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CNN NEWSROOM

Republican-Led House Turns Up The Heat On The IRS; Death Toll In Oklahoma Rising; Thousands Of People Clash With Istanbul Police

Aired June 2, 2013 - 16:00   ET

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


MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you for joining us. I'm Miguel Marquez in for Fredricka Whitfield. Here are some of the top stories we are following right now in the CNN NEWSROOM.

New victims from deadly storms in Oklahoma. Families who tried to find shelter in storm drains were swept away in floods. The latest details next.

And severe weather is hovering right over the east coast now. There is a danger of hail and strong winds. We have the forecast also next.

Angelina Jolie was back on the red carpet today for the first time since she announced her double mastectomy. We'll tell what you she had to say about her health scare a little later.

More people have been found dead after tornado and floods in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma City fire chief says two families sought shelter in storm drains on Friday night, and then got swept away in flash floods. Four bodies have been recovered, two adults and two children. Officials are still searching for more people.

The string of storms claimed 19 lives in Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. Nine in Oklahoma got caught in the tornado. Three in Missouri and three in Arkansas were in floods. Now those four others in floods in Oklahoma.

It is a lot for people to come to terms with and many turned to Sunday morning church services for some comfort.

Nick Valencia got a chance to go to one of those services.

Nick, what was the pastor's message?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A pastor's message was to keep their faith. It is the most important he says, in a time like this, when you are questioning why, you are questioning what happened, why did this happen to me. This is widespread destruction. And you know this, Miguel, past couple of weeks have been very difficult for the community here. It is like they can't catch a break when it comes to severe weather. So, I asked the pastor, you know, what more can you expand on your message, what more can you tell your parishioners in a time like this?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) REVEREND GEORGE ROWE, FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: I don't view God as a punishing God or, you know, this God would not hurt any of his children, just like a parent would not hurt their children. And unfortunately, accidents happen to children. Natural disasters happen and those are, you know, those are terrible things. But that's not anything other than nature. And then God is there just like any other parent is going to help their children pick up the pieces. God is here to help us pick up the pieces.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: He went on to say, Miguel, that natural disasters are part of God's plan and he said quote, "natural disasters are part of the earth renewing itself." There were about 50 people in that church service today. And I don't know if you can tell from the video, but the lights were completely out. It was dark in there. So, they were holding service with no electricity.

MARQUEZ: So much clean-up across all of Oklahoma. And folks, I mean you were in Moore, now on the latest storm. I'm sure folks are jumpy there. How are they dealing with it, just emotional toll?

VALENCIA: Yes. Jumpy is the objective word. I think anxious. Waiting for another severe weather round to come through here. You get to a point where you are just cleaning up and starting to reflect about what happened in Moore, and then a neighboring county gets hit. And then more people lose their lives.

You mentioned earlier that the death toll has risen, at least 13 people in the state of Oklahoma have died as a result of Friday night's storms. So, there is a lot of anxiety here, Miguel. People are very nervous about the weather. But as you can see behind me, I mean, it is a beautiful day. It is a beautiful weekend. Great weather out here. It is just amazing how quickly the severe weather can change into a beautiful day like this -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Yes. Let's hope that the worst is behind us.

Nick Valencia, for us. Thank you very much.

We also learned today that three storm chasers are among victims of the tornado. Tim Samaras and Carl Young were following a twister in El Reno Friday night. Samaras' son Paul was also with them. The Discovery Channel shared these pictures with us. The three were on its show "Storm Chasers." This is what their car looked like. It was towed away earlier today.

And Chad Meyers was in Moore, Oklahoma after a monster tornado hit about two weeks ago. He shows us how dangerous it is to be in a car.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Just piles and piles of debris here in Moore. EF-4, EF-5 damage, somewhere around 200 miles per hour. It is unimaginable what could cause a house to turn into that. But if you think about a fender-bender you had at a highway speed, 30, 40, 50, 60 miles an hour, and care gets bent up. I get it, it is fixable. We came across this car. I can't tell what you kind of car this is without looking at the blue oval that says Ford. If you were in this car at 200-mile-per-hour wind speeds there is no place left for you inside.

