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First Lady Pens Op-ed; Brad Pitt Attacked at Movie Premiere; Beats Brought by Apple for $3 Billion; Hidden Cash Sparks Frenzy in San Francisco
Aired May 29, 2014 - 09:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It wasn't until after the murder of Odin Lloyd, so sad, so tragic, that they were able to backtrack and piece this one together, too.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: What a story. Thank you, Susan Candiotti. We appreciate it.
Still to come here on CNN, the first lady's fight against childhood obesity has a new opponent, Washington. And she's calling out lawmakers for not using, quote, "sound science."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: The fight over childhood obesity has the first lady taking a swing at Congress. The first lady wrote an op-ed in today's "New York Times" criticizing some lawmakers for not using science in decisions that could reduce or eliminate reforms on healthy childhood eating. Changes that could include adding potatoes to lists of approved foods or lowering the quality standards for foods served in schools. Here's what Mrs. Obama writes. She says, "as parents, we always put our children' interests first. We wake up every morning and go to bed every night worrying about their well-being and their futures. And when we make decisions about our kids' health, we rely on doctors and experts who can give us accurate information based on sound science. Our leaders in Washington should do the same."
So, CNN political contributors Sally Kohn is here and Ben Ferguson. They're both here. They join me. Joking around.
It's good to see you both.
SALLY KOHN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I'm so excited.
LEMON: I know. I'm so excited to see you.
BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Good morning.
KOHN: Good morning.
LEMON: She's on the left. He's on the right. Good morning, everybody. Great to see you.
FERGUSON: Good morning. LEMON: Sally, I'm going to start with you. We're talking about a simple problem here that has turned really into a huge partisan battle. I mean is this the right fight to be having, you think?
KOHN: Well, it is the right issue to be focusing on as a country, right? We have a massive problem with childhood obesity. It has gotten three times worse in the last 30 years. It is a crisis. It's a crisis for families. It's certainly a crisis for our economy. It's a crisis for our future.
Now, is it the right political battle to be having?
LEMON: Yes (ph).
KOHN: I would argue not. But the Obamas didn't pick this political battle. I mean, for crying out loud, she's trying to get kids to exercise and eat healthy. But Republicans are hell-bent on denying any modicum of success for the Obama administration and so they're going after obesity in kids. It's sad.
LEMON: Would you be talking about Ben Ferguson?
Ben, listen, I mean she has a point. There's a new study. Let me get this in and then you can answer. This new study says that almost 30 percent of the people on this planet are overweight and obese. Clearly this is a global concern.
FERGUSON: Sure.
LEMON: Shouldn't we all be talking about tightening these rules and not easing them?
FERGUSON: And we did. But the problem is, is more than 500 schools, mostly in poverty areas, most of them in liberal areas, have decided to opt out of this. More than that, there's a bigger problem, that kids aren't eating --
LEMON: Wait, poverty areas are liberal areas?
FERGUSON: No, I'm saying, this is -- these people are rejecting Michelle Obama and what she's done because the kids aren't eating the food. This isn't Republican areas that are trying to say (ph) to the first lady. But let me finish this. There's another bigger issue. One million kids have opted out of the free or reduced lunch program in the last year. That's the first time that's ever happened, while 1.2 million kids became eligible for this program, new kids. And so the kids aren't eating the food. And so what you're having is, you're having people that are usually on Michelle Obama's side that are saying, these guidelines are just too stringent and, unfortunately, the children aren't eating the food. So we're going to have to find a compromise here.
KOHN: All right.
LEMON: So the kids are opting out.
FERGUSON: The idea is great, but they're not eating.
KOHN: First of all -
FERGUSON: And the kids aren't eating the food and they desperately need it.
KOHN: But - but - but --
LEMON: Did you eat your vegetables when you were a kid?
FERGUSON: Only the ones I liked. And that's the problem with these kids. None have a parent there standing over them.
KOHN: All right, so, right. So let's be clear, there's - there's -
LEMON: That's a point. If you got hungry enough, you'd eat them.
KOHN: Well, let's be clear, there's - yes, because they're at school, Ben. Let's be clear. There's three things going on here. First of all, Republicans want to do anything they can to attack and undermine the Obama administration, especially on these issues.
FERGUSON: Not true.
KOHN: And, by the way, Republicans are the primary recipients of the food and beverage industry lobbying money, which is incredibly opposed to these restrictions, number one.
