency is being fought and the leader of that insurgency has issued a video statement back in July where he promised to unleash maximum force to try and disrupt President Putin's Olympic games -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Diana Magnay, thank you so much. All right, in this country, after a rocky start the president's health care law ends the year with some optimistic new numbers. The White House says more than 1.1 million people enrolled in health care coverage through the federal market place between October 1st and Christmas Eve. Medicare and Medicaid official called the numbers quote, "A welcome surge." Still the Obama administration has a long way to go to hit its 7 million enrolment target for both the federal and state exchanges by the end of March.
And Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz says he is now taking legal steps to officially renounce his Canadian citizenship. He was born in Canada to an American mother, which automatically made him a citizen in both countries. Cruz says he first learned of his Canadian citizenship last summer when the "Dallas Morning News" explored that issue.
The minimum wage in 13 states will rise beginning January 1st. Most of the increases amount to less than 15 cents per hour, but will be higher than the federal level of $7.25 an hour. Workers in New Jersey, Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island will see a bigger bump. They'll get paid between $8 and $8.70. Earlier this month, President Obama said it is well past the time to raise the minimum wage. He said it is below where it was when Harry Truman was in office.
All right, now to that alleged cop killer and bank robber, who the FBI believe was killed by Phoenix police during a shootout on Saturday. Our Alexandra Field is covering the details for us now. Alexandra, the FBI held a news conference on this nationwide manhunt what was that?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was two days before Christmas a gunfight left one officer critically injured and one killed. Police say a man who tried to rob a Tiepolo bank opened fire on the officers and took off. Police then linked that suspect to an attempted robbery earlier that morning in Atlanta, Georgia.
A nationwide manhunt followed on Saturday. Police closed in on a man who they say was walking out of a bank carrying a gun and a bag of money. They say he fired two officers who were not hurt. One of the officers fired back killing him. That deadly shot came one day after mourners in Tiepolo, Mississippi, said a final goodbye to Officer Gail Stoffer.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATHAN DUNCAN, MOURNER: This is a senseless tragedy and out of respect for all of the law enforcement people and particularly the one who died. We wanted to come and show our respect and brought our flag from our house. So, it is a tragic thing and I'm so sorry for him and his family and all the law enforcement that worked through the holiday year. It is just the kind of thing that shouldn't have happened.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FIELD: Stoffer leaves two young children and a wife. His wife spoke at the press conference this morning thanking law enforcement officers. She says the healing can begin. Fredricka, the FBI says that they are connecting this suspect to all three of those bank robberies and attempted robberies.
WHITFIELD: And why are they so convinced of that?
FIELD: They are pointing to a number of similarities between the attempts in the three places, the robbery and the additional attempts and they are also saying that they have a court order showing the cell phone records, which put their suspect in the place of those three events at those three times.
WHITFIELD: All right, Alexandra Field, thanks so much. If you plan on watching the ball drop in Times Square Tuesday night, you are going to need to dress extra warm and that's because another frigid blast of air is headed to the east coast. CNN meteorologist, Alexandra Steele, has your New Year's Eve forecast.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Fred. Well, we are talking about some incredibly low temperatures, but more importantly dangerously cold windchills around the northern plains and upper Midwest. But as we head from today into tomorrow, we are going to watch those temperatures begin to rebound. So on Sunday, temperature was 1 degree in Minneapolis, about 24 degrees below average, but watch what happens?
The coldest of that air drops south so tomorrow Chicago begins to cool off and then Tuesday that colder air modifying still, but still colder than it's been, only in the teens in Northern New England and only in the low 30s in New York City. So, what we are seeing, this area of low pressure moving up the coast Sunday into Monday bringing rain with it only for Boston, but the north of that Sunday night, we will see some snow showers in northern New England, maybe a few inches of that.
And it all moved through on Monday and that sets the stage for Tuesday. Times Square, it is going to be cold really across the board. Most people will see colder than average temperatures. In New York City, you can see temperatures for New Year's Eve will be in the low 30s. Chicago even colder than that with some wind and 15 degrees and some snow showers around.
