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Record-Breaking Weather Affecting Two Thirds of America; NFL Playoff Between Green Bay and San Francisco, coldest NFL Game in History; Governor Andrew Cuomo, said to Announce an Executive Order; Jahi McMath will Move to Community Center
Aired January 05, 2014 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Analysts are expecting good numbers when the labor department jobs report comes out at 8:30 a.m.
All right, that's going to do it for me. Thanks so much for being with me in the NEWSROOM this afternoon. I'm Fredricka Whitefield.
Much more straight ahead with my colleague, Martin Savidge.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: You're there the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Martin Savidge. And it is great to be with you.
But bone chilling cold. And the kind of colds you may never had to experienced before. The record-breaking weather is creeping two thirds of America bringing temperatures that haven't been seen in some places in decades.
In Indiana, heavy spill coming down across (INAUDIBLE) state. Highway assistance teams have been activated to help stranded motorists. And people are being warned to stay off the slippery roads.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR GREG BALLARD, INDIANAPOLIS: Well, it's very important because the temperature that is we're talking about are deadly. This is a combination that is unlike anything we've seen in a long, long time. And we want people to be very careful about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: JFK airport in New York closed temporarily this morning after a jet skid into a snow bank well, turning on to a taxi way. Nearly 3,000 flights nationally have been canceled today.
Lake Michigan frozen over. But fraters is helping to breakup large sheets of ice. Millions of people are feeling the so-called polar vortex of icy air. By Wednesday, nearly half of a nation will shudder in temperatures at zero or lower. Even parts of the deep south are facing loads in the single digits. In Nashville, public schools there, close now until Wednesday. City and government offices in St. Louis are close tomorrow as out Detroit public school.
But despite the condition in the windy city, officials said that Chicago public schools will be open tomorrow. And we can say this, the worst, for many places, is yet to come.
So, let's get started and feeling Green bay, Wisconsin where it feels like nine below zero right now at the Green Bay Packers-San Francisco Giants playoff game later tonight. Northwestern Wisconsin could see wind chills as cold as 60 degrees below zero.
CNN's George Howell is live outside of the iconic Lambeau Field in Green Bay where that game is just getting started.
And George, you know, they are known for their hard core fans. They've even nicknamed that area of the frozen tundra. But, this has to be considered extreme, right?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Martin, yes. I always thought it would be a very cool experience to be here at Lambeau Field to be part of the game, to watching game. It is a bitterly cold experience. And we are talking about, right, five degrees, as you mentioned, negative nine to negative ten degrees with the wind chill. And it's expected to get colder as the game goes only. Could get down into the negative 20s, negative 30s perhaps overnight.
And keep this in mind. Will this where like the ice bowl, that game back in 196 7 against the Dallas Cowboys right here at this stadium? Now looking that way right now. Again, we are looking at wind chills negative 20, maybe a negative 30. Back then, it was negative 48 wind chill, 13 degrees at that time.
So a different situation, but still very cold out here, Martin. Some 70,000 people are in the stadium right now watching the game as it's underway. We do know that officials here, Martin, they're giving out hot chocolate, giving out coffee to help people get through this. And they also sent out that warning, just to fumble up, you know, to make sure that you're wearing the hat. Make sure that you are wearing the gloves. Layers help in a situation like this just to keep you warm as you watch this game.
SAVIDGE: I think I read somewhere they were handing out thousands of hand warmers as well the fence, things like that going on.
HOWELL: Absolutely. And doing several things. Because again, these strategies seemed to work. back in 2007, another very cold game. So many people are all in the stadium right now. So, the hope is people can get through it together, have a good experience and avoid the dangers, you know. You're always concerned about frost bite in a situation like this.
SAVIDGE: Yes. And we worry about that for you and your team as well, George. Be safe out there. Thanks very much. We will check back with you later.
HOWELL: Thanks, Martin.
SAVIDGE: In Missouri, 18-wheeler has park off a icy roads. Parts of (INAUDIBLE) could see temperatures tomorrow morning hovering around 15 below wind chill, 40 below.
Brittany Noble with CNN affiliate, KMOV is in St. Louis.
BRITTANY NOBLE, KMOV REPORTER: It is ugly, if that's a word I can use. Take a look behind me. This is the scene, this is a highway where in midtown St. Louis. And this is a would be a good view for you to see the art, any other day but today. We are only two minutes away. And there's a major problem with snow and visibility. That's look going to crews a really hard time today.
Crews are afraid that this snow and this wind will just snow right back on to the highway. And so, right now, they're just urging everybody to stay off the roads. Thankfully, today is Sunday, so not too many people are out on the roads today. But, this is the scene and this is what we're dealing with in St. Louis. And it is going to be the scene for hours to come.
