• February 17, 2006 | 4:00 p.m. ET

Justice finally coming for Natalee Holloway?  (Rita Cosby)

What a whirlwind it was in the newsroom when word came out that the parents of Natalee Holloway were taking a bold, new step.... slapping Joran van der Sloot and his father with a civil lawsuit.

How they did it is quite remarkable and involved heavy orchestration on three continents. They learned that the van der Sloots were all flying into New York City for a television interview with ABC News. The van der Sloots thought they'd be able to quietly come to town, but the Holloway legal team got tipped off of their plans, and delivered a big surprise.

I'm told that Joran's father was served as soon as he left a posh NYC hotel, that Holloway's team was watching his every move, waiting for him to leave the premises. Meantime, an equally stealth former official from Scotland Yard was covertly sitting a few rows behind Joran on his flight from Holland to JFK, and before Joran even got off the plane, he was served with his papers, not even knowing at that point what happened to his father soon before that.

It certainly made for a powerful, new development in a case that in the last few weeks has had few signs of movement. The question is: Will courts rule that the Holloway family does have jurisdiction to file this suit? And, if so, what will Joran and his father's response be, if any? It moves the case from Aruba, which so far has not produced any results, to U.S. soil, and that alone, even in making the headlines, sends a strong signal that this family is determined to get answers one way or another and get justice for Natalee.

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• February 10, 2006 | 4:51 p.m. ET

New side to happy, young family (Rita Cosby)

Today, court documents and various other reports are revealing a whole new side to what seemed like a happy, young family and a happy young man, 27-year-old Neil Entwistle. Now in Boston, covering the story, I'm learning so many new twists and turns that could have contributed to this horrible crime... the brutal murder of a 27-year-old woman and her 9-month-old baby.

On the surface, Neil Entwistle seemed like the perfect husband, a new father; he was seen hugging his beautiful daughter Lillian in photos at Christmas. But now, months later, we're hearing about some horrible, dark secrets in his life. The district attorney believes that his financial distress contributed to Entwistle's allegedly killing his wife and child. We're seeing now how bad his finances really were. He owed tens of thousands of dollars in England and more than thirty-thousand in the U.S. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. He had to pay twenty-seven hundred dollars a month for rent on his big home and four-hundred dollars a month for his BMW. All the while, he has no job.

Court documents also show he may have been dissatisfied with his sex life with his wife and that she may have recently found out about his internet scams and "discussed the matter" with him. In addition to all this, there is word he was looking on the internet recently, prior to the crime, searching for tips on how to commit suicide.

Putting all of this together paints a very different picture than the smiling Neil Entwistle family and friends thought they knew. It's understandable why today his wife's family, most important of all, feel incredibly betrayed.

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• February 9, 2006 | 5:00 p.m. ET

At the scene of an unspeakable crime (Rita Cosby)

I'm here now in Hopkinton, Massachusetts in front of the Entwistle's home. It is a very quiet Boston suburb that today is rocked by the revelation that one of their own neighbors is now accused of killing his own wife and 9-month-old daughter. One of Neil Entwistle's neighbors told us that they are "numb." But it is even more difficult now knowing Neil Entwistle is charged with this unspeakable crime, telling us "it would have been better if it was somebody else."

Even though he had only lived here ten days, the neighbors are still stunned at this crime so close to home. Ever since I arrived here midday, I have been meeting with Joe Flaherty, spokesperson for Rachel Entwistle's family, who said that they feel "so betrayed." I have also talked to a spokesperson with the District Attorney's office of Middlesex County who told me they feel they have a strong case but believe it will be a long process since he is already clearly fighting extradition from England where he was arrested earlier this morning.

The crime in and of it's self is so sad, to learn that a mother and a baby were shot execution style in their own bed. And now, what most of us suspected, that the husband is accused of pulling the trigger. We can now only hope that a sense of justice can provide comfort for Rachel Entwistle's family and friends.

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• February 2, 2006 | 12:44 p.m. ET

Massachusetts Double murder becomes international mystery
(Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

Many of you have been sending in your e-mails to us comparing the Entwistle murder mystery to the Scott & Laci Peterson case.  Before anyone jumps to that conclusion, however, we must find more answers.  There are so many twists in this Massachusetts double murder, and with each passing day, we learn more details that intrigue us to find out who would kill a mother and her baby girl.

FREE VIDEO Entwistle murder mystery Feb. 1: Neil Entwistle, husband of murdered Rachel Entwistle and their baby daughter, says he can't remember how he got to England. MSNBC

Hopkinton, Massachusetts is a quiet and sleepy community about 30 miles west of Boston. I have only been to Hopkinton once to cover the Boston Marathon; Hopkinton is the town where the race starts every year.

Residents there have not seen a murder case in more than a decade, if that gives you a better sense of the quaint suburb.

It is heartbreaking to see the beautiful pictures of mother, Rachel, and her 9-month baby girl, Lillian, in happier times.  We all wonder what British husband and father, Neil Entwistle, knows about this tragic crime as he remains silent with his family in England.

In the London "Sun" newspaper, a family source is quoted as saying Neil Entwistle called Rachel's family and said, "I can't remember how I got to England.  Is it true Rachel and Lillian are dead?"  So, what's behind the husband's alleged confused state of mind? 

I spoke at length to former Middlesex County prosecutor Gerry Leone about this report, and he believes that this could be the beginning of the "dazed and confused" defense by Neil Entwistle.  Leone told me that he (Neil Entwistle) may be feeling the pressure bearing down on him from authorities in Massachusetts.  Middlesex County DA Martha Coakley is known to be a tough and thorough prosecutor, who fights for justice for the victim. 

No matter who committed this senseless crime, the media must also continue to search for answers for the sake of Rachel's family and friends. 

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• February 1, 2006 |  11:20 a.m. ET

Golfing in heaven (Rita Cosby)

I wanted to write to honor a fine man and dear friend, Tony Ancona, who suddenly passed away several days ago. In life, many of us have had mentors, people who have looked out for us along the way, and Tony was that to me, and much more.

When I was a young journalist-almost two decades ago-I interned for the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather," and I met this wonderful, smiling cameraman who took me under his wing. He helped me get anchoring and interviewing roles on New York cable stations, and took a genuine interest in seeing that I would succeed. He believed in this young, bright-eyed journalist, who dreamed of one day hosting a T.V. show.

Tony was no ordinary cameraman; he was a walking history book of the television business itself. He was the cameraman for such legends as Edward R. Murrow, Jackie Gleason, Ed Sullivan, and was known as Arthur Godfrey's favorite photographer. Tony has experienced and led the way in every change in the T.V. business in the last 60 years, going from film, to tape, to now digital.

MSNBC TV Rita Cosby with Tony Ancona

He also became my golf instructor, and in the rare chances I got to play, even with my hectic schedule, he would meet me on the course in N.Y. or Myrtle Beach, always with a smile. He had the most infectious, easy-going personality, never saying an unkind word about anyone. He truly loved life and loved everyone. He also loved golf, and the competition, and if you watched the Masters Golf Tournament, Tony was always the guy shooting the famous 16th hole.

I saw Tony on my birthday last November, when I had a little dinner party, and he was in his usual form, toasting and laughing. I just learned through mutual friends last Saturday night that Tony was diagnosed with severe pancreatic cancer, which had spread to his liver, and that he had approximately one to two years left. I was hoping to see him in a few days. He wrote an e-mail to me two Fridays ago, talking about going golfing and having lunch, so clearly he was still in good spirits and seemed to have strength left. To my total shock and sadness, I received a call suddenly last Monday, saying Tony, age 78, had passed that same Saturday night. Needless to say, I was devastated since I did not get a chance to see him, but so thankful he died without pain, in his sleep, dreaming of golfing and seeing dear friends.

It was fitting that in Tony's casket they placed a golf ball and tee, and he was wearing his favorite golf tie. I learned so much from Tony Ancona, to enjoy every moment of life, since it is precious and we never know how much longer we have on this earth. I will miss his friendship and never-ending support, and I will continue to help young people in this business who now come to me as their mentor, because I know how much it meant to have Tony's support through the years. Helping others will be his legacy and whenever I swing a golf club, no matter how good or bad that swing is, I will remember Tony's love of the game and love of life. I will miss him dearly.

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• January 26, 2006 |  5:57 p.m. ET

Actor Stephen Baldwin Tries to Clean up the Neighborhood (Rita Cosby)

I had a great time talking to actor Stephen Baldwin, who will joined me to talk about how he plans to run out of town the sex shop

FREE VIDEO Actor Stephen Baldwin Jan 26: Actor Stephen Baldwin joined MSNBC-TV’s Rita Cosby to discuss his fight to keep a pornography store out of his neighborhood. MSNBC

that is opening near his estate. I've known Stephen for several years now and have been impressed with his drive to make a difference and fight for what he believes in.

A born-again Christian, Stephen parked himself outside the sex store a couple of weeks ago, actually photographing the construction and taking names, so that once the store opens in a few months, he is armed with material to shame them from ever coming back.

Stephen Baldwin doesn't like that the store is within a quarter-mile of the community's residential area, where many kids and mothers drive through every day. He's even enlisting local students of the nearby Nyack College to protest on opening day.

However, not everyone agrees with Stephen that the porn shop has no right to be there. The chairman of The Planning Board of Nyack released a statement in which he laid out requirements for the location of the porn shop. He said that the store cannot be any closer than 200 feet to a residential property and that residents can impose conditions through the courts, but not prohibit them entirely.

How does Stephen respond to the official word? Will he still turn out to protest when the store opens? Watch this video to see my exclusive interview and hear, first-hand, how the passionate actor plans to take matters into his own hands.

• January 24, 2006 |  12:37 p.m. ET

Dr. Henry Lee in action (Rita Cosby)

Tonight we will have noted forensic expert, Dr. Henry Lee, renowned from the OJ Simpson trial, on our show at 9pm/1am EST. I have so many questions I want to ask him after seeing him in action firsthand yesterday in Miami.

He combed the cruise ship, "The Brilliance of the Seas," like it was a piece of art, checking every nook and corner, seeing if any trace evidence still remains although it's been more than six months since honeymooner George Smith disappeared from the ship. Dr. Lee told me he's driven to help George Smith's family get some answers and I believe if anyone can do it, it is Dr. Lee.

FREE VIDEO Cruise ship mystery Noted forensic scientist Doctor Henry Lee may have discovered something significant while investigating the ship that newly wed George Smith disappeared from last July. MSNBC

As soon as he arrived to inspect the ship, he immediately went to the balcony of Smith's cabin and began snapping photos and pulling out his measuring sticks from every angle. He clearly was focused on the left side of the balcony when you face the ship, he kept touching the low-lying chairs on the balcony to see if Smith, who was over six feet tall, could've rested his feet on a chair or used it to prop himself up and accidentally fall overboard.

It was quite a surreal scene; there were several news choppers hovering above, and many cameras on the ground, watching his every move, trying to determine exactly what he was looking for. After all the months that I've been covering this story, it was powerful for me to see how far George Smith appears to have fallen... some 22 feet, three floors down, and when I saw the actual ship and where his cabin was, it saddened me to think what his final moments may have been like.

