re-election campaign here that he's fighting for the middle class and that the republicans, because they won't accept this compromise, want to raise your taxes. that's why senator mcconnell is trying to give the house republicans a little bit of a lifeline here, a way out. now the big question is you have a little battle. harry reid says the house has to go first. if they will pass the extension, i'll name the negotiators. the house wants to see the senate name the negotiators first, then they'll go forward. but at least you see a path forward. still a lot of questions to be answered. >> just want to remind our viewers out there top of the hour, we're awaiting the president of the united states. he's over at the white house, he's about to make a statement and bring in some guests to show what's at stake. real money at stake right now if the house and senate can't get their and the together this week and next week before december 31st. there will be a tax increase on 160 million americans. we see some of those folks that the president invited over that

are going to be making some statements i suspect as well. at least the president will talk about what's at stake for them. john, you and i have covered these games of chicken for a long time. president will be walking out in a moment. can't believe personally that they won't work out a deal between now and december 31st, because the stakes are too enormous. >> the stakes are enormous. i think you're right they'll try to work out a deal. if republicans this morning didn't think they'd wake up and make a deal, the president of the united states is winning the optics of the political war right now. now he's going to add some rhetoric to it as well. >> let's listen in. >> thank you, everybody. please, please have a seat. good afternoon to all of you. merry christmas. happy holidays. we've been doing everything we can over the last few weeks to make sure that 160 million working americans aren't hit with a holiday tax increase on

january 1st. we've also been doing everything we can to make sure that millions of people who are out there looking for work in a very tough environment don't start losing their unemployment insurance on january 1st. now on saturday, we reached a bipartisan compromise that would do just that. make sure that people aren't seeing a tax cut the first of the year, make sure that they still have unemployment insurance the first of the year. nearly every democrat in the senate voted for that compromise. nearly every republican in the senate voted for that compromise. democrats and even some republicans in the house voted for that compromise. i am ready to sign that compromise into law the second it lands on my desk. so far the only reason it hasn't landed on my desk, the only

reason -- is because a faction of house republicans have refused to support this compromise. now, if you're a family making about $50,000 a year, this is a tax cut that amounts to about $1,000 a year. that's about $40 out of every paycheck. it may be that there's some folks in the house who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don't think that $40 is a lot of money. but anyone who knows what it's like to stretch a budget knows that at the end of the week, or at the end of the month, $40 can make all the difference in the world. and that's why we thought we'd bring your voices in to this debate. so many of these debates in washington end up being portrayed as which party is winning, which party is losing,

but what we have to remind ourselves of is, this is about people. this is about the american people. and whether they win. it is not about a contest between politicians. so on tuesday we asked folks to tell us what would it be like to lose $40 out of your paycheck every week? and i have to tell you that the response has been overwhelming. we haven't seen anything like this before. over 30,000 people have written in so far. as many as 2,000 every hour. we're still hearing from folks. and i want to encourage everybody who's been paying attention to this to keep sending your stories to whitehouse.gov and share them on twitter and share them on facebook. the responses we've gotten so far have come from americans of

all ages and americans of all backgrounds from every corner of the country. some of the folks who responded are on stage with me here today. and they should remind every single member of congress what's at stake in this debate. let me just give you a few samples. joseph from new jersey talked about how he would have to sacrifice the occasional pizza night with his daughters. he said -- i'm quoting -- my 16-year-old twins will be out of the house soon. i'll miss this. richard from rhode island wrote to tell us that having an extra $40 in his check buys enough heating oil to keep his family warm for three nights. in his words, i'm quoting, if someone doesn't think that 12 gallons of heating oil is important, i invite them to spend three nights in an unheated home. or you can believe me when i say

that it makes a difference. pete from wisconsin told us about driving more than 200 miles each week to keep his father-in-law company in a nursing home. $40 out of his paycheck would mean he'd only be able to make three trips instead of four. we heard from a teacher named clair from here in d.c. who goes to the thrift store every week and uses her own money to buy pencils and books for her fourth grade class. once in a while she splurges on science or art supplies. losing $40 she says would mean she couldn't do that anymore. for others, $40 means dinner out with a child who's home for christmas, a new pair of shoes, a tank of gas, a charitable donation, these are the things that are at stake for millions of americans. they matter to people -- a lot.

and keep in mind that those are just the individual stories. that doesn't account for the overall impact that a failure to extend the payroll tax cut and a failure to extend unemployment insurance would have on the economy as a whole. we've seen the economy do better over the last couple of months but there's still a lot of sources of uncertainty out there. what's going on in europe, what's going on around the world. and so this is insurance to make sure that our recovery continues. so it is time for the house to listen to the voices who are up here and the voices all across the country and reconsider. what's happening right now is exactly why people just get so frustrated with washington. this is it. this is exactly why people get

so frustrated with washington. this isn't a typical democrat versus republican issue. this is an issue where an overwhelming number of people in both parties agree. how can we not get that done? i mean they become so dysfunctional that even when we agree to things we can't do it? it doesn't make any sense. enough is enough. people standing with me today can't afford anymore games. they can't afford to lose $1,000 because of some ridiculous washington standoff. the house needs to pass a short-term version of this compromise and then we should negotiate an agreement as quickly as possible to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance for the

rest of 2012. it is the right thing to do for the economy, and it's most importantly, the right thing to do for american families all across the country. this is not just my view. just a few hours ago this is exactly what the republican leader of the senate said we should do. democrats agree with the republican leader of the senate. we should go ahead and get this done. this should not be hard. we all agree it should happen. i believe it's going to happen sooner or later. why not make it sooner rather than later? let's give the american people, the people who sent us here, the kind of leadership they deserve. thank you, everybody. >> so there you have the president of the united states

showing a little bit of fire in his belly. he's got to do a lot more of that if he's going to get this situation moving. i expect we'll see a lot more of that passion in the weeks an months to come as he continues his bid for re-election. suzanne, the stakes are clearly enormous right now and i guess it all boils down to who blinkz first or do they find a face saving way for the house speaker john boehner, majority leader eric cantor to back down in the face of what seems to be enormous public pressure, pressure from the president, and even pressure from the republican leadership in the senate. >> you know, wolf, what's interesting about observing all of this is you can see how the pressure is building here just by looking at the campaign, the kind of campaign that this white house is engaged in. you and i having covered president obama as well as president bush, this is really different. this is on a whole nother level, whole nother scale. you've got the optics there. i want to bring in jessica yellin, our white house correspondent there. jessica, you've got a tweet

campaign going on, a countdown clock, and now you have a president who doesn't have to even go on the road to get people. he can bring them in this this campaign and show these are the people that are being impacted by this potential tax increase. why is this so important do you think for this president to use all these tools in his arsenal to make this point? >> reporter: well, for the president, this is a clear win of an issue. this is one that relates directly to the american people and it's so simple to communicate how it will affect every working american, because it comes straight out of your paycheck if this extension isn't passed. but you also have seen him -- and for that reason, i should say, you see him feeling so confident there an on such firm footing. i mean contrast just his demeanor to how he was during the debt stalemate. this is a president who is clearly on -- he feels that he's on solid ground.

