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What Does your Music Say About You?; New San Diego Mayor Gives Boost to GOP; ADHD Drugs Don't Always Help Grades; Obama to Call for Fuel Efficiency for Trucks; Ashley Wagner Skates Towards Redemption

Aired February 18, 2014 - 10:30   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, get out.

LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY TECH CORRESPONDENT: You've got to add on the layer of the zip code. You've got to look and actually have a risk determination that will really be able to serve an ad that fits.

COSTELLO: Fascinating. Laurie Segall, many thanks.

SEGALL: Thank you.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM. He's moderate and supports both gay rights and green initiative. So could the new mayor of San Diego also be the new face of the Republican Party? We'll talk to him next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. I'm Carol Costello. Thanks so much for joining me.

Let's take a look at our "Top Stories" at 33 minutes past the hour.

From the Midwest to the northeast, another bone-chilling snowstorm rolling across the country this morning -- this is what it looked like outside of Cleveland earlier. Snow plows were out to try to make sure the roads were cleared for the morning commute. They did a pretty good job there.

Snowfall across much of the nation has been massive so far this year. At the top of the list, Detroit has been buried under more than 76 inches of snow -- not all at once. But man, that's a lot of snow.

After relative calm deadly protests have erupted in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine; three protesters have died and several others injured along with at least seven police officers. Earlier today, things turned violent for the first time in two weeks after the headquarters of the ruling party was set on fire. The protesters are demanding limits to the President's powers.

After the embarrassing sexual harassment scandal that forced Democrat Bob Filner to resign as San Diego's mayor, the city has now elected a new leader, a new mayor and he's Republican. That makes San Diego the largest U.S. city with a Republican mayor. City council -- city councilman, Kevin Faulconer beat out his Democratic opponent by nearly 10 percentage points.

Now some are wondering if he could be the new face of the GOP and blue California. He's moderate and supports gay rights and green initiatives like electric car charging stations. San Diego Mayor- elect Kevin Faulconer joins us now. Welcome sir.

KEVIN FAULCONER, SAN DIEGO MAYOR-ELECT: Good morning. Thanks for having me.

COSTELLO: We're really happy to have you. First of all, what's it like to take over a city after such a big scandal in the mayor's office?

FAULCONER: You know I think all of us here in San Diego had a real sense of relief and a sense it's time to get back on track. And so all of us, I think, whether you're Republican, Democrat, Independent, we wanted to move this city forward. So I'm excited to hit the ground running.

COSTELLO: In your election speech, you talked about being independent. Some say you down play your political affiliation. Do party labels matter to you?

FAULCONER: You know it's not something that we stressed, particularly here on the local level on city government. And when I talked about independent, I particularly was talking about independence to continue the reforms that we've started here in San Diego. Issues like pension reform that not only are San Diego facing but other cities and states across the country.

And particularly we saw in this race here just in the last week, in the last couple of weeks, the extraordinary amount of money that was coming in for national government employee unions -- over $4 million. I talked a lot about being independent. Independent to continue to make the decisions so we can continue those reforms to invest those dollars back into our neighborhoods our streets, our libraries.

COSTELLO: Now those things that you talk about sound very Republican. But other things that you stand for like gay marriage and abortion rights make you sound like a Democrat.

FAULCONER: Well, that's who I am. And it's something I think that's who we are as San Diegans. And as somebody who is focused really on how are we turning our neighborhoods around and providing good quality services and particularly in those services, those neighborhoods that traditionally haven't got enough services. And I think that's one of the reasons why we did so well on Tuesday.

COSTELLO: So you're fiscally conservative and socially liberal. Is that fair?

FAULCONER: Absolutely.

COSTELLO: OK so we --

FAULCONER: And I think that's a -- that reflects our city as well. COSTELLO: We hear a lot about how Republicans want to make their tent bigger. Do you think a Republican candidate like yourself could succeed at a federal level?

FAULCONER: Well, you know, I focused on succeeding at the local level. But I'll tell you, I think there is absolutely room for a variety of views. And that's important to me. I think that's important to the party. And I think as we move forward not only here on the local level but state and national, that's certainly the type of things that I think more people want to see.

COSTELLO: I'm sure there are many Republicans just like you. But I guess at a federal level, we just don't hear about them. Why do you think that is?

FAULCONER: You know it's hard to say and I know there is so much back and forth. But you know one of the things that I stressed is, you know, it's not about gridlock. It's about how do we come together. Take you know there is good ideas for Democrats, Independents, Republicans. People want us to work together. That's what we are doing here in San Diego.

I think that's one of the reasons that we did so well in this election last week. And so many of these issues are not about partisanship, it's about leadership and how you bring people together to find good common sense solutions and don't worry about the rhetoric that I think too often is reflective of politics today.

COSTELLO: Oh my gosh, that's so refreshing.

Just one last question. You were up against a Democratic councilman, right, who supported --

(CROSSTALK)

FAULCONER: Yes I was.

