district judge speaking to our own scott cohen.s the following, he said he was offering his view as a citizen, not as a judge. but he's making no apologies arguing, quote, judges have to be neutral but they don't have to be eunuchs. so i don't know, i don't know if judges should be out and about giving their opinions. >> it's complete malarky saying it's a private opinion. >> and he's been an activist judge. >> yeah. i believe this but i don't really -- say it. you believe it, say it. >> i don't remember anyone ever positing judges should be eun h eunuc eunuchs. have you ever heard that? >> call that a straw man in the business. >> yeah, maybe that's called a straw man. okay, judge, we got it. got your point here. >> or no point. >> you do not have to be a eunuch. i'm with him on that. he does not have to be. >> but if we ever have to appear before this judge, boy do we love, judge rakoff. >> why would we ever have to appear? what are you doing while you're not here? >> he doesn't do drug cases or anything, right? >> what? >> vice?

scott cohen what's going on? >> reporter: we want to show you a live picture of the u.s. attorney for the district of kansas announcing a terror arrest involving the wichita airport. 58-year-old man, aviation technician who was allegedly planning to set off a car bomb at the wichita airport. the fbi reportedly became aware of his wishes early on and had him under surveillance and the implication is there was never any real danger here but here as we get into the thick of the holiday season there's an arrest in of all places wichita, kansas, as aviation technician apparently was planning to set off a car bomb at the wichita airport. we're monitoring this news conference and give you more dials as we get them. back to you. >> still ahead, how smart shoppers are a big boost to the economy. plus amazon moving one step closer to taking over the world if not costco. >> already taking over my wallet. we're cook up some small business advice with celebrity chef extraordinaire. and a lamp shade on your co-w k co-worker's head indicator and we'll explain when we come back. >>> you

>> you know that news story that scott cohen broke on your show a little earlier, fed looking into whetheras obstructing the madoff story. it hasn't unseated the top three but it will pretty soon. our number one holder is a fascinating piece from diana olick. it takes a look at blackstone. one of the major people getting into the rental market, buying up chunks of houses. now besides doing that, it's also financing the people, the moms and pops, going into that market as well. diana takes a deep dive and our readers are eating it up. it's a fascinating piece. second of all -- you know what i like about the mega millions? >> you think you're going to win it. >> all we have to do is update the number and people keep pinging on it all day long. >> don't feed their habit. >> i can't help myself. finally, the third thing we have, a little depressing story, awkward teens. if you're ugly and awkward in high school, you basically start already enduring a pay disadvantage throughout life. at least according to a new research paper out by some academics. they looked at a single high school and compa

scott cohen here with the story.his is a blistering article. >> the fact as you said written by a sitting federal judge in new york is amazing. judge jed raycough, never been shy about his opinions or afraid to upset the apple cart. he once ruled the death penalty unconstitutional and blocked sec settlements with bank of america and citigroup but his opinion piece in the new york review of books says what a lot of people frankly have been thinking ate the financial crisis. if the great recession was in material part the product of intentional fraud the failure to prosecute those responsible must be judged one of the more egregious failures of the criminal justice system in many years. you don't go after the companies because they are too big to jail and you don't go after the individuals because that would involve the kind of years long investigations that you no longer have the experience or the resources to pursue. >> i think the department has been approached by the department of justice on a professional basis, i

senior correspondent scott cohen is live in detroit to sort it out for us. >> tyler, saying detroit's situation is unworkable and dangerous, judge roads approved the largest municipal bankruptcy in u.s. history. will allow detroit to get considerable relief from its creditors including its unions which have a lot of unfunded pension obligations. the mayor who presides over detroit's bankruptcy filing is dave bing. if the waning days of his term he spoke this afternoon and tried to put the best face on things. >> i know there are a lot of people that are upset that are concerned about their futures, but we are now starting from square one. >> reporter: but under the situation now in detroit, the mayor has almost no power. it's all been delegated now to an emergency manager appointed by the state. his name is kevin orr, a bankruptcy lawyer by training. he, too, said today's ruling means detroit could get a fresh start. >> come with us, take this opportunity even in the process of litigation and appeals to try to get at the sorely needed reform that this city has got to achieve so we can

