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Rick's List

New Public Face For BP?; Boycotting BP

Aired June 18, 2010 - 15:00   ET

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

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Ali, kind sir. Thank you so much.

And hello to you all.

CNN has a reporter that's on the NOAA hurricane hunter flight that's flying over the Gulf Coast right now and flying over the oil spill. It's the last scheduled tour that this plane is going to take over the spill. We will tell you what it's telling them about the so- called and important loop current and where the oil may be headed next.

And this is what else we have got for you.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES (voice-over): Making the list:

First, it was this gaffe.

TONY HAYWARD, CEO, BP GROUP: But I would like my life back.

HOLMES: Then came the grilling on Capitol Hill.

REP. HENRY WAXMAN (D), CALIFORNIA: They're going to have a hard time reaching conclusions if you stonewall them, which is what we seem to be getting today.

HAYWARD: I'm not stonewalling.

HOLMES: With appearances like that one, it's no wonder BP's image has taken a hit. So, could this be the new face of the company?

DARRYL WILLIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF RESOURCES, BP AMERICA: We will carry out our obligations to mitigate the environmental damage and economic impact of this incident.

HOLMES: He's an American. He's from Louisiana. Good call, BP?

A CNN special investigation: What is the connection between some Gulf Coast judges and the oil cases they're about to hear? And what about this business about a boycott?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not really hurting BP, per se. You're hurting the owner of the station.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm a small business owner who's invested everything I have.

HOLMES: We will look at what a boycott would really accomplish.

Plus, exclusive access to the jail cell where Joran van der Sloot is spending his days in Peru.

And awaiting the ruling on a female version of Viagra.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The company has a lot to gain, but women have more to gain.

The lists you need to know about. Who's most intriguing? Who's making news on Twitter? It's why we keep a list, pioneering tomorrow's news right now.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: And welcome to RICK'S LIST, but T.J. Holmes in for Rick today.

And topping the list right now, we are on day 60 now of this Gulf oil disaster, BP increasing the amount of oil it's siphoning from the Gulf to more than one million gallons a day. That's good news. We are getting new information as well about where the remaining oil is spreading.

And that's what we want to start with. And we start with our John Couwels. He's flying over the spill with scientists right now with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association -- Administration. That's NOAA, as you know it as.

John, this all-important loop current so many people are worried about, just tell us, right now on this flight, what can you see? What do we know in relation to this loop current?

JOHN COUWELS, CNN PRODUCER: I'm sorry, T.J. I'm having difficulty hearing you, obviously being a satellite over the middle of the Gulf of Mexico.

But I did join the NOAA hurricane hunters. We left out of the MacDill Air Force Base at 9:00 this afternoon -- this morning. And we're flying. Right now, we're about 80 miles due south of the Horizon oil rig. And we're doing a crisscross pattern over top of what is the loop current here in the Gulf of Mexico.

This particular loop current has had a lot of attention because of the fact that these flights have given data to scientists, information that they have never been able to actually receive before, that, because of those constant flights that have been going on back and forth over the stop of the area closely studying, they have been able to learn information that the -- an eddy has spun off from the loop current, taken some of the oil sheen with it.

This is great news for the oil rigs that have been floating over top of the area and the oil sheen. It's helped keep the oil up into the north region and not bring it into the Gulf of Mexico down along the coast of Florida and the Florida Keys and worst-case scenario bringing it up along the East Coast of the United States.

But what they have -- unfortunately, today is the last flight of the studying of the loop current. The funding for this was only temporarily through a supplemental amount of funding through NOAA. And recently that this -- today's flight was paid for through NOAA's normal regular hurricane operations.

So, this will be the last chance for them to -- as they will be able to closely monitor it, unless new funding happens. On this flight today, we're about a total -- we will fly about a total of 1,900 miles, a total of 40,000 square miles as they (INAUDIBLE) every 25 miles drop a new (INAUDIBLE) which will give them more data to understand exactly where the loop current is here in the Gulf of Mexico -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right, our John Couwels up there literally right now, that report. That is why it was kind of tough to hear, but we got some information from him. But, again, he's flying now live in that NOAA plane that is looking down over the Gulf at that oil trying to figure out exactly where it's going.

