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Winter Storm Brings Snow and Winds; AT&T and T-Mobile Battle for Customers; Two Users Sue Facebook; Netflix Drops Some Movies, Adds Others; NFL Player Says He Was Fired for Supporting Same-Sex Marriage; California Man Claims Mega Millions; Pope Francis Draws Vatican Visitors; Automakers Post Strongest Sales in Six Year; Clay Aiken Considering Congressional Run

Aired January 03, 2014 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: We're just past the bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

We have been following the aftermath of the year's first winter storm. The nor'easter blew in with several feet of snow and blistering winds.

You can see -- we always love to go way up high. These are satellite images from NASA to give you a better perspective of this thing. This is what the storm looked like from orbit.

But some bitterly cold air is on the way. We're not completely out of the woods.

Jean Casarez is live in New York. Rene Marsh is in Washington for us.

So, Jean, we begin with you here, the salt trucks, they have definitely been out and about. They've cleared the roads. I mean, there's one right behind you.

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Twenty-five-hundred trucks are out in New York City and the boroughs, but I want to tell you, it's cold here. It's 18 degrees, six degrees with the wind chill.

And I think the big news out of New York is that the New York City school district shut down today. This is the largest school district in the country with 1.1 million students. Why? Because of safety.

I want you to follow me for a second. I want to show you. This is the roadway over here. As you can see, the snow plow is plowing the roads, but even when they do that, the roads are still dangerous.

The mounds of snow, you might not be able to see it, but these are plowed roads. Underneath the road is a lot of ice. That's why you have to be so careful, because it can be very dangerous.

Nothing stops New Yorkers. As you can see, they're driving.

We want to show you video from last night when the snowfall was happening right here in Columbus Circle. It was a ghost land. There were not any vehicles hardly.

That's what happened to New York. It becomes very deserted.

One more thing we want to tell everybody. When you think of New York, you think of get a cab. There are cabs, but how do I get to one?

I have to climb over this, and that impedes, and that is where the issue is also safety. And hypothermia, because the New York state governor's office has come out saying, if you suddenly start to feel confused, if you're shivering, if you feel disoriented, you may have hypothermia, and you need to seek medical attention.

It is so cold here, my mouth can hardly work. Brooke, I'm going to toss it back to you.

BALDWIN: OK, Jean Casarez, thank you.

Of course, the storm has brought with it massive airline delays and cancellations around the country.

Rene Marsh is in Washington with some information on airports. Are people able to get in and out of D.C.?

RENE MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, we'll put it like this. Jean can't get a cab in New York, and there are people at airports who can't get on their flights. It's not a good situation for people looking to travel.

Here's a snapshot of what it looks like at this hour as we speak to you. Nearly 5,000 delays and more than 2,500 cancellations, Brooke.

Let's look at the Misery Map. This is by FlightAware. Essentially, this is four blocks of the day. We're looking at 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. This is how miserable it looks, the red, obviously, bad news.

In New York City, high percentage of cancellations and delays., but at this hour, as I speak to you, real time, Chicago is seeing the most delays and cancellations, 126 delays and 26 cancels.

Take a look at this orange line. That means there's lots of flights canceled and delayed, specifically this line right here, going to Atlanta.

We want to break down the top airports that are seeing the most problems. FlightAware has us covered.

We have Philadelphia, Newark, in New Jersey, as well as airports in New York and Boston, Chicago. Those are our top airports where we're seeing the most cancellations and the most delays.

Now, here's what really made things a big, fat headache for people earlier today. There were airports that suspended operations.

We can tell you, all these airports on the screen here, Boston, New York, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, things are getting back to normal. Not fully there just yet. Brooke?

BALDWIN: Rene, thank you.

Speaking of getting back to normal, let's get back to Jean Casarez because we wanted to give you one more live look at the snow around Columbus Circle, and Jean is about to show us how thick the snow is.

Jean?

CASAREZ: OK, Brooke, as you can see, there are taxis here, but look at the challenge. You've got to get to them.

How do you get to the taxis? We want to show you. You have to climb over the mound of snow.

So here I go, trying to climb over this mound of snow, and you know what? I don't think I want to do this before a national audience.

