Among the heroes of September 11th were female rescue workers who raced to the Twin Towers in the wake of the attack. Anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien tells the stories of female law enforcement officers, fire fighters, EMS workers and others who spent their lives defying macho stereotypes as they fought for access to jobs that require them to risk their lives for others. Among the heroines is an African-American probationary firefighter whose company lost 7 of the 343 that died that day, and a young mother and decorated police officer last seen directing others to safety just before the WTC collapsed. O’Brien profiles these unsung heroes and, of the survivors, reports their present-day health struggles, their continuing mourning, and their determination to be prepared for the next attack.
Larry King interviews the cast of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2," including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter and Robbie Coltrane. Also: James and Oliver Phelps (aka the Weasley twins) lead a tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.
The U.S. space shuttle program is examined. Included: NASA administrator Charles Bolden on NASA's future; a family that witnessed the first shuttle launch in 1981; inside Discovery, the shuttle that has flown the most flights; the site in Utah where the shuttle boosters were built. Reporter: John Zarrella.
Kaj Larsen reports on WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, detailing the controversy that surrounds the Web site and the evolution of Assange from hacker to provocateur. Included: remarks from Assange via interviews he gave journalist Mark Davis, former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt (USA Ret.) and Guardian journalist Nick Davies, who shares the concerns he had with Assange's decision to release sensitive military reports without redacting names.
Chris Lawrence reports on the long hunt for Osama bin Laden that ended May 1, 2011, with his death during a Navy SEAL raid on his Pakistan hideout. Included: insights from terrorism analyst Peter Bergen, former CIA director Michael Hayden, former CIA officer Gary Berntsen and CNN correspondents Barbara Starr, Ed Henry and Nic Robertson, as well as political analyst Gloria Borger.
Drew Griffin examines the 2009 conviction of American exchange student Amanda Knox in Italy for the murder of her flatmate, focusing on the evidence used against her and prosecutorial behavior that may call into question her conviction. Included: an interview with the chief prosecutor, Giuliano Mignini.
Recalling the Branch Davidians, the cult led by David Koresh that came to a fiery end in April 1993 following a 51-day standoff with the ATF and FBI at their compound near Waco, Texas. Included: a timeline of events leading up to the tragedy; recordings of conversations between FBI negotiators and Koresh. Drew Griffin reports.