American Morning
Tune in at 6am Eastern for all the news you need to start your day.
August 5th, 2009
06:03 AM ET
What’s on Tap – Wednesday August 5, 2009
This photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency shows former President Bill Clinton greeting two US journalists Laura Ling (in green) and Euna Lee (red) after winning their release from the communist country as they leave Pyongyang airport to the US in a chartered plane on August 5, 2009. (KNS/AFP/Getty Images)
Here are the big stories on the agenda today:
- Laura Ling and Euna Lee are on their way home right now and could touch down any time. You will see their emotional reunion right here. The two journalists left North Korea with Former President Bill Clinton late last night. The White House is calling Clinton’s trip a private matter, adding that there were no discussions about North Korea's nuclear program, but North Korea’s “supreme leader” sure got quite a photo-op. We'll also talk about where relations go from here, with our experts worldwide.
- It's being called a massacre inside a Pittsburgh area gym. This morning police are trying to find out why a gunman walked into an exercise class and started unloading two guns, killing at least three people before he reportedly shot and killed himself. Witnesses say people were flying off treadmills, and taking cover.
- The Boston officer, who referred to Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Junior as a "banana-eating jungle monkey," in an e-mail. is now suing, claiming his civil rights were violated. Officer Justin Barrett's lawyer tells CNN his client was denied his right to free speech and denied the right to a hearing over his job, claiming Boston’s mayor effectively fired him on TV. Our Joe Johns is taking a look at both sides.
- Paying by the pound. A new study funded by the Centers for Disease Control says obese Americans spend 42% more on health care than "normal-weight" Americans. And in the past decade, Americans have collectively gained more than a billion pounds. We take a look at one woman’s amazing journey from a size 24, to a size four, and see how she’s saving her own life and maybe, your money.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
RT @EarlyStart: Ten people, including a police officer, were killed Monday after a gunman opened fire in a grocery store in Boulder, Colora…
RT @calebsilver: On the @Investopedia Express podcast this week, my pal and former colleague, @ChristineRomans from @CNNBusiness and @CNN j…
This is amazing for us, Meredith! twitter.com/mbennettsmith/…
Derek Chauvin's trial is a chance for the justice system to prove it can actually work msnbc.com/opinion/derek-…
RT @ConstitutionCtr: #WomensHistoryMonth is a time to reflect on the women who have shaped America’s story.@RosenJeffreyey an@MSNBCBC's @Al…
RT @centralbanks_: The Exchange | Conversations for a Better Future One-on-one conversation with IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva and Micros…
This is for you, Stuart, and any other who may be confused here! We have a constitution in this fine country! Our constitutionn is being shredded every day that passes by those we elected into office at this time! This is a sad time in history! People, you have the RIGHT to go to the town hall meeting for real answers and suggestions, and please DO go take advantage of your RIGHTS before this administration takes them all away from you! Speak your peace! You have the right to do that! Fox news led all of us in the right direction! They said to go...ask questions, and seek truth. He even asks Americans to pray for thier country! They all need to know that the American People are tired of being lied to, tired of paying taxes that leave them without the food to feed thier own families, and that they have this wonderful CONSTITUTION that they may wish to get up and fight for! Many men died for it, and they still do. (look at our military) It is in place for our freedom and if someone is trying to take those freedoms from you, GLEN BECK will let you know! This is not because of Fox news anyway! The American People have the right to know the thruth! You want to blame someone here? Blame those in this administration who are not only lying to its People, but taking it's constitutional rights away from them through new laws, and through these two bills being passed! Cap and trade...and the health bill.....LOSERS! YELL NO WAY!!!! Stand up for your rights in America before you end up with none!
I agree that either Al "gutless" Gore or Slick Willie Clinton or the 2 braindead idiots should be reimbursing the American taxpayers for this idiotic stunt. The US has been forced to grovel to a terroristic country because of this.While it fits Obummers previous conduct, I, as an AMERICAN, am insulted. Now we have 3 more wingnuts taken in Iran. Pass the vaseline!! If these dingbats want a thrill let them compete in the x-games on TV. Maybe a walk in Central Park, NY at midnight would be even better. At least our country would not be made to look foolish.