SAVIDGE: All right, thanks for that.
And now we move a little farther, north tick Chicago's blustery winds, the polar temps and then the t-shirt and this is what you get, a shirt frozen stiff in just five minutes. This image comes from one of our i- reporters who is bracing her temperatures in a wind chills back her up 50 below tomorrow.
John Carcia (ph) from CNN affiliate WLS talk to folks getting ready for the deep breeze.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN CARCIA (ph), WLS REPORTER (voice-over): It is the kind of snow where you better clear your car windows quickly and go or they might be covered again before you finish. The snow is falling fast and flaky. It's the kind of night where staying in the house sounds like a good idea, although not entirely realistic.
BILL ZELKOVICH, CHICAGO RESIDENT: This is pretty bad. This makes it a little bit inconvenient to get around. But you've still got to do stuff, so you got to get out and keep going.
CARCIA (ph): While the know creates challenges the extreme cold on its way presents a whole new set of problems like frozen pipes, plumber Jose Gomez expects to be busy.
JOSE GOMEZ, PLUMBER: The broken pipes keep me in business, you know. You have a lot of pride (ph) next few days when cold sets in. Most certainly, the temperatures is going to drop and it going to be a lot of work for me.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CARCIA (ph): We tend to blame the Canadians for cold snaps like these, so it may suffice you to know that the Canadians are suffering as well. Tomorrow, it could feel in some areas like 65 below zero up there. Thousands of people are in the dark and buried in snow after a massive power outage.
Peter Cowan of CBC News shows us how people there are trying to stay safe.
PETER COWAN, CBC NEWS: People here in Newfoundland are wondering just what they did to tick off mother nature.
This morning, people woke up to this, almost 47 meters of snow that were dumped overnight by a big storm and that was not the end of it. Around 9:00 this morning, the majority of problem in the province lost power. The problem has been the cold temperature. Most people here heat with electricity. So, as the temperature drops, the demand for electricity goes through the roof.
Overnight, the temperatures have been around minus 30 when you factor in that wind chill. And so, with all those heaters running, the system just couldn't handle the demands and it may not be back anytime soon.
The province has towns and cities to set up warming centers to give people some place to go as the temperatures dip down again this evening. But some committees just don't have anywhere that has power. So, people are just grabbing a shovel and warming up the old fashioned way.
SAVIDGE: All right, Peter, thanks for that.
People are taking this arctic storm very seriously. Even here in Atlanta, heaters, firewood and anything else that might keep you warmth and flying out the shelves all weekend and with good reason. It's expected to be colder tomorrow in Atlanta then in Anchorage, Alaska. In Michigan, the salt trucks in the snow plows there all in full force. This is (INAUDIBLE) behind there. And expected for tomorrow, six degrees.
Of course, everyone now is wondering when will this bitter colds stuff be over? Let's take to our weather expert, Alexandra Steele -- Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Martin.
Obviously, cold is the name of the game weather-wise and fringe is cold. What we got is a piece of this polar vortex, coldest air in the northern hemisphere, coming down to the lower 48, really, for the first time in two decades for some.
All right, so the wind chills tonight, look at how incredibly intense these are, 52 below and far goes what it is going to feel like, 28 below in Madison. And then, as we headed towards tomorrow morning, Madison gets the 50 below. As the air gets colder and the winds continue to pick up.
So the air is brutally cold. And watch what happens as we move this air in the next couple of days. It drops out. It drops east. It does modify, but, still, none the less, records for many.
All right, so for today, Duluth, 32 degrees colder than where it should be this time of the year. As we head towards tomorrow, Indianapolis gets the 50 degrees colder than average with the high 13 below zero. And then as we head towards Tuesday, the air goes even farther south, almost 30 degrees below average, 25 degrees for a high in Atlanta. Morning temperatures in the single digits in Atlanta which they have not been in since 2003.
So how cold is it? Anchorage Alaska is 34. It's colder in Chicago than Anchorage Alaska on Monday. Colder in St. Louis. It is colder in Atlanta and even almost New Orleans than Anchorage, Alaska.
So, it is really record-breaking, 18 below Monday, breaking a record from the early 1900s. And places like Chicago and Detroit will break this record for them days that are consistently below zero.
So, we have got really in a historic arctic outbreak in place. We'll be talking about this for years to come.
SAVIDGE: Yes. I think you are right, Alexandra. Thanks very much.
Just ahead, the mayor of St. Louis is going to join me to talk about the treacherous conditions that they're suffering through there and what has forced him to shut down the city.
Also, coming up, hear from an administrator at a New York hospital who may take in a brain dead teen Jahi McMath.