And to Atlanta, Georgia, below average still. We are going to see dry skies for the most part and temperatures there only in the 30s by the time the ball drops and in Los Angeles we will see nice conditions with temperatures in the 60s. Have a happy new year as we look ahead, a lot of cold air heading towards the east -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: Very fitting for a New Year. So thank you so much, Alexandra. All right, how worried should we be about the terror threat to the Olympics? The Winter Games ahead, we'll talk about a terror expert about what this means for the Winter Games, today's explosion in Russia. Also we'll talk about another huge headline about another deadly attack.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right, returning to one of our top stories, an apparent suicide attack on a Russian train station. Scary at any time, but now with the Olympics beginning in just weeks even more terrifying leaving many to wonder whether Russia can keep people safe at the Winter Games in Sochi.
Bob Baer is a CNN national security analyst and a former CIA operative. He is joining me via Skype from New Port Beach, California. Good to see you again, Bob.
So how big a threat is a terror attack on the Olympic Games especially given what took place here in Russia.
BOB BAER, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I think if we don't see one, an attempt on the Olympics, I'd be very surprised. The Russians don't have control of the north caucuses. They don't have a good grip on this group presumably behind this attack. I know they are going to fence off Sochi completely. They are going to have security people all over, but this is a very, very dangerous region, which the Russians have never gotten control of.
WHITFIELD: And this attack in Volgograd happens only two months after a very similar attack meaning similar that there was a female suicide bomber involve. So what is the message here?
BAER: Well, I think the message is that this group, the caucuses is saying we can get you anytime we want as long as there are large groups of people. We can send a suicide bomber and they call these girls -- they can get to the Russians anytime they want -- Black Widows is the name, right.
WHITFIELD: And so is this -- given that -- you're talking about the same group that maybe responsible here. Does this mean that the threat is strictly Russia alone or might it migrate and be exported elsewhere?
BAER: It was exported to Boston. This is the same umbrella group that was responsible for the marathon bombing. So yes, it can hit the United States. It can hit Europe almost anywhere it likes.
WHITFIELD: So how involve or what could potentially the U.S. do to thwart any other potential attacks?
BAER: You know, we are pretty blind in the caucuses and it wasn't our area of expertise. There are large communities in this country, but it is only since Boston that we truly focused on them. So we are playing catch up with these people. There is nothing that we can do to help the Russians. We just hope that they can get it together.
WHITFIELD: All right, let's talk about another huge headline today as it pertains to security. "New York Times" reporting today that last year's attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi will seems to debunk some popular theories on the attack about what really drove this attack. For the report suggests that al Qaeda probably was not involved in the attack.
Instead it is blaming independent militias operating in Benghazi. The "Times" article also questioning how well U.S. operatives really understood the security situation there in Benghazi. It says some Americans might have thought their allies and the militias would warn them about the attack. And the "New York Times" also saying that Libya is very reluctant to arrest the man suspected of masterminding the attack and that some militias may even be covering for him. So Bob, a lot there in this report. Do you have any reason to question some of the conclusions that are spelled out in this --
BAER: You know, the congressional hearings now that it has all gotten out. You know, "The New York Times" report and a bunch other ones and the investigations in it, I just don't think there is a scandal there. Benghazi went bad very quickly. The person responsible for assessing the threat was the ambassador, terrible tragedy that he died. I think the embassy misjudged the threat there. This war against Gadhafi would turn against us so quickly and so mercilessly and I don't -- I still think there is a scandal there anymore now that the facts are out.
WHITFIELD: You know, is it an issue of American operatives on the ground in diplomats there in Benghazi perhaps misjudging the sentiment about Americans there. The "New York Times" spelled out there was a conversation involving some diplomats and Libyans there and there were people in Benghazi saying we just simply wanted Americans out and perhaps that didn't seem threatening enough?
BAER: Well, you know, a 20/20 hindsight, yes, it was a mistake to stay there. They should have closed the base, the consulate. Yes, it was a mistake clearly. But I served in these places that were very dangerous. Actually putting a finger on where it is going to come from the attack. It is nearly impossible. The Middle East is a mess. It is not getting better. There will be more and we have to learn our lessons and move on.
WHITFIELD: What does the White House do with this information or even the U.S. State Department and perhaps it might not be as eye opening to those entities than it is to the readers of the "New York Times," but what if anything should be done from here?
BAER: Well, I think we have to stop making this a political football. Let's get to the facts on what's happening at all these places, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, deal in the facts, deal openly with this. We need to get the Washington politics out of it. We are going to have to protect our embassies a lot more. We're going to be a lot more isolated in the Middle East. But frankly, there is no choice.
WHITFIELD: CNN national security analyst, Bob Baer, thank you so much. Appreciate it.
