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CNN NEWSROOM
Judge: No Respirator for Brain-Dead Mom; Raging Bull Market Turns into Aging Bull; Huckabee Ignites "War-on-Women" Debate; Bieber Bust Threatens Business Empire; Mike Huckabee Ignites "War on Women" Debate; "The Priority List"
Aired January 25, 2014 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: I don't know. I think you guys deserve a little overtime.
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: No, we're going to go ahead and give it to you.
WHITFIELD: You know to give me a little company perhaps? Look at it that way.
CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: You know what we'll call you at 2:00 a.m. when we wake up.
WHITFIELD: Ok well in that case you guys have a good day.
BLACKWELL: All right thanks Fred.
PAUL: Thank you.
WHITFIELD: All right thanks so much.
It is the 11:00 a.m. Eastern Hour. And the NEWSROOM starts right now.
A Texas case has had a nation debating on who should control the end of a person's life? Now a judge makes a crucial decision about a pregnant mother on a ventilator.
And Justin Bieber has a mug shot as part of his bad boy resume now. He's out of jail but will his criminal charges put a damper on his nine-digit income and could he be deported?
And U.S. Olympians fighting to win gold for the country are told to tone down their patriotism while in Sochi.
In one Texas legal battle there are no winners but it appears the family of Marlise Munoz may finally get what they want and be able to lay her to rest. The brain dead pregnant mother has been on a ventilator for the last eight and a half weeks now. John Peter Smith Hospital refused to remove it saying state law directs that life support should not be withdrawn from pregnant patients. Now a judge has ordered the tubes be removed.
CNN's Nick Valencia is live for us now outside the Fort Worth Hospital. So Nick, this ruling comes after the hospital conceded two main points. What are they?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes and they were crucial facts, Fred. One is that Marlise Munoz has been legally brain dead since November 28th and the other is that the fetus is not viable.
Now as you mentioned Fred, all along JPS Hospital has maintained that they were simply following state law and there was no legal precedent for them to go off of and they felt that in this case the law was applicable.
Now interestingly enough, one of the co-writers of that law, now an SMU professor, we sat down and we spoke to him and he said the hospital they got it all wrong.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM MAYO, SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY LAW PROFESSOR: And so I don't see how we can use a provision of the law that talks about treating or not treating a patient in a case where we really don't have a patient. That's not a question of philosophical speculation. Dead is dead, in Texas and in all 50 states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALENCIA: It has been an agonizing eight and a half weeks for the Munoz family and they may have to wait a few more days to find out what happens next. The judge ruled that by 5:00 p.m. on Monday that Marlise Munoz must be taken off the ventilator. The hospital of course, they have that window to appeal. We haven't heard from them just yet -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Valencia, keep us posted on that. Thank you so much.
On Wall Street, the days of the raging bull may be coming to an end. The Dow took a nose dive this week. It dropped 3.5 percent including a triple digit point loss on Friday. Alison Kosik looks at what's killing the bull market.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Fredericka. Stocks ended with a huge thud on Friday. There was a sea of red arrows on the board. The Dow plunged almost 320 points or almost two percent. It was the culmination of an especially brutal week in which stocks fell every single day. In the end, the major averages lost one percent to three percent each.
The selling also circled the globe, hitting major markets in Asia and Europe. Friday the big issue was a sell-off on currencies and emerging markets. Countries like Argentina and Turkey saw their currencies plunge against the dollar amid renewed concerns about the U.S. Federal Reserve ending its stimulus program.
That stimulus has been giving economies around the world a boost. And that's not all. Wall Street also got slammed by concerns about China's economy slowing down an economy that has been growing at a really solid pace. And then here at home, worries about corporate America added insult to injury. Big names like Verizon, IBM and Johnson & Johnson reported earnings that disappointed the Street. The thinking is if companies are not doing well, they won't grow, hire and invest. Roll it all together and it's a perfect storm. Investors went running for the exits and the pace of selling picked up as Friday's session wore on.
But Fredericka, remember this, the S&P 500 surged by 29 percent last year, so we still got some wiggle room.
WHITFIELD: All right. We like the wiggle room. Thanks so much Alison.
All right. It's a debate the GOP was hoping it had put to bed. The so-called war on women. But comments made by Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas Governor and GOP presidential candidate, has stirred up the controversy once again. Erin McPike joins us live now from Washington.
So Erin, the Republicans were hoping to plot a comeback at their winter meeting in Washington. Is this now a big setback for the GOP?
