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American Morning

Underwear Bomber on Trial; "Thirty-Three Men"; NBA Commissioner Cancels First Games of Season; Occupy Wall Street Blogger Interviewed; Who Will Be Dior's Next Designer; Eating Right to Fight Cancer

Aired October 11, 2011 - 08:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Christine Romans.

The accused underwear bomber goes on trial this morning in Detroit and he plans to defend himself. A live report just ahead.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: You've got no game.

I'm Carol Costello.

The NBA cancels the start of its season after players and owners fail to agree on a labor deal. Is the rest of the season now in jeopardy?

ALI VELSHI, CNN ANCHOR: And millions of us were overjoyed when 33 trapped miners were rescued one by one in Chile. Remember that? But fast forward one year and we are finding out their struggles are far from over -- on this AMERICAN MORNING.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ROMANS: And good morning, everyone. It's Tuesday, October 11th, 2011. It's also Carol's birthday.

Welcome to AMERICAN MORNING. And happy birthday, Carol Costello.

COSTELLO: Thank you so much.

VELSHI: If you're -- you know, I'm sure -- you're very grateful --

COSTELLO: What did you get her?

VELSHI: I can't say on TV. But it's the box that's sitting outside.

COSTELLO: Really.

ROMANS: Is it blue?

COSTELLO: What do you mean is it blue?

ROMANS: I thought maybe he bought you a nice bracelet. I don't know. Mr. Money bags over here.

VELSHI: Good to see you.

COSTELLO: Thank you.

VELSHI: At least for whatever it is you have to do today, at least you don't have to defend yourself in court.

Coming up first, a federal jury in Detroit is set to hear opening statements in the trial of a Nigerian man branded the underwear bomber. Twenty-four-year-old Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab plans to act as his own attorney in the terrorism trail. He's accused of trying to set off a bomb hidden in his underwear on a Northwest Airlines flight back on Christmas Day 2009.

CNN's Deb Feyerick was covering it for CNN that night and she is now outside the federal courthouse in Detroit.

Carol, this was a strange situation from day one and it continues to be strange. Is it likely that he's going to be able to put up a good defense for himself?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, that's what's so interesting. He initially fired his very qualified federal public defenders. That's a move that we do see repeated by some of these, sort of, would-be terrorists. He does have stand-by counsel, somebody who is basically in the wings to step in when he needs to. And even during jury selection, Abdulmutallab spoke maybe once, maybe twice. It was really the counsel who was asking the most pertinent questions.

So, how much of an active, hands-on role he plans to take? The judge said he can represent himself. He's within his legal right. He seems to be mentally able to stand and represent himself.

So, we will see just how much of a voice he does plan to have in court, this as he faces a possible life sentence.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK (voice-over): The Nigerian graduate student-turned- accused suicide bomber is now acting as his own lawyer and already 24- year-old Nigerian Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab has shown he is defiant. During jury selection, he invoked his American-born jihadist mentor, Anwar al-Awlaki, who is recently targeted and killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen.

"Anwar is alive," he shouted in court. Saying, quote, "the mujahedeen will wipe out the U.S."

ED MACMAHON, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: When he got on a plane and came to the U.S., there were only two things that were going to happen. He was either going to be dead or he was going to serve life in prison in the United States.

FEYERICK: Defense lawyer Ed MacMahon is not on this case, but has handled similar ones.

MACMAHON: The idea of giving one last speech or one last moment in the sun before he goes off to prison for the rest of his life probably sounds appealing to him.

FEYERICK: Abdulmutallab is accused of trying to detonate explosives hidden in his underwear, using a chemical-filled syringe to trigger the bomb, and blast a hole in the side of the plane. Authorities say he chose a window seat near the wing and fuel tank and waited until the plane was on its descent in order to cause maximum damage.

RANDALL LARSEN, HOMELAND SECURITY EXPERT: If you look back at Pan Am 103, it only took 14 ounces of explosive to bring down a 747. So, it doesn't take a lot.

FEYERICK: Among those likely to testify, Dutch passenger Jasper Schuringa who was a row behind when he heard what sounded like a gunshot.

JASPER SCHURINGA, PASSENGER ON NW FLIGHT: I freaked, of course, and without any hesitation I just jumped over all the seats and I just jumped to the suspect and -- because I was thinking, you know, like he's trying to blow up the plane.

FEYERICK: Also on the Christmas day flight, Patricia Keepman and her husband, bringing home their two newly adopted Ethiopian children.