COSTELLO: -- President Obama?

Do you think that had anything to do with his demise?

FAULCONER: Oh, you know, it's hard to say. I mean I got that question a lot when the President decided to endorse her in the last several weeks. And I said you know what San Diegans care about is what's happening here. And I was proud of the endorsements and the support that I had. And I think that was reflective on Election Day of the strong showing and the eagerness now that as we turn the page and get back to work rolling up our sleeves and doing what we are supposed to.

COSTELLO: San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer, thanks so much for joining me this morning. I appreciate it.

FAULCONER: My pleasure.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM a 500 percent spike in the use of -- in the use of ADHD drugs among schoolchildren. But -- but are those drugs really helping improve their grades in schools, improve their behavior. You might be surprised.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Adderall and Ritalin, they have gained a reputation as the good grade pills. But a new study in the publication "Nature" is pushing back against those claims.

Consider this for a moment. "The New York Times" reports the use of these drugs to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has shot up 500 percent since 1990. Now, more than one in 20 American children between four and 17 are taking ADHD medication.

Joining me now to talk about this is Dr. William Cooper. He is a professor of pediatrics and preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. Welcome, Doctor.

DR. WILLIAM COOPER, PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE: Good morning.

COSTELLO: Good morning. So a 500 percent spike; if these ADHD drugs aren't the cognitive enhancers as this new study claims, why are so many children taking them?

COOPER: What we see is that ADHD is a pretty common condition and it affects around 10 percent of children in the United States. Around half of those children are treated with medication so that explains a little bit of the increase over time.

COSTELLO: But still, the study says that these drugs don't really help children learn. In fact, they don't do much at all.

COOPER: Well what -- what we find with these ADHD medications is that there is really no magic bullet; there's not a magic pill that a child can take to fix all of the symptoms of ADHD. So what we look for is a little bit of short-term benefit to allow other treatment to work to help the child.

COSTELLO: The study also notes that because these students become less disruptive and I guess that's one thing these drugs do. Right they calm these kids down, fair?

COOPER: Yes. We do find that in any of the patients that I take care of in my pediatric practice. What they describe is that when they do take the medications it allows their minds to slow down enough the other interventions which are a really critical part of treatment of ADHD, behavioral therapies and other interventions to really take effect.

COSTELLO: Right, it calms them down. But the study also says that may have a detrimental effect because in class, the teachers don't notice them as much. They just sort of sit there and -- and don't take in as much as they could.

COOPER: Yes I think that's a really important observation. I think that it really highlights that when you think about taking care of a child understanding the unique needs. We know that around 40 percent to 50 percent of children who have ADHD also have other problems, such as learning disabilities and other psychiatric conditions. So it is really important for parents and health care professionals and educators to think about an individual approach for each child that will meet their needs.

COSTELLO: And one more disturbing finding of this study. It also it says students on these drugs in some cases are more likely to drop out of school all together. In light of what you just said, is that one of the reasons why?

COOPER: Well, we're not really sure. These studies are really hard to do. The long-term follow-up studies are really hard to measure, because many times the length of time that's required to have these follow-up, the children aren't taking the medications any longer in the community or they may be taking them every once in a while.

So the data are really sometimes hard to interrupt. But it's important to think about what's going to work for that individual child.

COSTELLO: OK. And just a last question for you; in your mind, how many kids are wrongly thought to have ADHD?

COOPER: It's really critical to diagnose ADHD carefully and correctly. There are proven ways to diagnose that. So it's important to apply those criteria to a child. It involves input from the teacher. It involves input from the parent and as together as a team, deciding what the right diagnosis is, it's really the most critical step.

COSTELLO: Dr. William Cooper, thank you so much for joining me this morning.

COOPER: Right. Thank you.

COSTELLO: Still to come in the NEWSROOM, President Obama pivoting back to the economy. He says producing more fuel-efficient trucks will help the nation become more economically independent. But will Republicans in Congress go along with his plan?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: President Obama will focus on climate change today as he prepares to unveil new standards to boost fuel efficiency in trucks and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the process. It is all part of the year of action the President has pledged even if it means going around Congress to move his agenda forward.

Our chief congressional correspondent, Dana Bash, joins me now to tell us more. Good morning -- Dana.

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Good morning -- Carol. You're exactly right. This-- when the President and his aides right around his State of the Union address announced that he was going to use his pen more often, meaning executive action and move around Congress, this is exactly the kind of thing that he was talking about.

In fact, on the day of the State of the Union address, I sat down with the Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, who said that one of the things that Democrats have been urging him to do with the power of his pen is to focus on issues in the EPA like what he is going to announce today, which, as you said, is making the standards for trucks even higher and have a goal of that for a few years from now.

Certainly, this is something that his fellow Democrats in Congress are applauding particularly on issues like climate change, which I am told in a private meeting that the President had with senate Democrats at their retreat about two weeks ago. They really pushed him to be more focused on in the last few years of his administration. So that is a big part of why you're seeing this both on the subject matter and on the tactic that he is using today.