A&E network drops it's suspension of "Duck Dynasty" star Phil Robertson for his disparaging remarks about homosexuality and race. Did the controversy turn viewers away or bring them in, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Now back to Antarctica where a Russian ship with 74 people on board is stuck in the ice. It's understandable how most ships would get stuck, but ice breakers? How does that happen? CNN's Carl Azuz has the answer. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CARL AZUZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You'd think that because this is a glacial environment sea ice would move at a glacial pace. Not the case. Wraps of ice move quickly rushed over the sea by wind. They can expand and grow thicker, rise and fall with the waves beneath them and blizzard conditions common to Antarctica even in summer, don't help. You might remember this scene from Minnesota where wind blew ice ashore cracking into doors and windows. Think of this same principle in a massive frigid sea.
You can see how a Russian research vessel en route to the Antarctic got trapped how Ernest Shackleton were surrounded and how that ship was eventually crushed. Even animals used to these conditions like the trapped whales traumatized in last year's movie "Big Miracle" are vulnerable.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did you see that?
AZUZ: So what does it take to get through the ice and rescue whales, cruise ships or anything else that gets stranded? Wait, sea ice as thick as 10 feet can be broken and the sloping holes of some ice breakers designed to actually wedge up on top of ice so the heavy ship can crush down on it. The bows are also designed to then move the cracked ice to the side, plowing a path that other ships can follow, a crusty road to open water out of a frozen maze.
Carl Azuz, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Meantime, an Australian ice breaker is inching closer even though we are talking 28 nautical miles away from that stranded ship. Lisa Martin joins me now on the phone. She is the spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. So Lisa, give us an idea. What does that mean? It sounds far even though I realized it's a bit closer than it was yesterday. Realistically, will your Australian ship be able to make it to the Russian research ship?
LISA MARTIN, SPOKESWOMAN, AUSTRALIAN MARITIMEE SAFETY AUTHORITY (via telephone): It is hard to tell at the moment if it will make its way through. Conditions are supposed to deteriorate for the short-term before clearing later today a little bit more. Basically, we are waiting for them to tell us (inaudible) is able to make it a full visual and if it is able to make its way through the ice.
WHITFIELD: So if conditions are to deteriorate, that means you couldn't put helicopters in the air. I understand there is the helicopter ability from the Chinese ice breaker, which is still in the area and that would be last resort to try to pluck some of the researchers off that ship. So what is the contingency plan as conditions deteriorate?
MARTIN: Yes, exactly. We wouldn't be able to fly helicopters in this sort of conditions. It is a way to see a very complex operation. Given the conditions down in the Antarctic, they can change very quickly. So we were seeing how it goes with the forecast. Little bit during that and watching it very closely and see if there is an opening.
Basically we are just waiting (inaudible) to be able to tell us if it can make its way through the ice and if it can't then we will be shifting our focus towards using that helicopter and obviously that will be weather dependent.
WHITFIELD: So can you describe for me, this ice breaker, what is it up against besides the deep ice, is it having a difficult time breaking through that ice or is there something else going on that is keeping that Australian ice breaker from making some head way.
MARTIN: At the moment, it hasn't made much head way because it is just not doing so because of the poor visibility. At the moment, it is not moving very fast. It is in the area to the east. So that is good, which is where it is sitting now. It is trying to enter from the east and it was determined ye yesterday that some of the ice was breaking out. So it is standing by at the moment. It is waiting for conditions to clear up a bit.
WHITFIELD: So Lisa, are these just ice breakers that are just generally stationed there at all times for rescues or to keep the thoroughfares open as best as they can just all the time?
MARTIN: My understanding is that this research vessel, they've been in the area conducting various research projects so how it works with the rescue is if there is a distress call, we would issue (inaudible) and able to do the job to respond. The vessels were in the area.
WHITFIELD: And this seems like a very expensive venture to carry out this rescue if it really does come to that. Can you give us an idea of how costly this ultimately can become?
MARTIN: Well, in terms of the cost and that sort of thing, so under the convention, they are obligate to respond to distress calls. We are tasked in the area and in terms of the fuel and that sort of cost that is on the owner to look at after the event. WHITFIELD: All right, Lisa Martin, thanks so much. Keep us posted and of course, we are all hoping for the best for everyone involved in this.
All right the day's top stories are up next including the latest on the "Duck Dynasty" controversy right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Here are the top stories crossing the CNN News Desk right now. Russian authorities say a female suicide bomber may be behind a deadly attack on a train station. At least 16 people were killed, 34 others injured. Police say an unexploded grenade was found at the scene. The attack comes just weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi. The White House has condemned the attack.