Plus, we are monitoring the crash of a private plane in Aspen, Colorado. The new details right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: We continue to follow developments from Aspen, Colorado. That's for a small jet crash while try to land a short time ago at that Aspen airport. A witness to the crash tweeted us that a photo of what the FA believes is a bombard age challenger 600 jet. Three people we said to be on board when the plane flipped over on the runway. One was killed, the other two were taken to the hospital with moderate to severe injuries.
There were a few people at the airport who were telling their social media followers what they saw. Actor and comedian Kevin Nealon tweeted, horrible plane crash here at the Aspen airport, exploded in the plane as it was landing. I think it was a private jet.
And then singer, Leann Rimes, that is, tweeted, so sad. Horrible plane crash. We just saw it happen at the Aspen Airport.
We'll, of course, bring you details as soon as we get new information.
Turning now to Oakland, California, time quickly running out for the family of Jahi McMath. That's the 13-year-old girl who was declared brain-dead last month after complications from tonsils surgery.
By court order, she is on a ventilator until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday. But her family has refused to give up hope.
Allyson Scerri, is founder of New Beginnings. That is a rehab center for brain injuries in Medford, New York. It has agreed to accept Jahi from the children's hospital in Oakland. And Allyson, thank you for being with us. I'm wondering, have any final arrangements been made to move Jahi from California to New York?
ALLYSON SCERRI, FOUNDER, NEW BEGINNINGS COMMUNITY CENTER: At this time, we were named as the potential facility that Jahi and her family will be coming to. But we will know more details in a couple of hours. And we are certainly be happy to let you know as we know.
SAVIDGE: Since she's already declared brain-dead, including the death certificate that was dated December 12th, what's the purpose of bringing her to New Beginnings?
SCERRI: To give her a chance. Her brain needs time to heal. It is a new injury. We believe in life after an injury. All right, of here at New Beginnings have first-hand experienced because we had a loved one that was in the same situation as Jahi.
My father was on life support and we were told that he was brain-dead. Seven years later, he has made a miraculous recovery. I see it every day. We believe in hope, heal and an understanding.
SAVIDGE: I mean, so, personally then, you would know first-hand that there is, at least, some hope for this family that you have seen even though there have been any number of doctors that have said there is absolutely no hope. So, you are speaking from a very different sort of position.
SCERRI: This little angel is a true survivor. She is a strong little girl, eighth grade, 13-years-old. She's in there. And she is fighting all the way. Her heart is beating, strong, the power of prayer. She can come through this. And we need to -- she deserves and she needs to have a chance that all of us here have at New Beginnings have had. And we believe in that strongly. We follow out heart and our soul.
SAVIDGE: It is a long way of push from California to New York. How would that transportation take place?
SCERRI: At this time, we have a team of professionals we have been working on this for weeks. Angela Clemente and associates, Bobby (INAUDIBLE), just some wonderful people. We're all working real hard and we are making it happen. And it just warms my heart. And I'm just very excited to meet this family and be a part of her recovery.
SAVIDGE: Allyson Scerri, thank you very much. This is a story that has touched so many across the country and we'll continue to do so. We'll check back with you, thank you.
SCERRI: Thank you very much.
SAVIDGE: Coming up, the violence is surging in Iraq and al-Qaeda is at the center of it. Now, secretary of state John Kerry pledging to help Iraq. His plan right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: The Pope is planning a trip to the holy land. Pope Francis today announced to the people who attending his Sunday blessing that he will travel to Jerusalem, the West Bank and also Amman, Jordan. That trip is scheduled for three days at the end of May. It's his only trip outside of Italy planned so far this year.
The United States is going to help the government of Iraq fight terrorism, but without sending troops. That's what secretary of state John Kerry says today in Jerusalem. He says American officials are in contact with political and tribal leaders throughout Iraq, especially in areas that have seen a lot of fighting in recent days.
CNN's Sunlen Serfaty is in Washington.
And Sunlen, John Kerry says the U.S. is going to offer this help to fight al-Qaeda, but without putting any boots on the ground. I presume he means U.S. troops. So, what kind of help are we talking about?
SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that is the key here, Martin. Kerry was very specific in what the promise of help doesn't mean. He said no boots on the ground. But he wasn't as specific in what other forms of U.S. assistance, beyond what the U.S. is already providing to the region will mean. So, let's first take a listen to what Kerry said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, SECRETARY OF STATE: This is a fight that belongs to the Iraqis. That is exactly what the president and the world decided some time ago when we left Iraq. So, we are not, obviously, contemplating returning, we are not contemplating for the boots on the ground. This is their fight. But we are going to help them in their fight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SERFATY: Now in December, the state department confirmed the U.S. is sending rackets and surveillance drones to help the Iraqi government fighting these al-Qaeda linked forces. And Kerry repeated again today that the U.S. will do everything possible to help -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: Sunlen, Kerry blames the civil war in Syria, among other people, too, for what has been happening or causing this instability in Iraq. And I'm wondering, any hint that the U.S. will do more to try to bring an end to the violence in Syria?
