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CNN Saturday Morning News
States Pass Gun Control Laws; Giving Back Their Government Salary; Obama Apologizes To Kamala Harris; White House Summit; Bieber's Monkey Quarantined; The "Mad Men" Are Back; Wreckage Carries Fish Across Ocean; Final Four Starts Tonight; Nice Weather For Final Four Weekend
Aired April 06, 2013 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): From CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, this is CNN SATURDAY MORNING.
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MARQUEZ (voice-over): As the drumbeat of war gets louder in North Korea, news that the country has loaded two missiles and is warning foreign nationals to get out of the capital while there's still time.
It's a multimillion-dollar business with more than 2,500 employees. It's no Silicon Valley startup; it's a white supremacist gang and some say the ideology is secondary to its financial interests.
BEN FELDMAN, ACTOR, "MICHAEL GINSBERG": A woman and her secrets: oh, the things she'll never tell.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): He was the breakout star from last season's "Mad Men." Emmy nominee Ben Feldman joins me live to talk about Sunday's season premiere, his character's horrific past and why he is being called the next Don Draper.
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MARQUEZ: Good morning, everyone. I'm Miguel Marquez. It's 10 o'clock here in the East Coast 7:00 out West. We're glad you're with us this morning.
First, all eyes are on North Korea this morning and its young, untested leader, who has been threatening the U.S. and South Korea.
Now we're hearing from a U.S. official that two missiles are on mobile launchers on North Korea's East Coast and, if they're fired, South Korea and Japan could be within range.
Let's go to CNN foreign affairs reporter Elise Labott in Washington.
Elise, how seriously is the Obama administration taking these threats?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they're taking the threats seriously, Miguel. And you can see that the U.S. is putting its missile defense system, moving that to the island of Guam, where these missiles feasibly could hit. But at the same time, they've seen these pattern of threats from North Korea before. They're hoping to kind of dial back the rhetoric.
And even if there is some kind of missile launch or missile test, they're hoping that this latest escalation of rhetoric and tensions could die down. Secretary of State John Kerry headed to Asia later in the week and hoping they can find a diplomatic way forward.
You already see, even as these threats are going on, that the U.S. is not meeting those rhetoric bit for bit and is trying to kind of calm tensions a little bit, saying let's not get this any hotter.
MARQUEZ: Will North Korea be on his agenda? He goes through Middle East and Asia. And can he actually defuse tensions with his trip?
LABOTT: Well, first, he is headed to the Middle East. This is really going to become one of his signature issues. He's really going to try to make some progress in the long-stalled peace talks between Israeli and Palestinians. But then he's going to dive into the hard work of North Korea, Miguel.
He's going to meet with -- he's going to go to South Korea, China and Japan, all about trying to move past this latest escalation and how can there be a diplomatic way forward.
My understanding from sources is that he's going to be talking to these countries about what can we offer North Korea to stop this cycle of threats, missile launches, missile tests and get it to start talking about denuclearization.
He is also going to be talking to the Chinese, who have a lot of influence to say, listen, you got to get tougher on North Korea and try to get them to walk it back.
MARQUEZ: Yes, and is there a sense that he can do that? Can North Korea sort of walk it back themselves? Or is -- are they in sort of too far at this point?
LABOTT: Well, analysts and sources say that they think that North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has accomplished what he wanted to. A lot of this is for domestic politics, to try and shore up his support at home.
You've seen these military parades, mass demonstrations in favor of Kim Jong-un. So they think that this untested leader, trying to get some street cred back home, has kind of done that.
They are expecting that the North Koreans could take some kind of action, whether it's a missile launch, even a nuclear test. What they're hoping for is that they won't do some kind of cross-border action with South Korea that then could escalate. But they're hoping and they're seeing in the region that, even as the threats seem so intense right now, that it could be cooling down just a bit, Miguel.
MARQUEZ: All right. Elise Labott in Washington, D.C., thank you very much. New this morning, anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela has been released from the hospital in South Africa. Doctors have been treating the former president for pneumonia. It was the second time in the past month that the 94-year old has been hospitalized. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has had a history of lung problems dating back to his time in prison.
Back here in the U.S., an update in the unsolved murders of two Texas prosecutors. Officials in Kaufman County are cracking down on threats and taking every potential threat seriously.