And then we came across the front just to get even more crazy. There is no engine left. It is gone. The transmission is gone. The engine is completely somewhere else, probably blocks away.

We talk to some tow truck drivers. They said they get addresses where to go pick up cars and take them to the junkyard. They are finding cars three or four blocks away. Think about what would happen to you in this car getting picked up three or four blocks away and tumbled and tumbled, almost like Rusty Wallace tumbling at Daytona? The force of mother nature was tremendous here in Moore.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Thank you, Chad Meyers.

Near green valley, California, thousands of firefighters have been called in to fight the powerhouse fire. Look at the smoke billowing and the flames on the mountains. Officials say the fire exploded doubling in size nearly 20,000 acres today. At least six houses have been destroyed in one neighborhood.

Karen Maginnis joins us you now in the weather center.

Karen, I hear you are tracking it should damage in South Carolina now. Tell as what's that all about?

KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I just received this information. I was updating literally in the last few minutes. Want to show you what's going on right now. This is in upstate South Carolina in the town -- or county of Anderson county, South Carolina. They have report of tornado damage in an area called Sadler's. It is a subdivision, I believe. They say there is some damage. We don't know the exact of that damage but you can see the line of storms -- that's actually that's in Georgia. It is this area.

As I said, I was just putting this together as we go going on the air. This is in the upstate area of South Carolina. Damage reported. There had been a tornado warning issued. There was not a tornado watch box so this was a very isolated event.

I'm going to show you what's happening to the northeast, in New England now. They are under a severe thunderstorm watch. Numerous lightning strikes, lots of heaven downpours. They are saying that as much as five inches of rainfall in some of these areas. And I will tell you that the ground is saturated. They are saying some of these areas, they haven't seen the governing council this saturated in 100 years. So, flooding could be a real problem across this region.

Where you see these orange boxes, that's where we have severe thunderstorm warnings. Now as I mentioned, these are warnings. That means you are going to see some heavy downpours, lots of lightning. The possibility of hail. They are not tornado warnings. But, with this system we knew that we had the possibility of an isolated tornado. So that's just the update on what's happening into the northeast.

I'll repeat it again. It is in upstate, South Carolina. We also have fires across the west and this has to do with very dry conditions. Here's Los Angeles, way down here. And you have travel up towards the mountains. They have mandatory evacuations here, 19,000-plus acres and they are saying about 1,000 firefighters, little more, little less. But very gusty winds here. It is only about 20 percent contained. So we have got a lot to tell you about, Miguel, between the tornado damage, don't know what that entails, but I will continue to update that and we will bring you the information a little bit later.

MARQUEZ: Fire, rain and rough weather.

Karen Maginnis, thank you very much.

There are fresh attacks against the IRS. Did a few rogue IRS workers crackdown on conservative groups? One Republican lawmaker is making some shocking claims. The direction to target conservatives came straight from Washington, D.C.

Athena Jones drives right in.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Partial transcripts of interviews house investigators conducted with IRS employees in Cincinnati raise new questions about who directed them to target conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

Here is house oversight and government reform committee chairman Darrel Issa speaking on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION."

REP. DARRELL ISSA (R), CHAIRMAN, HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE: As late as last week the administration is still trying to say there was a few rogue agents in Cincinnati when in fact the indication is they were directly being ordered from Washington. My gut tells me that too many people knew that this wrongdoing was going on before the election.

JONES: In one excerpt an employee is asked whether a supervisor gave any indication of the need for the search any more contexts. Worker replies, he told me that Washington, D.C. wanted some cases. But these partial transcripts aren't conclusive. When the worker is asked, but with respect to the particular scrutiny that was given to tea party applications, those directions emanated from Washington. Is that right? the worker replies, I believe so.

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's totally not definitive.

ISSA: That one isn't. JONES: Both Republicans and Democrats were present for the interviews with the two employees. Issa said the full transcripts of these and other IRS worker interviews will be released.

