Perspective Podcast - April 15th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

President Obama Interview.

It was President Obama's first major interview since announcing he is running for re-election in 2012 and no topic was off limits.  From budgets to birthers, he pulled no punches.  He talked candidly about why he believes questions about his birth certificate could backfire against the Republicans and how his vote against raising the debt ceiling from his days as a senator looks in hindsight.  ABC's George Stephanopoulos had chance to address these issues with President Obama the day after the president delivered a speech outlining his plan to reduce the national debt.  The president began by addressing high gas prices.

Tax Racket?

Despite the recent efforts of the IRS to be more customer friendly, it is still really tough to find anyone who enjoyed their last audit.  In fact the complications and frustrations of paying your national dues have spawned a cottage industry of sorts, called "Tax Resolution Firms".  Some make tempting promises, but all too often add another layer of misery.  ABC's Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross looks at one firm you may know from television.  

Barry Bonds Verdict.

After a seven year, $55 million investigation and trial, a San Francisco jury of eight women and four men could not agree that Barry Bonds lied to a grand jury about using performance enhancing drugs.  But they decided the homerun king had been evasive and found him guilty of obstruction of justice. Bonds will likely fight that verdict, but whether that matters to fans or Hall of Fame voters is another question. ABC's John Donvan looks at the story of the man who dominated America's past-time in what will always be known as the steroid era.

Desiree Rogers.

One place the White House does not want to make headlines is the tabloid press.  When the story emerged in November 2009, that a couple from the reality show "The Real Housewives of D.C." had crashed a state dinner, damage control ensued.  In the process Social Secretary Desiree Rogers resigned.  For the first time she had a chance to tell her side of the story to ABC's Bill Weir.  

Reality Show Violence.

When Americans watch reality television, we are not really looking for models of good behavior.  But lately the bad behavior you see on some reality tv shows has sunk to a new level.  In the old days, think 1993, MTV's "Real World", a cast member could be expelled for getting physical.  Now, it is almost as if the shows want the casts to brawl, scratch and scrum.  But the question is, how is watching them fight, affecting us?  ABC's Andrea Canning takes a look.  

The Comeback of Pies.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, pies are delicious.  A slice of it is the perfect compliment to any meal and a growing number of Americans are rediscovering those truths, with pies making a huge comeback on menus everywhere.  ABC's Jeremy Hubbard explains.  

Host: Aaron Katersky

Producer: Jason Wesalo

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