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CNN NEWSROOM

Cell Phone Usage Laws Examined; Rolling Stones Tour Celebrates 50 Years as a Recording Act; A Look at an Alleged North Korean Assassination Plot

Aired November 26, 2012 - 15:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Remember the days when we actually didn't carry one of these everywhere we went?

Those days long gone and now information from these gadgets slowly making their way into the courtroom as evidence.

The problem? Judges' decisions about the use of cell phone is all over the place. In fact, just this week, a Senate committee will consider changes to what is called the Electronic Communications Privacy Act.

Basically, it's a bill that regulates how the government can monitor digital communications.

Sunny Hostin, "On the Case" with us, and, Sunny, look, we have personal things on our phones, be it a photo, a text, you know?

I have people's phone numbers. Is this information considered private or not?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: You know, I think after, let's say, the Petraeus scandal, right, we can all agree that while you may think it is private, people can get to it.

So, once it is sort of on your phone, once it is out on Facebook or twitter, no, it is not really private, but the question is, can it be used in a court of law as evidence against you?

And that question just hasn't been answered by the courts, Brooke. We're trying, I think the law certainly is trying to catch up with technology, but as you know, technology is sort of speeding past the laws in our country.

So, I don't know what the answer is. Is it private? Some courts are saying, yes, it's private. You need a warrant for that information. Other courts are saying, well, no, it is like overhearing a phone conversation. No, there is no expectation of privacy.

So, with no real federal statute, sort of laying the law of the land and without the Supremes having weighed in, I don't think ...

BALDWIN: Do you think they will? This has to go to the supreme court, right?

HOSTIN: It has to. It is sort of ripe this question is ripe for the Supreme Court.

I think the take-away is what you have on your phone is just not private, so you to be very careful because there is such a wealth of information.

Think about the location feature. Use your phone, the cops kind of can find out where you are because of the GPS system that we all use with twitter and Facebook.

Your text messages, are they private? They're still on your phone. So we have to be very, very careful until the law has caught up with technology.

BALDWIN: OK. Let's talk about this case in Georgia, police in Georgia, right now, are investigating this confrontation outside this Walmart store over the weekend.

Basically what happened is you have three employees, store employees, they chase this guy down, allegedly stealing, these two DVD players and, in the end, the man died.

Do you expect charges against the Walmart employees?

HOSTIN: You know, we don't know. We have a statement from Walmart that is saying, well, we -- this is -- we have company policy about how associates -- Walmart associates are supposed to act.

They have actually apparently said that the security officer involved will no longer be working there, but it is going to depend on how the coroner, what the coroner determines, is this a homicide and it also depends on the police.

I got to tell you, in researching this story this is not first time this has happened apparently.

In 2010, it happened in CVS, a shoplifter stealing toothpaste and crayons, Brooke, was killed by an employee.

So, that employee was not charged. It was deemed by the police to have been an accident happ. It happened in another Walmart in California this summer. And that, of course, is still being investigated. And so, you know who knows if charges are going to be brought. But I think we can al agree if you're committing a crime, like shoplifting, certainly you should pay the legal price, but should you pay the ultimate price with your life? I don't think so.

BALDWIN: And then depending on the charge, I guess to your point, we'll see whether or not Walmart is held responsible. We'll check back.

Sunny Hostin, "On the Case," thank you very much.

To this, it has a lot of you talking. We'll talk about what happened on stage. Stones fans, anywhere, as The Rolling Stones celebrate 50 years in the music business.

Plus, Memphis finally unveiling its very first inductees for the city's music hall of fame. Cue the music here.

Elvis made the list, of course. We're talking Memphis. You might be surprised who else got the nod.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: From soul to rock 'n' roll, Memphis, Tennessee, launched its fair share of musicians to stardom and this week, in a matter of days, in fact, 25 artists will be honored as the Memphis Music Hall of Fame inducts its very first class.

The star-studded list includes, of course, we're talking Memphis, you've got to have Elvis Presley.

Also, gospel and soul singer, Al Green.

The Academy Award-winning rap group Three 6 Mafia on the list, as well. They won an Oscar for best original song back in 2006.

And this man, as well.

Then I see you dancing in the studio. That's what happens when you hear Otis Redding, 1967, singing "Try a Little Tenderness," on the variety show, "Upbeat," just another one of the myriad of artists credited with putting Memphis on the American music map.

The Memphis Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, set to take place Thursday night. Love that.

Fellow musicians, The Rolling Stones, proving one of the world's greatest rock bands can still bring it, playing their first concert in five years.

The Stones on the stage at the O2 Arena in London last night, celebrating their 50th anniversary.

Showbiz correspondent Kareen Wynter is in Los Angeles to talk to me about this. You know, Kareen, I peeked at the set list. Of course, unfortunately, I was not in London yesterday, but I peeked at the set list.

My favorite, "Wild Horses, was performed. You had former Stones, current Stones. How awesome is that?

KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: I know, such a fantastic time. Too bad we weren't there. I can't believe that you could narrow it down to one favorite.

