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CNN Saturday Morning News
New England Snow Storm; Jump in Hiring Numbers; NYC Trial For Bin Laden Son-In-Law; Austin's South by Southwest Festival; TSA to Allow Knives on Planes; Jurors Grill Jodi Arias; Interview With Fallon Fox, First Openly Transgender MMA Fighter
Aired March 09, 2013 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Victor Blackwell.
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm Brianna Keilar in for Randi Kaye. It's 8:00 on the East Coast, 5:00 out west, thank you so much for starting your day with us.
We start this morning with some good news for the northeast. That's very good news isn't it? Air travel getting back to normal after a winter storm canceled almost 700 flights across the region. Other flights arrived at Newark an average four hours late. New York's LaGuardia and Logan airport in Boston also had significant delays.
BLACKWELL: That blizzard dumped almost two feet of snow on parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut. Where's the storm now and what's in store for this weekend for the rest of the country?
KEILAR: Let's go to the CNN weather center and meteorologist Alexandra Steele with more on that.
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning and what a storm it was. Look at some of these numbers in Connecticut. Another Connecticut storm with two feet of snow, in Staffordville, 23 inches, Worcester, Mass coming in with 22, Foxborough 20 inches, Boston, 12. New York had four, but it is done. It's over. Area of low pressure has moved out to sea, dry skies and sunny skies from Boston to New York all the way down to Washington, DC, temperatures in the 40s and even in the 50s.
Here's our next storm though we're watching, Chicago, a rain day for you. But in the northeast today we're going to have a beautiful weekend in both Boston and New York, today 50s. New York, tomorrow 50s as well, today in the 30s in Boston, tomorrow upper 30s, temperatures really mild.
But then on Tuesday we're going to watch that rain move into New York. Wednesday we're going to watch sunny skies again, so really beautiful week ahead. We're going to have all that snow begin to melt with temperatures well above the freezing point.
Here in the west the next system, we've got Denver, Colorado, six to 12 inches coming in for you. That whole system pushes eastward for the week ahead.
BLACKWELL: All right. Meteorologist Alexandra Steele, thanks.
KEILAR: Back in the northeast, one town has a lot of cleaning up to do after this week's winter storm. In just about five minutes, we'll take you to coastal Massachusetts and tell you how this home ended up tipping off its foundation and onto the beach.
BLACKWELL: A surprise jump in the number of Americans hired last month sent the unemployment rate falling to its lowest level since 2008. It is now at 7.7 percent.
KEILAR: Two hundred and thirty-six Americans got jobs according to the latest report. One of the brightest spots was construction hiring, 48,000 jobs added there.
BLACKWELL: Those jobs are a sign of a broader recovery. Low mortgage rates are helping people buy homes so builders need to hire which means more people have jobs.
KEILAR: The unemployment rate is dropping. Those who have been looking for work for the longest time are now feeling the pinch from Washington.
BLACKWELL: The mandatory spending cuts that began a week ago are cutting into long-term unemployment benefits.
KEILAR: Emily Schmidt is in Washington live with more. Emily, how big is the impact here?
EMILY SCHMIDT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brianna and Victor, good morning to you.
We're talking about an impact almost 10 percent of weekly job benefits now gone. It shortens the life line for millions of Americans who have been looking for work for months with no paycheck to show for it. We're talking about Federal unemployment payments. They start with state benefits, which can last up to 26 weeks, run out.
Those long-term unemployment benefits can provide an average of $300 a week for the next 47 weeks. It's a safety net Congress has authorized since the economy weakened in 2008. So now with the forced spending cuts that went into effect March 1st, people are going to start seeing the smaller unemployment checks in just the next few weeks.
In fact, the National Employment Law Project says there's more to this than that. The budget cuts they say will also impact funding for state agencies, potentially making it harder for the same group of people to get help finding jobs and have their claims processed to get the money that they are counting on. Victor and Brianna.
BLACKWELL: We can expect and understand what their response would be to getting those smaller checks. Are we hearing their reaction?
SCHMIDT: We talked to one person Tracy (INAUDIBLE). She's a Philadelphia grandmother. She's worked for 30 years. She's been out of work since last March stretching every dollar to make ends meet while she's looking for a job. Now she says she's looking at $200 less a month because of these cuts.
She says that simply is not going to be enough to cover the basics anymore. She's so frustrated by these cuts from Washington. She feels that this shows Congress just not looking out for people like her.
KEILAR: And Emily, are there concerns about the larger impact that these cuts could have on the economy? The recovery is in progress but it's obviously, you know, pretty fragile as well.