SERFATY: That?s right. Kerry says the fighting in Syria is causing a much of the violence that we are seeing in Iraq. He has been traveling in the Middle East. So much of the focus recently has been on the upcoming peace talks on Syria.
No today, Kerry indicated for the first time, that Iran may have a role to play from the sidelines in this peace talks. He said there would limits to Iran's participation around the formerly -- need to formally exhaust the goal that the peace talks would have would be establishing the transitional government in Syria. And those peace talks, Martin, will take place next month in Switzerland.
SAVIDGE: Yes. Very interesting. Thanks, Sunlen, very much. So, ice and bone-chilling cold. It is all on the way, how low will the temperatures go? We we'll give you a sneak peek.
Just ahead, the first, sure it's cold, maybe you are even sucked in by snow. It is not all bad. Take a look at ireporters. Some of whom took this images of their dogs exploring the frigid outdoors, filled a little something to warm your heart on a cold winter day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Record breaking weather gripping two-thirds of America. It is bringing temperatures that have not been seen in decades to some places. And the worst, for many, they're still to come.
Millions of people are feeling the so-called polar vortex of icy air. By Wednesday, nearly half a nation will shudder in temperatures zero or below. Even parts of the deep south are facing lows in the single digits. JFK airport in New York was closed temporarily this morning after a jet skid into a snow bank while turning on a taxi way. Nearly 3,000 flights nationally have been canceled just today. Heavy snow, sleet and gusty winds have shut down the city of St. Louis through Monday at the earliest. The city's mayor, Francis Slay, made that call.
Mayor Slay, now joins me on the telephone. Welcome, mayor, thanks for being with us.
MAYOR FRANCIS SLAY, ST LOUIS (via phone): Thank you. Happy to be here.
SAVIDGE: How are things now in your city?
SLAY: It's -- the snow is tapering off, although, we do expect to get a little more. It is -- this is the heavy snow but it is also the fact that the temperatures are just very, very low. These are some of the lowest temperatures we've seen in decades. I think tomorrow, we're expecting that the high will be below zero. And I can't recall when that has happened in St. Louis.
SAVIDGE: Right, and in most areas are going through what is incredible cold. So, what can you do? What kind of things, emergency preparations as done for a cold?
SLAY: We do -- we open up our emergency operations center which includes street department, help department, human services, police, fire. Our regular services are a shut down. We shut down our courts and we have shut down city hall. But essential employees are there.
Like I said, streets, health department placing fire. And what we do is we are most concerned about making sure that the streets are, as clear as we can get them and making them safe as possible and make sure that we look after some of our vulnerable citizens. We're most concerned about our oldest, our youngest, our homeless residents, some of our lowest income residents and pets.
So we are actually out, for example, looking for homeless people on the streets. We do have an emergency shelters open and those are really a path we're cooperating with the county. So, we are actually bussing some of these homeless individuals to out St. Louis County emergency shelters and we are bussing them to places so that they can get something to eat.
And the other thing is that what we are doing is we are -- we've got a function to need registry where we call thousands of homebound residents. Typically, our seniors and people with disabilities, who may not have somebody to look after them and we call them on the phone. We have these numbers. If we don't get a call back or we don't hear from them, they don't answer, we go out to their home and check on them and we have been able to assist people that way that may have a problem.
We're also warning people to stay home, if they can. Somebody on the streets are, you know, dangerous what we have blizzard conditions off and on in St. Louis. So, you know, there is white outs, there is snow drifts. You can caught in your car and the severe temperatures, of course are dangerous.
SAVIDGE: All right, mayor Francis Slay, thank you very much for the update on the situation there in St. Louis.
Just one of many cities where they are trying to come to grits with, and as you heard the mayor say, it is not so much the snow, it is the very difficult cold.
Thank you, Mayor.
Fierce flames and choking smoke engulf part of a high-rise in New York city today. The three alarm fire broke out of the 20th floor of the Midtown Manhattan high rise about 11:00 a.m. Fire officials tell us two people, both male, were critically injured. Six other people were treated for possible smoke inhalation. No word on what might have started that fire.
Speaking of New York, medical marijuana makes some illegal in that state. Governor Andrew Cuomo is signaling that he'll skip that legislature and sign an executive order allowing limited use of medical marijuana.
So, let's bring in correspondent Rosa Flores.
