Healthcare Reform, the Economy and the Obama Agenda

Making News

New Jersey Corruption Runs Deep ()

Federal agents rained down in New Jersey today, arresting 44 people charged with public corruption and high-volume, international money-laundering. Among those arrested were city mayors, city legislators and Jewish rabbis. Amir Efrati is reporting the story for the Wall Street Journal.

Guests:

• Amir Efrati: Legal Reporter, Wall Street Journal

Main Topic

Healthcare Reform, the Economy and the Obama Agenda ()

Recent reports on the progress of healthcare reform have portrayed a President battling his own party in Congress while his popularity ratings decline. Republicans -- and some Democrats, say he's moving too fast toward what some call "a government takeover" and a step toward "socialism." In his press conference last night, the President pushed what he called an "affordable" plan for "quality care," not financed "on the backs of middle class families." Which messages appeal to American voters? Is a familiar debate being re-framed in the age of the Internet?

Guests:

• Matt Bai: Political Writer, New York Times Magazine, @mattbai
• Elvin Lim: Assistant Professor of Government, Wesleyan University
• Michael Cannon: Director of Health Policy Studies, Cato Institute
• Justin Peters: Managing Editor, website of the Columbia Journalism Review

Links:

• Columbia Journalism Review's series on healthcare reform
• Cato Institute on healthcare
• Cannon's article on Obama and socialized medicine
• Lim's post on healthcare reform as a litmus test for Obama
• Bai's article on Obama's shuffling legislative priorities

Reporter's Notebook

Obama Wades into Racial Issue during Press Conference ()

At last night's news conference, the President was asked about the arrest of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, who had forgotten his keys and was arrested while trying to get into his home. Obama said that his friendship with "Skip" Gates could make him biased, but he was critical of the arrest for disorderly conduct, charges that later were dropped. Stanford Law Professor Richard Ford is author of The Race Card: How Bluffing about Bias Makes Race Relations Worse.

Guests:

• Richard Thompson Ford: Professor of Law, Stanford Law School