Now that the August recess is over, Republican leaders promise that September's focus will be on national security. What about immigration reform? Is the party in power too divided to accomplish a presidential priority? Will the lack of action help the GOP or the Democrats more in November’s elections? Also, President Bush displays a new rhetoric on fighting terrorism, and do the Republicans need black voters to hold the White House and Congress? We'll hear some surprising answers.
Congress Dragging Its Feet on Immigration Reform
Whatever happened to immigration reform? Plus, President Bush restates his case on terrorism, and the Republican Party and America's black voters.
FROM THIS EPISODE
Making News
President Bush's Speeches Shift to Consequences of Failure
5 MIN, 58 SEC
The White House has unveiled a new strategy on combating terrorism, and President Bush addressed the subject again today during a speech to an association of military officers in Washington. The new look at terrorism will focus less on al Qaeda and more on decentralized networks of extremists as well as Iran.
Guests:
David Sanger, New York Times (@SangerNYT)
Main Topic
Congress Dragging Its Feet on Immigration Reform
35 MIN, 43 SEC
As Congress returns from its August recess, a CNN poll finds that 76 percent of Americans are angry about the way the country's being run. The number planning to back a challenger in November's elections is higher than it was in 1994, when the Republicans took control from the Democrats. President Bush made immigration reform a priority for this year, and Republicans held 20 hearings last month all over the country. So, why has it dropped off their agenda? Will the GOP or the Democrats take the heat for a lack of action next time voters go to the polls?
Guests:
Rachel Swarns, Immigration Reporter, New York Times
Manuel Ruiz, Santa Cruz County Supervisor, Arizona
Jaime Contreras, District Chair, SEIU Local 32BJ
John Keeley, Director of Communications, Center for Immigration Studies
Frank Sharry, America's Voice (@FrankSharry)
Reporter's Notebook
The Emerging Black GOP Majority
6 MIN, 5 SEC
After Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in 1968, it took 15 years to declare his birthday a national holiday--and Republican President Ronald Reagan signed the bill. Since then, the GOP has tried to persuade African American voters that the Democrats take their loyal support for granted. One civil-rights activist/commentator thinks it's working and he's presented those thoughts in The Emerging Black GOP Majority.
Guests:
Earl Ofari Hutchinson, journalist and civil rights activist (@earlhutchinson)