SCHMIDT: Brianna, you know, it depends on which economists you asked. We talked with one who said, look, we haven't seen a situation like this for the long-term unemployment since the Great Depression. He says these overall mandatory budget cuts only going to hurt the economy more. But then we had another perspective from the one who said these cuts are just a part of finding a long-term budget solution. Listen in.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS EDWARDS, ECONOMIST AT THE CATO INSTITUTE: I think to solve the deficit problem everyone is going to have to get their ox gored to an extent. These extended unemployment benefits are a subsidy. We need to cut all subsidies in the Federal government frankly if we're going to get this deficit down.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SCHMIDT: You see that philosophical divide but while this larger debate continues, here's the reality. Up to 3.8 million people without jobs are now facing larger money worries because of these much smaller unemployment checks. Victor and Brianna.
KEILAR: Thanks, Emily, for that.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is not letting a deadly attack in Afghanistan keep him from personally thanking U.S. troops there. Nine people were killed, 14 others were hurt in a suicide bombing at the Afghan defense ministry in Kabul. Hagel was at a briefing at a military base about a mile from the blast. He was not injured. The Taliban is claiming responsibility and says it's a message for Hagel and for the U.S.
BLACKWELL: He once sat side by side with Osama bin Laden and served as the mouth piece for al Qaeda making threats against the U.S.
KEILAR: Now bin Laden's son (sic) is facing U.S. justice. He's in a courtroom in the heart of New York City not far from ground zero. That's where he has been.
So let's go now to CNN national correspondent Susan Candiotti in New York -- Susan.
SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Victor and Brianna, good morning.
For years, his video messages spewing hate and dire warnings to Americans after 9/11 have finally brought Sulaiman Abu Ghaith to America inside a courtroom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Sulaiman Abu Ghaith entered the courtroom looking and acting much differently than the Al Qaeda spokesman so often seen next to his father-in-law, Osama bin Laden. In New York federal court, he looked older, balding, his dark beard now gray. Gone was the fiery rhetoric.
He quietly said yes when asked whether he understood the charges and left it to his lawyer to enter his plea: not guilty. But behind the scenes, Abu Ghaith is talking to investigators, prosecutors dropping a bombshell, revealing he made a 22-page statement after his arrest, possibly powerful evidence.
JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Prosecutors always want statements from a defendant. So the fact that he gave such an extensive one has the potential to be extremely incriminating at a trial.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): What did he tell investigators? "They are insane." He was arrested overseas February 28th and flown to the U.S. from Jordan March 1st, a full week before his arraignment.
Abu Ghaith has mostly been under house arrest in Iran since 2002. And experts say likely not actively involved in Al Qaeda operations. Bin Laden himself bragged on tape the 9/11 plans were so secretive Abu Ghaith didn't even know about them.
PETER BERGEN, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: And he points to Abu Ghaith, his spokesman, and says, you know, we didn't clue him in. So surely a defense lawyer will be using that in the future case.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Despite ongoing criticism from Republicans that Abu Ghaith should be treated as an enemy combatant and tried before a military tribunal in Guantanamo, the administration stands by its decision.
JOSH EARNEST, WHITE HOUSE PRINCIPAL DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY: This is somebody who's going to be held accountable for his crimes and will be done -- and that will be done in accordance with the laws and values of this country.
CANDIOTTI (voice-over): Some 9/11 families say they're glad someone so prominent in Al Qaeda is being prosecuted.
JIM RICHES, FORMER FDNY DEPUTY CHIEF: Let's get these trials going in New York City. All the people that were affected that day can go see the trials and that's where they should be, in New York City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CANDIOTTI: And that's where Abu Ghaith's trial is, about a mile away from Ground Zero, where Jim Riches' son and thousands of others lost their lives -- Victor and Brianna.
KEILAR: Susan Candiotti following the trial of Osama bin Laden's son- in-law. Thanks Susan.
BLACKWELL: You know that violent storm in the northeast we told you about? It knocked at least two homes along the Massachusetts coast off their foundations.
KEILAR: Take a look at this. That is a house teetering on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. There was a second house that tipped over into the sea overnight gone. At least 10 others are in jeopardy.
BLACKWELL: This is Plum Island, a popular vacation spot long been threatened by coastal erosion. Let's get now to John Atwater of affiliate WCVB. He's there.
John, what are authorities doing to keep the homes there that are still intact, still on those stilts safe from more damage?
JOHN ATWATER, WCVB REPORTER: Victor, unfortunately, not much they can really do but wait and watch. And I tell you, since the last time we talked it's gotten a bit worse here because the tide is coming in. We're still an hour away from high tide, but you can see that house that collapsed, that second house there and the waves just battering that deck. Actually in the foreground here the waves have already carried the staircase. You see that white railing there, carried it this way.