It's very scary, but this is how you get around, and this is why the schools are closed today. This is why people slip and fall, because it can be dangerous.

And then you're trying to hail a cab. And I think I can get one, but I have to walk.

BALDWIN: This is wonderful.

CASAREZ: Also through a very slick street.

And so this is New York City. And it is cold, it is frigid, it is dangerous because the ice, the snow, it's very slippery.

On many sidewalks, you don't have the salt, but the New York City department of sanitation and emergency services are working around the clock, men and women constantly working to preserve the safety of everybody.

As you can see, nothing stops New Yorkers. They're here in Columbus Circle, out and about.

Brooke, back to you.

BALDWIN: That's when you know the city is still ticking with the cabs.

Jean, you're such a sport. We appreciate you, Jean Casarez for us in New York, and Rene Marsh in Washington.

If you are a T-Mobile customer, AT&T wants your business big time. The company is offering up to $450 to get T-Mobile customers to switch.

Of course, nothing can come that easy, can it? There are strings attached here, but it looks like the opening shot in a mobile war between companies.

Zain Asher joins me with more on the back and forth. You have AT&T, bigger than T-Mobile. Does it really need to cherry pick its customers?

ZAIN ASHER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I mean, no. In my opinion, certainly not, because T-Mobile is definitely the underdog in this. AT&T has about 70 million customers versus T-Mobile's 20 million.

Here's what's happening. T-Mobile essentially started the fight. AT&T said we're going to finish it.

T-Mobile launched a series of commercials, basically going after AT&T, saying how much better they were.

I want to play you one particular commercial. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're telling me AT&T has contracts and restrictions so upgrading to a new phone means I have to wait two years or pay how much?

But with T-Mobile, there's no restrictive annual contract.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: That has to hurt.

AT&T basically rolled up their sleeves after that saw that and said, it's on. They began offering customers, saying, hey, if you switch to us, we'll give you a credit of $200. $250 if you trade in your phone as well.

The catch is -- there's always a catch. The catch is you don't get cash. You get a gift card to AT&T.

But T-Mobile does appear to be taking it in stride. The CEO tweeted, it looks like we're making AT&T nervous.

It shows how vicious some of the mobile phone wars can be.

BALDWIN: Points for creativity in the ad.

Let's talk Facebook. Two users are suing the company, accusing them of scanning private messages for Web links, adding information to profiles that Facebook can sell.

Facebook says no, no, no. This is bogus. Is Facebook in the clear?

ASHER: The lawsuit is still pending, so no outcome as of yet, but two Facebook users in California, as you mentioned, suing the site, claiming overreach and intrusion, saying they scan your private messages and sells the content to advertisers.

Let's say, for example, you're writing a message to a friend, and you write something like -- I don't know -- I love guitars.

And then suddenly you get these targeted ads for Spanish guitars, electric guitars. That's what we're talking about. The issue, the plaintiffs say, it's supposed to be private, number one. And number two, Facebook doesn't tell you they're doing this.

But what's interesting is that I've actually reached out to a couple of privacy advocates, and interestingly enough, this about Facebook doesn't necessarily bother them that much, because they say that if you write messages on Facebook, you sort of expect the messages are sort of being stored somewhere.

They say that they're more bothered when Facebook finds out something about you that you don't expect them to know.

But, yes, we did reach out of Facebook. We haven't heard anything back yet, but they're reportedly claiming these allegations are without merit.

Brooke?

BALDWIN: Zain Asher, Zain, thank you very much.

And now to Netflix, Netflix adding dozens of new movies to its rotation, finally. Some are classics. We'll reveal some of the new selections for you.

Plus, he conquered "American idol" and now he may be trying to conquer American politics. We'll explain.

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BALDWIN: Jake Tapper is next with "THE LEAD."

And, Jake, I'm told you're talking today about politics and "Duck Dynasty." What's the connection?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN ANCHOR, "THE LEAD": We're having a columnist, a liberal columnist from Salon.com, Brian Buetler, who is going to talk about a provocative essay he wrote about the Republican Party, in his view, their "Duck Dynasty" problem.

