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New Day Saturday
Obamacare Fight; Stocks Tumble; Chicago Violence; Weekend Weather Forecast; The iPhone Weapon; More Violence Erupting in Syria; Meaning of Government Shutdown
Aired September 21, 2013 - 06:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: On this vote, the yeas are 230 and the nays are 198. The joint resolution is passed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JESSICA YELLIN, CNN ANCHOR: House Republicans may have voted to defund Obamacare, but with their Senate colleagues pledging to strip the new bill's language, a civil war is underway and it could shut down your government.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Here's a question, I don't know if you've ever considered it, would you like a little Taser with your text? Well, there may not be an app for that, but there is a new accessory that can turn your phone into a weapon.
YELLIN: And did her wrecking ball wreck her romance? Well, Miley's engagement may be over, but it may have just made room for a new career achievement.
Good mornings everyone, I'm Jessica Yellin.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. 6:00 here at CNN World Headquarters. This is NEW DAY SATURDAY.
We are fortunate to have our chief domestic affairs correspondent Jessica Yellin with us this morning. And good timing because there's a lot to work out in D.C.
YELLIN: There is a lot. I don't think I can explain all of it -
BLACKWELL: Yes.
YELLIN: But you can help me through some of it with our audience this morning. And first on NEW DAY, Washington's top drama. Or you could call it a comedy depending on your point of view, sadly. For the fifth time in two years, the federal government now faces the threat of a shutdown.
BLACKWELL: Yes, and that's after House Republicans pushed through a spending bill that stripped funding for Obamacare. CNN's Erin McPike shows us exactly what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A rare moment for House Speaker John Boehner. The united Republicans celebrating their vote to defund Obamacare.
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R), HOUSE SPEAKER: The American people don't want the government shut down and they don't want Obamacare.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The yeas are 230 and the nays, 189. The joint resolution has passed. Without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid on the table.
MCPIKE: All but one Republican voted for the measure, and two Democrats joined them, prompting this exuberant response.
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R), HOUSE MAJORITY WHIP: That's why today when we acted, it wasn't just a group of Republicans, but it was a bipartisan vote.
MCPIKE: It was a show of force from conservatives who insisted on defunding Obamacare as a condition for approving a bill that keeps the government running. But their effort is dead on arrival in the Senate and Democrats seized on the potential consequences.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), HOUSE MINORITY LEADER: What is brought to the floor today is without a doubt - without a doubt a measure designed to shut down government. It could have no other intent. Its purpose is clear.
MCPIKE: House Republicans are working to shift blame for the threat of a government shutdown on to Democrats who control the Senate.
REP. ERIC CANTOR (R), HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER: Now, it is up to Senate Democrats to show some responsibility and follow the House's lead.
MCPIKE: They're putting the squeeze on vulnerable Democratic senators up for re-election in red states.
CANTOR: I want to know where Senator Pryor stands on protecting the middle class from the consequences of this horrific bill.
MCPIKE: Cantor singled out Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and three other Democrats, Kay Hagen of North Carolina, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Mark Begich of Alaska. But two of these senators have already told CNN they won't vote to strip money from health care. Just 10 days remain for the Senate to vote on its plan to fund the government without cutting Obamacare and pass the buck back to the House.
MCPIKE (on camera): House leadership announced earlier today that the House will be in session next weekend. And that means that both sides expect that this fight over government spending will go down to the wire just before October 1st.
Erin McPike, CNN, Capitol Hill.
(END VIDEOTAPE) YELLIN: All going to be working long hours. Erin McPike, thanks.
President Obama has vowed to veto any bill that attempts to strip money for his signature health care law. He spokes to autoworkers in the Kansas City area, trying to rally support ahead of the showdown.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What Congress is doing right now is important. Unfortunately, right now the debate that's going on in Congress is not meeting the test of helping middle class families. It's just -- they're not focused on you. They're focused on politics. They're focused on trying to mess with me. They're not focused on you. They're not focused on you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Well, you know who is focused on what's happening in D.C.? The folks on Wall Street, and they're getting a case of the shutdown jitters. Now, the Dow soared during the first half of the week, toughing really record territory, but then it sank at the end of the week when talk of a shutdown got louder and louder with that House vote. But for the week, the Dow gained 75 points. CNN's Alison Kosik joins us.