ERIN MCPIKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, Democrats are seizing on this issue again. And they hope to pit factions of the Republican Party against each other as they do try to move past it. But first, listen to what Mike Huckabee actually said the other day.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE, FORMER GOVERNOR OF ARKANSAS: Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That's not a war on them. It's a war for them.
And if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: Well, plenty of high-profile Republicans were none too pleased about that, especially because the party has gone to great lengths over the past year to promote some of their women office holders like tapping Washington Congresswoman Kathy McMorris Rogers to deliver their response to the State of the Union which is on Tuesday and they launched initiative to reach women voters over the past couple of years. So this is the warning that RNC Chairman Reince Priebus sent at that meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REINCE PRIEBUS, RNC CHAIRMAN: As we look to grow the ranks of our party we must all be very conscious of tone and choice of words when we communicate those policies effectively. We should set the standard. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: But Huckabee responded and tried to explain himself this morning on "Fox and Friends."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HUCKABEE: Actually I was upholding them and saying, you know what, women are not helpless. I've been married nearly 40 years. Let me assure you, my wife is not helpless. My wife is a strong woman. My daughter, my daughter-in-law, are strong women. I respect them as equals. My wife can do things I can't do. That's my point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCPIKE: Well, in his comments this morning he also just touched on abortion, essentially needling Democrats for luring women to vote for them by giving access to birth control prescriptions and free abortions and believing that that will, quote, "calm the women down." Fred?
WHITFIELD: All right, Erin McPike, thanks so much in Washington.
So is there a so-called war on women? Depends on who you ask. Two top strategists talk about Mike Huckabee's comment and more, next.
And Justin Bieber left Miami last night surrounded by screaming fans. But what's next when it comes to his mounting legal troubles?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh the screaming fans for Justin Bieber as he left Miami. He's out on $2,500 bond and charge with drunken driving and resisting arrest after police say he had been drag racing.
So Bieber told police that he had been drinking, smoking marijuana and taking prescription drugs at the time. So as he left, as you see in the scene there, one fan couldn't contain herself while when he got her hands actually on her sweatshirt and you heard all the other screaming as well.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And everybody was like pulling on him. And he like dropped it and I was like, oh, my God, I have to get this.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But he dropped it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you think? I mean you're holding his hoodie.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know. I'm like dying. I feel like I'm dreaming.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you going to do with it?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm never washing it. He's so perfect. Oh my God.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: Oh boy well Bieber, I bet, wishes this was all a bad dream but unfortunately it really did happen.
Justin Bieber may not have been drunk as he was pulled over on Thursday because a source now close to the investigation is saying that. Tory Dunnan joins us live now from Miami Beach. So Tory a lot of conflicting reports now about his condition, whether he was indeed drag racing. How are officials -- investigators now going to sort all of this out?
TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right. So, Fred, let's start with what we know. A source close to the investigation is telling me that Justin Bieber was given two breathalyzer tests and they came in under the legal limit .011 and .014. But remember, a DUI involves more than just drinking. We're talking about the possibility of other drugs.
In addition to that the Miami Beach Police Department was saying that Justin Bieber failed the two, failed rather, a field sobriety test and then in addition to that he had made statements that he had actually done alcohol, he had used drugs and taken prescription pills.
So basically where we stand right now is we're waiting for an additional test to come back. The Miami Beach Police Department saying that that test will be come back in about two to three weeks time and that should give us more insight on what he was and wasn't taking during the time of all this.
WHITFIELD: And now, what about conflicting reports about whether indeed there was drag racing involved. What eyewitness accounts there are? Who allegedly may have been involved in it as well?
DUNNAN: Right. So the state attorney's office is going to have to take a close look at all of this. And when I talk to them they said they will be looking at all of the social media accounts, the various pictures online, and videos. And then they will make a determination on the charges about whether or not they are going to up them.
So there's been a lot of talk about a potential charge having to do drag racing but, Fred, the state attorney's office says it is just way too early in the game to tell where this case is going to be going. They need some time to look at everything.
WHITFIELD: Ok and as far as you know, where is Justin Bieber now?
DUNNAN: So Fred, that is the million dollar question. There are unconfirmed reports about where he may or may not be, but what I can tell you is he was here inside this hotel in Miami. He left. We saw all the fans. We saw him go to a nearby airport and then he was out of here. WHITFIELD: Ok just poof, disappearing act, at least for now. Tory Dunnan all right, thanks so much there in Miami Beach. Appreciate that.