PATRICIA KEEPMAN, PASSENGER OF NW FLIGHT: As we heard the screams and we started to smell smoke, and we saw the reaction of the flight attendants and then running with the fire extinguishers, we knew that our situation was dire.

FEYERICK: Authorities were stunned at how easy it was for Abdulmutallab to pass seemingly undetected through multiple airports, including Ghana, Lagos, Nigeria, and Amsterdam, where he boarded the U.S.-bound Delta-Northwest flight.

Officials believe the device was made by the same Yemeni bomb- maker responsible for bomb-filled printer cartridges sent to the U.S. last year and also a similar device used in the attempted assassination of Saudi's head of counterterrorism.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And during opening statements today, prosecutors are expected to actually play videotape segments of Abdulmutallab shortly after he was arrested and he was talking to FBI agents. Remember, he is the one who actually told the FBI that he got the bomb and learned how to use it in Yemen. However, his lawyer has tried getting those statements dismissed because he says, well, at the time, Abdulmutallab was on painkillers because he'd suffered serious burns to his -- to the area where he was carrying the bomb.

So, there will be a lot of back-and-forth. But, again, both sides today have the chance to lay out their case as we get set for a month-long trial -- Ali.

VELSHI: It will be an interesting one. Thanks, Deb -- Deb Feyerick outside the federal courthouse in Detroit.

And the protesters "Occupy Wall Street," they're moving up to the east side this morning. They plan to march outside the homes of millionaires and billionaires, including the CEO of JPMorgan Chase and News Corp head Rupert Murdoch.

Now, organizers say that those millionaires are being targeted for what they call a willingness to horde wealth at the expense of the 99 percent. We'll explain what that means in the conversation. We're going to have it in a few minutes.

Last night, things began to erupt at a sister march in Boston. New video showing police moving in after they warned activists that they were in an area that was off limits. Other protests planned nationwide this morning.

ROMANS: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died of respiratory failure brought on by a pancreatic tumor. That's the official cause listed on his death certificate released Monday. Jobs died Wednesday surrounded by his family at his home in Palo Alto. Apple employees say they will celebrate this man's life on October 19th.

COSTELLO: It is now seven minutes past the hour. Let's head to Atlanta and check in with Jacqui Jeras who is watching a big storm out there.

JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, it's not a fun one either, guys. You know, it's not terribly strong, but we're watching this system across parts of the Southeast at this time and it's really bringing in some lousy weather. It's very drizzly. We're seeing occasional heavier downpours.

And a lot of clouds covering -- in fact, you can see clouds from the panhandle of Florida stretching all the way into New England here, the rain coming down in Richmond, Raleigh. On and off there into the Charlotte area and in Atlanta, we're getting a little break right now, but the second wave is going to come through, say, by mid-day.

Now, the rainfall, it could be heavy in a few locations, especially across the Appalachians. So, the next 48 hours, we could potentially see as much as two to four inches in some of these spotty areas. And remember, the ground has been really saturated here in the Carolinas. In particular, it was a very wet, late summer for you guys. There's going to be a lot of standing water on some of the roadways.

The Northeast, most of your rain is going to come in later on tonight. So, most of your day should be a dry one. The nation's midsection is mostly dry as well. But a few scattered showers you can't rule out and a big storm slammed in the Pacific Northwest early this week. That's making its way towards the mountains. This thing could cause severe weather in the plains as we head into tomorrow.

So, all in all, no travel delays at this hour. But looking for major delays in Atlanta later today, D.C. metros and Charlotte, fog in Kansas City, Seattle and Portland, some delays, and San Francisco could have some problems, just this morning, though, because of that fog.

So, the corners of the country, guys -- Northwest, Southeast, everybody else pretty OK.

ROMANS: OK. Thanks so much, Jacqui.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Jacqui. Now is your chance to talk back on one of the big stories of the day. The question for you this morning: are you sold on the president's jobs bill?

One, two, three -- hit it, Mr. President.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Let's put construction workers on the job. Let's put teachers in the classroom. Let's give small businesses a tax break. Let's help our veterans.

Pass this bill. Let's meet our responsibilities.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: The president has said that, oh, a gazillion time in eight different cities, and today, the Senate will take him up on it, at least we think so. The Democratic-controlled Senate will vote on whether to debate the jobs bill. I know, whatever.

Seriously, if you need a refresher course, the president's jobs bill extends unemployment benefits, cuts the payroll tax, provides money to hire more teachers and construction workers, you know, infrastructure jobs and posts a tax on millionaires to pay for it all.