Alison, good morning.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a record-setting week on Wall Street, Victor and Jessica. The Dow and the S&P 500 jumped to all-time highs on Wednesday, immediately following the latest decision from the Federal Reserve. And policymakers did, well, nothing. Analysts expected the Fed to announce it would soon scale back its massive stimulus program, but that didn't happen. Instead, policymakers want to see more improvement in the economy before they take away the safety net. That caused the September surge to continue. The major averages are all up around 4.5 to 5 percent this month.
Victor and Jessica, back to you.
BLACKWELL: All right, Alison Kosik, thank you.
YELLIN: Now to Syria. A spokesman for the U.N.-backed chemical arms watchdog says the Syrian government has handed over details of its chemical weapons stockpile. Damascus is expected to provide more info in the coming days. Now, the U.S. and Russia have called on President Bashar al Assad's regime to turn over and destroy all its chemical weapons. But if Damascus does not comply, it could face air strikes. Officials say the regime is also moving some of its chemical weapons, but they're not sure whether that's to account for them or actually to hide them.
BLACKWELL: The mayor of Chicago is now calling for an end to the violence there. Rahm Emanuel consoled the grieving families last night. I'm sure you heard about that shooting at a public park. Thirteen people were injured, including that three-year-old boy. Well, the mayor canceled a trip to Washington to address the situation head on.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL, CHICAGO: We cannot allow children in the city of Chicago, and we will not allow children in the city of Chicago, to have their youthfulness, their optimism, their hope taken from them. That's what gun violence does. That is wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: That shooting was Thursday night. No one has been arrested. But this is the latest reminder of the dangers facing some families in Chicago. CNN's national correspondent Deborah Feyerick has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was a perfect night for a late game of basketball. Perfect until the shattering sounds of gunfire.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just heard the shots, like 20 shots.
FEYERICK: Panic and pandemonium spread quickly.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And it was just a lot of police, a lot of ambulance, just a lot of wreck, just a lot of people, everything.
FEYERICK (on camera): The basketball game was in full swing. About 10:15, a gunman walked onto the court and opened fire using a high- powered assault rifle. People simply fell where they were. Others ran for cover. Thirteen were hit, including two teenagers and a three- year-old boy.
FEYERICK (voice-over): Deonta Howard was shot near the ear, the bullet exiting his cheek. Miraculously, he survived. His grandmother is still reeling from the fatal shooting of her son several months ago.
SEMEHCA NUNN, DEONTA'S GRANDMOTHER: But it needs to stop. Please. Y'all out here killing these innocent people.
FEYERICK (on camera): This is the south side of Chicago, an area known as "back of the yard." There's a lot of gang activity, a lot of shootings, and a lot of people simply don't come out after dark.
GARRY MCCARTHY, CHICAGO POLICE SUPERINTENDENT: Based on witnesses and our initial interviews with witnesses, this appears to be a gang- related shooting.
FEYERICK (voice-over): There are more than 100 gangs in Chicago. Turf wars are fierce, violence, rampant, and Chicago's men have become desensitized, says Pastor Corey Brooks.
FEYERICK (on camera): Is this street justice?
COREY BROOKS, SPOKESMAN, DEONTA HOWARD'S FAMILY: You know, I'm sure if this individual does not turn themselves in, it could possibly mean more gunfire. It could possibly mean retaliation.
FEYERICK (voice-over): Retaliation, revenge, and a cycle of murder with no end in sight.
FEYERICK (on camera): Within a 24 hour period, the little boy had undergone two surgeries. He's listed in critical condition. The family pastor says it's not clear what kind of long-term effects there will be. As for the others, they were listed in either serious or stable condition. The police superintendent says it is a miracle that no one was killed.
Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Chicago.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Heartbreaking when you see that boy's face. All right, Deb, thank you.
YELLIN: If you think Colorado residents had it bad with the epic floods of the past two weeks, it just got a whole lot worse. Officials say E. Coli has been detected in the water supply in Lyons, forcing the water to be shut off. And while most of the strains of the bacteria are harmless, E. Coli can cause diarrhea, pneumonia and other illnesses. Authorities are warning residents not to return to their homes until the water supply has been cleared, and that could take months. What a mess.
