American Morning
What does Rep. Anthony Weiner’s body language say?
Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) came under fire this weekend for a lewd photo that briefly appeared on his Twitter account that he claims he did not send. On Wednesday he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he had hired a law firm to look into the matter but declined to directly answer whether he actually appeared in the photo.
Attorney Joe Tacopina and former FBI body language expert Joe Navarro join the AM team this morning to discuss Weiner’s behavior and the legal concerns surrounding this controversy.
Florida’s gov. wants to drug test welfare recipients– good idea or not?
(CNN) - Saying it is "unfair for Florida taxpayers to subsidize drug addiction," Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed legislation requiring adults applying for welfare assistance to undergo drug screening.
"It's the right thing for taxpayers," Scott said after signing the measure. "It's the right thing for citizens of this state that need public assistance. We don't want to waste tax dollars. And also, we want to give people an incentive to not use drugs."
Question of the Day: Florida’s governor wants to drug test welfare recipients– good idea or not?
Let us know what you think. We could read your answer on American Morning.
Should college athletes be paid?
The stunning resignation of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel has raised a lot of questions about college athletics, with some people suggesting that it may be time to overhaul the entire system.
This morning, ESPN senior writer and CNN columnist LZ Granderson discusses the pros and cons of paying college athletes and the various options for reform of the NCAA.
The World Science Festival: Making science sexy
The four-day World Science Festival kicks off today in New York City, promising to attract leading scientists, performers, and thousands of attendees.
Actor Alan Alda and physicist Brian Greene join the AM crew this morning to discuss the importance of making science accessible and exciting to a broad audience. Author of the bestseller "The Elegant Universe," Greene co-founded the festival where Alda's play on Marie Curie will be featured in tonight's opening gala.
What the debt ceiling is and why it matters
By Michael Milhaven, Producer, CNN American Morning
If your eyes glaze over when you hear the words "debt ceiling," you're not alone. It's a concept that typically only economists and heads of state need worry about. But if you want to understand the current political debate and why both parties are fighting so hard to limit or raise the debt ceiling, read on.
Let's break this down for everyone in easier terms - what is the debt ceiling is and what it means for you?
Think of it as America's credit limit. The country only has so much it can spend to pay its bills and interest payments. If you have a credit card, you know there's only so much that you're allowed to put on that card.
The debt ceiling is that credit card limit for the U.S. government.
Right now, our "credit card limit" is at $14,293,975,000,000 (yes, that reads $14 TRILLION).
That's a lot of dough. Stacked on top of each other, $14 trillion dollars would go from Earth to the Moon and back...more than four times. Or, at $500 a pop, you could by 28 billion iPad 2's. Also, consider the estimated cost of rebuilding Joplin, Missouri after the devastating tornado damage. That price tag is around $3 billion. If we had $14 trillion towards rebuilding, we could rebuild the town 4,700 times.
To find out more about the debt ceiling, watch Christine Romans explain it in the video below. For more information and complete coverage of the debt ceiling debate, check out CNNMoney.com.
In Depth: The black market for prescription drugs
On American Morning this morning we're continuing CNN's In Depth look at our use of drugs and medication in the U.S.
Today, we're taking a closer look at the black market for prescription drugs. It's a billion-dollar business, and both dealers and addicts will do anything to get their hands on them. Some 1800 pharmacies have been robbed over the last three years across the country because the street value of these drugs is so high.
See the chart below, as reported by CNN's Poppy Harlow and CNNMoney.com:
Oxycontin – could get $50 to $80 on the street, vs. $6 when sold legally
Oxycodone – could get $12 to $40 on the street, vs. $6 when sold legally
Hydrocodone – could get $5 to $20 on the street vs. $1.50 when sold legally
Percocet pill – could get $10 to $15 on the street vs. $6 when sold legally
Vicodin – could get $5 to $25 on the street vs. $1.50 when sold legally
This morning, pharmacist and executive committee member of the National Community Pharmacists Association Keith Hodges speaks with AM's Kiran Chetry. He's had to beef up security at his pharmacy, after a number of attempted break ins. He'll talk about how big a problem this is for him and other pharmacists across the country.
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.
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