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Will YouTube Change the Substance of Presidential Politics?

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Democratic presidential candidates last night faced questions posed by ordinary citizens on amateur video. CNN promoted it as the beginning of real change in the style and substance of American politics. Did the debate live up to advance billing or was it more of the same in a different format? Also, round two of US-Iran talks on stabilizing Iraq and, on Reporter's Notebook, amid charges that a referee bet on games, Commissioner David Stern defends the credibility of professional basketball.

Making News

US and Iran Hold Second Round of Talks on Iraq ()

In May, the US and Iran began talks about stabilizing Iraq, an event considered "groundbreaking." Today, in round two, all three nations agreed to set up an ongoing security subcommittee, even though the US said the two months since May have not been encouraging. Neil King is diplomatic correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.

Guests:
  • Neil King: Diplomatic Correspondent for the Wall Street Journal

Main Topic

Will YouTube and Web 2.0 Change American Politics? ()

CNN hyped last night's Democratic presidential debate at The Citadel in South Carolina as "revolutionary" because real people got to ask questions on video. Some students of politics and the media said the event would do for interactive Web 2.0 what the Kennedy-Nixon debates did for TV. Others called it just a tiny step forward, because CNN got to decide which questions the candidates had to respond to. Some 3000 thousand people submitted amateur videos that tackled everything from serious policy questions to sophomoric humor, including a question on global warming that came from an animated snowman. Did the format make for entertaining TV? Were the candidates more authentic?  Did it finally come down to politics as usual?

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Reporter's Notebook

Is Referee Scandal a Sign of Gambling in the NBA? ()

The FBI is investigating a former professional basketball referee who's suspected of betting on games and disclosing confidential information to other gamblers. Today, NBA Commissioner David Stern, who addressed the credibility of the sport at a packed news conference, said he felt "betrayed" on behalf of NBA fans by charges that Tim Donaghy bet on games which he also officiated. Bob Ford is a sports columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

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  • Bob Ford: Sports Columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer

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