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Newspapers Endorse Candidates; Billy Graham & Romney; Car Bomb in Lebanon; Pakistani School Girl Stands; New Questions On Libya Aftermath; Dow Tumbles On Weak Earnings; Daytime Talk's Early Winners And Lossers; Communicating In The War Zone; U.S. Military Adapts Amid Violence; "Curiosity" Eats Mars Dirt

Aired October 19, 2012 - 14:00   ET

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

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: And hello to you. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Good to be with you here on this Friday.

In fact, I have some news just into us at CNN. The TSA plans to fire 25 employees and suspend another 19. You're looking at pictures. This is Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Why, you ask? This is all over an investigation into improper screening of checked luggage at the airport. Accusations of theft surfaced last year. This reportedly the largest personnel action by the TSA in the agency's existence. So, obviously, as soon as we get more updates on this story, I promise we'll pass them along to you.

But, as we like to talk lately, politics. Count them with me, 18. Eighteen days until Election Day. President Obama hitting the campaign trail today in Virginia. Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, holding a rally tonight in Daytona Beach, Florida.

But let's begin in Virginia, where the president told a cheering crowd that Mitt Romney's showing signs of a mysterious disease. In fact, he had a name for it. He called Romnesia. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If you say women should have access to contraceptive care, but you support legislation that would let your employer deny you contraceptive care, you might have a case of Romnesia. If you say you'll protect a woman's right to choose but you stand up at a primary debate and say that you'd be delighted to sign a law outlawing that right to choose in all cases, man, you've definitely got Romnesia.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: All right, Romnesia. Add that to the political lexicon now.

Do want to tell you about a couple major newspaper endorsements today, both coming from important battleground states, Colorado and Florida. This coming from Colorado's "Denver Post." Let me read it from you. Saying "his," Romney's, "comments on the 47 percent of Americans who refuse to take personal responsibility and care for their lives were a telling insight into his views and a low point of the campaign." Oh, that's shrinking small. "Obama, on the other hand, has shown throughout his term that he is a steady leader who keeps the interests of a broad array of Americans in mind. We urge Coloradans to re-elect him to a second term." That from "The Denver Post."

Also another note for you. Romney picks up the endorsement from "The Orlando Sentinel. "As governor of Massachusetts, he worked with a Democrat dominated legislature to close a $3 billion budget deficit without borrowing or raising taxes, and passed the health plan that became a national model. This is Romney's time to lead again. If he doesn't produce results, even with a hostile Senate, we'll be ready for 2016 to get behind someone else who will."

So, that said, let's bring in Candy Crowley.

Candy, nice to see you here on this Friday. Let's pick up where we left off. "Orlando Sentinel." This is important because it endorsed the then Senator Obama four years ago and also this is Florida. Does it surprise you?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: It doesn't surprise me particularly, but, I mean, we're going to see a lot of these kinds of endorsements. And you notice that "The Orlando Sentinel" also said, and if he doesn't produce in four years, we're quite happy to look around for another candidate.

BALDWIN: Someone else.

CROWLEY: So it doesn't surprise me, particularly. It does help a candidate, when they seem to be on a roll or it helps maybe -- you know, stops the bleeding if a candidate begins to lose a state. It makes people look more.

But by and large, I think you're looking at a voting population that mostly has made up its mind. And right now it's about getting your people who are going to vote for you enthusiastic enough to actually show up on Election Day or fill out those absentee ballots or go to early voting.

BALDWIN: What about North Carolina? I was reading my "News Observer" today and they talk about how the Romney campaign, their word is, beginning to feel confident enough about North Carolina, they're beginning to shift out of state. Apparently the chief Romney spokesman in North Carolina is now headed to Ohio. So are we to, you know, deduce that they think North Carolina is in the bag for Team Romney?