And he's telling us this is the last funded trip. They have made several trips up in that plane to kind of monitor where this oil is going and where it possibly -- if it is going to get into that loop current. But he said this is the last one scheduled because this is the last one that they had funding for.

I want to go to our Bonnie Schneider, who was listening as well.

Bonnie, help us with this, so many things we're hearing about loop currents and eddies and so on and so forth. So, the good news is, the oil is not in the loop current. That's great, because that would take it around Florida. But this -- explain this eddy situation, please.

BONNIE SCHNEIDER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Right.

(CROSSTALK)

SCHNEIDER: Absolutely, T.J.

Here's the eddy right here. You can see the circular motion. And as you heard the report, it's kind of cut off from the main loop current. And we have some of the oil sheen kind of work its way into this eddy.

The eddy is almost a separate circle or a whirlpool of warmer water kind of circulating away from the loop current. Now, this is a positive thing, as you heard from that report from the NOAA plane, because it is preventing the oil from working its way into the loop current and going up the east coast of Florida and the East Coast of the U.S., so it's a positive thing that this eddy has formed.

It's not going to last forever. However, looking at the NOAA projected forecast, it is going to sustain itself -- this is the forecast. Here's the oil. Here's the heavier oil. There's the eddy and there's the loop current. Notice, you don't see a connection here.

T.J., there is a 60-mile distance from the edge of the oil spill to where the loop current is. So, that's a positive thing.

HOLMES: That's a positive thing. So, I'm hearing this right. This eddy, actually, the oil just gets trapped in there and keeps going around in one circle, and it's not going anywhere else. So, that's some good news.

SCHNEIDER: No. The eddy, as long it is there, is definitely helping the situation.

HOLMES: All right, thank you so much for that explainer so much and that illustration as well. Thank you so much.

Again, we're going to continue to keep an eye on what's happening there. And that's one thing. The cleanup, that's one front that this thing is being fought on. But, also, there's a P.R. battle going on out there as well.

You might have heard reports today that the BP CEO, Tony Hayward, who's essentially been the face of the response for BP, that he was about to -- quote -- get his life back. Not quite, we're learning now.

One day after he was essentially hammered by Congress, an interview on Britain's Sky News left the impression that Hayward was being pulled off the Gulf disaster response. The interview was with BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg. It sounded to some as if Hayward was being replaced right now by Bob Dudley. That's BP's managing director.

Now, Dudley, who's here in this video -- this was him touring the Louisiana coast with Governor Bobby Jindal -- we called BP trying to clear this all up. And they said, in fact, nothing has changed, Tony Hayward still in charge of the initial response.

Dudley, the guy you're seeing in the video, will take over BP's long-term response to the cleanup when the initial phase is over. So, just to clear that up, Tony Hayward, he is the one still in charge right now of the initial BP response.

BP, however, putting a new face on its P.R. campaign, BP America vice president Darryl Willis. You might have seen him testifying before Congress earlier this week. Take a look at him now in BP's newest commercial.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, BP AD)

WILLIS: They're fishermen. They're shrimpers. They're laborers. They're deck hands. They're people who work in restaurants. These are the people of the Gulf Coast who need our help.

I'm Darryl Willis. I oversee BP's claims process on the Gulf Coast. BP's got to make things right. And that's why we're here. I was born and raised in Louisiana. I volunteered for this assignment because this is my home. I will be here in the Gulf as long as it takes to make this right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: So, we will see how Americans respond to Mr. Willis vs. how they responded to Mr. Tony Hayward, who undoubtedly has made some missteps along the way. Now, BP's timeline for stopping the leak with relief wells remains still some time in the middle of August.

Well, a lot of people out there, and understandably so, are upset with BP. They're looking for a way to lash out, partly with boycotts. So, if you boycott a BP gas station, is that going to make a dent at all? We're going to be asking a BP gas station owner. He's standing by for us. He's coming up next on the LIST.

Also, we're hearing that Joran van der Sloot's ex-girlfriend, she kept diaries of their romantic relationship. What does she think of him now, and has she heard from him lately? That's ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, Rick. This is Jim from Missouri.

I just wanted to complain about that -- BP cutting everybody's dividend checks. There's a lot of people that retirement on -- they live off of that retirement check and their dividend check and everything. And now they're going to cut it away? That's a bunch of bull.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

HOLMES: Hey, welcome back to RICK'S LIST, T.J. Holmes here sitting in today.

