Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Americans Say Economy Not So Hot; Doctor Warns of Vitamin Danger; Whistleblower Targeted by IRS; Paris Jackson Testimony; Serena Williams Under Fire.

Aired June 19, 2013 - 13:30   ET

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


CLYDE ANDERSON, FINANCIAL LIFESTYLE COACH: People that say it's worse, maybe they lost a job. Because you have to look at the cost of goods and services are going up while wages are stagnant. They will feel the pinch than somebody else.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Should we go in thinking things will get better?

ANDERSON: I always like to be optimistic. What we're looking at is the new normal. I don't think we're going to go back to the way it used to be. We have to figure out how do we adjust to this? How to we tap into additional streams of income? How to we make sure we're protected. Knowing we can't put all our faith in that nine to five because it's not going to always provide. We have seen that. Unemployment in some states are still 9 percent. We still have some issues that we have to work through. I want to be optimistic but I want to be a realist, and let people know they have to prepare for rough times.

MALVEAUX: Clyde, thank you so much.

Zain, as well.

We'll try to stay optimistic and prepared.

(LAUGHTER)

Let's look at the markets to see if we have real reason to be excited. The Dow is down. This, as we're waiting for the Ben Bernanke to announce results of a two-day policy making meeting. He's expected to discuss the bank's bond-buying programs. We'll see what he had to say later today.

Obesity no longer just a problem. This is being called a disease. The nation's largest doctors group, the American Medical Association, voted to recognize obesity as a disease yesterday. This is at the annual meeting in Chicago. They hope it will push to make obesity more seriously and find better ways to tackle the problem. About one in three Americans are considered obese. Obesity rates have doubled among adults in the past 20 years and tripled among children.

This question, whether or not you should take vitamins or not. One doctor, who wrote a book, in a recent op-ed in "The New York Times," says there are more risks than benefits. Our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta takes a look at the reasoning.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: It's a provocative book. "Do You Believe in Magic," that's the title of the book. You can get a sense of where it goes from there. Dr. Paul Offit is a provocative guy. He's spoken very dogmatically about vaccines and autism and the fact there's no link between these two things. Now he's set his sites on the vitamin industry.

It's $28 billion industry. 40 percent of Americans take vitamins. Dr. Offit was one until he started researching this book.

As you listen to this, realize he does not mince any words here.

DR. PAUL OFFIT, AUTHOR: The megavitamins are something you should avoid. It amazes me that we don't know this. It's sad.

For example, when Vioxx was found to increase one's risk of heart disease, if you took a fairly high amount, we knew that in a second. Vioxx became synonymous with the word "poison" for some people because the FDA regulated it. They put out a media release. It became clear this was a problem. And the company that made it took it off the market.

Megavitamins, large doses of vitamins I think it's worse than Vioxx and we don't know about it because the industry knows it with market that away. Unless people are reading the journals, they're not going to know about it.

GUPTA: Vitamins could be worse than Vioxx?

OFFIT: Yeah. That's right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GUPTA: Suzanne, one of his big points is, look, the alternative medicine industry, as he calls it, including vitamins and supplements, sort of get a free pass. They don't have the same level of scrutiny as the pharmaceutical industry. Vioxx is the example he gave there. He thinks it's a significant problem.

He also said, the idea you call something natural that has 50 times the amount of vitamin that you can take in a single day is not natural.

Now, a lot of people will continue to take their vitamins. We talked to the Consumer Product Safety and they have this to say specifically, "The consumers should use caution when considering mega doses of any supplements, carefully research these choices, and consult a health care professional with questions."

We take these antioxidants, Suzanne, because we believe the antioxidants can help us live longer. Dr. Offit's point is we need some oxidation in our body. That's what he's saying. Not only is this mega dosing of vitamins not good, he thinks it's potentially bad. Eat real food. That's the advice I always give people. It's probably a good piece of advice now -- Suzanne?

MALVEAUX: Good advice, Sanjay.

Of course, he'll have more with Dr. Paul Offit. That's this weekend, "Sanjay Gupta, M.D.," Saturday at 4:30 p.m. eastern, Sunday at 7:30 in the morning right here on CNN.

Also, coming up this weekend, CNN's new show, "Inside Man," airs Sunday night. This show will focus on the business of medical marijuana. That's this Sunday on CNN.

This hour, the Tea Party holding an "Audit the IRS" rally. Coming up, we'll take a closer look at reports that the IRS targeted more than Tea Party groups.