BLACKWELL: Wow, talking about water, a lot of people could be dealing with it because there's going to be rain for a lot of communities this weekend.
YELLIN: It is that time of year.
BLACKWELL: Yes, it is. Let's bring in CNN's Alexandra Steele in the CNN Weather Center.
So, where are we going to see the rain?
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Everywhere. Good morning, guys. Hello. Happy Saturday to you.
Well, you know, what we've got, we've got so much tropical moisture and a cold front crossing the country, bringing rain as it makes its way to the East Coast. So, let me show you where it is and why. You know, we've been dealing with so many topical features. We had Tropical Storm Manuel on the west coast of Mexico. Now all that moisture, that tropical moisture, not only there, but in the Gulf of Mexico, seething up. And here's the line. Pretty clearly delineated, right? Behind it, cooler, dryer air. Ahead of it, warm, moist air all the way from Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico.
So here's a look. I'll show you the radar where we've got a wet go of it this morning in Cleveland, heading toward Buffalo, heading towards Pittsburgh as well. Farther south, Huntsville, Tupelo, heading toward Birmingham and then toward Atlanta in just a few hours. Jackson, Mississippi. And then the further east you are here in the southeast, the later you'll see this in the day. But it is all coming. You know, in Texas, you're already seeing the bulk of this rain, five to seven inches. Flash flooding there as well.
So here's the movement of it. This is Saturday, this morning at 10:00 a.m. By 5:00 tonight, not quite in Boston, not quite in New York, Washington, then it continues to push eastward through today, through tonight, and then in toward tomorrow as well, guys.
BLACKWELL: Hey, Alexandra, can I ask you about this huge typhoon. Folks in China are prepared for this. It's expected to hit Hong Kong's coastline. When is the hit? When's the big punch from this storm?
STEELE: The big hit is really on Sunday. It's super - it was Super Typhoon Usagi. It gets deemed a super typhoon when it winds gets to 150 miles per hour. It is down now to typhoon. But in 33 hours it went from 50-mile-per-hour to 150-mile-per-hour winds.
And look at this. This is what happened in Taiwan. The winds, the water, the saturation of the ground, and look at that destruction. So, incredibly scary. Right now its winds, maximum sustained at 140. Its gusts to 165. Moving west, and look at Hong Kong, a city of 7 million, a beeline towards Hong Kong, making its way there on Sunday. So a scary scenario, but its winds will be down to about 120 by then, meaning maybe a category two. Certainly, though, very substantial, no question about it.
BLACKWELL: Down to 120?
STEELE: Yes.
BLACKWELL: All right, Alexandra Steele, thank you for that.
STEELE: Sure.
BLACKWELL: So here's a question, you want to protect your new smartphone, the 5S or 5C, if you have it. You have a Blackberry. I don't know why.
YELLIN: I love it.
BLACKWELL: I know you do.
YELLIN: I can't live without it.
BLACKWELL: I'm an iPhone man myself. So if you want to protect your phone, and yourself at the same time, a new phone case featured a stun gun and pepper spray. We're going to show you how this all works and why the inventor's daughter inspired this idea.
YELLIN: And that one I can't wait to see.
Plus, a wild scene outside of a New York courtroom. The families of a murder suspect and victim meet in the hallway. Things turn chaotic for the families and for the officers who responded.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLACKWELL: Once upon a time, in a land far away, it was the must-have gadget. I'm joking. But Blackberry has fallen, unfortunately, into some really hard times lately.
YELLIN: I know. Now it gets worse and everyone's laughing at me because I'm a Blackberry devotee. Blackberry says it will cut 40 percent of its global workforce. That is 4,500 jobs lost. Plus the company will report a nearly $1 billion loss in the second quarter. That comes on news that its latest smartphone operating system, the Blackberry 10, has weaker demands than expected. This is very sad news.
BLACKWELL: And Blackberry's fall, I mean it had been right at the time as the rival smartphone maker, Apple, they really launched this new 5 series, launched the new iPhones. Long lines at retailers around the world, including, you see here in Miami. A lot of people wanted to buy the newest, high-end iPhone, the 5S. Supplies, pretty tight. And it doesn't matter if you want gold, the gray or silver, it's tough to get. And if you order online right now, you won't get it until sometime in October.