You have seen them, the signs, the Facebook pages asking you to boycott BP, a lot of people directing their anger toward, quite frankly, the only thing they can, a lot of BP stations. One Florida mayor, he even briefly considered asking his city council to keep city workers from filling up their official cars at BP stations.

But if you stop buying gas at your neighborhood BP station and start going to a competitor or to a no-name gas station, who does that really hurt? Actually, not BP.

Maybe it hurts somebody like Mel Sherbert. He owns two BP gas stations, is past president of the Service Station Owners of America. He's outside his Piney Orchard BP station in Odenton, Maryland.

Sir, thank you for being here.

First up, if people stop buying gas at your BP-labeled gas stations, is that hurting BP or is that hurting you more so? MEL SHERBERT, BP GAS STATION OWNER: Well, it's hurting me. And it's hurting the people who supply me, because even our distributors here, the people who supply me, are independent, all Maryland resident,s friends and neighbors.

And BP will just move what little product they -- the customer wouldn't buy to another source, to the wholesalers and market it out. So, I can't see any help for us if -- or the customer, for that matter. They will get less service if they stop coming here.

HOLMES: Mel, how has it been since this whole disaster started? It's 60 days in now. But we're noticing behind you -- maybe it's just the time of day -- maybe you don't have a lot of customers this time of day filling up anyway. But is what I'm seeing behind you emblematic of what you have been seeing for the past several weeks? Are people, quite frankly starting to slow down in coming into your stations?

SHERBERT: Well, it is true. Sales are really flat.

And I have to say that, for us personally, it's not been as bad as some of our friends and neighbors. We have two locations, and the other one's off about 9 percent this month so far. And we were expecting an increase because, fortunately, this year, we were better able to compete than last year and yet we're losing volume.

Some of my friends in the Baltimore area are down 20 percent, some more. I have talked to some of the people from around the country. The closer you get to the Gulf, the worse it is. I have heard some stories from Florida that our distributors in Florida are off maybe 50 percent.

HOLMES: Wow.

SHERBERT: And I can't verify that, but this is what the networking is telling us.

(CROSSTALK)

HOLMES: Well, Mel, clear this up for a lot of people who see -- they drive past a gas station, they see BP up there on the board, and they just assume that every product at that station, from a candy bar to the gasoline, is going to benefit BP in some way.

How much of the gasoline that you have at your BP stations, if you will, how much of that gasoline comes directly from BP?

SHERBERT: Well, this gasoline that we have in this area is from the Texas refinery. It comes up of the Colonial Pipeline and it's off-loaded for us in this area in Fairfax in Virginia and Curtis Bay in Baltimore. But from there on, from the terminal to the distributor to the retailer, those are all independent, locally-owned people.

So, the product is BP, of course. We wouldn't have a BP sign out here. And it's a very good product. That's been proven over and over again in every test with every measure that BP is right up there with the best of them.

HOLMES: Well, Mel, there are some out there who argue -- and some stations -- I want to make sure, because this is an important point. Some other stations say, quite frankly, you can't tell where the gasoline comes from.

Maybe some of it does come from BP, but it gets mixed in, in some of these pipelines and some of that oil, that you can't say that 100 percent of your gasoline is from BP. But are you telling me that 100 percent of your gasoline or most of it at least comes from BP? And if that's the case, can you understand why some people would have reservations about pulling into your station?

SHERBERT: Yes. But not stopping here and turning away from their friends and neighbors and even family members, for BP just to change their distribution point and move their product to another point, maybe even out of the country, it doesn't make any sense.

Like I said, we are the friends, neighbors. We're the local people. We're the ones that support the fire department and we're the ones that support the fire support the schools. We're the ones that support the sports teams. We're the ones that look out for the neighborhood and participate in everything.

We live here. We love here and we have our families here. So, we're -- it's no different for us, or it shouldn't be, though we are being hurt by it. There's no doubt about it. And if things don't improve, it's going to get worse. There's -- it's just no winners in this situation, no winners at all.

HOLMES: You know what? You have hit it on the head right there, no winners in this situation.

