-- captions by vitac -- www.vitac.com next, bitter cold. the frigid air forcing schools to close, cancelling flights and postponing a major vote in washington. plus the family of the 13-year-old girl declared brain dead looking for a miracle tonight. >> jahi mcmath has been taken from children's hospital and brought to a place where they will use her name instead of calling her a body. and a major shake up at

"saturday night live." let's go "outfront." good evening, everyone, thanks for joining us i'm don lemon in for erin burnett. a major vote in washington postponed tonight blamed on the weather but did either side have the vote? it's a bill that affects 1.3 million americans and whether they get their unemployment checks. a vote to proceed would have been a huge victory for the democrats. they needed 60 votes. that means the democrats needed the support of five republicans. and tonight they didn't have the bodies on capitol hill. straight now to joe johns who is on capitol hill for us. there was uncertainty about the vote and now the reason we are hearing is the weather. would the democrats have had the votes? >> we don't know. i got to tell you, if all 100 senators were here at the united

states capitol tonight, everybody working, it still still would have been a cliffhanger by almost anyone's assessment. the democrats need five republicans to go with them. we have counted four republicans who have said they will at least vote to open up debate on this issue. but there is a question of one more republican, according to our count. we don't know whether they had the votes. but we know senator john koren of texas went to the floor and said there were about 17 united states senators who were not present. a couple more trickled in. clearly, though, the weather causing problems for senators to get here to washington on monday night. >> 1.3 million americans waiting word on that and their families. a lot more people than that. so then what happens? where do we go from here, joe? >> tomorrow, 10:00 eastern time, the senate is expected to take up this issue, which they could have taken up tonight. it would have been a win/win for them since if they get the numbers and can open up debate, perhaps they have a bit of

momentum on this issue and other issues. if they don't get the numbers and they don't get the vote, then they have a political issue to take to the polls later on. that is, of course, unless republicans figure out something with them in the coming days and weeks. >> joe johns on capitol hill, appreciate your reporting. is it clear that democrats are going to keep this issue atop of their agenda. i want you to listen to just a few of them. >> instead of punishing families who can least afford it. republicans should make it their new year's resolution to do the right thing and restore this site economic security for their constituents right now. >> we have never over the last half century cut off emergency unemployment benefits when long-term unemployment was even barely over half the rate that we have right now. now is not the time to start. >> let's start helping the

middle class. let's start helping the poor. the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. and the middle class is being squeezed out of existence. political columnist, and paul and tim carney. tim, are you buying the excuse of the weather? or do you think they didn't have the votes? >> probably a little bit of both. as joe pointed out, the senator from texas is part of the republican leadership for the senate. he doesn't want to do any favors for harry reid and the democrats. i do think weather was a bipartisan issue. and the best vote counters say that the democrats are maybe a vote or two short of the 60 they need. keep in mind, the viewers should know, the republicans are filibustering this. the extension of unemployed benefits to americans who -- most americans think deserve it. they have to get 60 instead of the 50.

>> we're going to get to that. we just want to know if you are buying it? are you buying it, tim? do you think it's just the weather? >> they didn't have all the democrats it's clear they didn't have all the votes. will they have the votes when they are all in there. i don't know. and the republican filibuster, democrats had a chance in the budget deal to put in this unemployment insurance extension. when you hear the democrats, taken way that paul is talk, it's clear that they were more interested in having a fight over unemployment insurance than they were in extending unemployment insurance. unemployment insurance. >> you have to go there. we moved on. let's talk about the president. the president will address unemployment benefits tomorrow. how important is this vote for the democrats to set the agenda for the year? >> it's terribly important. the question of the squeeze of the middle class. you saw harry reid talking about that. it is terrible important. the democrats want to focus on that for the year. the collapse of the middle class

is the defining issue of our time. president obama said that and he will say it again in the state of the union address in a few weeks. we extend unemployment benefits and raise minimum wage and pass protections for the women in the workplace. and other middle class economic issues. that's the heart of what the democrats want to talk about all year. >> you are talking about this fairness in pay and equality that the president and the democrats have been talking about. the democrats have been taking a beating over obamacare. now they seem to be changing the narrative and taking a page from the newly installed new york city mayor, bill de blasio's play book, income inequality. will it work elsewhere nationwide? >> i think the republicans will have to counter. if the republicans keep saying you can't tax the rich, obama and the democrats are pretending to care about the middle class.

