Archives for June 2009

On Friday, the Department of Labor reported another 345,000 jobs were slashed in May, and the national unemployment rate jumped to 9.4 percent.  So is this a sign that the economy is still in a deep crisis or is it slightly encouraging that fewer jobs were lost than in previous months of this recession?  What has been the impact of the Obama stimulus plan on the U.S. job market?  Is the stimulus a negative influence or just a trillion dollar venture that’s having no impact at all?  How tough is life for Americans in urban areas where the unemployment rate is in double figures?  We ask Illinois Rep. Peter Roskam, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Standard Podcast [ 12:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This week we bring you a double shot of Washington’s favorite political parody troupe, The Capitol Steps.  This week, the Steps examine the the swine flu scare in “Fever” and the rough road ahead for the auto industry in “God Bless My SUV”.  Our guest is Steps star and co-founder Elaina Newport.

Standard Podcast [ 5:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The past several years, and especially the past few weeks, have been filled with debate over how the U.S. interrogates suspected terrorists and at Guantanamo Bay in in the war zones.  So what are the interrogation sessions really like?  How is most critical information gleaned from the detainees?  How often were “enhanced” interrogation techniques really used?  When were they used?  And should the Guantanamo Bay detention facility stay open or be closed as President Obama wishes?  We ask U.S. Army Captain Jason Meszaros, who served eight months as an intelligence officer in Afghanistan.  He is also the author of “Interrogation of Morals”.

Standard Podcast [ 7:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Earlier this week, New Hampshire lawmakers approved an amended bill legalizing gay marriage starting in January 2010.  Why could this backfire on the new Democratic majority in the state legislature?  What did national Democratic leaders threaten to do if lawmakers did not pass the bill?  Why was this even on the agenda in a severe economic recession?  What’s the big goal of the gay marriage movement in the months ahead?  And what is the latest news in the fight for traditional marriage in states like Maine and New York?  We ask Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage.

Standard Podcast [ 7:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We have Thursday’s top news… What did President say in an effort to extend an olive branch to the Muslim world?  What did he say about the U.S. fight against radical Islamic groups?  What was his message for Iran?  How about Israel and the Palestinians?  What the reaction to the speech in the Muslim world?  How optimistic are Americans that Middle East peace will ever be achieved?  What is the latest on the Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor?  And how are GM executives viewing the company’s future just three days after beginning the bankruptcy process?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Thursday, June 4, 2009.

Standard Podcast [ 5:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On Thursday, President Obama delivered his long-awaited speech designed to reach out to the Muslim world.  So what did he accomplish?  How did he impact the Israeli-Palestinian debate?  Was he too soft on Iran?  Was this just another stop on what conservatives call the apology tour?  We ask Ilan Berman, vice president for policy at the American Foreign Policy Council.

Standard Podcast [ 12:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Earlier this week, President Obama urged Congress to pass health care reform – with a government payer option – as soon as possible.  Obama also says his brand of reform will save our economy money.  But is that true?  What is the real cost of this plan?  Why will the addition of a public option crowd private insurance out of the arena?  And what are the right principles to pursue when it comes to reform?  We ask Sally Pipes, vice chairman of the Pacific Research Institute.

Standard Podcast [ 7:32 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Thursday marks 20 years since the communist Chinese government brutally crushed student democracy protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.  So is there a legacy of those protests or is it just the ongoing brutal repression of those who disagree with Chinese leaders?  How has China changed on the world stage in the past two decades?  How has the U.S. relationship with it changed?  And is it for the better?  We ask Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation.

Standard Podcast [ 5:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Congress is working to pass so-called ‘Cap and Trade’ legislation in the coming weeks.  Supporters say it’s badly needed energy reform and a movement away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, but opponents say it’s a huge energy tax on the American people that won’t do much of anything to improve the economy or the environment.  Jim Manzi of the Manhattan Institute has run the numbers.  What will be the economic impact on the world and the U.S. if this plan gets enacted?  Will the benefits outweigh the costs or will it be very much the opposite?  Manzi offers his analysis to those and other ‘Cap and Trade’ related questions.

Standard Podcast [ 7:29 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We have Wednesday’s top news… What happened on the first day of President Obama’s visit to the Middle East?  What message did Osama bin Laden have waiting for him?  What is Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke saying about America’s exploding deficits?  Why are GM and Chrysler making members of Congress mad now?  What state is the sixth to legalize gay marriage?  And what do Americans think about the decision Sonia Sotomayor made in a race-based case now before the U.S. Supreme Court?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Wednesday, June 3, 2009.

Standard Podcast [ 5:50 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download