Mel Sherbert, we appreciate you, sir. You hang in there. And so many other BP -- and, quite frankly, I know you're BP station owners, but you're local folks, like you said, and your neighbors and your friends. And I know a lot of people don't want to hurt you, but still people are torn about what exactly to do.

But, Mel, we appreciate you coming on and sharing that story and educating maybe some of our viewers who are taking part in some of these boycotts and whatnot. Thanks so much.

SHERBERT: All right, take care. God bless.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JOE BARTON (R), TEXAS: I'm ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it is a tragic...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You remember that from yesterday? Congressman Barton apologizing to BP yesterday. Then he had to apologize for his apology. So, what really went on behind the scenes? Why did the GOP make him apologize? And who else agrees with him? You might be surprised.

Our Jessica Yellin -- Jessica, it's been a while. We're going to be talking to you right after the break. But I just realized I haven't talked to you in a while. She's got the whole scoop coming up next.

Also ahead, you are just going to have to see it to believe it, a baby from Brazil that's got more rhythm than you do.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, take a look here, people sending in some tweets here.

One tweet we're getting, this one says: "I no longer get gas at BP. I want the small business owners to apply pressure, too. If we boycott, they will scream. Good."

That comes from the debate we were just having, some small business owners who happen to be BP station operators are being hurt right now because they have, of course, a big BP sign out in front of their station. However, a lot of those folks are independent owners. They are franchisees, and BP doesn't own those stations.

Well, we will turn to a story a lot of people were keeping an eye on yesterday. It kind of took a turn up on Washington -- up on Capitol Hill yesterday, CNN learning that the top House Republican threatened Congressman Joe Barton after Barton's ill-advised apology to BP.

A Republican source says House Minority Leader John Boehner told Barton to either apologize or lose his position as the ranking Republican on the House Energy committee.

Let's take you back now to yesterday. here was that explosive statement from Congressman Joe Barton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARTON: I'm only speaking for myself. I'm not speaking for anybody else. But I apologize. I do not want to live in a country where any time a citizen or a corporation does something that is legitimately wrong is subject to some sort of political pressure that is -- again, in my words, amounts to a shakedown. So I apologize.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: You heard it right. He apologized to BP. And that was the statement that brought Congressman Barton to grief. And, as we all know, he has since apologized for his apology.

However, did you also know that, on Wednesday, Republican Tom Price of Georgia issued a statement in the name of more than 100 other Republicans that was quite a bit similar to what Barton ended up saying on Thursday? And let me quote it for you. "BP's reported willingness to go along with the White House's new escrow fund suggests that the Obama administration is hard at work exerting its brand of Chicago-style shakedown politics" -- that, of course, shakedown, the word, same one that Barton used.

Price's statement was posted on behalf of the Republican Study Committee, a group of more than 115 House Republicans of which Mr. Joe Barton is listed as a member.

Jessica Yellin, our national political correspondent.

Jessica, is there a -- can you wrap up and put a prettier bow on a gift for Democrats than to get on national TV and apologize to BP?

JESSICA YELLIN, CNN NATIONAL POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: This is just -- no, you can't. This is just what Democrats needed right now, when the White House has been besieged with criticism on all sides, finally a gift to them.

I want to tell you right now that we have been the first to obtain something that shows just how excited the Democrats are. If you had any doubt that they would make political hay of Barton's apology, this new ad that CNN's just gotten first will put it to rest.

It's from the Democratic National Committee, and they're planning to air it on cable across the country this weekend. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE AD)

NARRATOR: BP caused the worst oil spill in American history. Now, at President Obama's direction, BP set aside $20 billion for recovery on the Gulf Coast. But, if Republicans were in charge, this is the guy who'd be overseeing BP.

BARTON: I apologize.

NARRATOR: He apologized to BP and called the recovery fund a tragedy.

BARTON: So I apologize.

NARRATOR: Republicans apologizing to BP? Tell Republicans, stop apologizing to big oil. The Democratic National Committee is responsible for the content of this advertising.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

YELLIN: T.J., this will be a -- it's going to be a central theme for Democrats this election season. Already, the White House today is echoing this message that, if Republicans were in control of the House, Joe Barton would be the man in charge of the committee that oversees big oil.

Expect them to ride this all the way to November.

HOLMES: You know, you saw this coming. He essentially wrote that ad for them.