Retired Formula One legend, Michael Schumaker, has suffered a serious head injury after a skiing accident in the French Alps. The director of the resort where the 44-year-old was skiing says Schumaker fell and hit his head on a rock. French television says he is suffering from severe head trauma. First aid workers rescued Schumaker before airlifting him to the hospital.
And people in New York are helping to ring in 2014 with some pedal power. City bikes, the Big Apple's bike sharing program is helping to power the New Year's Eve ball drop at Times Square. Energy-generate by six stationary bikes is being stored in large batteries through tomorrow. Power will then be transferred to the grid to offset the ball's power demand, very cool stuff.
All right, A&E Network says it is bringing back "Duck Dynasty" star, Phil Robertson taping with the entire Robertson family will begin later on in the spring. The network suspended Robertson for his disparaging remarks about homosexuality and race in a "GQ" magazine interview.
The nine-day suspension sparked a flurry of petitions supporting Robertson. I asked CNN senior media correspondent and host of "RELIABLE SOURCES," Brian Stelter if the controversy could actually help the show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: I do think this will end up fuelling the ratings for "Duck Dynasty." The show was already the most popular one on A&E, one of the most popular cable television programs of all-time. But the numbers weren't as strong say a month ago as they were say, six months ago.
One TV commentator even suggested maybe we had a cast peak duck, and if anything, this, I wonder if this is going to help the show in some way in January when the next season premiers. Definitely this whole controversy has increased the name recognition of the show and it served as a giant reminder that more episodes are on the way.
Now of course, there could be some backlash to the show, some viewers who are turned off by it now. But I have a feeling there are more people who are curious about it than there are bothered by it or discouraged a lot.
WHITFIELD: Well, indeed, it ruffled a lot of feathers, I couldn't resist either. But this has become fodder for politics. You have Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal saying that he is glad folks at A&E and I'm quoting him now, "A&E came to their senses and reinstated Phil Robertson. Of course, you had other prominent conservatives who had comments about it, along the way including former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and then most recently, you have Texas Senator Ted Cruz saying, you know, back on.
STELTER: Yes, the show's become politicized. I don't think that's going to go anymore. I think that's the new normal for this show, which may or may not be a good thing over the long term. We'll find out when we see the ratings in January. I think we have to separate what Phil Robertson said to "GQ" from the show itself, because a lot of people can watching "Duck Dynasty," which is a lay hard a family comedy and not agree with what he said to "GQ."
I think what we'll come to find out next year when the ratings come in is whether viewers hold the show accountable for the way Phil Robertson says, or not. Because sometimes, in cases, let's say, Paula Deen, for example, the food network yanked Paula Deen's shows off the air after she was embroiled in controversy earlier this year.
And in other cases, though, you know, there can be reality stars acting badly or speaking incendiary ways off camera, but it doesn't affect the show. So we'll see which way this ends up going.
WHITFIELD: So A&E claims it will run public service announcements to promote unity and tolerance. Will this kind of smooth things over in your view?
STELTER: It's a concession of sorts to some of the gay rights groups and civil rights groups that were understandably very bothered and very offended by some of what Phil Robertson said. You read part of the statement from GLAAD. Their point is that here's Phil Robertson comparing gay people to terrorists at least using those terms in the same sentence. And yet, A&E seems to be bringing him right back into the business where they were ten days ago.
I think we'll continue to hear from those groups. They will continue to push for signs that Phil Robertson and the whole "Duck Dynasty" family is showing tolerance and supporting unity. I don't know if we'll actually see the family in those public service ads, though. A&E hasn't commented on whether Phil Robertson is going to film one of those, for example, but having the PSAs is definitely a way to signal to these groups that A&E understanding their concerns. It's a weird, delicate dance that television networks have to do.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A "New York Times" report on Benghazi offer some vindication for Republicans and the White House. On the one hand, it debunks the idea that al Qaeda was behind the attack, a theory the GOP has advanced for more than a year now. But it also suggests some fairly huge missteps by the U.S. State Department and CIA in failing to protect its personnel in Benghazi.
CNN's Athena Jones is in Honolulu not far from where the president is on vacation. So Athena, the report refutes the theory that al Qaeda was involved and it said the movie did light the fuse that led to the attacks. Will the White House say that this vindicates them in any way?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fred. Well, the White House does not have an official response still, but officials are not disputing any significant details of the story and of course, allies of the White House and former members of the Obama administration are pretty pleased with this report.