So the problem right now, this debris that's being swept out to sea being brought back in and then hitting some of these other homes that are compromised. One of those compromised homes right in front of us here you can see the foundation it looks horrible and this has been battered storm after storm this winter and we're seeing another high tide here with the waves just rolling in.
Now, we told you before we're at a home that is secure here. It was more recently rebuilt. So we're on the deck here. You can see a number of news crews here, everyone trying to capture these images.
But I just want to bring your attention to this home because this is the one that came off of its foundation yesterday and right now as we approach high tide, the waves are just rolling right in. You can see down at what used to be the first floor and the waves are just coming in and as they go in, they are carrying out chairs, tables, wood. There's metal coming out of that house, obviously a lot of personal belongings here, a very sad story.
But the problem all this debris that's coming out and then hitting other houses down the coastline. Just behind the house you can see a backhoe there. What they're going to do is start trying to dismantle these houses to try to limit the impact on others.
KEILAR: John Atwater of our affiliate WCVB, thanks for that. A really tough go for those people there.
BLACKWELL: Lifetime of memories gone, but they are safe. Wow.
KEILAR: We've got a lot more ahead this hour.
BLACKWELL: Here's a look at what's coming up.
KEILAR: She's a successful mixed martial arts fighter to set her sights on the UFC. One problem, her opponents and the organization say they didn't know she was born a man. Fighter (INAUDIBLE) explains why she doesn't think she did anything wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JODI ARIAS, ACCUSED OF MURDER: If I'm convicted, that's because of my own bad choices.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: Did Jodi Arias just sign her death warrant? Our legal expert breaks down whether she can come back from a shocking admission.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: At this hour we're supposed to have a bit of a fly by, a close encounter with an asteroid that's about as wide as a football field. There's no chance at all - that's the good news - it's not going hit us. However, the closest it will come to our planet is about 604,000 miles away. That's pretty far away, 2.5 times the distance from the earth to the moon and NASA says you can see the asteroid in the night sky with a high powered amateur telescope, but it will be harder to spot once the sun comes up.
BLACKWELL: Not really that close of an encounter.
KEILAR: No, but close when you're talking I guess. A scientist might tell you that it's close.
BLACKWELL: This celestial body should be a little easier to see. Next week this comet will be visible with the naked eye. Look for the comet. It's called Pan Star (ph). It's in the northern hemisphere Tuesday just after sunset. It's been visible with a telescope for a while now in the southern hemisphere and scientists say naked eye comets happen once every five to 10 years, so that's cool.
KEILAR: Very cool. Thousands of people are packed into Austin, Texas, this weekend for the first leg of the south by southwest festival I should say. I haven't been. I'm catching on.
BLACKWELL: It's cool, south by southwest, huge party with a purpose. Music, film, technology, they take center stage.
KEILAR: And covering all of the fun for us this morning is our entertainment correspondent, Nischelle Turner, Nischelle who always gets the great assignments. There were a record number of film submissions this year, huh?
NISCHELLE TURNER, ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Yes absolutely, 5,700 submissions plus, actually a little over 5,700 films that were submitted for the festival, 250 were selected.
You talked to Brianna about how I always get the good assignments. I got another good one yesterday. I sat down with the -- I'm kind of rubbing it in. I'm twisting the knife there. I sat down with the stars of the new movie "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone", Steve Carrell, Jim Carey and Olivia Wilde, the three of them together in one room is crazy. So I can only imagine what the set was like.
Let me tell you just a quick bit about this movie. This movie stars Steve Carrell and Steve Buscemi as this kind of aging magician act on Vegas. They are the bigwigs in town. They attract all the audiences, but then here comes Jim Carey, this young upstart who does all the crazy David Blaine type of stuff like walking on hot rocks. Actually, he sleeps on hot rocks instead of just walking over them. And Olivia Wilde is Steve Carrell's assistant, Jane. So definitely it's a crazy comedy.
It also has a little bit of heart. This movie is full of glitter, spray tan, fake hair, and I'm not talking about on the women. Watch this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OLIVIA WILDE, ACTRESS: I liked it because for the first time it wasn't the woman in the movie having to do the wig and the tan and all the glitter.
TURNER: The men got silent. I tend to think maybe there's something you took.
WILDE: For once I didn't have to shave my chest. I let it grow.
STEVE CARRELL, ACTOR: Finally, I did. I had to shave it. I shaved it this time as opposed to pulling the hair out.
TURNER: And you were glad about that. But actually, we all love you for taking one for the team.