Ok so the jury is still out on just how Justin Bieber is going to maneuver all of these legal troubles now. Will it affect his image? Will it affect his fortune? Alexandra Field has more on the business of being Justin Bieber.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We can all remember one time when Justin Bieber was the fresh faced teenage heartthrob who attracted millions of believers with that voice and that hair. But a string of recent run-ins have left the pop star with a bad rap and a rap sheet to go with it.
CARLOS GREER, "PEOPLE MAGAZINE": He was arrested and he was crying because he got arrested. So this is real life, this isn't some pop star trying to rebrand himself.
FIELD: The 19-year-old is thought to be worth more than $100 million. He's had five platinum albums, a popular perfume, and a slew of endorsement deals. Adidas confirms they're sticking with Bieber. Their statement, quote, "Nothing has changed with our partnership at this time." But beyond this week's arrest in Miami for drunken driving, the entertainer's legal troubles are mounting.
GREER: Bieber is currently under investigation for allegedly egging his neighbor's home and he could be charged with vandalism.
FIELD: Industry watchers suggest the big business of being Bieber could take a hit.
BOBBY OWSINSKI, "FORBES" CONTRIBUTOR: His current movie has actually been pretty much a bomb. It earned about $6 million whereas his previous movie did about $74 million domestically. So that's a big problem.
One of the tenets of branding is you have to be likable. So he was very likable at one point and now he's not so much.
FIELD: Mugging for his mug shot, climbing on top of his jail getaway car. But could it just be part of a bigger plan for the Bieber brand?
HAYES ROTH, MARKETING EXECUTIVE, LANDER: As an adult I find that kind of appalling. As a parent I find it appalling. But I bet you if I was a teenage girl I would probably find that kind of exciting and maybe that's the intent.
FIELD: He has diehard fans and a Twitter following that's 49 million strong. If anything he's only attracting more attention.
GREER: I think we will be talking about him three years from now.
(END VIDEOTAPE) WHITFIELD: Ok. So Alexander Field now with us. So could, you know, some of this behavior be part of being, you know, rebranding him as kind of the bad boy, he's not the sweet little kid that first was introduced on the scene? Is this a strategy?
FIELD: If that is the strategy, it seems to be a risky strategy. The arrest here is really that line in the sand and it could be a defining moment in his career. There's a vast difference between say the on- stage antics that we see from a Miley Cyrus and the alleged behavior of Justin Bieber which could potentially put people at risk and in danger.
Brand consultants are saying from this point forward if he manages to stay out of trouble he could sort of burnish that bad boy image and it might even help him in the long run. But this behavior also runs the risk of alienating some of his fan base. We're talking about young women, young girls who have really propelled him to stardom. And if they can't relate to him the whole thing really doesn't work -- Fred.
WHITFIELD: All right. We're going to talk more about this later on this afternoon. Alexandra Field thanks so much. We're getting the conversation started.
All right. Women and the GOP, why the latest comments from a top Republican had many women in the country fighting mad.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: All right. So it's been a bad week, shall we say, for the GOP. Another one of its biggest stars has fallen and another has reignited the whole war on women debate. Yesterday former Virginia governor, Bob McDonnell and his wife pleaded not guilty to charges they accepted illegal gifts including designer clothes, a Rolex watch, golf clubs, and iPhones and more, worth at least $140,000.
And former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee's comments about women on Thursday had Democrats seizing once again on what they are calling the Republicans' war on women.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE HUCKABEE (R), FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That's not a war on them. It's a war for them. And if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of the government, then so be it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So this morning Huckabee defended his statement on Fox.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HUCKABEE: I said this very thing on my show last weekend. It was seen by millions of people. I used the exact same language. And it didn't get a peep out of anybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: So is it an issue of just a bigger audience now? Hilary Rosen is a CNN political commentator and Democratic strategist, joining us from our D.C. Newsroom -- good to see you; and Rick Tyler is a former spokesman for Newt Gingrich and now senior vice president at the Strategy Group Company. Good to see you as well.
RICK TYLER, FORMER SPOKESMAN FOR NEWT GINGRICH: Good morning Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: Hello.
All right. So, just as the Republicans are applauding their comeback we're all talking about the GOPs women problem -- Huckabee's in particular. You know Rick, how much damage does this do to the party? And does Mike Huckabee have a point that he said it before but now he's getting flack for it. What's the difference?
TYLER: Look, I think the only way it's going to hurt the GOP is if they overreact to it. If you listen to what Mike Huckabee said he said that the GOP stands for a war for women and he used hyperbole. And we are so sensitive that we've turned what is intentional about what he said into something that he did not say I don't know how that hurts anybody.