But we're talking about it now. They're jumping on it right now. We have got a few months until we actually to the -- heading to the polls. But are we going to continue to see this as a theme as we go forward? Are -- quite frankly are Democrats going to let this go?

YELLIN: I think that it could be a piece of the theme going forward, because Democrats see it as describing a key difference between where Republicans and their own party come from in terms of the role of government and that Democrats want to say, look, all Republicans agree with the Tea Party message, which is essentially what this is, that the government shouldn't be interfering with private business.

That's the Tea Party's position, and that the White House is saying, no, we're standing up to big corporate interests on behalf of the little guy. That's the message that we're going to see them drive home with this and with other themes like it until November.

HOLMES: All right, Barton going to be able to hold on?

YELLIN: It depends. We will see if he can hold on to his chairmanship. He will stay in his office. He's got a solid base there. But whether he will hold his chairmanship has yet to be seen.

HOLMES: Yes. All right, Jessica Yellin, good to see you, as always.

YELLIN: Or his seniority, yes.

HOLMES: Oh, yes. All right. Good to see you, as always. Thanks so much.

(CROSSTALK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is the cell of Joran van der Sloot. They just took him out, so we could come in here. This is where he lives day in and day out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: All right, it's one of the world's most violent prisons. And we have got some exclusive access inside the jail cell of Joran van der Sloot. Just how bad is it? That's ahead on the LIST.

And he could be the new face of the BP oil disaster. And he is our most intriguing person in the news today.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Time now for us to check the list of most intriguing people in the news today.

Well, he's intriguing because he is now the face of a new ad campaign for BP. He brings an American face to this disaster. And he does away with the British accent we have been hearing so far. He brings an American dialect to this public relations effort. Let's show him. His name is Darryl Willis, and he is the head of BP's claims team. Watch.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, BP AD)

WILLIS: I'm Darryl Willis. I oversee BP's claims process on the Gulf Coast. BP's got to make things right. And that's why we're here. Part of that responsibility is letting you know what we're doing to make it right. We're replacing...

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Willis goes on to say he volunteered for this assignment because this is his home. He has said he was born and raised in Louisiana, that his mother lost her home in Hurricane Katrina. He's also assuring Americans BP will continue paying cleanup costs from the oil spill. He's Darryl Willis. And he is one of today's most intriguing.

It was a deadly attack in Iraq caught on camera. The Web site that leaked that video now says it's got a video from Afghanistan. Why are some saying the government doesn't want that video to get out? That has the founder of the Web site going underground -- all that just ahead.

Also, is this a movie? Is this art? Or is this just a naked dude up in a tree? This is not an everyday sight.

(LAUGHTER)

HOLMES: What are you laughing at, man? This is not an everyday sight. We will explain exactly what's going on here in today's "Fotos."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

. HOLMES: Rio de Janeiro is getting the Olympics in 2016. And the kid that you're about to see in the top of some of our best videos of the day -- oh, my goodness, can you imagine how smooth he's going to be by 2016? We'll explain now in our "Fotos" of the day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OK, I'm still suspicious of this video. This kid is giving a new definition to table dancing. He's on top of a table giving a performance. As you can see, you can understand why he's such an internet sensation right now. The kid can samba. He's not out of diapers. Let the young fellow do his thing.

I don't know, you all. That can't be real. A little bit, yes. I was doing different things in my diapers at that age.

Pennsylvania is known for the Steelers, of course, not the Bears. So imagine the surprise a state trooper in Pennsylvania got when a resident flagged him down to help catch this black bear. The bear made its way into a residential neighborhood, not sure how this story actually ended.

Also, I'm glad when I was in Paris not long ago that I didn't catch this. This is in Paris. And some would call this performance art. One of our iReporters caught this. This is a guy in a tree that was near our iReporter's house. He's buck naked and he painted himself red. Climbed in a tree and called it art.

Paris, folks, don't they have the Mona Lisa there? And this is the other art? This is where we've come from the Mona Lisa to a naked dude in a tree to paint himself red.

Our "Fotos" of the day, folks.

These pictures, out of France as well, some of the worst flooding in two centuries there. Flash flooding in other parts of the world. We'll tell you what in the world is going on.