This is a problem that was coordinated in all likelihood right out of Washington headquarters and we are getting to proving it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: All right, we have Athena Jones now with us live. We saw that representative Issa says the IRS employee spoke to his committee. How much substance does the claim have and what really is he saying here?

JONES: Good question, Miguel. I can tell you what congressman Elijah Cummings, he is the top Democrat on the oversight committee is saying, released a statement just a short while though saying that Issa's comments on "STATE OF THE UNION" were quote "reckless."

Cummings went on to say that what Issa said it is inconsistent with what the inspector general found in his examination of this and that so far no witness is who have come before the committee have identified any IRS officials in Washington who directed them to target these conservative groups. There is definitely some disagreement there. We will await those full transcripts and of course, the hearings that are coming this week -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Shocking partisan fights in Washington.

We have also got the Republican-led House holding several hearings this week dealing with the IRS scandal, what is like to become on those hearings?

JONES: Well, certainly a lot of attention is going to come on those hearings. On Monday we are going to hear from acting IRS commissioner Daniel Werfel. He took over recently after this initial scandal -- controversy broke and he is undertaking a full review of agency operations. The House will hear from him on Monday, the house subcommittee -- appropriations subcommittee on financial services. There is also a hearing on Tuesday where they will get to hear from some of these groups who say they were targeted by the IRS.

And then on Thursday, there will be a hearing discussing excessive spending of taxpayer fund at IRS conferences. So a lot of focus on the IRS this week -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: A long, hot summer ahead, I'm guessing.

Athena Jones, thank you very much.

JONES: Thanks.

MARQUEZ: U.S. lawmakers head to Russia to look for answers after the Boston bombings. They got some unlikely help from an action hero. I will tell you. And time is running out for a 10-year-old girl who is in desperate need of a lung transplant. Why her parents say the organ donor system has essentially left their daughter to die.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: In Turkey, violent protests erupting for a third day.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

MARQUEZ: Thousands of people are clashing with police in several cities. Hundreds have been detained.

Our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is in Istanbul.

Ivan, what's the situation there right now?

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I just came from about a mile from here, Miguel, where there are thousands of young Turks, men and women, who are hurling themselves against Turkish riot police who are protecting the Istanbul office of the Turkish prime minister. And the riot police are periodically firing back with canisters of teargas and water cannons and sending these thousands of screaming people running away.

Now very disturbing, I saw in perhaps a two-minute stretch, two young men rushed away from this barricades and front lines bleeding with serious wound to the head. They were rushed in to a 150-year-old mosque where there are a number of medics in white lab coats who are treating some of these young demonstrators who are being wounded in these clashes.

The scenes of calm that we see here in Istanbul's Taksim Square which can be described as the times square of turkey's largest city, they are quite calm. Here, the demonstrators had been allowed to occupy the space, the riot police pull back after plating hear against them for 36 hours.

But the scenes in other neighborhoods of this city are very different and very disturbing and violent. The likes of which I have not seen after living in this city for more than ten years -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Yes. After seeing the Arab spring though and the way those protests took off, it is starting to look vaguely familiar. It seemed to be calming down earlier today but then it took off again. Did something spark this latest round.

WATSON: Perhaps it's the rhetoric of the Turkish prime minister himself who has become the focus of the rage of this unprecedented street protest movement. He's been out on Turkish television at least three times and in every one of those appearances, he has been very defiant, basically insulting the protesters who have come out in the streets to criticize him. He has been calling them vandals, accusing them of breaking the law and saying that they are members of marginal groups. He has been brandishing the fact that he has won elections. He is democratically elected. He enjoys a healthy mandate of more than 50 percent of the population to back him. Has been using that as a shield saying I'm credible, I'm a legitimate leader. And that is only making the people here angrier because they are saying, listen with be this guy just isn't listening to us. He has to take us into account even if we didn't vote for him -- Miguel.

MARQUEZ: Ivan Watson in Istanbul. Thank you very much. You guys, stay safe.

