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GM Expands U.S. Recall Of 1.4 Million Cars Including Saturn, Chevy, Pontiac Models; Bill Clinton Back On The Campaign Trail; Consumer Reports Likes Tesla Models; Home Prices Rose 11.3 Percent In 2013; Greene: "Wolf Of Wall Street" Cost Me My Job; Judy Garland's Children To Reunite At Oscars; A Star Whose Hits Touched All Ages
Aired February 25, 2014 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Got some breaking news here at the bottom of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin. This is what we're learning. Word of a massive recall from General Motors. More than 1 million vehicles are affected. And here's the issue. It's an ignition problem.
Let me go straight to our money car expert, Peter Valdez. Peter, what exactly is the issue here?
PETER VALDEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the issue here is that the ignition switch can accidentally come out of the run position while the car is driving, shutting off the engine. That also shuts off power steering. It shuts off your power brake assist, also it shuts off your airbags. It's a bad situation. GM had already recalled 780,000 cars roughly for this, but now they've expanded it to 1.4 million cars total.
BALDWIN: Which cars, specifically, Peter?
VALDEZ: All right, well, they had already recalled the Chevrolet Cobalt and the nearly identical Pontiac G-5, now they're also recalling the Chevy HHR, Pontiac Solstice, Saturn Sky and Saturn Ion in addition to those other cars.
BALDWIN: How many issues, Peter, you read about car all the time, how many issues has GM had in recent years?
VALDEZ: I mean, GM -- these days, all auto manufacturers, and I don't want to single out GM, many automotive manufacturers have had a number of recalls. Toyota has had a number of recalls over the years, so has Chrysler. These days, especially, automakers are really sensitive to wanting to jump on issues as quickly as possible.
Now, this issue dates back some years and they're finally getting on top of it. But automakers are much more sensitive these days the about jumping on recalls because there are serious penalties. An automaker can be fined about $35 million for failing to recall a car in a timely fashion once they know of a safety problem.
BALDWIN: OK. Peter, thank you very much. I'm sure you're going to have this right up on cnn.com. I know we blew through that. For people who want to read about specifically these cars, cnnmoney.com. Peter, thank you very much.
I want to move along and talk about former President Bill Clinton, because he is back on the campaign trail. And it's not for himself, not for his wife, Hillary Clinton. He is, in fact, campaigning for a long time family friend, trying to unseat Kentucky's Mitch McConnell, the most powerful Republican currently sitting in the U.S. Senate. And it is clear the former president still enjoys being on the stump.
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BILL CLINTON, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: Politics is not rocket science. It's either creative cooperation or constant conflict. It's either a focus on people or a focus on keeping yourself in power by keeping people torn up and upset, so they can't think anymore.
And, you know, when Alison got in this race, we talked about it, I said, your point is a genius at that latter course, he's skated a couple of elections here doing that. You can't beat that. You've got to beat it with this. Give the people something.
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BALDWIN: Let's talk about this Kentucky trip with this man, our chief national correspondent, John King, and host of CNN's "INSIDE POLITICS." And John King, I mean, here you have this 35-year-old, you know, young woman, Alison Grimes, Democrat in a red state. She is taking on, you know, as we mentioned, the number two in the Senate, the tip-top Republican. How did she get Bill Clinton to campaign for her?
JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You mentioned the family relationship. Bill Clinton is very close to her dad, who was once a state party chairman, was in the legislature in Kentucky. I met him way back in 1991, when Bill Clinton was gearing up to run for president. And Bill Clinton, you know, campaigned in Kentucky.
We view it now as a red state, but Bill Clinton carried Kentucky. That's why he's there, family history, family friendship. But this is also, for Democrats, Brooke, this is just the premiere challenge. They want to get Mitch McConnell. They see him as vulnerable.
Now, Mitch McConnell has a Tea Party primary challenge to get through first, but Democrats see a remote opportunity, they're honest about it, if you talk to him, a remote opportunity, but they think this young female candidate is the right profile to run against Mitch McConnell.
I will say this, though. This was a fascinating snapshot of 2014. Now, Alison Grimes gave this long speech about the Bill Clinton economy. She never mentioned Barack Obama. That's one of her problems. He's unpopular in the state of Kentucky.