I'm looking at the list right here, Brooke, and I see like 10. They performed more than 10, about 23 songs. They were on stage for two and a half hours. an absolutely incredible time.

The critics, all the reviews we have been hearing, people say they absolutely just killed it.

It was just such a great celebration after 50 years. Imagine, it was back in 1962 that The Stones first performed at a London club, so they have really, really come a long way.

They performed your favorites, some of the other hits they performed, "Start Me Up," "Sympathy for the Devil" and it wasn't just Keith Richards and Mick Jagger there, but also former Stones, such as Bill Wyman and Mick Taylor.

It was just such a fantastic time to see them there in action, jamming, playing, joking with the crowd. Even, at one point, they joked with the crowd, the audience in the cheap seats asking, how are those seats?

BALDWIN: Not so cheap, actually.

WYNTER: We did the math. They were about 95 to 950 pounds, so if you do the math, well, $152 to $1,521.

So, definitely wasn't a cheap show, but you get what you pay for. You're getting The Stones here.

BALDWIN: It is a lifetime show. It's a lifetime memory.

But you have Mick Jagger, you have Keith Richards. I mean, these guys are pushing 70. They don't look like they're slowing down.

WYNTER: I mean, they are performed for more than two hours, absolutely not.

They were absolutely magnetic on stage and the fans really, really agree to that.

And, hey, they had an interview recently with Kyle Richards and he said we're not going anywhere just yet. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEITH RICHARDS, THE ROLLING STONES: Who call it quits will be the public not us, you know? When they say we have had enough of you, we'll disappear gracefully, you know?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WYNTER: Keith Richards there, how could you mess up the name of the legend, Keith Richards?

So, they're going to be doing more shows, five more shows, three here in the U.S., so since we're such huge fans, Brooke, who knows, maybe we can put our opinion pennies together, get a ticket.

BALDWIN: I smell assignment. I'll bring the lighting. I'll be the lighting person if you get to go. Deal, Kareen Wynter. Thank you so much. It is something we have never seen before, a spy's top secret tools of the trade, weapons that could kill you in an instant, and we have the exclusive pictures.

First, on Sundays, CNN showcases some of the brightest minds in technology and innovation. And here is a preview of this week's episode of "The Next List."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm Dr. Sanjay Gupta. This weekend on "The Next List," meet Max Little, a math whiz and an innovator with a surprising goal.

MAX LITTLE: So, my name's Max Little and I'm aiming to screen the population for Parkinson's using the voice (INAUDIBLE).

GUPTA: Max Little has a bold idea. What if doctors could detect Parkinson's disease simply by the sound of your voice.

Max Little is close to proving just that. He says one simple voice test can determine if someone has Parkinson' Parkinson's. And all you need is a telephone.

LITTLE: We have got an ultra low cost way of detecting the disease.

GUPTA: Watch how Max Little's surprising idea is taking shape, this Sunday on "The Next List."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now, I want to give you an exclusive look inside an assassination plot. It involves pens that poison and guns that cannot be detected. Plus, you'll hear from the target himself.

Who was behind it? Intelligence officials say North Korea.

Here is CNN's Paula Hancocks.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: An assassination attempt foiled. A North Korean spy is arrested on the streets of Seoul.

This was a year ago and this is the first time South Korean intelligence officials are showcasing the weapons exclusively to CNN.

How does this work?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): This poison needle was made to look like a pocket ball point pen. There is a tube inside of here.

In order to activate it, we have to twist it to the right three to four times and then press the top button like this. HANCOCKS: If you're shot by this pen, what happens to you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): It would cause muscle paralysis very quickly, which would lead to suffocation and death.

HANCOCKS: The second pen shoots a poison-filled bullet which penetrates the skin. The powdered poison is then released.

Now, these pens look like they belong in a James Bond movie. Is it new technology or quite old, quite basic technology?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via translator): These pen weapons are not new. North Korean spies have had this technology for about 10 years.

But this flashlight is new. I've never seen this weapon before.

If you look at the front, there are three holes. There was a bullet in each hole and here is the trigger.

This is currently loaded and dangerous. Two bullets remain.

HANCOCKS: Forensic experts fired one bullet to test the gun disguised as a flashlight. It was accurate and deadly and almost impossible to identify as a weapon.

When police arrested the would-be assassin, he was carrying all three weapons, none had been fired.

This man was his target. Defector and anti-Pyongyang activist, Park Sang-Hak, renowned in South Korea for sending anti-regime propaganda leaflets across the border in balloons.

He was due to meet the would-be assassin who had claimed he wanted to fund his activism. South Korean intelligence agents stopped him at the last minute.

PARK SANG-HAK, NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR AND ACTIVIST (via translator): I didn't believe they would try and kill me on the crowded streets of Seoul. I thought the national intelligence service was overreacting.

HANCOCKS: We show Park the weapons intended to kill him. He hadn't seen them before in such detail and seemed shocked.

PARK (via translator): You would notice the gun, but these weapons are so innocuous, you could easily kill someone. I would have been killed easily.

HANCOCKS: Park knows he's at the top of North Korea's hit list and has round-the-clock police protection.