Republicans, they have their own mantra.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY), MINORITY LEADER: What this week has shown beyond any doubt is that Democrats would rather talk about partisan legislation they won't pass that are actually passing legislation we know would create jobs.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: Because of that tax increase on millionaires. But you knew that.

What we want to know from you today is if you're buying what the president is saying. So, the talk back question today: Are you sold on the president's jobs bill? Facebook.com/AmericanMorning. Facebook.com/AmericanMorning. I'll read your comments later this hour.

VELSHI: All right. Still to come this morning, one year after their joyful rescue unfolded on television screens around the world, many of those 33 Chilean miners still haven't recovered from their 69- day ordeal underneath the surface. We're going to talk to somebody who's been following their progress and finding out what's still wrong, when we come back.

It's 11 minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. It's 14 minutes past the hour.

To hear NBA Commissioner David Stern tell it, there is a gulf still separating owners and players in their labor talk. Stern cancelled the first two weeks of the regular season after the two sides failed to resolve the league's lockout issue. Among them, how to split $4.3 billion in league revenue, whether or not to impose a hard salary cap and the length and salary requirements for player contracts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

DAVID STERN, NBA COMMISSIONER: We remain really very, very far apart on virtually all issues.

DEREK FISHER: We're not at that place where a fair deal can be reached between ourselves and the NBA. And, you know, at this point, we're not sure how this will proceed.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

COSTELLO: So, the big question this morning: could the entire NBA season be in jeopardy?

Joining us now Chris Broussard, senior writer for "ESPN," the magazine. Thanks so much for being with us.

Let's look first at the revenue sharing. I think the players agreed to share 53 percent of the revenue and the owners could have the rest. They were at 57 percent. So, why are the owners balking at this?

CHRIS BROUSSARD, SR. NBA WRITER, "ESPN THE MAGAZINE": Well, the owners only want to give up 47 percent. So, the owners say that they lost $300 million last season, the players disagree. The owners say 22 teams lost money. The players say six to eight teams lost money, because they feel like the owners are including depreciation and interest and things like that.

Cooking the books, if you will. So, the players have offered to give back in going from 57 percent to 53 percent roughly $200 million a year out of that 300 that the owners are claiming to lose, and they're saying if you come up with a robust revenue sharing plan, you can meet the other $100 million, and then, you're not losing anything. But the owners really want to make a profit. They don't just want to breakeven. The ones that have been lose their money to small market teams, they want to make a profit, and, so, that's why we have this --

COSTELLO: OK. So, that sounds reasonable. I think to most Americans when they hear the owners make or share less of the revenue than the players, that's just weird.

BROUSSARD: Well, the players feel like even though they understand everyone plays a part to make the NBA successful, they feel like they are the talent. They are the ones that people go to see, and so, they should get more than 50 percent of the revenue even if it's only three percent more.

They also feel like if you go back to the history of the collective bargaining agreements, the players always end up giving, giving, giving, and they feel like in six or seven years when they renegotiate the CBA, if they accept 50 percent now, they'll be below 50 percent at 45, 46 percent.

COSTELLO: Well, the players are certainly making it seem like, you know, their side is the winning side. Tweets have gone out.

BROUSSARD: Yes. Like I think hundreds of tweets have gone out. I'm just going to read some. This from King James which is, of course, LeBron James. He said, "I want to sincerely say sorry to all the fans. It's a sad day for all of us, especially you guys. There's no us without you. Love you guys."

This from Steve Nash. "Why are the owners unwilling to negotiate in good faith? As a player, I apologized to the fans that were in this position."

This from Dwyane Wade, "Stern's words today hurt the people who work at the AAA, other arenas, as well, and local businesses and our fans"

So, whose side do you think that fans are on? Are they on the players' side? Because I got to tell you, right now, at least in LeBron James' case, many fans are still angry at him, you know, because of all the Cleveland stuff.

BROUSSARD: Well, typically, when you have a work stoppage, the players take the brunt of the criticism because the owners are faceless for the most part. Nobody knows the owners, but they see the players all the time. But now that you have social media, the players are able to kind of even the score, if you will, and they can get out tweets.

And now, they're playing these exhibition games, these charity games, and the fans are coming out and lot of thousands -- hundreds of thousands of fans are watching and streamlining it on internet and stuff. So, I think the players have actually done a much better job in holding their in the PR war -- hold their own in the PR war this time around than they did in 1998. So, I really think the educated fan blames both, the owners and the players. Neither one is getting off Scot-free, but it's not just on the players any more like it used to be.

