President Obama begins his highly anticipated Middle East trip Tuesday night. What will he say to Arab leaders and to the entire region in his address on Thursday? Will we see more apologizing for previous American actions? Will Obama get tough on Iran for its nuclear program? Or will he be tougher on Israel to make land concessions in hopes of Middle East peace? We ask Frank Gaffney, President of the Center for Security Policy and a former Assistant Secretary of Defense.
The News
We have Monday’s top news…What is the Obama plan for General Motors – besides starting the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process? What U.S. cities will soon see plant closings and job losses as the auto industry continues to take a pounding? How is GM reacting to these developments? What is the latest on the Air France disaster? How did Wall Street do on Monday? And what historical figure died on Sunday at the age of 97? We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, June 1, 2009.
Government Control of GM is Latest Step in Very Slippery Slope
Why could today’s announcement of bankruptcy and government control by General Motors mean very bad news for Chrysler and Ford? How could the government show great favoritism towards GM? Will the government ever give up control? What other areas of the economy could the government be grasping for next? We ask Dan Ikenson of the Cato Institute.
General Motors Exec John Smith on Bankruptcy Filing, Government Ownership of GM and More
On Monday, President Obama announced that General Motors would be following Chrysler into Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. How is being received at GM, which was once the dominant player in the auto industry? Are GM leaders worried about heavy-handed government oversight? When will the loss of jobs and plants finally end? And can Chevrolet and Cadillac save GM? We ask John Smith, Vice President for Global Product Planning at General Motors.
Coalition Opposing Obama Health Plan Launches New Ad Campaign
President Obama wants Congress to pass universal health care reform and the get the legislation to his desk in less than two months. But a new coalition of groups concerned about this plan is unveiling a new ad campaign explaining why government-run health care should be the last thing Americans want. Why? What is happening in other countries that should concern us during this debate? What is happening in Canada that is forcing patients to the U.S. for urgent, timely care? Is Obama telling the truth when he says you can keep your current plan if you are satisfied? We ask Amy Menefee, policy adviser and spokeswoman for Patients United Now.
What Happened to the Doomed Air France Flight Over the Atlantic?
Early Monday, reports surfaced of an Iar France flight from Brazil to Paris that simply disappeared from radar. What could have happened? Is a lightning strike enough to doom a jetliner? How will an investigation proceed when experts don’t know where the wreckage is? And what is the safety record of Air France? We ask independent airline analyst David Field.
The News
We have Friday’s top news… What is the next U.S. step in response to the North Korea nuclear test and missile launches? How are Americans viewing President Obama’s choice of Sonia Sotomayor for the U.S. Supreme Court? What is Obama doing to beef up cyber-security for the nation’s infrastructure? What is the union boss saying about the new UAW contract workers ratified with General Motors? What happened to GM stock and the rest of Wall Street on Friday? We have the answers as we bring you you the biggest stories for Friday, May 29, 2009.
Obama’s Stimulus Bluster and the Possible Disaster of a Value Added Tax
President Obama says his stimulus plan has already created or saved 150,000 jobs. Is that true? Is there any way to verify that? Why is it unlikely that the stimulus plan will be responsible for any job growth down the line? Why is the administration reportedly considering a Value Added Tax? What is it? How much could it cost you? What kind of tax burden does Obama have in store for most Americans? We ask J.D. Foster of the Heritage Foundation.
Sotomayor and Abortion
Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has come under great scrutiny for comments made on race and judicial activism. But what about the perennial issue of abortion? Where does she stand? What rulings has she made on these issues? What is the Obama abortion agenda that she may end up considering on the high court? We ask Joy Yearout of the Susan B. Anthony List.
Capitol Steps Parody
The Capitol Steps are back and bring Dick Cheney and Nancy Pelosi together to discuss interrogation, terrorism and whether Nancy Pelosi knew about waterboarding back in 2002. The song is “Lie, Lie, Lie” and our guest if Steps star Elaina Newport.