Six U.S. members of Congress are winding down a week in Russia. They concluded that the U.S. and Russia could have worked closer together to prevent the Boston marathon bombings. Russian officials said they believe the bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and his mother had radical beliefs before they ever came to the U.S. With an unusual twist, action star Steven Seagal says he arranged for several meetings between U.S. lawmakers and Russian officials.

What did the U.S. congressional delegation accomplished in Russia?

Let's bring in CNN national security analyst Juliette Kayyem to look a little deeper.

First, how will this trip move the discussion forward at all or will it there, Juliette? How are you?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I don't think it is goings to move the discussion much. I mean, basically, this is an independent investigation at the same time that there is what I would call a real investigation into what actually happened and whether the older brother Tamerlan was radicalized when he was there.

This was I think just a very public gesture with, you know, sort of a Hollywood action hero trying to help out. It does sound like the Dennis Rodman-North Korea scenario. And there are going to come back with essentially what the Russians want them to believe which is the Russians, if we would only listened to the Russians, this whole thing could have been averred.

We know the Russians were unwilling to share everything they had about Tamerlan and his mother before the Boston attacks. So, basically, everyone agrees there was more information about them. Where we disagree is did the Russians have it, did the FBI have it and that's what a real investigation should unfold.

So, I don't think much is going to come out of this trip except for statements made by the house intelligence committee members, including Michele Bachmann who was on the trip about their concerns about the investigation.

MARQUEZ: Yes. Congressional trips don't have the (INAUDIBLE) of an official White House trip and an official sort of investigation, c Steven Segal doesn't help, awful a lot having him associated with it. But, does is it bring focus where focus is needed. Obviously, the relationship between Russia and the U.S. has been pretty bad over the last few years.

KAYYEM: Yes. And it is not clear that this trip will make it better. Russians are -- it is very difficult, let me put it this way, to describe our relationship with the Russians right now in a single word. It is very complicated. It resolves around controversies about Syria, about the adoption of Russian children by Americans. There are so many issues so that the Boston marathon is just a sliver of what is really a very large dynamic between Russia and America and the Russians want the house intelligence committees to come back and to say, yes, the Russians were helpful or they wanted to be helpful, if only the FBI had done better.

Right now, we simply just don't know still. The investigation is ongoing. And I have to make it clear, there is also going to be a trial and so to the extent that a whole bunch of political activity is going on, it makes it very difficult for the trial, at least, to not have some semblance of politics around it, which is what we don't want. I mean, we want this trial to be a law and order trial and to put the younger brother behind bars for the rest of his life, or if it comes to that, the death penalty.

MARQUEZ: Juliette Kayyem, I like that you boiled down the American- Russian relationship to a facebook post. It's complicated.

KAYYEM: Right. It is complicated.

MARQUEZ: Thank you very much.

Just when you thought the IRS controversy couldn't get worse, wait until you hear what a leading house Republican called the president's press secretary today.

And Angelina Jolie talks about her health scare when she steps out on the red carpet for Brad Pitt's new movie.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: On Capitol Hill this week, the Republican-led house turns up the heat on the IRS. They are holding several hearings, one topic targeting the conservative groups. Another topic, its own extracurricular activities like this.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

MARQUEZ: Thousands of dollars spent on events like this teaching workers how to dance the cupid shuffle for a 2010 conference. After that, you can't beat the IRS -- you can bet the IRS won't get any reprieve.

CNN's senior political analyst David Gergen joins us from Keene, Massachusetts and Republican consultants, Alex Castellanos who is an adviser to the 2008 Romney presidential campaign. He is the partner at the media firm that has corporate clients such as the U.S. chamber of commerce and specializes in Republican political ads. That's a lot to say, Alex.

ALEX CASTELLANOS, REPUBLICAN CONSULTANTS: Yes, it is.

MARQUEZ: Alex, you are in west Palm Beach for us.

Gentlemen, first, there was the targeting of the tea party groups who were seeking tax exempt status. Now, this video, the report coming out this week regarding excessive spending. How much of this is an albatross is the IRS for the White House -- for the White House right now, David?

DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: This is a bad story getting worse and it has legs that are going to carry well into this next week and I think far beyond. Benghazi is sort of losing some of its steam as a story. We will have to see where the whole controversy goes on leaks. But, this one, I think, has really got public's attention. And these films, in realization, the IRS was having what they appear to be or are told are lavish conferences. I think they're going to really put people on their ear. They are already, the IRS is, in some deep trouble. But, for the Americans to hear that at a time when they're being told the government doesn't have any money, you've got a sequester, you have got a lot of poor people are going to get hurt. It turns out what we're trying to stop are a bunch of parties like this, you don't get a bunch of friends like this.

MARQUEZ: Yes, Alex. I would say that the Republicans are not going to back down. They smell blood?

CASTELLANOS: I think so. Not only does the story have legs these days, but said legs, apparently, the legs can dance.

GERGEN: Not very well.

CASTELLANOS: Not very well.

But this is going to last a while for a couple of reasons. But, one is that in 2010, Americans thought Washington was out of control, beyond their control. The Democrats controlled the White House and Senate and the house and they could do anything they want. So Americans hit the brake pedal and reasserted themselves. We got to take control of D.C. Washington looks like it is out of control again. This time it is the executive branch. And you are going to see a lot of this on political TV commercials where the Republican message is going to be we need to send our guys to watch their guys. I think it is going to be a strong year again for Republicans.

MARQUEZ: Yes. David, we have Obama care being implemented in October. The ad campaign starts for that. That's going to be a heated issue. You have the IRS scandal. You have you so many scandal now swirling around the White House. It is hard to tell for a lot of Americans whether these are real or imagined. I mean, is all of this going to stick?

GERGEN: I think some of it is going to stick. I want to come back -- the IRS scandal, I think it is a scandal, it is hard for many people to understand but when you get the video clips like -- they are certainly not deeply offensive but when they give you a sense these guys are, you know, we are not sure how serious they are, if they are out there parting, let's hear the details this week about that.

And as we are hearing today from Republicans, they have more evidence that orders to do this discriminatory tax review that the IRS engaged in, if that came from Washington this is going to get a lot more serious. But just those films are going to leave reporters, for example, to take a closer look, who works for the IRS? And if what they come up with, you know there are a bunch of people who belong to a union, that union gives heavily to democratic candidates, and by the way, they went after Republicans and a campaign? That's not going to sit well.

MARQUEZ: Yes. And probably IRS doesn't have many friends politically on either side of the aisle, I'm sure.

Alex, today White House oversight committee chairman, Darrel Issa called the White House press secretary a paid liar. How nasty is it in Washington right now? Will it get worse? Can anything get done in this environment?

CASTELLANOS: Well, at least he didn't say an overpaid liar.

Yes, I guess there is some spin coming out of Washington. Americans see that, I guess, on both sides. But, you know, it's not the worst thing that Washington can't get anything done. What they have gotten done is get us $17 trillion in debt and they really haven't solved any particular problems, education, retirement, health care.

So Washington, you can see the temperature building up in the pressure cooker. Nothing is happening but the pressure is building up. I doubt we will see any great legislative accomplishments before 2014 in November, but 2014 could be a pressure cooker election where you see some big change because of that.

MARQUEZ: David, is this all about those congressional elections in 2014?

GERGEN: It's partly about that but it is partly about substance. These are real things. These things happened. So, you know, I wouldn't just dismiss all of this as just politics.

What I do think is congressman Issa, who is for the most part I think doing an honorable, responsible job, I thought he went over the line today. I thought calling Jay Carney a paid liar was sort of getting down in the gutter where he does not need to be. That's the kind of overkill that can hurt the Republicans.

And, you know, all press secretaries are asked to represent their bosses in one way or another. Jay Carney had a fine reputation coming in to this. So, I just thought that was inappropriate. And it may well -- I'm not sure everything is going to be stalled in Washington. There is still hope and I think it is legitimate hope that an immigration bill will eventually get through. But I think the other big things on the president's agenda, whether it be tax reform or some sort of major agreement with the Republicans on spending, I think those are not -- very unlikely to happen. I think Alex is right about that. And the big unknown is Obama care. We just don't know whether there will be some bumps in the road as the White House insists or whether it is going to be a train wreck as many Republicans believe.