And Mitch McConnell was just asked about Bill Clinton being there, and he said, he came down my last two elections and I won, so keep him coming. BALDWIN: We've talked about this. Some of the Dems out there would like Bill Clinton instead Barack Obama by their side. What about the fact that currently, Barack Obama, not very popular there. Do you think Kentucky, though, would actually dump Mitch McConnell for this young woman?
KING: Mitch McConnell has a problem that all incumbents have. And Mitch McConnell has been magnified, because he has the title, leader. Voters everywhere don't like incumbents. They especially don't like incumbents with titles, because they view them as responsible for the problem.
I've seen some of the internal polling in Kentucky, and the voters in Kentucky are mad at Mitch McConnell because they view him as part of the problem in Washington. Now, Bill Clinton said it himself, Mitch McConnell's a very crafty politician.
If you go back, there have been many times in his career he's been counted out. He has a Tea Party challenge to deal with first. He hasn't spent a lot of money focusing on the Democrat yet. But if this race right now, February, so, in some ways, discount this.
But this race right now, if you match up Alison Grimes and Mitch McConnell, it's a toss-up, which tells you Mitch McConnell is going to have to fight, assuming he survives this primary, and it tells you, Brooke, that a boat load of national money from both Republicans and Democrats is going to come into this race.
Because if Democrats see a chance to knock off the leader, you have to go back in history a little bit, when the Republicans knocked off Tom Dashel when he was the Senate Democratic leader. There's a little bit of a grudge match here. Trust me, this is a big one.
BALDWIN: OK. We'll watch that. But also this, because we're finally getting some details from the John Boehner/President Obama meeting, you know, early this morning, the first meeting in months and months. We know it happened for about an hour.
And just looking at the list, John King, they talked about manufacturing, trade, flood insurance, immigration, health care, Afghanistan, California drought. The list goes on. Do we have any idea what they talked about the most?
KING: No, we don't. What we're getting from both sides is that it was a productive meeting, it was a cordial meeting. But when you don't have a very long meeting and you have such a long list of items, what does that tell you? They pretty much went through, we've got to do this, do this.
And a readout from Speaker Boehner, one of his top aides, where they can get things done, they will try to get things done. That was the end of the meeting, there are some like drought and farm policy, where you can see compromise. If you want to talk immigration, budget, taxes, big things, health care, don't count on it.
Manufacturing, the president talking about that from the east room of the White House in about a half hour are now. We'll take a little bit of that. Mr. King, thank you so much and make sure we watch John King, "INSIDE POLITICS," right here Sunday mornings on CNN.
A big boost for trendy, all-electric Tesla cars. "Consumer Reports" has just named the Tesla model "S" its top-rated car for 2014. The magazine apparently can't get enough of Tesla because last year it described the model "s," as the best car it has ever tested. If you want one, start saving now. This thing is not cheap. It goes anywhere in the neighborhood of $70,000 to $90,000.
A home was a good investment for most of us in 2013. Nationally, home prices surged 11.3 percent according to S&P Case-Shiller. Its home price index had its best year since 2005. So it's been a little while, but S&P also warns, the strongest part of the housing recovery may be over. Home sales have fallen recently amid bad weather and higher mortgage rates.
Coming up next, Judy Garland's, her children, not so much children anymore, but they include Liza Mennelie, reportedly set to unite on stage this weekend at the Oscars. We'll tell you why.
Plus, he is the rare person whose movie hits are known really for folks of all ages, from "Animal House" to "Ghostbusters" to "Groundhog Day," we will continue talking today about Harold Ramis' legacy. Next.
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BALDWIN: The film, "The Wolf of Wall Street," may receive an Oscar this weekend, but it's already taken a lot from a man by the name of Andrew Green, this is according to Greene, who just gave this exclusive interview to CNN. Greene is suing Paramount Pictures, demanding $25 million and the removal of the film from theaters.
His lawsuit says the film's character, Rugrat, that's his nickname, defames Greene. Greene, there he was, real quickly, he was a lifelong friend of Jordan Belfort, the author of the book that then inspired the movie. Rugrat is seen in this film doing cocaine and a whole lot more.
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ANDREW GREENE, SUING PARAMOUNT PICTURES OVER "WOLF OF WALL STREET": There's no issue that the character was me. He's the only person in the entire book that Jordy decided to not only use my name, but my full name, Andrew Todd Greene. I've known Jordy since I'm 10 years old. There are reasons why he went after me personally.
