Politico
Editor in Chief and co-founder of Politico, a political news website; author of The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House and co-author of The Way to Win: Taking the White House in 2008; former reporter and political editor for the Washington Post
Hillary's "Go to Hell" Response to the Email Controversy Hillary Clinton may be the consensus Democratic nominee for president next year, but she hasn't declared yet -- and she hadn't talked to reporters for many months. But, yesterday, at the UN, she broke her silence to address accusations about excessive secrecy while she was the senior member of President Obama's cabinet. In her first news conference in two years, Clinton answered a question about her use of private email while she was Secretary of State. "When I got to work as Secretary of State, I opted for convenience to use my personal email account which was allowed by the State Department, because I thought it would be easier to carry one device for my work and for my personal emails instead of two... At the time this didn't seem like an issue." John Harris, editor-in-chief at Politico and author of The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House , has an analysis. Special thanks to Paul von Zielbauer for production assistance.
Amazon, the Washington Post and the Future of News When the founder of Amazon bought the Washington Post, the world of journalism dropped its collective jaw. Nobody even knew it was up for sale. At $250 million, the price is high — but it's only 1% of Jeff Bezos' personal fortune. So, who is Bezos, and what does he have in mind? Opinions range from altruist out to rescue traditional news from digital destruction, to digital tycoon looking for power and influence. Beyond that, what's the potential for one of America's most creative capitalists to re-invent journalism in the long term?
Is Obama Winning the Battles but Losing the War? President Obama has astonished Washington veterans by achieving so many of the objectives he promised voters during the campaign of 2008. But, " the mystery remains ." He "is still widely perceived as flirting with a failed presidency." That's according to a much-read article in Politico, authored by Jim VandeHei and John Harris.
Is Obama Winning the Battles but Losing the War? Barack Obama has scored more substantive legislative victories than any Democratic President since Lyndon Johnson back in the 1960's, including healthcare and finance reform. But some Washington pundits say he is "still widely perceived as flirting with a failed presidency ." How can this be? Why have Independents and even prominent Liberals turned against a politician who's delivered on so many promises? Is he better at politics than he is at communication after all? Is it "the economy, stupid," or is the political class drawing too many conclusions too soon?
Palin vs Biden: A Preview of the Vice Presidential Debate Political junkies--and much of the rest of the country--will be focused tonight on St. Louis, Missouri, where Alaska's first-term Governor Sarah Palin will debate 36-year Senate veteran Joseph Biden . Palin won't be the only loose canon; Biden is capable of the kind of gaffe that leads to lasting impressions. While the latest polls show that Palin's recent interviews have dulled the shine on her brilliant appearance at the Republican convention, past opponents say she can appeal directly to voters who don't care about facts, figures and policies. In the meantime, she's been boning up. Past vice presidential debates have produced fireworks that turned out not to matter come the November election. Will this one make a difference for John McCain or Barack Obama ?
Markets Slide as Wall Street Staggers The brokerage firm Bear Stearns got a bailout earlier this year. The federal government also agreed to prop up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mack . But over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Paulson drew the line when it came to Lehman Brothers, which has now declared bankruptcy . Merrill Lynch has sold itself off. AIG , America's biggest insurance company, could be next. Stock prices are plunging. From Wall Street to Washington to the presidential campaign trail there is talk of America's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. President Bush says he's working to minimize the disruption . McCain and Palin promise reform . Obama and Biden insist it's time to change parties . We look at the reshaping of both the financial world order and the race for the White House.
Day Three of the DNC: Joe Biden's Night Hillary Clinton's much awaited message last night was billed as her chance to demonstrate party loyalty by putting an end to the much reported "tensions" resulting from a primary season that was dramatically historic and dramatically close. Hillary might be a hard act for Bill Clinton to follow, but that's his job tonight. Barack Obama reportedly told him to say whatever he wants to. The rest of the night is choreographed to highlight vice presidential candidate Joe Biden and America's relationship to the rest of the world. Are continued tensions between Obama and Clinton forces exaggerated by reporters hard up for a story? What does Biden bring to the ticket and how was he chosen?
NAFTA, the Canadian Government and the Democratic Campaign Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are looking for votes in Mississippi tomorrow, but last week's flap over the North American Free Trade Agreement is still on the radar screen. US Ambassador David Wilkins complained that the Canadian government had interfered with the US political process. During a Clinton-Obama debate in Ohio, both promised publicly to pressure for renegotiation of NAFTA, but Ohio voters heard only about Obama. Canada TV then reported that an Obama aide had privately reassured Canadian officials not to worry, that it was all political rhetoric in a state where NAFTA is blamed for a loss of jobs. The Clinton campaign accused Obama of dishonesty, and the issue contributed to his loss in Ohio. Meantime, as Clinton escalates her attacks, Obama is beginning to respond in kind. Are they handing John McCain issues to use in November? Will their ongoing battle make it harder for him to get the attention he needs to rally Republican skeptics?
The Michigan Primary and the Economy After one caucus and two primaries, there have been three Republican winners--or a whole field of losers , depending on how you see it. After Romney 's victory in Michigan , he, Huckabee and McCain are on to South Carolina where Thompson awaits while Giuliani looks on from Florida . We update the Republican contest and look at what more and more evidence shows is becoming the dominant issue: the economy. Do voters blame President Bush and Republicans? Do they have confidence in the Democrats? What are the candidates saying?
The Future of the News The reports coming in from American newsrooms are ominous: budget cuts, staff layoffs, rollbacks in reporting and falling circulation, with a slump that's hitting newspapers and newsmagazines alike. Meanwhile, more and more former readers are migrating to the web, clicking their news online, downloading podcasts and videos onto their iPods and personal cell phones. Anyway you look at it, there's a seismic shake-up in the world of print journalism. Is Google replacing Time magazine? Does the New York Times really have to compete with the Drudge Report ? Are American newspapers doomed? Will they be replaced by online publications? Or is this much to do about nothing? (An extended version of this discussion was originally broadcast earlier today on To the Point.) Marc Cooper guest hosts.
The Future of the News The reports coming in from American newsrooms are ominous: budget cuts, staff layoffs, rollbacks in reporting and falling circulation, with a slump that's hitting newspapers and newsmagazines alike. Meanwhile, more and more former readers are migrating to the web, clicking their news online, downloading podcasts and videos onto their iPods and personal cell phones. Anyway you look at it, there's a seismic shake-up in the world of print journalism. Is Google replacing Time magazine? Does the New York Times really have to compete with the Drudge Report ? Are American newspapers doomed? Will they be replaced by online publications? Or is this much to do about nothing? Marc Cooper guest hosts.
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.