LEMON: But do you think this is really about just attacking (ph) (INAUDIBLE)?
FERGUSON: Sally, we're not trying to bring sugary drinks back in.
KOHN: Number, two, let's talk about - well, wait, wait. There's two other issues here. The second is that schools, it's true, are having trouble paying for these things because Republicans keep cutting the budget for education in this country. A huge problem.
FERGUSON: Again, not true.
KOHN: And the third thing, again, as a parent, as a parent, I still send my kid to school with healthy food even if she's not going to eat it. Would my kid choose McDonald's every day, which by the way is an option in some public schools? No.
FERGUSON: But, Sally, you're a responsible -
LEMON: Let -
KOHN: But - so our public schools should be able to be as responsible as parents and serve healthy food then.
FERGUSON: Sally, you're a responsible -
LEMON: Go ahead. Go ahead, Ben.
FERGUSON: You're a responsible parent, OK. But when you have 500 schools -
KOHN: Yes, who has money.
FERGUSON: Hold on, when you have 500 schools that say the kids aren't eating the food, we're losing money because no one's buying the lunches, you have a million parents look at their kids and say, we're going to opt you out of the free lunch program because you're not eating it anyway, that is the public deciding.
LEMON: So what are you suggesting then, Ben? What are you - what are you suggesting?
FERGUSON: I'm saying that we have to be a little bit more realistic. I'm saying that, look, the sodium --
KOHN: That's five-year-olds deciding, Ben.
FERGUSON: Hold on, hold on. The - well, the parents are deciding for the kids because the parents are the ones that fill out the paperwork for the kid to be in the free lunch program, not a five-year-old.
LEMON: So what are you suggesting?
FERGUSON: You've got to look at sodium, for example. Did we do too far to the extreme on sodium and should we bring a little bit, not all of it back. Not unlimited sodium. Should we maybe roll back some of the requirements on whole grain, not all of them? I'm in favor of the kids having healthier food. I think everyone is. This shouldn't be a partisan battle, but when you have a million kids opt out who need money -
KOHN: Why are the Republicans in Congress blocking it?
FERGUSON: They're not blocking it. They're looking at reforming it. And Michelle Obama is saying, you touch my program and you want to make kids fat, which is maybe the most ridiculous argument I've ever heard.
LEMON: Yes. (INAUDIBLE). OK. I'm just saying, when I was a kid, I --
FERGUSON: Nobody wants to make kids fat.
LEMON: All right. When I was a kid, I probably would have opted out of school.
KOHN: Right. I mean, exactly. But that's why we don't give the choice to the kids, right?
LEMON: Exactly. We don't give them a choice.
KOHN: I mean that's why we provide a healthy lunch.
LEMON: If you get hungry enough, trust me, you will eat anything that is presented in front of you.
Thank you, guys. I appreciate this. This will continue on. Still to come here on CNN, Brad Pitt attacked while attending the premier of his partner Angelina Jolie's new movie. And the guy, well, arrested for this, he is apparently known for pulling other stunts like this in Hollywood. We'll tell you which ones coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So, Brad Pitt kept his cool, appeared unfazed after he was struck in the face at a movie premiere in Los Angeles. It happened when the actor was signing autographs at the premiere of "Maleficent." The movie starring Angelina Jolie. Well, police say the suspect hopped a barrier and attacked Pitt. He was arrested on suspicion of battery. Nischelle Turner has more now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was like any red carpet event, Brad Pitt signing autographs for fans, when suddenly a man swings at the superstar, police say striking him in the face. It happened at the premiere of partner Angelina Jolie's new film "Maleficent." When the man lunged, security moved in, quickly taking him down. He was cuffed. Police identified him as Vitalii Sediuk, a 25-year-old Ukrainian TV host who is notorious in Hollywood for his red carpet crashing antics. Two weeks ago, Sediuk was dragged off the red carpet at Cannes when he tried to crawl under actress America Ferrera's dress. Sediuk is best known for this, getting slammed himself. Will Smith took a swipe at the prankster back in May 2012 after Sediuk tried to kiss Smith on the mouth. And in 2013, he stormed the stage at the Grammys.
VITALII SEDIUK, ACCUSED OF ATTACKING BRAD PITT: Feel sorry for that but I know what I did and it's crazy.