And to you, Rosa, we expected Cuomo to male this big pot announcement in his state address. So, what happen is after and how will it all go into effect?
ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it is very interesting because what this has does is Andrew Cuomo drops it off an old, old law from the 1980s, resurrected law and that allows the use of medical marijuana. And so, advocates are saying this is great, tens of thousands of New Yorkers will be able to benefit from this.
So, what is this mean? While New York joins about 20 other state and the District of Columbia that allow medical marijuana already. And take a look, the northeast, most of the states around New York already have legalized the use of medical marijuana. Now, this would be very bold on behalf of Governor Cuomo, through an executive order, he would allow the use of medical marijuana in the states where the Senate has on multiple occasions kill the comprehensive bill.
Now, here's how it would work. Under this measure, the department of health would create guidelines, 20 hospitals in the state would administer the drug and a panel of hospital doctors would determine who qualifies for a prescription.
Now, will this create a lot of questions like where is this marijuana going to come from because cultivating marijuana in New York is illegal. Advocates, however, say it's a great first step. One that some New Yorkers have been waiting for, for a very long time.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIEL SAYEGH, DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE: There's Nancy out in Albany who is a cancer survivor, who used marijuana when she was recovering from or dealing with the cancer treatments. There's people all over our state for whom this is literally a life and death issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Now, a critics are not very happy about this. Jeffrey Reynolds from the Long Island council on alcoholism and drug dependence had this to say. Take a look.
The prospect of policy changes that could potentially feel further drug misuse, diversion and addiction, is quite frankly truly frightening to us.
So, the question is when are we going to see the first prescription in New York? Well, optimistic advocates say in three to four months -- Martin.
SAVIDGE: All right, Rosa. Thanks very much. Nice to see you back in a warm studio after the cold. Thank you.
Up next, the politics of marijuana changing fast. Another state is set embrace medical marijuana. We'll talk about how that decision could help a potential 2016 White House run.
Plus, Mitt Romney, speaking on about the MSNBC host who mock the phone to Romney's nre grandson. You will hear Romney's reaction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: President Obama's holiday trip to Hawaii is now officially over. The president and his daughter, Sasha and Malia arrive back in the White House today stepping out marine one on to the south lawn without the first lady. Michelle Obama will stay in Hawaii for a few more days. The White House says her extended vacation with friend is a birth day gift from the president. The first lady turns 50 next week.
Now, what to do about Edward Snowden. Not all U.S. senators are in an agreement about how handle the leaker of classified NSA documents. Kentucky Republican Rand Paul said today that Snowden should be prosecuted, but that he doesn't deserve a long prison term.
His Democratic colleague, Chuck Schumer of New York, has a different take. He wants Edward Snowden back in the states facing trial for violating the espionage act and taking the full consequences.
Edward Snowden is living currently in Russia under that's country's protection. Last year, he leaked details of the secret U.S. government's surveillance program to the media.
When it comes to marijuana, one of the most powerful governors in the nation, as you heard, is changing his tomb. For years, New York governor, Andrew Cuomo, oppose medical marijuana until fairly recently. Now, Cuomo, reportedly is set to allow limited use of medical marijuana.
This is interesting because Cuomo's name has been candid about as a potential 2016 Democratic candidate for vice president or even president.
Let's talk about our political impact of Cuomo's change of heart.
Here is our panel. Conservative Amy Holmes, anchor of' the Hot List" on blaze.com. She joins us in New York. And then political commentator, Lz Granderson, he joins us from Chicago.
Lz, let me ask you this. What do you make of Cuomo's marijuana decision? What's the political upside or downside for Cuomo in the long term?
LZ GRANDERSON, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, you know, often times, people think of the state of New York, they think of Manhattan when actually New York is so much larger than that. So, I'm pretty sure that a lot of people in more rural parts of the state that are now looking fairly towards Andrew Cuomo doing something as considered more liberal which will be have any more relaxed attitude towards pots.
Now, what change his mind? You know, if we look at the analytics of who is the Democratic favorite for president, by far and away, is Hillary Clinton. You know, Biden is a distant second and Cuomo saw in the mix of everyone else. If you're looking to be a VP candidate for with Biden, why not do something crazy like embrace marijuana. Because you are not going to be Hillary's straight ups. You've got to do something wild like that. And embracing the legalization of marijuana is just crazy enough to get you enough attention that may, may get some eyeballs away from Hillary.
SAVIDGE: That's a fascinating strategy, I got to say Lz. Do the crazy card, it found the word.
So Amy, overall, Republicans.
AMY HOMES, HOST, HOT LIST: I think Joe Biden has got enough crazy on that. SAVIDGE: He may. But let's talk about Republicans. They generally shy away from that bracing new marijuana law. So Amy, do you expect any shift on the GOP, the use of marijuana say in 2014?