CARRELL: I took it for the team a few years ago. I would never do that again. I would not do the waxing thing again.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TURNER: Kelly Clarkson. That's what I wanted, but I didn't.
BLACKWELL: You also are talking with the cast of "Drinking Buddies." What's on tap? What are you going to drink?
TURNER: (INAUDIBLE) I'm a light weight. In college they used to call me "Two Can Sam." That means two cans and I'm done.
BLACKWELL: Looking forward to that.
Nischelle Turner, thank you so much. South by Southwest.
Basketball legend Michael Jordan makes another comeback, but this time it's not to the basketball court.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLACKWELL: Wedding bells are ringing for Michael Jordan and his fiance, model Yvette (INAUDIBLE). The NBA legend who just turned 50 has applied for a marriage license in West Palm Beach, Florida. TMZ reports the wedding date is April 27th. This is his second marriage. Jordan led the Bulls to six championships and is now the majority owner of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats.
KEILAR: And also NBA super star LeBron James is on a mission for a ring of his own. Last night he led the Miami Heat to their 17th straight win defeating the '76rs. The win actually means that Miami is the first team to clinch a playoff berth (ph) and the streak ties the Clippers to the longest this entire season.
BLACKWELL: All right. Good for them.
America's open house closes its doors. Rand Paul goes on and on and on. And we make up a word. Here's a look at the week that was.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN WILLIAMS, MSNBC HOST: A real live filibuster on the floor of the Senate.
JON STEWART, HOST, "THE DAILY SHOW": What the who? It was a nonevent until Ron Paul's boy, Rand.
DIANE SAWYER, ABC HOST: The White House says they're forced to shut down White House tours.
JIMMY KIMMEL, ABC HOST: This is really going to cut into Joe Biden's balloon animal business.
JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a windy, snowy, rainy mess in the Northeast right now.
CONAN O'BRIEN, HOST, "CONAN": The Biblical end of days is here.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): A fantastically long filibuster, no more tickets for White House tours and the clever name for some wicked weather.
BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Virginia and Washington, D.C., being hammered by another massive winter storm.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Oh, this wasn't just any storm.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were calling it the snowquester there.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Snowquester.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The snowquester.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Maybe not.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Washington, D.C., was expecting snow as well, but most people just saw slush and rain. BLACKWELL (voice-over): That clever wordplay, of course, combining snow from the storm and, well, you get the rest.
STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDIAN: I think this is fantastic and ridiculous or fantasticulous.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KY: I arise today to begin to filibuster John Brennan's nomination for the CIA.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): And this was just the beginning of what would be a --
BALDWIN: A remarkable 12 hours and 52 minutes.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): In that time he talked, drank, ate, invoked "Alice in Wonderland" --
PAUL: "No, no, said the queen."
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Even managed to get Jane Fonda into the conversation.
PAUL: You going to just drop a drone Hellfire missile on Jane Fonda?
(VIDEO CLIP, "9 TO 5")
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Oh, easy, Jane.
BERMAN: Starting this weekend, all White House tours are canceled.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Wait. What?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The tours are being canceled until further notice because of budget cuts.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Prompting people to ask --
SAWYER: Really, is that the only way to save money?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight, the markets make history.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Yep, the Dow rallied and then the following day --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Dow hit a second record high.
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: Nothing short of remarkable.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Yes, there's a positive way to look at it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Keep the party hat handy.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Then there's, well, this.
STEWART: It only took Wall Street and the financial industry 51/2 years to self-repair the gaping wound they self-inflicted. BLACKWELL (voice-over): Hey, speaking of Jon Stewart, he's heading out on hiatus.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He will be off "The Daily Show" for 12 weeks starting in June.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): Don't think he's taking the summer off to just lounge around.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's to direct his first movie.
BLACKWELL (voice-over): And not as his friend Stephen Colbert says, to take a job --
COLBERT: Ruling the country of Venezuela.
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL (voice-over): And that's the week that was.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: That hat does look good.
BLACKWELL: Snazzy.
KEILAR: This is not common in a murder case, but jurors, yes, jurors, not lawyers, will grill Jodi Arias over her lies (INAUDIBLE) and they may continue to. What we learned from this rare exchange next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back everyone. I'm Brianna Keilar in for Randi Kaye.
BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Thanks for starting your morning with us. Here are five stories we're watching this morning.
KEILAR: Six passengers aboard Royal Caribbean's "Vision of the Sea's" cruise ship they're back on U.S. soil today after 11 days at sea, 105 guests and three crew members became sick with a stomach illness thought to be the norovirus but they responded well to over-the- counter medication administered aboard the ship.
