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CNN Saturday Morning News
Anti-Muslim Filmmaker Questioned; 4 Americans Killed in Libya; New Round of Federal Stimulus Announced; NYC's Super-Sized Soda Ban
Aired September 15, 2012 - 07:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Victor Blackwell.
It's Saturday, September 15th. It's good to have you with us.
KAYE: We start with a new development overnight. The man believed to be behind the anti-Muslim film that sparked protests in the Middle East was escorted from his home by police.
Take a look. That's Nakoula Basseley Nakoula bundled in a coat. He left voluntarily, but didn't speak to reporters as he left his house. This all happened just a few hours ago.
Nakoula was apparently questioned for a few hours before leaving on his own. As part of his probation stemming from earlier bank fraud conviction, he was supposed to have only limited access to the Internet. Of course, the trailer for his movie was found on YouTube. We'll let you know as soon as we get more on this development.
BLACKWELL: We have seen anti-American protests in more than a dozen countries so far. This morning, we even saw protests pop up in Sydney, Australia. It turned violent with protesters clashing with police near the U.S. consulate.
Meanwhile, especially trained U.S. Marines have been sent to help beef up security in Libya, Yemen, and Sudan. Libya is the special case, though. In Benghazi, four Americans were killed in the first few hours of the protests there. Their bodies were returned to the U.S. on Friday.
CNN's senior international correspondent Arwa Damon visited the ruins of the destroyed consulate and she has more on what happened and why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Amid the ash, soot and debris, remnants of a life that was and what it meant to those stationed here. Scrawled on this sheet, "Libya is so important." Traces of blood stained the walls. What is now a blackened ruin was a pleasant compound in an upscale Benghazi neighborhood.
Libyan officials say Tuesday night's attack was planned by Islamist militants and quickly overwhelmed the Libyan and American guards. The compound's first line of defense easily breached.
(on camera): According to one of the Libyan guards who was stationed at the gate, armed with only a radio, the assault happened simultaneously from three different directions. He says that he initially heard chanting growing increasingly louder and then, suddenly, the gunfire, the rocket-propelled grenades and other heavy machine gun fire all began attacking the compound.
He is so terrified of repercussions he is refusing to appear on camera. He says at one point the masked men came over and threatened to kill him at gunpoint for protecting the infidels. He only survived because another individual within their ranks intervened and managed to lead him away.
(voice-over): A rocket-propelled grenade took out the power and set the main residence on fire.
Here, the bedroom where U.S. ambassador Chris Stevens stayed. Part of a small suite. We are told this is where the ambassador, after being separated from his guards in the chaos, smoke and darkness died of smoke inhalation.
(on camera): What we're being told is that the ambassador's security detail brought him into this location, shutting the door, trying to ensure his safety. And then we are being told when the situation finally calmed down the ambassador's body was then taken out through this window by a group of Libyans.
(voice-over): Other consulate staff were evacuated to what was supposed to be a safe house, but then it, too, was targeted. That's where two more Americans died.
Libya's government has vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice, but the country's president touring the site admitted that would be difficult.
MOHAMED MOGARIAF, PRES., LIBYAN GENERAL NATIONAL CONGRESS: We'll do our utmost. Whether we succeed or not. God help us. But we expect help from our friends.
DAMON (on camera): Currently you're not capable. Currently you cannot control these groups, currently?
MOGARIAF: They are not far from the truth.
DAMON (voice-over): The question is whether the United States underestimated the threat from hostile groups here.
(on camera): One security Libyan official told me that he met with American officials in Benghazi three days before the attack took place. He says he warned them not for the first time that security in Benghazi was deteriorating. He said, quote, "We told the Americans the situation was frightening. It scares us."
The ambassador, too, seems to be aware of the general threat from Islamist militants, but no one anticipated the terrible violence that would take his life and the life of three other Americans on Tuesday night.