so i have been writing for a while that the republicans need to target their message and their policies to the middle class. get rid of the regulations that keep entrepreneurs out and stop worrying about mitt romney's 47% talk. i think that will be more coherent than the democrats ad hoc middle class. that's the only way to counter. >> instead of this narrative about the redistribution of weth -- wealth and hammering on that and saying it's not right and all the president is trying to do is redistribute the wealth. they need a plan for the middle class? >> i hope they do. it's hard to change old ways but maybe this time around they'll do it. >> democrats hope this will overshadow obamacare or give them time for obamacare to start working the way they thought it would. should republicans be worried that the game plan could work?

>> they should and also there is a reality here. there are -- you pointed out at the top of the show. there are 1.3 million americans who are out of work for such a long period of time their benefits have run out. in the vast majority of cases, they are unemployed not through any fault of their own. it's not because they're lazy or stupid but because of this recession that we are now digging out of. we have to act on. it's politically helpful to the democrats. there's no two ways about it. tim's advice to the republicans is a good one but it's they can't quite seem do it. vast majorities of republicans support raising the minimum wage and support extending unemployment benefits. it shouldn't be a partisan issue. it never has been for most of our history. raise the minimum wage and extend the unemployment benefits. >> raising the minimum wage will exacerbate the unemployment problem and extending unemployment helps people out of jobs but it increases unemployment. democrats aren't interested in finding the right balance of

policy, they want demagogic points. it makes it tough to roll out good policies. one of the reasons that republicans are afraid of rolling out policies is because they know the democrats have these easy cudgels, let's raise the minimum wage, as if that makes people richer, extend unemployment benefits as if that has no negative effects on the unemployment rate. >> tim and paul, we'll be talking more about this. thank you both. >> thanks, don. the family of a 13-year-old girl declared brain dead is not giving up. they're hoping for a miracle tonight. and a police chief in detroit wants more guns on the street. we're going to tell you why. tens of millions of americans bracing for historically low temperatures. we'll tell you which parts of the country are most at risk. [ male announcer ] this is the story of the little room

over the pizza place on chestnut street the modest first floor bedroom in tallinn, estonia and the southbound bus barreling down i-95. ♪ this magic moment it is the story of where every great idea begins. and of those who believed they had the power to do more. dell is honored to be part of some of the world's great stories. that began much the same way ours did. in a little dorm room -- 2713. ♪ this magic moment ♪ did you run into traffic? no, just had to stop by the house to grab a few things. you stopped by the house? uh-huh. yea. alright, whenever you get your stuff, run upstairs, get cleaned up for dinner. you leave the house in good shape? yea. yea, of course. ♪ [ sportscaster talking on tv ] last-second field go--

yea, sure ya did. [ male announcer ] introducing at&t digital life. personalized home security and automation. get professionally monitored security for just $29.99 a month. with limited availability in select markets. ♪ getting the right nutrition isn't always easy. first, i want a way to help minimize my blood sugar spikes. then, a way to support heart health. ♪ and let's not forget immune support.

♪ but now i have new glucerna advance with three benefits in one. including carbsteady ultra to help minimize blood sugar spikes. it's the best from glucerna. [ male announcer ] new glucerna advance. from the brand doctors recommend most. advancing nutrition for diabetes.

new details tonight in the case of jahi mcmath, a 13-year-old girl who has been declared brain death. she has been on a ventilator since suffering complications from tonsil surgery. her family is fighting a legal battle to keep her on a ventilator. and now they are concerned about jahi's safety. >> we've had people make threats from around the country. it's sad that people would act that way. we will not be saying where she went or where she is. >> we're very grateful and very proud. we want to thank everyone who supported us and in our corner and prayed for us and everyone that helped donate to make this possible. without you guys, none of this

would be possible. >> it is a very emotional case here. and joining me is jeffrey toobin. bobby shinder who is the brother of terry schiavo. bobby, thank you for joining us. i want to start with you, the spokesman for children's hospital in oakland. he said it is unfortunate for the schiavo foundation to play on the idea that jahi might come back to life in a highly emotional case. this case has a lot of controversy much like your sister terry's case did. why did you decide to get involved with the mcmath family? >> i don't think we are giving the mcmath family any false hopes. all we're saying is that the family should have the right to make the decision to provide jahi with the help to see if she can improve before you make the decision to end her life. this is a mistake that can't be reversed. and the family should be the one making the decision and not ethics committees and hospital boards.