COSTELLO: And both sides are making a lot of money. You know, what this strike really says, that they can cancel the first two weeks of actual games is that, they're making too much money, because they can afford to do this and survive.

BROUSSARD: Well, they may lose. If they do miss the first two weeks which are going to, they'll lose about $200 million.

COSTELLO: Unbelievable. Thank you so much. We probably seeing you, again, at least, I hope so. Chris Broussard, senior NBA writer for ESPN the magazine, thanks -- Ali.

VELSHI: Thanks, Carol.

A year ago, you'll remember this. Millions of us were riveted to TV screens as 33 trapped Chilean miners were rescued from their underground hell one-by-one. They had been there for 69 days. It was a joyful ending to an unimaginable ordeal.

Something in the beginning we weren't sure they'd make it through, but fast forward, 12 months, and we are finding out that many of the miners are still suffering today, mentally and physically.

Joining us this morning from Santiago, Chile to talk about the miners and what they're going through is Jonathan Franklin. He's the author of "33 Men, A Firsthand Account of the Miners' Struggles." He's also got exclusive access to the psychiatrist who is treating many of the miners and their posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Jonathan, thank you for joining us. Good to see you. Give me an update. You just written about this, but what's the update on the state of most of these miners?

JONATHAN FRANKLIN, CONTRIBUTOR, THE DAILY BEAST: I think the update is that people forget how much these men suffered. We all saw this triumphant rescue, but they were 17 days, basically, slowly starving to death, dying this collective death, and people don't realize the kind of trauma they had. And it's been very difficult for them to kind of develop a new lifestyle and get back on their feet.

VELSHI: Well, part of the reason people don't realize the trauma they had is that, on that day, a year ago this week, we saw them come out and we saw what seemed to be an entire nation and entire world supporting them. Their government was there.

They were getting free things. There were going to be book deals and movie deals. It looked like they were going to get care for the rest of their lives. What went wrong?

FRANKLIN: Well, I asked that to the miners, themselves, and they said we feel like orphans. You know, we've been through this collective tragedy. The world came to us, and then, they forgot about us.

It has been a busy world with uprisings and tragedies around the world, but many people have simply forgotten about the Chilean miners, and people think because they were saved that they're going to be OK, but it's like a soldier who's been through too much combat.

These guys lived something that nobody should have ever lived. I detail this in my book, "33 Men," that these guys had 17 days where they're slowly, slowly collectively underground in the heat and the humidity dying.

VELSHI: Right.

FRANKLIN: And, yes, the rescue was triumphant, but there's a lot of psychological scars in the process.

VELSHI: Interesting that you're distinguishing between the 17 days and then the period after that. Obviously, things were a little different in the period after that, and there was a psychiatrist -- a lead psychologist -- I'm sorry during the entrapment used what a lot of people are now calling a very controversial method of trying to engender unity amongst the miners by sort of provoking them and pushing them.

That's coming under some criticism, particularly, from the psychiatrist you're talking to. Tell me about this.

FRANKLIN: Well, basically, there is no rule book for how you keep people united, but one of the things the Chilean psychologist did that is now heavily criticized is he deliberately provoked the men in the hopes that their unity would be directed against him. That they would not among each other, but they will direct all this anger above ground at him.

That certainly worked. He provoked them, they were angered. But now, we're starting to see some of the fallouts from that, which includes that the men have all sorts of psychological issues that are not cured. They're not being well-served by that kind of attitude.

VELSHI: All right. What happens next? Because there is, in theory, a good deal of money that should be coming to them from various deals. Is some of these problems or are some of these problems likely to be alleviated? From what I understand from your writing, they've got -- many of them have good psychological -- psychiatric care, but it's going to be a long time before they're better.

FRANKLIN: Well, there's two things going on here. One is that they're living in a pretty dire poverty right now. So, despite all this talk of being rich, they don't have that yet. Fortunately, Phoenix Pictures, a very professional company, William Morris is going to help them on their rights and getting their movie out there.

So, they will make money, eventually. But right now, they're living day-to-day. So, you have the combination of psychological problems, plus, day-to-day poverty. VELSHI: Jonathan, great conversation, great article that you've written about this, and of course, the book, "33 Men," an account of the entrapment of the Chilean miners. Jonathan Franklin joining me from Santiago.

It's 23 minutes after the hour. We're taking a quick break, but we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Welcome back. "Minding Your Business" this morning.