I mean, Mike Huckabee doesn't have a misogynistic bone in his body. Mike Huckabee -- his biggest fan by the way is my wife and daughter who made over 800 phone calls for Mike Huckabee in Iowa and let me tell you my wife wouldn't put up for anybody --
WHITFIELD: But if it's just hyperbole then why would Reince Priebus even come out and say, "Hey look, you guys. We've got to watch our words."
TYLER: This is what we're talking about -- the overreaction. It's just an overreaction.
WHITFIELD: Really, Hilary -- overreaction?
HILARY ROSEN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, the reason Reince Priebus is upset is because the Republican men talking about contraception, about women's sexuality, has just not really gone very well for the GOP over the last two cycles. And, you know, they've been trying to move past this. The House Republican caucus has actually had classes for their GOP congressmen over the last six months on how to talk about women and how to show more respect in their political rhetoric around women. You know, and this is exactly why they need that.
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: But it's a catch-22, isn't it, because how do you appeal to women without talking about things and issues that appeal to women?
ROSEN: Well, the way you talk about issues is to put women in -- you know, if Huckabee had just started with his economic agenda including women, if he had stayed there that would have been ok. But the problem is that they can't -- you know, he can't seem to resist doing the two together by saying, you know that the Democrats are -- are attacking women in this other way. I just find the whole conversation with Republicans awkward around women and I just don't think that this is going to serve them well in this cycle or the next cycle.
WHITFIELD: So Rick, don't you see this as, you know, only, I guess, gives the advantage to Democrats including that of a Hillary Clinton or even, you know --
(CROSSTALK)
WHITFIELD: What do you mean, oh, boy. That perhaps women -- women, you know, in leadership positions, might be getting an advantage when you have a situation like this and perhaps a Hillary Clinton or New Mexico governor, might be able to run away with these issues appealing to women in a much better capacity than some of these Republicans?
TYLER: Look, the war on women is a strategic document; it was written by a Democrat and the Democrats followed it. You're right -- we haven't had a really great reaction to it. But it's made up. You're suggesting that half of the GOP, by the way, which is made up of women, is at war with itself. It makes no sense all.
Look, the war on women is women being denied being able to go to their own doctor. War on women is women losing their insurance. War on women is losing their health care. The war on women are all these other things. The war on women has -- and the idea that anybody is trying to ban contraception, unless, by the way, you think abortion is contraception. And then if you do, the Democrats --
ROSEN: What are you talking about? There's more than 30 pieces of legislation that House Republicans have introduced to change the relationship between women and their doctor, to ban contraceptive access in health insurance, to affect family planning.
(CROSSTALK)
TYLER: Please. Hilary, please be honest look --
ROSEN: If the Republicans had their way --
TYLER: Look, go to the local drugstore and talk to the pharmacist. Nobody is trying to ban contraception. People are trying to put limits on abortion. It has nothing to do with contraception.
ROSEN: You know what, if you limit people's access to --
TYLER: Really -- who, who? Name one Republican -- one Republican who is trying to ban contraception? I'd like to know who it is.
ROSEN: Rick. If you ban people's access to insurance --
TYLER: Who is banning it? Who?
ROSEN: The same way as other drugs -- access to insurance and coverage --
TYLER: Who? Show me the legislation. Show me the -- ok.
ROSEN: Now you're just being silly because you know what the Republican plan is.
TYLER: Which congressman, which congresswoman -- who is trying to ban contraception, limit --
ROSEN: It is even in the Paul Ryan plan to ban Republican --
TYLER: No. The only thing --
WHITFIELD: Ok. Rick, let Hilary finish her statement then.
ROSEN: Here's the issue. Once you take an issue around insurance coverage for women and you make qualifying around it and you treat women's health different than men's health, if you cover Viagra for men but not contraceptive for women, if you don't include family planning, if you don't include -- if it's more expensive if you're a pregnant woman to get health care, then you are penalizing women. What the Affordable Care Act say we're going to make that equal. Republicans have opposed that from day one.
WHITFIELD: Ok, so leave it there Hilary. Now Rick -- respond.
TYLER: There's a distinction between providing family planning, providing abortion coverage, providing contraception that is included in many insurance plans. In fact all of Obamacare includes it. The only thing that Republicans are saying is those --
ROSEN: That's right and the Republicans have opposed that, Rick.