Arwa Damon, CNN, Benghazi, Libya.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: We have also seen several days of mass protests and demonstrations in Egypt, but Egyptian security forces there have cracked down arresting more than 140 protesters.
Let's bring in Ian Lee. He is in Cairo this morning.
Ian, half the protests there let up in the capital?
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Randi, it seems to be over now. Earlier this morning, the police with the heavy, heavy presence pushed the protesters away from the U.S. embassy, forcing them to Tahrir Square and from there they pushed them out of the square and, really, the protesters melted away into the city.
We haven't seen any more protests, any more conflict. And there is a heavy presence of police presence in Tahrir Square and around the embassy. The walls that the police put up to stop protesters from going to the embassy, they're still there and it doesn't look like they're leaving any time soon.
KAYE: What are you hearing and what more can you tell us about this attack by militants at a U.N. peacekeeping base in Sinai?
LEE: Well, this, this base of multi-force observers their mission is to watch the border between Egypt and Israel. Yesterday militants attacked this compound.
The Egyptian army says that they went after these militants with tanks, armor personnel carriers and a lot of troops were able to push them back. But what we're hearing is that four peacekeepers were injured from Fiji, but this is something that the militants have been threatening these multi-force observers before. And there are Americans who make up this observation mission.
So, this is something that we're watching closely as the violence in Sinai seems to be escalating, at least from now.
KAYE: Ian Lee, thank you very much. Appreciate that.
BLACKWELL: An attack at a military base in southern Afghanistan this morning has left two U.S. Marines dead and at least three others wounded. This base is home to American-run Camp Leatherneck and British-run Camp Bastion. Military officials called it a sustained attack and say as many as 20 insurgents were killed. The Taliban has claimed responsibility.
Now, this is the same base where Prince Harry is stationed, but officials said he was in no danger.
KAYE: Speaking of the British royal family, they've initiated legal action against a French magazine that printed photos of Kate Middleton topless. St. James Palace, which calls the images, quote, "grotesque," hasn't said what steps it is taking.
French law could impose stiff fines or have the magazine called "Closer" pulled from shelves. "Closer's" editor says the pictures of Prince Williams' wife were taken from the road outside of private chateau in Provence while the couple was on vacation there. The editor defends the photos as a matter of the famous couple's security.
BLACKWELL: Back here at home, a circuit judge has tossed out major portions of Wisconsin's collective bargaining law. The law backed by Republican Governor Scott Walker limits the rights of public employee unions like teacher unions. The judge ruled yesterday the law violates both the state and U.S. Constitutions. But this legal battle is probably long from over. After the ruling, Governor Walker suggested the state would appeal the decision.
KAYE: We have much more ahead this hour.
BLACKWELL: Here's a look at what's coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE (voice-over): It's the film being blamed for the deaths of four Americans and protests around the world. Would the filmmaker talking to the FBI, CNN has details on exactly who he is.
They are breaking points, the thresholds of no return, and maybe what separates peace from war. They're called red lines. All morning, we're putting them in focus.
Want a big gulp? In New York, you're out of luck. We go out on the street to see what people are saying about the new sugar laws.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Let's get back to the Middle East and protests aimed at the United States. The anti-American sentiment is a stark reminder of how people in some other countries view the U.S. and the freedoms all Americans enjoy.
This morning, we are exploring the red line -- that is the imaginary line between tolerance and action, the line between standing by and defending yourself and attacking your attackers.
And the question is: when does the White House cross that line?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I want all of you to know is that we are going to bring those who killed our fellow Americans to justice. I want people around the world to hear me to all those who would do us harm -- no act of terror will go unpunished. It will not dim the light of the values that we proudly present to the rest of the world. No act of violence shakes the resolve of the United States of America. (END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: Joining me now from New York is Ambassador Ted Kattouf, who previously served as ambassador in Syria and the United Arab Emirates.
Ambassador, good morning.
The president talks about bringing the attackers to justice. Is that something the U.S. can do or something they'll have to count on the host countries to do?