CROWLEY: You are to deduce that. You need to follow the money. And that generally is where a campaign thinks it can best use it. So do they think it's in the bag? I think they feel confident enough to leave. But they can go back in if they want. But right now they obviously, the Romney campaign, is looking to catch up in Ohio. We all know that Ohio takes on this very symbolic, as well as real, importance. And you look at a state like North Carolina that has been trending Romney and so they feel pretty good about it. I don't know that inside these six or seven battleground states either campaign feels so solidly about them that they're going to, you know, leave open no option to go back. I think, you know, they can always go back. But right now it looks good for Romney in North Carolina.

BALDWIN: Let's just take a look at some polls. We have polls. And this is just the huge sort of asterisk because these polls were taken after the first debate, before that second one that you moderated. And so you can see here, President Obama, this is Ohio, up just a slight advantage, three percentage points there. And then we have Florida. Obama at 46, Romney up by 3 percentage points there in Florida.

So we talk so much -- we've been talking, Candy, a lot about Ohio. How it's really been the mother of all battleground states. We will continue to see all of these guys, you know, campaigning hard there. What do they need to do to convince the voter to vote for their camp?

CROWLEY: Well, at the moment it's about, as I say, closing the deal. It is now about all the things that we cannot see. It is about the phone calls. It is about the e-mail and the texts and all of those things that these campaigns are sending out. It's about galvanizing folks. Yes, there are undecideds there who still can be swayed. So you don't want to make a mistake.

But in the end, you've got to go to these places where you need big turnout and you really have to rouse a crowd and say -- and we'll hear this. I mean it just gets -- the pitch, day by day by day gets higher when you're at this point in the campaign. It's a really exciting time on the campaign trail as you want some sort of bounce from one swing state to another. And this is the time when they really are just trying to say, it's important, all of you who are forming, you need to get out there and vote. And so, yes, it's about the swing voters, but it's by and large about getting your own voters really excited and jazzed up to go vote.

BALDWIN: Eighteen day and counting.

CROWLEY: I know.

BALDWIN: Not that anyone is. We are every day.

Candy, thank you so much.

Make sure you watch Candy. She hosts "State of the Union" each and every Sunday. Newt Gingrich and Bill Richardson preview Monday's debate. Of course you know that one focused on foreign policy. "State of the Union," 9:00 in the morning Eastern Time on Sundays, only on CNN.

And you hear a lot of talk, as we just did, about battleground states when it comes to this election, but take a look at this map. Ali Velshi, John Avlon, they are hitting the road on the Battleground Bus Tour. They'll be visiting key swing states. You have Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and Ohio. And so we got Ali and John to give us a little battleground bus preview. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: We are hearing different things from people wherever we're going.

JOHN AVLON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Battleground Bus State Tour. It's a chance to get on the road and talk to folks on the ground in the states that will decide the winner of this next presidential election -- Florida, Virginia, Ohio.

The reality is, is that this election is going to be decided by a comparatively small number of voters in a handful of states.

VELSHI: There is this new normal that says things aren't as prosperous as they used to be. I want to see if the election changes that for people.

AVLON: And it's tight. This election is tight right now.

VELSHI: For all the economic reports you can read, for the interviews you can have with CEOs and the discussions you can have with economists, you can tell more about the economy by just getting out there and understanding how people are making their money and spending their money.

When do you guys open up?

We are going to be going through parts of the country that have very, very different and specific economic needs, but each one of those will map onto something else across the country.

There's a really important distinction between where people are and where they think they're going. And being on these trips really gives me a sense of where people think they're going. Jobs, unemployment, how many of you think that's the big problem?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's it.

VELSHI: OK.

As much as people would like to say, I don't care about this circus, this isn't about me, they kind of have to.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Drop it right in there.

AVLON: It's both a right and a responsibility. If folks aren't clear on that, they should go -- go read a history book. It's our rent for living in a free country.

VELSHI: We're just there to talk to them. We're just there to listen. Most of the time people think we talk for a living, but we're actually going to be listening to people. And there is no greater education than that.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BALDWIN: So, Ali Velshi, you're about to, you know, hit the trail here, hit the road.

VELSHI: Yes.

BALDWIN: When you talk about you want to know where people think they're going, what will you be asking? I imagine economy, number one.