David Axelrod who is the senior adviser tweeted, "For anyone interested in the truth and not the politics about Benghazi. This exhaustive piece, this piece by David Kirkpatrick is a must read. Tommy Vitter who was the president's national security spokesperson until recently also tweeted, "If Republicans spent 1/50 as much time as David Kirkpatrick of the "New York Times" did learning what really happened in Benghazi, we could have avoided months of disgusting demagoguery.
That was his tweet and of course, he is referring to numerous hearings on Capitol Hill, digging into this issue. Republicans saying that the administration purposefully misled the American public about these attacks blaming them initially on this video, which as you mentioned this "New York Times" story says did have some involvement. But overall it paints a little bit of a murkier picture so there is something in this "New York Times" piece for both sides -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Athena Jones in Honolulu, thanks so much.
All right, turning to the economy now, Wall Street is ready to close out a year of record highs, but despite that good news, Main Street is still a bit nervous. A new CNN/ORC poll shows most people think economic conditions today are poor. Here is Alison Kosik.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredricka. The poll asked about economic conditions today and 68 percent of respondents said conditions were poor and the majority of those polled, they don't think economic conditions are going to be getting much better a year from now, 56 percent said they saw conditions in a year as poor.
Now here is something that's very telling. The poll also asked whether the economy has made them put off making major purchases like furniture or appliances and 56 percent said yes. That's higher than when the recession began in 2008. So what that does is show that there is concern about the future.
So why this disconnect, you look at data on the economy. It has been getting better. There are good numbers on GDP, housing and auto sales, but you look behind those numbers and you find the long-term unemployed and those who have dropped out of or never even entered the workforce. They are not sharing in the surging stock market and many are about to lose unemployment benefits.
Those people aren't buying big ticket items like furniture or appliances and some are even cutting back on essentials like food and medicine. So on one hand, you've got the Dow at record highs almost every day and then those people who aren't buying medicine. Some may call it one America, two economies -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Alison, thank you so much. So that mind set on the economy will likely have a big impact on the midterm elections in 2014. Paul Steinhauser looks ahead to the coming election season.
PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN POLITICAL EDITOR: Hi, Fred. Get ready for return to campaign politics, 2014 is an election year. And next November's midterm elections will take center stage. The big questions, will Republicans be able to win back the six Democratic- held seats needed to re-take control of the chamber. And can Democrats grab the 17th GOP-held congressional seats to recapture control of the House?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE NANCY PELOSI (D), MINORITY LEADER: We feel confident about where we go in and what our opportunity is in those districts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: And don't forget about the battle for the governors. A whopping three dozen states are holding gubernatorial contests in 2014, a bunch of Republican governors who may have to desires on the White House first have to win re-election. Hovering over all of this is the federal health care law, the continued roll out of the affordable care act may have a huge impact on the elections and Republicans plan to make the issue a key part of their campaign pitch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: Obamacare continues to wreak havoc on American families, small businesses and our economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Another issue that will influence voters, the economy which remains the top concern for Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: The economy is stronger than it has been in a very long time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: Also on our radar next year, the establishment versus Tea Party battle for the heart and soul of the GOP. Seven Republican senators including Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, the top two Republicans in the chamber face primary challenges from the right.
And finally some White House hopefuls will make news next year. All eyes will be on Hillary Clinton who says she will make up her mind on whether she launches another bid for president. And we'll see plenty of another possible White House hopeful, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. As the head of the Republican Governor's Association, he will be --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), NEW JERSEY: Traveling all over the country trying to help Republican governors. That's a pretty good thing to do for the Republican Party.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
STEINHAUSER: And expect the potential presidential contenders to make a slew of trips to such crucial primary caucus states as Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. I guess, 2016 isn't as far away as it seems -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, thanks so much, Paul.
All right, in a battle between Obamacare, the partial government shutdown and the battle over the defense of marriage, what was your top political moment of 2013, CNN's top ten list next.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: Fame, fortune and millions in prize money. Who did the best players in the world have to thank for making tennis what it is today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Billie Jean King.
BILLIE JEAN KING: We stood together to form the WTA.
ANNOUNCER: Billie Jean King took center stage when they reunited in London.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She has told me so many things and is always so inspirational to see.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You feel better after talking to her.