Now, waiting in line was not peaceful in some places. Look at this. They had to take this guy down. This is Pasadena. Police had to break up a fight outside the Apple store. Two men were led away in handcuffs for a phone.
YELLIN: That's ridiculous. That's ridiculous.
BLACKWELL: Let's go to Houston. A group of people waiting to buy their phones. They were robbed. This happened outside the AT&T store early Friday morning. Guys, it's a phone.
YELLIN: You know they're going to get it sooner or later.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
YELLIN: Why push to get it sooner? I don't know.
BLACKWELL: Why do you need it first?
YELLIN: I don't know. This is a whole game.
BLACKWELL: And so iPhone customers, they may need to get some protection for their prized gadgets.
YELLIN: Or you just buy a Blackberry and keep them in business, OK?
BLACKWELL: Because nobody's fighting over that is what you're saying?
YELLIN: Please, just keep them in business.
BLACKWELL: Saying they might need some help for that gadget. One company has a feature that could save your life, apparently.
YELLIN: OK, I want to hear this one. Dan Simon shows us how some iPhones are being made into weapons. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE, ACTOR: This is now being issued as standard equipment. Strap it on your wrist.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Gadget weaponry. A staple of James Bond. But this is real. An iPhone with a big secret. A stun gun. It's called the "yellow jacket." Snap on the case, and you got a serious weapon capable of delivering 650,000 volts of electricity.
SIMON (on camera): You just lift this flap, expose these little electrodes, turn the unit on and press the button.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It protects your phone, extends your battery life, and most importantly, it protects you.
SIMON (voice-over): But that's not all. This case shoots pepper spray. It's from a company called SprayTect. The inventor saying he came up with the idea for his college-bound daughter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She would never leave home without her phone. That's when I had this idea of combing her phone and pepper spray.
SIMON (on camera): What makes these things so unique is they're just perfectly concealed. They look like any number of cell phone cases. And since people carry their phones all the time, the weapons are always with you and ready.
SIMON (voice-over): But self-defense experts stress the need for training.
SCOTT JACKSON, SELF-DEFENSE EXPERT: If you are formally trained, if you are taught the mind-set to defend yourself correctly, if you go through repetitious training, it would probably be effective if.
SIMON: Also, it's important to note that stun guns aren't legal everywhere. But as this promotional video claims, many would-be victims now have a new high-tech tool to defend themselves.
Dan Simon, CNN, San Francisco.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
YELLIN: Is that supposed to be funny?
BLACKWELL: I don't know. I don't - I don't think that's supposed to be funny.
Now, I'm a notorious butt dialer. Like I call people with my hip all the time.
YELLIN: Are you saying you're going to Taser yourself?
BLACKWELL: If I'm just like walking down the street -
YELLIN: Self Tas. BLACKWELL: And all of a sudden and then I just toss over, you know what happens.
YELLIN: A small problem, but it would be really funny video.
BLACKWELL: Yes, it would be great video. It would probably make our must see moment.
OK, a courtroom brawl. This is something you have to see. Look at this. Police scrambling to get things under control and arrest people. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got no pulse (ph) left (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody get down (ph) (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's get these guys inside.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Chaos here. Several people were arrested. We'll tell what you led to this huge fight.
And baseball player Alex Rodriguez is back in the headlines again. But this time, it's for something he did on the field. That's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: I'm not really a great singer, but I will sing along with this one, but not right now. A live look out across the beautiful city of Atlanta. I think you see Centennial Olympic Park there, 69 degrees right now, going up into the low 70s. So we're starting to feel fall this last weekend of summer. It's 24 minutes after the hour.
YELLIN: It feels like summer's over.
BLACKWELL: Yes, it has gone away.
Six people, we showed you some video before the break, six people scheduled to be arraigned today for a heated brawl at a courthouse. Watch.
YELLIN: The courthouse in Hempstead, New York, was shut down after yesterday's fight. The fight broke out after families and friends of the victim and the murder suspect started arguing during the suspect's arraignment.