you know? and his position has changed politically because he has senate democrats and senate republicans -- the senate minority leader mitch mcconnell who has been his sort of arch enemy in these political battles to date on his side squared off against house republicans. so the president has all of the political force on his side, the american people seem to be on his side. it is just a matter of time, folks here feel, until the house republicans sort of change their position and essentially, just to be clear about it, cave. one thing i point out in terms of what's changed is that you heard the president say i suggested they pass a short term version. you heard mitch mcconnell call on house republicans to pass an extension. what's missing -- neither of

them is calling on the house to pass a two-month extension. so it seems that there is a little wiggle room. perhaps they are allowing for house republicans to pass something other than the two-month deal. so shorter, longer, maybe that would give boehner -- speaker boehner some cover to do something slightly different. >> jessica, obviously very important, the nuance there, the language, giving all sides just a political cover to come up with some sort of deal and come up with it rather quickly. wolf, i want to bring you back into the discussion, of course. i think what this boils down to, 2012 is all about the state of the economy and whether or not people feel that this president gets it. >> it certainly is, it is it's the economy, stupid," what our friend james carville said in 1992 when president clinton was running for president of the united states. mitch mcconnell did give an opening to the speaker john boehner when he said, we're

ready to name senate conferrees to negotiate with house conferrees but in the meantime, go ahead and pass this two-month extension. >> he did. it is not only noteworthy that he came out to say basically you need to give in on a short-term extension, this is coming from senator mitch mcconnell, the top republican in the senate who's been silent really in the past week as this battle has gotten really bitter between house republicans and senate democrats. and so coming out now and in his statement calling it a compromise saying that senate democrats need to appoint their conferrees which to be quite honest, it doesn't seem like that's so much a slap on the wrist for senate democrats to be able to go along with that, and in the same sentence say the house needs to give on a short-term extension, it is a very strong statement coming from senator mitch mcconnell. to jessica's point as she very well noted, they aren't saying the two-month extension. senator reid is saying the two-month extension but they aren't saying the two-month

extension. we're told that they are saying short-term extension which we're told from aides that that allows some flexibility in terms of even just the technical avenue of getting something to conference to negotiate so they can technically do that. or try to find some way to make everyone happy. one idea that's been talked around here, rather than a two-month extension maybe a three-month extension to get you through the first quarter that may help businesses as they are trying to do the two plans like tax liability. the important note, mitch mcconnell talking about now it is time to give on the short-term extension to house speaker john boehner. >> mitch mcconnell made a lot of of commotion not that long ago when he said the number one objective of the republicans right now is to make sure that president obama doesn't get re-elected. he caused a big stir and so he wants -- i assume he still believes that. he thinks that if there is a stalemate right now, that could hurt the republicans' chances of

winning back the white house. john king is with us as well. john, what's been fascinating to me, a lot of these republicans candidates have sort of punted on this whole debate in washington. they're not really all that assertive in what's going on. >> the republican candidates are being careful. in part because they don't know what the end game is. speaker gingrich yesterday who, of all the republicans running for president, has the most experience at this. when he was speaker dealing with bill champion he shut down the government twice. remember? that didn't go so well for the republicans. the incumbent president almost always wins these argument. i think a big part of the debate, senator mcconnell put forward what is a reasonable plan. both sides get to say we win. democrats get their short term extension, republicans get this conference committee. it is a reasonable plan. only in washington does that mean there's no guarantee it will actually work because they

still need to have a partisan fight over who goes first in striking that compromise. what some senate republicans as well as democrats are hoping, now that these republicans are home, maybe they'll hear it. the problem is, it is christmastime. usually when lawmakers go home in the middle of a big fight they found out quickly at home whether they are on safe ground or not. it is the christmas season so it will be a little tough to see how that plays out. yes, senator mcconnell is on the pub for saying his goal is to make sure president obama won't get re-elected. he believes it is hurting his chances. he believes the senate republicans can take back -- if they are seen as the party that's raising taxes, he knows that will hurt his chances. his number one goal might to be keep president obama from getting a second term, private it is becoming the senate majority leader and he doesn't think this fight helps. >> excellent point, john, thanks very much. one thing all of this debate

clearly underscores is why the u.s. congress has a job approval number right now, 11% or 12%, or 16%, it is pretty pitiful when you think that the overwhelming majority of the american people -- close to 90% at times -- do not think congress is doing a good job and right now this is an example of why that feeling is so prevalent out there. >> there are a lot of people who just feel that they are not able to get anything done there and it is a great deal of frustration i think. president obama as well as republicans and democrats all tapping in to that frustration and we saw real folks, every day folks, there making that point as well. i want to thank you, wolf, for being a part of our coverage, as well as john king, jessica yellin and kate bolduan. we appreciate your insight. "cnn newsroom" continues right after a short break.

hello, everyone. i'm isha sesay in for randi kaye. with your paycheck, taxes and benefits on the line, president barack obama is intensifying the pressure on house republicans to pass a short-term extension on the payroll tax cut. the president just spoke about this moments ago. his comments followed this twitter campaign launched by the white house that asks what people would do with $40. the amount they stand to lose each week. the president was tciting dozen of tweeters that responded. >> nearly every democrat in the senate voted for that compromise. nearly every republican in the senate voted noor compromise. democrats and even some republicans in the house voted

for that compromise. i am ready to sign that compromise into law the second it lands on my desk. so far the only reason it hasn't landed on my desk -- the only reason -- is because a faction of house republicans have refused to support this compromise. >> senate republicans also putting pressure on the house. if congress doesn't act, the payroll tax cut and emergency unemployment benefits expire on december 31st. the weather is becoming a nightmare for some of you holiday travelers. take a look at this with me. are you looking at a live radar of a storm hitting the southeast. if you have not already been drenched, you can expect a lot of rain today. tornado watches are in effect for parts of the area. all of this is causing delays at several airports, including atlanta's own hartsfield international. make sure you check your flight info before you head out. forecasters are expecting atlanta where we are to be under

a tornado watch later today. we are of course keeping an eye on all of this as it develops. just days after u.s. troops pulled out of iraq, a wave of bombings killed dozens of people in baghdad today. the first major violence since u.s. troops left. at least 63 people were killed and at least 185 wounded in 16 different attacks spreading fear that iraq's government could collapse. cnn's arwa damon described the scene as a nightmare scenarios. police say nine car bombs, six roadside bombs and a mortar were all fired in a two-hour period. an investigation is finding that american and pakistani forces share the blame for a tragic nato air strike last month. you may remember that the strike near the pakistan-afghan border killed two dozen pakistani troops. the chief investigator officer says, "a lack of trust and series of miscommunications led to the strike."

while pakistan's military insists the attack was deliberate, a u.s. spokesman says the u.s. was acting in self-defense. >> it resulted in a misunderstanding about the true location of the pakistani military units. the loss of life and proper coordination between u.s. and pakistani forces that contributed to those losses, we express our deepest regret. >> a pakistani military spokesman says they are not responding until pakistan receives the report. but cnn was told pakistan ainvestigation contradicts u.s. findings. the soldier accused of committing perhaps the biggest intelligence leak in u.s. history was in court today at his week-long preliminary hearing wrapped up. investigators say army private 1st class bradley manning gave hundreds of thousands of

classified documents to wikileaks. detailing private discussions of top officials. manning faces numerous charges including aiding the enemy and an investigator officer has until january 16th to recommend whether manning should face a full court-martial. former democratic congressman anthony weiner and his wife are the new parents of a baby boy. jordan zain weiner came into the world yesterday. a scandal was triggered when a nude photo appeared on his twitter account. he initially labeled it a prank claiming his account was hacked. now the final autopsy results have been released for florida a&m student robert champion. an expert tells cnn the drum major has severe muscle damage usually seen in car accidents, child abuse or torture.

