Perspective Podcast, September 9, 2011

In this edition of Perspective ...

Rebuilding Ground Zero
ABC's Aaron Katersky takes a look at the ongoing rebuilding efforts at ground zero.

Are We Safer?
The results are finally in on just how good *airport security* is ten years after the September 11th attacks.  Billions of dollars have been spent on securing our skies and countless passengers have been inconvenienced.  And while some attempted attacks have been thwarted, is the fact that no American flight has been hijacked or bombed since 9/11 a matter of good security or just good luck?  Here's ABC's Chief investigative correspondent Brian Ross.

10 Years of War
The tragedy of the terrorist attacks on 9/11 triggered  a massive military response. It is called the War on Terror.  It has put hundreds of thousands of American troops in harm's way, costing many thousands of lives and many billions of dollars. It has meant the overthrow of two Middle Eastern regimes. And it is a war that is still being waged today, 10 years later. ABC News National Correspondent Jim Hickey follows the timeline.

President Bush Remembers
Former President George W. Bush has mostly shunned the spotlight since leaving the White House, but now as we mark the ten year anniversary of 9/11, President Bush is opening up about the devastating attack that changed his Presidency and the world.  ABC's Terry Moran reports.

The Story of United 93
One bright spot on that day ten years ago, was the emergence of heroes.  Firefighters, police officers and everyday citizens called upon to take extraordinary actions.  We will never be able to hear from many of these men and women who gave their lives to protect other Americans.  For instance, the people aboard United Flight 93 who overpowered the hijackers as their plane crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  ABC's Steven Portnoy has the story of those heroes.

Reluctant Hero
ABC's Aaron Katersky has the incredible story of one man's heroic actions on the morning of the September 11th attacks.

New York Since 9/11
Journalist, author, and historian Pete Hamill has been writing about New York for decades. ABC's Richard Davies spoke with him about how 9/11 changed the city since the attacks.

Host:  Aaron Katersky
Producer:  Ryan Kessler

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Perspective Podcast - September 2, 2011

In this edition of Perspective ...

Airport Security Flaws
The results are in on just how good airport security is ... Nearly ten years after 9-11, billions have been spent on securing our skies - countless passengers have been inconvenienced - and there's no question that *some* attempted attacks have been stopped.  But is the fact that no American flights have been hijacked or bombed since 9/11 a matter of good security or good luck?  ABC's Chief Investigative correspondent Brian Ross has the story.

Hunger at Home: Crisis in America
We turn now to a crisis in America.  Seventeen million children in the U.S. today are "food insecure" -- that means their parents often don't know where the next meal is going to come from.  Counting adults, one in six Americans simply don't have enough food.  Those may sound like statistics from another time, but they are today's reality.  Here's ABC's John Donvan.

The New James Franco
It's a survival story straight out of a Hollywood thriller -- a Colorado man was cutting trees when the trailer of his truck slipped loose and slammed down on his foot so hard that he couldn't move.  Trapped alone in the forest, he had only one incredibly painful way out.  ABC's Clayton Sandell has the story.

Missing In Aruba
We now turn to the disappearance of Robyn Gardner in Aruba.  We're learning more about her lifestyle and some surprising claims from her own friends and family.  ABC's Ashleigh Banfield has more from Aruba.

Susan Powell's Disappearance
Years can pass in a missing persons case and then suddenly -- major new activity.  That's what's happening in the search for Utah mom Susan Powell.  Her husband, Josh Powell, is the only known person of interest in the case -- and now, he tells his side of the story to ABC's Abbie Boudreau.

Glenn Campbell and Alzheimer's
In 1994, almost six years after he left office, President Ronald Reagan announced that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's -- putting a courageous, public face to a devastating disease.  Now, one of America's most beloved musicians shares his story in an interview with ABC's Terry Moran.

Dr. Luke, Record Producer
Pop superstar Beyonce made a splash this week at MTV's VMA's with a win for best choreography and a performance that featured her new baby bump -- but she's not the only one that made a splash that night.  Katie Perry and Brittany Spears won statues as well, and you might be surprised to hear that they also share a man in their lives.  Here's ABC's Chris Connelly.

1-800-GOT-JUNK
Steve Martin used to give a lesson on how to be a millionaire.  "Step One: get a million dollars."  An equally helpful tip might be: do something everybody wants.  And one man realized that in America, everybody wants to get rid of their mountains of junk -- and once that clicked, he was en route to mountains of cash.  To explain how, here's ABC's Neal Karlinksy.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producers:  Ryan Kessler and Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - August 26, 2011

In this edition of Perspective ...

Panning For Gold.
Gold prices rallied to a record peak of more than $1,900 an ounce earlier this month.  And this week, for the first time in a long time, gold prices took a dip as investors cashed out after recent record gains.  It's not just investors looking to get rich.  We've heard plenty of stories of people selling of their gold jewelry for cold cash and now ABC's Alex Stone reports, there's a renewed run to California's rivers.

Texting On Trial Part 1.
We turn now to a trial of a teenager - and the key piece of evidence - her text messages.  If you ever saw the texts your children send each other, you might be shocked.  But imagine if those messages were used as testimony in a murder trial.  We've all heard the warnings about "don't text and drive" and the news media has done many stories on it, but until now we don't think a teenagers text has ever been seen like this.  ABC's Deborah Roberts has the story.

Texting On Trial Part 2.
It seemed like any wreck on a wintry night - two cars, one frozen bridge... opposite directions.  But was it an accident or deliberate - when a teenage girl in a lover's quarrel keeps texting at the wheel.  Was it a suicide attempt or murder?  What would a jury decide?  Once again here's ABC's Deborah Roberts.

Texting On Trial Part 3.
We now return to the story of Justine Winter, a Montana teenager on trial for murder after a car crash that led to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her 13-year-old son.  Prosecutors in the case have argued that text messages Winter sent before the collision prove that she purposely caused the crash in an attempt to commit suicide.  The defense offers another account.  Once again, ABC's Deborah Roberts.

Texting On Trial Part 4.
In March 2009, a head-on collision killed Erin Thompson and her son Caden. Justine Winter survived, but with serious injuries. Before the crash, Winter sent distraught text messages to her boyfriend saying she would wreck her car - proof the prosecution says the car crash was deliberate and the teenager Winter should be convicted of two counts of homicide.  The defense argued that Erin Thompson caused the crash.  Now the case, and Justine Winter's fate, rests in the hands of the jury.  Again, ABC's Deborah Roberts.

Texting On Trial Part 5.
Montana teenager Justine Winter was found guilty of two counts of homicide resulting from a car crash that led to the deaths of a pregnant woman and her 13-year-old son.  Prosecutors argued that text messages Winter sent before the collision prove that she purposely caused the crash in an attempt to commit suicide and the jury agreed.  Winter did not take the stand during the trial, but she addressed the court at her sentencing hearing.  Would the family of Erin Thompson and Caden finally receive the apology they have been looking for all along?  Once again, ABC's Deborah Roberts.

Host:  Alex Stone
Producer:  Ryan Kessler

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