Also, Joran Van Der Sloot's ex-girlfriend, she's talking now. What is she saying about him, about their relationship, and does she think he's violent? Plus exclusive access inside his jail cell. That's all next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well as things stand now there are about 20 million people living with cataracts. And the old adage is that if you live long enough you're probably going to develop them.. Which is why there is so much attention focused specifically, on how to prevent them from developing in the first place. What was exciting about the study was it looked at specific foods trying to figure out if food, just simply changes in your diet could sort of hinder the appearance of these cataracts as you get up there in years.. A lot of people know about carrots, you've heard that since you were a kid that carrot are good for your eyes and they are., They're specifically good for your cornea the very front part of your eye. And also the retina. But this study as looking specifically, what are the other foods that are potentially beneficial as well. And just what kind of impact might they have.

Take a look at the list. This is a list you should think of now when you think of eye foods. So besides carrots, you specifically have spinach you have kale, you have tomatoes you have peppers, you have squash, you have corn,. The thing that a lot of these-this procedure has in common, is the presence of a particular thing known as lutein And lutien can be very eye preserving. Again trying to break down, some of the proteins, that develop that cloudiness, that people often develop in the front of their eye. That's what this is really about, cataracts. Now if you do develop cataracts, if you're watching this and you've started develop cloudiness of vision. You may be wondering, is there anything you can do about it now?

And the answer is yes. In fact this is one of the most common operations performed. It's typically done by an opthamologist, within ten to fifteen minutes. That's how long the operation takes. Take a look at the animation there. It's sometimes a little tough to think about. But surgeons actually make a small cut in the eye. They vacuum out that damages lens, that has become so cloudy. And they specifically put in a new plastic lens Which is much more durable. Again, cataracts about 20 million people affected, better than having that operation, is to try and reduce the impact likelihood of developing a cataract later on in life. That diet that we're talking about says you could potentially delay the formation of cataracts, by as long as two and a half years. Two and a half years of clearer vision, more function. That's really what this is all about. Back to you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Welcome back. Let's go ahead and bring in Brooke Baldwin who's keeping an eye on things trending online. Some of these pictures are incredible coming out of France, certainly. But then these pictures as well out of this jail --

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Joran Van Der Sloot.

HOLMES: They're not supposed to be comfortable, but this is --

BALDWIN: No, that's -- I'm fascinated by that story. Let me get there in a moment. But first, you mentioned -- I've never been to the French Riviera. I'd love to go, but maybe not at this time of year.

Take a look at these pictures. This is the clean-up aftermath. We're talking southern France, flash flooding happening, he death toll up to 25 people. As many as 10,000 homes are without electricity, something like 20,000 phones that weren't working because of all the high-rising water. In fact the French president Nicolas Sarkozy expected to visit the area next week.

But you mentioned Joran Van Der Sloot. Have you been following this?

HOLMES: Everyone has. And I think there's so much connection people here have of Natalee Holloway. We're wondering if her family is going to get closure to that case. But he's got another mess on his hands --

BALDWIN: Right now the story's taken a turn to Peru and we're getting the first pictures of this prison. It's Castro-Castro prison on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Take a look here. It's described as one of the if not worst in the world.

We're talking overcrowding with five to six inmates all sharing these tiny prison cells. I understand 50 percent of that particular prison population is infected with AIDS, old-fashioned toilets, not running water, rarely get to take a shower.

In terms of security, there are about 150 different security guards. But other than these guys standing outside, inside the prison, they don't have guns, they don't have knives, they don't have batons. The prisoners also walk around in street clothes. Apparently in Peru they say that denigrates the individuality of the prisoner.

HOLMES: Say that one more time.

BALDWIN: They're basically saying they don't want them to all be in uniform because it takes away their individuality.

HOLMES: Are these schoolchildren?

BALDWIN: Don't know. But that is the gist of the general population. That is not where Joran Van Der Sloot is right now. For now, there he is, by the way, our cameras caught him. He's in solitary confinement. "In Session's" Jean Casarez has been covering this for us down in Lima, and she has this exclusive look inside his cell.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEAN CASAREZ, CORRESPONDENT, "IN SESSION" ON TRUTV: This is where he lives day in and day out. This is his clothes. Remember, you saw him on television in these clothes. He still has them here. Here are his pants. And over here, here's his bed. It's a mattress. Over here, he has his own bathroom. As we've heard, it is a hole in the ground.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: The mattress is kind of nice, but the hole for the toilet, maybe not so much.