Markets right now are on track to open lower, this after the Dow jumped about three percent yesterday. This morning, a little more gloomy view of the economy overseas in hopes that Europe will begin to get a handle on its debt crisis. That's, of course, what fueled stocks yesterday. Today, some concerns about just how deep the banking problems may go and the political will to get them solved.

New warning this morning the financial problems in the region could spread even more countries and bigger ones, too. The president of the European Central Bank saying this morning in Brussels, quote, "The crisis has reached a systemic dimension." One of the reasons why stocks are nervous this morning.

We could learn more about America's exposure to the banking crisis in Europe. Today, treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, will speak following a meeting with the Financial Stability Oversight Council.

Corporate earning season kicks off today as well. After the closing bell, one of the largest aluminum producers in America, Alcoa, will release its third quarter earnings. We'll start to hear how well the banks are doing in a few more days and weeks.

And at long last, Facebook has released its iPad app, the app which has been in the works since October of last year. It's rumored had been delayed because of a riff between Facebook and Apple.

AMERICAN MORNING will be right back after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Good morning. Welcome back to AMERICAN MORNING. Thirty minutes past the hour. Top stories for you now.

Opening statements begin this morning in Detroit in the terror trial of accused underwear bomber Umar Farouk Abdullmutallab. He's charged with trying to blow up a plane with a bomb hidden in his underwear on Christmas Day, 2009.

VELSHI: The entire NBA season may now be in jeopardy. Commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of regular season games after failing to get an agreement with players to end a lockout. Stern says the two sides remain very far apart on virtually all issues. No new talks are scheduled. ROMANS: President Obama's $447 billion jobs bill faces it's first vote in the Senate later today. And of course Democrats control the Senate, but there is still no guarantee the bill will get the 60 votes needed to clear tonight's procedural hurdle. The president, in the meantime, he's going to be talking up the jobs plan today, speaking to supporters at a training center for electrical workers in Pittsburgh.

VELSHI: Also today in Detroit we expect to hear from the council of business and labor leaders appointed by the president to recommend ways to create jobs. The council, as you probably know, is headed by GE chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt. Among the council's ideas, a plan to accelerate infrastructure projects like new schools and bridges through a streamlined approval process. The council also wants to reduce bureaucratic red tape and regulations for business.

Perhaps the most controversial idea is a plan to ease immigration rules for highly skilled foreign workers in those areas where the U.S. doesn't seem to educate and produce enough workers, like engineering.

ROMANS: And there are a lot of people say, we have 14 million people out of work and millions more underemployed and an education system that is really struggling to keep up with educating people like this. If you bring people in from the rest of the world, what is the incentive to produce?

VELSHI: The counterargument to that, we just don't have enough people we are putting out in those fields in the United States.

COSTELLO: One of the recommendations they have too is automatic visas, work visas for all foreign students if they stay in the U.S. and do their work.

VELSHI: Which a lot of other countries do, and it seems to work.

ROMANS: Are you ready for some football?

(LAUGHTER)

VELSHI: Love this story.

COSTELLO: We're talking about Hank Williams, Jr. He's not going out quietly. The country star was dropped from Monday night football for comparing president Obama to Hitler. Now, he's venting in a new song called "Keep the Change" just released on the web. Check it out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VELSHI: "I'll keep the USA, you can keep the change."

COSTELLO: He also called on ESPN and FOX News, accusing FOX of twisting his words around and, you know, he accused them of one of those gotcha moments.

ROMANS: I watched that interview.

VELSHI: It didn't seem gotcha-ish to me. It seemed like he got a lot of time to talk, and the more time he had, the more he talked.

COSTELLO: They gave him an ample opportunity --

VELSHI: They kept asking him, "What do you mean by that?" they kept asking him that. That wasn't a "gotcha" moment.

COSTELLO: Supposedly he's on "The View" today. So I'll be watching.

VELSHI: Coming up next, a blog sharing personal stories of Americans who are hurt by the great recession. We'll speak to the co- editor of a new blog who is taking Wall Street protests to the web. It's 33 minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: It's 37 minutes after the hour. Welcome back. Just like many of the protests that have erupted around the world in the past year, the Occupy Wall Street crowd is using social media to gain momentum. One tumblr blog called "We are the 99 Percent" has posts from people holding up signs, sharing their stories about working long hours for little pay or about not having any work at all.

Joining us now is the co-editor of that tumblr site, Priscilla Grim. Priscilla is also an occupier. You spent a lot of time down there. Thank you for being with us.