hln analyst mike brooks says more details of what happened that day still need to come out. >> as a law enforcement officer, i want to know who were the ones that were delivering the blows, serious blows. was there one person who delivered the most blows that may have caused his death? we don't know. were there other people who might not have been involved at all? >> so far, no one has been charged in robert champion's death. bank of america has agreed to pay a $335 million settlement in a case of alleged discrimination against borrowers. the suit charged that countrywide financial bought by bark of america back in 2008 steered minorities toward high-risk subprime mortgages for 2004 to 2008 even if they qualified for less risky prime loans. justice department says the settlement will go to borrowers identified in the investigation. walmart has recalled cans of

baby formula after a 10-day old boy in missouri died from a rare bacterial infection. the company that makes enfamil says it is retesting the batch of formula, the water used to make it and other factors. walmart customers can return the formula for a refund or exchange. the hits the players are taking on the field are leaving them with debilitating brain injuries off the field. at least that's what four former nfl players are saying and they want to take it to a courtroom. we'll talk to one of those players next. but first, while you finish buying presents and prepare for that big holiday feast, we want you to remember -- this third-grader. fisher learned that a few of his school mates, their whole family, including their grandmother and their mom's handicapped brother lost everything in a fire. >> i heard about the house being

burnt down and i decided to give them a gift card. >> that's his life savings. fisher, you single-handedly saved christmas for a whole family. for that, fisher cook, you are today's rock star. [ older brother ] hey, that's the last crescent. [ younger brother ] oh, do you want it? yeah. ok, we'll split it. [ female announcer ] made fresh, so light... ...buttery and flaky... this is half. that is not half. guys i have more. [ female announcer ] do you have enough crescents?

if you're a sports fan or have a son, daughter or grandchild who plays, what i'm about to tell you could be a game changer. outcomes could lead the groundwork when it comes to players and their safety. some former popular football

players are now slapping the nfl with two new lawsuits in what is just the latest in a wave of cases casting a harsh light on the sports world and how it deals with concussions and brain injuries. on tuesday a lawsuit was filed. manhattan federal court by these three retired players. they are asking the league to establish a medical monitoring program. but just today -- today -- the nfl was hit yet again with a separate lawsuit filed in the district court here in atlanta. that case was brought by these four former players. you can see, ryan stewart is one of the players suing the nfl. ryan, i believe you're in this lawsuit, and your attorneys are here with us. ryan, if i can start with you. tell us about your situation and what happened to you. >> throughout the course of playing, little over four years with the detroit lions, there

were several times that i had a dinger, had my bell rung, and it's just recently where i'm realizing that when my bell was rung those multiple times that it wasn't just a slight headache or it wasn't something minor, that it was possible a major concussion and what i'm dealing with now is having hard time sleeping at night, waking up multiple times per night, using the bathroom throughout the course of the night. i can be relaxing and reading a nice book and i'll pop up with a headache or get a headache while driving. just a few different things like that. tingling in my arms, tingling in my hands. it's something that's become part of my daily life. >> ryan, i've got to put this to you. it is something some people at home are going to be thinking. they are going to say but surely you knew the risks before you got involved in nfl. >> i knew the nfl was tough. i knew the nfl was very, very physical but i did not know that the nfl and the hits that i was taking or enduring would possibly be causing brain damage. that's one of the reasons why we're trying to bring more light

to this suit, trying to help had current players that are playing and more importantly the younger players that are playing in little leagues and high school, we want them to have more information so they know more and things i'm dealing with now they don't have to deal with in the future. >> you are comparing the relationship in the nfl and players to tobacco and cigarettes. >> the nfl had research available to it for decades now concerning concussions. and when faced with the outside independent research about concussions, it seems they did much like the tobacco companies with cigarette smoking and cancer and downplayed the causal connection and indicated that the studies weren't significant or that they didn't show anything when we believe the evidence will ultimately show that the nfl knew and had available to it information that

concussions and multiple concussions cause long-term medical effects. >> i just want to pick up on that point that you just made. to be absolutely clear, what are you alleging here is that the nfl was aware from the previous research that indeed the injuries that their players were taking, the hits they were taking, could cause long-term damage. that's big allegations. is there absolutely. we do believe that the nfl knew and had the available information with them for many years now and only recently have they come out and acknowledged that concussions and multiple concussions do have this effect. we believe that information's been available for a long time. >> i want to read the statement from the nfl put out. they said the nfl has long made safety a priority and continues to do so. any allegation that the nfl intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit. it stands in contrast to the league's actions to better protect players and advance the

science and medical understanding of the management an treatment of concussions." at this point, gino, what do you make of that statement? >> we're not surprised by it because the kind of arranged denial that the nfl has practiced over the years is consistent with that statement. the fact is that the nfl had information that would have allowed these players to make decisions about their own safety and the nfl had the opportunity, the resources to protect these players when they're brought out of the game. but it is a matter of putting profit over protection of the players and that's part of what this lawsuit is about and that protection extends not only from former players, but current players and then the would-be players that we will see 5, 10, 15 years from now. >> how difficult a case is this going to be to prove? mike, you've already said you have concerns about how the nfl would counter this, concerns about statute of limitations and

of course collective bargaining. >> isha, you are correct. i do believe the nfl has responded in such a way the first position taken is that the collective bargaining agreement would preempt this type of lawsuit. >> explain what that means to our viewers, the whole collective bargaining thing. >> eecht players enters into a collective bargaining agreement when they get into the league. however, these players like ryan and others that have filed these lawsuits are no longer subject to the collective bargaining agreement and we believe therefore will not have any impact on whether or not this lawsuit can go forward. but you also mentioned the statute of limitations. that will be an issue. we are obviously going up against the nfl. there are several cases filed around the country, as you mentioned earlier. we hope to get the collective work and resources from other law firms involved in this because we think that ultimately we'll be able to show that players like ryan and others did not know what the nfl had available to it, that it could have taken steps early on to

take care of these guys. >> what about causality? how are you going to prove that the injuries that these players say they have now are due to the hits they took while playing in the nfl? because obviously they played for a long time before they joined the nfl. how are you going to establish that causal link? >> well, i think it is no different than any other personal injury type of lawsuit where the plaintiff, in our instance, our case, would have to bear the burden of proving and determining that a certain injury was caused by a certain conduct. that would involve expert witnesses, medical records and the testimony of the clients, the plaintiffs like ryan and others. it is just building a case, like any other case. >> ryan, another point to bring out, the nfl has now got a doctor on the sidelines examining players when they take a hit so they can be looked at before they go back into the game if that's what they determine. what do make of this development? >> it's something that should

have been done a long time ago. in essence, a very good question. but in essence when these things happen, a guy get his bell rung on the field, there are 53 menh the field, you're one of the best of the 53. if you come so the sideline, their job is to say you're okay to go back in if you are. having someone that isn't a part of the organization on that sideline will greatly increase the odds of a player that shouldn't be on the field going back out there. >> i wonder how you're feeling at a time like this, suing the nfl. this is a game which of course you love and you played for many years. i mean how are you feeling at this time about this cause of action? >> i have very mixed emotions. i'm all over the place when it comes to how i feel because i absolutely lot of nfl and the product and what it stands for. but at the same time, a guy that played the way i played the game, knowing what i know now

that i didn't know and could have been informed upon, it probably would have made me at least play a little bit different. i would have used my head a whole lot less or not used it at all when i tried to make plays but i did what i was coached to do not knowing what i'd be dealing with today. >> you asked the question about what do we expect from the nfl and this litigation. we expect a real fight. at least initially until we uncover the truth. we believe we have the truth. we intend on proving the truth. and when the nfl sees that we are all looking at the same crystal ball, seeing the same thing, then they'll understand that it is time for a day of reckoning. >> people are also going to be wondering about money and damages. what are we looking at here? i read in some places that we could be looking at very high figures that run into the millions. >> well, it is hard to answer that question in terms of specificity at this point, because our first goal is to completely uncover what they

knew. because the wrong starts there. but when it comes down to crunching the numbers, it involves what it's going to cost to assess these players, what it costs to treat these players, and what it costs to compensate them. and those numbers will not be small because their injuries and the changes in their lives are not small. >> you want this or would you prefer an out of court settlement? >> my preference is to do what's best for my clients. now if my clients are not treated fairly, they are -- the nfl does not respond appropriately, then this thing will go to trial. that's where we do our best work. but that's a last resort if that has to happen. but i want the nfl to know that we are prepared to take it all the way if that's where it has to go. >> do you expect other players will join this lawsuit? >> yes. and they have been. so i think as awareness, that's one of our goals. the awareness increases, other players are going to start thinking, well, what happens to me when i'm 65?