MARQUEZ: Gentlemen, have to leave it right there.

Thank you very, very much.

GERGEN: Thank you.

MARQUEZ: How many jobs were created in the month of May? We will check in our business analyst to find out if Americans are going back to work.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: So how many jobs were created in the month of May? We'll check in with our business analyst to find out if Americans are going back to work.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: This weekend, Anthony Bourdain heads to Peru.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: He finds a vibrant culture and exotic food, all while he goes in search of a rare cocoa bean. The main ingredient for some incredible chocolate. I talked to him about his journey.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN, CNN HOST: I always like going to Peru. It has one of the most extraordinary, forward-thinking, emerging cuisines in the world. But this time, I went in search of chocolate. I got into a high-end chocolate venture with my friend Eric Repare (ph) awhile back, and I started to ask myself the question, well, who gets paid out of this chocolate bar? Where does the money go? Where does chocolate come from. And I wanted to -- I decided to make an adventure out of it and track back the entire process back to the farmers and pickers and the original source of our chocolate.

MARQUEZ: I want to talk about chocolate in a second because it is somewhat controversial in parts of the world, but this was definitely an adventure. Here is one laugh out loud moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) and I wish you a lot of success.

Especially in the back, the neck, the back. That's it here. Like that, sir.

BOURDAIN: We wanted a blessing for our cocoa harvest; we got this. My aura is now cleaner than Gwyneth Paltrow's colon after a three-month juice cleanse.

(END VIDEO CLIP) MARQUEZ: That's awesome. I want to have that done by a shaman. What was that experience like?

BOURDAIN: My aura was definitely rearranged. Quite an experience.

MARQUEZ: Chocolate makes people crazy. I love chocolate. Everybody seems to love chocolate. But it's also - I mean, what did you find about where it comes from? In some parts of the world, it is children picking this stuff.

BOURDAIN: Yes.

MARQUEZ: And chocolate that we all enjoy, yes? BOURDAIN: Yes. Who gets paid, how much do they get paid. Our trees are - wild -- grown wild, placed in between in farming communities who also grow coffee, bananas, other things. But yes, it can be a very difficult and very lethal business in some parts of the world. And there are very many different types of businesses and arrangements with farmers that can occur within that spectrum.

MARQUEZ: What I like about you and your show, you are fearless. You dive right into this stuff.

BOURDAIN: Look, it was a morally, you know -- I am asking myself at the end of the show do I want to be in this business? Is life for these farmers and pickers better after having done business with me and my partner, or is it worse or is it the same? Have I done a good thing, or have I contributed to a bad thing? That's exactly what I wanted to explore a slice of. You know, especially because this is a subject we're all in some way a part of. I mean, we all love chocolate, pretty much.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: You can see more of Anthony Bourdain's journey in Peru tonight at 9:00 p.m. Eastern only here on CNN.

Are more Americans going back to work? The big monthly jobs report comes out this week. Our business analysts tell us if there is good news on the way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: We are just a week away from the Tony awards. And Emmy award winner Holland Taylor is one of the best actress nominees. Who could forget Holland in the role in "Bosom Buddies" opposite Tom Hanks? She also's well known for playing Charlie Sheen's mom for nearly 10 years on "Two And A Half Men."

Well, now she's starring on Broadway, portraying former Texas governor Ann Richards. It's a one-woman smash hit called "Ann," appropriately. CNN's Piers Morgan sat down with Holland and asked her about her big role and her relationship with Charlie Sheen.

(BEGNI VIDEOTAPE) HOLLAND TAYLOR, ACTRESS: Charlie Sheen and I are very good friends. Except for the time when he was really falling apart for a few weeks there. I never saw him act in any way that was anything but gentlemanly, even princely. I loved him then, and I love him now.

PIERS MORGAN, CNN HOST: I loved him then and I love him now --

TAYLOR: There you go.

MORGAN: I've met him several times, and he's hugely entertaining.

TAYLOR: And very, very smart.

