Radio America Online News Bureau

We have Thursday’s top news…How did all the passengers survive a plane crash in the Hudson River?  Why did the plane crash?  What are the eyewitness accounts?  How did Eric Holder handle himself during his confirmation hearings to become the next attorney general?  What did Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton say in their final senate speeches?  What was Dick Cheney’s final act on the senate floor?  And what happened on Wall Street today?  We have all the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Thursday, January 15, 2009.

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How balanced is the media coverage of Eric Holder’s nomination to be the next Attorney General?  How does coverage of his controversial nomination compare to the nomination of John Ashcroft in 2000?  How does the coverage of the Obama transition compare to the Bush transition eight years ago?  And can we expect a media honeymoon for Obama or are members of the press corps invested in him for the long haul?  We ask Dan Gainor, vice president at the Media Research Center.

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Should Congress release the final $350 billion of the Wall Street bailout despite not being told how the money would be spent?  What is the track record of the first $350 billion?  Will the Democratic economic stimulus plan actually create jobs?  Will the tax relief provisions have a major impact on the economy?  What is the Republican alternative?  And how much debt will Congress soon be racking up in the name of rescuing the economy?  We ask New Jersey Rep. Scott Garrett, a member of both the House Budget and Financial Services Committees.

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For nearly three weeks, Israel and Hamas have been at war in Gaza.  With over 1,000 Palestinians reported dead, Israel is accused of heartlessly killing civilians in this military campaign.  But is that the truth or just the anti-Israel spin?  Is Hamas trying to protect the people or deliberately placing them in harm’s way?  Is the United Nations most interested in ending civilian casualties or painting Israel as the villain?  And how do Israel’s actions suggest they care most about the Palestinian people despite continuing the assault on Gaza?  We ask syndicated columnist and former Clinton administration official Larry Haas.

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Are this week’s stories of failing to pay taxes and renewing the immigration papers of a housekeeper going to derail the nomination of Timothy Geithner for Secretary of Treasury or just add a little more drama?  Why are Republicans very skeptical of the nomination of Eric Holder to be Attorney General?  Who will be the next chairman of the Republican National Committee?  We ask all these questions to John Gizzi of Human Events who also offers his thoughts on the president’s final press conference held earlier this week.

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We have Wednesday’s top news…What is Barack Obama saying in defense of his embattled Treasury nominee?  What is Osama bin Laden saying in his latest message?  What are the latest developments in the war between Israel and Hamas?  What was the verdict in the House vote on expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program?  What happened on Wall Street on Wednesday?  What CEO is giving up day-to-day duties because of poor health?  And which famous Hollywood actor has died?  We answer all of these questions as we bring you the biggest stories for Wednesday, January 14, 2009.

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On Tuesday, we learned that Treasury Secretary nominee Timothy Geithner failed to pay some of his taxes while self-employed through the International Monetary Fund.  In addition, the immigration papers for one of his housekeepers briefly expired.  Will this complicate or even derail his confirmation?  What are Republicans and Democrats saying about how these revelations might impact their votes?  We ask Jessica Brady of Roll Call.

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This week, the Bush administration asked Congress to release the remaining $350 billion from the Wall Street bailout fund for use by the incoming Obama administration.  Is this necessary or a bad move because the immediate crisis has been addressed?  And what precedent has been set when it comes to the federal response to an economic crisis?  We ask Texas Rep. Mike Conaway.

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What is the best approach to stimulating the economy?  What is the conservative alternative to the emerging Obama plan?  What is the best approach to tax reduction?  Which taxes should be cut and by how much?  And how can Republicans get their way with the Democrats in control?  We ask Oklahoma Rep. Mary Fallin, a member of the Republican Study Committee.

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What should the incoming Obama administration keep in mind before rushing to close the doors on the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay? How should we understand the latest rocket attack on Israel from Lebanon? And what needs to be accomplished before Israel agrees to any cease-fire in Gaza. We ask former Assistant Secretary of Defense Frank Gaffney, who is now President of the Center for Security Policy.

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