VELSHI: Well, remember, the one thing about -- the interesting thing about the battleground state that we were talking about is that the economic situations are different. Their concerns are different. In Florida, we're still looking at housing prices and foreclosures, unemployment.

Then you get up here into an agricultural area and then you get into a place where there was a lot of industry and they're trying to talk about retraining and reshifting in North Carolina. You get into Virginia and you've got a different set of problems, including in Loudon county in northern Virginia, where a lot of the industry there is based on government. So things like the sequester (ph) and losing defense spending are of great concern. So where the rest of the country is worried about how much involvement the government should have in their lives, up here, government has a great deal to do with the lives of the people in northern Virginia and southern Maryland and that's made property values go up and made people prosperous.

And then you go over here into eastern Ohio. You've got Youngstown, the GM plant. You've got fracking, which is making -- you know, natural gas fracking. That's influencing people. And then you go further west to Canton and Toledo and you've got manufacturing concerns. Concerns about China and importing and exporting.

So different things all across the country. How do these people think Barack Obama or Mitt Romney will serve their interests? What are they thinking? Do they think the world gets better after this election?

BALDWIN: OK.

VELSHI: And so we're going to learn a lot about that, Brooke.

BALDWIN: OK, curtailing the questions based upon where you are. Makes sense. Ali Velshi, we'll check in with you and John on the road.

VELSHI: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

Don't forget, we want you to watch that third and final presidential debate, all about foreign policy. It is Monday. Live coverage from Boca Raton, Florida. It begins Monday night, 7:00 Eastern.

America's most famous pastor once said he's done advising presidents, but Billy Graham, admitting this is probably his last election, is advising voters to cast a ballot for their faith and that is where things have gotten interesting between the Graham family and Mitt Romney. Eric Marrapodi from CNN's Belief Blog explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Prayer is the most helpful thing you can do for me.

ERIC MARRAPODI, CNN'S BELIEF BLOG (voice-over): It was all smiles from Billy Graham and Mitt Romney following their 30 minute meeting at Graham's mountaintop retreat last week. And soon after the cookies and soft drinks were put away, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association scrubbed references to Mormonism as a cult from its website.

In a statement, The Evangelistic Association said in part they removed the cult references because, quote, "we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign."

Romney is a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, also known as Mormons. His church membership had been seen as a political liability among conservative evangelical Christians, a key GOP voting bloc, who along with Catholics and other protestant churches have long considered Mormons not to be Christians. The LDS church bristles at the term "cult," saying it's incorrect and derogatory, but says, yes, there are big theological differences between their church and others. All the more reason the change in language from Graham's organization could mean a big change politically.

RICHARD LAND, ETHICS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY COMMISSION: Could just be an attempt to better communicate what the position is, vis-a-vis Mormons, that we don't see them as branch dividians (ph), we don't see them as some group that is cultic in that sense.

MARRAPODI: Dr. Richard Land runs the public policy center for the Southern Baptist Convention.

LAND: I don't think it says that they're -- they're accepting them as orthodox Christians, but I do think it probably is an attempt to clean up some past language that doesn't communicate effectively in the 21st century.

MARRAPODI: The move by the Graham organization could also provide a critical boost to the Romney campaign, which has made great attempts to court evangelicals despite their theological differences with the LDS church.

LAND: No one, no one has remotely the kind of influence and the kind of reverence in the evangelical community that Billy Graham has.

MARRAPODI: Graham, the man known as America's pastor, has walked a pastoral and political tight rope for decades, praying with people of all or no religious faith and counseling every sitting president since Harry Truman, all the while proclaiming his political neutrality. But Graham's son is not sitting on the sidelines. He said he's voted early, and for Romney, repeating to CNN's Piers Morgan a classic Romney campaign talking point. FRANKLIN GRAHAM, SAMARITAN'S PURSE: We're not voting for the man who's going to be our pastor in chief, we're looking for a commander in chief.