MORGAN: Oh, yes, and a great actor. But when he was going through the meltdown, was there anything you wanted to say as his screen mum?

TAYLOR: I love you. Get to a doctor, take care of yourself.

MORGAN: Yes. You pleased that he has?

TAYLOR: Oh, my God, yes.

MORGAN: Because he seems like a totally different guy now.

TAYLOR: He is. And I haven't seen him so much since I've been involved here in the play. But I mean, he's obviously turned something around completely and is doing things very differently in his life.

MORGAN: Let's talk about this one-woman show because it is a huge hit. But I'm just trying to imagine -- I was talking to Tom Hanks recently about his first Broadway play he is doing. He was moaning about how hard it all is. You know, to come and do real acting. I was like what about for you? This is just you on the stage?

TAYLOR: It is a real test. If the play wasn't so substantial and about someone so, so, so richly important as a human being, I would be hard put to do it. But actually the only time I'm at peace and happy is when I'm actually doing it. The prep, the -- racing home, the going through the going to bed procedures we all go through, have to get down by 2:00, must go down by 2:00, must get up by 9:30 or 10:00, must hasten through -- and I virtually have no other life because, of course, this time of year is very big in the theater. You have to do -- wonderful actors, fund benefits and things like that. It is serious.

MORGAN: The guest list is incredible. Tom hanks, the Clintons, Gabby Giffords, Mark Kelly came, Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, Tom Jones, Whoopi Goldberg, so on, and so on and so on. Everyone is going to see this play and raving about it. It must feel pretty special.

TAYLOR: It feels pretty special again because of who the play is about. You know the difference between when you're speaking about someone that you care about and you value as opposed to recommending someone for -- recommending yourself for a job or something. Speaking for yourself is hard. I don't know how people do it. But speaking for someone else is like, hey, Sam, let me tell you -- you know? So I feel I'm speaking with great purpose.

MORGAN: Let's take a look at you in action here.

TAYLOR: Oh, for God's sake.

(LAUGHTER)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TAYLOR (acting): I'll tell you what, though. If I got turned out over my concealed weapons detail, then I say so be it and sayonara. More guns in people's pockets meant more people dead. There was no compromise to be had.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MORGAN: Pretty prophetic and timely.

TAYLOR: I'll tell you, that's from Chicago or maybe it is from D.C. I've augmented that since then. First of all, it's given much more forcefully because I come to -- Ann Richards toward the end of her life was impatient and angry and pissed off by what was happening in the country, and she was not some sweet little Texas funny lady.

MORGAN: The more I talk to you, the more I can see why you loved her and wanted to play her. A lot of similarities.

TAYLOR: The only real similarity between me and Ann Richards is that we're both short.

(LAUGHTER)

MORGAN: And you're both modest.

Got to leave it there. Sadly. "The New York Times" said about your performance, "As inspiring Ann Richards, Holland Taylor is a fiery dynamo, frank, funny and warm." And almost every review I've read seems of similar ilk. It plays through September 1st which would have been Ann Richards' 80th birthday. It's been a real pleasure to see you.

TAYLOR: Same.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUEZ: Holland spent four years researching the former governor and wrote the play herself. Remember to tune in to PIERS MORGAN LIVE tomorrow night to catch his one-on-one with former Minnesota governor, political maverick, Jesse Ventura.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: Here's a look at what's trending online. Violent protests erupting in Turkey for a third straight day. Thousands of people are clashing with police in several cities. Hundreds have been detained. Protesters are outraged over several government policies, including plans to turn a park into a shopping mall.

The highly anticipated trial of reputed mob boss Whitey Bulger starts this week. Bulger faces 19 murder charges, plus extortion, money laundering and narcotics charges.

Will Smith and his son Jaden's new movie couldn't stop "Fast and Furious 6" at the box office. "Fast and Furious" is number one again. It earned a whopping $34.5 million this week, and Will Smith's "After Earth" earned $27 million. It took $135 million to make it.

