Several news reports and economic experts have suggested the economy might be headed for another major downturn – perhaps even a depression. Do the current conditions really forecast something so dire? What will the coming months and years bring to our economy? What is the Obama administration doing to help or hinder economic growth? We ask Heritage Foundation economist Rea Hederman.
Uganda Massacre, Taliban Politics
A Somalia-based terrorist group linked to Al Qaeda claims responsibility for attacks in Uganda that killed at least 74 people, who were watching the World Cup final. What is this group and why would it launch an attack like this? How powerful has it become in the midst of great instability in Somalia? We ask Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, vice president of research at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. We also get his thoughts on Afghan President Hamid Karzai trying to remove the names of 50 Taliban figures from a United Nations blacklist. Why is this important to Karzai and is this a major key to weakening the Taliban and bringing stability to the country?
The News
A federal judge in Boston strikes down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, appellate court rules against Obama on drilling moratorium, Obama accuses of GOP of being party of the status quo, Republicans accuse Democrats of secret plan to ram through controversial issues in lame duck session of Congress.
Obama’s Gay Marriage Agenda
A federal judge in Boston has ruled the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) unconstitutional, saying Congress has no legitimate interest in addressing the issue and just wanted to act against people they disapproved of back in 1996. Are those solid arguments? Is the Obama administration earnest in its efforts to defend the law? Will this be a major issue in this year’s elections? We discuss it all with Iowa Rep. Steve King, a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Court Rules Against Obama Again
A three-judge panel on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has upheld a lower court decision striking down the Obama administration’s six-month moratorium on deep water oil drilling. But will companies return to drilling anytime soon? How will Obama try to keep the moratorium in place regardless of what the courts say? We ask Louisiana Sen. David Vitter, who also updates the impact of the oil on his state and his ongoing frustrations with the federal response.
Dems Plot Lame Duck Strategy
Congressional Democrats have already passed controversial legislation on the economy and health care and Wall Street reforms appear to be next. But what about cap and trade, immigration policy and pro-union legislation? Congressional Republicans say Democrats know they can’t pass them now without getting mauled at the polls in November so the plan is to pass them after the midterms and before the new Congress is sworn in. Will that happen? What is the evidence that Democrats are planning to do that? And what can Democrats do about it? We ask Georgia Rep. Tom Price, chairman of the Republican Study Committee.
Russia, the U.S. and Espionage
Many reports suggest a multi-spy exchange between the U.S. and Russia is on the brink of being finalized. What is behind this kind of deal? What does it say about current U.S.-Russian relations? How should we interpret Russia getting more spies back than the U.S. seems to be getting? How good are U.S. intelligence efforts in Russia? And what needs to happen for our intel efforts to reach their full potential? We ask retired CIA officer Larry Johnson.
Window Dressing and Race Politics
Are the U.S. and Israel suddenly on the same page after a much friendlier meeting at the White House this week? John Gizzi of Human Events explains why he’s not convinced. He also discusses the government’s lawsuit against Arizona’s new immigration laws and how much the Obama administration might suffer after a former Justice Department lawyer accuses the DOJ of a racial bias in enforcing voting rights laws. And we’ll get his thoughts on West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin trying to change the system in order to get himself into the U.S. Senate.
What Next in Debt Crisis?
The debt crisis has already afflicted some European countries, more are on the brink and every member of the European Union is feeling the pain. So how bad could it get? Will it mean the end of the EU? And will the U.S. soon be facing the same dilemma? Radio America’s Devo’n Williams has the story.
The Climategate Cover-up
An independent panel in Britain has largely cleared climate change scientists in connection with last year’s scandal that called into question much of the case suggesting man-made climate change. But does this show the science is valid or is the panel just covering up this scandal in an effort to push a political agenda based on the premise of climate change? Will this conclusion change the public’s shift away from the climate change movement? We ask Dr. Tim Ball, one of the leading scientific voices doubting the evidence behind the alarming climate change projections. We also ask him if the blistering heat wave in the eastern U.S. is evidence of global warming or just part of the climate cycle.