I am still puzzled as to what happened. Dr. Lee told me that he found something significant on board the ship, something relating to the canopy. He also said he tested the canopy to see if it was washed over as the cruise line has stated previously or painted over as some have wondered. Could he have found blood traces still on that canopy after all these months? MSNBC analyst and former FBI profiler Clint Van Zandt made an interesting analogy that these surfaces are not like glass, but rather more like an English muffin, with bumps, where blood and other evidence could still be found even if they weathered tough conditions in the open seas. Was blood found, and was it only George Smith's blood, or was there a fiber or hair located in a crack or indent? Could a clue have been sitting there dormant since July even after the cruise line itself surely has had countless people of their own inspect every locale?

Let's pray a miracle happens here and the Smith family gets some answers finally. Maybe Dr. Lee can deliver a forensic miracle. Be sure to tune in tonight to see where he thinks the investigation is headed now.

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• January 20, 2006 |  9:30 a.m. ET

'Dummy' to help in cruise ship mystery (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

He's one of the best forensic experts in this country, and now he's getting involved in the case of honeymooner George Smith who vanished from a cruise ship this summer.

Dr. Henry Lee is going to Miami on Monday to see for himself what clues are left on board that ship, "Brilliance of the Seas".

Dr. Lee was hired by George Smith's bride, Jennifer Hagel, and her attorney. I had the opportunity to go inside Dr. Lee's lab at the University of New Haven in Connecticut to get an exclusive preview of what he hopes to find out that could help crack this case.

He showed me all of the various equipment that he will bring with him on board.  One of the things that fascinated me the most was a dummy that he will use.

Dr. Lee will add weight to the dummy so that it matches George Smith's approximate weight.  He will use the dummy to test various scenarios: "If someone picks up the dummy and throws the dummy, what is the most likely location where the dummy is going to land?  If someone threw a person overboard, how far will they go?  If someone falls off the railing, then we want to see where he most likely landed," Dr. Lee explained.

Royal Caribbean is only allowing Dr. Lee to be on board the ship for about two hours.  Although many have questioned why the cruise line is rushing Dr. Lee and putting such a time restriction on such an important job, Dr. Lee seemed to understand their explanation that the ship will only be in the Port of Miami for a few hours on Monday before the ship goes back out to sea.

If everything works smoothly, he expects to be able to conduct some basic analysis, measurements and a reconstruction of what happened in the cabin where George and Jennifer stayed on their honeymoon cruise.

Even though the FBI has removed the carpet from the room, Dr. Lee says the room is still the same room.  He will look for any trace evidence that remains on the ceiling and the walls using various chemical tests to look for blood stains or biological material.

There is one big question regarding the canopy.  This is the canopy that is seen in a photograph taken by another passenger on the cruise showing an enormous amount of blood on it.

It has been talked about that the canopy has been painted over since George was on the boat. 

Dr. Lee says he will be able to test the canopy to see if it has in fact been painted over.  I asked him if it has been painted over, can he still test the canopy to look for blood in order to find out if that blood was George Smith's blood?

His response: "It will be extremely difficult."

Dr. Lee told me he wanted to take this case, which he now describes as a "cold case", because he was so moved by the Smith family and wanted to get them some answers.

I have had the privilege of knowing Dr. Lee for many years, and I honestly believe there is no one better to try to get those answers for George Smith's family and for his widow.  If anyone can do this, it is Dr. Henry Lee.

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• January 18, 2006 |  4:15 p.m. ET

'Dead body guy' (Rita Cosby)

I’ve interviewed some strange people in my career, but this one would have to be at the top of the list. Most of us don’t want anything to do with the idea of looking dead, but Chuck Lamb thrives on it - so much so that he enjoys playing dead for friends and family, and his greatest ambition -- his dream --is to play a dead body in a motion picture.

This fascinating father of six from Columbus, Ohio, has a popular blog site filled with dozens of photos of him lying dead in his bathtub, in his garage, even hanging from a ceiling fan. The New York Times profiled him yesterday, and he says his site has received some 300,000 hits -from as far as Uruguay, Iran and Spain - since then. One of my producers Andrew Dallos went around New York City with this living cadaver to see people’s reactions to him, and he sure looked dead to everyone. Why and how does he do it? We’ll ask him about that tonight at 9:00 p.m. on "Live and Direct. And we have a surprise for both him and our viewers. I hope you’ll tune in to see what it is.

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• January 18, 2006 |  11:30 a.m. ET

A father's double life (Rita Cosby)

Tuesday I interviewed a man with an incredible story who went from an ideal citizen and grandfather to an armed bank robber and crack cocaine addict, whose life collapsed into him robbing several banks, and having a long time mistress unbeknownst to his wife and children.

William Ginglen's has had a sad journey, which ultimately ended when his own sons spotted him on a bank surveillance tape and turned him into authorities.

FREE VIDEO Bank robber Turned in by 3 Sons Jan 17: Rita Cosby travels to Illinois for a jailhouse interview with a bankrobber who was busted when his 3 sons turned him in. MSNBC

We had his three sons on our show back in November, and you could see how anguished they were when they realized the robber's picture that was being distributed was their own father and that they made the painful decision to turn him in.  They went over to his home to confront him, after believing he may have been tied to 7 bank robberies.  They didn't find him, but they found the clothes that were worn by the bank robber and the surveillance tape and a very extensive journal, which revealed every sorted detail in their father's double life.  They said their father always taught them to obey the law and do the right thing, so they decided to call the cops.  William talked for the first time about what made him rob a string of banks in Illinois, and betray his own family.He was just sentenced a few weeks ago to 40 years in prison, and is currently being housed at the Christian County Correctional Facility in Taylorville, Illinois outside of Springfield.

At age 64, he knows the sentence will mean he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

He told me everyday he lives with the shame and regret of what he did, and the pain he caused his family.  Some of his own children still do not want to talk to him because of what he did.

It's was a stunning and emotional interview with a man who seemed to have it all who quickly hit rock bottom, and will spend the rest of his life behind bars with family members who never want to speak to him again.

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• January 13, 2006 |  12:35 p.m. ET

Fireworks Over Exclusive Cruise Ship Photos (Rita Cosby)

This past week on Live & Direct, we extensively covered the story of George Smith, the missing cruise ship honeymooner. We revealed some never before seen photos taken of Smith's actual suite by Royal Caribbean right after Smith was reported missing on July 5th and then two days later.

The release of these photos has raised a firestorm by the cruise line, who claim we are impeding the investigation, even though the FBI themselves could not give us anything specific as to why we should not run the photos. The "before" and "after" pictures show a very different view of the cabin. In the early picture, the room is fairly neat, in the l

FREE VIDEO Inside Missing Honeymooner's Suite Jan 11: Live and Direct has obtained exclusive pictures from inside the honeymoon suite of missing groom George Smith IV. What clues do they hold? MSNBC

atter ones; papers are crumbled and strewn in many parts, raising the question that many investigators are asking... Was the crime scene so contaminated no evidence could be obtained? And, how does all this square with the cruise line's own claim that they sealed off that room and secured it for six days, throughout the rest of the cruise?

Peggy and Sheldon Sandler stayed only a few doors down from the Smith's cabin and they say they witnessed some stunning actions while aboard. They say they passed by the Smith's cabin every single day, multiple times. The couple stated that they clearly saw Royal Caribbean cruise line staff sweeping, vacuuming, and scrubbing the carpet during the time the cruise ship claims that it was completely sealed off.

The cruise line says the couple is mistaken, that the cleaning crew must've been a standard cruise line crew doing regular cleaning in another cabin. But the Sandlers say they are certain it was the Smith's room, that someone wearing what amounts to a hazmat-like suit was seen checking the room one day for forensics, and another time they saw many cleaning people inside from the cruise line... and swear it was the same room a cruise official sat guard in front of, talking about "Jennifer" on his two-way. The Sandlers say the cruise line is more than mistaken.

We'll continue to follow this story and bring you new developments as they unfold. The Smith family has had to deal with a heart-breaking tragedy now for more than six months, and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them during this difficult time. We hope they will get the answers they desperately deserve.

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• January 12, 2006 |  11:45 a.m. ET

Contract Killings On The US/Mexican Border (Rita Cosby)

This story really angers me, and, after seeing the dangerous US/Mexican border firsthand, I find this new threat extremely concerning. We reported it last night on Live & Direct.

The federal government is now warning border patrol agents that THEY could become the targets of hired assassins. There's word smugglers have proved assassins with a list of names of border agents. This is a potentially frightening and disturbing development in the battle to protect America's borders. The confidential memo from the Department of Homeland Security says "Unidentified Mexican alien smugglers... have agreed that the best way to deal with U.S. Border Patrol agents is to hire a group of contract killers." Further information shows they are talking about smugglers hiring members of a deadly gang called MS-13 to be the assassins.

At the end of October, I traveled down to the border myself on a mission to show you how drug trafficking is turning America's borders into war zones. U.S. citizens are kidnapped and murdered on the border and close to both sides. This is a growing and urgent crisis that threatens every part of our country and especially now that Mexican smugglers have decided to actually target U.S. Border Patrol.

Back on November 2 and 3rd when my shows about the border aired, we showed you how police worried more violence would spill over from Mexico into the United States. Local law enforcement whom we spoke with say they're ill-equipped to handle the growing threat of shootings and murder on the border. They told me they are far outmanned and far outgunned. Sadly, the odds are stacked against us. With local Mexican deputies earning in one week what they make in a year, if they agree to cooperate with drug lords, it's easy to see why so many on the other side of the border are being bought off and turn a blind eye.

Last night, I talked with Jim Dorcy, a former border control agent, Sam Dealy of Reader's Digest who recently wrote about the deadly gang "MS-13," Former Mexican Migration Minister Juan Hernandez, and Glen Spencer of American Border Control, who has taken border patrolling into his own hands.

After hearing from all sides, you understand how complicated the politics and dangers are. Are Mexican authorities doing enough to crack down on their side? Are gangs even overwhelming for them too? Unfortunately, the terror is spilling over, and has been for some time. It's estimated the MS-13 gang has 30,000 members in 33 U.S. states, and they are considered ruthless.

With the "Colombianization" of Mexico, drug lords ruling certain pockets of that country, this is a major problem that every American should be concerned about, bleeding into our country... and soon it may get worse, putting the lives of our border agents even more on the line.

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• January 11, 2006 |  1:40 p.m. ET

Inside George Smith's Cruise Suite (Rita Cosby)

Tuesday night,   we showed you never-before-seen photos inside George Smith's cabin suite. The photos showed a disheveled room, evidence that private investigator Vito Colucci said proves someone had been rifling through and contaminating the crime scene. The cruise line says the trash and papers in the room were there after Jennifer left the room and before Turkish authorities arrived. So, could these exclusive photos obtained by our show crack the case or show an investigation gone awry?

It's too early to make that conclusion, but these photos certainly raise some questions.

We showed a photo from what the family has been told came from the first batch of pictures taken by the cruise line in the morning after George Smith went missing. It's unclear exactly what time this photo was taken... but some things are significant. The room looks like a normal cabin, slightly lived-in, with George Smith's jacket draped over a chair, a cowboy hat draped over bottles of booze and the safe closed. There are no visible signs of blood or foul play at first review.

The second batch of photos we showed display a room that's been trashed a bit or searched through... there are papers on the floor and crumbled pages around the safe, no cowboy hat, no trace of George's jacket. The safe is wide open. We only know that these pictures were taken sometime before the cruise was over. The cruise line has said during the six day period, until the cruise was done, the room was sealed off.

Looking at these pictures raise many questions still unanswered. Did someone ransack the room looking for something? Was the room trashed and the possible crime scene contaminated so no evidence could be found? Was it just sloppy investigative skills? Did Jennifer trash the room searching for items as she had help packing up? We do not know who did what at this phase.