cnbc's senior correspondent scott cohen joins us from detroit. scott. >> good morning, ross.day, as you said. in order for detroit to be able to reorganize, to be eligible for chapter 9 bankruptcy production under u.s. law, the city has to show that it's insolvent, .that seems to be almost beyond dispute, but all that it negotiated in good faith with its critters. that's where the sticking point comes in. the unions and pension funds say the emergency manager who is running the city does not negotiate in good faith ahead of the bankruptcy filing in july, essentially presented them with a take it or leave it approach chald have meant drastic cuts for the pensions. they say that was not faith negotiations. but the emergency manager, kevin orr, says that he did what he had to do to satisfy that good faith standard. this decision will rest with judge steven rhodes, a very bus like u.s. bankrupt judge. he's promised a decision about four hours from now. you can be sure that whatever he decides will be appealed. and if he decides to approve the bankruptcy, that will set off a whole

present with the board of supervisors, david chiu with his fellow members, david campos, breed, cohen, farrell, scott wean. iener. also present from the state of california is president lee, citywide elected official and their various school board members, and i'll identify them in just a few minutes, as well as our police chief and our fire chief, of course his wife, the person who succeeded ed lee as the chief administrative officer, miss kelly. you see the official family of san francisco as posted for the occasion of the celebration of nelson mandela's life. many people did not know mandela personally, but symbolically, and it's, i think, appropriate mayor lee, the naacp nationally has caused everybody to pause, as was the occasion, the ceremony in south africa just two days ago when our president and three other expresidents all showed up for that celebratory service. the ncaap in the state of california and like wise, and to give you the perp specktive on the life of nelson mandela and the people who have been a part of every step that he's taken to rid this world of inequality and discriminati

scott cohen is here following the story and the fallout from the judge's unusual essay. >> this is reallybout, why haven't there been any high level prosecutions following the financial crisis? this is judge jed rakoff a sitting judge out of the securities division of the new york attorney's office so this is cases he may hear. he says i'm not saying there was fraud, but a lot of people say there are. if they're right and failure to bring cases in this issue, bring people to trial, is in his words one of the most egregious failures of the criminal justice system in recent memory. pretty strong words. >> is there blow-back by him sticking his neck out for being able to continue taking these cases? >> well we'll see what happens. i mean he's very careful, if you read this article. it's like a 4,000 word article. he's careful not to make pronouncements on any specific cases. by the way, that's one of the things the doj faults him on that they don't say there's any one case that he says should have been brought to trial or person he says should have been brought to trial that wasn't. we'll se

scott cohen has been at the courthouse all day. this is one of the biggest filings in history.s more court battles. in fact, the city's largest union within minutes of this ruling was announced, around 11:30 eastern time this morning, filed notice it plans to appeal and the stakes are huge. this ruling clears the way for massive cuts in the union's pension and health -- retiree health benefits cuts the union say are not only illegal but unconstitutional. some are talking about appealing all the way to the supreme court. others say their displeasure may not be limited to the courts. >> we're going to be out here in the thousands, in the tens of thousands. there's going to be no peace in this city. >> reporter: judge steven rhodes who read a 90-minute summery of his 140-page ruling from the bench says he sympathizes with the concerns but says the path detroit is on now is not only unworkable but dangerous. that leaves it to state appointed emergency manager kevin ord to refinance city finances. he says it's time for the parties to begin working together. >> come forward with us.