KING: The players today are living our dream.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Welcome back. Diplomats across East Africa and around the world are urgently trying to find a way to end violence in South Sudan. Humanitarian groups there are overwhelmed. Thousands of civilians are seeking refuge out of makeshift U.N. peacekeeping base, but it hasn't been entirely safe there, some including a 6-year-old girl reportedly had been hit by gunfire. U.N. Security General Ban Ki-Moon is now backing East African leaders' calls for peace.
And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls rocket attacks from Lebanon into Northern Israel a double war crime. He is blaming the Lebanese government for allowing Hezbollah to position rockets in neighborhoods while attacking civilians. Israeli military and Lebanese media say at least 20 Israeli rockets landed in Southern Lebanon. No initial reports of casualties on either side.
And take a dysfunctional Congress and throw in a derailed presidential agenda and add in that never ending battle over Obamacare and what do you have, the year in politics? Here is CNN chief political analyst, Candy Crowley.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was the year of living angrily.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sit down and shut up.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you stand for your country or do you want to take it down?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This place is a mess.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I resoundingly reject that allegation.
CROWLEY: White House hot rhetoric, icy cold relationships. That said, 2013 started as inaugural years often do.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We are made for this moment and we will seize it. He was a popular president with an ambitious agenda and improved voting process immigration reform and gun control. None of it has happened. January was the kindest month. He 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 young and after five years in this office people don't call me that anymore.
CROWLEY: Another year like this and they will call himblame duck. Paul, Cruz and Rubio, sons of the Tea Party, newbies on the block, 2016 rising, catapulted to star status pushing his party toward immigration reform.
SENATOR RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: I wasn't going to leave it to Democrats alone to figure out how to fix it. I will speak until I can no longer speak.
CROWLEY: And a one off politician from the lone star state.
SENATOR TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: Thank you very much.
CROWLEY: Ted Cruz staged an overnight full 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.
CHRISTIE: Welcome to New Jersey.
CROWLEY: In a moment all his own another of the 2016's rising New Jersey Governor Chris Christie wins a landslide re-election and sounds like he is opening a presidential campaign.
CHRISTIE: I know that if we can do this in New Jersey maybe the folks in Washington, D.C. should tune in and see how it is done.
CROWLEY: The former first lady, former senator, former secretary of state left Washington for something else.
HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The fact is, 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 know 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. Senate Democrats blew up the status quo with the first major rules change banning filibusters for all presidential nominees except the Supreme Court and sending Republicans into orbit.
BOEHNER: Let's not forget about the raw power at play here.
CROWLEY: The change will essentially give any president with the 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 MALE: Further proceedings for this motion will be postponed.
CROWLEY: The moments that didn't happen, work left undone, mega problems unaddressed. Gridlock it is not just about traffic anymore.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Senate stands adjourned.
CROWLEY: The first shut down 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 are going to shut government down. You and 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.
BOEHNER: When we get to January 1st, it will be clear that more Americans will have lost their health insurance then will sign up under their policies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CROWLEY: As it happens, the final moments of 2013 are tee up for the politics of 2014. Shut down versus melt down, let the midterm elections begin, and happy New Year. Candy Crowley, CNN, Washington.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Today's Vikings game marks the end of an era in Minnesota sports history. It will be the last event at the Minneapolis Metro Dome before it is levelled to make way for a new stadium. Rachel Slovick from CNN affiliate WCCO takes us inside the dome's hallowed for a look at three decades of memories.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RACHEL SLOVICK, WCCO REPORTER (voice-over): It's a place where a few fans have ever travelled, but in the belly of the dome, history is on display. Three canvass show the employees from the past 31 years will also offer a chance to reflect in the dome's twilight hours.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It has been fun to check them out and see what people have written on there.
SLOVICK: Staffs are encouraged to leave messages and memories.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Great times. One of my bartenders thanks for the memories.
SLOVICK: It is an emotional walk down memory lane.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are a lot of people missing.
SLOVICK: Photos show staff during the dome's greatest moments.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: World Series, Super Bowl.
SLOVICK: And even capture uniforms that are last forgotten.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I remember we had red and green pizza outfits as well.
SLOVICK: She couldn't help but leave her mark.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for sending me to 56 countries.
SLOVICK: And while many Minnesotans will remember the dome for its sporty moments, those who worked here, the writing is on the wall.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is not about the dome. The dome is a concrete structure and the teams that have been here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Bittersweet moments.