BLACKWELL: Four people were hurt here, including two of the officers trying to calm everything down. The people who were arrested face charges for riot in the first degree and contempt of court. YELLIN: For nine years, Deep Impact roamed space. You know, that's that comet -- it's a satellite that hunted four comets. But now its mission has been cut short. NASA said the spacecraft, it suddenly fell silent last month. Engineers tried to re-establish contact, but they could not. So now the spacecraft that provided 500,000 images of celestial objects is orbiting the sun as space junk.
BLACKWELL: Wow.
YELLIN: That's sad.
BLACKWELL: College football's game of the week kicks off later today in Baton Rouge when sixth-ranked Louisiana State takes their first big test of the season, S.E.C. rival Auburn. It's still early in the season, yes, but both schools are undefeated. But the tables seem stacked against the Tigers. They're playing at Death Valley where LSU is, get this, 39-2 in Saturday night games. So --
YELLIN: How did you say Baton Rouge?
BLACKWELL: Baton Rouge.
YELLIN: Very impressive. I like that.
BLACKWELL: I feel like you've got to say it that way.
YELLIN: I'm very impressed.
BLACKWELL: Thank you.
YELLIN: All right. Well, love him or hate him, embattled slugger Alex Rodriguez set another big record last night, becoming the MLB's all- time grand slam leader, hitting his 24th grand slam high and deep over right field. The historic hit was also the difference in the game. The Yankees beat the Giants 5-1.
And also in baseball, the Yanks long-time rival, the Red Sox, earned their ticket to the post season last night, clinching the American League East title for the first time since 2007. As expected, both Boston players and fans went nuts. Sox open the playoffs on October 4th. They are very excited.
All right. Well, coming up, she made national headlines a few weeks ago, and now she's going -- she's in the news again. And an unique show of support for gay rights through shoe laces
BLACKWELL: We've got that for you. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
YELLIN: Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Jessica Yellin.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell.
Here are five things you need to know for your new day. First up, more violence erupting in Syria. The government there is handing over details of its chemical weapons arsenal. President Bashar al Assad must account for his regime's chemical weapons and destroy them under a U.S. Russian proposal or face potential military strikes.
YELLIN: Number two, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke out last night, calling for an end to violence in the city. He consoled grieving families after a gunman shot and injured 13 people at a basketball court Thursday. Police say the gunman used an assault-style rifle and the shooting may be gang-related. Among those recovering victims is a three-year-old boy who was shot in the face.
BLACKWELL: Three now, remember the Florida woman who made news everywhere for her nonstop hiccups? Yeah, you remember her. Her name is Jennifer Mee. She's 22 years old now and she was found guilty of first degree murder on Friday for the death of a man back in 2010. She met him online. Mee cried in court as the judge read the verdict. She's been sentenced to life in prison without parole, she's got 30 days to appeal the court's decision.
YELLIN: Number four, damage from deadly floods that swept parts of Colorado could keep some residents out of their homes there for months. Administrator for the town of Lyons says E. coli bacteria has contaminated the town's drinking water and the tap water has been turned off. About 2,000 people live in Lyons.
BLACKWELL: Number five now, everything from the national parks the monuments, to keeping track of the upcoming flu season, it could all be victims - they, rather, could be victims of the government shutdown. That's because House Republicans have pushed through a bill to fund the government starting October 1st, but it stripped out cash for Obamacare, and that sets the stage for this battle with the Democratic-led Senate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R ) HOUSE SPEAKER: The American people don't want the government to shut down. And they don't want Obamacare.
(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)
BOEHNER: The House has listened to the American people. Now it's time for the United States Senate to listen to them as well.
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Right now, the debate that's going on in Congress is not meeting the test of helping middle class families. It's just -- they're not focused on you. They're focused on politics. They're focused on trying to mess with me.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: All right. So, let's put the politics aside for a moment. We'll get back to it, of course. But just how will your life and your family be impacted if the government actually shuts down? Will you still get your mail? You plan on traveling soon. How about that passport, is that going to come? Well, CNN business anchor Christine Romans has a preview of what's likely to stay open and what will close.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Many of the Congress members threatening a government shutdown are hoping to delay or defund President Obama's Affordable Care Act. But a report from the Congressional Research Service finds, even if the government shuts down, Obamacare would go ahead. Now, based on the last shutdown in 1995, here's how you would likely be affected. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers sent home without pay. Many, if not most, federal offices and programs would be closed, shut down. During the last shutdown, 200,000 passport applications went unprocessed. Some services to veterans were suspended. And the NIH stopped accepting patients for clinical research. National parks and museums were closed. And federal contractors who rely on government departments to issue paperwork, they could see their projects delayed.
