In a troubled economy, goes conventional wisdom, one thing you can always depend on is the price of gold. That has never been more true, now that the price of gold has hit just over $1,200 an ounce.  Does this mean that we are seeing a modern day gold rush?

The U.S. Census Bureau released a report yesterday showing that in 2009, more than 14 percent of the population was living in poverty: It's a rate that hasn't been seen in the U.S. since the early '90s. Looking ahead into 2010's statistics, economists fear poverty will soon be higher than at any time since the 1960s, before President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the War on Poverty, as part of his Great Society initiative.  We discuss what can be done to fight poverty in America and how the government defines being poor. 

Today we consider the conversation happening between the Tea Party and the GOP to see if the two groups can converge on the same page. Delaware resident and leader of the Diamond State Tea Party Kevin Street joins us from the Tea Party. Conservative political journalist and blogger Reihan Salam, of the National Review, considers the fall implications for the GOP.

We've been asking you to call or text us your economic haikus and we've gotten some pretty amazing poetry. Today, Natasha Albornoz of Miami, Florida, joins us with her haiku and explains her motivation.  Natasha's haiku after the jump.

Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich breaks down the politics behind the Bush-era tax cuts, made during a time of budget surplus, and the proposals to allow the cuts to expire on individuals making more than $250,000 a year. Are there political agendas here? Also, chief economist for the Concord Coalition, Diane Lim Rogers, discusses the economics of this debate. Will this benefit middle class America and, in turn, stimulate the economy or will it negatively affect small business owners that are in the $250,000 income bracket that will lose their tax break?

We asked our listeners: What does it mean to be rich these days anyway? The tax code says it's $250,000 a year. How much do YOU think you have to earn to be considered rich?

All morning, we've been covering yesterday's district court ruling that Don't Ask, Don't Tell violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian service members. We've heard from a former assistant Secretary of Defense who testified against the policy, as well as a retired Army colonel who thinks Don't Ask is necessary.

Now we speak with someone who yesterday's ruling directly impacts. An active duty coast guard officer joins the program to tell us about the ramifications of yesterday's decision on his life and career, and explains why he's still keeping his identity a secret.

Yesterday evening, a federal judge ruled that Don't Ask, Don't Tell is unconstitutional because it violates the rights of gay men and lesbians. Earlier, we spoke with legal scholar Jeffrey Rosen and Larry Korb, a former Navy captain and assistant Secretary of Defense during the Regan administration who testified against DADT at the trial. Now we speak with Retired Army Colonel David Bedey, who is opposed to the ruling. He believes DADT is necessary.

A federal judge in California overturned the 17 year old policy that affects the ability of gay men and lesbians to serve in the military late on Thursday. Judge Virginia A. Phillips ruled the policy known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" unconstitutional, saying the rule violates the rights of gay people and has a "direct and deleterious effect" on the military. Don't Ask, Don't Tell bars gay people in the armed services from disclosing their sexual orientations.

Judge Phillips said she would issue an injunction barring the government from enforcing the rule. Legal observers expect the decision to be stayed pending an appeal.

As the debate over immigration rages on in the political spotlight, and candidates all over the country use the sensitive topic as a platform to gain votes for coming November election, Robert Rodriguez’s new movie, "Machete" does the same. Op/Ed pages contributing editor for The Los Angeles Times and creator of  Ask A Mexican, Gustavo Arellano, joins us to discuss Rodriguez's film and its satirical look at the immigration issue, corruption in politics and drug trafficking. He also revels in the revenge fantasy.

Housing prices have dropped an average of 26 percent since last July, and many economists and realty analysts are recommending that the federal governement do... nothing.

How much money do you need to have a happier life? New research says you stop getting happier after you reach a salary of $75,000 a year. After that point, according to the study from Princeton, "life evaluations" level off. We look at why this is, and we want to know from you, When has having more money made you LESS happy?

According to new data released by the Census Bureau, in 2008, single, childless women between the ages of 22 and 30 made more money than their male peers in major U.S. cities. Women's incomes averaged 8 percent higher, due largely to the fact that more women graduated college than men. 

If you're a single young man who makes less than his single young female counterparts, does that make you a "failed male?" Or is this simply a side effect of increasing gender equality?

Orchestras across the country are trying to find new ways to boost ticket sales in a bad economy. Conductor George Daugherty describes how he's introducing new audiences to live classical music, with the help of an unusual ally: Bugs Bunny. The Bugs Bunny at the Symphony program tours the world with the Sydney Symphony; audiences get to see and hear a live orchestral performance while the Looney Tunes gang plays on a screen above.