to his day job. he would have to make a choice to fill up the gas tank to get to work or do i give up my entrepreneurial dream. $40, he wrote, means a heck of a lot. it means a heck of a lot. that's what this debate is all about. this is what's at stake for millions of americans. this is why it matters to people. it matters a heck of a lot. i'm asking the american people to keep their stories coming. tell us what $40 means to you. if you tweet it, use the hash tag $40. call, tweet, write your congressman, write your senators. tell them, do not let up until this thing gets done. don't let taxes go up on 160 million working americans. don't let americans out there looking for work and the economy is starting to improve but they don't have a job yet, don't leave them without a lifeline in terms of cutting off their unemployment insurance. when a plane is lifting off the ground, you don't ease up on the throttle. you keep going. our plane is up there, but we're not at cruising altitude yet. after all, extending this tax cut and unemployment insurance is the least of what we should be doing for working americans. it's just a start. we need to rebuild an economy where middle class folks can focus on more than just getting by. and folks who want to get in the middle class have the ladders to get into the middle class. we have to rebuild an economy where the middle class thrives and more americans have a chance to earn their way into it. an economy built to last. yesterday, i released a blueprint for how we get there. it's a blueprint for an economy built on new american manufacturing and new american energy sources and new skills in education for american workers and a new focus on the values that are the better of this country. values like fairness and responsibility for all and from all. we would be better off if we would build that economy right now. we can do it because we have done it before. we have a common challenge. it's time for us to meet it with a common purpose. and to show a sense of seriousness that's equal to the task. so on behalf of all of the hard-working americans standing behind me, i want to thank you for helping to tell your story of why o this is so important. i want everybody all across the country to keep the pressure up so we get this done. it is going to make our economy stronger and it's going to put us in a position where we can start really rebuilding on behalf of not just this generation but future generations. thank you very much, everybody. god bless you. and god bless america. >> let's bring in dan lothian. this is the president doing a victory lap on a fight he's been having with house republicans about whether the payroll tax holiday should be extended. if it isn't, it's less money in the paychecks of 160 million americans. dan, house republicans have signalled that they are going to get the will the have this one. but he's telling people to still keep the pressure on. >> reporter: that's right. you heard the president talk about how he sees some hopeful signs this is good news, but that nothing is done until it's done. telling those in the audience that when they see him actually putting the pen to the document and signing it, then it will be done at that point. so he's calling on those in the room and americans to continue putting pressure on members of congress to extend that payroll tax cut. using the people in the room much like he did at the end of last year as an example of what $40 will mean to them. not having that $40, you have to make the decision as to whether or not you can continue your internet service or pay for the fuel to take you to your day job as the president was recounting a personal story. so again, it worked for this administration taking on congress by raising the voices of the public and the president hopeful it will work again this time. >> let's bring in kate baldwin. one of the issues here is that all the things the president wants, you know, are good for the middle class. but will republicans say you have to find a way to pay for it it? you have to find a way to pay for extension of jobless benefits. we can't continue living beyond our means. you have an election year impass setting up here. >> reporter: and the election year element is very significant thing at play here. what we're seeing, what was announced by house republican leaders yesterday, is a sharp reversely from their position. as you mentioned, all along republicans have insisted that the payroll tax cut extension be matched or offset as they talk about, by cutting elsewhere in the budget. republicans are saying they can move forward without paying for this payroll tax extension. that's a sharp reversal. republican aids are trying to regain leverage or reduce the leverage democrats have in this political fight, which was a bruising battle at the end of last year. republicans acknowledged they were thrown off message. democrats very quickly say this is a major cave by republicans and honestly, republicans are not denying or disputing the fact this is a cave. clearly, republicans in the political sense want to get this fight behind them to move on to other issues they want to care about. but still, house republican leaders need to bring this proposal, if you will, to their members. they are meeting with their members this evening. and this could be very tough for many conservative members as this has been a pillar of their negotiating position for months now. but one key person is speaking out, and i must acknowledge this. my congressional producer spoke with a spokesman for jim jordan, a key conservative. his spokesman says he is supportive of this move by house republican leaders, an important signal, but still we have to see where rank and file members stand on this position. you can probably anticipate that democrats will help push this through. if it gets to the senate, it's not a conclusion that they are going to move on this backup plan. they could eke out some deal. but this is a key signal, a breakthrough as democrats are calling it. it's definitely movement in a negotiation that's been all but stalled at this point. >> let's get you caught up to other stories on this tuesday. the funeral for whitney houston will be held at noon on saturday in her native new jersey at the church she attended as a child. that's according to the family's pastor. the pop star's body arrived in newark last night. houston was found dead in the bathtub of a hollywood hotel room. she was found by her assistant three days ago. the coroner's off is waiting for test results to determine a cause of death. take a look at this video just into