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CNN Student News Transcript: March 29, 2010

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CNN Student News - 3/29/2010
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(CNN Student News) -- March 29, 2010

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Afghanistan
Searchlight, Nevada
China

Transcript

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

CARL AZUZ, CNN STUDENT NEWS ANCHOR: Bringing you headlines from around the globe, this is CNN Student News! I'm Carl Azuz. Hope you had a great weekend. Let's get started.

First Up: Obama Afghanistan Trip

AZUZ: First up, President Obama talks about the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan during a surprise visit to the south Asian country. Yesterday, he met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The two talked about Afghanistan's ability to give security to its people. President Obama also visited an American military base, and in his words, that was the main reason for his trip.

U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: There's no visit that I consider more important than this visit I'm making right now, because I have no greater honor than serving as your commander in chief. And it's a privilege to look out and see the extraordinary efforts of America's sons and daughters here in Afghanistan. So, my main job here today is to say thank you on behalf of the entire American people.

Recess Appointments

AZUZ: Back in America, some of President Obama's political appointments are raising controversy. That's because they are recess appointments. Basically, the president filled some government positions without those people being approved by Congress. President Obama made 15 recess appointments over the weekend. They include positions at the Treasury Department, Homeland Security, the Labor Relations Board. Recess appointments aren't unusual. The Constitution gives the president the power to make them when the Senate is not in session. President George W. Bush made 15 in 2002. What's controversial about them is that if Congress were in session, it would have to vote on these appointments. So, some argue that making them during a congressional recess bypasses advice and consent. On CNN's "State of the Union" yesterday, one of president Obama's advisers argued why the recess appointments were necessary while a top Republican Senator argued why they're a bad idea.

DAVID AXELROD, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE ADVISER: We are in a position where the Republican Party has taken a position where they're going to try and slow and block progress on all fronts, whether it's legislation or appointments.

SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, (R) TENNESSEE: What it is called is checks and balances. And what the president has done here is throw fuel on the fire at a time when the civil, when the debate about politics is a very angry debate to begin with.

Tea Party Rally

AZUZ: The Tea Party Express is on the road again, headlining the "Just Vote Them Out" tour. It kicked off this weekend in Searchlight, Nevada; that's the hometown of Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The Tea Party movement -- Tea standing for "taxed enough already" -- has been speaking out against government programs and policies. Paul Steinhauser, CNN's deputy political director, explains a little bit more about the Tea Party's plans.

PAUL STEINHAUSER, CNN DEPUTY POLITICAL DIRECTOR: Tea Party activists say they oppose what they call the big government policies of this president, which include the federal stimulus package and the new health care reform law. A Tea Party Express spokesman tells me they'll make over 40 stops over the next few weeks, calling on activists to vote out of office lawmakers who they say are not listening to their constituents.

AZUZ: It wasn't just Tea being served this weekend. The Coffee Party held meetings across the country, as well. It's a smaller group that seems to be a response to the Tea Party movement. They both are upset with the government. But while the Tea Party, you see them holding large rallies, the Coffee Party is organizing smaller meetings to discuss political issues.

Trapped Miners

AZUZ: Moving overseas to China, where an underground flood gushed into a coal mine yesterday, threatening hundreds of miners. China's coal mines are the most dangerous in the world. More than 100 workers in this mine were rescued from the flood. But as of yesterday afternoon, another 123 workers were still trapped.

West Bank Closure

AZUZ: Next up, the Middle East, and a plan to close the West Bank region during the Jewish holiday of Passover. The festival celebrates the Israelites' escape from Egyptian slavery. It starts tonight and lasts for a week. The West Bank is one of the areas at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel's government says it's closing off the area because of concerns about violence. It's common for these kinds of closures to happen during Jewish holidays. Certain groups of people, like lawyers, doctors, and those who need medical help, will be allowed in and out of the West Bank.

Iraqi Election

AZUZ: And over in Iraq, the results of this month's parliamentary election are in. Now, it's time to put together the country's new government. Ayad Allawi is the man who's trying to do that. His party won the most seats in the Iraqi parliament. That means he will likely be the new prime minister, a role that he held back in 2004.

Earth Hour

AZUZ: And cities all over the world were involved in Earth Hour over the weekend. This event, designed to raise awareness about climate change, and the way it works is pretty simple: For one hour, you just turn off the lights. Normally, a screen going dark wouldn't be that interesting, but this is cool to watch. Famous landmarks all around the globe, all going dark. The Empire State Building, the Eiffel Tower. Three years ago, Earth Hour started off just in Australia. This year, organizers said 126 countries were part of it.