MARRAPODI: The Billy Graham Evangelical Association released a national print ad, full page, in lots of papers around the country. It featured the elder Graham and a message to voters reminding them to vote for candidates who supported biblical principles like traditional marriage, the sanctity of life and religious liberty. All issues in the presidential race that line up pretty well for Mitt Romney. But the association insists the ads are biblical and not political and they say Graham remains politically neutral.

Eric Marrapodi, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Just 10 days after being shot in the head, the girl targeted by the Taliban stands up and communicates. And a neurosurgeon is about to join me to explain how.

I'm Brooke Baldwin. The news is now.

The Pentagon fights back after a female soldier sues for being left off the front lines and I'll speak with her live.

Plus, American spies reportedly want more drones. What the CIA is asking of the White House.

And the attack in Benghazi. New questions today about what the intelligence community knew and when.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: First, a warning here, some of what we're about to show you is hard to take.

(VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Do you see? Look at this. This look of confusion, pain, on this woman's face being carried away. Folks, she was one of the lucky ones. A car bombing in Beirut, in Lebanon, killed at least three others while ripping through a bustling area of the city. That woman and about 100 other people were wounded. CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom is live for us in Beirut.

And, Mohammed, we're learning one of those killed is a high level intelligence officer. Who was he?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke, General Wissam al-Hassan. Now, this is somebody who used to be head of security for Rafik Hariri. He's the former prime minister of Lebanon who was assassinated in 2005. General Wissam al-Hassan, somebody here who's with the internal security forces, with the information office with the internal security forces, somebody who was spearheading for several years the investigation into who plotted the attack and the assassination of Rafik Hariri, his former boss. Very visible Sunni political figure here in the country. And that's why this is stoking so much concern at this hour.

We were at the blast site earlier in the day and I can tell you the people we were speaking with, the ones that have tears streaming down their face, that were shielding their kids from the carnage that was around them, so many of them even were asking us at that hour, before anything was known, did you think that perhaps a political figure was targeted today? Because if that's the case, they were saying it takes them back to memories of 2005 when there was a spate of political assassinations, car bombings, going on in Lebanon and people very afraid here today that this could be a harbinger of that type of thing to come.

Brooke.

BALDWIN: But because of this official's death, I understand there are protests on the streets? I know it's about 9:20 in the evening where you are. Is that still happening?

JAMJOOM: That's right. Well, we've heard -- there's been reports of clashes going on in Tripoli in the north of the country. Clashes going on between Alawite factions up there. Those are groups, enclaves, that are very much backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which is a neighboring country of Syria, clashing with Sunni elements up there. But also we've heard of protesters out in the streets in Beirut in Sunni neighborhoods that are burning tires in protest of what happened today. Not uncommon for this to happen with such a high profile Sunni figure for supporters of this figure to be out there burning tires. But again, a worrying development and really a lot of tension in the air in Beirut tonight as of what will come in the hours and days ahead because of what happened today.

Brooke.

BALDWIN: Mohammed Jamjoom, we will certainly check back with you. Mohammed, thank you.

But coming up next here, this is a story so many of you are interested in. This young girl, she was shot in the head, point blank, by the Taliban 10 days ago. She is now standing and communicating. We'll talk with a neurosurgeon about how in the world she's able to do that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: You know, every so often a story comes along that is so horrifying, the whole world stops to watch. And this is exactly one of them. Malala Yousufzai. She is the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who dared to speak up and out against the Taliban, declaring her right to go to school. For her bravery, she was shot point blank in her head by one of the gunmen.

And we're happy to report today, we have an update on her recovery. It is good news. Not only is she awake -- and, by the way, these are fresh pictures you're seeing of her right now -- there's a lot more to tell you about. The world attention around her fight for survival has been so massive, the British hospital where she's being treated right now has set up this website. And if you want to go on, you can. It updates itself every few hours.

Here's the latest. She not only is awake, she has movement of her arms and her legs and she has managed to stand up. But her injury is so complex, we brought in a neurosurgeon, Dr. Sanjay Dhall, to help explain.

So, welcome.

SANJAY DHALL, ASSISTANT PROF. OF NEUROSURGERY, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Thank you.