In response to Richard's comment: Have to agree. With all the problems this country has right now the actions of these people are totally irresponsible. How much money did we spend & what concessions have we made to get these two back? And of course now we have the others in Iran.
At the time he sent the email he thought he would have a following and when it came out he said he was not a racist because he had friends of "color" and apologized.Now he is saying he was expressing his right to free speech,and now he wants to sue for damages to his reputation.All he has to do is take a good long look in the mirror and he'll see who is responsible for the damages.The way he felt was sent through the net to a newspaper of all places,he was in a position to know that it would stir things up further when the people directly involved was trying to put it behind them.I told my daughter yesterday sometimes we have to smile and bite our tongues and walk away from things like this.
Please take it easy on the fanfare, CNN. These women are not national heroes. I agree with Richard. They broke the law of a sovereign nation and should have been prepared to deal with the consequences. Eula Lee should be especially ashamed of what this did to her husband and daughter. Going to China to make YouTube videos is something you do when you're in college, not when you're a parent. Her actions are irresponsible beyond belief.
I think they should be required to pay back any government money that was spent running to their rescue.
Now let's move on to some real international issues.
I'm very happy for them and their families. I am not happy that hey put our government in the position to have to negotiate with the North Koreans on matters other than affairs of state. That costs us time and effort and may lead to concessions having to be made to North Korea. I personally believe that they did cross the border . Not because they confessed but because they were there doing a story about North and South Korea. Whatever they wanted to see or whoever they wanted to interview led them to cross over a line they knew they shouldnt. They took a chance.
Now there are Two "hikers" , "extreme adventurers" ,who are imprisoned in Iran.They crossed over the border from Iraq on their own. They left a group that was on a tour. We have Marines fighting in Iraq. These two happen to be documentary film makers. No way do I believe this is accidental . We will now , through Swiss intermediaries , have to negotiate with a country that is outwardly anti American, for their release.
I think that people like these should be senteced to jail here in the U.S .where they will be safe and sound, through the efforts of our government . This treatment would help discourage such conduct
Republicans who can no longer filibuster congress refuse to do their elected duty of engaging their peers in finding solutions to real socio-economic issues that can benefit the people this great nation. Instead seek to subvert political process, through their time tested use of use of scare tactics, caving to conflicts of interests (greed) caused by lobbies lining the pockets of those who preventing solutions.
FOX NEWS promotes the idea on its (all the news that is fit to contrive) entertainment segment by
having its FOX NEWS commentators promote the idea of filibustering town meetings in order to prevent rational discussions on the legitimacy of issues.
FOX NEWS then reports “AS actual NEWS” the fact that radical elements of its ideological base (which FOX NEWS stirred up) did disrupt the political process by heckling these fact finding meetings.
As a life long republican I naively believe in the greatness of this nation’s two most venerated institutions: our political leadership and the truthfulness of our free press.
I don’t know which of my beliefs, I should be disappointed in. Believing over history that I have voted for exceptional men with vision (only to find them mediocre), or through growing up in an era of Walter Cronkite and David Brinkley believing in the integrity of the American press. . .
I should have remembered my college professor’s quote “Those who don’t remember history are doomed to repeat it!”
I should be believing in Tammany Hall and William Randolph Hearst!
On the matter of suing over racial slurs: suing only continues to divide us, dialogue will do more for better understanding.
I hope our country puts as much effort into finding and bringing home the soldier who was recently taken hostage in Afghanistan. Unlike the two journalists in North Korea and the hikers in Iran, this soldier was actually helping protect our country. Not that I'm not happy for the return of the journalists, but to a certain extent they put themselves in danger by traveling so closely to the North Korean border. I really believe that bringing home Sgt. Bergdhal should be a top priority for the United States as well, considering his life his probably in danger.
As with every major issue we are dealing with as a nation, the problem is the corporate controlled media of our country. It is not that the people are passionate, they are scared because they have no idea what a government controlled health care system would mean. So, I have a great idea-"imbed", a word the media seem to love, reporters in the streets of many of the nations that have government run systems-which is every major industrialized nation on the planet-and interview people about their health care. Get their comments-do some polls-do your job the way it is supposed to be done without worrying about upsetting your corporate sponsors
Will Al Gore's company be reimbursing the US for its expense in obtaining the release of his two journalists?