Now, critical functions of the government, critical services would stay up, and think air traffic control, food inspections. National security. Border security. The maintenance of the power grid. Also open, anything considered essential to the banking system. That means the government would still issue funds and yes, you do need to pay your taxes. The postal service would continue to deliver the mail and the government would pay out benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, those are considered mandatory. They're not affected. However, government workers who process them could be affected, although that's unlikely. Now, the president, his appointees, members of Congress, and anyone else working there during the shutdown will get paid. Although their paychecks could be delayed, furloughed workers may get back pay, may be get back pay, after it's all settled. But it's also not guaranteed. And fewer workers spending money and delayed contract, all this means less economic growth. That's the big concern here about a government shutdown. Christine Romans, CNN, New York.
YELLIN: And from Christine Romans to Christina Romer, I spoke with Dr. Romer, one of the president's former top economic advisers about Washington's latest spending battle. I asked her, if she thinks Friday's vote trying to eliminate funding for Obamacare is groundbreaking or harmless or dangerous. Well, she says she thinks it's a big deal and then warned of what could be an even more disastrous fight coming up on Capitol Hill. Here's what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA ROMER, FMR. CHAIR, WHITE HOUSE COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC ADVISERS: It's certainly not harmless, that if the government, if we reach a budget impasse and the government does shut down, that obviously takes a toll on confidence. It's very hard on government workers and all the people that need government services. So it definitely is stupid and unnecessary and potentially damaging. I think that said, you know, part of what I keep looking forward to is the -- the second fight, which is the fight over the debt ceiling. That one would be truly catastrophic if we don't make progress there. So, we've got a lot of fiscal turbulence ahead of us in the month of October. It certainly is making me nervous.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
YELLIN: She reminded me that we were downgraded - the U.S. was downgraded when we did not default just for having a debt fight. Last two years ago, it said it could be even worse if we do default this time.
BLACKWELL: It will take about six to eight weeks to repair all the damage inside building 197 at Washington's Navy Yard. Five days after Aaron Alexis gunned down 12 people, the building is under FBI control. It's still a crime scene. Meanwhile, the Navy Sea Systems Command has set up shop in other areas so it can keep working on ship building and weapons contracts and all that they do. This week, the Navy secretary ordered reviews into the security practices and clearances at military bases worldwide.
You may remember a picture taken right after the first shots were fired at the Navy Yard on Monday. The woman here in pink in the center of the screen, she's giving CPR to a victim on the ground. Now, we didn't know if it was related to the Navy Yard shooting at the time that photo was taken. But CNN's Brian Todd, he's tracked her down.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bertillia Lavern vividly recalls her friend's face. Remembers how moments after he got hit in the temple by a gunshot inside their office at the Navy Yard she thought she could save him.
BERTILLIA LAVERN, NAVY YARD SHOOTING SURVIVOR: I felt him breathe.
TODD: Laverne says she was just a few feet away from her friend and co-worker Vishnu Pandit when gunshots slammed all around their office. She never saw the shooter.
(on camera): You almost got hit yourself, right?
LAVERN: Yes, the bullet missed me because we were already -- I was already moving, and so the bullet missed me and it shattered the glass right next to where my head was.
TODD (voice over): Pandit was down, but Lavern says when she checked his pulse, it was strong. She and her co-workers ignored their own safety and what happened next, while the shooter was still on his rampage is right out of a movie.
LAVERN: The security guards showed up, and they helped me get him to a chair to wheel him to the stairs. We put him in the emergency evacuation chair and I was talking to him and praying the whole entire time.
TODD (on camera): What were you saying to him?
LAVERN: That -- I prayed that God would protect him and that we need him here. And that his friends loved him.
TODD (voice over): Lavern, a former Navy medical specialist says at that point, Pandit's pulse was still strong, but there was another problem trying to get her friend who had the nickname Kisan out of the building.
(on camera): Did you know where the shooter was at this time?
LAVERN: No, and I really didn't care. We had to get Kisan out. That was the important thing.