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MARQUEZ (voice-over): Just Thursday, someone called in a bomb threat during the memorial service for District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife. Whoever made that threat hasn't been found. But police arrested this man, Robert Miller, and charged him with making a terroristic threat online against a deputy district attorney.
Another man, Nick Morale, also faces charges; he's accused of threatening a county official but police say these men are not tied to the killings.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us now from Kaufman County, Texas.
Martin, how do these threats relate to the case at hand?
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, directly, as you point out, they don't. They're not considered suspects in the murders here. But it's a clear sign by authorities that they are not going to tolerate any kind of threat that would be made against either a person that's in law enforcement or a person that is in a leadership role in the state of Texas.
And not only that, they're going to come down hard on you if you do. In these two men's cases, one of them posted something online; another one actually called in on a tip line. And so both of them now are being held on $1 million bond each and charged with a terroristic threat.
As far as the investigation, there is not a lot that is being said here. However, there is a tremendous amount of resources that have been brought in. That's on top of the Kaufman County Sheriff's Department and the resources they have.
Then you have the state resources that are here and then many federal assets have been brought in, because, again, this is the kind of attack on law enforcement that simply will not be tolerated. And so law enforcement wants to make sure that they get it done and get it done right. But they aren't talking about who are the suspects at this particular time.
Christina Foreman is the daughter of the McClellands. They were murdered a week ago. She spoke to Anderson Cooper last night about them.
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CHRISTINA FOREMAN, MCCLELLANDS' DAUGHTER: They were amazing. They were the most amazing people I have ever known in my entire life. They had such conviction and such strength and they really believed in what they were doing. And they loved their family. You know, we have a blended family and the five kids, and they loved all of us. And they had so much to give.
SAVIDGE (voice-over): And many people believed in what they were doing, which is why they have picked up in their footsteps now and are trying to find their killers.
It should be pointed out that Mike McClelland, the district attorney, was in a gun shop the day before he was found murdered. He had been talking with a gun owner in the -- or the gun shop owner, I should say, and the gun shop owner has said that he was worried about his staff and wondering what protection could be done.
The gun shop owner said, of course, buy a weapon and bulletproof vests, but the gun shop owner said that McClelland himself did not seem to be in fear of his own life. Miguel?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: Martin Savidge, thank you very much.
And in 15 minutes, we'll take a look at an organized crime ring that could have ties to the murders.
The store that sold the Bushmaster rifle used to kill 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School can no longer sell guns. The -- an ATF official told CNN that Riverview Gun Sales lost its federal firearms license on December 20th; that was just six days after the Newtown massacre. A police detective speculated gun sales at the store were stopped because of poor recordkeeping.
Adam Lanza's mother bought the Bushmaster rifle there two years earlier this past week. Connecticut passed a law banning the sale of high-capacity magazines like the one Lanza used at Sandy Hook.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
New this morning, there's a hepatitis scare in New York City after a West Village restaurant worker tested positive for the disease, hepatitis A. The city's health department says anyone who had dessert at Alta between March 23rd and April 2nd should get tested for hepatitis A as a precaution. Workers at the restaurant will be doing the same. Patrons appear to be shaken up.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every single employee (inaudible) the front of the house and the back of the house will be intending to get a shot no later than one day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm shocked. I'm -- I love this place. I come here all the time. It's great service, great food. I recommend it to a lot of people. I'm surprised.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Now to China, where people are increasingly worried about an unusual strain of bird flu. At least six people there have died from it. Authorities reacted by slaughtering 20,000 chickens, ducks, geese and pigeons in one market yesterday after the flu was found there. The virus has never been -- never before been in humans. Experts say it hasn't yet transferred person to person.
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MARQUEZ: Eight hours till college basketball's biggest night, how the city of Atlanta is getting ready to host the Final Four, where some of the music's biggest names will be performing.
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MARQUEZ (voice-over): Good morning, Atlanta, a live look at Centennial Olympic Park, right next door to here at CNN World Headquarters. The whole park has been transformed for Final Four weekend. We're talking Ferris wheels and concerts by the likes of Ludacris, Sting and the Dave Matthews Band. Pretty cool. Dave Matthews Band, of course, pretty cool.