I hope you'll tune in tonight as we'll continue to explore and show you more of these incredible and revealing pictures that, for the first time, allow you to see inside the room where the Smith's spent the honeymoon that turned to a nightmare. I hope these photos bring everyone one step closer to solving this case and learning what really happened to George Smith.

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• January 10, 2006 |  2:50 p.m. ET

Farris Hassan's amazing journey (Rita Cosby)

Andrew Dallos Farris Hassan and Rita Cosby

I hope you will tune in tonight at 9 p.m. ET for the rest of my exclusive interview with Farris Hassan, the extraordinary Florida private school student who snuck away to Iraq, without even telling his own mother.

Tonight, you'll learn what his school did to him as a punishment ... remember he did skip out on school. Also, hear what his parents and friends said when he returned to the U.S. safe and sound to a throng of television cameras. Farris also will tell you what's ahead for his future and which prominent politician called his family recently to commend his courage.

This 16-year-old boy is so smart and so driven by wanting to make this world a better place, that his words will inspire you. It's incredible to hear how he actually got to Iraq in the first place, and how he was taken out by the U.S. military, unscathed. But, to hear why he went there and if he'd ever do it again, is quite stunning from the mouth of a young man only age 16. His perspective on the world is remarkable and refreshing. Half the time I was talking to him face-to-face, I thought I was speaking to a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, not a teen just old enough to drive!

He also realizes that he unfairly scared his parents, school and friends. He owns up to his errors and deeply apologizes to everyone he hurt or inconvenienced along the way. He now understands you cannot just take off and go to Iraq without repercussions. This is one incredible teen, one of the sharpest and most adventurous young men I've come across as a journalist.

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• January 4, 2006 |  5:32 p.m. ET

Heartbreak in West Virginia (Rita Cosby)

TALLMANSVILLE, W.Va. - This has been one of the most stunning and disheartening stories I have ever covered. Tonight, I will again be Live & Direct near the Sago Mine in West Virginia and near a vigil with outraged and overwhelmed family members. Today, my heart truly breaks for the family members who lost their loved ones. And to add to that, the double tragedy that they endured by having been misled to believe for almost three hours that their loved ones were still alive.

At 9:00 p.m. ET, last night, there was such a sense of distress when word came out that one body had been located deep within the mine. At that moment,   I was live on the air talking to John Bennett whose father Jim Bennett was inside the mine. To see the pain and grief on this wonderful man’s face is something I will never forget. At that point, it was more important for me to be a human being than to be a reporter. I could not help but be visibly moved.

After hours of anguish, a dramatic turn of events unfolded. Right before midnight, we heard from multiple officials in touch with the command center that surprisingly, the twelve remaining miners were alive. Our jaws dropped at this stunning development which was later reiterated by hospital officials, a representative with the West Virginia Coal Association, the local fire chief, as well as many family members who were even told that the miners might be coming to meet them at any moment at the local church where they had been praying for the last two-days around-the-clock.

It was devastating to learn the grim reality about three hours later that only one of the remaining twelve miners had indeed survived. Additionally, it was infuriating to learn that officials had known approximately thirty minutes after midnight that their initial information was incorrect, and waited more than two hours to tell family members the horrible truth.

These poor family members who had been through their worst nightmare were sent on an emotional rollercoaster that none of us could ever imagine. This story has really hit me personally to witness this horrible turn of events with these family members who have now lost so much, including faith in mining officials.

Please keep the families of the twelve miners in your prayers, as there are still so many unanswered questions as to what caused this deadly catastrophe and horrible breakdown in communications. What happened to these families is outrageous and shameful, and I hope never happens again.

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• January 3, 2006 |  1:03 p.m. ET

Holding out hope In West Virginia (Rita Cosby)

As I write this, my team and I are heading toward the Sago Mine in West Virginia. It is a dreary day. The skies are gray and it is drizzling, symbolic of the mood. Just a few hours ago, International Coal officials announced that they still have had no communications from the 13 miners trapped beneath the earth. Officials also say that the carbon monoxide levels in certain spots of the mine are well above normal levels, giving less hope that the miners may have survived.

Tonight, we will have a one-hour live special from the scene in West Virginia where we will talk about what rescue efforts are still being done and how family members are holding up during this difficult time. West Virginia and the country are stilling holding out hope, praying these men, who work such a difficult and dangerous job, found a small crevice of clean air to wait in, and are still alive.

Miracles do happen in mines. We cannot forget what happened in Pennsylvania four years ago, when nine miners miraculously survived after being trapped for 77 long hours. Two of those brave men were on my show last night, describing how dark, cold and wet it was in the mine and how they clung to each other and prayed as time went by and they waited for help. Let's pray we have another miracle, this time in West Virginia.

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• December 30, 2005 | 1:34 p.m. ET

Saluting the heroes of 2005 (Nina Bradley, Senior Producer)

Happy holidays to all of our loyal viewers!

Rita is on vacation this week, enjoying some much deserved time off.

In her absence, our good friend Jane Velez-Mitchell is filling in.  We hope you've been enjoying watching her shows.  Rita returns to the air on Monday, Jan. 2nd.

As we look back at the highs and lows of 2005, covering the devastation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina will stick out as the most important story in my mind for this year. And one assignment I will never forget.

When Rita, booker/producer Tomomi Arikawa and I arrived in the badly damaged and flooded city in September, we couldn't believe our eyes.  To see it all in person is completely overwhelming and sad.

The stories of the brave rescuers, selfless volunteers and dedicated members of law enforcement who were helping others in such desperate need should give us all hope in the new year.

There are so many people to recognize and thank who went above and beyond for our team.  To Sheriff Jack Stephens and all the members of the Saint Bernard Parish Sheriff's Department, we would never have been able to do our jobs as well without your support and hospitality.

From left to right: Rita Cosby, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee and Nina Bradley, taken Sept. 12, 2005 in New Orleans.

Sheriff Harry Lee and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department made sure we had security and protection during our live broadcasts in downtown New Orleans.

The US Marshals were amazing, and protected us without thinking twice about it.

We were provided shelter and food on board the US Navy vessel, the U.S.S. Tortuga, and for that we will be eternally grateful.

There were the members of the New Orleans Police Department who are all stars in our eyes for their service, namely former Chief Eddie Compass and Captain Marlon Defillo.

The FBI was well represented by Special Agent in charge for New Orleans Jim Bernazzani and media relations director Rich Kolko, who always made a point of checking on our well-being.

To the wonderful and caring nurses of Charity Hospital who gave our MSNBC team shots to prevent us from getting sick.

We will never forget what all of you did for us, and for all of the other people who needed help in New Orleans.

You all taught us the important lesson that giving is much more rewarding than receiving.

To all of you, as we think back on 2005 and look ahead to new beginnings in 2006, we salute you and honor you.

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• December 22, 2005 |  11:40 a.m. ET

Missing Honeymooner's family looking to wife for answers (Rita Cosby)

I hope you'll tune in tonight at 9 p.m./1 a.m. ET for much more of my exclusive interview with the family of George Smith, the missing cruise ship groom, from their Connecticut home. On Wednesday night, I took you on a tour of his room in his parents' house. Tonight, you will hear from George's mother, father and his older sister Bree in a very candid and emotional sit-down interview in which they tell me they believe George Smith was murdered 100 percent. They talk about who they believe is responsible and how they feel about their daughter-in-law now.

The Smith family told me they would like to hear more from Jennifer Hagel herself. George Smith's father said to me, "She hasn't given us totally everything that I think she possibly could." George's sister, Bree, added, "I think she has stated that the FBI has requested that she keep certain things from that evening quiet." But they all agree, as you will hear tonight in my interview, that the truth will come out eventually. This family wants answers, not just from the cruiseline, but also from the woman closest to their son, his newlywed bride.

As you may have seen last night in my interview with Maureen Smith, George's mother, the Smith family is close-knit and they live in a close-knit community. Letters of sympathy poured in from customers of Cos Cob Liquors, the store the Smiths own in the small community. Driving around Greenwich before and after my interview, I was reminded of my time growing up there. My own relatives knew George Smith and his dad from seeing them at the store or nearby, so this case has really touched a chord with me personally and with many of my friends and family members.

It was also a tough interview to do, since my heart went out to this broken family. You could clearly see how much they all loved George, and how much they want answers. George's mother, Maureen Smith, pleads for peace in the case of her missing son. She asks that anyone watching, who knows something, please contact authorities. She also tells me that they are speaking out now because they not only want to solve this case, but they want to affect the way future missing and murder cases are handled by the cruise ship industry.

The Smith family blasts Royal Caribbean International cruise line because, even after all the attention surrounding the Smith case, there are still so few changes in the cruise industry in terms of security for passengers. Tune in to hear more about how the Smith family feels about George's bride Jennifer, how they are coping with his unsolved disappearance, and what they think needs to be done once and for all.

It is a riveting and revealing interview tonight on "Live & Direct."

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• December 21, 2005 |  2:45 p.m. ET

Missing honeymooner's family speaks out (Rita Cosby)

Tonight at 9pmET, we’ll show you the first look inside the life of George Smith, the honeymooner who went missing on a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship in July 2005. This week, I spent several hours with George Smith’s family: his mother, father, and older sister Bree. They are a close-knit family that is devastated by the sudden loss of George.

When I arrived at the door of their Greenwich, Connecticut home, they were extremely gracious and I could immediately see how heart-broken this whole ordeal has been for them.

MSNBC TV Rita Cosby with George Smith's parents and sister in their home in Greenwich, CT.

They showed me George’s bedroom upstairs, which is still untouched in many ways, still full of his awards and mementos. I could see that George was still a great part of their lives, since they had just recently re-organized his closet. They still kept out his baby bracelet when he was born, and his high-school yearbooks, with a quote in it saying how much he loved his family. The room was well preserved despite the fact he hadn’t been permanently living there for a few years. He had recently moved in to an apartment right before the cruise with his bride, Jennifer Hagel.

The family not only welcomed me into their home, but also welcomed me into their emotional turmoil. They were not afraid to hold back their tears during the tour of the home and the interview. You’ll be surprised to see how they feel now about their daughter-in-law and whom they believe may be responsible for their son’s disappearance. Tune for a revealing, very personal look into the cruise ship mystery that now, almost six months later, remains unsolved.

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• December 16, 2005 |  11:21 a.m. ET

The journey of Petra Nemcova (Rita Cosby)

Friday night, for the first time, I get to interview Petra Nemcova live on our show. I hope you'll tune in, since her story is one of heroism and survival.

She's the international supermodel and activist, whom we have come to know as the woman who lost the man she loved in the disastrous tsunami one year ago. Petra clung to a palm tree for 8 hours after her boyfriend was swept away by the massive waves in Thailand. She lived, but he didn't. The tsunami waves killed people more than 750 miles away. The death and destruction were staggering -- more than 200,000 people died as a result.

Petra will talk to me about her personal tragedy and how she is on the road to healing. She will also speak about her new book, "Love Always, Petra: A Story Of Courage And The Discovery Of Life's Hidden Gifts." The publication date will coincide with the one-year anniversary of the tsunami disaster and 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the "Give 2 Asia Happy Hearts Fund." This is a woman who's now driven to make a difference.

