Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Segregated Proms; North Korea Readies Missiles; KFC Changing Menu; Rutgers Basketball Video Fallout Continues

Aired April 5, 2013 - 15:00   ET

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


BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up, the morning after pill. A judge makes a landmark ruling and now anyone any age in the country can get it over the counter.

Plus, complimenting women. Could it be innocent? What the president said about the California attorney general led him to call her and apologize. We're going to talk about that this hour.

And can you believe? Segregated prom. It sounds like something from eons ago, but it's not. It is happening in 2013. We will tell you about four students trying to integrate their high school prom.

It is Friday. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Let's roll on hour two, beginning with Rutgers University and the fallout there.

Folks, the other shoe has now officially dropped. First, you had Mike Rice, the abusive, homophobic basketball coach, he was finally fired Wednesday. Now his boss, the man who allowed Rice to continue coaching for months after he had seen this videotape, he is out as well.

Athletic director Tim Pernetti has resigned "reluctantly" he says in a state. His resignation announced shortly after 1:00 p.m. Eastern there at Rutgers. It's a crazy story here on the eve of the Final Four weekend.

Pamela Brown is with us now from the Rutgers campus there in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

And, Pamela, you attended that news conference. You have the internal report that got the A.D. fired. What happened?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, right here as you mentioned in my hands is that report that was given to the A.D. and the university president back in December sort of outlining why Mike Rice should not be dismissed from the university.

And in this report, it said that coach Rice's conduct does not constitute a hostile work environment under Rutgers' policies. It also goes on to say that -- described the video saying Rice used coarse, inappropriate and insulting language, and grabbed and kicked players, but it says in the report that in interviews with players during the investigation, that they took it as though Rice cared for them and that he was just trying to make them feel more comfortable being in the Big East Conference. And it also says that some of Rice's assistant coaches confronted him about his behavior, about his language with the players, so that happened as well. And it says that his behavior did violate NCAA policy. So the question remains here, Pernetti has resigned. Rice has been fired. What's going to happen to the university president, Dr. Robert Barchi?

He told us here today that as of now, there is no decision for him to step down, that that decision is at the will of the board of governors, his bosses, as he said. And at this point, the chair of the board of governors got up to the mike and said, look, he's staying. We don't have any plans for Dr. Barchi to step down.

But that does not mean that pressure will not continue to mount for him to resign. You have the LGBT community putting pressure on him to resign. You also have faculty members here, more than 50 faculty members sending a letter to the board of governors saying that he should step down -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK. Certainly, the pressure as you mentioned is there. Pamela Brown for us at the campus at Rutgers University.

Want to continue the conversation. Joining me now by phone is Jon Wertheim of "Sports Illustrated."

Jon, good to have you back on the show here.

Let's begin with one word, the word cover-up, because Tim Pernetti, who had seen this tape here back in November that whole world has now seen as of this week, basically tried to cover up this whole thing. But back in November, Rutgers was in the midst of a very important negotiation trying to join the Big Ten Conference. It's a move that would bring tens of millions of dollars to the school.

And that is when Pernetti first sees the tape. He then suspends Mike Rice those three games. Basically, at the time the whole thing goes away until the tape goes public this week. Am I getting the chronology right, Jon?

JON WERTHEIM, SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": That's pretty much right.

This is not a traditional classic cover-up. Anybody who read a newspaper or went online knew that Mike Rice had been suspended. But I do think you're right that the chronology and the timing is a little bit suspect. It wasn't so much a cover-up as just the sort of procedural mess and a lot of buck passing and finger pointing.

You're right. In the interim between Mike Rice's suspension and now when the tape was revealed, yes, Rutgers has signed this lucrative agreement to join the Big Ten.

BALDWIN: Which we know they officially join the Big Ten next year.