we are seeing it more and more today where these hospitals, these ethics committees are making decisions instead of families when it comes to certain medical treatments, particularly when you have hospitals who have a financial interest involved. you can see why this could be very, very dangerous. >> do you think is it the hospital making the decision. three doctors and a judge have declared jahi brain dead. do you think it's really the hospitals? is it time for a court to step in? >> this is of course an unimaginable tragedy and i can't blame the family for clinging to any hope. but there is no hope. brain death is death. this poor child has been dead since december 12th. and to have outsiders come in and try to exploit what's going on here is just appalling. the family should be allowed to mourn but to give them false hope and suggest there is controversy when there is no controversy is tragic. >> is there anything unusual about it?

he is saying that the hospital has decided rather than the family deciding? is that unusual? >> the coroner -- it's not just the hospital. it's the coroner too, has said this poor child is dead. this is the fact. there is nothing further to be done for her. it is terrible. but the only thing that's worse is to give these poor parents false hope because there is no hope. their child is gone. >> and bobby i know you say this is a decision that should be made by the family. her body is being kept alive with machines. is there a time frame in which she should be kept in this state when there is no sign of improvement? >> i don't know if jahi is going to improve. but there have been cases where the same diagnosis have been made to people who emerged from this brain dead condition. that's all we are saying.

weir not -- we're not giving this family false hope. we're not saying she is going to get better. we are saying they should have ever right to provide this girl with a chance to see if in fact she can improve. doctors are wrong all the time. when you have a hospital that put her in this condition in the first place, you can understand why this family distrusts the hospital in wanting to care for this girl. >> that is not true. brain dead people are dead. they do not come back to life. >> there are physicians -- there are physicians that have -- that do not believe -- that take issue with this brain death criteria. you'll find them. not everybody agrees. to refer to her as a corpse and a dead body, quite frankly, sir, is offensive. they referred to my sister as a corpse. she was not close to being brain dead and people have to get their medical facts right and understand what brain injury is and the families involved. >> we can argue about that until the show is over.

but should the family have the right, the legal right to keep her on a ventilator or machine as long as they want? >> i certainly am not going to quarrel with what this family wants to do. if they want to pay to have a hospital keep pumping air into her lungs, certainly no one is going to arrest them for desecrating a corpse. but that is what could happen to a hospital that persists in this. it is unfair. this is not a legal process. it's not a moral process to give this family false hope and -- you know of course no one wants to interfere with the family. they can grieve and do this if they want. but no one is doing them any favors. >> as a legal analyst you are giving us the facts here. no one wants this young lady to be brain dead. it's really tough here. and it's not that you are trying to use language that is hurtful but those are the facts according to you.

>> that's how i see the facts. >> bobby we appreciate you joining us. thank you so much, sir. thanks to jeffrey as well. >> you're welcome. still to come, it's one of the most dangerous jobs in the planet but those who are trying to save the elephant population, it is also one of the most crucial. in an exclusive cnn report we follow a group of ecoguards in the republican of congo. we need to warn you, some of the images you are about to see are graphic. >> it's been eight grueling hot hours on this river, chasing poachers in the republic of congo's largest national park. for these ecoguards, disappointment follows disappointment. >> when you put your hand inside it is still quite warm which means they probably left early in the morning. finally around a bend, signs of

activity. smoke rising along the bank. they rush ashore and fan out into the jungle. within seconds, a gunshot. and the pursuit begins. the terrain is dense and disorienting. the men force their way through the undergrowth and slosh through knee-deep water. our cnn team can barely keep up. >> they've all gone forward, trying to chase down what seems to be a poacher who at least most definitely is armed. they appear to have caught him completely by surprise. the head of the park's anti-poaching division brandishes the weapon caught by his men. pumped by adrenaline he describes what happened. he tried to shoot me like this, he says.

he then tackled the poacher, grabbing the gun but the poacher got away. the men find the poacher's canoe, weighed down with fresh elephant meat and more hangs off the sides. >> this is to take out -- >> it's a sickening image of the trade that has decimated the parks elephants. central africa has been estimated to lose 62% of the forest elephants in the last decade. in this park alone thousands have been killed in the last five years. in the week we spent here we only saw one alive. the park about the size of connecticut is patrolled by 76 ecoguards, not nearly enough but 40% of them are former poachers themselves which helps big time. >> they know how poacher work. so it's easy for them to think like them.

