Radio America Online News Bureau

Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill is President Obama’s nominee to be the next ambassador to Iraq.  His confirmation hearings began Wednesday.  How important is this job as our mission in Iraq seems to have a defined timetable for ending?  What is Hill’s diplomatic track record?  Is his work on the North Korean nuclear crisis an example of why he should be confirmed or why he should be rejected?  What is his diplomatic style?  And how could a lack of Middle East experience impact him in Iraq?  We ask James Robbins. senior editorial writer for The Washington Times.

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The problem of identity theft is growing and getting your life back in order after it happens is an absolute nightmare.  So how do thieves operate?  What information do they need to create trouble for you?  What is the most important piece of information for you to protect?  How can you nip the problem in the bud early?  And what are the best ways to make sure you never become a victim?  We ask Scott Mitic, CEO of Trusted ID.

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Why does President Obama want to take away tax deductions for charitable contributions among the wealthy? How will this impact philanthropy in this country? Will we see a drop-off in giving? Will the controversy be worth it in additional government revenues? And what does the fate of middle class tax cuts look like as Congressional Democrats try to trim the Obama budget? We ask Bill Ahearn, communications director at The Tax Foundation in Washington.

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We have Tuesday’s top news…What regulatory changes does the Obama administration have in store for Wall Street?  What happened on Wall Street today after Monday’s huge rally?  What are Republicans and Democrats saying as the AIG blame game continues?  What will President Obama say about his massive budget plan tonight at his press conference?  What are Congressional Republicans saying about the $3.6 trillion price tag?  What help is the U.S. providing for Mexico in its fight against the drug cartels?  And what are the latest shots fired in the war over the definition of marriage?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Tuesday, March 24, 2009.

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What do we need to hear from President Obama tonight?  Do Americans really see an economic strategy or are they losing confidence in this administration?  What should we make of the latest rescue plan for Wall Street?  Is Obama’s budget tacking critical priorities or is it just a bloated mess?  What policies are small business owners hoping to see enacted?  What economic ideas do Republicans have?  And are they finding any Democrats willing to listen?  We ask Pennsylvania Rep. Glenn Thompson, a member of the House Small Business Committee.

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Tuesday night, President Obama will hold his second prime time press conference in an effort to sell his economic agenda.  What will he most try to convey?  Are Americans growing weary of the endless spending?  Are they losing confidence in Obama or are they not sure what to think?  And is Obama overexposing himself with so many media appearances?  We ask Richard Benedetto, former White House Correspondent for USA TODAY.

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Vermont is closing in on the first gay marriage law created outside the efforts of activist judges.  Here in Washington, Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Chuck Schumer have made clear statements about their desire to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.  Why are we seeing this effort now?  What do the tone and tactics tell us about the core of the gay marriage movement?  And what larger strategy is being seen with the gay marriage push in Vermont?  We ask Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, president and founder of The Ruth Institute.

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On Tuesday, the Obama administration said it was sending more border patrol agents and more detection equipment to the southern border in an effort to make sure the dramatic rise in drug cartel-related violence does not spill into the U.S.  So how sound is this response?  How dangerous is it right now for Americans living near the border?  And how easy is it for drug smugglers and illegals to cross into our country?  We ask Al Garza, executive director of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps.

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We have Monday’s top news…What is the Obama plan to loosen up credit and help banks out of the economic crisis?  What’s it going to cost you?  How did Wall Street respond?  What does Obama blame for the economic crisis?  Why does Rep. Barney Frank consider retention bonuses a form of extortion?  Why does a prominent Republican lawmaker see Obama’s policies leading us down a dangerous road?  And what does the GOP figure think of Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner?  We have the answers as we bring you the biggest stories for Monday, March 23, 2009.

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On Monday, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner outlined more details of his plan to help buy up the troubled assets of America’s banks and help spur the road to economic recovery.  So how optimistic should we be about this plan?  How is it different than the massive bailout plan approved last year?  How can we know it will be handled more responsibly than the first bailout?  Can we afford all this spending?  What are some alternatives?  We ask Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

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