HOLMES: I don't see that in terms of the GOP. But they are always libertarians like Rand Paul who may support legalization. But I appreciate that Lz is seeing this for what it is, which is, relaxing attitude toward pot consumption.
You can call it in medical marijuana, but as we saw in Colorado, that was really just a fig leaf, should I say, for a broader legalization of pot. In terms of Andrew Cuomo, maybe trying to use this to capital him into a VP plot on the Joe Biden ticket. If that's his strategy, he needs to put down the bomb and should think a lot more clearly about how he would be a national candidate.
GRANDERSON: But you know, it's not that crazy when you look at what happened prohibition. You know, (INAUDIBLE). He lost 40 states because he was for repealing prohibition. But five years later, it was legal in the country. That's a small little election cycle which the country voted against the guy who is for the legalization of alcohol. And then five years later, there was legal alcohol. So, what I would do out there is kind of a wild card. The truth of the matter is we have history to prove that you can say something like this and that the country will follow.
HOLMES: We also have human history which alcohol has been a part of. For millennia, pot is a much more recent thing and don't see being able to a national campaign.
(CROSSTALK)
SAVIDGE: All right. Well look, let me move on.
GRANDERSON: And globally, it's not that new.
SAVIDGE: Let's move -- before we run out of time here. Because I do want to ask you about this, your reaction to the candidate of Mitt Romney and all of this that went on with MSNBC and the apology that came from Melissa Harris-Perry, the host and her panel, as you know, had mark the photograph of Romney and his recently adopted grandson. So let's listen, first of all, to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MITT ROMNEY (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: People make mistakes. And the folks at MSNBC made a big mistake and they've apologized for it. And that is all you can ask for. I got to move on from that. I'm sure they want to move from it.
Look, I have made plenty of mistakes myself and they have apologized for this and I think we can go on from there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: So Amy, the question is, is it the end? I mean, is that done that now we heard from Mitt Romney. He's accepted that apology, should it end or is there more to be done here?
HOLMES: Well, I think it is the end of the story in terms of a new cycle. And that Mr. Romney, Governor Romney, was far more gracious than Melissa Harris-Perry and her guests deserves. And I watched both the original segment and Melissa Harris-Perry's apology yesterday. And it just seems to me, you can't lead a racial witch hunt against the man's family and then pretend that you didn't light the torch. That is precisely what she did. She took his family photo. She pointed out the black grandson sitting Mitt Romney's knee. She then invited her panelists to remark upon that fact and when her perk panel started calling the baby a thing, she started laughing uproariously. That was the point of the segment. So her apology yesterday, I liked Alec Baldwin's reply which was if I cry, will I be forgiven, too?
SAVIDGE: Let me ask you, Lz. If were done, to say, in an inverted situation. If say President Obama had adopted a white child, do you think that they would have triggered the kind of con jokes and controversy that this has?
GRANDERSON: Well, you can't play that game. You know, the history of both races are just too different. And I really don't like when people try to say, well, if they are white, would you done this? If they are black, they are just two totally different situation because of the racial complexity in this country.
But with that being said, I'm glad that Governor Romney has take a step to put this to bed. And to be quite honest, if us in the media does being as more uproar than the people, if you followed social media, you saw this being the story very briefly, you know, we can have to go when incident occur. But since then, the public has moved on. It is us, in the media, that seems who have been fascinated by it.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: It was the host of a media of a show on MSNBC that even launched this discussion. She put up a family photo, pointed to the black child and asked her guest to remark to the fact --
GRANDERSON: Girl, you don't have to point to the black child. Did you see the photo? You don't need to point to the black child. The black child is pretty evident.
HOLMES: I didn't notice actually, Lz.. I saw a family photo. I was the person zeroing in and then asking --
(CROSSTALK)
GRANDERSON: I say stop trying to pretend and that she can imagine mark out --
HOLMES: Lz, it is disgusting. You know this.
GRANDERSON: All right, I'm saying is -- no. And I called her out on it last week (INAUDIBLE). What I'm saying at this point is, stop pretending that she got to imagine mark out, insert with the child's leg. HOLMES: She did.
(CROSSTALK)
GRANDERSON: And say look, here is the black child. You can see the black child on his lap. I don't have a problem with it. I don't have a problem with noticing color. That doesn't make you a racist.
HOLMES: What was the point of the segment?
GRANDERSON: I would tell you if you would be quiet for a second. The point of the segment is MSNBC does not like Mitt Romney. And they wanted to find a way to poke fun at Mitt Romney and took a disgusting route to do it by mocking the child. That is totally different than trying to pretend as if she went out of her way to make a point because it was obvious.