PRISCILLA GRIM, CO-EDITOR, "WE ARE THE 99 PERCENT" TUMBLR: Thank you.

VELSHI: Let me ask you about something you put on the blog. You said "We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are getting nothing while the other one percent is getting everything."

I think that's -- that's a great description of some of the frustration that people are feeling. But you're sort of identifying it with 99 percent. And clearly one percent that's doing very, very well and there's a big percentage of people who are what you just described. But there are a whole bunch of people who aren't. So what percentage of the population do you think fits the description that you just gave?

GRIM: First off, I did not write that. Chris, who created the blog, is the one who wrote that. I'm just supporting his efforts. It's amazing.

We are all the 99 percent. The top one percent of wealth holders in the world, at least in the United States, have always had the wealth. When they and their families came over to America from wherever, they are the ones who came over with the most resources, with the most connections, with the most money, with the most land. They were the first landholders, the first business holders. And those are the people who are encompassed in the one percent.

We are not talking about, you know, it's not talking about people who have worked very hard in their lives and have brought themselves up from incredible challenges to be successful individuals and successful Americans. This is about the people who have always been a part of an aristocracy in one way or another.

VELSHI: You got involved, and one of the things you're doing is helping with sort of the media outreach, the media message. How do you feel about the criticism of the Occupy Wall Street movement? There are sort of criticisms that it hasn't got its message out well and then criticisms of us in the media to say we're not embracing it or covering it in the way we should. Tell me about both of those thoughts.

GRIM: Actually the Occupy Wall Street movement is creating its own media, so we don't have to depend on main stream media outlet to get the message through. I think it's accepted pretty much at this point that at least the foundations of the protests the reasons that we're there is getting through. You know, the idea that corporations have run amok and have larger control over our government and more of a say in our government than we do as people, I think that's very apparent that's why we're there. And I'm very confident that most of the American public is getting that message.

We have video updates that are coming out daily through our media team. There's the Occupy Wall Street Journal which Naomi Klein just had a great article in. We're about to publish a national edition. I'm pretty excited about that.

VELSHI: What is your sense about the main stream media? Aside from the fact that you and I are sitting here talking on a cable news show on CNN, generally speaking, do you feel that they have still pushed back or do you feel you're being fairly treated?

GRIM: Well, I feel in today's day in age main stream media is just one part of the puzzle. The main stream media has its view on things, and then the media that is coming out of the occupation is different.

VELSHI: Right.

GRIM: So we both have our own opinions and we both have the same audience because of the Internet.

VELSHI: We do have the same audience, but some sense that mainstream media in this country tends to be controlled by or owned by some of the interests that --

GRIM: When you only have a handful of media outlets that are responsible for 85 percent of the news reporting that comes out, I think that's something that's unavoidable. And it's a danger and you have advertisers that you need to keep happy. VELSHI: Let's talk about some of the people who have blogged. Your particular efforts are to sort of show these pictures as a nursing student, which I think nursing is a great profession to grow into. There is a woman who sign says "I'm studying to be a nurse because registered nurses make a good amount of money. My big dream is to be a fashion designer, but I am scared that isn't enough to succeed. I am the 99 percent." A lot of these say somewhere in there "I am the 99 percent."

There a lot of student in the movement and they are concerned about their future. I would say to you, students have always been concerned about their future for little windows of time when you could graduate and get a great job and be paid a lot of money.

GRIM: We're all students. I'm not in my 20s any more. I am, you know, on the edge of 40, hanging to my youth by a thread, and I am a graduate student right now. So, I mean, we are all students, and we are all in some way affected by corporate control of our government and of our lives.

I grew up in a small town in Tennessee, and when I grew up it was, you know, a plethora of mom an and pop owned businesses. And now when I go back to business, I look down the main row of the town I grew up in and it's all franchise corporately owned restaurants where young people who live in the community, their only choices for jobs are to work for minimal wage or less at these restaurants. And that's not -- that's not a living that's sustainable and that people can actually move forward from. It's, you know, the Mc-Job trap.

When I was in my 20s and we were told that, you know, we were slackers, that we didn't want to engage with the world, the working world, where in reality we were all looking for jobs really hard. And they just weren't available.

And now they're telling kids in the same age range that, you know, you're entitled, you're overeducated, you're not used to working. And the only thing between those two generations that made that not happen is a bubble. That's not sustainable and we deserve better.

VELSHI: Priscilla, thanks for articulating that so well. We appreciate you coming to talk to us.

GRIM: Thank you.