>> it's part of a program created in the last year where poachers are given amnesty if they hand over their weapons and confess. this raid is proof his program works. but the unit's successes come at a price. this is a countriy corruption is routine and poaching with impunity has been a way of life. all of these ecoguards have been threatened. frank tells us three men attacked his wife. they tried to rape her. but she was strong. she pulled back and ran away. the same men who are part of the poaching ring tried to attack him. he stabbed one of them. the unit doesn't find any ivory but does end up with four guns, ammunition and a cell phone. a potential lead to the poachers. the ecoguards torch the camp to send a message.

these men often find themselves pursuing people they once worked with, friends, neighbors and even family members. in the ever-evolving fight against the ivory trade, out here, it's now personal. >> and stopping the illegal ivory trade has become a worldwide effort including in china where six tons of ivory were destroyed today. a growing group of nations has made similar symbolic gestures including the united nations. they destroyed six tons of its own ivory stockpile back in november. still to come, tens of millions of americans bracing for a historic and life threatening deep freeze. we're going to tell you which parts of the country will be hit the hardest. a detroit police chief takes on his city's crime rate. why he thinks more guns are the answer. he's going to join us live. and a photograph in a newspaper that reunited a family. [ male announcer ] this is joe woods' first day of work.

and his new boss told him two things -- cook what you love, and save your money. joe doesn't know it yet, but he'll work his way up from busser to waiter to chef before opening a restaurant specializing in fish and game from the great northwest. he'll start investing early, he'll find some good people to help guide him, and he'll set money aside from his first day of work to his last, which isn't rocket science. it's just common sense. from td ameritrade.

yeah... try new alka seltzer fruit chews. they work fast on heartburn and taste awesome. these are good. told ya! i'm feeling better already. [ male announcer ] new alka seltzer fruits chews. enjoy the relief!

welcome back to the second half of "outfront." in an unexpected move, liz cheney is bowing out of the senate race to unseat wyoming senator mike enzi. she cited serious health issues that have recently arisen in our family. she did not elaborate. cnn learned from multiple sources close to the family that that involves at least one of her children. her candidacy was rocky from the start from cris schism -- criticism about her citizenship in wyoming to a dispute over same-sex marriage with her sister. jihad jane was indicted in

2009 for conspireing to support terrorists and was allegedly part of a plot to murder a swedish cartoonist. four years in jail she has served will count to her ten-year sentence. she had faced life in prison. but received leniency for helping the fbi in other terrorism cases. in utah marriage licenses for same-sex couples can no longer be issued after the supreme court ruled in favor of the state's request to repeal a decision that for a short time allowed gays and lesbians to tie the knot. >> it's unfortunate that many utah citizens have been put into this legal limbo. but we are evaluating their legal status currently. >> the supreme court justices made the move 17 days after a judge struck down utah's 2004

amendment that banned gay marriage. a picture is worth much more than a thousand words in the bitter washington cold. an associated press photographer captures a young man huddled under a thick gray blanket. >> the man nick simmons had been reported missing in new york. after days of searching for him, there he finally was, on the cover of "usa today." between the paper, the photograph, and the family, the metropolitan police were able to track him down. he and his family have since been reunited. and urban outfitters under fire now or a woman's t-shirt with the word "depression" scrawled all of it. depression is a brand but does that make the fashion statement any better? the retailer pulled the shirt and in a tweet said we're sorry to those offended by the tee we

brought from @depression.com brand. another memorable fashion don't came in 2010 when they released and yanked a shirt with the words "eat less" on it. now to a historic and life threatening deep freeze. a fast-moving cold front is thrusting two thirds of the u.s. into an icebox. temperatures for tens of millions of americans are plunging into the single digits. in new york the thermometer is expected to dip to as low as 5 degrees. but that is balmy compared to other places in the united states. where this polar vortex is shattering records. fargo, north dakota expected to hit a negative 24 degrees. minneapolis and indianapolis, 15 below. and the frigid air forcing schools and government offices in several states to close. there are delays building at the nation's airports as well. and the black ice causing places like indianapolis to make it illegal for anyone to drive