But everyone is really talking about basketball, of course. The big tournament started with 64 teams and today they give Final Four go at it to earn their spot in Monday's championship game.
Carlos Diaz, right outside the spot where history will be made, the Georgia Dome. First, what's the latest on Kevin Ware, the Louisville guard that broke his leg last week, that we all can't get out of our minds?
CARLOS DIAZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. And by the way, we are T- minus 8 hours away from tipoff. All right? I truly am geeked out about this. But, yes, don't worry, I'll wrap it up.
But, yes, Kevin Ware, of course, he is -- he is on everyone's minds this week after that horrific leg injury, the compound fracture that he suffered during the game on Sunday against Duke. And he is going to be basically all over the stands tonight at tipoff at 6 o'clock because Amar'e Stoudemire for the New York Knicks has donated 10,000 big heads of Kevin Ware's face that the fans are going to wear during the game.
So you'll be seeing Kevin Ware's face, even though he won't be playing, and if you've missed what kind of week he's had, here is your recap, courtesy of CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KEVIN WARE, LOUISVILLE BASKETBALL PLAYER (voice-over): My first instinct was like, I can't start crying. I looked down at my leg. I see my sneaker on, but my leg is like this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He just kept chanting, just win the game. Just win the game. We did that.
WARE (voice-over): I saw the pictures of them putting the trophy by my side and me sleeping with it. And I was very proud.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How are you feeling, Kevin?
WARE: Good. Thank you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thanks for all the support. Thank you so much.
(CROSSTALK)
WARE: My injury or not, I still want to win a national championship.
I know the president kind of picked us to lose Indiana in practice, but when I speak to him in the White House, I'll forgive him.
DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS HOST: The number one line going to Kevin Ware's mind at the moment of the broken leg:
WARE: At least my bracket's not busted.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DIAZ: So you got Louisville taking on Wichita State. Then you got Michigan taking on Syracuse. It's an amazing day of basketball and you don't want to miss it, 3 o'clock today, Rachel Nichols, all access, Final Four.
She has got everything you want to know behind the scenes. She has got all the pregame press talks. She has got all the tears after the game (inaudible) a team loses. She has got all the cheers after a game when a team wins. It's Rachel Nichols, Final Four, all access. You don't want to miss it. Miguel, I'm pumped now, baby. The sun is out. It's beautiful here in Atlanta. It is Final Four basketball time!
(CROSSTALK)
MARQUEZ: I need some of that Carlos Diaz air, my friend. Thank you very much.
While the Final Four schools are celebrating their athletics, there's a serious scandal developing at Rutgers University. Athletic Director Tim Pernetti has resigned. The decision follows the firing of Head Basketball Coach Mike Rice and the resignation of Assistant Coach Jimmy Martelli. It's all because of this video broadcast by ESPN, showing players being physically and verbally abused.
Andy Scholes joins me now with more -- what's the latest and could we see more resignations? ANDY SCHOLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we could in the future. Right now, we're not hearing anything like that. Another name they threw out there on Friday, who did resign, was John Wolf. He was the university's general counsel. And he was a part of that decision- making process that they were going through when they were discussing Rice, what to do with him.
You know, they kicked around a 10-game suspension, they kicked around firing him and they eventually settled on that three-game suspension. And I guess that's another reason why John Wolf, along with Tim Pernetti, resigned yesterday.
MARQUEZ: All right. These firings come on the heels of talks about the school becoming part of the Big 10 Conference. Are there conspiracy theories out, that this video was hidden for fear of hurting Rutgers' chance of participating? What are you hearing?
SCHOLES: Well, I'm not buying that just because Rutgers announced they were going into the Big 10 and they were accepted on November 20th. Now Pernetti didn't start his investigation into Rice until November 27th.
And the Big 10 commissioner, Jim Zeleny (ph), has even come out and said this had no bearing on whether they got into the conference or not. And it's not going to matter now, either. Big 10's only concern about that New York market Rutgers brings for TV.
MARQUEZ: Yes, reports now that some of the big donors are pulling their money back, at least temporarily.
What are you hearing?
SCHOLES: Yes, Pernetti was very popular amongst the big donors at Rutgers. And a few of them have said, hey, we're going to hold off on any more money in the near future because we're not happy about the way this was handled.