VELSHI: Priscilla Grim is the coeditor of "We are the 99 Percent" tumblr and she's also a project manager with the Occupy Wall Street Journal and an occupier in the movement. Thanks for being with us.

We'll be right back. It's 43 minutes after the hour.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS:: It is about 45 minutes after the hour. Here are your "Morning Headlines". Markets open in about 45 minutes. Right now U.S. stock futures are trading lower. Investors are waiting for more news on the European bailout fund and the unofficial start of the American earnings season.

The Senate expected to vote this evening on President Obama's $447 billion jobs bill. The President wants to pay for this measure by imposing a new 5.6 percent surtax on anyone earning more than $1 million a year -- something Republicans oppose.

NBA fans crying foul. Commissioner David Stern canceled the first two weeks of the regular season after owners and players couldn't reach a deal to end the lockout. Stern says the two sides are far apart on virtually every issue putting the rest of the season in jeopardy.

Blackberry outage is affecting millions of users in Europe, in the Middle East and for Africa. It is believed a server near London crashed, leaving customers without its popular Internet instant messaging device and Web browsing.

That's the news you need to start your day. AMERICAN MORNING back right after this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

VELSHI: It is a mystery that has consumed the fashion industry.

ROMANS: Journalists and designers seizing upon every clue that might lead them to the person who will succeed John Galliano as the fashion giant.

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, come on.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: Did we build that up well?

ROMANS: I have been laying in bed at night dreaming about who it might be.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: Who is going to do it? Who's going to succeed Galliano?

ROMANS: Actually I have not been thinking about this, but Alina Cho has.

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're right, I have a little bit. And it's sad to admit. But you know; what it is all anybody is talking about in Paris. You know, there hasn't been this much drama in fashion since John Galliano was fired back in March which created this opening at Christian Dior.

You know, it is fashion's biggest parlor game if the rumors are true. Marc Jacobs a famous American designer has the job already or does he? And remember, it's not just Dior's future at stake here. It's the pride of France.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHO (voice-over): This carousel of fashion on display at Marc Jacobs' collection for Louis Vuitton may have been a wink and a nod to what's swirling around him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, yes.

CHO: The rumors he could be the next designer of Christian Dior. It's previous designer John Galliano's anti-Semitic remarks got him fired back in March in the horse race to replace him, Marc Jacobs is in the lead.

SIDNEY TOLEDANO, PRESIDENT, CHRISTIAN DIOR: This all comes from the hands, you know, it's very human. He's very human.

CHO (on camera): You know who has magic hands is Marc Jacobs.

TOLEDANO: I heard about that. I heard it about.

CHO: Magic hands. What do you say to that?

MARC JACOBS, DESIGNER: No, I have normal hands. I have five fingers on each of them and one of them doesn't work very well.

CHO: Have you made a decision? May I ask you that?

TOLEDANO: As I say the people who knows are not and the ones who are talking are not knowing.

CHO: Monsieur Christian Dior founded his fashion house in 1946. Introducing flowers and voluptuous shapes, far different from the boxy World War II styles that had been in fashion. After he died, his assistant Yves St. Laurent took over launching his career. But it was John Galliano in the '90s that brought glamour back to the House of Dior.

For 23 years he worked with his right hand, Bill Gaytten, now creative director of Galliano's own label and also designing Dior until a permanent designer is named.

(on camera): How has that felt for you to be suddenly thrust into the limelight, as you have been?

BILL GAYTTEN, CREATIVE DIRECTOR FOR JOHN GALLIANO: It was a little bit alarming at first because it was unexpected and it was a shock for everyone. But I'm getting used to it quickly. A quick learning curve.

CHO: And Marc Jacobs?

JACOBS: Did you like it?

SUZY MENKES, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: Very good. Marc Jacobs has a tremendous following. He's got the cool; he's also got the experience.

CHO: In addition to his successful namesake label, Jacobs has already revitalized another brand -- Louis Vuitton.

RON FRASCH, SAKS FIFTH AVENUE: And suddenly the brand exploded because it was -- it was under the right people. People want to look that way, it was on the models. It was on the actresses.

CHO: The fashion world believe Jacobs could do the same for Dior. He reportedly wants $10 million a year, but if ever there was a try-out, insiders say he nailed it with this collection for Vuitton.

Back stage it was emotional. One top editor called it a sweet farewell and a fashion moment to remember.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHO: So when could we know for sure? I know we're all waiting for this. Sydney Toledano, Dior's CEO told me the world will know in several weeks. When I asked him two, three, six, eight, he wouldn't say exactly when.