THEODORE KATTOUF, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SYRIA: Well, it's something we're going to have to do in consultation with host country officials. Libya does have an elected president and prime minister. They want good relations with the United States. And they realize how serious this whole affair is.
On the other hand, the Libyans have been very sensitive with the international criminal court wanted, for instance, the son of Gadhafi, Saif al-Gadhafi tried in The Hague. They've pushed back and said, no, we'll try him here, according to our laws. He'll get a fair trial.
KAYE: We have seen the U.S. reinforce some of the embassies with especially trained Marines. What is their red line? I mean, when do they decide to go ahead and fire?
KATTOUF: Well, I believe that, first of all, either the theater command or the president has to given the order, probably the theater commander. They will be called into action if and when the host country cannot either protect our diplomatic installation or doesn't care to protect our diplomatic installation. At that point, they go in to secure the compound or the safe houses and to extract or evacuate diplomatic staff.
KAYE: This morning we're talking a lot about the red line, basically when to go to war and when to take action. Now, the president used the term when talking about Syria last month, saying the red line was actually chemical or biological weapons falling into the wrong hands. That is what would drive him, he said, to take some action.
Does that kind of talk work in places like Syria?
KATTOUF: Oh, I think it does. President al-Assad has his hands full with an opposition that is increasingly well-organized and well-armed. And he, the last thing he wants is U.S. or Western intervention. So, I'm sure he has taken to heart the admonition that he better protect his chemical and biological weapons.
KAYE: We apparently crossed the red line in Libya earlier this year when the U.S. committed to air strikes against Colonel Gadhafi's forces. Is that level of commitment, do you think, what we should expect in countries like Syria if we did, indeed, go in?
KATTOUF: I think we would use air power in the first instance. But, you know, obviously, if we're talking about chemical weapons falling into the wrong hands, especially trained, Special Operation groups whether SEALs or others at some point would have to be emplaced in the ground and either get those weapons out of there or destroy them.
KAYE: How important is it for a country if they lay down a red line like the U.S. to stick to that red line?
KATTOUF: Oh, it's incredibly important. And I think that's one of the reasons that President Obama is not allowing Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to bully him into setting up red lines with Iran because we don't want to give up our option on how and when to go to war, and for another country to try to dictate that to us is very sensitive.
KAYE: We've seen the U.S. embassy attacked and we have seen U.S. embassies all attacked before. We all remember the Iran hostage crisis, 17 Americans killed when a car bomb exploded at the embassy in Beirut. And in August 7th, 1998, 224 people died in attack at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
Now, is the attack in the consulate in Benghazi any different do you think than those attacks?
KATTOUF: Every attach tack is a bit different, but you're on, you're on the right track, that all of these attacks were well-planned. They weren't spontaneous. This was not an attack over the film trailer that defamed the prophet of Islam. This was a group that is close to al Qaeda, that had been looking for an opportunity to attack our diplomatic presence on the ground in Tripoli and found it, or -- excuse me, in Libya and found it.
KAYE: All right, ambassador, we appreciate your time this morning. Certainly an important discussion as we watch all this red line discussion taking place almost on a daily basis now. Thank you.
KATTOUF: Thank you, Randi.
KAYE: And coming up next hour, we'll talk about possible permanent changes to changes in the wake of these attacks.
Victor?
BLACKWELL: The actions of a Washington professor have revived a long- running debate. Find out what she did in front of a class full of students.
You're watching CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: All right. Now to the story we told everyone about last hour. Adrienne Pine, who is an assistant professor in Washington, and when her daughter spiked a low fever last month, Pine could not take her to day care and she did not want to cancel her anthropology lecture.
So, she took the girl to class.
KAYE: Not surprisingly, the baby got fussy and pine breastfed her until she fell asleep, breastfed her right there in the classroom. The professor said that she did it discreetly, but some students apparently were pretty uncomfortable.
BLACKWELL: Pine said she didn't intend to ignite a debate over breastfeeding at work. And she said the situation highlights the difficulty many parents have with finding emergency day care.