except for emergencies. in a moment we will go to chad myers with the forecast. but ted rollins is in chicago with more. the normally crowded streets of chicago were nearly empty lawsuit the day. those who were out were doing everything possible to stay warm. >> right now i have on leggings under my jeans, wool socks, three shirts, my jacket, a hat, a hood, and my gloves. >> for those who have to work in it? >> i keep moving around and thermo in the gloves. it keeps me a little warm. >> temps across the midwest are not just uncomfortable but dangerous. 13 deaths have been blamed on the extreme weather. hospitals and first responders are treating victims for frostbite. >> in weather like this it's not going to take long. 15 minutes or even less. >> the homeless across the region are a huge concern. in indianapolis and chicago, homeless advocates are working with city government to make sure everyone is accounted for. >> outreach teams that are out

there already every day trying to get men and women out of the cold, get them into shelter. >> in parts of minnesota temperatures dropped to 40 below, closing schools statewide for the first time since 1997. >> this is the kind of weather where in five, ten minutes, kids can get frostbite. >> in chicago it's a one-two punch it comes in the wake of a storm that dropped more than a foot of snow. >> painful. just pain. >> the weather has also created some great online videos, including a guy in canada showing what happens when you shoot a water gun when it is negative 41 degrees. and this kid in iowa jumping on an icy trampoline. >> this is what a deep dish pizza looks like in this kind of weather, 16 below today. this is lou malnadi's.

you get the idea. pretty cold. only knuckleheads are out here. >> what are you standing across from the wrigley building, right? it's cold out there. what is the biggest concerns out there in chicago and in the area? >> well, it's for the most vulnerable, the elderly, the kids, school has been closed again tomorrow, not only here but in other areas around the midwest. and the homeless. people have been going out, cities are working with agencies who work with the homeless to go out and warn the homeless who may not know what is coming and get them inside. get them to safety. it is really life threatening if you are exposed to this weather for too long. >> you see that building behind you. i worked there three years and it was way too cold. i had to get out. that is the nbc tower in chicago. thank you, ted. appreciate it. stay warm. >> you got it. we are seeing dangerously cold temperatures in many parts of the u.s. many of us have never seen. chad myers has more on the big

chill. minus 11 in chicago. geez. >> and the wind chill is colder than that. where ted is standing in that live shot, it felt like 35 below. there is the north pole, don. there should be a jet stream going around in a big circumstance until a couple of waves, going up and down like that. but it's not doing the circle. it's doing the dive down to the gulf coast. that's what we are talking about. the vortex thing you have been hearing about. international falls, 43 degrees below zero. people said, please, if your pets are outside and it is just below freezing, get them inside somewhere because they are just not ready to handle this type of weather and certainly not that type of wind and wind chill. 7 in buffalo. a big event going on in buffalo. a blizzard. i know that is breaking news but it is. we have not had a blizzard warning in buffalo for 20 years. that's how long it's been. this is how historic this storm truly is.

by morning, new york city, you're 11. boston, 17. boston was 54 degrees. it's going to plummet over 35 degrees tonight. 17 in atlanta and birmingham right now. it's going to be cold all the way down to new orleans. there will be suburbs of new orleans down to 15. and look at all those plants that are outside. jacksonville, you will be down to 20 degrees. 24 tomorrow. your average low is 41. shouldn't even be flirting with that. 7 degrees the low down here in atlanta. we have days of this to go. it warms up by the weekend but not before then. >> i saw 2 degrees on atlanta. can we call it hot-lanta any more? >> not any more. >> not any more. >> they cancelled the school because of the cold. they don't want kids standing out there at the bus stop waiting for the bus. and i will tell you, i have lived in buffalo, grew up there. lived in detroit and also in nebraska, they make clothes different for the north. the jacket you buy here would not last one day in buffalo