Rutgers, you know, that might not be a big hurt -- hit for them right now, because they are going to the Big 10 and their annual revenue from sports is going to go from $3 million to over $40 million by the year 2017. So that's a big difference.
MARQUEZ: All right. Andy Scholes, thank you very much.
It's a multimedia dollar business, where the employees are criminals and you don't get out alive. Sound like a movie? Well, it's a real organization and it might be connected to murders of the Texas D.A. and his wife.
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(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN HISTORY X")
EDWARD NORTON, ACTOR, "DEREK VINYARD": He was taking it from the Mexicans and dealing it out to his own people. (Inaudible). None of them did.
(END VIDEO CLIP, "AMERICAN HISTORY X")
MARQUEZ: Well, that's a scene from the movie "American History X." It's about a white supremacist who was rehabilitated in prison and then sets out to save his brother from the same fate. That scene is the lead character's discovery that a gang is in -- is a member more about business than ideology. And experts say that it isn't just fiction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Two white supremacist groups are being looked at for possible links of both the murder of Colorado prison chief Tom Clements and the assassinations of Texas District Attorney Mike McClelland and his wife.
And what many people don't realize is that one of the most violent white supremacist groups, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas or ABT that could have a connection to the McClellands' murders in not just a loose prison gang. It's actually a highly organized business enterprise that may even have connections to the Mexican drug cartels.
Joining me for more on how the ABT became so sophisticated and why they are such a threat, are TJ Leyden, a former white supremacist and author of "Skinhead Confessions," and Mark Potok, a senior fellow with Southern Poverty Law Center.
Mark, let's start with you. How sophisticated is the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas and do they have a organized business operation?
MARK POTOK, SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER: Well, they're sophisticated enough that they are able, from their cells in prisons, often in solitary confinement, to essentially direct a criminal empire that extends beyond the prison walls and out into the streets of our communities.
You know, what I mean by that largely is that they're running a very major methamphetamine distribution racket, and we're talking something that reaches the millions of dollars.
(CROSSTALK)
POTOK: That, I think, has really been the remarkable thing, how they're able to get their messages out by written codes, verbal codes, sometimes through the use of their wives, their girlfriends, to get messages out.
The fact is the leadership is, by and large, in prison and often locked down, and yet able to direct these things.
MARQUEZ: So organization and money. But you say millions of dollars, that's -- it's the total worth of the organization?
POTOK: Well, I think that's probably right. You know, they're -- we're talking about a gang that has more than 1,000 members and probably a good deal more than that on the street as well.
So, yes, I think we're talking a major methamphetamine racketeer.
MARQUEZ: TJ, there have been some reports tying the Aryan brotherhood of Texas to D.A. McClelland's murder because in 2012 he helped secure that series of indictments against key members of the ABT in December.
Following the indictments, the ABT made threats against Texas law enforcement. Earlier this week, CNN spoke to a former skinhead who went so far as to say the killings aren't about ideologies, but about money. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK MEEINK, FORMER WHITE SUPREMACIST: When the indictment happened, it didn't just -- this isn't an ideology battle here. This was financial. They took away some of their drug mules, they took away people on the outside who were supplying them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: TJ, do you agree with that, more about money than ideology?
TJ LEYDEN, AUTHOR: I completely agree with Frank Meeink, who made that statement. The truth is it is about ideology. It's not about ideology. It's about money. They use the swastika; they use the trappings of white supremacy, as Mark talked about, the coding system. Everything is used for financial gain.
When you look back in December, when they went after them in the racketeering case and got 34 indictments, that put a big hurt on them. And they don't like the loss of money. That's how they control. That's how they maintain.
Every group underneath -- and Mark can attest to this also -- all skinhead, all peckerwood subsets are basically their mules. They do their dirty work.
So you know, you could have -- this may not be an actual ABT member that may have one these murders. It could have been one of their satellite groups, that this guy is trying to get in with them just to earn his marker, earn his respect, to earn his bones to become a member.
MARQUEZ: Yes, Mark, do we think of this as a nationwide group, or is it regional? How should we think about this group?