KAYE: So, we want your take on this story. Do you think a professor should breastfeed her child during class?
BLACKWELL: Tweet your responses to RandiKayeCNN or @VictorCNN.
I don't know about you, I received no fewer than 30 responses so far.
KAYE: They're coming in.
BLACKWELL: We'll check all of your responses and read some of them on air.
KAYE: Now to a story that sparked an entirely different kind of controversy. We're learning more about the man believed to be behind the anti-Islamic film that's led to protests in more than a dozen nations. This new video of him coming to us less than an hour ago, you see him there with the hat on and his face covered and a white scarf. Find out more about who may have helped him with the film.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: This morning, federal agents interviewed the man believe to be behind the anti-Islamic film that people around the world are protesting.
Take a look here. Here he is Nakoula Basseley Nakoula. You can barely make him out there. He is there with the white scarf. The scarf is pretty thick covering up most of his face.
BLACKWELL: Yes. Authorities say he may have violated his probation from a 2010 bank fraud conviction. We are still learning more about him, but CNN's Miguel Marquez has been staking out his house near Los Angeles for days.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Randi, Victor, this is the house in Cerritos, California, where Nakoula stays hunkered down. This is where we find out that federal authorities are now checking in whether his activities over the last several months violated his probation.
(voice-over): The spotlight on the mysterious filmmaker growing stronger. Officials say the court is reviewing Nakoula Basseley Nakoula's case to see if he broke terms of his probation. Nakoula faced 26 conditions for five years of supervised probation after his 2010 conviction for credit card fraud and identity theft.
Most glaring, the now infamous filmmaker was barred from using any devices that could access the Internet, except those approved by his probation officer. He was also ordered to pay nearly $800,000.
(on camera): What kind of man do you think Nakoula is?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nakoula is very smart man and will he will do anything for money or for fame.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): The man I'm speaking to says he was a victim of Nakoula's fraud. He would only talk to us on the phone. Like many Coptic Christians, he now lives in fear.
(on camera): How afraid is the Coptic community now?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Coptic is very afraid because of what Muslims do when somebody tries to demean their prophet.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Nakoula made his film with well-known anti- Islamic individuals.
Joseph Nassralla, the president of Media for Christ who also runs a satellite TV station in L.A., obtained the permit for the film and allowed part of it to be shot in his studio.
JOSEPH NASSRALLA, PRESIDENT OF MEDIA FOR CHRIST: Islam comes with a sword, and they kill my people.
MARQUEZ: Nassralla also has tied to Steve Klein, the anti-Islamic consultant on the film. He also speaks at events organized by anti- Islam activist Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller.
NASSRALLA: The Islam conquered our country. My country is conquered by Islam right now. MARQUEZ: The irony of film targeting one faith is endangering the other.
(on camera): Two individuals representing themselves as lawyers entered the house a while ago. They came here at Nakoula's request. It appears the world's most infamous filmmaker is now looking for options -- Randi, victor.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: Miguel Marquez, thank you.
BLACKWELL: All right. If you're planning to buy the new iPhone 5, why you may have to wait a bit longer to put your hands on one.
KAYE: Plus, the latest on the Fed's move to stimulate the economy.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Stocks ended the week on a multi-year high. Mortgage are relatively unchanged from last week. Take a look.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Bottom of the hour now, welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Thanks for starting your morning with us.
KAYE: Here are five important stories we're watching this morning.
The man behind the anti-Muslim film that sparked protest in the Middle East was escorted from his home overnight by police overnight. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula left voluntary but didn't speak to reporters as he left his house. He was apparently questioned for a few hours before leaving on his own.
That film has sparked protests in more than a dozen countries, some of them turning violent. Western diplomats have warned leaders in those countries to ensure protection for their staff. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned that the U.S. would take action to protect its diplomatic facilities.
