Perspective Podcast - March 15, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

The New Pope
This week more than a billion Catholics around the world celebrated the election of the 266th pope.  Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit, and the first non-European in nearly 13-hundred years.  He's also the first to take the name Francis.  ABC's Terry Moran has more from Rome.

Reaction Around the World
Many did not expect Cardinal Bergoglio to be named pope.  His predecessor, Benedict the 16th, was well-known throughout the world before he became pope, but Bergoglio was an unfamiliar name to most Catholics.  Now many are celebrating him across the globe.  ABC's Linda Albin has the details.

Celebrity Hacking
This week more than a dozen celebrities and political figures like Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden allegedly had their private financial information hacked and posted online.   It's the latest attack raising concerns about the security of sensitive information stored digitally.  ABC News Chief Law and Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas has the details.

President Barack Obama
Now to an ABC News exclusive interview with President Obama.  He sat down this week with ABC's George Stephanopoulos to discuss those cyber attacks, plus nuclear concerns from North Korea, and the debate in Washington over the budget.

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In"
Sheryl Sandberg is 43 years old but has already been a Washington chief of staff and a top executive at Google.  Now she's the Chief Operating Officer at Facebook and a director at Disney, the parent company of ABC News.  She's excelled at every step of her career and is working to inspire other women to do the same.  Here's ABC's Elizabeth Vargas.

Women in Battle
Staff Sergeant Jennifer Hunt is one of four women who filed a lawsuit to end the ban on direct combat for women.  She has served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was awarded a purple heart.  ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz sat down with Hunt to discuss the issue of women on the front lines of battle.

The World According to Dick Cheney
Former Vice President Dick Cheney has a reputation for secrecy, but in a new documentary he gave an unprecedented level of access to filmmaker R.J. Cutler.  "The World According to Dick Cheney" chronicles the former vice president's four-decade-long career.  For more on the documentary, ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl spoke to Cutler.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Pocast - March 8, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Hugo Chavez Dies at 58
This week Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died at the age of 58.  Chavez had been battling cancer for the past two years, and the head of Venezuela's presidential guard says he died of a massive heart attack.  Here's ABC's Tom Rivers.

The Catholic Church in Transition
The Catholic Church is preparing to appoint a new Pope after the resignation of Benedict XVI, and some followers are uneasy about the leadership of the church.  Italian journalist Marco Politi actually predicted the pope might resign long before the news broke.  In his book "Crisis of a Papacy," Politi asserted Pope Benedict would not allow himself to stay on if the physical and mental stress became too much.  ABC's Christiane Amanpour sat down with Politi to discuss the Catholic Church in transition.

Sec. Kerry on Iran and Syria
After his first overseas trip as secretary of state, John Kerry says the international community is facing a "challenging moment" in negotiating a peaceful solution with Iran over its nuclear program.  He also believes the U-S must ramp up support for opposition forces in Syria to bring an end to the two-year long conflict there.  For more on the details, ABC News Senior Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz sat down with Secretary Kerry.

Game Change with Republicans
This week the Obama administration canceled tours of the White House, citing staffing reductions due to the automatic budget cuts that took affect last week.  The president also met with Republican congressional leaders to discuss the current gridlock over taxes and spending.  ABC's Ann Compton reports from the White House.

Consequences of the Sequester
85-billion dollars in government budget cuts went into effect last Friday and will be felt across the country in weeks to come, yet gridlock continues among law makers in Washington.  For more on the political ramifications of those cuts, ABC's Aaron Katersky speaks to ABC News Political Analyst Steve Roberts.

HIV Baby Cured?
A Mississippi baby born with H-I-V more than two years ago appears to be the first documented case of a child being cured of the virus.  The child has been off medication for about a year with no signs of the infection.  ABC News Chief Health and Medical Editor Dr. Richard Besser reports.

Misdiagnosing Breast Cancer
One in eight women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.  That's why so many make sure to get their annual mammogram.  But what if those breast cancers tests produce a false positive?  Here's ABC's Cynthia McFadden.

Martha Stewart in Court
Martha Stewart was in court this week as Macy's and JC Penney fight for the right to sell her merchandise.  She took the stand in New York State Supreme Court, eight years after she was convicted of lying to authorities about her sale of ImClone stock.  ABC's Dan Harris reports from New York.

Girls with Guns
As the gun control debate rages on, firearm sales are reaching record heights ... and women are a big reason why.  While they over-whelmingly support gun control, a recent Gallup poll reveals one in four women own a gun.  Here's ABC's JuJu Chang.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - March 1, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

Pope Benedict's Final Address
This week Pope Benedict the 16th abdicated the papal throne ... the first time it's happened in six hundred years.  On Thursday he met with his cardinals for the last time and then boarded a helicopter to the Papal vacation home.  ABC's Tom Rivers has more from the Vatican.

Sex Trafficking in the Philippines
Every day in developing countries young girls are bought and sold for sex, but one Catholic priest in the Philippines is fighting against underage sex trafficking.  ABC's Alex Marquardt joined him in Subic Bay as part of a six month ABC News investigation

One-on-One with Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama surprised Oscar viewers last weekend when she made an appearance to present the award for best picture.  The first lady's new haircut has also sparked conversation in recent weeks, and now she sits down with ABC's Robin Roberts to discuss her "Let's Move" campaign and a second term in the White House.

Celebrity Kids vs. the Paparazzi
Actors, supermodels and other stars are hounded by the paparazzi every day, but what about when their children are subject to that scrutiny?  It has many Hollywood parents up in arms.  ABC's Nick Watt has the story.

Celebrity Bodyguards
In Hollywood, bodyguards aren't only a security asset -- they're also a status symbol.  But how big is the business of protecting celebrities from over-zealous fans and the paparazzi?  Is it really necessary?  ABC's Clayton Sandell has the answers.

White Albums
ABC's Cheri Preston heads to the SoHo section of New York City to find out more about the art gallery with a neon sign reading "We Buy White Albums."

Dolly Parton
When Dolly Parton wanted to open a theme park, her advisors told her she should call it "Crazywood."  27 years later, Dollywood attracts 2.5-million visitors every year.  Parton sat down with ABC's Juju Chang to talk about everything from her larger-than-life looks to her bold personality.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective