Perspective Podcast - June 10th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Afghanistan:  Are We Winning?

73% of Americans say the U.S. should withdraw a substantial number of combat forces from Afghanistan this summer.  That is according to a new Washington Post/ABC News poll that was released this past week.  ABC's Diane Sawyer in Afghanistan, had a chance to speak with two men who have a great deal of influence over what comes next in this war.  

Designer Drugs.

They have got everyday names like spice and bath salts, but they are not used like everyday products.  In fact, they can be lethal.  They are the latest designer drugs your kids may be using, even bragging about on YouTube.  What is even more terrifying, is that they are completely legal.  Here is ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.  

School of Shock.

There is news on a story ABC News has been reporting on for four years about a controversial method for treating children with disabilities, literally giving them electrical skin shocks to change their behaviors.  It is used by the Judge Rottenberg Center in Massachusetts, a school that stood behind the practice even after the head of the U.N. Office on Torture condemned it and the Justice Department launched an investigation.  But now, a new development.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden reports.  

Dukan Diet Controversy.

Tens of millions of Americans go on diets each year, and each year there are tens of millions of arguments over whether this diet or that diet actually works.  Most of those are friendly debates.  But recently, a disagreement about whether a diet works and even whether it is safe ended up in court, when Dr. Pierre Dukan, the inventor of the renowned Dukan Diet, sued a rival for libel.  We first brought you the controversial diet on Perspective in May, when one highly visible guest used it as a way to slim down leading up to Royal Wedding.  ABC's Juju Chang has the update.

Pizza Recession.

Americans have adopted all kinds of frugality plans these days, including what you might call, "The Pizza Plan".  Eating more pizza during the recession has sent shares of Pizza Hut up 14% this year, Papa Johns is up 20% and Domino's up more than 50%.  ABC's John Berman explains.  

Kristen Wiig.

Any fan of "Saturday Night Live" has a pretty good feel for cast member evolution.  How at first they seem to appear out of obscurity, being able to walk upright with a few regular characters and then the fittest eventually discover that box office fire.  Well, Kristen Wiig is the latest cast member to make that jump from writer's room favorite to Hollywood headliner.  ABC's Chris Connelly had a chance to catch up with actress.  

Host:  Cheri Preston

Producer:  Jason Wesalo

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