A circuit judge has tossed out major portions of Wisconsin's collective bargaining law. The law backed by Republican Governor Scott Walker limits the rights of public unions, like teacher unions. The judge ruled yesterday the law violates the state and U.S. Constitution, but this legal battle is probably long from over. After the ruling, Governor Walker suggested the state would appeal that decision.
Sometimes all traders need is a little reassurance. Facebook stock shot up over 6 percent on Friday after Mark Zuckerberg spoke for 30 minutes at an industry conference earlier this week. It was his first public appearance since the company went public. Facebook is still the worst performing IPO in history. Shares have lost nearly half their value since its debut back in May.
If you didn't preorder the first iPhone in the first hour after it went on sale, you're going to have to wait. Yes, two weeks you're going to have to wait to get it. Online stores have been slammed with sales in the last 24 hours and Apple shares hit an all-time high, nearly $700. And, if you don't want to wait it out, the phone also hits store shelves next week.
BLACKWELL: The unemployment rate has been above 8 percent for the last 43 months. It's a talking point Republicans are hitting hard this election season. But just this week, the Federal Reserve announced it is taking steps to boost the economy and get some employers to hire new workers.
Earlier, I spoke with CNN international anchor Richard Quest about the Fed's latest move.
(BEGIN VIDEOPTAPE)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: The plan is audacious. Having had two bites, the quantitative easing sharing $1.2 trillion plus as being pumped in to the market. Now, he's got the printing presses going again. But this time it's open ended -- $40 billion will be going into agency-backed, mortgage-backed securities. It's a lot of money when taken with other things that he's going to be doing, $85 billion in all. And it is open ended, $40 billion a month for the foreseeable future, or at least until unemployment comes down. That seems to be the barometer that the Fed chairman is looking at.
BLACKWELL: Richard, there has to be some danger inherently in having this QE3 with no end date in sight.
QUEST: Yes, what danger would you like? Would you like to worry about inflation and the possibility of what might happen in the future or would you like to continue to see the U.S. economy sluggish, sclerotic, and not picking up speed as you would expect?
Demand, which is what this is all about, is still low. And all this at a time when interest rates are unbelievably low.
We have a saying in economic: accommodative. This is more than just accommodative. They are almost helicoptering money down. That's why you throw it from the top and it goes everywhere. It's not working.
Yes, growth is picking up somewhat, 1.5 percent, 2 percent. But unemployment remains stubborn at 8.1 percent and now Bernanke has decided it's jobs, jobs, jobs.
BLACKWELL: Now, Republicans are a bit critical. Some of them believe that this was a bit of a nod to President Obama.
Do you see politics in this at all?
QUEST: No and yes. Yes and no. I remember in one of the Bush elections where there was the question of Bush 1, whether there was going to be a cut in interest rates before the election and if they did that Alan Greenspan would have been tinkering with the electoral process. There is -- you know, the election is still also two months away also. There is no way that the Fed chairman, with his mandates, could sit on his hands and whistle Dixie as he watches things get worse or at least not get better.
Now, could he have done other things? Yes. There are a variety of other technical things he could do with QE. He could have -- which would have had an effect, but going for this model in this way, I can see why the Republicans are seething and spitting feathers. It will have an effect.
But from Bernanke's point of view, he probably had no choice.
BLACKWELL: Are we going to see this effect, do you believe, before the election?
QUEST: Good question. Bernanke told us that QE1 and QE2 did have an effect. It created growth and did improve the situation.
Now, most people seem to believe that over the next couple of months as the money goes in, unemployment will come down. But I think it will be naive, it will be more than that, naive, silly, between now and middle of September, to beginning of November, we already got a couple different sets of numbers that there could be a dramatic difference.
So, at best, I think you're looking for a trend or a blip or something that says it's working. But be no illusion here, Victor.
What Bernanke announced is medium to long-term until things start getting better. Those printing presses are going to be going I guess six months to a year. I can see it easily. He's already told us interest rates are going to remain low until 2015. Well, it's 2012 now. There is an enormous amount of work still to be done.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Well, for now, the latest stimulus plan has injected some life into the markets. Yesterday the S&P 500 closed at its highest level since 2007.