Talking about race doesn't make you a racism. That's one thing we get to in this country. It is OK to notice if you look different.
HOLMES: She threw out a photo and use the segment and ask people a remark on it. that is on purpose.
SAVIDGE: All right, let me -- look, we will just stop there. Hold on. Hold on.
We know that it was wrong. There's been an apology made and an apology accepted. So let's move.
And I want to ask you about this too, because action heroes Steven Segal may be preparing for a new role as the governor of Arizona. This is being talked about here as a possibility for him and it's an interesting role. But I'm wondering, you know, you know, this is according now she point to affiliate KNXV and Segal spoke with the Maricopa county sheriff Joe Arapaio about this.
And it is interesting, the governor, and I'm wondering, what do you think about this, Amy and Lz? A legitimate campaign. A stunned -- we've seen in the past where actors have actually made very decent politicians? Do you think he can do it?
HOLMES: I was going to say, we saw an action star named Arnold Schwarzenegger become governor of the state. Ronald Reagan, of course, who was governor of California. And then he became president of the United States.
I'm not sure about Seven Segal's, you know, his roots in the state of Arizona. I don't know about his biography or whether or not he is in touch with issues that are important to Arizonans. But hey, I love politics. If you want to throw in an action star to make it a lot more fun for voters and maybe pay a closer attention to the election and to the ring, that is a good thing.
SAVIDGE: We laugh, Lz. But it -- could it be a good thing?
GRANDERSON: Well, you know I think eyes are stretch as called Steve Segal an actor given the movies that he has actually been at. But you know, with that being said, without hearing his actual politics, without hearing what he actually have to say on the issues, I think just because he was an entertainer, dismissing him might be a little premature. I know personally just because I used to be an actor myself, I found it frustrating that people just thought I was just ahead to have talking on television and that I didn't actually have thoughts.
So, before I completely dismiss what he could or could not do for the state of Arizona, I would definitely need to hear what he has to say on the issues.
SAVIDGE: Very careful point.
All right, great discussion. Thank you both, Amy, Lz., for joining me tonight. It is always fun of variety of interesting topics. See you again soon.
Congress goes back to work. That will happen tomorrow.
Coming up next, our political analysts offers some New Year's resolutions to help Congress finally get something done after the least productive session in history.
In Green Bay, the devoted fans are braving arctic temperatures to see their Packers play. Up next, you'll hear from Terrance Moore who once covered an NFL game, if you can believe it, even colder than today's showdown in Green Bay.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: Reporters around the country have been covering this brutal winter storm for days. So, here is a look at some of what they have been facing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Frozen to the core.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's freezing. Listen to this baby.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm actually kind of leaning against this deck here just to brace myself so I don't lose footing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We could sit out here all day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You can see, I've got the tears coming out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Listen to that. That is a banana try doing that in your warm studio.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's so cold here that a lot of in is just really frozen solid.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've got a measuring stick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SAVIDGE: Ted Rowlands there, certainly sounded cold.
They are also trying to keep the beer from freezing at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. Workers there are using special heat warmers there. They will keep the beer tap working. That's really amazing. Well, 70,000 hard core fans are braving the brittle cold to see their beloved Packers take on the San Francisco 49ers which is the good reason to bring in CNN.com sports contributor, Terrence Moore, is here in Atlanta.
And Terrence, you have covered I think what, three of some of the coldest games in record.
TERRENCE MOORE, CNN.COM SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR: Three of the six.
SAVIDGE: And so, I feel you are the perfect person to turn to at this point and say, what do you do? How do you prepare?
MOORE: Well, you know, first of all, the weather drama that was supposed to be in Green Bay didn't happen. It was a supposed to be sub-zero temperatures at kick-off. It was a balmy five degrees, you know, fancy that. Really, there is nothing can you do.
SAVIDGE: Those wimps up there.
MOORE: Yes and that's exactly right. But I tell you, two games come to mind. I was there in 1980 when the Oakland Raiders played the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland for a playoff game. That's your hometown. You probably remember the game. It was zero degrees right at kick off. It was so cold. So when all of us in the front row of the first box, they gave us ice cream first. I used to have the windows every minutes so every could see the fill. But the worse, and we talked a little bit about this the other day, 1982 freeze bowl, Cincinnati against San Diego. By the end of the day, that was 40 degrees. Back then, it was minus nine actual temperature, minus 59 wind chill factor. Ohio river froze over. The press box heater broke. And it was also cold back at the hotel. That was the worst and the coldest day of my life.
SAVIDGE: Well, speaking of freezing over. And I'm talking about a geography very low. Dallas cowboys, you've got a new poll out about them?
