Friend of the show Lakshan Achuthan joins us to tell a tale of two economic Americas. Contrary to popular belief, the current recession has not been all that bad for many Americans. Unfortunately, the other 40 percent of unemployed fall into what Lakshman calls the "long term unemployed;" and he adds that their plight may not be over any time soon.
Later today we expect to hear new national unemployment data which should offer economists a reasonable idea of where our economy is moving on a macro scale. But what about the smaller economic engines of America? How about the small towns in our country that may be largely sustained by a single industry or plant? Even if the economy, as a whole, were to make an unexpected recovery, that wouldn’t bring back the single manufacturing plant that sustaining some ten percent of its nearby residents, or the auxiliary economy that springs up around it like housing, restaurants, or shopping centers.
Today, the latest film by "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua hits theatres nationwide. It's called "Brooklyn’s Finest," and it follows three cops who are forced to make impossible decisions during crisis points in their lives – and then live with the outcome of those choices.
When most of us watch the Oscars, our eyes are glued to the movie stars. But if you’re a movie star on Oscars night, it’s more likely that your eyes are glued to two accountants. We refer, of course, to the accountants of Pricewaterhouse Coopers – those guys with the briefcases who hit the red carpet each year, ballots in tow. From the actor's perspective, it's they who hold the key to your acceptance speech, or your stiff upper lip as a loser in front of the cameras.
Along with our friends at The Week Magazine, we look at the past week, review give you the score. Who had a good week? Who had a bad week? In this week’s segment we learn that it was a great week to vent your frustrations … if you happen to live in Nepal. A ritual in the country allows young people from neighboring villages Parsaway and Lamipur get to yell insults at each other as part of an annual festival this week. They say it's all in good fun.
Millions of American men are tested every year for prostate cancer, but the blood test used for screening isn’t completely reliable. Now, the American Cancer Society says there's a chance the screenings can do more harm than good. What are men at risk of prostate cancer supposed to do?
Yesterday, President Obama made one last-ditch attempt to push for health care overhaul. After a year of debate, the president said it was time for the Senate to cast an "up or down vote" on the final version of the bill. Still, many Republicans — and even some Democrats — do not support the proposal. The push comes just a week after the president's heath care summit at the White House, and after he said he would be open to four republican ideas gleaned from that discussion.
Under continuing questions about possible ethics violations, New York Congressman Charles Rangel announced this morning he would temporarily step down as chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Rangel, who is the dean of his state's delegation, said he would relinquish control of the influential post in order to allow an investigation by the Ethics Committee to run its course.
The United States Postal Service carries a $10 billion debt, but is legally prohibited from many cost-cutting measures like closing offices. Takeaway Washington correspondent, Todd Zwillich, explains why the USPS is losing money, and how the new proposal aims to help.
Without enough votes in the Senate to revote on a modified bill and pass health care reform, the Democratic Party may resort to using a 1974 budgetary law known as reconciliation. The process protects the bill from filibusters that require a 60-vote majority to end debate, and would instead allow the bill to pass by a simple majority.
After long hours of spirited debate, President Obama and Congressional lawmakers failed to reach any substantive compromises on health care legislation. Republicans were clearly frustrated with the president's proposals and repeatedly suggested scrapping the legislation and starting over again. Democrats insisted that was not an option because too much progress has already been made.
Three European Internet companies have complained to the EU's competition regulator that Google is choking competition by unfairly promoting its own products above theirs in their search engines. Can Google fairly advertise other companies that its in competition with? BBC business correspondent, Russell Padmore, explains.
Tomorrow President Obama will hold his health care summit with House and Senate leaders from both parties. Earlier in today's show, we spoke with two lawmakers from the House, who are also doctors, Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington State and Rep. Michael Burgess, a Republican from Texas. Now we bring the conversation full circle, from the lawmakers in Washington back to the public that they serve.
The president of Japanese car giant Toyota will appear before Congress today as part of a probe into the company's recall of millions of vehicles over sudden acceleration problems, which have been blamed for about 30 U.S. deaths.
The Obama administration has made universal access to broadband Internet a top priority, but a new FCC study says that access or no access, 31 percent of Americans can't afford the cost.
Why We Stay When We Know We Should Leave
Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest
The IRS Scandal: The Criminal Investigation, Afghanistan and the Struggle to Walk Away, Does Medicare Part D Care About Safety?
Star Trek: Past, Present and Future
The IRS Scandal: Who Gets Tax-Exempt Status?, Depression's Lessons, 'Star Trek: Into Darkness'
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