KAYE: New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says the Big Apple will be a healthier place now with the soda ban. What do some New Yorkers think about this strict no policy?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bloomberg, it's not his business. If you want to be fat, be fat.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KAYE: We sent comedian Bill Santiago out on the street to find out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Folks in the Big Apple craving a big soda, better get one while they still can. That's because Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on the sale of super-sized sugary drinks has now been approved by the city's board of health. It calls for a 16-ounce limit on sodas and sugary beverages sold at restaurants, delis and movie theaters in the city. It goes into effect in March.
After its approval Thursday, Mayor Bloomberg tweeted this, "Six months from today, our city will be an even healthier place." Maybe so. The question is, will New York be a happier place as well?
We sent resident comedian Bill Santiago out on the street to find out.
So, Bill, I bet you got a whole bunch of opinions and snarky comments, as well. What do New Yorkers think of this?
BILL SANTIAGO, COMEDIAN: Well, they were pretty much split. Some people thought it was a good idea and they totally support the mayor's new lifestyle initiative no matter how anti-fun it is. Other people just had one message for Mr. Bloomberg which was kiss my big gulp and still a lot of open questions about it. Who exactly will get into trouble for this?
Right now, it's just vendors will people eventually get into trouble for possession of an oversized sugary drink. Will the venti frappuccino be banned? Starbucks thinks there is some wiggle room.
The question is, will Governor Christie get diplomatic immunity when he gets to the city and wants to get his 10-gallon Slurpee on.
But, anyway, there is a range of opinion on. New Yorkers are never people to disappoint when you ask them what's on their mind. Let's check out what they had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bloomberg, none of his business. If you want to be fat, be fat. If you don't want to be fat, you won't drink it. Correct? But you should have the option.
SANTIAGO: So, you're totally against this?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I'm totally against it.
SANTIAGO: So, you think people have --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love the supersize.
SANTIAGO: You're a supersize person.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
SANTIAGO: Hey. We are from CNN and we're talking about the Mayor Bloomberg sugar ban. I see you are enjoying a sugary drink here. Do you know what size that is? Is that 16-ounce?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is 16 ounces.
SANTIAGO: Sixteen ounces, that's the limit. Do you ever go over that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I do not.
SANTIAGO: The ban would not affect you at all?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'll just get two.
SANTIAGO: You think you have a constitutional right to have diabetes?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, absolutely.
SANTIAGO: Slow someone down just from saying, hey --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Give me two, no.
SANTIAGO: But you have to pay for the second one. You can get free refills. Is that right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some places, yes.
SANTIAGO: That sounds like a hell of a loophole. The free refill loophole.
Do you think of Bloomberg more a tyrant or a nanny?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: More as a nanny than a tyrant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's doing the right thing. He's trying to protect us from ourselves.
SANTIAGO: So, we have to protect from ourselves?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, first, like he banned smoking every place, which is good.
SANTIAGO: That's terrible. Now, you can't get a coke or a cigarette?
So, you are a diabetic soda drinker?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SANTIAGO: So you're totally against even the principle and the practice of this law. You're a diabetic who needs your sugary drinks?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Exactly.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bloomberg, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but let people make their own choice.
SANTIAGO: Do you think he is abusing his power as mayor?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, I think so. I think he just wants a stand for something. He wants to take out on soda.
SANTIAGO: I want to start a soda freedom party. Are you behind me?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
SANTIAGO: OK. Are you willing to donate $1,000 right now to get me elected?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, right now. Here's the money.
SANTIAGO: Let's do it. Let's do it. Look at that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KAYE: And bill joins us once again from New York. So, you didn't see the mayor out on the street pushing his new campaign?