So just back to November, Rice as you mentioned suspended those three games -- he wasn't fired -- he was suspended for "using inappropriate language." Today, we see the president of Rutgers University. He said that back in November, he never asked to see the videotape. Here he was a little while ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERT BARCHI, PRESIDENT, RUTGERS UNIVERSITY: Based on the advice of the university's general counsel and of outside legal advisers, Tim gave me a summary description of the situation regarding coach Mike Rice last fall.

Relying on that summary, I agreed with and supported his recommendation to suspend, rather than fire, coach Rice at that time. It was not until Tuesday evening of this week when I watched the video that I had the opportunity to witness personally for the first time what Tim had seen last fall.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: So, Jon, this is really my question. The president of the university didn't see the tape until Tuesday. Do you think that's credible? Do you think -- your head coach is suspended, and this was back November/December, you know that there is videotape that explains why, yet you don't ask to see it. What do you make of that?

WERTHEIM: Not only that. You know there is pending litigation and these tapes will be requested in discovery.

No, absolutely, if it doesn't strain credulity, at least it casts some serious doubt on leadership here. Anyone with a modicum of curiosity would say, hey, our head basketball coach, also one of the highest paid public employees in New Jersey, has just been given this fine and a suspension. I wonder what this was all about.

So for the notion that the university president didn't have sufficient curiosity to actually watch these tapes when they were available to him is just really baffling.

BALDWIN: Let me read you two quotes, two guys who know a thing or two about coaching, first Rick Pitino, coach of Louisville in the Final Four. He is talking about Mike Rice's behavior as we have seen this week on the videotape -- quote -- "I have never seen it in my life. I think it's an isolated incident and it was a very serious isolated incident."

Jim Boeheim, another Final Four coach -- quote -- "I don't think there's a coach in the country that does that."

Jon, you talk to a lot of people. Isolated?

WERTHEIM: First of all, isolated. There are dozens of instances. So this wasn't one particularly bad -- no, I have been to innumerable practices and I have never seen athletes assaulted like that, pelted with balls, homophobic.

I mean, I just -- this was so far beyond the pale that the fact that this even went to a discussion back when this was this first revealed is really mind-boggling. I think this is really not even in the range of discussion. And the fact that this wasn't isolated, you watch that -- even the clips we're all watching on TV, there are dozens of examples.

This is clearly -- this is a no-brainer decision that this coach had to be terminated as soon as anyone saw those videos.

BALDWIN: Yes. The story isn't over for Rutgers, I have a feeling.

Jon Wertheim, "Sports Illustrated," thank you.

When it comes to just who should have access to the morning after pill, a federal judge in New York says anyone should. In fact, just a short time ago, Judge Edward Korman ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make the pill available over the counter to girls of all ages within one month.

You have two sides obviously. Advocates who filed the lawsuit, they have wanted this for quite a while. You have the Obama administration, they have been fighting this. It had required girls younger than the age of 17 to get a prescription for the pill. But it has lost the battle, at least for now.

I want to bring in two voices, senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen and also our CNN legal analyst Sunny Hostin joining me here on the legal ramifications.

But first to you, Elizabeth Cohen. Remind us, morning after pill, what does it do?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. You're supposed to take it preferably within 24 hours of having unprotected intercourse, but it can work within three days after having unprotected intercourse.

And what it does mainly is it tells the ovary don't release an egg. That's the main way that it works. As you said, the Obama administration wanted -- told -- said we want -- if you're younger than 17, you need a prescription. That's obviously a huge roadblock. You're supposed to take this within a day. Getting to a doctor and get the prescription, that is obviously tough thing to do in that period of time.

BALDWIN: So, Sunny Hostin, here you have this federal judge near where you are in New York basically saying, no, it's fine, young women, you don't need a prescription, you can just go, get it over the counter. Are you surprised by that?

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I am surprised not necessarily by the order, but the manner in which the order came.