Having seen the weapons intended to kill him, he says he knows there will be more assassination attempts, but he will not stop his activism.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Not just in the movies, apparently. Paula Hancocks, thank you.

What happened to the hit man? He was sentenced to four years and to pay $10,000 in fines.

The numbers are staggering when you look at the new damage figures coming out today from New York City, show the scope of Superstorm Sandy's devastation. We have that for you.

But now let's go to Wolf Blitzer. Because, Wolf Blitzer, this is the first time I have laid eyes on you back here in the U.S since your terrific, terrific reporting from Israel. How are you?

WOLF BLITZER, HOST, "THE SITUATION ROOM": Thank you. It was obviously a big story. I'm glad that I went over there to cover it. I'm also glad to be back here in Washington.

But that cease-fire, let's see how long it lasts, Brooke. I'm hoping it will last. I'm hoping it will jump-start a real resumption of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, but, if you ask me, am I overly confident, optimistic that's going to happen? I'll say no.

Because there are so ma6ny problems over there. You can see what's going on, not only between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but in the region as a whole right now, whether in Egypt or in Syria or Libya or Iraq, Iran.

The whole region is in trouble right now, so, we're watching it closely, and, obviously, coming up, we'll have a lot more on that story, but we're also focusing on the other news, including a look at the fiscal cliff, how close are we getting to that fiscal cliff?

The number three Republican in the House, Kevin McCarthy is going to be here in "The Situation Room," the House majority whip.

And also Alan Krueger, the chairman of the president's council of economic advisers is going to be here, as well.

We're trying to gauge if there's going to be a deal or no deal and what it means for our viewers.

But I'm glad to be back. I'm glad you noticed, Brooke. Thank you.

BALDWIN: Of course, I noticed. And I was so proud of you. I was proud of CNN.

I thought the coverage was incredible, just watching back here in the U.S., but I have to ask, I know you have a daughter and a lovely wife and did you get a chance to have a Thanksgiving?

BLITZER: Yes, I got back in time for Thanksgiving. I flew all night, Tel Aviv-Frankfurt, Frankfurt-Washington-Dulles. I landed at 2:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon, so I was here in time for Thanksgiving.

I had some turkey and cranberry sauce and all that good stuff.

BALDWIN: All right, Wolf Blitzer, we are grateful ...

BLITZER: Here's a question I'm going to ask you, Brooke. A year ago last night, where were you and I?

BALDWIN: Ding. BET Soul Train awards.

BLITZER: And did you watch last night?

BALDWIN: I did not.

BLITZER: What do you mean you did not? I watched, of course.

BALDWIN: If I'm not going to be at the BET Soul Train awards with Wolf Blitzer on my arm, I'm not going to watch.

BLITZER: Yes, next year. We'll do. I couldn't go this year either because of the news.

BALDWIN: You were just a little busy.

BLITZER: Yeah, a little busy, but I'm looking forward to the Soul Train awards next year.

BALDWIN: Good deal. Wolf Blitzer, a pleasure talking to you. We'll watch for you at the top of the hour.

Meantime, a quick break, back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: $19 billion in damage just in New York city alone. Damage estimates from Superstorm Sandy continue to rise.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo made a desperate plea today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: I know that the taxpayers of New York can not shoulder this burden and I don't think it's fair to ask them to shoulder this burden.

This nation has a long history, as you saw in the other supplements, of helping each other at a time of need.

This state and this region of the country have always been there to support other regions of the country when they needed help. Well, we need help today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: In addition to the help that's necessary, listen to this, the Long Island Power Authority is sending out normal bills to its customers, even when some of them spent the last week or the last three weeks in the dark and the cold. LIPA says that customer bills have been estimated, based upon their typical usage for this type of year, and that a revised bill will be sent out next month.

Here's one bright spot, we'll call it here, from the region, $27 million in federal grants will be used to put unemployed New Yorkers to work on storm clean-up, aimed toward helping young people and those wanting to help rebuild their homes and their communities.

In case you have missed the signs that Christmas is indeed coming, here's yet another sign for you, the arrival of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree. The year's tree standing -- once it's pulled upright -- 65-feet tall.

If you are keeping score here, it is an Engelmann Spruce and it comes to Washington from the White River National Forest in Colorado.

Once decorated, it will display 5,000 ornaments, all of them hand- crafted by Coloradans.

And before I let you go, let's talk Powerball. The Powerball lottery hasn't had a winner in a long time.

And that means for now there is a shot at becoming its biggest winner. $425 million at stake, the largest jackpot ever for Powerball which is played in 42 states plus the Virgin Islands.

But, reality check, your chances of winning, not exactly great. They are slim to none.

This is the largest Powerball jackpot, but you're remember the largest payout ever. that was actually Mega Millions, $656 million back in March. But it happened then, it could happen to you..

Thanks for being with me. I'm Brooke Baldwin at the CNN World Headquarters here in Atlanta.

Let's go to Wolf Blitzer in Louisiana. "THE SITUATION ROOM" starts now.