cnn. >> these pictures coming out of syria. that child could have easily been killed running down the streets. bullets were flying. god is great is chanted after that save. opposition activist group says 16 civilians have been killed today. you can see the man running down the street to grab the child who is running amid-the bullets. arwa damon is in syria. she's able to report firsthand on what's happening. >> reporter: the area where the government crackdown is at its worst, people say there are snipers positioned on every single street corner. you can hardly cross a main street without coming across government snipers. then they are all at the tanks at the check points. it's an incredibly intense situation here. it's also incredibly emotional. anger is running at an all-time high as is frustration and desperation. >> in thailand, three explosions rocked bangkok. one of the blasts ripped off a leg of a suspected bomber. authorities say they have two iranians in custody and they are looking for a third suspect. the explosions happened a day after bombings in india and in the republic of georgia. those were bombings targeting israeli diplomats. they blame iran for the blasts. new violence in bahrain. tear gas was fired on to protesters who gathered on the first anniversary of pro-democracy demonstrations in the gulf kingdom. demonstrators were met by a fierce government crackdown, most of the protesters are from bahrain's muslim majority. they have complained about discrimination by the royal family. the back and forth race for the republican nomination is all tied up in the polls now. a dead heat between mitt romney and rick santorum. the latest gallop poll puts romney another 32% and santorum at 30%. santorum is gaining ground and confidence. >> we're going to compete, obviously, heavily in michigan. we're going to compete in arizona. we think this is a two-person race right now. we're just focused on making sure that folks know we're the best alternative to barack obama. we have the best chance of beating him. >> a rick santorum rally erupted into a shouting match. a group of occupy protesters disrupted this event in tacoma, washington. at first, santorum try ied to appear cordial, but the shouting continued. he called them "a radical element that represents true intolerance." three protesters were arrested. one for assault. president obama meets the man set to become china's next leader. talks at the white house to focus on trade and china's growing military president. she's expected to become the leader what the current president's term ends later this year. as the world remembers a super star, the family of whitney houston is prepare iingr her funeral. deborah feyerick is live in newark, new jersey, and don lemon is live from los angeles. the funeral is set for saturday. a lot of new details this morning. what do we know right now? >> reporter: well, what we know is that the family opted for a much more intimate setting. there had been talk it would be at a local arena, but it will be at the church that was very dear to whitney houston. a church she visited often, even at the height of her celebrity. it's where she grew up and sang in the choir. it's appropriate. it's an appropriate venue. the family was here until 2:00 this morning. they were on the phone making the arrangements just a short time ago. we know it will be taking place at noon on saturday at the new hope baptist church. it is by invitation only. they will keep it private and they are also going to have a lot of singing there. we stepped into the church very briefly on sunday just after news broke. and there was just a great joy and lots of gospel. and her mother was the choir director there. you can bet that there's just going to be a great sendoff for whitney houston. right now, we're being told there's not going to be a public wake here at the funeral home, but all plans are fluid. that could change. but the funeral itself, about a thousand people, invitation only. you can bet it's going to be very well attended. >> marking a celebration of her life where she found her voice inside the walls of that church as a young girl. i want to bring in don lemon. authorities still don't know what killed whitney houston. this is the mystery. fans want to know what happened here. the rumors are swirling. i want to play what a tmz reporter told hln about those last hours of whitney houston. >> i can tell you that the family was told by the coroner's office what they should expect. that is, there's some sort of mix of alcohol and prescription medication led to her being submerged in that bathtub. and i can tell you that there was some water found in her lungs, but not connect iing to something like that a drowning. there was not enough in the lungs. >> are you hearing anything from authorities that can confirm that? the drugs and alcohol played a role here? >> reporter: no. i will say what i said yesterday and what i have been preaching on the air. and i agree with investigators and with the coroner. we need to step back as reporters, take a deep breath, and let the investigation play out. many times we think it's one thing and it turns out to be another. it could be drug use. who knows. it could be a drowning. we don't know at this point. the coroner yesterday, by the way, down played that notion saying by the time they got there, whitney houston was out of the bathtub. when the fire department got there, the fire department was in the building because they were there for the grammys. but by the time they got upstairs, whitney houston had been removed from the bathtub. they are waiting for the toxicology reports to try to figure all of it out. they say six to eight weeks. it doesn't really take that long. they are giving themselves some leew leeway. here's the thing, as we're talking about that, and again they said there were prescription drugs found in the room. but down playing the amount saying it's not out of the ordinary. a family source tells cnn that she was found by someone they call aunt mary. she's whitney houston's assistant. she's not an actual family member, but they think of her that way because she's very close. that's who found the the body. she probably saw her alive and well. an hour later, she's unconscious in the bathtub. >> all right. don lemon, thanks so much. and also deborah feyerick. here's a rundown of the other stories we're covering here today. >> syrians brace for full blown war. then it's insanity. the new star for the knicks is paying off in the stock market. hello, how can i deliver world-class service for you today ? we gave people right off the street