POTOK: No, ABT is regional. I mean, it started in the Texas prisons. It has spread, to some extent, into prisons in neighboring states, but it's really about Texas.
There's a common misconception that Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is a subset of Aryan Brotherhood, which is a great big national gang that started many years earlier in 1964 in San Quentin.
So no, it's a regional gang, much like the gang that is being blamed in Colorado for the murder of the commissioner there, Tom Clements.
MARQUEZ: And their number one business is meth at the moment?
POTOK: Yes, I think that's true. They also distribute heroin, cocaine and marijuana to a smaller extent. But I think methamphetamine is the number one thing that they're doing.
MARQUEZ: TJ, can you give us a scope of their business? You've said that they have direct links to the Mexican drug cartels? How is that?
LEYDEN: Well, I mean, inside the prison system, the main drug line comes from the Hispanic gangs. And all white supremacy gangs since the 1960s have had a very close allegiance with Hispanic gangs. That's how the whites get their drugs. They get it from the Hispanic gang members. And that's how they're able to distribute it out.
So they do have connections with -- especially along the border states -- Arizona, California, Texas, New Mexico. They have those connections with the drug cartels.
Between the heroin trade, the methamphetamine trade, which is huge for them, and the extortion. You come to jail and, you know what I mean? John Gotti paid $60,000 to the Aryan Brotherhood to secure his existence while he was in prison. That's a lot of money.
MARQUEZ: Yes.
Mark, according to the Anti-Defamation League, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas has killed more Americans than any other domestic extremist group, with over 100 murders, 10 kidnappings. What is their ultimate goal, if there is one?
POTOK: Well, their ultimate goal is to run a very lucrative criminal empire. And they have been rather successful at that. Most of those murders -- there are actually more than 100 murders that they've committed -- are aimed at their own people or at members of other gangs.
These are generally not simply innocent members of the public who are robbed or whatever it may be. These are people in the underworld.
MARQUEZ: All right. Mark Potok with the Southern Poverty Law Center, and TJ Leyden, author of "Skinhead Confessions," good to see you again, TJ. Thank you both very much for being here.
(CROSSTALK)
MARQUEZ: Coming up, President Obama's not the only one offering to give up some of his pay. Some other top officials are ready to do the same.
Good move or political theater? We'll discuss.
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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) MARQUEZ: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Miguel Marquez. Bottom of the hour now, now to five stories we're watching this morning. Number one, the White House says it would not be surprised if North Korea does launch a missile.
A string of newly released images coming out of North Korea shows drone attack drills and missiles firing, not clear if the weapons are genuine. But a U.S. official says two missiles have been loaded on to launchers on the country's east coast.
Number two, the search for survivors at a building collapse in India has ended. Rescuers pulled a woman from the rubble earlier, likely the last survivor of the disaster. The death toll has risen to 72. Twenty six of those victims were children. Police have registered a case of culpable homicide against the builder of the structure.
And third, another surge of support for same-sex marriage among U.S. elected officials. Senate Democrat Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota now support over turning of federal banning marriages between same-sex couples.
The announcement leaves a final four among Senate Democrats, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Mark Prior of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana are the only names not backing same-sex marriage rights.
A hepatitis scare in New York City after a West Village restaurant (inaudible) tested positive for the disease. The city's health department says anyone who had dessert at Ulta in the last week should get tested for Hepatitis A as a precautionary. The restaurant's pastry chef contracted the disease while on a recent trip to Mexico.
And finally, if you're a fan of college basketball, the wait is over. The final four tips off tonight. The action starts around 6:00 Eastern right here in Atlanta when ninth seeded Wichita State takes on top rank Louisville, that's Kevin Ware's team, the player who brutally broke his leg last weekend. And just before 9 p.m. Syracuse goes up against Michigan. Stay with us all day for the latest on the big games.
To politics now, Maryland, it's become the latest state to act on gun control. The legislature passed a bill that bans 45 types of assault weapons and cuts out all high-capacity magazines in the past two weeks. Colorado and Connecticut have also passed similar new gun laws.
Joining me now is CNN contributor, Maria Cardona and Amy Holmes, anchor of "Real News at the Blaze." Maria, with the states stepping up, do we even need new federal gun control laws?
MARIA CARDONA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Good morning, Miguel. Good to see you.