where the jacket in buffalo will keep you warm to minus 30. we don't have that kind of clothing down here. they'd never sell it. >> stay warm, chad myers. we're going to talk about detroit now. a story we first told you on friday, detroit's police chief says he thinks that more people with concealed weapons would deter violence. even though his city has one of the highest violent crime rights per capita in the country. so why does he think more guns would help? the detroit police chief james craig joins me now. it is probably really cold where you are as well. thank you, sir. >> thank you. >> listen, you have, in the past, called for stricter gun laws and called on congress to ban assault weapons and put in place other gun control measures. but you think more concealed weapons is a good idea. why is that? >> more concealed weapons by good americans who are responsible. very different. you know, certainly in detroit we have a very different situation going on here unlike other places i have had the good

fortune of working. it's no secret detroit's violent. there's a violent culture. the criminal predators here are very violent. so good americans who are responsible who conceal weapons can make a difference. there are studies that show that. >> we will turn more about the studies but let's focus on detroit now. according to your own statistics there was a 7% overall reduction in crime in detroit in 2013 without those extra guns, as you would -- or concealed weapons. clearly your department has figured out ways to deter criminals. aren't there better ways than arming more citizens? >> that's one strategy in the tool box. i'm suggesting that while we're using statistics our model which has had an effect we have seen a 7% reduction overall in crime. i'm excited about the trend downward. we have seen 52 less people murdered in the city of detroit. 105 less people shot in the city of detroit.

i've only been here six months. we are trending in the right direction but it's here's the bad news we saw 333 murders for 2013. compared to new york, we're a city of 700,000. look, this whole thing with concealed weapons has been around in detroit now for about ten years. >> you can get a license to carry -- you can get a license to carry in detroit. it's been on the books for a while now. >> this is not new. >> i want to tell you what the brady campaign told me. he's the statement they gave us and their comments go like this. the american people know there are better answer to violence than putting even more guns on our streets that too often wind up in the wrong hands. we are better than a nation of vigilantes like george zimmerman who was permitted to carry a gun despite an arrest record and history of violence. what is your response? >> we are not talking about

vigilantes. we are talking about good americans who are trained. good americans that need personal protection. i don't care what city you talk about. we cannot be everywhere. let me give you an example. we had a 91-year-old man just last week pulled out of his car at gunpoint, thrown in the snow carjacked and there is story after story. this is about personal protection. and unfortunately i don't care if you are talking about los angeles, a place i spent 28 years or in the state of maine, the police cannot be everywhere. this is about personal protection and in some instances the protection of others. we have seen the good samaritans we've seen them go to the aid of others because they were good americans with concealed weapons permits. i disagree with that statement. >> police chief james craig. thank you for joining us. we will be watching to see how it works. >> thank you. >> happy new year to you.

>> it's going to work out. thank you, happy new year to you too. dennis rodman arrives with a team of basketball players. what he says he will talk to kim jong-un about during his controversial visit. "saturday night live" does something it hasn't done in more than six years. the moon in 1971. orbitg afghanistan, in 2009. on the u.s.s. saratoga in 1982. [ male announcer ] once it's earned, usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection. and because usaa's commitment to serve current and former military members and their families is without equal. begin your legacy. get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. explaining my moderate to severe so there i was again, chronic plaque psoriasis to another new stylist. it was a total embarrassment. and not the kind of attention i wanted. so i had a serious talk with my dermatologist about my treatment options. this time, she prescribed humira-adalimumab.

humira helps to clear the surface of my skin by actually working inside my body. in clinical trials, most adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis saw 75% skin clearance. and the majority of people were clear or almost clear in just 4 months. humira can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. serious, sometimes fatal events, such as infections, lymphoma, or other types of cancer have happened. blood, liver and nervous system problems, serious allergic reactions, and new or worsening heart failure have occurred. before starting humira, your doctor should test you for tb. ask your doctor if you live in or have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common. tell your doctor if you have had tb, hepatitis b, are prone to infections, or have symptoms such as fever, fatigue, cough, or sores. you should not start humira if you have any kind of infection. make the most of every moment. ask your dermatologist about humira, today. clearer skin is possible.

[ chicken caws ] [ male announcer ] when your favorite food starts a fight, fight back fast with tums. heartburn relief that neutralizes acid on contact and goes to work in seconds. ♪ tum, tum tum tum tums!

back with tonight's outer circle. tonight we go to north korea where dennis rodman and a team of former nba players have arrived to play a controversial basketball game on kim jong-un's birthday. and here is what rodman has to stay about his latest trip.