Petra is 25-years-old and grew up under communism, in what was then Czechoslovakia. Here is what happened almost one year ago today: On December 26, 2004, Petra was vacationing with her boyfriend, Simon Atlee, when a tsunami hit the Thai resort where they were staying. Her photographer boyfriend was swept away by waves that in some places were more than 30 feet high while she managed to cling to life. Her pelvis was shattered and she lost all movement in her legs. She fell in and out of consciousness until six men rescued her. 

Friday night, Petra will discuss the details of her dramatic rescue, how she felt when she first met Simon, and what it feels like now -- life without him. In May, Petra went back to Thailand for the first time since the tsunami. She will talk about that emotional journey back and how she is moving forward without Simon. Petra symbolizes the hope after the tsunami... the hope after such a tragedy... something we in America, after what happened after Hurricane Katrina, can understand.

Tune in to hear Petra's incredible story and learn what's ahead.

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• December 15, 2005 |  8:15 a.m. ET

A look back at Afghanistan (Rita Cosby)

I hope you'll tune in this Thursday night. We'll take you back into the War Zone for a behind the scenes look at the World Wrestling Superstars. We're going to have the best WWE wrestlers on the show with us -- Triple H, John Cena, JBL, and even the CEO himself, Vince McMahon, just to name a few. We'll also show you some of the best soldiers in action from our trip to Afghanistan last week. We'll talk about Bagram Air Field and what it was like for the wrestlers to perform for their real life heroes. They told us this was one of the most important shows they will put on in their entire lives.

In our one-hour special, we've got a close up look at the people who climb into the ring and "go at it," in what appears to be super human bouts of courage and strength. You'll see part of that spectacular show that they performed for thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan.

The presence of the WWE wrestlers not only impacted our soldiers overseas, but Afghan TV covered wrestling for the very first time. Following Afghan tradition, since many women there are still covered from head to toe in public, the wrestling divas were only shown in the ring from the neck up on Afghan TV. Believe it or not, wrestling has become very popular in that country, so this was big news there.

Tomorrow night, we will also talk about how these wrestlers perform in high altitude and in the surprisingly cold temperatures of Afghanistan in the winter. For me personally, this was one of the most incredible and rewarding trips I have ever been on. I hope all of you will tune in.

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• December 13, 2005 |  9:35 p.m. ET

Valley of porn (Rita Cosby)

We will take you to a part of Hollywood that few people, especially parents, even knew existed...San Fernando Valley, California, home to the 57 billion dollar porn industry.  Rita Cosby Live & Direct takes you behind the scenes for a look at the people who work day and night to make these triple XXX porn films which are now in constant demand by adults here in the America and across the world.

You’ll be surprised to learn who is involved in this business.  We're not talking back alleys but right out in the open in some of the most beautiful mansions in California, some of which might be in your own neighborhood.

It is an eye opening "Live & Direct" expose. Plus, we'll also have Steve Hirsch, the CEO of Vivid Entertainment, the biggest adult film company in the world. He'll talk about how porn is going high tech.

I'll be live Los Angeles Wednesday night. I hope you tune in for this provocative report at 9pm eastern.

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• December 12, 2005 |  8:34 a.m. ET

Our farewell to Afghanistan (Rita Cosby)

A severe dust storm and mechanical problems with our plane caused us to delay our departure from Afghanistan by a day. After being out the day before on patrols, where we couldn't see one foot in front of us in our armored Humvee, I was not surprised that a dust storm played a role again. It was also bitterly cold, which made a trip to the restroom or to take a shower a massive project, since it was located several blocks away from where our barracks were located. We lived exactly how our U.S. soldiers live everyday in these tenuous surroundings in an unpredictable land.

The wrestlers, my team and I spent our final night with many soldiers, taking pictures with them, signing autographs, and most importantly giving them hugs and words of encouragement about the great job they are doing for our country. Several of them wept as they said goodbye to me, knowing it may be a while until they see another civilian American visitor. They were so touched that the wrestlers put on an action-packed show for several thousand of them on Friday, and that we all cared enough to make the long journey there. The trip meant just as much to all of us, for not one wrestler complained about the rough conditions or miserable weather or terrain, you could tell they, like me, were genuinely honored to come and say thank you to these brave men and women.

I was a bit sad when we all had to depart in the wee hours of morning, knowing we were leaving so many young men and women behind. Every single one of these fine young soldiers was dedicated to the cause of democracy and cared about making a difference in a country riddled by Taliban four years ago. Thinking about that determination inspired me, but it was still bittersweet as I know after talking to so many of them, that the upcoming holidays will be very lonely for them, especially those who are on their second or third tours. I hope our visit gave them a smile and some memories to carry them through the tough road ahead. 

Rita Cosby poses with the pilots of the C-17 that brought her home from Afghanistan.

As we hit the road, we all loaded back on to our C-17 first en route to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and then to Andrews Air Force Base outside of Washington, D.C. Our flight weighed 75,000 pounds, I wondered if half of that was because we carried a whole wrestling ring back with us, or because one of wrestlers alone was over seven feet tall and five hundred pounds!

Our crew, originally out of Charleston Air Force Base, was amazing and allowed me to sit in the cockpit for landings and midair refueling, which was a stunning process to watch in action for the first time. A KC-135E aircraft filled our tank with 10,000 gallons of fuel in a ten-minute period as we flew about 300 miles an hour over Maine! The two planes have to go the same speed... and were literally approximately 15 feet apart when a long metal tube comes out of the KC-135E and the refueling took place.

I also had a chance to talk to some of the great guys from the 14th, 15th and 16th Airlift Squadrons based in Charleston: their commander, Lt. Colonel Rick Rupp, Major Ofer Cohen, Captain Jeff Leigl, and Major CD Williams. They are constantly shuttling soldiers and dignitaries to foreign lands, but on this night, they had about twenty wrestlers from the WWE, and seemed equally thrilled at the change of pace.  These men are constantly flying and thankfully gave us a very smooth landing as we arrived late Saturday night into Andrews Air Force Base.

I met a lot of people on this trip, whom I know I will never forget. This was an incredible journey from beginning to end. For me to see those remote bases in northeastern Afghanistan where our soldiers stand guard 24 hours a day was eye opening. These men and women are beyond courageous, they are extraordinary. On my final flight home from Washington D.C. to New York, I told a young Navy sailor about my trip and she wept explaining to me how much she believes it meant for the soldiers to see us, especially in a place like Afghanistan, where many do feel forgotten.

To participate in something so small and impactful as paying a simple visit to our troops, I will always be thankful to have had such a powerful and meaningful opportunity. I hope by sharing it with all of you, you too will think about our soldiers in Afghanistan and throughout the globe this holiday season. They have given us the greatest gift -- the gift of freedom, and it's something we can never repay.

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• December 8, 2005 | 1:34 p.m. ET

Outside the wire in Afghanistan (Rita Cosby)

I hope all of you will tune in tonight at 9 p.m. ET as we continue our special coverage live and direct from Afghanistan. We've just returned from one of the most fascinating stories I've ever covered. We went on patrol with the 164th Military Police Company from Ft. Richardson, Alaska, who've been stationed here in Bagram Air Field for nine months, with three months more left of their tour of duty. These men and women have a tough and courageous task. Their job is to patrol outside the wire -- outside the safety of the heavily fortified base.

The MPs gave us an extensive safety briefing before we took off with them in a three-vehicle convoy of armored humvees. We had to wear bulletproof vests and helmets, since they encounter the full spectrum of threats: small arms fire, rocket attacks, IEDs and landmines. The threat is ever present and difficult to discern. Just outside of the base itself, there are small villages with young children and adults waving to our humvees, giving us the thumbs up and cheering for the Americans.

But looks can be deceptive. What the captain of our patrol reminded us is that any one of those trucks on the side of the road or checkpoints we pass could be a ruse by insurgents, designed to lure U.S. troops in only to explode and cause casualties. The Taliban and al-Qaida still pose a major threat here, and with so many remote villages, some nestled in the vast mountain ranges, it is truly impossible to locate some of the enemy.

Later in the day, we rode to some of those isolated areas, small communities and Afghan police checkpoints set-up literally in the middle of nowhere. U.S. troops are extremely vulnerable going to these areas, but they do it on a daily basis in order to weed out the evil forces that controlled this country with an iron hand before the end of 2001 and they do it to supply the good Afghans who now are helping to protect their country.

FREE VIDEO Rita's Trip to Afghanistan Dec: 06 - Rita Cosby travels to Afghanistan with WWE Superstars who are going to entertain US Men and Women serving in the Armed Forces. Rita gets up close and personal with the wrestlers and the troops. MSNBC

One checkpoint we visited was in Nijrab Valley, in northeastern Afghanistan. A large metal transport container was transformed into an Afghan police station, with five men standing guard over an enormous valley and mountain range. You could see the famous Tora Bora area in the distance, where many believe Osama Bin Laden was in late 2001 and slipped away. The area around here is so vast and there are so many hidden valleys, it is easy to see how it could've been used by the terror mastermind himself.

Even the roads to get to the region we traveled to were so makeshift and ramshackle, and filled with dust. When we returned just a short time ago, everything we were wearing was caked with thick dust -- even our teeth. As we drove, we could barely see a foot in front of us, and we were told this wasn't even the worst amount of dust they've encountered.

Mother nature is making the war on terror even more difficult in Afghanistan, but these extraordinary men and women that I patrolled with today are relentless in their pursuit of democracy and emboldened by those smiles they see from the local Afghans alongside the road, who, only four years ago, could barely leave their homes out of fear. We are making a tremendous difference here, and I was proud to see some of that firsthand.

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• December 7, 2005 | 3:22 p.m. ET

Unforgettable Journey (Rita Cosby)

I hope you'll tune in tonight at 9 p.m. ET as we'll be Live & Direct from Afghanistan. The last twenty-four hours have been incredible and already affirming why we are here.

In Germany, the superstar wrestlers and I visited the wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Medical Center and spoke to Lance Corporal Michael Larson who lost ten of his fellow marines when an IED went off in Fallujah only a few days ago.

With shrapnel in his arms and legs, that 21-year-old marine was lucky to be alive and still so proud of his service to this country. It was really inspiring and you could see these wrestlers that I am with, who play every bad characters known to man in the ring, were visibly moved by Larson's words.

We then flew in a C-17 cargo plane approximately seven hours to Afghanistan. By air, coming into the country, we could see voluminous mountain ranges. Before we even touched the ground at Bagram Air Field, we were warned to look out for all the mines still often found in and around the enormous base.

Almost immediately after we landed, some of the wrestlers, my crew and I took off in a Chinook helicopter to a remote area of Afghanistan, to a forward operating base for our U.S. troops, located in a valley, surrounded by mountains, and with neighboring Pakistan only one mile away. There have been a number of grenade and rocket attacks on this base recently and it's blanketed by a lot of U.S. security, but with so many mountain ranges and caves nearby, there are many places for Taliban and al-Qaida to hide.

SSG Scott Cole (pictured right) sent this picture of himself and Rita in from Asadabad, Afghanistan.

When we arrived at this isolated locale, the young men and women were so thrilled to see their wrestling superheroes. Many of the young soldiers recounted the wrestlers' regular phrases in the ring, and even some of the local Afghans told me who their favorite wrestlers are, most of them recounted guys like "Big Show" and "Triple H," both enormous men who tower over the average Afghan man. More importantly, the Afghans told me how thankful they were that Americans liberated their country, and despite the rough conditions they are facing, every one of the American soldiers I spoke with said he or she was honored to serve our country and protect the freedoms we hold so dear.

Tonight, and Thursday night, we'll show you some of those proud soldiers, as well as renowned wrestlers who are proud to be a part of this great endeavor.