BALDWIN: And thank you for bringing this, because this just helps us -- for those of us who are not neurosurgeons -- you know, really understand exactly what's going on. So let's begin first with Malala and just her -- where exactly do we believe the bullet entered her brain?

DHALL: So our understanding from published reports is that --

BALDWIN: This is the front of the skull.

DHALL: Yes. So this is her -- this is a model of the brain and this is the left and this is the right and this is the front and this is the back.

BALDWIN: OK.

DHALL: And it sounds like the bullet struck right behind her left eye and grazed her brain. And when it did that, it fragmented and fractured her skull and sent many bone fragments into her brain, probably in this area. And then the bullet continued to travel down in her neck.

BALDWIN: So that's part of the problem, though, to point out, is it's not as much the bullet as it is these fragments of her -- of her skull that are now in her brain.

DHALL: Well, it's actually -- it's a combination of both.

BALDWIN: OK.

DHALL: Really the injury that is suffered from a gunshot wound is not necessarily the bullet itself, but the high speed at which it's traveling and it carries a tremendous amount of energy and it creates this shock wave that shattered both the skull and the brain around it and it literally creates a shock wave that passes through and cavitates (ph) or destroys large amounts of brain around where the bullet is traveling.

BALDWIN: But, Sanjay, the fact that she can -- she's not speaking. She has tubes. But she's able to write --

DHALL: Yes. BALDWIN: Full sentences --

DHALL: Yes.

BALDWIN: And she can stand. How is that possible 10 days later, especially when we're talking left side of the brain, because doesn't that control -- I know not speech, but just communicative skills?

DHALL: It absolutely does. And it's really phenomenal considering --

BALDWIN: It is.

DHALL: That she was shot at point blank range with probably a very high caliber, powerful weapon and that she survived at all, not to mention that she's made such a remarkable recovery.

BALDWIN: Ten days later.

DHALL: Right. And what may have happened is, is that she was fortunate in that it was somewhat of a grazing injury and it damaged some of her frontal lobe, but spared some of the other areas. Like if you look at the brain, there are areas back here and here that are related to language function. And so it may have damaged areas adjacent to that, but it spared those.

BALDWIN: But it missed.

DHALL: It also probably -- it sounds as though it may have spared the motor area. So the areas that control her arm and leg on the opposite side of her body, because she's able to stand up.

Now, the other thing to bear in mind is, is that, as you said, her breathing tube has not been taken out. We know she can write sentences, which is very encouraging, but she may still have some subtle problems with language that may not make themselves obvious until later on.

BALDWIN: But you're saying subtle problems. So in terms of speaking in general, do you not think that will be a problem for her?

DHALL: She -- so she may have some more subtle issues with speaking, like more complicated issues that we can't pick up on right now because she has breathing tubes in, and -- but nonetheless, given how much she's recovered already, and the fact that she's very young, she's only 14 years old --

BALDWIN: Her age, that has to help.

DHALL: And that -- that is incredible because I can't tell you how many patients I've taken care of who are children who had horrible injuries, far worse than hers, who were in ICUs for weeks to months and then they walk out of the hospital solely because they're children and children have this incredible ability to recover.

BALDWIN: It's incredible. And the brain is fascinating, is it not?

DHALL: Absolutely.

BALDWIN: Thank you, doctor. Dr. Sanjay Dhall, we appreciate it.

DHALL: Thank you for having me.

BALDWIN: And coming up next, some new questions about what the intelligence community knew about the attack in Benghazi and when, especially in the wake of one report that one suspect is just sipping coffee and talking to the American media.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: New questions today about the aftermath of the deadly Benghazi attack. What the intelligence community knew in the first 24 hours after the four Americans were brutally killed at the U.S. Consulate?

But before I take you to the Pentagon, I want you to listen to what President Obama told Jon Stewart about what happened right after that attack in Libya.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We weren't confused about the fact that four Americans were killed, sure. I wasn't confused about the fact that we needed to ramp up diplomatic security around the world right after it happened.

JON STEWART, COMEDIAN: I would say even you would admit it was not the optimal response at least to the American people as far as us all being on the same page.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, here's what I'll say.