MARQUEZ: Good morning.
CARDONA: I do think we need federal gun control laws. This is the reason, Miguel. I think it's great that the states are actually listening to majorities of the American people who do support stricter gun safety laws.
But the problem is that if we don't do it at the federal level then what we have are guns going across state lines and that will diminish the controls that are being put in place by these states who are the ones who are doing the common sense measures that most Americans agree with.
So if we don't have the umbrella laws at the federal level, for example, here in the district, we have some of the strictest gun control laws, but they are not as effective as they could be, because criminals will go across the state line in Virginia, where it's very easy to get a gun. And that's why it is not as effective if we don't have the federal law controlling everything.
MARQUEZ: Amy, your thoughts, should this be a state's right issue?
AMY HOLMES, ANCHOR, "REAL NEWS AT THE BLAZE": Well, let's look at it practically, politically speaking. We see in the Senate that the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, himself a Democrat, has no intention of trying to push for a ban on assault weapons or even limitations on high capacity magazines.
So in terms of whether or not a federal law will get passed, I think we sort of know the answer to that. On a policy level, we've also seen that criminals buy guns illegally. They don't buy them legally.
So I think from state to state, citizens have the right, the ability and should have the prerogative to determine what their state's gun culture is going to be. That's going to be very different, whether you're living in Washington State, my home state, or Louisiana, or New York City, where I live now.
And I think these things should be decided by citizens. It is a second amendment right to bear arms. Certainly, there are limitations. I don't think we should have a one-size fits all because frankly, it doesn't fit the criminals.
Criminals are not willing to put on these strait jackets to get the guns that they want to use in crime. By the way, these gun laws would not have stopped that terrible, horrible young man in Connecticut from committing the crime that he did.
MARQUEZ: This week, President Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Attorney General Eric Holder all agree to give back part of their salaries to stand for solidarity with federal works who are being furloughed because of forces spending cuts. Is this a good move or just political theatre, Amy?
HOLMES: Political theatre, Washington is a master at it, Kabuki theatre. But as a political matter, I think that, you know, maybe it was a bit of a miss fire because it draws attention to the fact that our president, like many before him, is a multimillionaire.
This is a man who 5 percent of his salary comes up to about I think $1,600 a month, means very little. It also draws attention to the fact that he likes to go golfing, goes golfing with Tiger Woods, his family is continually on vacation.
Why didn't he show the same solidarity when unemployment reached over 10 percent in the great recession? We had those terrible job numbers yesterday. As a bit of Washington political theatre, I think it wasn't very well staged managed.
MARQUEZ: Maria, do you agree Kabuki theatre here?
CARDONA: No, absolutely not. Look, are these moves going to completely fix our budget crisis? Absolutely not, but that's not what they're meant to do. They are meant to underscore what this president and Democrats have said for a very long time. That is that we are all in this together.
And that Democrats and leaders, especially the president on down, they are not immune to shared sacrifice. So I think from a symbolic stand standpoint, it does mean a lot because you know what? You know, Amy may say $1,600 is not a whole lot.
To a middle class family who is struggling, it is a lot. I think that's what this moves underscores, the fact that Democrats and this president want to continue to do something to fix our budget woes.
And to focus on the fact that right now the people who are -- who are suffering the most on their backs are middle class families and working class families whose programs are being cut by the sequester.
HOLMES: Let's face the president has not gotten any mileage out of this.
CARDONA: Republicans have done nothing to fix this and this focuses on the president saying this is shared sacrifice and we're all in this together.
MARQUEZ: We'll have to see where this one goes because they still haven't figured out the sequestration issue. But it was a bad week for both Obamas making off-the-cuff remarks, first we had the first lady.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHELLE OBAMA, FIRST LADY: Believe me, as a busy, single mother or I shouldn't say single. As a busy mother, sometimes when you've got the husband who is president, it can feel a little single, but he's there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: All right, and earlier in the week, the president was at an event in California and took time to praise the state's attorney general. After talking about her professional success, he added that she's one of the best looking attorney generals in the country. Which comment caught your ear there, Maria?
CARDONA: I think both of these comments were just completely innocent and have been completely overblown. I haven't heard a lot of reporting on Michelle Obama's comment. I do think that was just a slip of the tongue and anybody who has very busy husbands understands what she's going through.