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• December 6, 2005 | 12:09 p.m. ET

Halfway to Afghanistan (Rita Cosby)

As I write this, I'm at one of the largest US bases in the world: Ramstein Air Base in Germany. In a few minutes, we are about to visit some of the wounded soldiers at nearby Landstuhl Medical Center, and I know it will be rewarding and emotional to see these brave men and women who have made tremendous sacrifices fighting for our freedom. I plan to share some of their stories on our show Wednesday night.

I'm joined by my MSNBC news team and almost twenty superstar wrestlers with the WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, and WWE management, like Chairman Vince McMahon. The wrestlers, who put on a good fight in the ring, are pumped up to see and thank the soldiers. That's what this adventure we are on now is all about, and this is only the beginning.

FREE VIDEO On The Road to Afghanistan Dec 05: Rita Cosby previews her trip with WWE superstars headed to Afghanistan to entertain US Troops fighting the war on terror. MSNBC

Our trip here was not the most comfortable, especially for a guy named Big Show, who is more than seven feet tall, over 500 pounds and barely fit into two seats of the jam-packed C-17 cargo plane we flew over on. I can't wait to see him put on flack jacket!!! All the wrestlers first had to put on a spectacular show in Charleston, S.C., and then they loaded up their gear, including the actual wrestling ring itself, onto the cargo plane at Charleston Air Force Base.

The plane was packed, pallets everywhere, tiny seats lining the plane's interior and not much room to move or let alone try to sleep, and it was an eight-hour flight. But these men and women (we have several wrestling "divas" with us) were real troopers outside the ring as well. They played a few practical jokes on each other as they slept, played cards, climbed all over the pallets, and talked about the mission ahead.

We plan to be here in Germany for only a few hours and then we head into Afghanistan. I know the troops there will be thrilled to see these wrestlers. At every stop so far, the soldiers, especially the young ones, are reciting almost every match these guys have ever had, they know their key lines in the rings and are flooding them with autograph requests. The wrestling world is a whole new world for me, but I've been amazed at the dedication and eloquence these guys have shown off stage and can't wait to see them in action in Afghanistan soon.

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• December 5, 2005 | 11:46 a.m. ET

En route to the War Zone (Rita Cosby)

In less than 12 hours we'll begin our long journey into Afghanistan. When we decided this show would be called "Live & Direct" when we debuted back in August, we imagined we would be broadcasting live and direct to you from various news events and interesting locations. But never, in our wildest dreams, had we imagined we'd find ourselves traveling onboard a military C-17 transport plane with a passenger list of wrestling superstars with names like Triple H, Big Show, and a guy who simply goes by the initials JBL.

As I write this, my team and I are heading down I-26... the main highway to Charleston, S.C. We've just finished watching an unbelievable wrestling show... complete with lots of fireworks, testosterone and live worms... used as a prop in the wrestling ring. World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE, is Pure Americana at its best. These guys are truly amazing athletes, to be able to flip one another in the ring, and entertain the roaring crowd for hours. In the ring, these are all rough and tumble guys... but when I was able to chat with them backstage, I learned most importantly, that their hearts are in the right place.

All the men we talked to are really excited and honored to be heading into the war zone. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon told me that out of all the shows they do throughout the year, the one they'll do this week in Afghanistan, is the most important one to him. He told me that as we head into the holiday season, it's critical to remember our men and women who are on the front lines, fighting the war on terror. There are still about 20,000 of our bravest stationed in Afghanistan, and sadly this year alone, some 87 of them have lost their lives in this war. During the last several months, there's been an escalation of violence with more roadside bombings and suicide attacks. It is in this climate that we now head there.

Wrestler JBL has been to Afghanistan four times before. As the son of a military man, JBL understands the sacrifice of our soldiers, the dangers of being in Afghanistan and the complexities of putting on a live show in a war zone. In a matter of hours, we'll be going to Charleston Air Force Base, where we'll be loading up our broadcast gear, which is nothing compared to loading up a large wrestling ring and transporting it halfway around the world.

To wrestling fans, our traveling companions are real superstars, but they know the real heroes are the ones we'll soon meet on the ground.

I hope you'll be sure to watch our live broadcasts from Afghanistan this Wednesday and Thursday. Please keep your e-mails coming as we want to pass on your questions and comments to our troops. You can even e-mail us during the show and we'll try to read some of them on the air.

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• December 2, 2005 | 8:24 p.m. ET

Afghanistan, here I come (Rita Cosby)

As I write this blog, we are preparing for tonight's show, but also preparing for what will undoubtedly be a fascinating and rewarding trip. As you may have heard, we are heading off to the war zone of Afghanistan in a few days, and will broadcast next week from there, with live shows from Afghanistan on Wednesday, December 7th, and Thursday, December 8th.

We'll be going with the WWE, World Wrestling Entertainment, with its colorful chairman Vince McMahon and the very colorful superstar wrestlers who all volunteered to be on this trip. These guys are fun to watch in the ring, but take this trip very seriously. This is the third time they have visited the troops right before Christmas, and you can tell they are visibly moved by what they see each time.

This is the first time they've done a show from Afghanistan, and I think it's so important that the brave men and women who are fighting the war on terror there are not forgotten. There's been so much attention on Iraq, but we cannot forget the first strike happened in Afghanistan. This was Osama Bin Laden's home, and may still be, and home of the Taliban. In the last year or so, violence has been increasing in Afghanistan. There are still suicide bombings and IED attacks, being a U.S. soldier there is still a very dangerous job.

I hope you'll watch the show tonight because we'll have on former Drug Czar General Barry McCaffrey and the man die-hard wrestling fans call only, "JBL," John Bradshaw Layfield, one of sports' superstars. It's amazing to see a guy that big well up with tears when he talks about how much this trip means to him, to be able to thank the troops firsthand.

I am packing some warm gear, as I'm told the temperature at times may be in the low 20's. And we'll be sleeping in cots, staying in the same conditions as the soldiers. It may not be the most comfortable trip I've been on.  But I have a feeling it may be one of the most meaningful and rewarding. I am honored to be able to cover what these brave men and women do everyday to protect our freedom, and I am honored to be able to look in their eyes and thank them, not as a journalist, but as an American citizen.

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• December 2, 2005 | 6:31 p.m. ET

Aruba tapes explained (Nina Bradley, Live and Direct Senior Producer)

The plot is thickening here tonight, and there appears to be more confusion regarding tapes of one of the three main suspects in the Natalee Holloway case.  The reason we are focusing on these tapes is because they could be a crucial piece of evidence in the Holloway investigation.
What's in question now is an interview conducted in Aruba with Deepak Kalpoe, one of the three suspects in Natalee's disappearance and one of the last people to be seen with the Alabama teen.

The main issue is whether Deepak Kalpoe said he and the other suspects had sex with Natalee on the night she vanished.  Depending on who you ask, you get a very different answer as to what exactly Deepak Kalpoe said on the tape.

The interview was conducted inside a hotel lobby in Aruba by California polygraph expert, Jamie Skeeters, who is a frequent guest on Rita's show.  Skeeters went to Aruba for Dr. Phil's show, and portions of his interview aired on November 17th on Dr. Phil's show.  Again, depending on who you ask, the authenticity of these tapes is being called into question.

Late today, we received the following statement from Dr. Phil's show, standing by the portions of the tapes what aired on their program.

E-mailed statement from Adam Buttner of Dr. Phil's show:
"We were provided a raw tape by Jamie Skeeters, President of the California Polygraph Association, who conducted the interview. Mr. Skeeters confirms that Mr. Kalpoe did in fact say what was broadcast on the Dr. Phil show. Subsequently, the Dr. Phil show submitted Mr. Skeeters tape to an independent forensic audio specialist who confirms that the substance on the raw tape is consistent with what was played on the Dr. Phil show and that no change of the content in question took place. Specifically in his expert opinion, the raw tape does contain Mr. Kalpoe saying she 'did' as well as 'you'd be surprised how simple it was the other night'.  The Dr. Phil show of course excluded unintelligible and irrelevant portions which did not change the content."

Stay tuned to our website for the very latest, as we continue to search for the truth about what happened to Natalee.

• December 1, 2005 | 6:53 p.m. ET

Heartbreak in the 9^th Ward (Rita Cosby)

My heart really breaks for those New Orleans residents who, for the first time, will be allowed back in the Lower Ninth Ward today to see their homes.  This is the first time that they are officially reopening the devastated area, so that residents will be allowed to see the damage that Hurricane Katrina caused on their homes and businesses. After what I saw myself last week when I visited the Ninth Ward, I know this will be a very difficult day for many New Orleans residents. 

The Lower Ninth Ward is right next to one of the key levees that breached, where a massive wall of water flooded the Ninth Ward within minutes.  Those who got out had little time to get their prized possessions.  You may recall that this is also where I had to travel by zodiac craft in the days following Katrina, since so much water was still standing in that neighborhood.  This is also where I unfortunately saw several bodies floating in the water, since many residents did not want to leave their homes. 

Here it is, three months later, and there is still no plan about how to rebuild New Orleans, especially the Ninth Ward. This is an extremely poor neighborhood, and most people have no flood insurance and no money to rebuild their lives. 

The Ninth Ward today looks like a war zone, as if the hurricane had just hit moments ago. There are blocks upon blocks of devastated homes, and no signs of life. It will undoubtedly be extremely emotional for residents to come back and see how little is left.  I am sure amidst the tears today, there will also be anger that this government did so little to help them beforehand… and now still needs to tell them how and where they can begin their new lives. 

• November 30, 2005 | 7:24 p.m. ET

Aruba e-mail overload (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

We are overwhelmed and so appreciative of all of your e-mails you have sent to us for our special report on the Natalee Holloway case.  It has been six months since she disappeared from Aruba, and even after all this time, this case still clearly seems to touch so many of you from all across the country.

Rita and I visited the island of Aruba right before Hurricane Katrina hit, and we have been determined to get some answers so the Holloway family can get closure.

We promise to continue to use your e-mails both on the air, as well as behind the scenes to gather new ideas to move the investigation forward.

I wanted to share some of the e-mails we received today.  This is just a very small sample of the hundreds of e-mails that came in.  Thank you for spending time on this!

E-mail from Tammy:
"I would like to know if Arubans can't handle the investigation, why not hand it over to the USA.  I'm sure our President will smoke em out.  Tell Mrs. Holloway I will be calling our Governor of Texas to get on board with this boycott and she can be sure of that.  Maybe we can get George W and the Texas Rangers to find out some answers."

E-mail from Henry Bivens:
"The Aruban authorities, through their handling of this investigation, have sent a clear message to the American public and the rest of the world.  That message is that their officials will either ignore or impede an investigation in the interest of their own more-privileged citizens and that Americans should not feel safe there."

E-mail from Margaret Solis:
"I would like to see an interview with the owner of Carlos and Charlie's in Aruba.  It was his business where the young underage people were drinking and gambling before Natalee disappeared."

E-mail from Debra Roberts in Tigard, Oregon:
"I was wondering if anyone is working with the Aruban or Dutch Government to promote change in the way the law is written with regard to missing American citizens... They could create a new law... "Natalee's Law" to allow the FBI to be involved in the case from day one.  And then the FBI could keep the family informed as they see fit."

We hope you'll tune in at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC.  Check back with Rita.msnbc.com for more information on the Holloway case.