So here's what else jean learned. Joran Van Der Sloot is apparently eating food that the prison officials are eating for fear simply someone might try to poison him.

Yet she was able to walk around. She talked to some of the inmates about what it's like having this high-profile guy here in this prison. Apparently they're saying, hey, we welcome him.

HOLMES: Strange things going on at that prison.

BALDWIN: Strange, dangerous and that's where he is.

HOLMES: Want to make sure they keep their individuality with their clothing.

BALDWIN: Right.

HOLMES: Back to the actual case, besides his living quarters right now, we're still learning more. It seems like every detail that comes out leaves you scratching your head a little more. But his ex- girlfriend is talking now.

BALDWIN: Right. Now we're hearing from the ex-girlfriend in Aruba. We're talking about Melody Granadillo. She told ABC News Joran Van Der Sloot was once her personal prince charming. She cannot believe this is the same person who's now charged for the murder of that young woman in Peru, Stephany Flores. She spoke with ABC's Chris Cuomo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know him differently. He was a caring person.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Have you ever thought to yourself, I'm lucky?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At first, no. At first -- again, I didn't think he was violent. Then as the time goes by, now especially, I think he was.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So now maybe she's thinking she was lucky.

Here's another interesting twist, friend. Granadillo told ABC news that Van Der Sloot actually contacted her from Peru, text message, asking for money. Remember he was down there gambling. So he's asking apparently for $200 to buy tickets perhaps to come back to Aruba.

That was the same day Van Der Sloot met Flores, and had Granadillo actually stayed with him, she was telling the ABC correspondent maybe everything that happened in Peru never would have happened. But that's a big maybe.

HOLMES: But to hear someone describe him as a prince charming.

BALDWIN: She kept a diary, very intimate, very loving. She just never would have believed he would have been the same guy.

HOLMES: Who is this guy? We still don't have a clear picture of who Joran Van Der Sloot is.

All right, Brooke Baldwin, thank you as always.

As the man who released an attack video in Iraq on his website, this video that we showed you here on this show before. Has he now gone underground because the feds are after him? This man says the State Department is scared. It's a video showing a deadly U.S. air strike in Afghanistan, video he says the government doesn't want you to see. We'll talk to him after the break. Stay here.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Got a story here now for you, a case of international intrigue involving the Obama administration. The man you see here over my shoulder is an Australian whistle-blower. His name is Julian Assange. He has disappeared and pretty much fallen off the radar right now, reportedly being sought by the U.S. government.

Let's take you back now to April. CNN aired this video showing a deadly U.S. air strike in Iraq. American troops mistook a man's camera for a gun. The video was leaked to and released by Julian Assange on the whistle-blowing website he runs called wiki-leaks. Assange's inside source for the video is believed to be an army intelligence analyst now being held in Kuwait. Before Assange went underground, he announced wiki-leaks was about to release another video involving civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Assange is also believed to be in possession of to secret government cables.

Philip Shenon is trying to keep up with this story. Phillip, first of all, do we have any idea where this guy is right now?

PHILIP SHENON, CONTRIBUTOR, "THE DAILY BEAST": We really don't. The rumor on the street is that he is someplace in his native Australia. He was supposed to be on a journalist panel in Las Vegas last week, but he canceled at the last minute saying that he had security concerns.

HOLMES: Security concerns. What does he have to fear? Who does he have to fear?

SHENON: I'm not sure he has to fear arrest. I think there are a lot of people in the Obama administration, both at the Pentagon and the State Department and presumably the intelligence agencies, who would like to ask him, please, please, if you have more of this classified information, don't release it, at least don't release it out making sure we're aware of it.

HOLMES: At this point, do we have any idea exactly what he has. Should we take him serious given his record so far and with that last batch of videos he released?

SHENON: I think you have to take him very seriously. He has produced an awful lot of material on his website over the last couple of years that is quite explosive on a whole range of subjects, not just military intelligence matters. I take him very seriously.

There is under arrest in Kuwait a young army intelligence analyst who has bragged on the Internet that he stole two classified videos, including the one you just broadcast, as well as 260,000 secret State Department cables.