STEWART: Yes.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: If four Americans get killed, it is not optimal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Let's go to the Pentagon now and talk to Chris Lawrence because, Chris, there are all these new reports. They come in as far as what the CIA might have known. What are you hearing?

CHRIS LAWRENCE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're hearing some new reports from the AP, Brooke, but a lot of is stuff that CNN has already reported weeks ago.

Basically that there were indications very shortly after this attack that it may not have been spontaneous, that it may have been planned. In fact, a U.S. official is basically saying no one right now is ruling out the idea that some of the attackers may have aspired to attack the consulate.

But right now that official is also saying and also telling us there isn't any indication, any intelligence that suggests this attack was pre-planned for days or much less weeks before hand. All this comes back to what the Obama administration was saying in the days and weeks following the attack, specifically what U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice said on the Sunday talk shows when she called this attack spontaneous.

Apparently, she was speaking from sort of a talking points memo that was generated, supposedly just for congress, but then the administration officials went out and used some of the talking points on that memo, and she called the attack spontaneous.

Now, of course, senior administration officials are saying that was probably a poor choice of words and what she perhaps should have said was that there didn't appear to be any long range planning of this attack.

BALDWIN: So, Chris, just quickly, as the U.S. is trying to figure out who did this, there was a fascinating article in the "New York Times" this morning about who they basically dub as the ring leader of this Benghazi attack, sipping some strawberry frappe at a luxury hotel, not hiding. Who is this guy?

LAWRENCE: Ahmad Al Katala, yes, apparently the "New York Times" reporter who CNN spoke with just a few hours. He had coffee with this man who is open, not hiding, and shows no fear from Libyan or U.S. officials about what may happen to him.

He denies being the so-called ring leader of this attack. He says he was there on the scene, but says that he does not necessarily have strict ties with the militant group under suspicion.

I spoke to a senior official here who says that group is a group that is known to officials, they have sort of what we call eyes on them, and in other words they know their location, but there is still a lot of confusion as to whether he was the ring leader and if so how this went down.

BALDWIN: Chris Lawrence, thank you, Chris.

And before we go to break here, take a look at the big board. Because the Dow as I'm looking at it. It is tumbling. It is down more than 200 points as we are just about an hour and a half away from the end of the trading. Why, you ask? Apparently because of the weak earnings reports. We're keeping an eye on this. You can too. Go to cnnmoney.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: Each week we take the time to shine the spotlight on the top ten "CNN Heroes" of 2012 as you vote for the one who inspires you the most. Quick reminder, you can go to cnnheroes.com.

This week's honoree is a single mother from Haiti, who became the target of sexual violence, but turned her personal trauma into a fight for justice.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MALYA VILLARD-APPOLON, PROTECTING THE POWERLESS (through translator): Two years after the earthquake, the situation is still the same. The people are still under the tents. They don't have electricity. There is no security where they sleep.

They are getting raped. In Haiti, things are very difficult. Before the earthquake, there were rapes happening. Now I can say it is total disorder.

Adults are not spared, mothers are not spared. Even babies are not spared. My name is Malya Villard Appolon. I am a victim of sexual violence. I am on a mission to eradicate this issue so that other Haitian women do not fall victim.

We do awareness in the camps. We were working in 22 camps after the earthquake. Now we are trying to work in others. We tell people to come out of silence, do not be afraid to say that you have been victimized.

We offer psychological and legal support. We have a support center. We accompany the victim to the hospital and we have a safe house program. For me, the first thing is justice that I want.

I was a victim and I did not find justice, but I know I will get it for other women that are victims. We have to fight so we can save what was save what was the past, Haiti. This is a great nation. There will be a change.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: I want to remind you, you go to again cnnheroes.com, online or on mobile device, you can vote up to ten times a day every day for the inspirational hero.

And all ten will be honored live at "CNN Heroes, an All- Star Tribute" hosted by Anderson Cooper. That is Sunday, December 2nd, set your DVR now. Only one will be named "CNN Hero of the Year."

