The new Congress is in session, and do we have change we can believe in? Not so much. Todd Zwillich, reporter for Capitol News Connection, says its the usual bickering and partisan sniping, slightly enlivened by the question of whether or not Roland Burris, appointed to the Senate by Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, will be seated.
Former Illinois Attorney General and U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris certainly is accumulating a lot of frequent flyer miles these days. After heading to Washington only to be turned away from the Senate by Democratic leaders, he’ll be back in Illinois today testifying before the state house committee that is considering the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich. Committee members say their decision on impeachment could come as early as today. We are joined by Amanda Vinicky, the statehouse reporter for Illinois Public Radio.
Rockets fired from Lebanon hit northern Israel, but it's not quite clear who fired them. Lebanon's prime minister is condemning the attacks and Hezbollah is not stepping up to claim responsibility. The attacks threaten to open a second front in Israel's ongoing struggles, a possibility for which Israel claims they are prepared. Natalia Antelava is covering this story from Beirut for our partners the BBC she joins us now to talk about the simmering tensions in the region.
Confirmation hearings for the Obama Cabinet begin today with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who is up for secretary of Health and Human Services, first to face the congressional firing squad. Daschle is likely to be confirmed, but how will the new administration make health care reform a priority as the economic crisis persists? Len Nichols, director of the Health Policy Program at the New America Foundation, joins The Takeaway with some insight.
The American economic boom couldn't have happened without China's willingness to buy up American debt. While the American economy has hit a road bump (or maybe a pothole), China has been able to avoid the same market turmoil. Until now. With a downturn in its own economy, China isn't interested in acquiring any more American debt and that is having a profound impact on our ability to borrow. New York Times' reporter Keith Bradsher is following this story in Hong Kong.
The Takeaway talks to two residents of Dublin, Indiana, who met with former U.S. senator Tom Daschle, D-S.D., the likely Health and Human Services secretary in President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet. Health care concerns are always on the mind of Jill King, a homemaker with breast and uterine cancer, and Travis Ulerick, an emergency medical technician. They give us their take on the senator's fitness for the job at hand.
President-elect Barack Obama has announced the appointment of a Chief Performance Officer to oversee… well, to oversee government performance. It’s unclear what is in store for former McKinsey & Co. consultant Nancy Killefer, who has accepted the new post. But one thing is sure: It’s going to be a really big job. For more on what the CPO gig may involve, we’re joined by Max Stier, the president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service.
Watch the press conference introducing Nancy Killefer.
To make his living, Peter Franklin drives a yellow cab in New York City. As he makes his way around the city, ferrying customers from point A to point B, Peter has a knack for getting people to talk on subjects as erudite as global economic indicators and domestic policy. Now he has turned those daily conversations into a report for BBC radio and other outlets around the world. He joins us now for his
take on life in New York City.
When Barack Obama tapped Bill Clinton’s former chief of staff, Leon Panetta, to be director of the CIA there was some grumbling in intelligence circles. And the grumbling hasn’t stopped. For an insider's take on the appointment we turn to Sam Faddis a retired CIA operations officer (we think that means spy) and author of the book, "Operation Hotel California: The Clandestine War inside Iraq."
For the second day in a row, Israel has halted its military strikes in Gaza for three hours. The three-hour break is meant to allow Gaza residents a brief window to stock up on food, fuel and supplies before bunkering down again. Muhammad Abushaban is a 22-year old Gaza resident who left his house for the first time yesterday since the start of the military action. He joins us now for an on-the-ground report.
Who will lead the Republican National Committee through the Obama Administration? Ana Marie Cox, founding editor of Wonkette and contributor to The Daily Beast, doesn't know. But she does know that if the Republicans want to revitalize their party it's going to take a lot more than choosing leadership based on the number of their Facebook friends. She joins John and Adaora with the update on the private meeting the GOP held Wednesday on Capitol Hill and her plans to run a gypsy cab during the Inauguration. Girl's got to make a living.
At the 1980 Republican Convention, Ronald Reagan emerged as a strong leader with a clear vision for America and the Republican party. Can the Republicans revive his vision?
Lebanon's prime minister is condemning rocket attacks on Israel and has called for investigations by both the army and the United Nations. This has not stopped Lebanese guerrillas from firing a second barrage of rockets into northern Israel, striking a nursing home and injuring two people. Israel responded with artillery fire. The attacks threaten to open a northern front in Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip. Jim Muir is covering this story from Beirut for our partner, the BBC, and he joins us now live.