A government policy may keep a dying girl from getting the lung transplant she needs to survive. Why her parents are shocked the Obama administration hasn't mandated a change.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: The mother of a little girl who may not have long to live says the Obama administration is choosing to let her daughter die. CNN's Susan Candiotti has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sarah Murnaghan's lungs are getting weaker and weaker. The 10-year-old with cystic fibrosis is now in intensive care. Wise beyond her years, Sarah knows she needs a transplant and is in a battle for her life. Her mom shared this video with us.

(VIDEO CLIP)

CANDIOTTI: Sarah's parents also are not quitting. Frustrated because Friday, the federal government refused to intervene and help Sarah get new lungs.

JANET MURNAGHAN, DAUGHTER NEEDS LUNG TRANSPLANT: Somebody needs to stand up and say this isn't right. This is a human issue, this isn't politics, this is a human issue.

CANDIOTTI: Even though Sarah's at the top of child transplant list in her region and has been waiting for 18 months, federal guidelines disqualify her for an adult lung until she's 12 unless every other adult on the waiting list turns down a donor lung.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius e-mailed Sarah's parents to tell them the best she could do is order a transplant policy review. Quote, "While I do not have the authority to intervene in a particular case, what I can do is direct the OPTN to re-examine the lung allocation policy. I know this is not the answer you were hoping to receive, and I can't begin to imagine how difficult this situation. My prayers are with you."

JANET MURNAGHAN: She says oh, I'm so sorry, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear. It is in her legal authority. We're going to let a kid die over red tape?

CANDIOTTI: It's a battle Sarah shares with other children, comparing her lungs diseased with CF to a boat filling with sand.

SARAH MURNAGHAN, NEED LUNG TRANSPLANT: Close your eyes and pretend that you're on the boat. But sand sinks your boat. All we got is - you discover a little sandy. But we're going to be okay. It's a little bit of sand (INAUDIBLE). That's CF.

CANDIOTTI: Tell me what you think her chances are now given that the secretary did not step in?

JANET MURNAGHAN: If you directly donate your loved one's lung to Sarah, the law cannot change that. and Sarah will use them and create a positive, wonderful life and legacy for your loved one. I'm praying that somebody sees this story and is in a position to save my baby.

CANDIOTTI: Her mom asks Sarah what she would do with a new set of lungs.

SARAH MURNAGHAN: I would run outside with all the other kids.

CANDIOTTI: For now, Sarah says life is all about possibilities.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CANDIOTTI: Sarah's parents now say they have lawyers working with them, and they plan to make an announcement soon. They say that their daughter and others need more help in terms of these policy guidelines, and that these children are being discriminated against because of their age. Their fight, they say, is far from over. Miguel?

MARQUEZ: Tough, tough story. Susan Candiotti, thank you very much.

Here's a question for you. What do Mel Brooks, gay marriage, and Oscar Pistorius all have in common? They're all going to be part of your week ahead. Find out how next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MARQUEZ: Several big stories on the horizon. Here's a look at the week ahead.

Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hand down new rulings, and they could be on several big cases, including challenges to affirmative action, same-sex marriage, voting rights laws, and the patenting of human genes.

Monday is also the last day at work for Joseph Grant. He's the current head of the IRS division that targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status. Grant was removed of the job last month, two days before the IRS admitted to targeting the groups. At the same time, the acting IRS chief will head to Capitol Hill where he'll be grilled on the controversy by members of the House.

And Oscar Pistorius will be back in court on Tuesday. He's the South African Olympic star accused of murdering his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. He's on bail awaiting trial. And on Thursday, a comedy king is honored.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MEL BROOKS, ACTOR: Jehovah has given unto you these 15 -- wait. Ten.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MARQUEZ: Mel Brooks will receive the American Film Institute's Life Achievement Award. The institute says Brooks is being honored for giving the world 50 years of laughter through acting, directing, writing and producing. The ceremony held in Hollywood will air on TNT June 15th.

Another big event in California on Friday, President Obama holds a summit with China's president. The big issue on the agenda, cyber security. A U.S. official says the president will stress his concerns about Chinese hackers stealing U.S. secrets.

That will do it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Don Lemon from New York. Have a great week.