COSTELLO: We're looking at a live picture. The President will soon speak presumably in front of those great, big, tractor trailers. A question for you -- he is going to use the power of his pen, right? Republicans say that will only add to the divide between the two parties. So, how will the GOP react?

DANA: You know, it is so tough -- I've been thinking about this. It is sort of like a chicken or the egg question because Republicans are already raising their hands and throwing up their hands saying, really, this is exactly why we have trouble convincing our rank and file to do anything with the President. Because it is hard to convince the conservative base that compromise is even doable when you have a Democratic president who kind of goes on his own. That's the Republican line.

But at the same time, you do have some legitimate concerns and frustration from Democrats at the White House and on Capitol Hill that they haven't been able to do some of the things that the President wants to do that maybe there is bipartisan support for because of the gridlock in Congress that simply won't go away.

So you definitely have arguments on both sides. But absolutely, particularly as you are heading into the primary season in the Republican Party, particularly, you are going to see them use this more and more as evidence of why Republicans should not and cannot work with the President because he is abusing his power, they say. Of course, the Democrats say, not at all. He is using everything that he has in his tool box.

COSTELLO: Right. Got you. Dana Bash reporting live from Washington. And when the President begins speaking in upper Marlboro, Maryland -- that's what we are looking at which is really suburban Washington, of course, we'll take his remarks live. The President expected to begin speaking sometime in the 11:00 a.m. Eastern hour.

Still to come in the NEWSROOM, the Olympics give athletes a chance to dream and a chance to redeem. An American figure skater, Ashley Wagner, hopes a medal can wipe away what's been a difficult few months. We'll hear from her next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: A historic day on the Olympic podium. For the first time ever, American gold in ice dancing. Charlie white and Meryl Davis absolutely rocked. The pair partnered since they were children, trained in Detroit. They were nearly flawless, finishing with record high scores. Coming in second, the team from Canada who also, by the way, trained in Detroit.

White and Davis helped bolster the United States medal count, five gold medals, 19 in total, that's tied for the overall lead.

For every athlete though, the Olympic dream is going to have some bumps in the road. The only difference for U.S. figure skater, Ashley Wagner, those recent bumps have been very public. You probably know Ashley from this face. Her reaction to the judge's scores following her performance in Sochi -- this photo went viral online.

Rachel Nichols asked Ashley about that and more.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Well, Carol, heading into this year, Ashley Wagner was the two-time U.S. figure skating champion and she was expected to be America's darling at this Olympics. But then she fell twice at last month's nationals. Suddenly the America's Sweetheart mantle well, that handed to new U.S. champion Gracie Gold and Wagner had to be squeezed on to the team for Sochi through a controversial process that involves her replacing another skater.

The skaters some felt was more deserving. Wagner seemed to redeem herself by skating strong in the team competition held at the start of these Olympics. But the judges didn't agree, scoring her low. Just one of the many things we discussed when I caught up with her here in Sochi.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLS: Well, Ashley, there was so much controversy over your appointment to this team. But after the team competition in the Olympics, you skated so well you tweeted, "I period belong period here." What was that experience like for you and how did it change how you felt about being at these Olympics?

ASHLEY WAGNER, OLYMPIC FIGURE SKATER: You know, there is nothing more frustrating than having someone try and take away your Olympic accomplishment. And unfortunately in figure skating there are bandwagon bands that come along once every four years and they kind of missed all the work that I have been up to for the past two years.

And in a way, that was supposed to be read in a very aggressive tone and it was totally directed at anyone who says that I shouldn't be on this team because I am here to stay and I am here to put out a performance on the ice and really deliver.

NICHOLS: You also had something interesting come out of the team competition which was an Internet picture that had your face after your performance, which was great and your face after you saw your scores, not so great. What did you think when you first saw that?

WAGNER: It was hilarious. I mean I am the type of person that I can make fun of myself, no problem. It was a silly face and at the same time, what you see is what you get with me. And I wear my heart on my sleeve. And I was disappointed. And I made a funny face and everyone else liked to make fun of it. so it is a great thing.

NICHOLS: Well, you saw what happened with the gymnast, McKayla Maroney, right. She is not impressed. What have you heard about Ashley Wagner with that photo?

WAGNER: I am not impressed.

NICHOLS: Can you do the face now?

WAGNER: Yes. Sometimes you just could be --

NICHOLS: Exactly. Well, pretty soon hopefully you will have an Olympic medal to go with that face.

WAGNER: Absolutely.

NICHOLS: She is a good sport clearly and refreshingly honest. We will soon find out if she does in fact leave here with a medal or just an internet meme. Carol, the lady's figure skating competition which many consider to be the premiere event of the Winter Olympics -- that takes place over the next few nights.

COSTELLO: Can't wait to see her too. Thank you so much Rachel.

And thank you for joining me today I'm Carol Costello.

"@THIS HOUR" with Berman and Michaela starts now.