what happens to my children? what happens to the little kids who are aspiring to be nfl players if they go and get their bell rung in the pros and suddenly they're 65 and slobbering on themselves and wondering what happened. it's all because of the mismanagement of these head injuries. >> our thanks to you all for joining us during this holiday week to talk about this issue. appreciate it. dr. sanjay gupta takes an in-depth look at this issue in big hits broken dreams. that airs sunday, january 29th at 8:00 p.m. and this video is sickening to watch. women dragged through the street, viciously kicked and struck in the head with batons. one woman's uncredible story and her struggle to recover. that's coming up next.

in globe trekking today, we go to egypt where a woman was kicked, beaten and dragged through the street as she refused to be silenced. cnn was granted access by the family. but i must warn that you some of the images you are about to see are upsetting. >> reporter: even after the attack, and two fractures to her skull, she was still speaking out. >> translator: they were hitting a veiled woman," she says. "they removed the veil and exposed the underwear she was wearing. this is the screen she was describing. veiled egyptian female protesters being beaten by riot police, dragged, partially

stripped of her clothing. even stomped on. cnn received this video from a human rights activist. "they kept hitting her," she says. "so i ran and tried to cover her body and pull her out. they started beating us. seen here in a red jacket, she tries to help the wounded woman. security forces rushed toward her. push her to the ground. then a merciless barrage. she sustains multiple blows to the head. these pictures show just some of her injuries. when we tracked her down she wanted to speak to us. but when we arrived to the hospital for her interview her condition had deteriorated. >> we are trying to get in to her her. she's in that room. we actually hear screams from inside that room. we've not been able to so far.

the doctors that we've spoken with say that she needs to be taken to the icu. a short time later we're given access to her by family members. but she is in agony and can't speak to us. "i can't take it," she says. "i can't. i'm going to die. have mercy on me." >> joining me on the phone from cairo, the reporter. have you had had a chance to speak with the woman or her family since you filed this story? how's shoe he doing? >> we just returned a short while ago from the hospital here in cairo where she is. we had an exclusive interview with her. she's doing much better than she was yesterday but she's still in a lot of pain. quite visibly suffering. we asked her first about how upset she is about what happened

that her and what's been going on in egypt. here's more of what she had to say. >> translator: there is no justice. i don't know how long we'll go without justice. we didn't ask for anything more than to be free in our own country. we've been oppressed by the military, by the supreme council of the armed forces and by the police. i don't know how much longer they'll continue to kill us. how much longer will they continue to kill us? >> isha, we finally got some reaction about the case from the military here. an official told us he wasn't aware of the case specifically but the woman is from a military family and she's entitled to be transferred to a military hospital. >> mohammed, watching that brutal video in which she's being beaten, and the other woman who we have yet to catch up with, is there a sense that there is a telling point in these clashes when you see that

kind of brutality being brought down on women there in egypt and their veils being pulled off and their clothes taken off, i mean what is your sense about what is happening and how this violence is evolving? >> it has sparked so much outranl heou outrage here this past week, the horrific videos. you can imagine in an islamic culture where conservatism is tried. to see a woman not only being brutalized out there in the open, being dragged, being kicked, being stripped of clothing, it is shocking to people here. it sparks so much international condemnation as well. what's interesting is far from being cowed or being afraid, women here have become emboldened. we're seeing more head out into the streets the other day, almost 2,000 of them marching through tahrir square, the epicenter of the revolution here saying it is time that eequipped had eequipped had a civilian

government and army and security forces stop immediately. >> mohammed, thank you. stay safe. a controversial move by the girl scouts of america has its leadership splitting and disbanding its organization. we'll explain why.

let's check stories headlines at street level. first washington state where the nation's battle of the bulk is causing some big quality changes on ferries. the coast guard said it is the capacity on several ferries because passengers now weigh more. they say the old rates assumed annal average rider was between 140 and 160 pounds. not anymore. the average american weighs 185 pounds. the coast guard says now that some vessels will carry fewer passengers. not to worry. they say they rarely reach full capacity. in louisiana, the leaders of three girl scouts troops have resigned their troops. it was over the colorado girl scout troops admit a transgender child. she was initially rejected by a troop in denver. the girl scouts subsequently issued a statement in support of montoya who was then admitted

into the troop. one of the leaders who resigned says the girl scout's action is extremely confusing and an almost dangerous situation for children. in mobile, alabama, the police are giving major kudos to their boss, the mayor for catching a criminal. apparently miss jones stumbled upon the intruder when he returned home from work. the mayor held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived. "sports illustrated" fans, eric le england on the cover. he was parlsized in a football game last year. back in october in a motorized wheelchair. he was able to lead them on to a field in a snowstorm. this is the first time ever that "sports illustrated" invited fans to vote on the best moment

and the first rutgers athlete on the cover. an historic moment in norfolk, virginia, for the first time on record a same sex couple was chosen for the homecoming kiss which you saw there. it is a tradition when ships return to port. >> i feel good about it. it is nice to be myself. it has been a long time coming. i've been in almost two and a half years and this is recently the change has come into effect. and it has been nothing but positive so it has been pretty awesome to say the least. >> i think it is great that we can be open about our relationship since we are both in the military. >> petty officer melissa won the traditional first kiss in a raffle. apparently this holiday treat is a gift that keeps on giving. a cincinnati state liquidator came across a 70-year-old fruit cake that he plans to auction off. >> 1941. so it was a current product.

it was made by kroger's in the old vacuum packed with rum. even though it has a little rust on it, it is still probably pretty good. >> a little rust. the cake was originally taken home by a kroger's store manager. now his son is trying to help him clear a few things out of the attic. 100% from the auction will go to charity. the sparring over campaign ads continues for newt gingrich and mitt romney. deputy political director joins me now to talk about all of this. newt gingrich challenged romney to a debate over the ads in iowa. what's the latest? >> reporter: this has been quite a back and forth over the last couple days. we're now just 12 days away from the iowa caucuses. the first contest in the primary caucus calendar. here's howett started. romney's super pac. this is an independent group. most have them. it went up with an ad that was pretty tough on newt gingrich and it has gone up on a couple more. gingrich was upset about that. he asked romney to tell that

super pac to take them down. romney basically said if you cannot take the heat, get out of the kitchen. gingrich responded to that saying, what about the heat? i can take the heat. let's have a debate. let's meet next week and debate. romney responded, take a listen. >> i'm going to respect the other candidates and the process by continuing debates and i'll debate all the candidates, the credible candidates. it will probably narrow down at some point to two or three people as it did last time. it may well be speaker gingrich and myself and we'll get that chance. >> reporter: i promise we'll get you a cleaner tape of that. mitt romney didn't look so good. a little blurry. this back and forth will continue. these super pacs, these are independent groups. they are run by former advisers to these candidates and these campaigns. but supposedly, the law says they have to be inld. a lot of these new commercials are very negative, going after other candidates. i think we'll see a lot more of this all throughout next year.

