President Obama's Second Address to the UN General Assembly

Making News

Republicans Unveil Their 'Pledge to America' ()

Republican leaders in Congress today unveiled what they call a "Pledge to America," promising to make government smaller, extending tax cuts and protecting entitlement programs at the same time. Jake Sherman reports for Politico.

Guests:

• Jake Sherman: Congressional Reporter, Politico, @JakeSherman

Main Topic

President Obama Goes Back to the UN ()

Last year, in his first speech to the UN General Assembly, President Obama promised a new era of American engagement with the rest of the world. Today, he emphasized peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Acknowledging widespread pessimism about the process, he encouraged drawing upon the "teachings of tolerance" of three great religions to realize a positive outcome. Though the President defended his record on Iran's nuclear program and healing the global economy, he had little to say about North Korea, Iraq's political instability or the shaky state of his counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. We hear excerpts from his address, different opinions on its strengths and weaknesses and what else is going on in the halls of the United Nations. 

Guests:

• Evelyn Leopold: Contributor, Huffington Post
• David Rothkopf: former Senior Official, Clinton Administration
• Richard Grenell: former Spokesman, US Ambassadors to the United Nations

Links:

• UN Women

Reporter's Notebook

Breast Cancer Study Raises More Questions on Mammograms ()

Last year an influential federal task force said routine annual mammograms were not necessary for women in their 40's. That led to concerns about insurance companies rationing medical services. Now a new study of 40,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in Norway between 1986 and 2005 says treatment has advanced so much that mammograms may, indeed, not be so important. Sharon Begley is science editor of Newsweek magazine.

Guests:

• Sharon Begley: Science Editor, Newsweek, @sxbegle