There's an additional video he says he -- that he downloaded and stole and provided to wiki-leaks, and that is the video that Assange is apparently about to put online.

HOLMES: We talk about two videos there, but reportedly, possibly some secret government cables. Now, are we to believe him as well and what could he possibly have in these government cables, and is the government possibly concerned about that as well?

SHENON: I think they're very concerned, because if this young soldier was telling the truth in these Internet chats, he downloaded a quarter of a million classified state department messages, messages about a whole range of subjects, apparently a lot of them dealing with Middle East politics, that could be very embarrassing, if not dangerous if made possible.

Assange has been asked about those cables and he has claimed to date that he doesn't have them.

HOLMES: One more thing, Assange, are we to assume he had this single source, this young man being held in Kuwait, and that was the source of all his information and maybe that source of information is cut off now, or is it possible he had other source and he could keep new, fresh stuff coming in to them?

SHENON: No. We know he has had other sources. This has been going on for a couple of years now. Assange has released just a range of documents on all sorts of issues from the Church of Scientology, the website that released all those e-mails among climate scientists a couple of months ago. Assange has a variety of sources all over the map.

And his dealings with this army analyst in Kuwait apparently only happened over the last couple of months.

HOLMES: We will wait to see what he releases next and in fact if he does resurface at some point. Philip Shenon, again, of the "Daily Beast," we appreciate you updating us. You enjoy the rest of your day.

SHENON: Thank you.

HOLMES: Quick break here on "RICK'S LIST" and we're right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: OK. I know you were glued to your TV. I know we're not a soccer country, but the U.S. was playing in the World Cup just a few hours ago. We were glued here at least.

So we'll let you know that they were celebrating, but they didn't win. We'll explain why people were so revved up about this. That's coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right, were you watching today? This is what you missed. The U.S. -- yes. There it is. Yes. Look at the celebration. The U.S. -- we tied. That celebration was all because of a tie. I know it's a little complicated. We're not a soccer country. I get it. But this is a big deal.

Michael Holmes is in South Africa for us right now. Michael, hello to you. I know things have wrapped up the festivities for the day, but, again, this was a big deal for the U.S. to stay alive. They needed a win. They got the tie, and lucky to get that.

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you know, you're right, T.J. I think they went a bit over confident after doing rather well against England. Everyone thought they would win this. To be two-nil down at halftime was a bit of a shocker.

But to their credit they came out and did well after the halftime break. I think the coach gave them a bit of what-for in the dressing rooms. They made a couple changes and then of course you saw Landon Donovan of the L.A. Galaxy come out and score first up, the highest goal scorer in U.S. football history.

And then Michael Bradley, the son of the coach, Bob, he tied things up. So, yes, it's a funny old sport. You can have a tie and be pretty happy as it was with England, and you can have a tie and actually think you didn't do that well, which I didn't think they did that well today.

HOLMES: That's just how we are. Here in the U.S. we're used to different sports and you win or you lose. Tying is a big deal. Trust us, folks, the U.S. now has a possibility to move on to the next round. This was good that they tied.

Moving on to Michael looking at the grander scheme of things there at the World Cup, an interesting week on a couple levels. I wouldn't say it broke records, but some firsts if you will for this particular World Cup. It's cold, and there's not much scoring.

M. HOLMES: There isn't much scoring, I know. In fact, it is the lowest scoring first week of a World Cup ever. In fact, my cameraman has disappeared. He's English and is over there watching the England game. And they are playing Algeria which is a bit of a shocker in itself.

Hardly any goals. The past couple of days have been better. I got to go to my one and only match with Argentina and it was four-one there. There was a bit of entertainment over there at the soccer city stadium.

You mentioned the cold. It's been freezing, mate. We'll be lucky if it gets to 30 degrees tonight. It's been as low as about 26. It is the coldest World Cup ever because it's not normally down in this part of the world in winter. So we're all bundled up here just for you.

HOLMES: Well, we're glad you're holding on and glad you got to see a couple or at least one match there. I know you're coming home and of course -- you have to wrap it up. I'll give you five seconds to go ahead and give you a few shout outs.

M. HOMES All right. Go Socceroos -- tomorrow they're playing to stay in the fight. So go lads!