MOORE: Yes. I mean, they were voted as the least favorite team in America. But you know what, Martin, they were also second on the list for the favorite team behind the Denver Broncos and that tells me the cowboys are truly America's team. Because they can provoke this kind of emotion, negatively or positively. We are talking about a team that has not won a world championship since 1995 and just two playoff games since then.
SAVIDGE: Where is this coming from, this emotion? MOORE: I guess people like the star. But they have done a great job. They had a great job in the 60s, on marketing, that franchise, and to here it is, decades later, we are still talking about them one way or the other.
SAVIDGE: And I'm really going to go all over the sports map here. Here, I want to bring in, you know, the hall of fame announcement that came out Wednesday.
MOORE: Yes.
SAVIDGE: You're a hall of famer.
MOORE: Yes, I am.
SAVIDGE: So, let me ask you. Two former Atlanta Braves pitchers, we are talking about Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux, they going to make it in?
MOORE: They're there. you know, they've got my vote. You know, I had to put my first check mark from right beside their names. Extraordinary pitchers rather. But the thing, Martin, that is amazing to me about this is last month, Bobby Cox, their manager, made it to the hall of fame. So as Bobby Cox, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine. Next year, john (INAUDIBLE) another team is going in. Couple years after that, it is going to be Chipper Jones going in. That's five hall of famers. This is a team that set the foundation of players rather than manager for 40 consecutive division titles, a major league record, one world championship. The most underachieving team in the history of major league baseball.
SAVIDGE: I am an Indians fan. But I agree, the Braves really have been so close so many times.
MOORE: And the extraordinary guy, nothing against Tom Glavine, but Greg Maddux. I mean, this is the guy that want four (INAUDIBLE) awards, 18 Gold Gloves, could field. And just an extraordinary pitcher. He should go in unanimously. But it is not going to happen because of, you know, baseball writers have that thing, well, we can't put this guy in because Babe Ruth didn't go in unanimously, so why should Greg Maddux go in that way? But he should.
SAVIDGE: I want to go back, real quick to this, you know, frigid game being play up there in Green Bay, why is it that the football players in there with short sleeves.
MOORE: It is a psych game. You know, they are trying to struck the other pointer out. But you know what, even though they are coming out in short sleeves, at the same time, why am I doing? This is so crazy. So, it is psyche game and basically, they are psyching themselves, trying to psyche themselves up that it is not as cold as it actually is. You know, when it is five degrees, even though it is a little bit warmer than people thought, that's still very, very cold.
SAVIDGE: Yes. It seems as one of those seemed like such a good idea in the locker room. MOORE: And that is exactly right. But they got free coffee and free cocoa for everybody there.
SAVIDGE: Drink up. Terrence, like you just did.
Thanks very much.
All right, help is on the way for two ships that are stuck in Antarctica. But why will a U.S. ice breaker be able to succeed where others could not? We'll explain, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SAVIDGE: This just into CNN. And it is updating a story we told you about earlier. Police in New York City, now confirming that one person, 27-year-old man, has died in a fire in a high rise building in Manhattan. The fire broke out on the 20th floor earlier today. We were told that the person killed got trapped in a stairwell. One other person was critically injured. Several others were treated for minor injuries. There's no word yet on the cause of that blaze.
For two large ships stuck in the ice in Antarctica, help's on the way. But it may be about a week before U.S. coast guard cutter polar star reaches the trapped vessels.
CNN's Kyra Phillips visited the coast guard ice breaker like the one now headed to in Antarctica to see what it takes to smash through the thick sea ice.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Life at McMurdo station relies on the constant flow of supplies to its open harbor. A big challenge in a place where the ocean can freeze almost instantly. Pack ice like this kept explorers away from Antarctica for centuries.
Today, the U.S. coast guard breaks pack ice every season in specialized ships like the polar sea. This is breaking the ice, cutting a 56-mile channel for a supply chip to bring in fuel and food, two of the most crucial supplies for winter survival.
Commander Steve Wheeler is commander of the polar sea.
STEVE WHEELER, COMMANDER, U.S. COAST GUARD: We want to shave off big chunks of ice between us and the channel.
Next year when we come back and have to break the channel, it is all first-year ice which is much, much easier to break. This year is second year. We have gotten rid of the first year ice. The older ice, the harder it is, all the salt and dirt and what not, leaches out of it, the stuff that comes rock cut.
PHILLIPS: How thick is this ice, commander?
WHEELER: That's six foot out here. Everyone is while you get an eight foot chunk. PHILLIPS: So, did the whale comes up and visit the ship? And they say destroy in order to get into the area most (INAUDIBLE). And it is going to see ship breaks the ice because I just saw right on in there, but they can't.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