>> dennis rodman is back in north korea to celebrate the birthday of kim jong-un. going with him are doug christie, charles d. smith, vin baker and eric floyd. this trip is controversial. this is a regime with a dire human rights record that threatens to unleash nuclear war. on top of that, rodman has no plans to press kim jong-un to free american missionary kenneth bae. >> i'm not trying to save the world or kenneth bae. that's not my job. my job is one thing, sports. i'm not an ambassador or just whatever. no, i'm not. i'm going to do there and do my thing and try to interact him with him on that point of love. the guy is awesome to me. that's about it. >> but these guys do speak the language of sport and were telling me they believe they can break down barriers and build

bridges through basketball. if you are a betting man you put good money on the nba all-stars beating the north korean selection. but my question is how much would you want to spoil a north korean dictators's birthday treat? after six years, "saturday night live" is finally getting a black female comedian. finally. >> i didn't say anything about a girlfriend. but you can call me -- >> the show confirming reports that comedian sasheer zamata will join the cast when they return in two weeks. she is the female african-american cast since 2007. the show has been under fire for a lack of diversity. the producers held tryouts for african-american women. cheryl underwood is joining us. cheryl i want to talk to you first. i have to talk to a black comedian if we are talk about a

black comedian on "snl." "snl" poked fun at itself for kerry washington having to rush to change outfits to play a number of black women. what is your reaction? >> i think it is great. i think sasheer is excellent. i think she is a perfect choice. i can't wait to see her monet impersonation is going down. she is a perfect choice. more chocolate on tv. more chocolate on tv. i'm loving it. >> did you ever apply or audition for "snl"? >> no i think i'm too robust. i think i'm a little too -- i'm a different kind of comedian on the serious sense. i think the young ladies like the tiffany haddish and robin montagues who are doing sketch comedy and impersonations. those are the women that they should put on there. now you have one, have all. you have five white dudes. i need five sisters on now. get an indian girl and spanish

girl and chinese girl. they need more diversity. how you cracking these jokes. i will guest host, but you don't need me in all the sketches. >> you mean robust -- cheryl, let me get a word in, girl. this is not "the talk" that you're the co-host of. >> i just wanted to make sure. >> why do you think it took six years to hire another black woman? >> you know what i think? i think what kerry washington did in increasing the ratings. that's what you have to prove. having black women on the show increased the ratings higher than they've ever had. now that you see diversity will work in your pocket, let's have diversity. this is not going to hurt you. this girl did a wonderful job. she's an actress. everybody loves scandal, so we need more of this. look at what's happening on "the talk." ratings increasing on "the talk." sisters make it happen and all different types of women make it happen. >> right, there are two african-american women on "the talk" on "the view." barbara walters was leaps and

bounds ahead of everyone on that. and the ratings still good on both of those. you take a look at the cast, there are two african-americans on the cast, males, and five white men, one woman, all white, right? was this a necessary move on the part of the producers? did they have to do this? this is a new cast, the ones that were just hired. >> i'm going to answer your question with a question. how many asians have ever been on "saturday night live". >> this isn't about asians, though i understand where you're going. you look at this age of diversity, snl, for six years not to have an african-american woman, not to have an asian woman, not to have anyone. doesn't make it any more -- doesn't make it any more right because they don't have an asian or hispanic. it doesn't make it right. that's not an excuse. >> i look at lorne michaels and his track record over four decades, he's discovered more raw talent, belushi, murphy,

murray, myers, fallin, fey, mia rudolph. >> what does that have to do -- >> he puts the best team on the field, don. this show has been successful for 38 years because he's not checking off boxes. >> you mean to tell me in the entire country. cheryl you can jump in here -- there are no women of color in the entire country who are not just as fun as the five or seven white kids that they just hired? >> i don't -- >> you still haven't answered my question. 38 years and not one asian. >> that doesn't make it right. you mean to tell me there aren't any asian people as well who aren't as funny as those five or seven white kids. >> i'm saying that lorne michaels track record, the way he has chosen over the years, these people they run hollywood, practically now. two are going to have their own late night talk show. it's not a matter of checking boxes. >> go ahead, cheryl. >> here's what i seem to see

this young man saying, what lorne michaels can relate to is his own culture and what's making him laugh, but if there had never been an eddie murphy that was doing great things with white characters and great characters. gumby is the bomb. i don't care you have to open your eyes to the talent and then go find the tag -- talent and then open up your checkbook. the show has been okay for a few years, now it's getting better. >> let's talk about this and the history of the show, there have been three primary cast members. the show has been successful with the current formula. do you think that is going -- in the entire time the show has been on the air, come on, joe? >> when it was apparent that president obama was going to be elected, in anticipation of that, could he have found a female to play michelle.