BLACKWELL: Small pocket knives will now be allowed on airplanes. TSA the Transportation Security Administration announced the change this week. But not everyone, especially those who work in the airline industry, are on board.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
VEDA SHOOK: Now myself on the flight attendant with Alaskan Airlines and that's one of the airlines that also was opposed to this years ago. We're expecting more airlines to join in this chorus with us today as Alaska Airlines CEO declined remarks that in 2000, Alaska Airline passenger had a two and a half inch knife and attacked a crew member. And he said that a weapon such as a pointed tip could cause great harm on crew members and passengers in the cabin. So the story was the same seven years ago as it is today.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Delta CEO Richard Anderson said Friday he also objects to this decision.
KEILAR: Loaded guns will soon be allowed in South Dakota schools. The law was signed by the Governor on Friday and allows school boards to establish what are called school sentinel programs. They allow certain employees and volunteers to carry guns. All would need to complete a training program.
Several other states allow teachers to have loaded weapons in the classroom.
BLACKWELL: A California animal sanctuary where a woman was killed is set to reopen tomorrow. On Wednesday a 350-pound African lion killed intern Dianna Hanson at Project Survival Cat Haven. Officials say the lion escaped an enclosure then attack Hanson while she was cleaning a separate enclosure. A Fresno County sheriff's deputy shot and killed the lion to get Hanson.
KEILAR: Egyptians are taking to the streets in several cities today. Several buildings in the capital Cairo were set on fire including a policeman's club and the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association. Sparking the anger: a court ruling upholding death sentences and prison terms for more than 40 defendants in a soccer riot case.
BLACKWELL: Now let's talk about this case that millions of people are following. The Jodi Arias trial, she's charged with premeditate the murder of her boyfriend, Travis Alexander. This week jurors grilled her about why she told so many lies. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRY STEPHENS, PRESIDING JUDGE: After all of the lies you have told, why should we believe you now?
JODI ARIAS, ON TRIAL FOR MURDER OF TRAVIS ALEXANDER: Lying is -- isn't typically something I just do. I'm not going to say that I've never told a lie in my life before this incident but the lies that I've told in this case are can be tied directly back to either protecting Travis' reputation or my involvement in his death.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Arias is 32 years old and she could face the death penalty.
Let's now turn to CNN legal contributor Paul Callan for analysis. Paul, there -- this trial will be remembered for moments. And I think this was a huge moment. What are we learning from the jury about their thought process from the questions they asked? PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL CONTRIBUTOR: Well this is shaping up to be one of the most bizarre murder cases I think in American history. She's been on the stand I think now for over 17 days and Arizona has this strange procedure where jurors are allowed to ask questions of the defendant. And I think it's a fascinating procedure.
Actually, for lawyers it's kind of scary, Victor. As my wife was saying when I was leaving today to come to the studio, you know why don't they let jurors ask all of the questions in these cases. Of course she's going to put me out of business completely.
But you know when you think about it, the jurors are the audience that the entire trial was being played before so why not resolve their questions? They propounded over 200 questions for Jodi Arias and they're perceptive questions, there are questions that indicate a high degree of skepticism of the Arias defense and she's been trying to answer them over the last couple of days. It's been fascinating to watch.
BLACKWELL: Yes 200 questions and you know the one that stands out is "why should we believe you". You talked about this not being very common. It is rare. We don't see this very often. How rare is it that the jury has the opportunity to question the defendant?
CALLAN: There are -- there are only three American states that permit it. Arizona, Kentucky and Florida right now that where it's mandatory if judges -- if the jurors ask questions they have to be asked by the judge.
Now, the questions go to the judge and he can rephrase them to make them legally proper and then they get propounded to the defendant in the case. So it's very, very rare.
And boy, they were spot on with some of these questions that they asked her. There's one that was the most fascinating to me which was, Victor that you know her whole defense has been that she doesn't remember stabbing him to death. And one of the jurors said to her, were you in fear when you were stabbing him to death? And she started to say -- to recount her feelings while she was stabbing him and then she caught herself and stopped so it would indicate she did remember the stabbing. That was a very, very telling moment in the trial.
And they also asked a CSI question that I thought was great. The claim in the case is that by prosecutors that she stabbed him first and then shot him to finish him off, 27 stab wounds and a shot to the head. And she finished -- she was asked the question by the jurors why did the bullet casings have blood on them because that would indicate stab first, shoot at the end, which is a contradiction. So they are very perceptive questions by the jury.