>> a quick word on ron paul who was on the defensive yesterday when he was speaking to our own gloria borg here pushed him on certain questions replacing to the news questions in the 1980s and 1990s that contained what was considered inflammatory comments. he was defensive. he pulled his mike off and cut it short. he changed from the campaign today. they're their messaging. what are we hearing? >> reporter: he has an event coming up this hour and we'll listen in to see what he says. he's been questioned about this before. our own ali velshi questioned him before. this is not going away. >> thank you. appreciate it. thank you for watching today's cnn necontinues. paid-in-full discount. [yawning] homeowner's discount. safe driver discount. chipmunk family reunion.

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hello, everyone. i'm brooke baldwin. let's get you caught up on the news. chad is standing by with some tornd warnings. i understand they're both in alabama. >> we have a storm that is rotating. we don't have any confirmation it was on the ground yet but it has good rotation for 15 minutes. another storm not that far from fair hope, alabama, just south of mobile in the mobile bay area. we will see this and we'll continue to watch this. anything gets on the ground, i'll be right out there to let you know. >> hopefully we won't be seeing too much of you but i know

you'll be watching that for us. also this. ten days left before your taxes go up. the fight on capitol hill intensifying. first republicans and democrats spoke out blasting each other over this pay roll tax cut. then the president responded not too long ago describing how every american, working american, would be impacted. >> that's about $40 out of every paycheck. it may be that there are some folks in the house who refuse to vote for this compromise because they don't think that $40 is a lot of money. >> coming up, we'll take you live to the white house and to capitol hill and check on where these negotiations, if anyone is negotiating. where that stands. next to baghdad. a series of bombs rock the capital raising fears about iraq's stability. nine car bombs and six roadside bombs exploded during rush hour. the latest number we have is 63. at least 63 people have died. another 200 wounded. this news comes four days after u.s. troops pulled out of iraq.

and two sources in pakistan. they're disputing this report about a november air strike that killed 24 pakistani troops. the defense department says u.s. forces acted in self-defense but adds, poor coordination between two militaries resulted in the deadly incident. >> the loss of life and for lack of proper coordination between the forces that contributed to the losses, we expect our deepest regret. we further express sincere condolences to the pakistani people, to the pakistani government, and most importantly, to the families that the pakistani soldiers who were killed or wounded. >> pakistan's military says the strike was deliberate. the attack is eroding already fragile relations between the two countries. and a woman in california has been charged with sending money to pakistan to help terrorists carry out attacks on american troops. federal officials say the 39-year-old woman sent more than $2,000 in wired transfers.

she was arrested back in august at the los angeles international airport where she was preparing to board a one-way flight to turkey. and a killer whale blamed in the death of its train better two years ago now may be sick. seaworld in orlando said trainers noticed a change in its behavior. it is now in a special medical tank for treatment. and here's something no one with a baby wants to hear. walmart is recalling formula after a 10-day old died in missouri. walmart said it pulled a batch of this enfamil that may have sickened this baby boy. the child died from a rare bacteria infection. the maker is running tests to see if the death came from its product or perhaps other factors. 6,000 nurses in california walking off the job. here's a group there. a one-day strike to protest working conditions in higher health care costs. the hospitals say they have hired replacement nurses to

cover these shifts today. but nurses say this is really all about patient safety. nurses say they're responsible for far too many patients and that that then puts patients at risk. coming up, we'll speak with one of the nurses who has walked out today. and it's a boy for this man, former new york congressman anthony weiner and his wife. you remember this story. congressman weiner resigned in june after admitting to posting lewd photos of himself on twitter. and we're just getting started. coming up in the next two hours, watch this. one hour. that's how long eric cantor said it would take to reach a deal if the president would walk up to republicans and negotiate. now the president and senate republicans are responding to that. i'm brooke baldwin. the news is now. we're now hearing the disturbing details of what killed a florida a & m band member. >> from the front to the back of

the bus with people just beating the hell out of you. >> the question now, who delivered the deadly punches. just days after the last american combat troops leave iraq, bloodshed, bombers targeting schools, markets, and one iraqi leader tells cnn, the u.s. was warned. >> unfortunately, no one listened. plus -- >> we can't believe what happened. >> reporter: not long after this cnn interview, a mother finds out her missing daughter is alive. but wait. where exactly was this college student for nearly a week? and -- newt gingrich spending time on the trail talking about the cash he's gotten for speaking events. so cnn does some digging and finds out which celebrities and polyigss the rake in the most money from speeches. nyquil (stuffy): hey, tylenol. you know we're kinda like twins.

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we're down to the wire. in ten days, your taxes go up. this whole fight between republicans, democrats, the president playing out right before our eyes in washington. take a look as we continue to watch this white house countdown clock. clearly calling out the house saying if the house doesn't act, middle class taxes increase. if this tax cut is not extended, the average american will see a lot less cash in their paychecks. and president obama this personal. he spoke in the last hour and jessica yellin is joining me now. you saw it, he was flanked by americans as he was speaking about the response the white house has received asking people what $40 means to them per paycheck. that's the average amount

working americans would lose if this is not extended. he said he has gotten 30,000 responses. let's take a look. >> they should remind every single member of congress what is at stake in this debate. let me give you a few samples. joseph from new jersey talked about how he would have to sacrifice the occasional pizza night with his daughters. he said, and i'm quoting, my 16-year-old twins will be out of the house soon. i'll miss this. >> so jessica, clearly the president now trying to put a face on this story. >> reporter: look, brooke, this issue gives the president and the white house an opportunity to do just what the president wants which is to be the champion of working families heading into the election year. essentially, he is saying a reluctant congress is standing

in the way of letting a family get their $40 in each paycheck. and you heard the president say basically, quote, enough is enough. the people standing with me today can't afford any more games. the white house likes both the policy and the politics of this. the republicans of the house are playing right into the campaign, the president's campaign's message. >> we're going to capitol hill in a minute and get sort of more from what's happening there. we heard from congressman eric cantor, number two republican in the house. he said this whole thing would be done, a deal could be reached if the president would just head to capitol hill. negotiate with them. what do we know if anything about communication between congress and the president today? >> for the second time in two days, the president spoke with house speaker john boehner today. the president, we're told, sources tell us, told speaker boehner that there is no time to

renegotiate. there has already been a negotiation. the only thing left to do right now is pass an extension. and then another, the one-year deal can be worked out in the new year. speaker boehner said, we're told, look, there is time to get that one-year deal done. let's stay and do that. so we're at stasis. we're at where we were yesterday. although since then, the senate minority leader who had been the president's arch enemy all year has sided with the president and called on house speaker boehner essentially to cave and agree to a shorter term deal. the key here is minority leader mcconnell asked the speaker to agree to an extension. and in the president's remarks, he asked the speaker to agree to a shorter term deal. what we're not hearing is two-month deal. so maybe they're giving him a little wiggle. >> maybe a little wiggle room with this stasis of which you speak. jessica yellin at the white house. thank you. let's head to capitol hill to

congressional correspondent kate bolduan. urging him to pass, this is where the wiggle room comes in. a short term extension. what can we extrapolate from that? >> reporter: we're told that was intentional. they left it intentionally vague in this carefully crafted statement from the statement minority leader. for a couple reasons, for one, more of a technical reason. we're told to allow some flexibility if they did go to conference, what they would be. what short term would be. not to bind both sides as it was put to me for more of the legislative nerd so everyone could be okay with what they're talking about. but also as one top aide said, a way to offer a compromise. some wiggle room. for house speaker john boehner, for every one involved. and one idea that has been tossed around, not necessarily like this is the deal but one

idea that has been tossed, has been bouncing around here is maybe not a two-month extension. maybe a three-month extension to get them through the first quarter. but nothing is set in stone quite yet. if we could return one second to just note how important this statement from mitch mcconnell is. in this statement, he basically is proposing a compromise. he said wow, senate democrats need to come to the table and make their pointes to hash out the differences. most importantly, notably, he calls on house republicans to give in on this short material extension. i'll read you his staxt. he said the house should pass an extension that locks in the thousands of key stone xl pipeline jobs, prevents any disruption in the pay roll tax holiday or other provisions and allows congress to work on a solution for the longer extensions. a very carefully crafted statement. as they often are when they come out in these big moments. senator reid, he also came out very quickly afterwards highlighting where he and mitch mcconnell agree.