TODD (voice over): As they were descending the stairs they heard over a guard's radio that the shooter was right in the direction they were heading. Bertellia Lavern says they managed to sneak out a side door, got Pandit to a law-enforcement vehicle, which then sped outside the base to this corner. That's where these images were captured, Bertellia Lavern, the woman in pink, administering CPR, desperately trying to save her friend.
LAVERN: And then the ambulance showed up, they strapped him in. All of this happened within a few minutes of time but it felt like a lifetime.
TODD: Vishnu Pandit died on the way to the hospital. A doctor later said his injuries were not survivable. Lavern now describes her feelings for the man she used to joke with every morning.
LAVERN: That I miss him and that I won't be able to say good morning to him. That I will not be able to say good morning to him, but I know that he's in my heart, and I know that his family loves him so much.
TODD: Bertellia Lavern says Vishnu Pandit had recently welcomed a grandchild who she described as the light of his life. He was buried Thursday. Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Wow, you know, I don't know how many people, and I can't speak for myself right now even who could say they have the presence of mind in that moment, in all that chaos to start CPR. I mean I'd imagine there are a lot of people who were just in shock.
YELLIN: And she said she was a medical specialist and had that training, so it must have been instinctive for her, but what a heartbreaking touching story ...
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
YELLIN: And her reaction is so emotional, you can feel it in her ...
BLACKWELL: Yeah, and he just became a grandfather. We'll, of course, continue to follow all the developments there.
YELLIN: Yeah, still a breaking - heartbreaking story. Coming up, in other news, the pope says that he is a sinner. In a new interview, he talks about everything from homosexuality to divorce.
Plus, major flooding in Mexico. Rescue workers are finally able to reach the towns hardest hit and are now searching for more victims.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
YELLIN: Let's take a look at what's happening around the world. First, to Rome, where Catholics are reacting to Pope Francis shocking interview this week. CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance is there. Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jessica, this is just another instance of how different Pope Francis is to some of his predecessors. Guiding the church towards a more inclusive approach. On women he says this "The feminine genius is needed wherever we make important decisions." About the women priest he's saying, woman should have an important role. Homosexual acts, also condemned by the church, but he says that if you're a gay, essentially you can still be catholic. When God looks at a gay person, he says, does he endorse the existence of this person with love or reject and condemn him? The pope also addresses (inaudible) in his interview saying that he believes these matters are obsessed about too much. You simply don't have to talk about these things, he says, all the time. Many people will agree. Jessica.
YELLIN: Matthew Chance, thank you.
Now to Mexico, where more than 100 people have died after both a hurricane and a tropical storm hit the country. The resort town of Acapulco was one of the hardest hit areas. Dozens of people are still missing. CNN's Shasta Darlington is there. Shasta.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The flooding and destruction started a full week ago, but only now are we seeing some of the most catastrophic images as rescue workers finally reach hard hit towns, like La Pintada. Dozens of people are still missing there after a mudslide buried part of the town. And it looks like the death toll will rise even further as rescue efforts continue. Back to you, Jessica.
YELLIN: Thank you, Shasta.
And now to London where rainbow shoe laces are causing a controversy in professional soccer. CNN's Alex Thomas has the latest from London. Alex.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A bit of a rally is brewing in English soccer after the world's most lucrative national championship the Premier League was caught cold by an anti-homophobia campaign organized by a bookmaker and the gay rights campaign group. They send rainbow-colored laces to all 92 teams in professional soccer here, hoping players will wear them on their boots as a sign of support. Critics have called it a PR stunt and Manchester United say they won't take part, whereas some Everton stars will. Back to you, Jessica.
YELLIN: We'll see if that catches on around the world. Thank you, Alex. And coming up, it's never too late to go back to school. Up next, why actor Mark Wahlberg is stepping out of the spotlight and into the classroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Nine minutes to the top of the hour now. Actor Mark Wahlberg. He's heading back to school. That's first up in this week's "Pop 4."
YELLIN: And that's our list of entertainment headlines coming up.
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Victor, hey, Jessica. OK, it is "Pop 4" time and I have the best of the buzziest stories of the week for you, you are ready? All right. Here we go. Number 4, Mark Wahlberg is having a little celebration this morning. Why, you ask? Well, because the actor just graduated from high school and he's 42. Wouldn't you know he dropped out in the ninth grade, but he recently decided to take online classes and get his diploma. I guess the moral of that story is, never too old to get yours.