a script and had them read it. no, sorry, i can't help you with that. i'm not authorized to access that transaction. that's not in our policy. i will transfer you now. my supervisor is currently not available. would you like to hold ? that department is currently closed. have i helped you with everything you needed ? if your bank doesn't give you knowledgeable customer service 24/7, you need an ally. ally bank. no nonsense. just people sense. ...we inspected his brakes for free. free is good. free is very good. my money. my choice. my meineke. these are new images coming in of huge explosions in the city of homs. many residents say they are bracing for a full-blown war in syria as government forces launch attacks for yet another day. nick walsh is in lebanon. one activist telling us you have to be lucky to stay safe in the city of homs. only luck is what keeps your family safe. what are you hearing about the situation today? >> reporter: the tenth day in a row of heavy shelling. described as the worst for five days. that takes a lot in homs where 400 people have been kill ed in that ten-day onslaught by forces. one activist tried to have a conversation with him. he talked about having four pregnant women losing their children because of the fear of living there. our conversation kept being interrupted by the thud of artillery shells landing around his house. deeply concerned. nowhere in that area is considered safe. let's point out. civilians really living under such terror at the moment. video from four days ago shows the impact that it had on one child trying to flee away from the bullets being shot in his neighborhood. >> those pictures are just amazing. the man swooping up to grab the child as bullets are coming by. terrible for the child. is full-fledged war inevitable here? the opposition isn't prepared to take on the syrian military. give me a history lesson. homs. why is this such a fierce site? is this the headquarters of the opposition? >> reporter: really at this point, many feel we're already in full-fledged war between these groups and the military. deeply unmatched here. billions of dollars worth of russian hardware backing them up. haven't even used the full extent of that. they have resources at their disposal depending on the budget. on the other side, we have this rag tag army called the free syrian army. many of this area explaining why this is a particular stronghold because of that particular religious group they belong to. that is where the two sides are at the moment. facing each other 11 months now with no particular end in sight. many are asking, how long can this opposition group hold out with this huge pressure around them? but at the same time, the international condemnation growing on the regime. sanctions biting and surely somewhere in that inner sanctuary, people beginning to question how long president assad can hold out. christine? >> nick peyton walsh, thank you. live pictures of the white house. president obama will meet the man set to become the next leader. he's expected to take over when the current president's term ends later this year. we'll break down the love hate relationship between these two important nations. take a quick look at how closely our two economies are intertwined. second only to canada, china is our second-largest trading partner. they are also the second-largest economy. china will beat the u.s. out within the next decade. china is our second-biggest creditor. they own roughly 7% of all government debt. we own most of it ourselves. they are our biggest foreign credit creditor. another way they are having an impact, is lin sanity. have you heard about this cinderella story? jeremy lin of chinese decent has gone from an unknown basketball player sleeping on his brother's couch to a sports and media sensation. check out this clip from last night's colbert report. >> folks, there's a name for what we're all feeling. >> lin sanity continues. >> it's become lin sanity in new york. >> basketball fans have a raging case of linsanity. >> i have had a raging case of linsanity. i have been declared legally linsane. my symptoms? linsome mee ya. folks, this is an exciting time. fans have not come down with a basketball disease this intense since the mid-'70s outbreak of hak h hakim. >> he's so funny. except when you're the target. how is lin causing inflation on wall street? >> you're talking about riding the stock price. shares of msg have been on a tear since jeremy lin took to the court. stock hit a report high above $33 yesterday. msg, that's the stock ticker, but it stands for madison square garden. it's not just a place for sports games or concerts. it's also a publically-traded company. over the past month, take a look at how the stock has done. it began flat, but then up 10% since february 4th. not such a huge coincidence. i would like to call it skill. it shot up when he made his first start. he scored 25 points in one game. the knicks have now won five games in a row. msg network ratings are soring. the lin jerseys are selling well. people can't get enough of the linisms. >> are they getting a good return on their investment? he's not one of the the most highly-paid players. >> right. you're right about that. an analyst said at this point, this kid has earned his keep in five games. he makes $800,000 a year. that's small change. think about the average nba player salary. last season it was around $5 million. if the winning streak continues, it it could help msg's bottom line. it could settle a pricing dispute with time warner cable, which at this point right now is not carrying knicks games. but there are some critics saying if you're buying into the stock, it's irrational because any increase in sales is a drop in the bucket. let me get to the markets real fast. markets are lower now. weak economic news around the world. retail sales in the u.s. a bit of a disappointment. that's where the focus is today. the dow down 38 points. >> i love the story. he went to harvard. he's a real smart kid. you have professional athlete who is a smart guy. and rob mars ya know said more presidents have come out of harvard than basketball players. >> he's a great joy to watch. i'm interested in the nba again. >> me too. thanks so much. we'll talk to you next hour. just in time for valentine's day, stem cells can undo damage from heart disease. okay, team! after age 40, we can start losing muscle -- 8% every 10 years. wow. wow. but you can help fight muscle loss with exercise and ensure muscle health. i've got revigor. what's revigor? it's the amino 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