SANTIAGO: I didn't see him. I know he's out there and plugging this and trying to put the best light on it so he doesn't come out as a tyrant or a nanny and making people understand that he's just trying to make the city a little bit healthier. But I'm sure he would have gotten an earful because some people think that it's none of his business and the interesting thing is that this news, of course, has gotten worldwide attention, and there are cities around the planet that are offering up sanctuary and asylum for soda ban refugees.
If you get sick of it, you can always go to London and get the biggest size soda your heart desires.
KAYE: Go across the Hudson there and get a big super size in New Jersey.
SANTIAGO: It's going to will cost you a lot of money to --
(CROSSTALK)
KAYE: Yes. No kidding. All right, Bill, nice to see you. We'll see you next week.
SANTIAGO: Nice to see you. We'll se you next week. Bye-bye.
KAYE: OK. Victor?
BLACKWELL: Well, somewhere around the building someone is drinking the 10 ounce milk shakes and getting a few hundred calories.
All right. If you're a big "Saturday Night Live" fan and I am, you'll be happy to hear the show returns tonight for its 38th season and they have a big change in store. We're going to tell you about that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLACKWELL: Tonight is the 38th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live." You'll see some new faces on stage and we hear there's a new president in town.
I spoke with our entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner a little earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Nischelle, what are you hearing about this big change?
NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: You know, this is a big change, Victor. Now, we're used to seeing Fred Armisen play President Obama and he does it very well, I think.
But Lorne Michael says he wants to shake things up and he will replace with Jay Pharaoh. He's been on the show for a couple of seasons and he's done some great impressions on "SNL." He's done some of Will Smith, Denzel Washington, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, which is my favorite and Jay-Z and done some funny Obama impressions as part of his stand up act and you can find those online.
Stop, that's probably what led to this switch here.
BLACKWELL: He does a great Denzel Washington. I want to read what Jay Pharoah tweeted out this week. He tweeted, "Cheers to a great year. More principal frye, more characters, more impressions, more responsibility. God placed me exactly where I need to be."
Good for him, though. But a good role, of course.
I think Armisen really had just a great Obama impersonation actually.
I want to share with you my impersonation of Fred Armisen doing President Obama? You ready, it is only two words. TURNER: Oh, boy. Oh, boy. Go.
BLACKWELL: Thank you. That's my impersonation.
TURNER: Thank you.
BLACKWELL: Thank you.
So, why do they make this change from Fred Armisen to Jay Pharoah?
TURNER: Well, you know, you're right. Fred Armisen is a very funny guy. And event though we loved his President Obama impersonation, it never really made this huge impression on the public.
And it's really important role for "Saturday Night Live." I mean, historically, some of the most memorable highlights from the show involve political impressions. Remember Will Ferrell as George W. Bush, Dana Carvey as Bush, Sr., Chevy Chase as Gerald Ford, Dan Aykroyd's Jimmy Carter.
So, show, when you're playing this character on a show, especially in an election year, they really want you to make an impression, and a lasting impression at that.
BLACKWELL: And there's also news about Jason Sudeikis, he'll be back as Mitt Romney, he impersonates Governor Romney. He also does Vice President Biden. But there's a hitch in this, too, right?
TURNER: Yes, actually, because he was debating on leaving the show before the season started. But now, it looks like he's going to stick around, at least through January. Now, if Mitt Romney does win the election, then there's a whole new ball game and maybe they're going to try to convince him to stay around or they may just have to start auditioning new versions of Romney on the show.
But I can't imagine if Mitt Romney wins the election and Jason Sudeikis has played him through January that they'll make this kind of weird switch in the middle of the season. So if Mitt Romney wins, they will probably be trying their best to convince Jason Sudeikis to stay.
