Perspective Podcast - April 22nd, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

McCain in Libya.

The war in Libya has reached a desperate point as Moammar Gadhafi's troops continue to bombard civilians and President Obama and other NATO leaders struggle to respond effectively. One of the strongest American backers of military intervention in Libya arrived in Benghazi on Friday.  Senator John McCain said he was there to meet with the rebels and assess the situation on the ground with his own eyes. ABC's Miguel Marquez has the latest.

Tim Hetherington.

It is the journalists job to help us see, to help us understand and to help us feel the reality of war and the common humanity we share with its victims.  This week news came that two American journalists covering this war were killed.  Chris Hondros, a photographer for Getty Images and British-born Tim Hetherington.  ABC's Brian Ross brings us the story.

Airline Safety.

A plane carrying First Lady Michelle Obama had to abort a landing this week because of an apparent mistake by air traffic controllers, which allowed the aircraft to get too close to a plane in front of it.  This incident came after weeks of reports of sleeping controllers and overworked pilots.  All of this raises serious questions about the state of American air travel.  Here is ABC's Lisa Stark.

Fracking & Arkansas Earthquakes.

This week a natural gas company halted its use of a controversial mining technique called fracking, after a blowout in a Pennsylvania well spilled thousands of gallons of toxic fluid into a local waterway.  This is not the first time the environmental impact of fracking has been questioned.  In Arkansas, some geologists think the disposal of waste water from fracking may be leading to an incredible increase in earthquakes, more than 1100 since September.  ABC's Chris Bury investigates.  

The Dukan Diet.

French doctor Pierre Dukan had thought he had figured out a way to help people drop weight and keep it off.  Years of success with his patients, he said, told him so.  But, at first he had a hard time getting his ideas published in France.  Now a few years later and millions of copies sold, American publishers jumped at the chance to sell Dukan's secrets.  The doctor had a chance to speak with ABC's Juju Chang in an exclusive interview.

Inside Panda Express.

It is a choice faced every night by thousands of Americans, sesame chicken or beef with broccoli? America's love affair with Chinese food goes back to the 1800's and the days of the railroads.  Today, no food-court would seem complete without a Chinese joint and chances are fair that place will be part of the enormous chain we had chance to get to know better.  ABC's John Berman explains.  

Playlist:  Smokey Robinson.

It is shorthand for soulful, sexy and swinging.  Motown changed the music world in the 1960's and millions of lovers are forever grateful.  We are going to go inside the mind of the artist who was at the center of that Motor City revolution to find out what he listens to.  Here's Smokey Robinson in his own words.

Host: Cheri Preston

Producer:  Jason Wesalo

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