Perspective Podcast - April 12, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

President Obama's Budget
On Wednesday, President Obama unveiled his budget proposal for 2014, saying it would shrink federal deficits and expand the economy.  The president's plan also calls for reductions in Social Security and Medicare spending.  ABC's Ann Compton with more from the White House.

Breaking Down the Budget
The president's budget proposal seems aimed at enticing Republicans into a new round of deficit negotiations while trying to keep faith with Democrats who favor higher taxes.  For more on the political implications surrounding the president's plan, ABC's Dan Kloeffler speaks to ABC News Political Director Rick Klein.

Rep. Paul Ryan
After Mr. Obama announced his budget plan, Representative Paul Ryan said he was disappointed.  Ryan is the chairman of the House Budget Committee and remains skeptical that the president's proposal will lure Republicans back to the negotiating table.  ABC News Senior Washington Correspondent Jeff Zeleny sat down with Representative Ryan to get the details.

The Iron Lady
This week Britain's former prime minister passed away at age 87.  To some, Margaret Thatcher was the woman who saved England from socialism.  To others, she was the lady with a heart of iron.  ABC's David Wright brings us more on her legacy.

Arpaio's Posse
Four months after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, CT, questions still remain about how to keep our schools safe.  In Arizona's Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio believes the answer is having armed civilians patrol school boundaries.  But not everyone agrees.  ABC's Terry Moran reports.

Accidental Racist
There's a new song from Brad Paisley and LL Cool that  has some saying that they've gone too far.  The track has become a controversial commentary that's spawned criticism from the media and from the web.  Here's ABC's Rob Nelson.

Motown the Musical
"Motown the Musical" is the story of a one-of-a-kind sound that hit airwaves in 1959 and then changed American culture forever.  The new Broadway show details the rise of performers like Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, and Marvin Gaye.  ABC News Entertainment Correspondent Bill Diehl with our report.

Host:  Aaron Katersky
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - April 5, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Rutgers Basketball Controversy
Rutgers University fired basketball coach Mike Rice on Wednesday after ESPN aired video of him pushing players in the chest, grabbing them by their jerseys, and yanking them around the court.  Rice could also be heard screaming obscenities and gay slurs at practice.  Following outrage over the footage, University Athletic Director Tim Pernetti resigned.  ABC's Gio Benitez has the details.

Atlanta Cheating Scandal
Last week, 35 Atlanta public school educators were named in an indictment alleging a broad conspiracy to change standardized test scores.  The higher scores would result in more federal dollars for the 58 schools and bonuses for some of the educators.  Many of the teachers have now turned themselves in.  ABC's Steve Osunsami with the story.

Political Corruption
It has not been a good week for democracy in the state of New York, where there were two big political corruption cases brought by federal prosecutors.  They targeted two state legislators, a New York City councilman, and two republican party officials, all of whom were arrested.  ABC's Aaron Katersky reports from New York.

Roger Ebert
Movie critic Roger Ebert passed away Thursday at the age of 70.  He died just two days after announcing on his blog that he was undergoing radiation treatment for a recurrence of cancer.  Here's ABC's David Muir.

The Threat from North Korea
North Korea says its army has final approval to launch military strikes on the United States, and the top US commander in South Korea says the threats are being taken very seriously.  General James Thurman says it's hard to know what Kim Jong Un's intentions are, but his troops stand ready to fight if necessary.  ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz spoke with General Thurman in South Korea about the crisis.

Up All Night
For parents with babies, putting a child to sleep can be quite an ordeal, including screaming fits lasting for hours.  Some moms and dads are willing to try anything to get a little peace and quiet.  ABC's Juju Chang has the details.

Rebel Runway Model
Cameron Russell is a Victoria's Secret model who began her career at the age of 16.  Now 25, she's graced the pages of famed fashion magazines and walked across catwalks all over the world.  Now Russell says she feels guilty that her career has helped promote an image where "skinny equals beautiful."  Here's ABC's Bill Weir.

Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald is best known as part of the '80s "Brat Pack," but she's also a singer and has just released her first solo album.  Here's ABC News Entertainment Correspondent Bill Diehl.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - March 29, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Arguments on Same Sex Marriage
This week the US Supreme Court heard two days of arguments on gay marriage.  Tuesday, the focus was on California's Prop 8, which bans same sex marriage in the state.  Wednesday's hearing turned to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.  ABC's Steven Portnoy was inside the court for the arguments.

New Details on the Newtown Shooting
This week we learned more about the man who carried out the Sandy Hook Elementary school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.  The search warrants the police obtained following the December 14th killing of 20 students and six teachers were released, and they paint a chilling picture of how the attack happened and what may have led up to it.  ABC's Aaron Katersky was the first network correspondent to report from Newtown following the killings.  

Elections and Social Media
Could the outcome of the presidential election have been different if Mitt Romney had had a few thousand more Twitter followers and Facebook friends?  Bret Jacobson and Ian Spencer think so.  They're co-founders of the conservative digital strategy group Red Edge and they believe the failed GOP nominee could have defeated President Obama with a better showing on social media.  ABC's Devin Dwyer sat down with Jacobson and Spencer to get the details.

Iraq 10 Years Later
Violence has dominated Iraq for the past decade.  In 2003, U-S-led forces easily won the war but sectarian tensions continued.  Shibley Telhami is a professor at the University of Maryland who says Iraq is "a broken country with deep wounds."  He conducts public opinion polls in the Middle East and reports the overwhelming majority of respondents say Iraq is worse off than before the invasion.  ABC's Christiane Amanpour sat down with Telhami to find out more.

Uncovering Animal Cruelty
Do Americans have a right to see where their food comes from?  That question is at the heart of a battle between farmers and animal rights activists who go undercover with hidden cameras.  ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross reports.

Mugshots for Sale
Mugshot websites are now making big bucks exposing those arrested for even the smallest offenses.  They're outing offenders online and forcing them to pay a hefty sum to reclaim anonymity.  ABC's Steve Osunsami reports on the booming business that's surprisingly legal and potentially destructive.

Stephanie Meyer
Twilight creator Stephanie Meyer transformed vampires and werewolves from scary to sexy.  Her stories are already worth billions and now she's talking about her latest project, titled "The Host."  ABC's Juju Chang has the details.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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