he said all along he wants a short term extension. he would of course prefer it be the senate passed version that the house would accept but he basically said that they agree and he want to push forward on the compromise while we work out our differences. he would like the house to move first. i will told by a senate source that they've spoken this afternoon. no details yet on those conversations. but always important when the leaders are really, when the leaders are actually starting to talk. you and i have talked a lot this week that no one was talking. so also very notable. i guess we should fit in really quickly -- >> speaker boehner. >> reporter: exactly. he did issue a statement following the proposal coming out by mitch mcconnell. i'll read you what he says in part. he says that we believe as senator mcconnell suggested, the two chambers should work to reconcile the two bills. basically their differences so that we can provide a full year of pay roll tax relief and do it before year's end. you don't see a lot of budge there from the spokesman for

speaker boehner. of course, we try not to read too far into these statements but here you don't see a lot of budging. what i read right there, he is restating the spokesman restating where speaker boehner has been all along them don't want a short term extension. they want a one-year deal by year's end. you don't see a lot of budge there. >> i'm saying again, we'll wait and see. we wait and see. thank you so much. staying on the same vein, talking about this pay roll tax cut extension. did you hear about the camera this week on the house floor? so just as house republicans ended the debate yesterday on steppeding the pay roll tax cut, i want to you watch this clip. notice what you don't see. you only hear the voice of congressman steny hoyer scolding him for not passing the measure. >> the house stands adjourned until 10:00 ammo over. >> mr. speaker, mr. speaker, mr. speaker! i would like to ask for unanimous consent that we bring up the bill to extend the tax

cut for woompb 60 million americans. as you walk off the floor. you're away. just as so many republicans have walked away from middle class taxpayers. the unemployed and very frankly, as well, from those who will be seeking medical assistance from their doctors. 48 million senior citizens. we regret, mr. speaker, you have walked off the platform without addressing the issue of critical importance to this country and that is the continuation of the middle class tax cut, the continuation of unemployment benefits for those at risk of losing them, and continuation of doctors for all those 48 million seniors who rely on them daily for their health. and i am pleased to yield to my friend. >> the cameras at a point were shut off. that is when c-span which broadcasts the signal, sent this

tweet. quote. c-span has no control over the u.s. house tv cameras, the speaker of the house does. so again we wanted to look into this. here's what we've learned. it is standard operating procedure for the cameras to stop after the speaker pounds his gallon which is what happened before congressman hoyer began speaking. the speaker's office confirmed this saying they work the cameras. if you heard about it, there you have it. dozens of people dead in a market and a school today. we're talking about iraq. find out where the attacks are coming from after this quick break. [ male announcer ] tom's discovering that living healthy can be fun.

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news coming out of baghdad today. this is from a wave of bombings. look at this smoke.

nine car bombs, six roadside bombs, all synchronized to go off during rush hour. killed in this, at least 63 people. another 200 wounded. and remember the timing. four days after the last american troops pulled out of iraq. so why this? why now? cnn's reporter is live there in baghdad. and arwa, i know many iraqis are blag this violence on this warrant that was issued for the arrest of iraq's vice president. why? what is he accused of and how does that play into the bombings today? >> reporter: well, he's bean accused of carrying out acts of terrorism. and he is the sunni vice president, important to point that out. it is also being viewed as if it is a shia dominated government trying to take out its sunni opponents. so many people feel as if this is a very much, an action that is very much along sectarian lines. to add to all this, the vice president is actually now seeking sanctuary in the semi

autonomous region. they are asking that he be returned to baghdad so that he could face justice. the kurds are refusing to hand him over. many people had been warning that there could be violence following the u.s. troop withdrawal. another reality people have to deal with, political instability tends to lend itself to acts of terror in baghdad. that is what many residents will tell you is taking place right now. today's attacks did seem to be bearing all the hall marks of attacks carried out by al qaeda. that the u.s. had been warning was sure to take place following the withdrawal regardless because al qaeda wants to remind people that it is still active in iraq. >> arwa, you know iraq better than so many people at cnn. you've covered the story there for years and years. based upon what you've been seeing there, what is your sense of what's going on there with

the country's stability? >> reporter: you know, many of us who have been covering the war here ever since the onset of it, many members of the iraqi government, the vice president's bloc had been warning that the government would fall apart. although i have to say that few of us expected it would fall apart this fast. what is transpiring in iraq is pretty much iraqis' worst nightmare. following the u.s. troop withdrawal, the spike in violence, this questioning of the ability of the iraqi security forces coupled with seeing their government crumbling like a house of cards. the political situation is so incredibly serious right now. these various blocs have to somehow find some sort of a political resolution to what's taking place. the government is falling apart. not even the government itself is bothering to call itself a government of national unity. yet somehow it has to come together again. otherwise the risk, more violence. >> it's troubling all the way

around. in baghdad, thank you. now more breaking news. tornado warnings in alabama. chad will join us live with this quick story. for their clients' futures. never taking a bailout. helping generations achieve dreams. buy homes. put their kids through college. retire how they want to. ameriprise. the strength of america's largest financial planning company. the heart of 10,000 advisors working with you, one-to-one. together, for your future. ♪ yeah, i toog nyguil bud i'm stild stubbed up. [ male announcer ] truth is, nyquil doesn't un-stuff your nose. really? [ male announcer ] alka-seltzer plus liquid gels fights your worst cold symptoms, plus it relieves your stuffy nose. [ deep breath ] thank you! that's the cold truth!

britta olsen is my patient. i spend long hours with her checking her heart rate,

administering her medication, and just making her comfortable. one night britta told me about a tradition in denmark, "when a person dies," she said, "someone must open the window so the soul can depart." i smiled and squeezed her hand. "not tonight, britta. not tonight." [ female announcer ] to nurses everywhere, thank you, from johnson & johnson. now to the weather we've been tracking. we're going to show you denver. this is just after sun down last night. snow, ice, reduced visibility for the folks on the roads. this scene is playing out in a lot of communities in new england, also the rocky mountains. this is just in time for the big holiday rush. chad myers, obviously, snow expected this time of year as i had to be reminded this morning. it's winter.

today is the first day of winter. let's talk about the tornado warnings in alabama. that is odd. >> it is very odd. we've had spring tornadoes forever. everybody knows about the spring tornado season, tornado alley. but there is also a secondary tornado season, especially across the deep south where we are now. alabama, mississippi and georgia. that happens in the fall. did you go outside today? it's muggy out there. it feels like you're in central florida in the middle of spring time. that's the spring time weather that will be pushed away by the cold air. when cold air slides under warm air, like a hot-air balloon going up. the storms go up as well. they are from birmingham all the way to mobile. ashby right there. that would be the biggest part of the circulation that i can find right now. we'll get a little bit tighter. here's birmingham and tuscaloosa. you did have a warning earlier. there were sirens going off but that storm stopped rotating so

they did reduce it to just a severe thunderstorm warning for you. birmingham is here. the little pink boxes. those are the tornado warnings. birmingham, you're not in it yet. you're getting heavy rain, even possibly some flooding but not the tornadoes. we're watching for circulations on the back side. even selma could be in on it. we're to the weather service. they're saying eventually, maybe the next hour or so, this will begin to slide into georgia and georgia will get a tornado watch. maybe some tornado warnings. a watch means tornados are possible. warnings mean they're happening. so a couple warnings south of birmingham right now. those are the only two. later on tonight, you just talked about this travel. if we get these storms close to atlanta, that's what's forecast, that's what's expected. these storms will be landing everywhere. you're not going to be able to get planes in atlanta. and 150, 200 planes in the air. you just can't circle for hours and hours. they don't have that type of fuel on board. that's birmingham. a live shot from birmingham. that's what they're seeing.