• November 30, 2005 | 2:21 p.m. ET

Aruba mystery: Six months later (Rita Cosby)

I hope you will tune in to our one hour special tonight, since it is actually six months to the day that Natalie Holloway went missing.

This case has shocked so many people in many ways and we hope tonight's show provides insight and some answers. We are also asking all of you to send in any questions you may have about the case to , and we'll try to answer some of them on the air during tonight's show. We really want to hear what questions still puzzle you to this day.

I'll also show you what I learned when I visited the island.  When you see the areas that have been talked about extensively, and their proximity, it really gives you a better sense of what may have happened. I will show you from the air the key spots involved in this mystery, and I also will provide some new details from the ground in Aruba.

In my talk with Natalie's mom, Beth Holloway, she says she believes this case will be solved some day, that she will learn at some point what really happened to her precious daughter. Let's hope she is right, because when many of us see Beth Holloway, we realize Natalie could've been our daughter or sister or friend going on that carefree trip to a beautiful island country. I am truly amazed at the strength and resilience Beth has displayed these months, to hear so many varying accounts of what the three boys said happened to her, to hear Aruban authorities maintain they are still investigating — and to see so little progress. Beth Holloway is an extraordinary woman who's displayed tremendous courage and grace through her darkest hours.

I will also never forget hearing Aruban Deputy Police Chief Dompig say on my show several weeks ago, that the boys are "guilty as hell," that he just has to prove it. That was extremely unusual to hear out of any active duty deputy chief, and very telling. He believes the boys are lying and know a lot more than they are saying, but he says under Aruban law, he cannot do anymore unless new evidence forces that to happen.

Let's pray new facts emerge or someone finally has a guilty conscience. I hope whoever did this is finally held accountable so the next anniversary can be one of closure for this distressed and determined family. 

Please watch MSNBC tonight at 9 p.m. ET for more on the Aruba mystery.

E-mail:

• November 29, 2005 | 9:03 p.m. ET

My visit to death row (Rita Cosby)

San Quentin Prison Rita Cosby talks to death row inmate Tookie Williams on Nov. 14, 2004.

We've been flooded with e-mails about my interview with gang lord Stanley "Tookie" Williams, so I wanted to write further about his case and also my own visit to see him last year on death row at San Quentin.

Williams is an interesting case, and that's why I think his words and his actions have hit such a nerve, causing so many people to be passionate on both sides of the aisle. He was clearly a horrible person, co-founded the notorious Crips gang more than three decades ago, and spawned generations of gangsters of which we will feel the impact for many years to come. In one year alone in the 1970's, gangs killed at least 70 people … and that number is probably just the tip of the iceberg, since many of these crimes don't get reported to authorities.

Williams was arrested in 1979 for murdering four people, and convicted soon afterwards. He maintained to me that he was framed, saying as a muscular, "threatening-looking" black male, and a known leader of the Crips, that a virtually all white jury was quick to send him to death row. When I asked him what he'd like to say to the family of the four people he was convicted of murdering, he said he has empathy and shows sympathy for them, but he's innocent.

He also said "I want to live." Now the question is … should he? Williams’s case has opened our eyes about how we feel about the death penalty and if we believe anyone as bad as Williams clearly was, can ever be reformed. He has written eight children's books, and has inspired probably thousands of young people not to join gangs, fearing they'd end up like him. He also helped broker the truce between the Crips and its rival gang, the Bloods, and has been nominated for several Nobel Prizes. This is no ordinary inmate.

San Quentin Prison Visitor cell at San Quentin prison.

When I visited San Quentin about a year ago, it was quite a creepy place, just the idea of visiting someone who has a date with death. The guards thoroughly check all visitors several times before entering the visitors’ section for death row. The inmates, needless to say, are even more thoroughly inspected; guards do cavity searches when they come in and out of "the visitors' pen," which take about an hour each time per inmate.

Inmates are allowed snacks in their visiting cages, which are literally cages, app. four by six feet, and Williams ate chicken wings and drank coke as we talked about his case. Williams ate his food very quickly, as you could tell this was not his regular fare.

He is a big man, with a barrel chest full of muscles, but he is mild now in his demeanor, from what he showed me at least that day. He was courteous and continued to tell me that he wanted to make a difference. He told me he knew he could never erase his past, but that he believed he was starting to make up for it.  He also appeared to be quite educated and eloquent in his verbiage, words he learned from teaching himself in prison, since he was not well-educated before going behind bars.

The visiting cage in which I spoke to Williams for about an hour, was surrounded by armed guards with high powered weapons who constantly walked around all the visiting cages to make sure no item is passed between inmate and visitor, and to avoid a visitor from being taken hostage. It was an eerie feeling to be in there, as they took the shackles off each of the inmates and literally lock you inside with an individual inmate during the visit. There is nowhere to run, unless the guards let you out.

As I sat and talked with Williams, I could not help but look at the other cages next to me. In front of me, looked like a bit of a conjugal visit. A huge Indian-looking man had a female visitor, who every time the guards walked away, began to show him "some affection." On the other side, a more ominous sight, even Williams kept looking over at that cage. Another death row inmate, with a female visitor, who "had that crazy look in his eye." Guards told me later he was one of their worst offenders and they too were watching his every move to make sure he did not come close to our cage.

When I left San Quentin that day in November 2004, I remember wondering if a date would ever be set for Stanley Williams, or if his case, would drag along, like so many others, with no execution date ever set or carried out. I also felt of the many others on death row I saw firsthand that day, and many more cases I've heard about or seen over the years, Williams is one of the few who is trying to improve lives and reform, that he is rehabilitating himself and others. The question is … is it enough? Is it real? And, is it still too late?

I hope you'll click onto our website to read the transcript of our interview... and judge his case for yourself. California's Governor will hold a clemency hearing for Williams on December 8th, which is a sign that he, like many of you, are torn over this issue and at least want to review it further. We will be following Williams' case closely and keep you posted on all the developments which will happen soon, as the clock ticks toward his execution. 

• November 29, 2005 | 7:16 p.m. ET

Aruba boycott gains steam (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

There are new developments in the Natalee Holloway case, as another Governor is calling for residents of his state to avoid travel to the Caribbean island of Aruba.

Although Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's office is hesitant to use the term "boycott", they are showing their support of the Holloway family.

Huckabee's press secretary Alice Stewart told me by telephone this afternoon that there are several members of the Holloway family still living in Arkansas, including Natalee's aunt, Linda Allison, as well as Natalee's grandmother. 

"His heart goes out to the family, and he wanted to show that he is supporting them," Stewart said.

Just this week, Governor Huckabee's office received a letter from Alabama Governor Bob Riley asking the other 49 U.S. Governors to join him in his call for a boycott of the island.

Alice Stewart said that Governor Huckabee has been the first Governor to respond to Riley's request saying, "he has a great deal of respect for Governor Riley and he wanted to show solidarity to help this important cause."

Huckabee's announcement about Aruba may have even greater influence because he's been talked about as a potential candidate for President in 2008, and recently was named one of the best Governors in the country by Time Magazine.

Also late today, we have learned that Natalee's mother Beth has obtained a high profile New York attorney.  John Q. Kelly, who is a frequent guest on MSNBC shows, will now take a lead role in the family's efforts for justice.  Viewers and readers might remember Kelly as the attorney for Nicole Brown Simpson's family.

Tune in tonight at 9 p.m. ET for more.

• November 28, 2005 | 8:32 p.m. ET

Dennis Rodman in the house (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

Our entire staff is buzzing with excitement, as Dennis Rodman will be coming to the studio tonight live — and in person — for an exciting interview with Rita.

What is the best way for a journalist to prepare for an interview with the man best known for his outlandish public stunts? We think the best way is to have a good sense of humor about this special guest! Rodman's flair for the dramatic and history of wild antics has fascinated his fans world-wide, but perhaps they also took a toll on the former basketball bad-boy.

Rodman is promoting his new book with the eerie title, I Should be Dead by Now. That title should certainly catch your attention.  I know it caught mine. I wondered what the "Worm" was trying to convey by that title.  Is it that he is finally growing up (he's 44 now) and realizing he has lived on the edge for too long?

We can only hope tonight the ex-NBA superstar will live up to his crazy reputation and give all of his fans another reason to be grateful that he is still alive.

Please tune in for the interview at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC.

• November 23, 2005 | 4:30 p.m. ET

Heading back to New Orleans (Rita Cosby)

Rita Cosby, Lower Ninth Ward New Orleans, Nov. 23, 2005

Only a few hours ago I flew back into New Orleans. Even from the air the damage from Hurricane Katrina is still overwhelming and enormous.  This is my first time being back here since I covered Hurricane Katrina and ended up suddenly living in New Orleans for several weeks. 

Even though I've heard so many news reports about the lack of progress, it’s still stunning to see firsthand how much devastation remains.  In many ways, New Orleans looks like it was hit by a hurricane only a few days ago.  From the air, the tops of hundreds of homes and businesses are covered with blue tarp while many others have their roof torn off and continue to be exposed to mother nature. 

Driving on the I-10 freeway into New Orleans, I was surprised to see there was traffic.  The

Damage in the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Nov. 23, 2005

last time I was here in September my car was often the only car on the dark highway.   But it is still unclear where many of these cars are going since few stores are open and few homes livable in the city.  One of the few stores that was opened on an abandoned street proudly displayed a handwritten sign, “We’re back baby,” with only a few customers inside. 

Right now I am driving through the 9^th Ward, one of New Orleans’ poorest neighborhoods, which was literally demolished by Katrina.  Sadly, it looks almost the same today as it did when I left a few months ago.  It is still a ghost town and I don’t know how any of these residents will ever be able to return or recover.  We felt on this Thanksgiving holiday, it was important not to forget New Orleans, and those who lost so much.  I hope all of you will tune into our show tonight at 9 p.m./1a.m. EST as we show you New Orleans then and now.

Comments?  Email us at

Watch Rita Cosby: Live & Direct each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET

• November 23, 2005 | 11:40 a.m. ET

What you do for love (Rita Cosby)

After my show Monday night, I received so many e-mails from viewers who were understandably quite emotional about two of our stories, in both cases what people will do for love... and lust.

In a stunning day in court, a 42-year-old teacher who was charged with having sex with at least one of her teenage students was made out to be the victim by the judge! He told the defendant Sandra “Beth” Geisel, “They traded tales about you and talked about you behind your back. They demeaned and sometimes ridiculed you, putting your calls on speakerphone. They considered you a playmate; it even said so in their phone books.” Here, she is the teacher, albeit with many mental problems, yet the judge felt she was the one who deserved sympathy. Now, we don't know all the details of the case, but we do know this.... She is the adult, and as the teacher, has the ethical and moral obligation not to violate that sacred bond between teacher and student... no matter what. Many of you wrote to me expressing further outrage that this teacher got only a six-month sentence… and since she’s been in jail since August, she expects to be out by the holidays.

Another dismal case is that of 14-year-old Kara Borden, the Lancaster, PA girl whose parents police say were murdered by her 18-year-old boyfriend David Ludwig. Now, it turns out, that she left with him willingly after he allegedly murdered her parents! In a statement to authorities, Ludwig says he opened the car door and Kara ran up, saying she wanted to get as far away as possible and get married to Ludwig. The kidnapping charge against him has now been dropped, and now the big question is... did Kara have any clue beforehand that her boyfriend was about to brutally kill her own parents? In his car, police found a gun, dark clothes and maps... this was apparently a well-planned event, especially if you read hints in his own blog. Is it possible that this girl he was romantically involved with, and who wanted to marry him, had no idea of his heinous plot? I think this case is far from resolved, especially if you listen to seasoned investigators who believe there is still much more to this story than has been revealed.