TYLER: No. What they said was those religious organizations like the Catholic Church, those who say that life begins at conception, who have a moral objection to providing money, taxpayer money, for abortion services or private -- money for abortion services because it's against their conscientious objection, we are saying we should enforce and allow that. You're saying yes, we have to force and allow them. No one is --
WHITFIELD: All right. Let's leave it right there.
ROSEN: Here's the problem --
WHITFIELD: All right, Rick Tyler, Hilary -- Hilary Rosen -- thanks so much. All right. Thanks so much. We know it certainly touches a nerve and it will be hotly contested for a long time to come, it seems.
Rick and Hilary -- appreciate that.
All right. This political programming note -- Tuesday night President Obama delivering his State of the Union address. What impact will it have on the midterm elections? CNN will have the details live from Washington starting at 7:00 Tuesday night.
All right. A new security warning for U.S. athletes headed to Sochi for the Olympic Games. Why it involves their very American uniform.
And job stress. Worry and the fast pace of modern life, it often makes us lose sight of the simple joys in life, but when a New Orleans man faced his worst fears, the result was inspiringly positive. CNN's Tom Foreman has the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the city that care forgot it's hard to find anyone with fewer worries than David Menasche.
DAVID MENASCHE, AUTHOR, "THE PRIORITY LIST": And at times I have felt a lot like Huck Finn just floating down the river free.
FOREMAN: Odd because for seven years he's had an inoperable brain tumor. So why is he happy? Because his terminal illness has led to the adventure of a lifetime.
MENASCHE: Well, that's one of the perks of being told you're going to die. You don't have a lot left to be afraid of.
FOREMAN: Menasche was a teacher who loved literature, poetry, and shaping young lives. But the illness made him wonder if he had really made any difference. So he set out to visit as many former students as he could through 8,000 miles of buses, planes, trains, hitchhiking.
MENASCHE: Some were amazed. I repeatedly got the question, what are you doing in Seattle? How did you get to San Francisco? Oregon, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Alabama.
FOREMAN: A lot.
MENASCHE: A lot. Ladies and gentlemen, the Pacific.
FOREMAN: The adventure became a book "The Priority List", the friendships became a new reason to live.
MENASCHE: Even in this state, mostly blind and crippled, I'm alive and I'm doing things with my life and I'm very happy about that.
FOREMAN: What did you learn?
MENASCHE: I did make a difference and I'm very proud of that difference and the people that they have become.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was no cap to the shampoo bottle.
FOREMAN: Some of his old students now help him get to the doctor, run errands, read books.
JENNIFER BREWER, FORMER STUDENT: To be honest there was a time in high school where I didn't know if he would be there to see me get into college and graduate and to know that I wanted --
FOREMAN: So this is all then more than you expected --
BREWER: Oh absolutely, absolutely.
MENASCHE: We're all going to die. We both know this. It is an inevitability that if you just spend your time dreading and mourning, then you miss out on the good stuff that happens before then. I am very much about living.
FOREMAN: And still he pushes on. Not to the end, but to whatever comes next. Tom Foreman, CNN, New Orleans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
WHITFIELD: A chilling warning for U.S. athletes going to the Sochi Olympic Games. The U.S. State Department says wearing red, white, and blue could put Team USA in danger. It's urging the American athletes to avoid wearing these new Olympic uniforms when they are outside the Olympic venues for fear that it will make them targets.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh joining us now from Sochi. So Nick, what prompted the State Department to put out this very specific warning now?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There are two real answers to that. The first is I think there's something more specific U.S. defense officials and the State Department are concerned about. They have made suggestions that militants might hit, quote, "soft targets." Now that, of course, will be when you leave this Ring of Steel area where the venues are protected by 37,000 Russian police and military and you head out to the rest of Russia.
The insurgents have been rising on for a decade. When you do that you look American, you might find yourself a target. Although the State Department has been warning they don't believe the militants are, in fact, looking to hit Americans. There's the broader answer to that question. Why be concerned?
Well, as I say, this area, a hotbed of an insurgency. Not particularly Sochi here where I'm standing, but everything to the east. As you keep going towards the Caspian Sea, Dagestan, where the insurgency against the Russian state is raging hardest, shootings, and bombings on almost a daily basis.
Although a security clamp-down seems to have lessened that slightly. That's at the heart of the issue here. Why choose to bring the games here? Well, this part of the coast very beautiful, beloved Vladimir Putin, but the western edge of a pretty volatile area. WHITFIELD: So, Nick, while American athletes are getting this warning, what about the other countries? Are they warning their athletes as well to be careful when outside of that ring?