so muggy, raining very hard. we lost our shot for a while from birmingham. we'll be called rain fade. it was raining so hard in the satellite dish that the satellite couldn't send a signal. it couldn't send a signal to space and back down. finally got the shot but there's not much. it is windy, raining and probably flooding. atlanta in the next couple hours. if you have flights through it, the busiest airport in the world, it will be slow. you may want to take a little pillow. you may be sleeping on chairs. people will be stranded in atlanta because of this. >> thank you. if we get more pictures, we'll pass them along. if you are in one of those areas in atlantic, let me know what you see. moving on, the holidays and there is unfortunately, not a lot of joy for the family of the 20-month-old. ayla reynolds in maine. this little one has been missing since friday. her grandfather got pretty emotional speaking with hln's nancy grace just last night. >> i appreciate everything that

everything is doing out there. it has torn me up. it has torn me up. everything that the police and everybody is telling us to do but it's killing me. >> obviously tough for the family. police in maine just held a news conference. chris knolls is live for us. i understand there have been some 150 or so leads. anything standing out? >> reporter: brooke, they are now telling us those leads are nearing two hundred. that was coming out of the press conference that just wrapped up a few minutes ago. they're telling us as part of the search, that they do have some dogs on the scene near the airport here. those dogs are cadaver dogs. but let me say, they are suggesting that that is just protocol. there is no specific information that that would lead them to use those dogs in this case. it is just a simple, they say,

police say, as a matter of procedure. that moving along this case, we did take part in one of those searches today. we were with the main warden service. we were with two game wardens and some trained volunteers that were moving along a highway looking in the brush, just off of a roadway. we were looking in dumpsters, unfortunately, looking for any clues that may lead to new information on the whereabouts of ayla. they are going to expand the search at the house where she was last seen. sometime between last friday night and saturday morning. the command center has now moved there. and there is an evidence unit on the scene. investigators have also asked a representative from the attorney general's office to head over to that scene. he was at the house today as well. now, whether that leads to a change in the nature of this investigation, which police

stress to us is still a missing child case. that remains to be seen, brooke. >> certainly feel for the family. they find this little girl alive. chris knowles, thank you so much. also today, a big story. several former professional football players are suing the league. they're suing the nfl. find out why they think the league is responsible for their long term brain injuries. that story coming up. also this. if she slapped him, i apologize on her behalf. and we pray, and we pray for him, too. may the creator bring peace in his heart as he releases her. >> that was the mother of the once missing university of kansas student. she has some reason to celebrate today. oughs, sneezing, aches, fevers.

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that 19-year-old kansas student who has been missing for about a week has been found safe and sound. still, there are a lot of questions surrounding her sudden disappearance. police in kansas say aisha khan was not abducted. she was not held against her will. the family meks hadn't heard from her since she left that frightening message saying she

was assaulted by, in her words, a creepy man. police have read the her case as an abduction, searching nearby woods, horseback, even asking people to search their own yards for her. a family friend made this statement just last night. >> the fact is, she's alive. she is well. we believe our prayer has been answered from all the people all over the world who have been calling us and just having their prayers for her. we're glad that she's safe and she's well. at this moment we do not have any more information on this and we're really thankful so far. thank you so much. >> police now say there is no criminal investigation into aisha's disappearance them say this is a personal family matter now. and football. we know it can be a brutal game. injuries are common. now four former nfl players are suing the league saying they were lied to about their risk of long term brain injury. they say they were oftentimes put back into game after suffering a head injury. the nfl, they're not buying it.

this statement coming in today from the league. let me read it. the nfl has long made player safety a priority and continues to do so. any allegation that the nfl intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit. it goes. on it stands in contrast to the league's actions to better protect players and advance the science and medical understanding of management of treatment and concussions. let's go to you. you played in the nfl for nine years, both with buffalo and atlanta. he is good enough to join me this holiday week from phoenix. we have these five guys. i don't know if you know them. you've talked to any of them. excuse me, four guys. what do you make of them suing the league? >> well, this is a big issue. i'm familiar with the guys. i don't know they will personally. this is a huge issue. the type of issue that can be the impetus for great change where change is needed. for a long time it has been

thought the nfl has downplayed the severity of concussions and traumatic brain injury and has kind of swept it under the rug. and this type of lawsuit can really be the impetus for bringing the issue to the forefront so that we can really be made aware of the long term implications that concussions can have on the brains of not just professional athletes but athletes in multiple sports. any contact sport. even our youth who are suffering because of a lack of awareness and education about this very serious issue. >> i want to ask you about your own personal experience in a minute. you mentioned how it can be an impetus for change. if you talk to doctors and lawyers, they call it an assumption of the risk. pro football, look, big hits are part of the game. some question, is it really fair to sue a league that paid you as a player millions of dollars. it's a sport you volunteered to play for knowing the risks. >> you know, the nfl players are fully aware that it is a vile

game and it can be detrimental to their health. i'm not so sure they're fully aware of the long term implications of the game. specifically head trawl. this isn't really about professional athletes who are getting paid for it. this is going to cause change for all the way down to the collegiate ranks where just within the past year we had four collegiate athletes sue the ncaa for the exact same issue. for a lag of education and treatment to their symptoms and their concussions. this is dealing with our youthful our kids. the future of our country who are playing contact sports. we had within the past 18 months a high school student athlete who went back on the playing field too early without enough recovery time. suffered from second impact syndrome and died. so this is a serious issue that is affecting many different times of athletes. all different walks of life. and we only hear about the people who are the super stars in the nfl. the guys who make the big money. there are thousands and thousands of people out there. kids even who are suffering

because of a lack of education and awareness about concussions and could be cussive episode think and the long term effects. >> you know it is these four players putting a face on this right now. one of these players spoke here on cnn not too long ago. let's hear what he's talking about in material of head trauma. >> dealing with now having a hard time sleeping at night. wake up multiple times a night. using the bathroom throughout the course of the night. i can be relaxing, tingling in my arms and hands. something that has become part of my daily life. >> you made ball for nine years. how often did you get your bell rung? and could you relate at all to rhino over how he's feeling? physically. >> absolutely. and i'm glad, brooke, that you said got my bell rung. that's a major problem. we have barbaric and old school thinking when it comes to head trauma. if a kid in a high school

football game or a girl in a female soccer match hits heads with somebody and she has a head injury, and the coach says, you just got your bell rung. get back out there and play. no. just because you didn't get knocked unconscious doesn't mean you didn't suffer a concussive episode. this happens all the time and it is swept under the rug. you're actually tormented if you claim to have somewhat of a head injury. in the nfl, you're looked at as being a coward were you tossed back in a game? >> absolutely. and you know, they will never say that. but the pressure is there. the pressure to perform. the pressure to earn your keep, really. if you don't go out there and play, you're going to be looked at. looked down upon. especially if you're not a star player on the team. it's different if you're the star quarterback or the star receiver. again, we're just talking about the nfl. and i'm glad these guys are bringing this issue up.

this is the type of suit that will make us look at this phenomenon that has been going on for years, for all athletes of all ages. help make a better work environment. the same thing. look at the people who worked in the dust mills and changes that had to be made in different industries. >> i understand. >> foregive me for interrupting. this could have a trickle down effect for many athletes,le different ages. we'll see where this goes. thank you so much for us at arizona. >> thank you. we're all watching this pay roll tax fight. this impasse stasis. name the word. it's happening in washington right now. simply because it is going to mean, one original average about $1,000 fewer dollars in our paychecks. another funding issue as well. it pertains as well. [ male announcer ] tom's discovering that living healthy can be fun.

see? he's taking his vitamins. new one a day vitacraves plus omega-3 dha is a complete multivitamin for adults. plus an excellent source of omega-3 dha in a great tasting gummy. one a day, gummies for grown-ups. with two children and no way to support them. people told me i wasn't going to do anything. and i just decided i have more to offer than that. i put myself through nursing school, and then i decided to go get a doctorate degree. university of phoenix gave me the knowledge to make a difference in people's lives. my name is dr. kimberly horton.