It's a 59-page order, and I would suggest any legal geeks out there like myself, we do have it posted on our Web site, on CNN.com. It is one those rare times when a judge sort of gives a thorough tongue- lashing to a defendant. Basically, this judge calls in to question Kathleen Sebelius' good faith, her state of mind. He basically says that her action was politically motivated, scientifically unjustified, and contrary to agency precedent. He basically accuses her of strong-arming the FDA into not allowing girls under the age of 17 to have access to this morning after pill.

It's something that you typically don't see from a federal judge. But it really was quite a tongue-lashing. And it was pretty remarkable actually.

BALDWIN: So the tongue-lashing from the judge.

Finally to you, Elizabeth, so again, when will it be implemented, how exactly does it work?

COHEN: He says you have got to -- the judge says you have to make this pill available over the counter to everybody within the next month.

However, if there is any kind of an appeal or anything like that, it can go longer. I think it's interesting what his reasoning was. His reasoning was, look, the FDA gets to say whether something is safe and effective and this pill is safe and effective. It doesn't matter if you're 15, 25, 35. Why have different rules based on age when the drug is safe and effective for all ages?

BALDWIN: And he's saying take the politics out of it.

COHEN: Right. Exactly.

BALDWIN: Elizabeth Cohen and Sunny Hostin, thank you, ladies, very much.

And now to the president. The president has now issued an apology after taking a lot of heat over comments he made about a California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Did the critics overreact? We will weigh in on that conversation comment coming up next.

Plus, Final Four fever. We will show you the hoopla on and off the court in Atlanta.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Now to North Korea, a country that says it's on the brink of water.

Today, North Korea asked Russia to get its embassy personnel out of their country, all the while telling the U.K. it cannot guarantee the safety of British diplomats if fighting breaks out. These are just some of the increasingly worrying signs that the North is in fact preparing for a missile launch and soon. All of this as U.S. intelligence satellites are up there, they're up there, they're scouring North Korea's coastline. They have made a troubling discovery.

You know what they found? Another one of these. Another one of these medium-range missiles. So now we're talking two of these missiles ready for launch from North Korea's east coast.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JAY CARNEY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We have obviously seen the reports that North Korea may be making preparations to launch a missile and we're monitoring this situation closely. And we would not be surprised to see them take such an action.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Retired Major General James "Spider" Marks is here.

General, nice to talk to you.

BRIG. GEN. JAMES "SPIDER" MARKS (RET.), CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Hey, Brooke.

BALDWIN: So we just heard the White House say they're actually expecting a launch. Tell me -- since you know about these things, tell me about these Musudan missiles. What are they capable of? Have been tested before by the North Koreans?

MARKS: Well, Brooke, first of all, let me take one step back if I can.

BALDWIN: Yes.

MARKS: The White House does not expect a launch.

We have intelligence that has what's called a persistent stare. We're looking at these missiles through a whole bunch of different kinds of means 24/7. So there are some preparatory tasks that would be necessary. In other words, there is no -- there is nothing in place right now that says they will pull the trigger and these babies will launch, but we must be prepared for that.

So to answer your question, the Musudan is '90s technology. When the Soviet Union collapsed, North Korea worked into a business deal and so they manufacture these in North Korea. So they have a range. It's a family missiles that they have and they have a range of about 2,500 miles, which means if they launched it almost from anyplace in North Korea, it could reach about as far as Guam. Hawaii is safe. Mainland United States is safe.

It might even touch probably the western tip of the Aleutians up in Alaska, but that's it. But the key thing is we have an agreement with the Japanese and certainly our very strong allies in that region the South Koreans that if they're under attack, we're under attack and we will respond accordingly.

BALDWIN: How do we, though, General, how do we even know if and when North Korea decides to push the button and launch one of these missiles? What is the sign, how does the U.S. even react to that?

MARKS: That is the question. Brooke, the key is these missiles are liquid-fueled, but when they're mounted on their mobile platform which they have already been, then they are prepared to launch almost within minutes. So there is very little preliminary observation that we will be able to make other than that they are out of a garrison location that they have moved probably to a location where they could be fired.