BLACKWELL: And there's one thing I want to play for you this was another moment, this is what Jodi Arias said on the stand talk about it on the other side. Let's listen first.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ARIAS: All I can do at this point is say what happened to the best of my recollection and if I'm convicted, then that's because of my own bad choices in the beginning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: My own bad choices in the beginning. Is that a confession?
CALLAN: Well, she certainly has confessed to this murder.
(CROSSTALK)
BLACKWELL: A confession to premeditation.
CALLAN: Well, she's confessed to it by I think indicating so many bizarre things that one could only draw an inference of premeditation. So that answer is like a lot of other answers. For instance, she has always been asked by the jurors, you know, when do you decide to lie and not lie because she admitted that she was deliberately lying about a lot of things. And she says well I only lie to protect Travis Alexander's reputation. And that's why she lied about so many things before the case and during the case.
BLACKWELL: Yes.
CALLAN: And she's blacked out then anything that has to do with stabbing 27 times and then finishing him off with a shot to the head. She can't remember any of that. So the jury was trying to figure out, well how do you -- why do you remember certain things and not other things? When do you decide to lie and not lie? She says I only lied to protect his reputation.
So it is such a bizarre defense that it makes me think the lawyers had nothing whatever to do with it. It must have been Jodi Arias' idea.
BLACKWELL: And we'll see where this goes from here; 17 days on the stand. Paul Callan, thank you so much.
CALLAN: Always nice being with you, Victor.
BLACKWELL: Likewise.
KEILAR: It was seven days dominated by ballet brutality and Dunkin' Donuts heroism. Here's your "Week of Crime in 60 Seconds."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR (voice over): In Russia a dramatic development to a plot right out of well, a ballet, 29-year-old dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko admitted that he was behind the acid attack on Bolshoi Ballet director Sergei Filin in January. Despite the confession, Dmitrichenko said the attack was not intended quote, "To the extent that it happened."
A 59-year-old man who spent 22 months in solitary confinement was awarded $15.5 million this week for his suffering. Steven Slevin was arrested in New Mexico for a drunk-driving incident but was never tried. And his attorney said the county forgot about him. While in jail, Slevin developed fungus on his face, tooth decay and significant weight loss. In a statement on Thursday, the county said it deeply regrets the harm Mr. Slevin suffered during this period.
And don't miss with Dunkin. A man who tried to rob a Dunkin' Donuts drive-through was expecting cash but instead got a full face of hot coffee. The suspect drove off empty handed and cops in Connecticut are still looking for him. And that's your "Week of Crime in 60 Seconds".
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Mixed martial arts is known as one of the most intense and brutal sports today. So, is it ok for a transgender fighter to take on another woman? And does the opponent have the right to know she was born a man? Well Fallon Fox, the first ever openly transgender fighter answers this and other questions right after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: Whether you're a fan of mixed martial arts or have only just heard about it, you may not believe this next story. Take a look at this first round knockout that is making headlines.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Fallon Fox has escaped. They're both back up on their feet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good throws and reversals by both fighters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: These girls are getting right into it. Fox down to the knees. That's it. Fallon Fox, holy cow.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh wow what a beautiful knee. Beautiful clinch right to the chin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: That was feather weight Fallon Fox kneeing Erica Newsom in the head to advance to Florida's championship fighting alliances women's tournament last Saturday. It took Fallon just 39 seconds to win the match and nicknamed the "Queen of Swords." The 37-year-old fighter is on a roll; 3-0 in amateur fights; 2-0 professionally.
But it's not her undefeated record that has everyone talking. The headline is the fact that Fallon was born a man. Fallon kept her history private until breaking the story to "Sports Illustrated's" Loretta Hunt this week explaining how back in 2006 she went through hormonal therapy and gender reassignment surgery.
Fallon and Loretta joining me now for more on this; first off, guys, thank you so much for talking to us about this topic and I guess, you know, to you first, Fallon, there's been some criticism. People, including some of your opponents, who say it's not fair that you fight women when you were born a man. What do you say to your critics? FALLON FOX, TRANSGENDER MMA FIGHTER: I say that it's completely fair. The medical community stands behind me on that. And that there's no unfair competitive advantages, which is the argument some who oppose my competition have -- have said.
KEILAR: And when did you -- sort of give us an idea of when you started with the mixed martial arts. Was this before or after your gender reassignment surgery?
FOX: I started training in 2008, which is about two years after my gender reassignment surgery. My first MMA match was about a year and a half ago.
KEILAR: So you've -- you've only ever trained and you've only ever been involved in the sport as a woman. Are you surprised by some of the reaction that you're getting both -- both some of the negative and the positive?