i will be chairing the meeting joined by john avalos and scott wiener and supervisor malia cohen many i would like to thank sfgtv for covering this meeting. >> any announcements? >> the clerk: yes, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices. items for today will appear on the 2013 board of supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated. >> okay. we have a number of items 1-9 and a hearing which is scheduled as item no. 10. we are taking that first. please call item no. 10. >> the clerk: item 130946: agenda[hearing - impact of sugar sweetened beverages to the san franciscans' health and health care sector]13094610.sponsors: mar; wiener and avaloshearing on the impacts that sugar sweetened beverages have on san franciscans' health and the health care sector. 9/24/13; received and assigned to the neighborhood services and safety committee.12/2/13; transferred to the budget >> the clerk: sf 101234 >> thank you very much. this hearing was sponsored by supervisor mar and wiener and avalos. i will turn it to supervisor mar. >> supervisor cohen as well. let me just say that we are here

scott cohen, cnbc new york. >>> still to come, we've got some political predictions. the stories washington street cared most about in 2014. but before we head to break, paul ryan's wish for the new year. debt reduction, get comprehensive tax reform for lower taxes. ♪ [ male announcer ] the parking lot helps by letting us know who's coming. the carts keep everyone on the right track. the power tools introduce themselves. all the bits and bulbs keep themselves stocked. and the doors even handle the checkout so we can work on that thing that's stuck in the thing. [ female announcer ] today, cisco is connecting the internet of everything. so everyone goes home happy. [ female announcer ] today, cisco is connecting (voseeker of the sublime.ro. you can separate runway ridiculousness... from fashion that flies off the shelves. and you...rent from national. because only national lets you choose any car in the aisle... and go. you can even take a full-size or above, and still pay the mid-size price. (natalie) ooooh, i like your style. (vo) so do we, business pro. so do we. go

i will be chairing the meeting joined by john avalos and scott wiener and supervisor malia cohen many would like to thank sfgtv for covering this meeting. >> any announcements? >> the clerk: yes, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices. items for today will appear on the 2013 board of supervisors agenda unless otherwise stated. >> okay. we have a number of items 1-9 and a hearing

scott weiner: thank you, mr. mayor. president david chiu: our next question by supervisor cohen. i understand she's stuck in traffic. i will read her question to the mayor. mr. mayor, many of us at the board of supervisors have worked with legislation to increase job access opportunities for residents in our city. while there are some integrated in the work force development system, i think we can do a lot more to bring a broader range of prior employers to bring residents to complete a job program. you have recently launched a techs to work and can you describe how that's going to fit with the outreach and what is the plan for this outreach tool. mayor edwin m. lee: thank you for supervisor cohen's question. as you all know we are living in an extraordinary time in an extraordinary city. we are seeing economic recovery all around us, new homes, offices, neighborhood developments and homes built and getting back to work. as i took office in 2011, today unemployment is 5.3 percent. making san francisco the fastest growing county in the nation. this nation is not result of one industry. san francisco is facing job gro

i just want to say personally to supervisors scott wiener and to you eric and also to supervisor avalos and i have not met you supervisor cohen that it's important that you are taking this on. there is a lot of discussion that your currently for doing it, i respect and your foresight and the end of the day it's about our children. a child doesn't decide to get fat. a child responds to what we give in terms of food and drink. those children are losing years of life. and you can make a difference for those children here and those ripples will go everywhere. i am impressed to have heard the analyst report, roberto reminding us that this is a health inequity and a health disparity and -- who is working with my children and one of my teachers who i have learned from and who you are obviously learning all of this important information. we are part of a movement. you are sphere heading that movement now. san francisco is just the most important place for this to happen. if colleagues that i am working in anyway, that will be an honor. and you will do a lot to change the health of this city. i think you have a winning strategy with g

scott's best movies of the year and tony joins us now. i can't wait to hear about this. okay. best one. >> best one for me was "inside llewlyn davis" the cohenlm about struggling folk singer in 1961 in new york like two days before bob dillon shows up and changes everything. the music is fantastic. the performance by oscar isaac who did all of his own singing and playing is phenomenal. it just kind of won my heart. very sort of, you know, melancholy film. very funny. just a very interesting portrait of a talented artist as a failed human being. >> justin timberlake is in it. >> justin timberlake with a beard. john goodman. and usual sort of cohen brothers tricks. so the story you think is going one place or no place in particular it ends up coming around to something else. >> this is a reality check. how far are you in the take for the cohen brothers always? >> not always. i loved "a serious man." i have been interested in all of their films. i liked most of them. lot of their movies have struck me too clever, too much about their own smartness not enough heart. this one partly because of the music has real emotion to it. it leaves you with