Is it possible a lovesick 14-year-old would allow an older boyfriend to have that much control over her to allow him to kill her own parents? At the very least, she probably missed some key warning signs. But even if you look at this boy's blogs, he has a very dark, ominous side. I think parents especially should be concerned about this case, since Kara seemed like a typical teen who fell hard for an older guy. I also think parents get a big wake-up call when they hear about Beth Geisel who drank booze with her male students and sex with at least one of them. She teaches us what teachers should not do, and pays, what some believe, is a small price for her crime. Parents need to let their teens know bad examples come in all forms... and to be sure to report anything unusual, anything your parents told you not to do.

These stories happen over and over again around the country… and the world. Every year, we cover stories where teens all of a sudden turn against adults, or adults against teens, sexually and violently. The important thing is to look for the warning signs, and learn from other people’s mistakes.

Comments?  Email us at

Watch Rita Cosby: Live & Direct each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET

• November 22, 2005 | 3:50 p.m. ET

No sympathy for teenage 'victim' (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

There is a bombshell development in the case of two teens in Pennsylvania who are accused of having a secret affair that led to the murders of the girl's parents.  New court papers released from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania prosecutors indicate a very different story than what we all had heard before.

The documents say that 14-year old Kara Beth Borden was NOT kidnapped after all, and that she has told detectives she left with her boyfriend, 18-year old David Ludwig, willingly as they fled from eastern Pennsylvania to Indiana last week.

David Ludwig told detectives that the young couple planned to get married and start a new life together, apparently not with her parents in the picture. 

I have no sympathy for this young girl.  Many of us saw pictures of Kara at her parents' funerals this weekend, hugging family and friends as they mourned this senseless loss.

And now we learn that she was NOT kidnapped, and that she apparently went along with this!

This is an outrageous and pathetic case of puppy love gone totally wrong.  If what the district attorney is saying is true, then no one should feel sorry for her anymore.

Now we wait for the million-dollar question to be answered: will Kara herself face any charges in relation to her own parents' murders?  Stay tuned.

Comments?  Email us at

Watch Rita Cosby: Live & Direct each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET

• November 21, 2005 | 7:33 p.m. ET

'Syriana' and Matt Damon (Rita Cosby)

I hope you will all tune to see my interview with Matt Damon tonight at 9 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET. We all know him as a talented actor, who rose to fame with his pal Ben Affleck, with their critically acclaimed drama "Good Will Hunting." Since that Oscar-winning film, he has done numerous other blockbusters, but beyond his great acting, he really came across as a regular guy, and someone who cares about the world we live in.

When I arrived to the hotel to meet his publicist and conduct the interview, he stood up, shook my hand, and smiled warmly. There was no pretense about him or his mannerisms. He was far from a "prima donna," and seemed interested to answer any question I had. Nothing was off limits.

We first talked about his new film, "Syriana," set to hit theaters nationwide on December 9.  As a journalist who has covered terrorism for some time, I was fascinated by the film, which deals with the mindset of suicide bombers, big oil companies and corruption in government. This is far from a fluff film — and intriguing on many levels. You could tell Matt Damon was fascinated by the dark world of deals in the Middle East, and by whom and how some big oil companies are really run. Even the filmmaker Stephen Gaghan allowed him to be blindfolded and thrown in the back of a stranger's car in order for him to meet the leader of Hezbollah face-to-face. Talk about film preparation!

Matt Damon said the film opened his eyes to back door deals in Washington, which we in the press, often never hear about.

He also said everything in the Middle East is not "black and white," saying there is such desperation to force someone to the point of blowing themselves up, believing a better life is around the corner for him and his family. Matt Damon reminded me, as he should remind all of us, that this issue is so complex, so rooted for centuries, that there is no quick fix. The corruption is overwhelming, but the intensity of the anger is as well.

I think you'll be surprised to see the political interests of Ben Affleck's counterpart, and whether or not he rules out running for office himself someday.

See my interview with him tonight on MSNBC.

• November 18, 2005 | 7:12 p.m. ET

Have you seen Amy Bradley? (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

Natalee Holloway is not the only young woman missing in the Caribbean.  Seven years ago, Amy Bradley disappeared from a cruise ship.  The ship was docked on the tiny island of Curacao, less than 30 miles away from Aruba.  The 23-year old Chesterfield, Virginia native was on the trip with her parents and her younger brother.

Iva and Ron Bradley have personally made nine trips back to Curacao to search desperately for their beloved daughter.  They have also sent investigators to search the neighboring island of Aruba where Natalee Holloway was last seen.

Now, Bradley's case is gaining momentum from recent publicity, like this week's appearance on Dr. Phil's syndicated show.  I just spoke to Amy's mother, Iva, who told me she "absolutely" believes her daughter is still alive, and that Amy could be a victim of the sex trade industry that runs rampant in that region of the world.

One of the main reasons Iva believes that Amy is alive is because of a new picture sent in by an anonymous e-mailer. The picture has been analyzed by experts who say that it IS possible that it could be Amy.

There have been two other clues that have kept the Bradley family's hopes alive.

In 1998, a scuba diver named David Carmichael says he saw a woman walking on a Curacao beach.  He says the woman looked very similar to Amy, and also had tattoos similar to the tattoos on Amy's body.  "Those tattoos separate Amy from anyone else," her mother told me by telephone this afternoon.

Carmichael's sighting is apparently not the only one.  Iva told me that in 1999 a Naval officer visited a brothel on Curacao and a woman at the brothel approached him to say, "Please help me.  My name is Amy Bradley."

If you have any information on Amy Bradley or her whereabouts, please call 1-804-276-8503 or log on to the website that has been set up to help find Amy.

Get more on this story tonight at 9 p.m. ET, only on MSNBC.

• November 17, 2005 | 7:54 p.m. ET

Rita at the movies (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

Rita just returned from an afternoon screening of Matt Damon's new movie "Syriana" with a big smile on her face, she told all of us it is a fabulous film.

You might be asking why Rita is spending precious time in the afternoon seeing a film? Well, there is a very good answer. We are all so excited to brag that Oscar-winning actor Matt Damon will be appearing with Rita on our show next Monday night.

Rita said the political thriller was "fascinating" and after her many years of covering terrorism, she said it really intrigued her to see what really goes on behind closed doors of the CIA. George Clooney (who also stars in the film) plays a career CIA operative.

Damon plays an up-and-coming oil analyst. If the compelling on-screen chemistry between Damon and Clooney that we all saw in "Ocean's Eleven" & "Ocean's Twelve" continues with "Syriana" ... then I predict a hit!

The movie is loosely based on the book, See No Evil by Robert Baer. Bob Baer is a frequent guest on MSNBC, and we have always enjoyed his work and his expertise, especially when discussing the war on terror on our air.

Our executive producer, Angie Dorr, has also been to an early screening of the flick and she said if you love the movie "Traffic", you will love this one too!

It opens next Wednesday, November 23.

On tonight's show, Rita will have a special report on the possible theory that Natalee Holloway is still alive. This theory is gaining some momentum from talk show host, Dr. Phil McGraw. Earlier today, Dr. Phil revealed what evidence (or lack of) he has to support this theory on his syndicated show.

Here is a link to our good friend Clint Van Zandt's article about his appearance on Dr. Phil's show. It is a great read!

E-mail:

• November 16, 2005 | 6:57 p.m. ET

A loss in and out of the ring (Rita Cosby)

Often stories we cover touch us personally, but the loss of professional wrestling star Eddie Guerrero, truly stunned me as I had the pleasure of meeting him backstage after one of his spectacular wrestling events more than a year ago. Now I understand why he represented so much to millions of loyal fans, who followed every move he made inside the ring and outside as well.

It was the first time I went to see a professional wrestling match, and I had no idea what to expect. I thought it could be overwhelming or look so staged, but it turned out to be exciting and addicting. One of my dear friends is now married to wrestling great "JBL," John "Bradshaw" Layfield, and she encouraged me to come see the sport with her first-hand. A lot of people in the crowd were surprised and delighted to see me there... and at first, I quietly observed the whole scene. But by the end of the night, I was cheering with the best of them.

FREE VIDEO WWE superstar dies Nov. 16: MSNBC-TV's Rita Cosby interviews WWE Chariman Vince Mcmahon about the loss of WWE Superstar Eddie Guerrero. Guerrero was found dead in a hotel room this past weekend. MSNBC

We also had pretty good seats, which meant we could see everything... and I learned it is not all acting. These guys are in amazing physical shape to be able to do flips and jumps. At one point, I was impressed to learn how real the blood looked on one of the wrestler's face — only to learn that was real blood.  When I saw him backstage after the match, he had a broken nose. This is tough work! They also have incredible schedules, traveling an enormous amount of time, away from their families and friends.

I was also shocked to see how human and kind they really were. In the ring, they play dark, crazy characters, but when I met them after the show, they were all true gentlemen, especially one named Eddie Guerrero. I remember laughing hysterically as he performed on stage, with his nickname, "Latino Heat," the audience, many of them hispanic, were elated to see him win. He owned that ring when he came out and everyone was rooting for the man with the big smirk on his face. He thrived on the cheers from the crowd, and they felt he was fighting their fight.

Eddie was one of the first wrestlers I ran into backstage and he gave me a warm huge when I told him I was glad to see him and his competitor alive after just witnessing their fight in the ring. He was one of the kindest souls, immediately saying what a blessing it was for him to entertain all his fans and have a healthy and happy family. He was rooted in faith and knew what mattered in life. I was stunned to see for myself how the wrestler who's motto in the ring is humorously, "Lie, Cheat, Steal," would not hurt a fly, let alone cheat, outside of it.

He had come from a rough life, a poor family, drugs and alcohol, and he fought it all. Often his battle outside the ring was even more incredible than in it. Sober for four years, and making amends with his wife and kids, this man was on the road to recovery in every way. I think the pains he went through and the demons he conquered in his real life, only endeared him more to his legions of fans. They weren't rooting for "Latino Heat," they were rooting for Eddie Guerrero.

I was glad I met this extraordinary man, and sad, like so many fans, he was taken from us so soon.

• November 16, 2005 | 6:12 p.m. ET

Pa. murder twist (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

There are more twists to report on in the case of the Pennsylvania teenager accused of killing his girlfriend's parents after an argument.

We read in the New York Post this morning that the young couple, Kara Beth Borden and David Ludwig, had swapped nude photos of each other over the web.

Many of their e-mails have been made public in various reports and blogs. We have now read in one e-mail exchange that an older friend of Kara's was desperately trying to warn her against continuing this steamy affair. Well, at least one of her friends had the guts to speak up about a 14-year old girl secretly dating a 18-year old! (That is illegal and just plain wrong). Too bad that friend's advice came too late to save a mother and father from being gunned down.

What gets me is that now investigators need to focus on what Kara's 9-year-old brother and 13-year old sister allegedly saw and heard inside their home as the crime took place. Tragically, now those two young kids are orphans....

We'd also like to thank our viewers for making us the #1 cable news show last night in the all important demographics.

Each night, we strive to bring you all the most compelling stories making news, with the most compelling pictures and live guests.

See you at 9 p.m. ET!

• November 15, 2005 | 7:07 p.m. ET

WWE wrestler and Mother Nature (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

We are doing a special report tonight on WWE wrestler Eddie Guerrero, who was found dead in his hotel room in Minneapolis over the weekend.