But I'm angry because I was harmed, I was humiliated, I was humiliated in front of my family, my friends. I was humiliated in front of a woman that I planned to marry. I lost my job.
What he is portraying to you is this Napoleonic complex that he had. When they say "Wolf of Wall Street," I would like to know anybody who can tell me that anybody ever called him that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he called him that, didn't he?
GREENE: Only himself.
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BALDWIN: Well, the defendants in this lawsuit maintain that Rugrat is not Greene, but a combination of characters.
And the Academy Awards, nearly days away. And while everyone is talking about who will take home a trophy, there is something even bigger brewing, as in, a "Wizard of Oz" tribute. The iconic 1939 musical will be marking 75 years.
I don't care how old you are, doesn't that just still kind of give you the goose bumps? There is more to this story. Hollywood reporter has the scoop, they're reporting that Garland's three kids will reunite at the Oscars for the tribute.
Liza took home a best actress Oscar back in 1973 for "Cabaret," so joining me live, "Turner Classic Movies" host, Ben Mankiewicz. Ben Mankiewicz, it's nice to see you.
BEN MANKIEWICZ, HOST, TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES: Nice to see you, Brooke.
BALDWIN: Ben, do we have any idea what they'll be doing this weekend on stage?
MANKIEWICZ: Yes, oddly, they're not consulting me for what they ought to do onstage.
BALDWIN: They're not?
MANKIEWICZ: I've got a lot of really good ideas. That's crazy. You just heard "Over The Rainbow." I imagine these are three people who could give a fairly nice rendition of "Over the Rainbow," but we don't know what they're going to do. It will be something of a surprise.
But it's merely a surprise, of course, that the three of them are ready to appear on stage together, to celebrate, perhaps, their mother's signature film.
BALDWIN: Do we know, when was the last time all three of these Judy Garland children shared a single stage?
MANKIEWICZ: I don't know when they all were together, because, of course, they didn't get along for some time, although reportedly, things are now good between them and Lorna Luft, who was a singer and actress in her own right, performs secretly, and Liza appeared with her at a performance as late as last year.
So they have been together, and things are now good, which, of course, warms all of our hearts. They clearly all loved their mother, but those were difficult years to have to deal with what their mother was going through, and to know now that as they've reached into their 50s and 60s, that they're get along is really nice.
And somehow that comforts me and all of us who love "Wizard of Oz," is comforted by that. And that's something I want to see at the Oscars.
BALDWIN: I'm excited too. Let me ask you now about Harold Ramis, the great Hollywood director and actor, passed away. We talked about this yesterday, age 69. But I wanted to ask you today, just thinking about, I mean, this is a man, both in front of the camera and behind the camera, this man appealed to all generations. For me, it was "Ghostbusters," for others, it was "Groundhog Day," "As Good As It Gets," "National Lampoon." I mean, a little bit of everything.
MANKIEWICZ: Yes, and you're leaving out the one that appeals to me most, which is "Stripes," which I can quote almost line for line. When you start looking at the movies that he either wrote or directed or starred in, and in many of them, he did one, two, or three of those things.
You start to get an idea, "Animal House, "Caddy Shack," "Stripes," "Analyze This," "Ghostbusters," "Vacation," "Meatballs, these are movies that mattered and ushered in, in many ways, this new era of comedies, the Judd Apatow comedies, the Will Farrell movies.
These are movies that owe a bit of debt of gratitude to the movies that Harold Ramis played such an important role in. And I think that for many film fans, I don't think we fully appreciated his contribution, in part because as an actor, following the "Ghostbusters" movies, he didn't appear much, except in bit roles.
And we sort of got the sense that he went away, when, of course, he didn't, he just sort of went into the background as an actor. But that's exactly what he was. He was a background player, would lob in a few funny lines, background player on screens, but behind the scenes, he was a driving force.
And I didn't appreciate Harold Ramis enough. I count myself with the masses who read these obits and appreciations today and thought, my goodness, the level of the quality of these films, the lasting quality of these wonderful comedies, he was sensational.
BALDWIN: The laughter to tears in some cases. Ben Mankiewicz, "Turner Classic Movies" host, thank you so much.