Number three, the controversy over the Emmy Awards and their annual In Memoriam moment. Cory Monteith will be among those honored for his work in "Glee", along with four other industry heavyweights, such as James Gandolfini and Jean Stapleton. Now, the controversy is that some writers, specifically Andrew Wallenstein from "Variety" say that his young career was not equal the others, so he shouldn't be included.
Number two, it's officially over, yeah, reps for both Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth confirmed to CNN that the engagement is off between the two stars. You know, it's been hot rumor for a while, and now, well, Miley's free to twerk wherever she wants.
And our number one story popping on this "NEW DAY," well, it's more Miley. I'm sorry. She's number one on the heels of the vehement twerkfest and swinging naked on a wrecking ball. The singer has scored her first number one song. Yeah, "Wrecking Ball" is number one on the billboard hot 100 charts. And you thought there was such thing as bad publicity. Never. Victor, Jessica, that's what's popping this week. Back to you.
BLACKWELL: Whatever she's doing, it's working, thank you, Nischelle.
YELLIN: I think she looks fantastic.
BLACKWELL: And it's a great song. It's a great song. Again, I said it last week, I don't know why you have to lick a sledgehammer to sing to that.
YELLIN: It's working for her. Look at all the attention she's getting. She's selling albums and I think she's doing great.
BLACKWELL: I guess we passed out the sledgehammer.
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: Wait to see - you see what I come in with (inaudible)
(LAUGHTER)
YELLIN: You say hello to the nick everything. Just take a look at this. And it's monstrous, it is crazy, we'll tell you what is actually, inside of it and why this dude created it. That's coming up next on "NEW DAY."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
YELLIN: So what's for breakfast this morning? A little cereal, a little toast?
BLACKWELL: How about scrapple? Who knows what scrapple is? Have you ever had it?
YELLIN: Corned beef hash?
BLACKWELL: No, no, no.
YELLIN: No?
BLACKWELL: No, it's scraps. We'll talk about it.
OK, how about a little bit of everything, you can thank Nick Shipman for this colossal meal. Look at this, he took all 43 sandwiches offered by McDonald's, I didn't even know they had 43 sandwiches, stacked them on top of one another.
YELLIN: That is so gross. And he - why, you might ask? Because well, apparently he wanted to. Apparently, he also wanted to shell out more than 140 bucks to make it happen. Well, some of that money, we told, also went to the diet coke he ordered it with.
BLACKWELL: He's got to have a diet coke.
YELLIN: I wonder how many calories that is.
BLACKWELL: It looks like he's going to try to eat it.
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: Bad idea.
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: All right, so we're near the top of the hour. You know that's time for the "Must See Moment" of the day.
YELLIN: And for that we go Cecilia, Louisiana. Meet 16-year-old Shae Stelly. The wheelchair bound team is part of the Cecilia High School football team, and never misses a practice not even in the summer.
So his coach recently decided to go ahead and put him in the game.
Now, watch what happens, he gets the ball, the whole team helps guide him in. I mean everybody on the team loves this kid. We love him here. He heads straight for the end zone and it's good. His coach says the teen inspires him like no one else.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TERRY MARTIN: To say it's probably been one of the best things I've ever done as a head coach is a huge understatement. Without even saying a word, he inspires me more than anybody.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Big dog's in the house! Bid dog's in the house!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: He actually says the whole thing was like a dream and he thought it was amazing. I mean just to have that opportunity. He will remember that for the rest of his life. Those guys guiding him in to that.
YELLIN: And I bet the whole team will, too.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
YELLIN: Can you imagine having that guy on your team?
BLACKWELL: And imagine that moment, not just for the team and for Shae, but in the stands, when you see that, I mean - I can only imagine, we didn't have a lot of (inaudible) there, but the roaring round of applause and cheers for that kid.
YELLIN: And to have him come in on a regular basis and be part of practice obviously kind of got that community spirit, to begin with.
BLACKWELL: Yeah, good for Shae.
And thanks for starting your morning with us.
YELLIN: And the next hour of your "NEW DAY" starts right now.