BALDWIN: Right now, let's go back to the big board here and talk about this Dow. It is down. It is tumbling here about 216 points now. Alison Kosik, what is happening?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: First of all, remember where we are right now? We are actually in the thick of third quarter earnings season, and you know what?

It started off pretty good considering there are lowered expectations for how that quarter was going to do. Financials, they came out swinging, but guess what? It's now back to reality.

There is really been a flood of corporate heavyweights coming in with really disappointing earnings. For one General Electric, McDonald's and with both of these big companies, Europe's debt crisis and the slower U.S. economy and one way or another are impacting these companies bottom line.

Both are pointing to the challenging economy and weakness in Europe, specifically also we're watching shares of chipotle down 15 percent now. Shares of AMD, Advanced Microdevices, down 16 percent. They're cutting jobs. They're saying it is just a bad market for PCs. We're not buying personal computers anymore.

That's as we see McDonald's shares falling 4 percent, General Electric falling more than 3 percent. All of this, Brooke, you know what today is? Today is the 25th anniversary of a 1987 stock market crash when the Dow plunged 508 points, which is huge by today's standards.

But it was an even big dealer then considering the levels that the dow traded at were much lower, between 2,000 and 3,000 range. We're trading at the 13,000 range, but how ironic we're seeing this sell up of 223 points on the 25th anniversary of the crash.

BALDWIN: We're watching it with little over an hour to go here before the closing bell. Alison, we'll check back if need be. Thank you.

There are new talk shows and hosts to choose from this season. Can any of them replace the queen of daytime? We'll tell you who may have a shot next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: This has been a unique time in television. This is the first season in 25 years without the queen of talk reigning over the daytime ratings, Oprah Winfrey.

So this batch of newcomers, they are seeking to fill her void if that can be done. How is it going? CNN's Nischelle Turner has the early winners and losers of daytime talk.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love the leather. You're looking good. You're looking good.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It is like butter, baby.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On Katie, guest maze get high fives, but the ratings, they're more like low 2s.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Feeling very short today. Not going to lie.

TURNER: A month into her much ballyhooed daytime talk show, Katie Couric typically pulls in 2.3 million viewers a day. Those numbers don't impress some experts like TV Guide's Steven Battaglio.

STEPHEN BATTAGLIO, BUSINESS EDITOR, TV GUIDE: In daytime syndication, you want the new show that you put on to perform better than the one it replaced. The show hasn't done that yet.

TURNER: Early in the new season, the race for daytime viewers is starting to sort itself out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You've come to the right place.

TURNER: Ricki Lake is down and her executive producer is out already. The new show from "Survivor" host Jeff Probst is struggling too. Count Maggie Furlong of Huffpost TV among those who are surprised.

MAGGIE FURLONG, WEST COAST EDITOR, HUFFPOST TV: I felt like Jeff Probst has always had this every guy quality to him and people connect with Jeff. But maybe it is harder to make that shift from, you know, a primetime sort of game show situation to being a talk show host.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: We got a good one lined up for you today, folks.

TURNER: The biggest surprise may be the strong performance of Steve Harvey's new show.

BATTAGLIO: They rolled this show out with not tremendously high expectations. Over time, if the show broadens out, it could become a very big hit.

TURNER: Still Katie is the ratings leader among the new shows, even if host and audience haven't totally clicked.

BATTAGLIO: People love Katie Couric on the "Today" show. Since then she was something completely different. She was an anchor on the evening news.

It was a very different and more serious persona. Now the viewer has to get reacquainted with Katie again as a personality. And that's probably going to take some time.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a safe place to talk about hard things.

TURNER: If the new season has demonstrated anything, it is that daytime TV veterans are hard to beat.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I appreciate it so very much.

TURNER: Dr. Phil and Ellen are leading the pack. Ellen's up this season in total viewers, and in the coveted demographic, women, 25 to 54.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think Ellen is the queen of daytime hands down. I feel like she's on top and she'll be on top for a while.