Yesterday, we told you the story about how three deejays were fired for making fun of a former NFL player with ALS. They have since apologized to Steve Gleason. And what he is saying now. That's all coming up on CNN NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: We're looking at live pictures of a Tea Party protest. They are calling it "Audit the IRS." They found an IRS unit in Cincinnati used criteria that included conservative labels like "Tea Party" to target conservative questions for extra questioning. A new national poll shows roughly half of all Americans think White House officials order the IRS to target conservative political groups. High-ranking IRS officials say the agency was not trying to target anyone, just using the term "Tea Party" to more efficiently review applications by political groups.

CNN has spoken to a retired air marshal who said he was targeted by the IRS for appearing in a film that was critical of the TSA.

Drew Griffin has the CNN special investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jeff Black is a former federal air marshal who spoke out and became a well- known government whistleblower against the Federal Air Marshal Service and the Department of Homeland Security. He even testified, closed doors, before Congress. But it's after he retired in June 2010 that he came together that someone in the Department of Homeland Security or the Obama administration was using the IRS to retaliate against him.

JEFF BLACK, FORMER FEDERAL AIR MARSHAL & WHISTLEBLOWER: We boarded the aircraft before the passengers. That was one of flaws in the boarding procedures.

GRIFFIN: Jeff Black appeared in this documentary movie entitled "Please Remove Your Shoes," a scathing spoof of the TSA's security procedures. Its debut came on June 30, 2010. That same day, Jeff Black found out he was under investigation by the IRS.

BLACK: Almost to the hour that the movie started, there was an IRS agent knocking on my door at home.

GRIFFIN (on camera): You don't think in any that a coincidence?

BLACK: I think the IRS will claim it is.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): He was being audited. A $24,000 lien was quietly placed on his home, and a yearlong intensive investigation into his taxes was under way. In the end, the IRS found out the federal government owed him $8300 and he owed the IRS a mere $480. He had to pay that $480, but because the IRS decided the statute of limitations had run, the government didn't owe Black a dime.

Now the Treasury Department's inspector general is launching its own investigation. They're trying to find out if anyone in the federal government used the IRS to punish Jeff Black.

BLACK: They wanted know the history of my whistleblowing, me, testifying before Congress. They wanted to get a whole history of my employment with the Federal Air Marshal Service. They also wanted to find out the origin of the audits. They were concerned with finding out who pushed the button to start the audit.

GRIFFIN: Meanwhile, as a sign that the scrutiny of the IRS is growing, a spokesperson for the House Ways and Means Committee told CNN it's using the committee website to get support from individuals who believe they were targeted for political beliefs.

While it's too early in this investigation to determine what all of the facts are, the spokesperson told CNN, "Some reports received by the committee support claims the IRS was targeting taxpayers for their beliefs."

(on camera): Is there any doubt in your mind that what the IRS did to you is anything other than retaliation for speaking out against the administration?

BLACK: Extensive retaliation in the past for my whistleblower. I'm not surprised about this. It's basically the only way they can still come after me and retaliate against me after I retire.

GRIFFIN (voice-over): Jeff Black realizes many people will see this and think he's paranoid but, last month, after a congressional hearing focusing on the IRS targeting of Tea Party type groups, Congressman Kevin Brady wondered if the IRS scandal is only beginning.

REP. KEVIN BRADY, (R), TEXAS: Is this still America? Is this government so drunk on power that it could turn its full force, its full might to harass and intimidate and threaten an average American who only wants her voice and their voices heard?

GRIFFIN (on camera): You think there's others like it?

BLACK: I do. (END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: An IRS spokesperson says the agency does not comment on specific cases but told CNN, quote, "In general the IRS stresses that audits are based on the information contained on the tax return and the underlying tax law, nothing else."

Coming up this weekend, Director Ridley Scott joins CNN with an all- new series, "Crimes of the Century." That airs at 9:00 p.m. eastern.

Only weeks after an apparent suicide attempt, Paris Jackson makes her first appearance at the wrongful death trial of her father. On video tape, she makes that appearance. Find out what she has to say about the Jackson family nanny, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: We're looking at scenes from Michael Jackson's last rehearsal before his death. That was in Los Angeles and it was four years ago. The clip provided by his concert promoter, AEG Live, the company being sued for wrongful death.

Now, his oldest children, Paris and Prince, have made their first appearances in the trial, giving video deposition.

We want to bring in our entertainment correspondent, Nischelle Turner.

Nischelle, tell us how did this happen with Paris Jackson and her testimony, and how was it used?

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: It seemed to be used as part of a defense tactic to discredit an upcoming witness. This witness is going to be a former nanny for the Jackson children. She's been described as a mother figure to the kids. But the video from this disposition has been played where Paris said her father didn't like the nanny, quote, "Because he said she was sneaky and she wasn't an honest person and she lied a lot."

Paris also said in this disposition that he didn't fire her because he felt sorry for her. And then she described this encounter -- and I can't wait tell you hear this -- that she called "creepy."

Listen to what she had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PARIS JACKSON, DAUGHTER OF MICHAEL JACKSON: Going to get creeped out. No joke. Like, this doctor, when he was staying in a hotel or whatever, like, she would call the hotel and say she was his wife. Like, she was obsessed with him. She called to say she was his wife, and they let her in, and he would wake up and she would be, like, in his bed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TURNER: The reason why this is so important is because the expectation is that his former nanny will be a witness for the plaintiff, which is the Jackson family, that includes Paris later in the trial. Apparently, they wanted to lay some ground work to discredit her. And for AEG to have Paris Jackson saying these things about this woman is very powerful for them.

MALVEAUX: Nischelle, tell us about Paris herself. How was it she was able to videotape a deposition for the trial considering her health and everything she's gone through in the last couple of weeks?

TURNER: This deposition was a while ago. She couldn't testify live because she is still recovering in the hospital after her suicide attempt. You might be surprised a 15 year old sitting for a taped deposition like this. But because she is a plaintiff, like I was just talking about, the attorneys for AEG were able to depose her. They were also able to depose her brother, Prince, as well. He appeared in a video deposition also denying the story he had to help his father get up the stairs to his house after rehearsal because he was so weak.

These children are really involved in this case because they are plaintiffs. We're going to see a lot more of them as the trial continues.

MALVEAUX: Is it possible they would testify live later on down the road?

TURNER: Yeah. That has been talked about. They may be called to the stand. Not the youngest one, Blanket. Prince Michael and Paris were both on the witness list. Not sure what's going to happen with Paris because of what she just went through. She is still getting medical care. But I do think that we will see Prince testify live. You know, he is now 16 years old. He's a very mature young man. And I think that he probably will take the stand in this case.

MALVEAUX: All right. Of course, we wish Paris well in her recovery as well.

Thank you, Nischelle. Appreciate it.

This is a movie fit for a sci-fi blockbuster when you think about it. NASA asking the public to help find asteroids that are a threat to the human race, next, in CNN NEWSROOM.

Serena Williams, 16-time grand-slam title winner opens up, not just about the game, but a particular rape case. Her comments getting under the skin of a few critics.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Now for a look at what's trending.

NASA wants you to help in tracking down some big space rocks that might be headed our way. Not kidding here. The space agency has kicked off a grand challenge aimed at finding asteroids that could target the earth, even amateur astronomers, to search for asteroids that have not yet been detected. NASA says it has found about 95 percent of the big asteroids that are near the earth's orbit but it wants to find all of them. You can check out nasa.gov to find out how you can play a part in the program.

Serena Williams under fire now for comments she made about the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case. Three high school football players were found guilty of raping an intoxicated girl and it made national headlines. In an interview with "Rolling Stone," Williams said, quote, "They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you, don't take drinks from other people." She then went on to say, "It could have been much worse. She is lucky. Obviously, I don't know. Maybe she wasn't a virgin. But she should not have put herself in that position unless they slipped her something, then that's different." In a statement posted on Williams' blog, she said, quote -- here, we're following up -- "I am currently reaching out to the girl's family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the 'Rolling Stone' article. What was written, what I supposedly said, is insensitive and hurtful. I by no means would say or insinuate she was at all to blame."

Yesterday, we brought you this story. We told you about how three hosts of a sports radio show were fired for making fun of a former NFL player with ALS. They have since apologized to Steve Gleason. And what he is saying now, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: One of the radio hosts fired for mocking former NFL player, Steve Gleason, who has ALS, is saying more about that incident. He says he would have been offended by the comments if he had been in his car listening to that skit. One of the deejays pretended to be Steve Gleason by making his voice sound automated. Then, they made fun of him. Gleason uses a machine to talk through because ALS takes away your ability to speak, breathe and move.

I met with Steve back in March for my series on ALS that's airing next week. Here's what he said about the deejay's apology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STEVE GLEASON, FORMER NFL PLAYER & ALS ACTIVIST: Received and accepted. We have all made mistakes in this life. How we learn from our mistakes is the measure of who we are. I think everyone can learn from this event.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Next week, we are going in-depth on ALS in a three-part series. You'll learn more about former New Orleans Saints player, Steve Gleason, who is battling ALS. Plus, you're going to see how families are coping to support people with the disease. And our own Sanjay Gupta is going to join us to discuss what is being done in the medical world. That's Wednesday through Friday, 1:00 p.m. eastern, right here on CNN.

That's it for me. CNN NEWSROOM continues. Have a great afternoon.

Brooke Baldwin takes it from here.

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: When he speaks, people listen. What Ben Bernanke announces in just moments will impact everything from your 401K, your mortgage, your cash.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)