TURNER: Explanation from the red carpet crasher himself to HLN's A.J. Hammer right after the Grammy incident. Sediuk saying he took the opportunity because he's a fan of Adele.
SEDIUK: Adele is my favorite singer, so I can go only when Adele. It was Adele, you know. And she was like in the beginning and I thought, well, I'm sitting not in the right (ph) place. And if I stay here for a while and like organize this cheap (ph) seats every time so I was able (ph) ask me to leave because I sat probably not in my seat and it belonged maybe allegedly to Adam Levine. So I tried to do that as fast as possible and then I was kicked out and arrested.
TURNER: But after that, the incident only ramped up and the pranks got bolder. He made headlines earlier this year for getting too close for comfort to Leonardo DiCaprio and Bradly Cooper at separate red carpet events. And now he finds himself back in jail and back in the headlines again.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right, Nischelle, this is nuts. Shouldn't they know this guy and - security at least? TURNER: Well, they do know this guy. Yes, they definitely know this guy. I mean at one point he did get red carpet credentials when he was being the television presenter and the TV host. But then when he started pulling those pranks, they snatched his credentials. They banned him from red carpets. He wasn't on the red carpet last night, he was in the crowd of fans and jumped over a barrier. So I think as more -- the more they try to keep him away, the more he tries to figure out the innovative ways to get around it.
LEMON: And security is tight, but he - he figures out how to get around it. Brad Pitt OK though?
TURNER: Yes well I think OK. Maybe his ego is bruised a little bit. But you know I think he probably wanted to punch the guy back but being who he is.
LEMON: Like Will Smith.
TURNER: Exactly he probably was restrained. I will have to say you asked about security, this is an Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt premiere.
LEMON: Right.
TURNER: And security is going to be extra tight. It was at the El Capitan Theater right on Hollywood Boulevard they shut it down. You do have to check in if you're the press. But if you're in the crowd and you're just fans to get autograph, they like for that kind of fervor to be there. So it would be easy for that guy to get into that area. But you know he'll probably be made an example of. I think it's about time.
LEMON: Yes.
TURNER: You know the America Ferrera incident to me was disturbing because he was under her dress.
LEMON: Right.
TURNER: And he would have got a stiletto in the face if it were me. But you know.
LEMON: Yes I think you make your point you took the words out of my mouth. I think after this people will be checking and double-checking their security measures.
Thank you Nischelle it's great to see you.
TURNER: You're welcome.
LEMON: Have a great day.
I want to tell you about his CNN's new series "THE SIXTIES" launches tonight. And I want to take a look back at a decade that really transformed a society and defined an entire generation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEIL GENZLINGER, TV CRITIC, THE NEW YORK TIMES: By 1960 essentially every household in America had a television.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was no denying the shift in attitudes towards sex, towards race relations, towards politics.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was all televised.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Never has this dissent been as emotional as intense.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When there was a huge thing that happened, it happened on TV.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 330 Americans were killed in combat last week.
DICK CAVETT, TV SHOW HOST: People looked at television for answers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you doing?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm getting ready to go to college.
SALLY FIELD, ACTRESS: Everyone was dropping out, doing God knows what else. I wasn't.
VINCE GILLIGAN: It was a place to escape to.
PHIL ROSENTHAL: Even if they tried to keep TV this homogenous whole milk product, the world found its way in.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: "THE SIXTIES" series premier tonight at 9:00 on CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Straight out of Compton to Cupertino. See what I did there? Dr. Dre's headphones and music streaming company are heading up the California coast all the way up to Apple. Beats has been bought for $3 billion. It's been the worst-kept secret really in Silicon Valley. And our chief business correspondent and host of "YOUR MONEY", Christine Romans joins me now. Good morning to you.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.
LEMON: Does this make sense, before I ask you that, does this make Dr. Dre the first hip-hop billionaire?
ROMANS: I've been (inaudible) I think it makes him pretty darn close.
LEMON: Really.
ROMANS: Pretty darn close because if you look at his stake at this company, he's valued at something like $550 million already. His stake is 20 percent to 25 percent so you put it all together with a $3 billion purchase that gets him pretty darn close. I think he can round up. I think he's almost there.
LEMON: It's good to be a Dre these days.
ROMANS: It's good to be Dr. Dre. As John Berman said, this is why your mom told you to go become a doctor because it pays off in the end.