And that is the ways in which Republicans trying to appeal to voters who have thoughts and feelings much like the ones expressed by Phil Robertson that caused such a kerfuffle a few weeks ago.

And yet they have to also widen their appeal beyond that swath of voters.

You might remember about a year ago, the Republican Party had their so-called "autopsy," in which they criticized the way in which the party had been trying to appeal to people and said they need to be more inclusive when it came to social issues.

This would certainly bring out some tension in that, so we'll talk about that with Brian and some other panelists and whether or not there is a Republican Party "Duck Dynasty" problem at all.

BALDWIN: OK, We'll look for you at the top of the hour, 15 minutes from now -- thank you, Mr. Tapper -- on "THE LEAD."

TAPPER: Thanks, Brooke.

BALDWIN: And now to the latest give-and-take by Netflix. The film streaming service dropped "Titanic," no more "Flashdance," no more "Top Gun."

So what's new on Netflix now? Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before you die, there is something you should know about us, Lone Star.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's that make us?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely nothing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can I help?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. Get them wet. Now, just let the clay slide between your fingers.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to Good Burger, home of the good burger. Can I take your order?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just a good burger, please, and I'd like that to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: One good burger.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you're a Jet, you're the swinging-est thing. Little boy, you're a man. Little man, you're a king.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I've had that stuck in my head, knowing we'd be doing this.

Reddit.com reporting 26 movies were added. Some of the others include "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Bull Durham," -- anyone? -- "Mousehunt" and "Amelie."

A former NFL player lashes out, saying he was released from his former team because he spoke out in support of same-sex marriage. He calls his former bosses "bigots" and "cowards."

Plus, a California lottery winner won one of the biggest jackpots in history, and now he has come forward.

And get this. It took him almost two weeks, two weeks to realize he was the guy. He was the winner. Hear what reminded him to, you know, check the ticket. It's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We will get to the bone-chilling cold rocking NFL playoff games this weekend, but first, let me just give you a little behind- the-scenes taste of what it's like covering this nor'easter.

CNN's Indra Petersons tells us what we can expect in the coming days. Indra?

INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yeah, it's definitely a new concept here. I think I may actually need sunglasses.

What a difference from this morning when it felt like it was negative 20 degrees. That means, earlier this morning, it was only 10 minutes, if you were exposed outside, that you had the threat of getting frostbite.

Now what are we dealing with? Look at this snow. Remember, it is so cold out here, this is a different kind of snow. It's so cold and so dry that I want to make a big fat snowball and throw it your way. Nothing.

But look at that. Notice how the wind picks it up and moves it across so quickly. That's the concern here, even though the system is now making its way out.

The problem? You have this very fluffy snow, the wind's kicking it up so the visible can still be low. We will still have blizzard warnings thanks to the blowing snow. It's called a ground blizzard. Love the new concepts out here.

This is the walk of shame, anyone who has to get out of the truck in this cold air and walk through this snow. That is the problem we're still dealing with.

So many people will be dealing with it because so what if the storm is gone? It is cold and even more cold air will be making its way in, so anyone that has to go outside and actually shovel this snow off their cars is going to be dealing with temperatures today just into the single digits, teens if you're lucky, but that's without the wind chill, which of course brings the temperatures back down.

That's the story. There is still another system behind this one that for next week, believe it or not, I got to keep saying knock on wood, it means temperatures are going to be even colder than what we're dealing with right now.

All I can say to that is ouch.

BALDWIN: Ouch, indeed.

Indra Petersons for us in Boston, thank you so much.

You know, back to football, this weekend's playoff games will separate the real fans from the fair weather ones because to be blunt, the weather is just going to be dreadful.

In Green Bay, the temperatures could be as low as 17-degrees-below- zero. That's the kind of cold that can make anyone wish they were at home nice and warm, maybe with a beer, maybe with some chili, just watching the game on the couch.

Meteorologist Alexandra Steele is here to tell us how bad. How bad is bad?

ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It may be the second or third coldest game in history.

You know, John Berman earlier today was talking to Bart Starr, the q.b. from the "Ice Bowl." And so he said to Bart, "Would you go to this game?"

He said, "Absolutely. The ball's as heavy as a rock," but you know what? He said it's all mental. It was really interesting. It was a great interview.