But you know, remember, Christian Dior is more than just a fashion house; it's really part of the patrimony of France.

VELSHI: Right.

CHO: And the French take a proprietary interest in its future. It's a very big deal in fashion and, of course, I'll be watching closely and I'll keep you posted.

VELSHI: I thought that CEO's line was fantastic. And it can apply to so many things in life when he said, "The people who know are not talking, and the people who talk are not knowing."

CHO: That's correct and that is a very, very good impression.

(CROSSTALK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There was -- can you say, Vuitton.

CHO: Vuitton.

VELSHI: Vuitton.

CHO: Louis Vuitton. That's 10 years of French.

VELSHI: If you like to actually say that, you get -- don't miss Alina's special. "FASHION BACKSTAGE PASS" from Paris. It airs this Saturday, October 15th at 2:30 p.m. Eastern and has got me more interested in this than I ever thought I would be. Plus, my wife thinks I'm smarter for watching it.

COSTELLO: Thank you, Alina.

Coming up next, our "Talk Back" question of the day. The question for you this morning, "Are you sold on the President's jobs bill?" We have your responses next.

But first, today's "Human Factor". Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces us to a man who is helping others realize that food can be the best medicine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Hans Rueffert is a chef without a stomach or much of an esophagus.

HANS RUEFFERT, CHEF: I've had 11 surgeries in the last six years.

GUPTA: You see Rueffert was diagnosed with gastric cancer just weeks after appearing in the 2005 season of "The Next Food Network" star.

RUEFFERT: There was a tumor sitting right at the junction of the stomach and esophagus.

GUPTA: His treatment was painful. Rueffert had half his stomach and most of his esophagus removed immediately after his diagnosis. And then there were more operations, chemo, radiation, but eventually he was cancer free. That's when the headaches began.

RUEFFERT: They saw 10 to 12 lesions and was told, this is it. You've got -- you're on your way out.

GUPTA: It wasn't cancer, but it was a serious brain infection caused by his newly constructed digestive system.

RUEFFERT: I ended up springing a leak at that junction where the esophagus and stomach were connected and that leak actually almost killed me.

GUPTA: Antibiotics got rid of the infection, but a year later a second one, worse than the first. Both infections were so serious that doctors didn't want to risk him getting yet another one.

So on March of this year the rest of Rueffert's stomach was removed. Even though his stomach is gone, he eats six healthy small meals every day which now go directly into his intestines.

RUEFFERT: The expression you are what you eat is so -- you know, it's cliche as it can be, and it's cliche because it is true. And for me that really is amplified.

GUPTA: He wrote a cookbook while in the hospital after his first operation. And for the last five years, he's been teaching fellow survivors how to incorporate healthy, cancer-fighting foods into their diets.

RUEFFERT: It's power and it's energy and it's energy that our bodies can readily assimilate even for a guy without a stomach.

GUPTA: Rueffert says six has been difficult but being open his cancer and surrounding himself with family and friends has helped him overcome every challenge so far.

RUEFFERT: Somehow you just kind to find a little more strength just to keep -- keep going, keep going and keep going and here we are. I just had my six-year check-up and we're six years cancer free.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COSTELLO: Now it's time for our "Talk Back" question of the day. This was the question for you. "Are you sold on the President's jobs plan?"

This is from James. "At least the President is trying to do something to help the middle class and give students like me a fighting chance. Occupy Wall Street folks need to gather enemies and march on Congress, as they are doing nothing to help the middle class. Telling me my teachers are lazy, overpaid and making them the bad guys is just flat wrong."

Did that say enemas on there? I don't --

ROMANS: It said enemies.

COSTELLO: Oh good. Thank goodness.

ROMANS: I checked.

COSTELLO: Because of my -- I'm sorry, that's terrible. James, we do take your point seriously.

This from -- "Sold on it. This is what the first stimulus bill should have been, an investment in America. It certainly beats the Republicans' plan of throwing money at millionaires and corporations and hoping they'll create jobs. Hint: they won't."

And this from Laura, "It's time to flood the phone lines of Congress, again. 75 percent of Americans are for the jobs bill passing. What's there to debate? Start listening to the American people that voted you into office and whom you represent.

Keep the conversation going; facebook.com/Americanmorning.

(CROSSTALK)

VELSHI: Oh, my goodness me.

Kyra, I think you are going to take over the news because my two 4-year-old co-anchors here -- somebody spelled "enemy" as "enema." And that's it for the rest of the day's broadcast.