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let's to go wolf blitzer. we've been talking about this pay roll tax but it also affects americans out of work. >> it certainly does. nearly 3 million americans will lose their benefits come january 1. these are people who have been on unemployment benefits for a long time. unless congress gets its act together and passes an extension.

either a short term extension or an extension for another year. so at a time like this, that will be really bad news. a lot of these folks, there aren't jobs available and they're relying on these unemployment benefits. they're hoping there will be some sort of deal. my own suspicion, my own gut tells me there will be a deal, some sort of compromise. everyone will lose. most importantly, millions and millions of americans. not just the 160 million americans who will have their taxes go up january 1 but nearly 3 million americans other will lose their unemployment benefits. >> and medicare reimbursements. >> a lot of doctors out there who are going to drop out of the medicare system if they're not going to get rei will bursted at the current levels. if the legislation isn't passed, there is going to be a 25 to 30% cut in fees to doctors who provide medicare services for the nation's elderly. the people need medicare. if doctors move out, they won't

get the quality of treatment that they need. it is called this doc fix. part of the package if they can just get their act together this week and next week and make a deal. we're all hoping they make a deal. literally there is so much at stake for so many millions of americans. older americans who rely on medicare. unemployed americans who will lose their benefits. and 160 million working americans who will have effectively a tax increase. a significant tax increase if you're making $50,000 a year. a thousand dollars you're going to have to pay the government more unless they work out a deal. >> what did you make the president speaking there? flanked by americans who would be affected if this expires. and this whole twitter campaign. what did he say? 30,000 notes have come into the white house. and he sort of rattled off a couple ways, different americans in different parts of the country will be affected by 40 fewer dollars in their paycheck

every year. >> and the clock is ticking. he's showing some passion. not just no drama obama as they used to say. he has to be involved, he has to be passionate. he has to fight for what's right. he has to do right thing. you know, the speaker of the house, the majority leader of the house, john boehner and eric cantor. they have a point. they say just sit down. we've still got nine days. let's negotiate some sort of compromise. they're waiting for the senate to name some conferrees to sit down with the house conferrees. i don't know if they have enough time to do that. if it takes sitting down, having some sort of face saving way to do this, they should do it. a lot of people will suffer if they don't. >> maybe it won't be the year extension, maybe it won't be the two month. maybe somewhere in between. maybe your gut will materialize, the suspicion you have. >> they're going to do it. if they don't, it is a disaster for all the above. >> thank you. we'll talk next hour and see what you have coming up. meantime, i'll be right back. fo.

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oftentimes his disabilities go unnoticed. trenton has epilepsy and as

burger's syndrome this is our giving in focus for today. >> it is not my fault. i was born this way. >> he was 9. he was diagnosed with epilepsy. when he was 10, he was diagnosed with an intellectual disability cause asburger's syndrome. he had a connective tissue disorder. >> there are very few kids in my school that know my disability. as you may know, my disabilities are hidden. since i'm slightly autistic, i find myself being slightly challenged when i'm having conversations with my peers. they'll say he is just a normal weird guy. he doesn't have any disabilities. look at him. he is not in a wheelchair or anything. seizures are electrical in the brain. it is hip kids. it gives back to kids in many

ways. one of the main ways it does it is a scholarship that me and mom have been if you saidifunding f nonprofit organization. we give to kids that normally wouldn't get scholarships. kids that don't have the highest of gpas. they go through this with disabilities. i really wanted to go to engineering school and become a biomedical engineer that specializes in prosthetics. when i got something in the mail from the university of pittsburgh, i thought what could they want? they're giving may full tuition scholarship. that shows me that there are some schools that really value what i do. >> the more we found out that he was different, the more he's been able to bridge a gap in so many people's lives, and especially my life. >> it makes me feel like all that work and all that struggling and crying all alone at home finally equalled success. >> make sure you watch cnn's

giving in focus special 4:30 p.m. christmas day. and prince william and duchess catherine checked out a homeless shelter. one of the same ones that his mother princess diana visited when she was alive. i'm just guessing, i don't think his mother did this. the story behind the picture of prince william brushing his shoulder off. just unroll, wrap the brie and bake. it's so easy. now this might even impress aunt martha. pillsbury crescent wrapped brie. holiday ideas made easy. for a hot dog cart. my mother said, "well, maybe we ought to buy this hot dog cart and set it up someplace." so my parents went to bank of america. they met with the branch manager and they said, "look, we've got this little hot dog cart, and it's on a really good corner. let's see if we can buy the property." and the branch manager said, "all right, i will take a chance with the two of you." and we've been loyal to bank of america

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this is a cause very close to prince william's heart. he was introduced by his mother, diana. she would secretly take him to meet much less fortunate children living in shelters. on this engagement, there were inevitable parallels to be made between diana and catherine. during a cookery session in the shelter, william had some useful tips to his wife as they made seasonal mince pies and biscuits. >> catherine made me this birthday cookie for my 18th birthday. it is really beautiful. i'm going to cherish it. it means a lot to me. >> reporter: in another room the couple heard powerful stories from homeless teenagers who have turned their lives around. >> not only people here that need help. peel all over need help. >> reporter: during a performance, emotion nearly got the better of the duchess.

perhaps it's times like these that you realize how lucky you are. this was the last official engagement for the duke and duchess of cambridge this year and it caps a spectacular year for them. a year that saw them emerge as the world's most famous couple. max foster, cnn, london. a week we have seen images just like this. this is egypt. so far this week more than a dozen protesters have been killed during clashes with security officers. we have seen many others beaten by officers in the streets. the images are disturbing. >> they were hitting a veiled woman, she says. they removed her veil and exposed the underwear she was wearing. >> we want to tell you the story of this woman. beaten. you can see so badly, she was rushed to the hospital. we're going to take you live to cairo. ♪ ♪

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egypt was the pride of the arab spring, the country with the most people to undergo revolution in the region is now showing how violent and painful giving back our power to the people can be. i want to say these images are disturbing. some you might find upsetting. at least 14 people have died in clashes between protesters and military police in the last week. look at this. many feared this woman there on the ground in red you see taking stomp after stomp to the head was among them. she is alive but she is suffering. our reporter just spoke with her

exclusively. here's what she told them. >> translator: there is no justice. i don't know how long we'll go without justice. we didn't ask for anything more than to be free in our own country. we've been oppressed by the military, by the supreme council of the armed forces and by the police. i don't know how much longer they'll continue to kill us. how much longer will they continue to kill us? >> mohamed now live in cairo. how did you find her and how is she doing? >> reporter: we've been looking for several days for women whose beatings have been captured on tape. our producer here was able to locate her. when we first went to the hospital yesterday, she was writhing in agony. she couldn't talk to us. she was in severe painful the doctors thought she would have to go to the icu. today we spoke to her family and found out she was doing better. we went to the hospital. got exclusive access to