FOX: It doesn't surprise me that much. I think that some people have a tendency not to pay attention to science in general, which is the way that we find out about the world around us. It's just a thing that happens to human beings. I think for the most part the reaction has been positive. It's just some people, some in society just don't get it yet. That's what we're trying to do right now is to inform people and let them know about transgender athletes.
KEILAR: Loretta, you broke this story. It's sort of interesting because this is an issue that has come up in other sports, right? Talk to us about the MMA and whether fighters are required to notify if they are transgender and how that compares to other sports.
LORETTA HUNT, WRITER, SPORTSILLUSTRATED.COM: Right. Well in terms of mixed martial arts, this is our first known case of a transgender athlete essentially coming out and revealing her medical history. In terms of Fallon having to notify her opponent, at this point the state commissions and they all have their different set of rules per jurisdiction are essentially racing to accommodate and bring in some sort of transgender policy, specifically Florida and California where her licenses are either active or pending.
Fallon at this point would not have to tell her opponent she is transgender and in terms of what rules are in place in the coming months, I suspect she will have to let the commissions know and they will test her appropriately.
KEILAR: What do you think ultimately may happen here?
HUNT: I think it's going to take a couple months. Fallon is in a tournament and she's moved to the semi-finals with her win on March 2nd so -- and she's active right now in Florida. Her license is under review due to a discrepancy she had put on her application but I'm told that her license is actually still active. It's not frozen in any way.
However, the Florida Boxing Commission starting next week is going to investigate and look at some type of transgender policy to bring in. I think it's going to go through a process that's going to take about a couple months and once that policy is in place, I believe Fallon will be able to fight.
KEILAR: This is something that's very personal for you to talk about. Why did you decide at this point that you wanted to discuss this and share this with the world knowing full well that you would get a lot of attention? You were obviously prepared for that.
FOX: Right. I didn't plan on coming out. There was a reporter that contacted me and was digging. Apparently he was told rumors that I was transsexual is the terminology that I like to use. I pretty much had no choice because he was digging around and asking people about me.
If it wasn't for that, I would have preferred to keep my personal medical history to myself because that's what it is. It's a matter of -- it's about my personal medical history. And I don't think that anybody should have to reveal their personal medical history if they don't feel that they want to.
KEILAR: So you felt forced to do this. This obviously must have been a very difficult process to go through and obviously one that I think probably a number of other transgender athletes have had to go through as well. Have you talked to any other transgender athletes to get kind of a sense of this unique experience that's been forced on you?
FOX: Recently I've been in contact with a few transgender athletes. We haven't really talked at length about the situation though.
KEILAR: What are you looking forward to here as you wait for a couple of months? I guess it's sort of a wait-and-see for you. What are your expectations?
FOX: My expectations are for the commissions to accept me as a female MMA fighter. I'm pretty sure they will. They have no legal standing to bar me from fighting, and I don't think that's their bend. I think that they are looking to try to allow me to compete and to set standards in place for other transsexual MMA fighters in the future.
KEILAR: There are a number of other organizations who have those standards in place as well -- the NCAA and the Olympics among them. Fallon Fox and Loretta Hunt, thank you to both for being with us. We really appreciate it.
HUNT: Thank you for having us.
FOX: Thank you very much for having me.
KEILAR: In the next hour, we will talk to Fallon's opponent there you saw there, Erica Newsom who she knock out really just in a matter of seconds.
Jon Bon Jovi is on the NRA's enemy list. Find out why when the rocker talks gun control and music in his home state of New Jersey in our exclusive interview just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLACKWELL: When traveling to other countries and other cities, the best way to get a real taste of the place, I found, is through the local food. CNN iReport and "Travel and Leisure" magazine have finally released the definitive global list of "100 Places to Eat Like a Local".
Here's "Travel and Leisure's" Nilou Motamed with some highlights.
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NILOUFAR MOTAMED, "TRAVEL AND LEISURE" MAGAZINE: I feel like there needs to be a drum roll because we've been working on this list for the last several months. We've had great input from around the globe including CNN iReporters.
And I love the fact that one of the places that got included is a place that I have learned to love because I was introduced to it by a local. A place called the YNA in Merida, in the Yucatan Peninsula. They have a twice fried pork taco that is worth traveling all of the way to Mexico for. Pair that with achaya (ph) juice and you are set for the day.
BLACKWELL: That sounds delicious. I can't wait to see the whole list. Now, there are some elements of this list that came from some expert chefs. They weighed in. Give us an example of that.
MOTAMED: We couldn't resist reaching out to our favorite foodies which are the chefs and restaurateurs in our world and one person who we absolutely had to talk to was Danny Myer who could be called the king of the burger because his Shake Shack has kind taken the nation and the world by storm. He recommended a pub called O'Connell's Pub in St. Louis for what he says is the juiciest cheeseburger in the country.