LEMON: Ever since it's sort of leaked, I said it was the worst-kept secret in Silicon Valley, everyone has been wondering kind of scratching their heads, does this make sense --
(CROSSTALK)
ROMANS: Yes.
LEMON: -- for Apple. Everyone has Beats. I mean I have Beats. I wish they were noise canceling for the airplane. But I love them.
ROMANS: So let's talk about what they're doing here. Apple has a $159 billion in cash so they can afford to pay $3 billion for a company. They usually don't buy a company and let that company operate as its own identity under the Apple brand. They usually buy a company down because they want the talent, they want the patent, they want -- they want something the company has that becomes Apple.
They want these two guys, they want Dr. Dre, the want this guy named Jimmy Iovine who is a legend on the California music scene. In fact Jimmy Iovine we're told was actually consulted by Steve Jobs when he was coming up with iTunes because this guy knows everything about the music industry.
So this is a play for talent. It's a play for Beats and the brand, the Beats customers and maybe a play to wearable technology. That's the new -- the new thing is wearable technology.
LEMON: Ok that was my question. Do they think that people who buy Beats, right, that they're not necessarily using Apple products that they will? But you said this is beyond that. Maybe it's wearable.
ROMANS: I think it's beyond that. I think its wearable technology. I also think you know we're going to see new things out of these two companies together. Tim Cook said it's a good idea. He's the CEO of Apple and he stood with Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre yesterday announcing this deal finally. And he says it's a good deal for their company. It will be good for Apple shareholders.
LEMON: I'm getting too old for this. My watch is ringing right now. Wait, no, it's my iTunes. Oh sorry, it's my computer. Crazy. All right good luck, Dr. Dre and company. Thank you, Christine. Good to see you.
ROMANS: You're welcome.
LEMON: I want you to check out this moment from the NBA playoffs last night, ok? Look at this. Indiana's Lance Stephenson, really trying to get LeBron James's head -- in his head by, get this, blowing in his ear. LeBron's thinking, I can't believe you just did that.
And after the game, CNN's Rachel Nichols asked LeBron and his Miami teammate, Dwyane Wade, about the ear-blowing strategy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS: Dwyane, have either one of you ever thought about blowing in someone's ear as a defensive tactic?
LEBRON JAMES, MIAMI HEAT: My wife. I blew in my wife's ear before. That was definitely a defensive tactic.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Well, led by Paul George's 37 points, Indiana beat Miami 93- 90. So, you know, I guess it may have worked. But the Heat still leads the series I should say 3-2.
There it is -- ear blowing in the NBA.
Back in a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: So money doesn't grow on trees. You've heard the saying it doesn't falls from the sky. But in San Francisco, finding cash is as easy as checking Twitter. Yes it is. An anonymous man is now creating a frenzy, thanks to his online hunt for cash.
CNN's Dan Simon picks up the story from here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT ((on camera): All right, he just posted a new clue. It says "Find Mr. Franklin along the crookedest street." Let's go.
(voice over): It's a San Francisco scavenger hunt and we're playing along, tracking the latest clue for cash to the world-famous Lombard Street.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We came over here, like, superfast, like the second the tweet came out.
SIMON: The search for dollars sometimes just affixed to parking meters has taken people all over the city thanks to a self-described one percenter on Twitter with the handle @hiddencash. According to his profile, it's a social experiment for good. He hides money then tweets out the clues. One of them takes us to the sea lions at Fisherman's Wharf.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's got to be around here somewhere.
SIMON: Where we find at least a dozen people looking. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Barbecue's running. I hope my house doesn't burn down because we're looking.
SIMON: And if you happen to find the cash-filled envelope, all that's asked is that you tweet a photo. The man behind it all is a real estate investor who tells me that he's heartened to see that many of the lucky recipients are using the money for their own random acts of kindness.
(on camera): Can you tell me why you decided to remain anonymous?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't necessarily want the spotlight on myself. I do want the spotlight on what I'm doing and what I'm trying to do but I don't want the spotlight on me as a private person. I have no plans to stop any time soon. I'm planning to continue this indefinitely into the future.
SIMON: Since it started last week, he's been leaving about $1,000 a day. That equates to ten separate clues. And we're racing to the next one.
(on camera): All right. He just tweeted that the money is right near the Golden Gate Bridge and we'll be there in just about a minute. And that's where we find Izzi Miller.