And a quick reminder to all of you, tune in Thursday night when CNN Films brings you, "And The Oscar Goes To." This is the ultimate backstage look at Hollywood's biggest night. "And The Oscar Goes To" airs Thursday night, 9:00 Eastern right here on CNN.
Right now, states are racing to be the first to prosecute El Chapo, the drug kingpin locked up in Mexico. And while we wait to see if and when he's coming to the U.S., we are giving you a look at the Mexican cartel that you have never seen. That's next.
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BALDWIN: In a clear example of the wide reach, Mexican drug lord, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, several federal districts in the United States have brought indictments against him, and they are racing to be the first ones to get to prosecute him. But there are still a lot of doubt as far as whether or not he'll ever set foot inside the U.S. courtroom because lawyers for Guzman have filed two appeals against his possible extradition.
Keep in mind, he is being formally charged in Mexico. El Chapo was captured in this area where cartels have instituted fear, but in this bizarre twist, have also inspired respect.
CNN's Gary Tuchman goes to Mexico, shows us these two very different sides of the drug trade, and just let me warn you, some of the images you're about to see are graphic.
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GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one of the most dangerous spots in Mexico. A place where few outsiders go.
(on camera): We're driving through the heart of the Mexican state of Sinaloa, which is home of the multi-national business known as the Sinaloa cartel. One of the most powerful, wealthy, brutal, ruthless drug cartels that ever was. Its leader is a man by the name of Joaquin Guzman, better known as El Chapo, and this is his home.
(voice-over): This is El Chapo back in 1993, after he'd been captured. But in 2001, he escaped from prison in a laundry cart. Marijuana, cocaine, meth, heroin, and murder are all part of his business. Violent scenes like these, bodies stuck in garbage bags, police executed and journalists assassinated are directly connected to the wrath of the Sinaloa cartel.
Much of the blood is spilled here, in Culiacan, the largest city in Sinaloa and the violent nerve center of the cartel. His rumors spread that El Chapo was killed in a gunfight, no one here seemed to believe it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): Around here, he is the legend of Sinaloa.
TUCHMAN: And that mystique is part of the reason that people are protective of him. El Chapo was seen as a modern-day Robin Hood, helping churn the Sinaloa economy with drug money. A common feeling, leave El Chapo and his cartel alone, and he'll leave us alone.
At this Sinaloa Cathedral, one of the priests says it's commonly understood that people mind their manners when it comes to El Chapo and his bloody exploits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): People from around here know not to speak about El Chapo. We don't talk about it.
TUCHMAN: Just drive around here, and you'll see how the drug kingpin and members of his cartel are idolized. Storefronts bear the name of the cartel leader. And it's not uncommon to see El Chapo printed on the tops of license plate frames. But nothing idolizes the narco trafficking trade more than here. Money lines the walls and ceiling of a business and place of prayer that celebrates the drug culture and the life of a man who many compare to El Chapo.
(on camera): This is a site you'd never expect to see in a law- abiding society. This is literally a chapel dedicated to a man by the name of Jesus Malverde who was born in 1870 died in the early 20th Century. He is considered a patron saint for drug dealers and those who sympathize with drug dealers. He was considered a robin hood back in his time.
Drug dealers come here, families of drug dealers come here to pray for people who died and also to pray for good transports of their drugs up north. Here's a sign, for example. This is a chapel right inside here, and here's a sign, and in Spanish it said, thank you to God, thank you to St. Jude, and thank you to Jesus Malverde for the favor of protecting our family. It's signed by a family here in Culiacan, Sinaloa.
(voice-over): But the most bizarre scene in Sinaloa might be this. Driving down this street in Culiacan, it first looks like you're entering a neighborhood, but this is a cemetery where cartel members are buried. This looks like a house, but it's not. There's a body buried in here. It's a tomb.
There are scores of similar mausoleums in the cemetery, with the faces of the drug kingpins posted outside the crypts. Narco traffickers who likely grew up in poverty and homes much smaller than their final resting places. And when the drug trade is glorified like this, it's easy to see how someone like El Chapo could elude capture for so long. Gary Tuchman, CNN, Culiacan, Mexico.
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BALDWIN: Gary, thank you.
Smiles, a standing ovation, and a tremendous recognition of bravery for three women who were held captive in that Ohio house of horrors last year. Coming up next, we will show you how the state's governor honored these three women with a very special award.
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