WALSH: I think most countries are providing a degree of caution. I don't know that we're specifically what countries are being cautious about the ring itself and it's the Americans who are more open about the measures they're suggesting. That's the more public discussion. But if you see how this whole area is laid out, there's a sense of apprehension, there are dragnets being put in place.
Today was a key day where a lot of the roads we needed to move around on start needing Olympic accreditation to go along them. So police are beginning to put those measures in. In a way makes our job quite difficult here and I'm sure it will impact the tourists' ability to move around when they finally get here, too.
The concern is really when you leave that fortified area, quite what happens then. This is a part of the area where the police, corrupt and inefficient, notorious as that, that may play into how safe people are in the weeks ahead as the games get on the way -- Fredricka.
WHITFIELD: All right, Nick Paton Walsh, thank you so much. Appreciate that. We'll check back with you throughout the afternoon.
All right, coming up in about 45 minutes from now, at 12:15 Eastern Time, we'll also talk more security there at the Olympic games with Carl Harron who helped run Olympic security in Atlanta. And I'll ask him about whether he thinks these games are safe or how safe can you make a big world platform Olympic Games such as this.
All right, on the topic of sports, earlier this morning at the Australian Open, Li Na won the women's singles final. This is a big win for a player who is seven months ago was seriously considering retirement. Hard to believe because, you know, it was fantastic for her to win a big grand slam years ago and then folks said she's done and then, boom, she's back. Hi, Joe.
JOE CARTER, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: You know, I guess -- good morning to you, or, yes. I guess it's one of those things where players get burned out. She's about to be 32 years old and you've played tennis your entire life. It's a 24/7 commitment. She had lost the compassion and she had lost the flare for that. So she had felt that retirement was really her only option, but it was her husband and her coach that really got her back on track.
Months of hard work paid off today obviously as beat Dominika Cibulkova this morning to win her first Australian Open title. You know, in the third round of this tournament she was one point away from being eliminated. That comeback win couple with a number of big name upsets like Serena going out, Victoria Azarenka going out, Maria Sharapova going out.
That really opened the door for her. She's finished second in this tournament twice. She finally has the title. After the match, so cute, she obviously thanked her coach. She thanked her husband for being such supportive travel companions. But she thanked her agent for making her rich, which I love. I love the honesty.
WHITFIELD: That's so nice. We're all happy for her. All right, so now let's talk about men's. It's their round next. What up?
CARTER: I think a lot of people felt like the semifinal match was more -- it was a bigger march than perhaps the finals match because you had Rafael Nadal versus Roger Federer. The Brady versus Manning, you know, it's a great rivalry. Nadal has basically owned Federer throughout in the head-to-head matches. He's beaten him 23 times at 33 matches.
It's really because they have contrasting styles. You know, Nadal is all power where Federer is all finesse. And Nadal obviously is going to power his way to another Aussie Open title tomorrow with the finals. He'll play Stanislas Wawrinka and he's beaten him 12 times out of 12 times.
WHITFIELD: But you can never be for sure.
CARTER: They still have to play. You will see.
WHITFIELD: He's even showing a little bit more charisma. He seems like he's more at ease, Nadal. He always seemed to be just so intense, but now there's a little flare in him. I'm kind of digging him.
CARTER: I like that. I like that. I know a lot of people dispute talking about it here in the states, Richard Sherman, Seahawks cornerback for what he said last Sunday. Of course, that's sparking a lot of controversy, his post-game rant. Some on the side of the fence saying it was terrible, some saying love the fire. The NFL has decided to fine him not for what he said but for what he gestured.
It's a choking gesture that he made during last Sunday's game. They say that's unsportsmanlike conduct and that's basically taunting and taunting is illegal in the NFL and he's been fined just under $8,000 for doing it. It was basically directed at 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, after he knocked down the pass.
You know, he had a great interview with Rachel Nichols, our Rachel Nichols. It aired last night. I thought there were a lot of compelling elements to that. I like how he said that he regrets his actions because it's really taking the attention away from his team and his team's success.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD SHERMAN, CORNERBACK, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Mostly I regret, I guess, the storm afterwards, the way it was covered, the way it was perceived, and the attention that it took away from the fantastic performances from my teammates. You know, and that will be the only part of it I regret.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARTER: So there are really two big stories that are going into Superbowl week. Obviously one being Richard Sherman and the other being the weather because of where it's located, the New York/New Jersey market --
WHITFIELD: Are you worried about it?
CARTER: It's going to be a part of it, but I don't think it's going to be the major overwhelming story to the game. I think we're going to talk about it all week.