In other words, you don't have to move another truck up and fill them up. If they were stationery someplace, you would see all that type of activity. But once this thing launched, we would get what is called an I.R. signature, an infrared signature from a satellite, one of our satellites. It would tell us exactly where it was launched and when it was launched and we'd begin to track it through sea, land and air base radar systems and we would be able to determine instantaneously where it's going to go and where it's going to land.

BALDWIN: And shoot it down?

(CROSSTALK)

MARKS: Well, if it looks like it will threaten U.S. allies or U.S. presence in the region, we will shoot that thing down. If it will land harmlessly into the sea, we will let it go.

BALDWIN: Then at what point does a launch constitutes an act of war?

MARKS: A launch by itself does not.

Remember, they have launched missiles before. They have flown these bad boys over Japan. We have done nothing other than gather some incredible intelligence that gives us a lot of insights in to their technology, research and development, how they can command control these types of activities. So it's very valuable intelligence collection. So it's not an act of war by itself unless we -- our alliance are specifically put at threat.

BALDWIN: OK. General Spider Marks, thank you so much now that we know these two missiles have moved the to east coast. That is the news today on North Korea. Appreciate it, sir, very much.

And as tensions are mounting on the Korean Peninsula, Wolf Blitzer takes you inside this crisis, the threats, what's at stake. Watch a special edition of "THE SITUATION ROOM" tonight at 6:00 eastern.

And, finally, it is here, the Super Bowl of college basketball. Ahead, a preview of the hoopla on and off the court. Rachel Nichols joining me inside Studio 7. Final Four fever next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Watercooler conversations boiling over, brackets trashed or treasured, I guess. Mine's trashed. Across the land, sports lovers drawing the lines on who they are rooting for in the Final Four college basketball championship.

Folks, we are a mere 24 hours away from game one, first game, early game on Saturday, Wichita State taking on Louisville. That then is followed by Michigan vs. Syracuse.

We have in the flesh in Studio 7 first time to the mother ship, Rachel Nichols.

Welcome.

RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you.

BALDWIN: A lot of cheers in the studio crew, big fans here.

So, number one, what a story. First of all, great interview with Kevin Ware.

NICHOLS: Thank you.

BALDWIN: I love that he was like, Michelle Obama, please call me, because I don't remember my conversation with you.

So what a game, because it's like a lot of people should be here you would think traditionally cheering for the nine seed, Wichita State, right, but now Louisville and Kevin Ware kind of the sentimental favorite.

NICHOLS: Right. The NCAA Tournament is the place for underdogs. Right? We love Cinderella stories. It was like nine, David, vs. number one, Goliath. Louisville is the number one.

It's just not number one in that part of the Louisville. They are the number one overall seed and the prohibitive favorite. But once Kevin Ware goes down and handles that with such maturity and grace and once the entire team gathers around him and shows that kind of humanity, now everybody is rooting for the kid.

And you mentioned Michelle Obama, calls from around the nation. Michelle called him. Unfortunately, he was a little too hopped up on pain medication after his surgery. Doesn't remember the phone call. So he wouldn't mind a little return on that one.

(CROSSTALK)

NICHOLS: If they win the championship, maybe he will get to the White House, he can repeat it, but calls from everyone, Kobe Bryant. LeBron James got in touch with him, Amar'e Stoudemire. It's been an outpouring.

And fans even will get a chance to get into the act tomorrow because Amar'e Stoudemire has donated money for 1,000 Kevin Ware heads tomorrow so when you're watching the game, you will see a lot of people with heads on sticks and they will be holding up and waving their Kevin Ware heads. And on the back it says win for Ware.

(CROSSTALK)

NICHOLS: So there will be a whole surge of people wanting Louisville and Ware and everybody on that team and that community to get a win after what happened with them, which leaves Wichita State, the number nine seed, the plucky underdog that should be getting all that support, probably going to be going a little bit the other way.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: OK. And then you have Syracuse-Michigan, storied programs, two number four seeds. what do you think?