And the president's comment is, in my mind, into the category of please, come on. We have so many more important things to focus on. You know, when the president can't give a nice compliment to one of his closest friends, to one of his best friends.
After he commends her on being a very tough and talented attorney general, then I think we've gotten to the point where we want our president to be human, but the moment that he is, then everyone is on his back.
MARQUEZ: Amy, does the president get a pass here?
HOLMES: I say that he does and I agree that these are innocent remarks. And if he thinks the attorney general is a pretty lady, big deal. I would like to see the forbearance on the other side.
Let's face it. If a Republican made these remarks, Democrats would be all over them. We would be hearing about binders full of women as we did during the last election instead of a compliment in an innocent, human way, as Maria said, as it was intended.
MARQUEZ: All right, Maria Cardona and Amy Holmes, thank you both very much.
CARDONA: Thanks, Miguel. Good to see you.
HOLMES: Thank you.
MARQUEZ: Third grader Robby Novak known as kid president is getting a ton of online attention. Take a look at why.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Kid president, what grade are you in?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Third.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Third?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Third grade?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: How is school going?
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Good.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: It's going pretty good? OK, because I know you have all these other activities.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes. PRESIDENT OBAMA: So much demand on your time, trying to balance being president and being in the third grade, you know. That's a lot of stuff.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Yes.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: But you seem to be handling it pretty well.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Very well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: The White House pulled off an April Fools' joke prank on Monday with the help of a 9-year-old YouTube sensation. It began with the White House tweet announcing a special video message from the president. When viewers tuned in to White House web site to watch they were punked by this pint-sized president, adorable.
The men and women of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price are back. Our Jake Tapper sits down with the creator of "Mad Men" to talk about the latest season.
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MARQUEZ: Well, time is running out for Justin Bieber to get his baby monkey back from Germany. His small Capuchan monkey was confiscated and quarantined last month when the pop star arrived for his tour.
Authorities say proper documents were not provided for the animal to enter the country and time is running out for people to provide them now. Bieber could be fined $70,000.
Get your martinis ready. The ad men of Madison Avenue are back. "THE LEAD's" Jake Tapper got an inside look at the latest season of "Mad Men."
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JAKE TAPPER, HOST, CNN'S "THE LEAD" (voice-over): It's been a long 10 months since we left Don Draper at the bar. But this Sunday millions will return to the offices of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Price for the Season 6 premiere of "Mad Men" on AMC. The series creator Matthew Weiner invited us to come early.
(on camera): So this is going to be second to last season?
MATTHEW WEINER, SERIES CREATOR, "MAD MEN": Yes.
TAPPER: It's going well? There doesn't seem to be any compelling reason to end it any time soon for me.
WEINER: I feel like, you know, first of all it's exhausting. I need a break, but the reality of it is that the show has a life span. It is mortal. You really want to end it before you have exceeded the ability to tell the story.
TAPPER (voice-over): Heavy drinking, heavy petting, and heavy drama have kept viewers tuned in to a bygone era of boy's club.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, girls, come on in.
TAPPER (on camera): How worried or concerned or aware are you when you're writing for your women characters about them not just being Joan and Megan and Peggy, but them being symbolic of women in general?
WEINER: That's a really good question. I don't want the characters to ever be symbolic in general. Did women have it harder? Yes. Were there women pioneers? Yes. Were there exceptions to every rule? Yes. How does someone succeed in that world? I think the show resonates because things are not that different. I don't want to give a history lesson. I want people to know that these people could be their mother.
TAPPER: But the dark heart of "Mad Men" is mysterious, womanizing, ad man, Don Draper.
(on camera): Is he alone? Is Don Draper alone? Is this what the show is about?
WEINER: I think it's a big part of his life, yes. And the ambiguity of that statement, after we've seen this man having found love, and being left alone, I think, you know, there's -- there's an existential quality to him as a hero.
TAPPER: I don't even know how Don Draper dies, but if the show is about this existential question, am I alone, can I ever be happy, those questions, there needs to be like a hint at the end about --
WEINER: I am going to try to use the machinery of my show to give a satisfying ending.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MARQUEZ: A satisfying ending. We're looking forward to that. Thanks to Jake Tapper.