So this is what it's going to feel like, 22-to-26-below at game time, 3:40, so we'll have to see. The temperatures, second or third coldest in history, but you know what? This cold period from Sunday to Wednesday will be historic.

In Minnesota, they have already for all public schools canceled them for Monday, too cold for school. High temperatures, 15 below, wind chill, 50 below, Brooke.

Can you imagine canceling school this many days in advance?

BALDWIN: No. Not at all. Not at all. Feeling for these people. Alexandra, thank you very much.

The Minnesota Vikings game, the Vikings, I should say, don't have to worry about the playoffs since they finished in last place in their division.

But they, in fact, have bigger worries, like former player Chris Kluwe who says lost his job not because of what he did on the field, rather what he did and said off.

Andy Scholes lays out Kluwe's accusations.

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS: Hey, Brooke.

Chris Kluwe wrote a letter to Deadspin.com titled "I Was an NFL Player Until I Was Fired by Two Cowards and a Bigot."

In the letter, Kluwe describes from his point of view what happened during the 2012 season and the 2013 offseason.

Kluwe, who is not gay, claims he was singled out and cut from the Vikings because of his advocacy for same-sex marriage in the state of Minnesota. Kluwe says special teams coordinator Mike Priefer did not agree with his views and used homophobic language in his presence, once saying quote, "We should round up all the gays, send them to an island and nuke it until it glows."

Now, Kluwe also says in the letter he was asked to tone down his advocacy for gay rights by former head coach Leslie Frazier.

In the end, Kluwe says his performance never declined on the field so the reason he thinks he was released by the team was his views on gay rights.

Now, some question why Kluwe decided to release this letter now. He said it's for a few reasons. One, he didn't want his former teammates to have to deal with this during the season, answering questions about it from week to week.

He also said he wanted to prove he could still play in the NFL. The Vikings cut Kluwe before this season. He had multiple tryouts with other teams. Now, he wasn't picked up, but he did get positive feedback about his performance.

Now, Kluwe says he realizes by releasing this letter his days of playing in the NFL are likely over, but he wanted to share a story because he wants Mike Priefer to never hold a coaching position in the NFL ever again and ideally never coach at any level.

Now, Priefer has strongly denied Kluwe's allegations, and he maintains Kluwe was cut, strictly based on performance.

And, Brooke, the Vikings say they take these accusations seriously and they will thoroughly review the matter.

BALDWIN: Andy Scholes, keep us posted on that one. Andy, thank you.

Coming up next, he was "Times'" Man of the Year. He has had a direct impact on the number of visitors to the Vatican.

Hear how many people visited this new pope, the "People's Pope."

Plus, Clay Aiken and politics, it may be happening. We'll explains.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: And now some of the hottest stories in a flash, "Rapid Fire." Roll it.

Did you forget about the, oh, you know, $648 million jackpot already? Apparently, so did the winner. That is why it took him so long to come forward after the drawing back on December 17th.

The northern California man just totally forgot that he bought a ticket and then he remembered that he visited a store in San Jose last month. He was one of two winners.

If he chooses the cash option he will take home more than $170 million. The California lottery says he told his boss something along the lines of, and I'm quoting, "I'm really sorry. I hit the jackpot, I don't think I'm going to come in today, tomorrow or ever."

Inviting homeless men to his birthday meal, embracing a severely disfigured man and now even more proof that the "People's Pope," Pope Francis, is bringing good vibes to the Catholic Church.

Business to the Vatican roughly tripled last year, 6.6 million people attended events led by the pope since his election in March.

Your local car dealer has been doing a lot more wheeling and dealing lately, automakers posting their strongest sales in six years, which was before the recession. Last year car companies in the U.S. sold more than 15 million vehicles.

What could be worse? Listen to this. According to a report in "The Washington Blade," Clay Aiken is considering a run for Congress. The "American Idol" runner-up, who is a Democrat, is apparently making calls to gauge interest in North Carolina's second district.

That is it for me. I'm Brooke Baldwin. You can always check out our interviews. Go to the Brooke Blog, CNN.com/Brooke.

Let's send things to Washington to Jake Tapper. "THE LEAD" starts right now.