Shoutout

APRIL WILLIAMS, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Today's Shoutout goes out to Mr. Roberts' world history classes at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia! Which of these events takes place in April? Is it: A) Hispanic Heritage Month, B) Financial Literacy Month, C) National Nutrition Month or D) National Umbrella Month? You've got three seconds -- GO! April is Financial Literacy Month, a time to learn about finances and how to manage them. That's your answer and that's your Shoutout!

Managing Finances

AZUZ: All right, let's say someone hands you twenty bucks. What are you more likely to do: go to the mall or go to the bank? You know what your parents and financial advisers would probably recommend: the bank. And with Financial Literacy Month almost upon us, Deborah Feyerick follows a banker who's helping inner city students get rich in knowledge, knowledge that could help them get simply rich.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT, NEW YORK: You may wonder what the co-founder of a multibillion dollar hedge fund is doing in Harlem.

STEVEN MANDIS, HARLEM INVESTMENT TRAINING: That seems about right.

FEYERICK: He is teaching a course on money, or rather, financial responsibility.

What do you this is the biggest thing holding these kids back?

MANDIS: Access.

FEYERICK: Meet former Goldman Sachs banker and trader Steven Mandis. These are his students, most of them seniors at the Thurgood Marshall Academy on 135th street.

What would you say is the biggest misperception when it comes from people thinking about this area and the inner city?

MALCOLM WICKS, THURGOOD MARSHALL ACADEMY STUDENT: They think that we are street smart and not actually book smart. But, it is our goal and it is up to us to get past that.

FEYERICK: Malcolm Wicks and his classmates grew up in the inner city surrounded by crime, drugs, poverty, gangs. Now, once a week after school, these teens learn about things like investing and mortgages.

MANDIS: How much do you typically want to have as a deposit when you are buying a home? About 20 percent.

WICKS: Everything I learn, I bring home to my parents and my family. And so, they get a clear understanding of what I'm getting.

FEYERICK: Are they, are your parents, a little surprised? Did they say, "Boy, I wish I had known that?"

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

FEYERICK: Though Wall Street is just a subway ride away, none of them has ever spent time there, much less met anyone who worked there.

ANBESSA TIWONI, THURGOOD MARSHALL ACADEMY STUDENT: Before Steve came, it always seemed like it was a secret, and now he, like, unveiled it.

FEYERICK: Anbessa Tiwoni is 15 and the only sophomore in the group.

TIWONI: Yes, it's like learning to sing from Beyonce.

FEYERICK: Learning, for example, how to ask the right questions, like the day they analyzed the credit crisis. Roleplaying, Anbessa asked...

TIWONI: Do you have proof and documentation?

MANDIS: And I said, geez, if somebody had just asked that common question at the beginning, we would probably would not be in this big a trouble as we are. And it's a matter of giving them the confidence that they understand that that's actually a very good question. That's sort of a big part of finance.

FEYERICK: Before you started this class, when you thought about people who were really rich, who did you think of?

SHAQUEEN HINTON, THURGOOD MARSHALL ACADEMY STUDENT: Bill Gates.

FEYERICK: Who else?

HINTON: Oprah Winfrey.

TIWONI: Athletes.

FEYERICK: Now, they have learned to see wealth differently.

HINTON: It's not about how much you can spend. It's about how much you can save.

FEYERICK: It's about how much you get to save. And Malcolm?

WICKS: She took the words out of my mouth.

FEYERICK: In your mind, what is success? If these kids go off to run a Fortune 500 company, or something perhaps more modest?

WICKS: Success, I think, is for them to be happy, and I think part of happiness is having control of your own financial destiny.

(END VIDEO)

Blog Promo

AZUZ: So, do you have control of your financial destiny? Maybe you don't have enough money yet to control. But this Financial Literacy Month, we want to know what questions you have about money, besides how to get it. You might ask how to best invest your savings, what you should do with 20 bucks. Ask on our blog; we may answer on our show! Also, for a list of financial terms, check out our free Financial Glossary. It's all as close as CNNStudentNews.com.

Before We Go

AZUZ: Before we go, these pictures are great! The police are usually trying to stop a getaway. But this officer's trying to make one. Can you blame him? That dog is tearing the bumper right off of his car! You've heard of obstruction of justice? This is destruction of justice! That dog is either really mean or really hungry; we can't figure that out. Nobody was hurt in this, including the dog; he's now back with his owners. But he does have to take obedience classes.

Goodbye

AZUZ: And that seems fair. While the dog probably begged for forgiveness, the judge wouldn't roll over on the punishment. We better stop before we bite off more than we can chew. For CNN Student News, I'm Carl Azuz.