WHITFIELD: I know.
CARTER: But one of the things I think is interesting about this is the Superbowl, the officials do have a contingency plan and they have one for every Superbowl, but this is actually one that could have to be used because of where it's located. It's a backup plan. It's in case Mother Nature doesn't cop operate. Forecasters will know more about the weather as it goes closer and closer.
Right now, predicting you can ask Jennifer Gray to second my opinion here on this, but they're saying flurries, temperatures in the 30s. But if the severe weather does somehow come through the area, that they're going to need 24 hours to change the game time, 36 hours to change the game day. There's talk of it possibly being on a Monday or if weather -- they want to push it up and put it on a Saturday.
WHITFIELD: Monday, a lot of sick days.
CARTER: There's a lot of talk about contingency plans, but it's going to be a snowfall of epic proportions to move the Superbowl off of a Sunday. I mean, there's no way they will move that game unless they absolutely have to because of the safety factor that goes into it.
WHITFIELD: OK, all right, well, folks are counting on a good game.
CARTER: Yes.
WHITFIELD: Forget about the weather. They're also counting on magnificent ads when watching the Superbowl. We have a little taste of maybe one that's going to air during the Superbowl and people will be rating it afterwards. Take a look.
OK. So, you know, women in bikinis, no. Body builders, yes. This is Go Daddy and didn't it appear as though there was a Danica Patrick in there?
CARTER: Danica Patrick, yes. NASCAR driver, yes.
WHITFIELD: That's her face.
CARTER: Muscle body suit. That's her actually. There was some early leaks and pictures when they shot this a few months back. Yes, that's actually her and they put her in a muscle suit and did a paint job. Good for Go Daddy for reinventing themselves and not just doing the bikini ads.
WHITFIELD: How good are these ads? CARTER It's $4.5 million they paid for one 30-second ad. That's a record. They sold the ads out four months ago, I guess.
WHITFIELD: When they say they're good at the ad. They are eye catching. They may not know the message, but they remember the ads. All right, thanks so much, Joe Carter. Always good to see you.
CARTER: Good to see you too.
WHITFIELD: All right, in our 3:00 Eastern Hour, we've got more. We'll have more insight into this year's Superbowl ads from Ad Week executive director, Tony Case. How they do it and why it is we end up talking about these ads forever it seems after the Superbowl, right after this.
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WHITFIELD: All right, could Justin Bieber's legal troubles land him back in Canada where he was born? Legal experts say it's highly unlikely that he would be sent back for the current charges against him which include dui and resisting arrest. Well that will be welcome news, however, for at least one Canadian comedian.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DARTANION LONDON, COMEDIAN: Hello, Americans. I'm the prime minister of Canada. I won't bother saying my name because I'm sure you already know it. I've seen some talk online about possibly deporting Justin Bieber due to his recent legal troubles and felt like I should speak out. Don't do it. Please, don't. We don't want him back.
Think of all the things we've given you over the years. Neil Young, Keanu Reeves, Jim Carey, Pamela Anderson. That's right, Pamela Anderson is a Canuck. Not to mention William Shatner, all of those we gave you. When they got successful we didn't say, give them back. We said no, keep them, beauty. So take back sees with Bieber. You've got responsibility now. You took him in, you got to keep him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WHITFIELD: All right, and now the real man behind "Wolf of Wall Street" he says the movie should serve as a warning to people. Jordan Belfort gave his first interview since the movie came out to our own Piers Morgan and Belfort said while his life story may have seemed glamorous, no one should try to copy it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JORDAN BELFORT, THE REAL LIFE "WOLF OF WALL STREET": I guess for me, it's important the movie is viewed the right way, certainly as a cautionary tale. I know this is a big issue of people glamorizing what happened and I think that -- I think the guy who wrote the screenplay said it best when he was interviewed because if you look at this movie and you walk away thinking this is how you want to live your life, then you have a screw loose. This is clear that I lost everything and also my story is known throughout the world that I ended up in jail and it was a disaster personally, professionally. I think that being said, though, I think there are a lot of great things to glean from the movie. Hopefully when people see this they can say there are some things in there that are inspiring, starting from nothing, the stuff with selling and motivation.
I think that does inspire. I think it should move people, but they need to get it in context if you're not dealing with ethics and integrity it's a disaster for yourself and everyone around you. You know, it was shocking. When I saw the movie, I saw it with my fiance the first time and we were speechless afterwards.