you have keenan thompson who has been forced to play oprah and whoopi and starr jones. >> it's not just about finding someone to play a certain character. if you watch the kings of comedy or queens of comedy, there are some funny you know what in the country, and especially black women. >> i'm not doubting that. >> they are funny enough to be on "snl"? >> i can't buy that. >> i had to finance my own radio show, because people were telling me, there are no females in radio, and i'm not going to wait on you. i had to finance my own movie scripts, because they said, well, females are not funny. that's what people believed, until we put some money in your pocket. >> cheryl, you are hilarious. i don't know how they didn't sign your six years ago. i love you. >> i work for cbs, i can't do all the jobs.

but i could play kevin hart in a movie. i could play kevin hart in a movie. >> go ahead, joe. >> i'm just saying there have been plenty of men that played women of the years. and they've been very effective. you remember dustin hoffman nominated for an oscar, keenan thompson should be applauded -- >> you keep going back to the white people. you need to stay with the black. the discussion is black people going back to work and putting us in opportunities. always get the opportunity. we're not against white people getting the opportunity. what we're against is the exclusion of black talent that will make black people watch more tv than any race of people. put us on tv. >> last word, cheryl underwood. thank you very much. >> that's my last word? i don't get to come back? >> no, cheryl. >> okay, i'll say -- >> i'll see you at your show, i forget where it's going to be. thank you very much, still to come, white house press secretary jay carney shocks reporters with his new look. [ male announcer ] this is the story of the dusty basement at 1406 35th street

the old dining table at 25th and hoffman. ...and the little room above the strip mall off roble avenue. ♪ this magic moment it is the story of where every great idea begins. and of those who believed they had the power to do more. dell is honored to be part of some of the world's great stories. that began much the same way ours did. in a little dorm room -- 2713. ♪ this magic moment ♪

and our giant idaho potato truck is still missing. so my dog and i we're going to go find it. it's out there somewhere spreading the good word about idaho potatoes and raising money for meals on wheels. but we'd really like our truck back, so if you see it, let us know, would you?

thanks. what? across the country has brought me to the lovely city of boston. cheers. and seeing as it's such a historic city, i'm sure they'll appreciate that geico's been saving people money for over 75 years. oh... dear, i've dropped my tea into the boston harbor. huhh... i guess this party's over. geico. fifteen minutes could save you fifteen percent or more on car insurance.

trust icy hot for powerful relief. [ male announcer ] the icy hot patch. goes on icy to dull pain, hot to relax it away. so you're back to full speed. [ male announcer ] icy hot. power past pain. a major vote delayed in the senate today, and yet there was only one thing people in washington were talking about. jay carney's beard. the white house press secretary debuted his new look at the first press briefing of the year today. and reaction on social media debating whether it was a good look. one person even started a twitter handle for the beard. and began tweeting. carney is just the most recent high profile person to grow a new look. al gore grew one after he lost the 2000 election. last year the host of the "today" show grew them in support of movember.

and professional athletes regularly grow beards during the playoffs. let us know what you think of jay carney's new look. piers morgan live is next. [ male announcer ] at his current pace, bob will retire when he's 153, which would be fine if bob were a vampire. but he's not. ♪ he's an architect with two kids and a mortgage. luckily, he found someone who gave him a fresh perspective on his portfolio. and with some planning and effort, hopefully bob can retire at a more appropriate age.

it's not rocket science. it's just common sense. from td ameritrade.

>> this is piers morgan live, welcome to our viewers in the united states and around the world. bad news, america, colorado is running out of pot already. the new legal rocky mountain high, is such a success they're running out of the stuff. both sides battle it out tonight in a soaking hot debate. and speaking of pot, baby, it's cold outside. very, very cold. temperatures fumbling across the country. minnesota, the windchill taking temperatures down to 60 below, and record lows in places like chicago too. cold enough to freeze your skin in under five minutes. what you need to know about the polar vortex, life and death battle.