And if you're a Cardinals fan, it helps because they play the games right there at the pub so you get your burger and your Cardinals game all in one.
BLACKWELL: Sounds so good. Quickly though, we know that ten iReporters -- CNN iReporters made the list. Give us a sample of those.
MOTAMED: Well, there's a gentleman named Ron Nichols who gave us his favorite place in San Francisco called Swan's Oyster Depot. And I couldn't agree with him more. This place is a hundred years old. Six brothers run it and they are all about banter and good humor and you order a Crab Louie and a pint of Anchor Steam and all is well with the world.
BLACKWELL: Sounds so good. Nilou Motamed, thank you so much.
MOTAMED: Thank you. It's my pleasure. You can check out the whole list in our April issue of "Travel and Leisure".
BLACKWELL: No more room service. Just get out the list and head to a restaurant. And Nilou said, you can see the entire definitive list of 100 places to eat like a local. Go to travelandleisure.com and see which iReporters and restaurants made the final list. Just ahead, everybody loves Bon Jovi but the NRA not so much. Find out why the rocker is on the gun rights group's enemies list.
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BLACKWELL: Jon, 30 years of Bon Jovi, 125 million albums and you've got your 12th studio album coming out now. In a few days. As you move on from the "Slippery When Wet" days and you go into decade two, and then three and now starting the fourth. Do you feel a responsibility to write music that is more socially conscious?
JON BON JOVI, MUSICIAN: No. But I said when I was 25, I was never going to be 50 painting my fingernails black and writing "bitch" on my belly.
(LAUGHTER)
BON JOVI: But I said that, you know, I said it as a kid and then I grew into that, which was good. And the truth was is when you are 25, you should write "You Give Love A Bad Name."
BLACKWELL: Yes.
BON JOVI: Who wouldn't want to write, you know, that when you're 25, that's what life was about. If I was 50 trying to write that now, I'd be deemed a dirty old man. It would be a little sick and twisted, you know.
BLACKWELL: But there are some who would still do it.
BON JOVI: Not me.
BLACKWELL: Not you?
BON JOVI: You know, not me. We've grown up in public. And that's -- that's sort of the, you know, the cuteness is that you can go, OK, go on right here, insert the clip with "Bad Name" with my hair down to here.
(MUSIC)
BON JOVI: That's cool, you know, that's fine.
BLACKWELL: Yeah.
BON JOVK: But that's not who I am now. You know, it's a progression and revolution.
BLACKWELL: What about now? Hence the name of the album. What's the message of that lead single at the top?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BON JOVI (singing): I ain't a soldier, but I'm here to take a stand because we can --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Because we can. Is it a nod?
BON JOVI: Yeah, a little bit, but not directly to, you know, I campaign to the president kind of stuff. It's not that. It's, you know, why should we? Because we can. You know, why should we get involved in making our neighborhood a better place? Because we have to. You know, and "because we can" just sang a little bit.
(LAUGHTER)
BLACKWELL: Yeah. So, let's talk now about some of the things you do off stage. Let's talk about home. You grew up in New Jersey, we all know what happened there with Hurricane Sandy. What did you feel when you went back and you saw what had happened to the shore and to the communities and the people there?
BON JOVI: I was devastated. These were my people. This was, you know, where I grew up, these were my memories, this were my family's, and my personal properties. My everythings. And, you know, it makes you more aware next time you see tragedy on CNN that that is somebody's people. That is somebody's neighbors. And, you know, and you can't think of it just in the context of television where you feel empathy. You have to, you know, take it to that next level and say we can help that.
BLACKWELL: I want to get to the gun issue. The NRA put you on a list of enemies.
BON JOVI: Oh, well.
BLACKWELL: Why would they do that? What are your thoughts on this proposed ban on some semiautomatic weapons?
BON JOVI: I'm all for it. I'm all for it. You know, I think background checks should be mandatory. I don't believe that you need assault weapons in the woods to hunt. I believe that 50-round clips doesn't really make it fair game, does it? I think it just -- it's a little extreme.
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BON JOVI (singing): It's my life - it's now or it's never --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: What do you want to do that you haven't done? I mean, you've done so much. What do you want to do?
BON JOVI: I have a bucket list. But you know, I'll leave it at that. And people should always have a bucket list. They should always have a list of things that they haven't done that they want to do. I think when you stop dreaming, stop reaching, then you start slowing down and then you get, you know, bored. I'm not bored.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BON JOVI (singing): It's my life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
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