Prince William is not used to being shunned. We'll take you to -- we'll show you a fairy tale kiss that turned into a dis. That's next.
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MARQUEZ: Now some videos that you got to see. A boat has washed ashore in Washington State described as the Noah's ark of marine life. Officials say the boat traveled 5,000 miles from Japan after the tsunami nearly two years ago. The boat's hull became a home for tropical fish native to Japan. Officials say five fish and other animals survived because the boat acted like a tide pool. Scientists say they will study the creatures for their endurance.
In Scotland, this little girl's fairy tale kiss from a prince was about to come true. As you see, she was too shy and turned away from Prince William. Apparently, the little girl had waited all day and then turned away at the last moment.
Hundreds of stranded sea lions are turning up along the California coastline, even behind the wheel of a car. This cute little guy was spotted on a road in San Diego this week. A driver thought it was a dog. He opened his door and the pup hopped right into the front seat. The rescue crew from Sea World came to take him away. He will be nursed back to health before being released back to the wild.
Take a look at this video from China. You think you know what that is? Well, if you guessed a large frozen waterfall, you're right. Park officials in China say the rare spectacle was caused by an unusually cold winter.
And check out this live look at Centennial Park across the street from CNN Headquarters, right here in Atlanta. The whole place has been transformed for the final four weekend, everything from concerts with acts like the Dave Matthews band to Ferris wheels, just about everything.
But everyone is really talking about basketball, of course. That's what it's really all about because of the final four tip-off tonight. The action starts around 6:00 eastern here in Atlanta when ninth seed Wichita State takes on Louisville, team of Kevin Ware, the player who broke his leg last week.
Just before 9 p.m. Syracuse goes up against Michigan. Stay with us all day for the latest on the big games. CNN is going behind the scenes giving you a backstage pass of the final four. Don't miss CNN all access pass at the final four with Rachel Nichols today at 3:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Now let's check in with the weather and meteorologist Alexandra Steele who joins me live. OK, let's start in Atlanta where more 100,000 people are expected to gather in town for the big final four. What can we expect?
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Atlanta is not going to disappoint. Atlanta welcoming the nation with beautiful conditions, no cumbersome coats, umbrellas, just beautiful conditions, the warmest we've seen in Atlanta really since the beginning of the year.
Temperatures today, 71, 74 tomorrow, 76 on Monday and we get 78 on Tuesday. So it's kind of indicative of the warmth and change of pattern we've seen. March, of course, so cold and so wet, April, too. But finally, things are beginning to come around.
Let me show you where we stand. It's not only Atlanta. Temperature here average of 70, getting to 76 Monday. New York City, too, how about mid 60s? You'll love it. Average is 58, so really warming up for you as well, which is nice.
So Washington, Philadelphia, even Dallas getting above average. Chicago, 66, you should be at 55 so you get the picture. We're kind of seeing a change in the tide. The jet stream making its move allowing for some much warmer air to come in.
A little caveat in the ointment and that is the Upper Midwest, believe it or not, will see probably between three and five inches of snow. A little bit of winter coming in. Also here in the Pacific Northwest today, we will see about six inches in the higher mountain ranges and the Pacific Northwest.
But on the whole, beautiful conditions today. The southeast, of course, as you saw in Atlanta, stays warm. This area of low pressure moves eastward. The bitter roots getting to some snow. Colorado Rockies as well.
But I want to show kind of the bigger picture of what's going to happen, that jet stream with a 140-mile-per-hour jet stream will fire off severe weather. This is just to be mindful, heads up this week, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday especially on Tuesday, the threat for some severe weather.
Now what we've seen, very benign severe weather season March and April. They will fire up because it goes part and parcel with the very warm air that's coming in. So here comes the warm air, still some cold air, of course, where that snow is, right?
Where they come together is where that severe weather will fire off. So Oklahoma, Kansas, getting in toward Missouri and Arkansas, just kind of be mindful of it and we'll see it maybe Tuesday and Wednesday kind of the thick of it -- Miguel.
MARQUEZ: Alexandra Steele, thank you very much. Much more ahead in the next hour of "CNN SATURDAY MORNING" which starts after a quick break.
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