TURNER: The competition is only going to get stiffer. By next fall, expect new shows from queen Latifah and Bethenny Frankel who got a tryout over the summer. And there is talk Kardashian mom, Kris Jenner may also get a show. UNIDENTIFIED FEMAEL: There are so many channels, there are so many options, in this daytime realm, you have a million different options to watch.

TURNER: Nischelle Turner, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Nischelle, thank you.

In addition to the stresses of war, it has to be frightening for servicemen and women going into a culture completely opposite from America's.

I'm about to speak live with an intelligence collector, a veteran who is preparing these cadets for what to expect and you have to hear his stories.

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BALDWIN: Foreign policy, it is a hot button issue, of course, in this election, the subject of Monday's presidential debate and one of the big concerns, the safety of our troops all around the world.

Enter the ROTC "Project Go." The program teaches rotc cadets critical language skills, skills that will help foster relationships, gain intelligence, and possibly even save the life of a fellow soldier.

I'll introduce you to someone pretty special to me, but first let me tell you as we look at pictures of him. He brought "Project Go" to the University of Arizona.

He spent 15 months in Iraq for the U.S. army as an intelligence collector and full disclosure, he's my cousin. Charlie Mink, it's nice to see you, sir.

SGT. CHARLIE MINK, IRAQ WAR VETERAN: Hi, how are you doing, Brooke? You never call me.

BALDWIN: You know, well, how about this, I'll put you on TV instead. Let's begin with, this is personal for you. You served our country in Iraq, you learned Arabic in order to do your job over there. Tell me exactly just when you were there, how did it help you?

MINK: Well, let me first try to connect for our viewers the two notions of language education and national security. It may not be an obvious connection and it kind of explains why our program is funded by the Department of Defense and not the Department of Education.

When our uniform language personnel can speak other languages and engage expertly in the local culture, they are improving the reputation and the image of the United States.

And they do that by refuting a very common criticism levelled against Americans generally and that is that we expect the world to accommodate our language and our culture.

We expect the world to speak English and love and value things American and when we -- when our folks undermine that criticism, they make our country safer and they do that by improving our image.

Image and security are directly connected. They're directly proportional when the former increases, when the former improves, the latter increases. The importance of the image of the American soldier, what he represents to millions of people who interact with him --

BALDWIN: He or she, Charlie Mink. He or she --

MINK: Sure.

BALDWIN: But when they're able to go over there and speak the language, that helps us and it helps us potentially help them and as we talk about project go, you mentioned this is DOD, Department of Defense initiative, how is it a program work and who can take part?

MINK: Right, it is funded through an office called the Defense Language and National Security Education Office. They're the good folks, Mike Nugent and his crew are in Rossland, Virginia, not far from the Pentagon.

And they're fighting a good. They're procuring defense dollars for language education. That money trickles down to the universities through a non-profit in D.C. called the Institute for International Education.

At the university of Arizona, in fact, you mentioned that I brought project go to the University of Arizona, no, I didn't. It was the Center for Middle Eastern Studies --

BALDWIN: You're project coordinator.

MINK: Right. Yes. I'm currently the coordinator for it. The school for Middle East and North African studies, we have a very strong Arabic program at the university.

We got the grant money. We use it for some pretty innovative stuff. Tutors, native language speaking partners, we sponsor an immersion program in Jordan during the summer.

BALDWIN: We saw pictures of you in Jordan scouting on that location. We talk about the languages, we mentioned Arabic, the ten -- the government deems them critical languages, like Swahili and Russian and Chinese, we're almost out of time, 30 seconds here, who can be part of this.

MINK: Right, any ROTC student across the country can participate in "Project Go." I think we'll put the web site maybe up on cnn.com. It is open to ROTC students nationwide. You do not need to be affiliated with the 25 universities that are receiving this grant money.

BALDWIN: Here it is.

MINK: And we'll make it searchable on that web site.

BALDWIN: Perfect. Charlie, thank you. Thanks, cousin. Nice work.

MINK: Thanks, Brooke. Appreciate it. See you at Thanksgiving.

BALDWIN: All right, deal. We'll be right back.

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