NICHOLS: Yes. Well, the coaches there, such an interesting story with them because here are two guys who on the surface couldn't be more different. Jim Boeheim really coaching royalty in college basketball, has been at Syracuse for almost four decades, multiple Final Fours.

On the other side, you have John Beilein, who is really a journeyman in coaching. This is his seventh school that he's been to, never been to the Final Four, definitely the best job he's ever had. But Boeheim actually helped him get his first two Division 1 jobs. Recommended him. Worked the A.D. to get in position. They're old, old friends.

And I asked Boeheim, I said, now that he's brought this great team to play against you in the Final Four, do you regret the help at all?

BALDWIN: What did he say?

NICHOLS: And he laughed, but he pointed out he is 9-0 against John Beilein lifetime. So we will see what happens, not -- certainly a great Michigan team, but we will see what happens between two coaches.

BALDWIN: So basketball aside, sort of, the hoopla, it's crazy. I was coming in from New York yesterday. You could already tell just even in the airport all the swag being sold here, downtown, Centennial Park, you have all these concerts, Sting, Dave Matthews, Flo Rida, Ludacris, Fitz and The Tantrums. Do you get to play at all, Rachel Nichols?

NICHOLS: Right. No, I'm stuck in these studios, come on, although come on, the games are playtime.

And I do want to point out that you have the best view of the bunch because from these windows out here, you can pretty much throw a basketball over to where the arena is. You have the concerts right over there.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Very convenient for us at CNN. Thank you very much, NCAA.

NICHOLS: Very nice for them hold the Final Four basically at your studio.

BALDWIN: Clearly, they did that for a reason.

NICHOLS: Not everybody gets the Final Four to come to them. You have gotten that to happen. So congratulations.

BALDWIN: Thank you very much. I will see you at the game.

(CROSSTALK)

BALDWIN: Tomorrow. I look forward to it. Thank you very much, Rachel Nichols, everyone.

And CNN is giving you behind-the-scenes, giving you backstage passes here to the Final Four. Do not miss all-access at the Final Four with Ms. Nichols tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 Eastern. DVR it. Watch it. She's fabulous.

Coming up next, news on everyone, everything, including how one of Hollywood's top actresses just announced she's having baby number two. Plus, a name change? Clearly, very important today for pork chops. And Prince William gets snubbed. We call it the power block. It's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Bottom of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin.

Technology, sports, business, health, science, showbiz news, we hit it all for you in what we call the power block beginning with this lovely lady. We just got word that Halle Berry and her fiance, Olivier Martinez, are expecting. This is baby number two for Halle Berry, who is 46 years young. She has a daughter from a previous relationship with model Gabriel Aubry.

And some foods we all grew up with and some of us grew to love are changing. Have you seen this new commercial for fried chicken?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: What's the matter?

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: I think I ate the bones. I think I ate the bones. I ate the bones. I ate the bones.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Settle down.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Yes, he hates the bones. KFC is introducing buckets of boneless chicken. And did you hear what's happening to pork? If not, here's a hint. Say bye-bye to the pork chop and for all of you fans of smoked meat, the pork butt is gone, too. Heaven forbid.

(LAUGHTER)

ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it's made me laugh, too.

BALDWIN: Take it away.

KOSIK: Yes, I know. It's funny.

But let's go ahead and start with KFC. You know, I have to ask you this. Ever drive with a drumstick, Brooke? Not happening. Hard to do. So what KFC is doing is ditching the bones and it's going with boneless chicken, white and dark meat chunks.

Boneless, apparently, that's what consumers want, especially the younger generation. They want to be able to I guess eat with one hand and text with the other. Keep in mind it's not doing away with bones altogether. It's just adding to the menu.

So this is a branding decision. And speaking of branding decisions, the pork story that you're talking about -- the pork and beef industries are renaming hundreds of cuts of meat to make them sound more appealing to people who are shopping for them.