The audience sees it, I think they're speechless because there's overwhelming, for me it was trying to sort of -- I come to terms with my old life. I wrote this book and it was a cathartic experience for me. But to see it on film like that with someone that -- that did such a good job, I literally felt myself sweating.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WHITFIELD: Belfort served 22 months of a four-year prison sentence. He is now a motivational speaker.
All right, food banks are already struggling to help millions of people. Now the lines may get even longer. We'll tell you why next.
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WHITFIELD: And this breaking story we're following in Columbia, Maryland. Just about 45 minutes or so outside Washington D.C., according to the Columbia Fire and EMS, according to their Twitter account, there's an active shooting taking place at the mall in Columbia. You're looking at the Google Earth images right there of that mall, just outside the Washington, D.C., a mall that I frequented as a kid right outside of D.C.
Of course, when we get any more information, we'll bring that to you. Meantime, our own CNN crews are making their way to the mall in Columbia to bring you the latest reporting on that situation.
All right now, one in five Americans receives food stamps and it may soon get even harder for many of them to put food on the table. Right now, the average recipient gets $134 a month in benefits. But proposed cuts could trim that number by more than half for 850,000 Americans. The cuts are included in the latest farm bill before Congress.
This isn't welcome news for food banks and pantries that already struggling to meet a greater demand these days. Margarette Purvis joining us now, so you're the president and CEO of the Food Bank for New York City. Are you worried that there won't be enough supplies to go around? It wasn't that long ago before the holidays that you were expressing a great need and it was difficult to already meet those needs. So now what? MARGARETTE PURVIS, PRESIDENT AND CEO, FOOD BANK FOR NEW YORK CITY: Well, absolutely. We are definitely worried. I mean, already -- we just released a study where we were able to survey more than 600 charities throughout New York City to find out what has happened since the cuts to SNAP that occurred on November 1st. More than half of those charities reported that they ran out of food.
Another 25 percent of them or so reported that they had to turn families away and then another quarter reported that they had to start rationing food. This is a very serious issue actually across the country not just in New York City.
WHITFIELD: And is part of the big problem here that people who have in the past been able to generously donate, even they are in trouble and they are unable to donate like they have been able to?
PURVIS: Well, that is true, but I think that at the end of day, the SNAP cuts -- the reason that it is such a really terrible issue right now is because food stamps make up the first line of defense against hunger. Charities come in to support it. We are not interchangeable with government. There is no way that a donated dollar can ever compete with the power of government authority and certainly government resources.
WHITFIELD: And so what is the backup plan if any? If you're unable to get the government resources and support that you need, then what?
PURVIS: Well, the biggest backup plan is for Americans, you know, from the 47 million who have been affected by this to Joe public, we need everyone to see the seriousness of this American issue. There is a vote that is eminent that you are mentioning before. It will rob families of even more resources. This next cut, Fredricka, will be for $9 billion. And it will only be rendered on about 16 states, New York being one of them.
New York City will bear 25 percent of the impact of these proposed cuts. It is unreasonable and it should be a concern for every citizen of these United States. This is not an opportunity for others to give a collective sigh because your state is not on this list.
WHITFIELD: Margarette Purvis, thanks so much, wishing you all the best. And of course, to all those in great need. Hopefully many and all will get the assistance that they really need. All right, Margarette, appreciate that.
Of course, we continue to watch a breaking story outside of Washington, D.C. this is in Columbia, Maryland. According to Columbia Fire and EMS, their Twitter account, there's an active shooting taking place at the mall in Columbia just outside of D.C. We'll get the latest information on that and bring that to you as soon as we can.
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WHITFIELD: All right, this is breaking story we're following out of Columbia, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C. According to the Howard County Fire and EMS, there is an active shooting taking place at the mall in Columbia, very popular mall, and of course, at this time of day, certainly a place where many families like to go, about 200 stores at that popular mall.
It's about 45 minutes outside the Washington, D.C. area serving many counties, Howard County, Prince Georgia's County, Montgomery County, all there in the Washington, D.C. area. We understand according to the Twitter account of the Howard County Fire and EMS, an active shooting taking place. Unclear how many people may have been injured, hurt or involved in this active shooting.
And we don't even know how many people, whether it be one alleged gunman or more involved. All we know an active shooting taking place at the mall in Columbia, Maryland, in Howard County just outside Washington, D.C. Of course, we have our own CNN crews on the way to that mall to bring us the latest information. And of course, we continue to reach out to a number of sources in that vicinity.
Mike Brooks, our security analyst is on the phone with us now. Mike, you know that area given that you once work in the Washington, D.C. area, Metropolitan Police.