BLACKWELL: I think they should try to keep Fred Armisen on the opposition, too. But we'll see how Jay Pharoah does. Also, you know, we're talking about politicians and "SNL" really no underestimating the power of "SNL" on politics. You look back to 2008, we saw Tina Fey as Sarah Palin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TINA FEY, SNL: Ad I can see Russia from my house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: And that really had an impression on the voters a lot of surveys show. We'll see more of that this year with Obama and Romney, I'm sure we'll see that, right? TURNER: Oh, absolutely. You know, some people get down on "Saturday Night Live" in its form right now. But "Saturday Night Live" when they're talking politics, that's when they're at their best. When you talk about Tina Fey, Sarah Palin, Amy Poehler's Hillary Clinton is one of the more iconic ones.
So, I'm definitely thinking we're going to see that. It's an election year. This is going to be a very interesting election. So they're going to go all in and I'm excited. I can't wait to se what they come up with.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLACKWELL: Thank you. What do you think?
KAYE: I think it needs some work.
BLACKWELL: Oh, OK. Good morning to you, too, Randi.
KAYE: I'm just being honest, you know?
BLACKWELL: That was entertainment correspondent Nischelle Turner.
The 38th season premieres tonight on CNN.
And speaking of comedy, Clint Eastwood and the chair. That's a punchline in itself, but now the actor is talking about it and to put it simply, he has no regrets.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CLINT EASTWOOD, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: One thing about -- one advantage of being my age is, you know, what can they do to you? You just have fun and do as you think, and you can say what you think. You don't have to edit yourself.
TURNER: So you don't regret it at all? And I think I hear Governor Romney say on one of the Sunday shows last week that he enjoyed it. He liked it.
EASTWOOD: He did, yes. He's got a much better sense of humor than people think.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Also, Mitt Romney thought it was funny, but remember when she was asked, Ann Romney, could only say it was unique.
KAYE: The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the state of Georgia, and the group that they are representing may surprise you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a living university in so many ways. Basically we're off the grid. We produce our own food.
We make our own furniture. We produce our own energy, electricity and cooking gas. We compost waste and heat water with it.
At the same time we produce a luxury environment for people to come and enjoy themselves, and it's all within an environment that we just say, wow, I can't believe I'm not doing any damage. I can't believe I'm actually doing some good.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: Taking a look at stories we're watching around the country.
In southern California, a fast moving brush fire has burned 75 acres. Check out the fire in Los Angeles. The fire started during the Friday afternoon rush hour snarling the city's already infamous commute and burned through the night.
And after a five-day strike, a tentative deal in Chicago between the teachers union and the city's school board. Union officials will meet sometime between now and Sunday to draft framework for a deal.
And you might think they would be on the other side of this fight. The ACLU suing the state of Georgia on behalf of the Ku Klux Klan over a violation of free speech. The Klan filed for an adopt a highway permit back in June with you were turned down by the state's Department of Transportation because of the group's history of violence.
Well, the ACLU says no matter how offensive the Klan's positions may be everyone is entitled to freedom of speech.
BLACKWELL: All right. Coming up, more responses to a story we told you about last hour. Do you think a professor should have breastfed her baby during class? We still want to hear from you. Tweet us at RandiKayeCNN or VictorCNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KAYE: So we've been telling you about an American University professor who breastfed her baby in class last month. We've been asking you to share your thoughts via Twitter, and we're going to share a few of them with the viewers here.
The first one says, this one is from Gilbert.
BLACKWELL: If those kids can watch blood and gore on Xbox or PlayStation, they should be able to see a baby feeding. Ugh. Kids."
KAYE: And Mike said, "No. For years instructors tell students that distractions in class are bad, and there isn't anything more distracting than that."
You got another one?
BLACKWELL: Yes, I've got a few. I've had more 75 coming. This one from Angelo1906. "While definitely awkward the professor is a working mom and should be able to nurse freely as long as she's covered. No issue here."
KAYE: I have one more from David, which I have to clean up actually for air. But David wrote, "I know it's not a pole dance, but the teacher should have used a bottle instead."
BLACKWELL: Clean that a bit.
KAYE: I had to clean that up. We'll leave it at that.
BLACKWELL: Thanks for starting your morning with us.
KAYE: We've got much more ahead on CNN SATURDAY MORNING, which starts right now.