For those of you who are not familiar with Eddie's career (many of us here on Rita's staff are just now learning a lot about him), the 38-year-old was considered a hero to millions of fans.  He was the first Mexican American champion in the history of the WWE.  He was part of a huge wrestling family;  his father, Gory Guerrero, was a legend in the ring. 

Although we won't know the exact cause of death for Eddie Guerrero, the initial reports indicate heart failure.  Eddie has apparently been clean and sober for four years, but before that, he was known for drinking and drug abuse.  Many of our viewers have been e-mailing in to us expressing their sadness about the sudden death of Eddie Guererro.

Tonight, hear from those who knew him best as they look back on his life, as they look ahead to WWE's future.

In other news....It seems this year more than most, we have seen Mother Nature become a big story.  When Rita and I went to New Orleans in September, we had no idea what was in store.  Tonight is another one of those occasions when weather is creating danger and destruction.
Rita will bring you the latest on a series of tornadoes ripping through the Midwest as I write this.

We have been speaking a lot this afternoon to our amazing team of meteorologists here in the building from NBC Weather Plus, and they say the twisters are moving extremely fast.  Bill Karins describes the unusual aspect to what we are seeing is that the storms are covering such an enormous area from the great Lakes to the Gulf Coast.

I always thought that November was not in the average tornado season.  But that is wrong.  Bill Karins says we have seen famous deadly tornadoes in November, so this time of year is not unusual to see this kind of weather.

Tune in for these stories and so much more at 9 p.m. ET!

• November 14, 2005 | 6:36 p.m. ET

Captured (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

We are devoting much of tonight's show to a tragic crime story that began in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, and has now ended in Belleville, Indiana.

14-year-old Kara Beth Borden was found unharmed with her 18-year-old boyfriend who is suspected of killing her parents. Police say her parents died from gunshot wounds.

Friends say that David Ludwig and Kara were secretly seeing each other, apparently against her parents' wishes.

There are so many questions still out there when it comes to what happened, including: was she kidnapped or did she run away? That is what everyone wants to know... did she go willingly with David? Also, did she have anything at all to do with her parents' murders?

No one seems to know at this point, but police do say she was hysterically crying when they found her this afternoon in Belleville, some 600 miles from where the killings took place.

For tonight's show, we have been doing a lot of research about the duo on the web. They both have web-sites and blogs that link them to one another. Interestingly, Kara says on her web-site that she is 17 years old; not her real age of 14. On David's web-site, he mentions his "expertise" is "getting in trouble".

Looking at her web site and blogs, she appears to be a typical 14-year-old girl, who wears braces and likes being with her friends.

I know that when I was 14, my parents would never have allowed me to hang out with an 18-year-old boy. What could the two actually have in common?

I am also fascinated with the fact that they knew each other through a home-schooling network.

Rita is also going to look at what makes teens go bad. What would drive a teenager to kill? What are the warning signs for parents to watch out for?

On tonight's show, Rita will get some insight and advice from a panel of experts.

Also, if you are not familiar with the charm and history of Lititz, Pennsylvania, that is where these killings took place.

Lititz is a charming, historic village in Pennsylvania Dutch country; it is known for its quiet Amish communities, not for its crime. MSNBC's Contessa Brewer is in Lititz and she will join us live tonight with the very latest on what's next in this case.

• November 11, 2005 | 5:49 p.m. ET

Shar Jackson talks about 'K-Fed' (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

Are you as obsessed as I am with celebrity magazines?!  I just love all the pictures.... from US Weekly to In Touch to Life & Style to Star... there is just not enough time in the day to get through them all despite my best efforts!

So, that leads us to tonight's big show.  You may have seen several recent

FREE VIDEO Shar Jackson revealed Nov. 11: MSNBC-TV's Rita Cosby asks Shar Jackson, "What's it like when your boyfriend dumps you for Britney Spears?"  She's the mother of Kevin Federline's other children. MSNBC

cover stories about possible trouble brewing for "picture-perfect" couple Britney Spears and Kevin Federline. (shocking I know)  Tonight, Rita will find out if Britney's love rival still pines for "K-Fed" when  Shar Jackson joins us tonight for a Live & Direct exclusive interview. 

Just in case you missed this, Shar is the mother of two of Kevin's children.  She was six months pregnant with their second baby when Kevin hooked up with Britney. OOPS- will he do it again?!  That is "cheat"... everyone wants to know Shar's expert opinion on this.  Plus: now that Kevin and Britney have a child of their own (a baby boy named Sean Preston), does Shar think Kevin is a good father?  I still can't get those images out of my mind of a barefooted Britney going to use a gas station bathroom!  Who does that?  In any case, Rita gets all the scoop from the woman who was dumped for Kevin... it is all on tonight's show and we can't wait. 

Also, be sure to watch Rita's special report that airs this weekend on MSNBC.  It is called "Protecting Our Children Online: First Steps", and it is a follow-up to the recent "Dateline NBC" hidden camera investigation about online sexual predators.  How did "Dateline" do it?  Rita talks to the producer of this incredible story to find out how they were able to catch men trying to meet children.

Rita gets advice from kids themselves about what parents should know about what their children are doing when they are on the web.

Tune in this Saturday at 7pmET and 11pmET, as well as Sunday at 6pmET and 11pmET.

Comments?  Write

Watch Rita each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET

• November 10, 2005 | 5:49 p.m. ET

Bunny Ranch brothel (Nina Bradley, Live & Direct Senior Producer)

On tonight's show at 9 p.m. ET, it is must-see-TV.  We have a special report on one of the world's most famous brothels.

OK, now that I got your attention.  It's called the Bunny Ranch and it is LEGAL.

Rita and one of our producers, Steve Forrest, traveled out to Carson City, Nevada last

FREE VIDEO Bunny Ranch Nov. 10: MSNBC-TV's Rita Cosby takes you into the world of legalized prostitution at Nevada's Famous Bunny Ranch. MSNBC

weekend to get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the daily lives of the women
who work there.  It really is a fascinating place — and not just fascinating for men to see. 

Although I must say how amusing it's been to read so many e-mails and computer messages from my male colleagues in the building who are looking forward to tonight's story and many are wondering how Steve got so lucky to land this assignment!

Steve seems to be enjoying all this attention; he joked that this assignment was a difficult one for him because he truly had a hard time obeying the rule to never mix business with pleasure!  Remember, what happens at the Bunny Ranch, stays at the Bunny Ranch!

Another part of tonight's show to watch for... we will discuss the idea of legalizing prostitution with our special guest, former Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss.  She promised us that she'd be making an exclusive announcement about her future "business" plans tonight on the show live with Rita.  Heidi joins us (appropriately) from the "city of sin", Las Vegas.

We are also going to talk live tonight to actor Bruce Willis.  He will appear on our show with author/journalist Michael Yon, who has a fascinating look at the war our troops are currently fighting.  It has even caught the attention of some United States Senators!  Bruce Willis told us he has gotten to know Michael well through reading his blog.  Check it out for yourself: michaelyon.blogspot.com.

See you at 9 p.m.

• October 4, 2005 | 8:59 p.m. ET

Southern dedication: Behind the scenes (Rita Cosby)

I’m writing this now after coming back from an amazing weekend in Mississippi and witnessing southern dedication first-hand. As many of you may know, I was part of an event on Saturday, October 1 in Oxford, Mississippi which was called “Mississippi Rising” — a three-hour telethon designed to raise money and awareness for the victims for Hurricane Katrina in that battered state. For those of you who watched the show over the weekend on MSNBC, you probably saw an amazing show with terrific performers, but that was only the tip of the iceberg.

What you didn’t see was the real dedication and spirit of selflessness that organizers, stars, and the hundreds of volunteers showed me behind the scenes. I have always been proud to say I “grew up in the South” since I went to college at the University of South Carolina. But this past weekend, I really witnessed Southern hospitality.

I arrived at the airport in Memphis where Ginger Carpenter, a mother of three, picked me up for a one-and-a-half hour drive from Memphis to Oxford. She told me she was keeping the next 48 hours free to drive me anywhere, anytime while I was in town. When I arrived at the C.M. “Tad” Smith Coliseum at Ole Miss, there were hundreds of students and local residents working out all the last minute details as they volunteered to help pull this enormous project together. One of the first who greeted me was a smiling Sam Haskell, the former head of William Morris Talent and Literary Agency, who along with DC Attorney Lanny Griffith pulled “Mississippi Rising” together in just 19 days.

Within a few minutes of arrival, the stars started piling in, and it was an impressive line-up. Actor Morgan Freeman and actress Sela Ward told me how honored they were to be back in their home state and give to those who lost so much. Country star Faith Hill talked about how anyone from Mississippi would give you the shirt off his or her back. Jason Alexander, from "Seinfeld", and Ray Romano, from "Everybody Loves Raymond", told me how touched they were by the devastation they saw on television and hoped they could give these people a break, a moment of laughter from the pain.

I was so touched when folks like "Taxi’s" Marilu Henner, N'Sync’s Lance Bass and former Miss America Mary Ann Mobley recounted some of the images and emotional interviews they saw on our show, "Live & Direct". All of these stars — and many more — were thrilled to answer calls at the phone bank to take down people’s donations and never once complained. They were all true class acts both on and off cameras.

After the event I spent the night with a local couple who generously “adopted” me for the evening as other couples did with other stars. The next day I was able to see a little bit of Oxford, which looked like a scene from the movie “Back To The Future” with an enormous clock tower and a truly picture-perfect, small town feel. One of the last people I met, was a survivor of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans who had just moved to Ole Miss to be closer to her daughter, and because she had nowhere else to go. She thanked me profusely for the hard work I had done and I reminded her it was nothing compared to what she endured.

So far, "Mississippi Rising" has pulled in $15 million and the donations keep coming. What this past weekend reminded me of is that there is no better feeling than giving to others, and that the spirit of America is alive and well, especially in Oxford, Mississippi.

To donate to “Mississippi Rising” go to http://www.mississippirecovery.com/.

Watch Live & Direct each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET

• September 23, 2005 | 7:18 p.m. ET

Bracing for the worst (Rita Cosby)

GALVESTON, Texas — Hurricane Rita is just a few hours from landfall.  Residents in Galveston, Texas know they could get hit hard and are preparing for a worst-case scenario.  Already, the rain is coming down hard and the wind is whipping.  Once tepid waves are now powerful walls of water crashing along the shoreline.  Mother Nature’s furry is already apparent. 

City officials in Galveston believe they will be spared the worst as it looks like the main part of the storm will slam to the east.  But they also know this tiny island could still be pummeled and are making key steps, just in case.  Virtually every home is deserted and boarded up.  A curfew is in effect from dusk until dawn and city officials are hunkering down in what they believe is the safest building on the island, the San Luis Hotel. 

In a sign that they are preparing for a New Orleans type nightmare, the mayor and the mayor Pro Tem will be in two different locations when the hurricane hits.  That’s designed to make sure that the government here still operates should something happen to the mayor who is riding the storm out with us.  The mayor Pro Tem will be in a much more secure location about 20 miles north. 

After positioning our live truck behind a large building for shelter, we are now preparing for a long and wet night ahead.  Even 70-80 mph winds can snap trees and power lines and cause significant damage, that is the best-case scenario in Galveston at this hour. 

BLOG ARCHIVE      Sept. 2006 Aug. 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006

Watch me later tonight on 'Live and Direct' at 9 p.m. ET on MSNBC. 

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