Perspective Podcast - April 15th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

President Obama Interview.

It was President Obama's first major interview since announcing he is running for re-election in 2012 and no topic was off limits.  From budgets to birthers, he pulled no punches.  He talked candidly about why he believes questions about his birth certificate could backfire against the Republicans and how his vote against raising the debt ceiling from his days as a senator looks in hindsight.  ABC's George Stephanopoulos had chance to address these issues with President Obama the day after the president delivered a speech outlining his plan to reduce the national debt.  The president began by addressing high gas prices.

Tax Racket?

Despite the recent efforts of the IRS to be more customer friendly, it is still really tough to find anyone who enjoyed their last audit.  In fact the complications and frustrations of paying your national dues have spawned a cottage industry of sorts, called "Tax Resolution Firms".  Some make tempting promises, but all too often add another layer of misery.  ABC's Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross looks at one firm you may know from television.  

Barry Bonds Verdict.

After a seven year, $55 million investigation and trial, a San Francisco jury of eight women and four men could not agree that Barry Bonds lied to a grand jury about using performance enhancing drugs.  But they decided the homerun king had been evasive and found him guilty of obstruction of justice. Bonds will likely fight that verdict, but whether that matters to fans or Hall of Fame voters is another question. ABC's John Donvan looks at the story of the man who dominated America's past-time in what will always be known as the steroid era.

Desiree Rogers.

One place the White House does not want to make headlines is the tabloid press.  When the story emerged in November 2009, that a couple from the reality show "The Real Housewives of D.C." had crashed a state dinner, damage control ensued.  In the process Social Secretary Desiree Rogers resigned.  For the first time she had a chance to tell her side of the story to ABC's Bill Weir.  

Reality Show Violence.

When Americans watch reality television, we are not really looking for models of good behavior.  But lately the bad behavior you see on some reality tv shows has sunk to a new level.  In the old days, think 1993, MTV's "Real World", a cast member could be expelled for getting physical.  Now, it is almost as if the shows want the casts to brawl, scratch and scrum.  But the question is, how is watching them fight, affecting us?  ABC's Andrea Canning takes a look.  

The Comeback of Pies.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, pies are delicious.  A slice of it is the perfect compliment to any meal and a growing number of Americans are rediscovering those truths, with pies making a huge comeback on menus everywhere.  ABC's Jeremy Hubbard explains.  

Host: Aaron Katersky

Producer: Jason Wesalo

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Perspective Podcast - April 8th, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Governor Chris Christie.

The battle over America's fiscal health has raged from the capital to state houses across the nation.  This includes the state of New Jersey where "Chris Christie for president" has become a rallying cry for a growing number of conservatives.  The governor hit the national stage by breathing fire at big government and aiming punchlines at the teacher's union.  Aside from Republican fans, his style has earned him one high-profile enemy named "Springsteen" and constant questions about his White House ambitions.  ABC's Diane Sawyer covers them all in an exclusive interview.  

Inside Libya.

General Carter Ham, the leader of the U.S. campaign in Libya, told Congress this week, that before America moves to arm rebels there, "My recommendation would be that we should know more about who they are".  ABC's Terry Moran set out to try to fill in some of the blanks.  From Cairo, he made his way west, crossed the Libyan border, and traveled along the Mediterranean coast to the rebel stronghold of Derna.

Survivalists.

The world, especially lately, seems like a dangerous place, with wars raging, reports of earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear contamination.  So, we wondered if disaster strikes, will we be ready?  Emergency supply retailers and military surplus stores nationwide have seen business boom, as have extreme survivalist training camps.  ABC's John Donvan takes us there.  

Teen Pregnancy.

The statistic is staggering.  If you know six teen girls in this country, the odds are that at least one of them is pregnant.  When it comes to kids having kids, America is number one in the developed world, with a rate twice as high as the U.K. And three times higher than Canada.  In recent years reality television shows devoted to the hardships of teen motherhood have become such hits, that their subjects now receive magazine cover fame, where shame was once the norm.  With a look at the mothers of unplanned consequences, here's ABC's Juju Chang. 

Food Revolution.

Revolution has been in the news a lot lately, usually in a Middle Eastern or North African country and involving freedom.  The revolution we want to tell you about next is in this country and it involves food. The leader isn't an American.  It's a Brit who wants to change how Americans eat.  ABC's Aaron Katersky puts it into perspective.

Forest Kids.

What is more important for a 5-year-old to learn?  The abc's or the sounds of a bird call?  We had a chance to visit a kindergarten class in Washington where everyday is a field trip.  ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi explains.  

Host: Cheri Preston

Producer: Jason Wesalo

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Perspective Podcast - April 1st, 2011

In this edition of Perspective...

Radiation Fears.

Fears of radiation exposure were stirred anew this week in the United states.  The FDA reported higher than normal levels of radioactive iodine in milk samples in California and Washington.  However, those levels were tiny, far less than those that we are exposed to naturally everyday.  They are 5,000 times below the danger threshold.  Yet, the contamination around Japan's stricken nuclear plant remains very dangerous.  ABC's David Wright explains.  

U.S. Nuclear Dangers.

It is a revelation of a record of safety violations at America's nuclear plants.  The United States is the home to 104 reactors across 31 states, with some of them located on fault lines.  But nuclear regulatory commission safety records show more than 50 violations at U.S. Nuclear plants from 2007 through 2011. Now there is a move on Capitol Hill to block licenses for new plants.  Here's ABC's Pierre Thomas with our report.  

Earthquake Report.

Science can predict to the second when the sun will set tomorrow.  We know how the tides move, when to expect meteor showers, can foresee volcanic eruptions and can track hurricanes closely enough to name them.  But what science cannot do with any precision at all, despite the high stakes involved, is tell us where and when the next big earthquake will hit.  So, what makes it so hard?  ABC's Yunji de Nies explains.  

Prince Harry.

In just four weeks, Prince Harry will be in formal dress, military attire the rumor is, appearing as the best man in his brother's wedding.  But right now, he is about as far from Westminster Abbey as could be.  He is sleeping on a glacier, somewhere deep inside the arctic circle.  ABC's Bob Woodruff caught up with the prince on his trek to the north pole.

Marco Rubio.

39-year-old Senator Marco Rubio is not the first young, attractive, Capitol Hill newcomer to be crowned "the next big thing" in American politics.  Maybe it is worth noting that just a few years ago, a young legislator from Illinois carried that mantle and now he answers to the title "Mr. President".  ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl got a behind the scenes look at the life of the freshman senator.

South Park:  "The Book of Mormon".

Months ago if you had to bet on the success of a pending Broadway production, would you have put your money on the one about "Spider-Man" directed by "Lion King" legend Julie Taymor and the guys from U2, or the one about Mormons by the potty mouthed duo from "South Park"?  Yes, believe it or not, the guys who redefined crude animation are the darlings of the theater district, with a musical critics are calling "sweet and heartwarming".  How did this happen?  ABC's Jake Tapper found out.

Bethany Hamilton.

The mere idea of a shark attack is enough to keep a lot of people out of the deep water.  But the reality of an attack was not enough to stop surfer Bethany Hamilton from jumping back in.  She had a chance to share her incredible story with us, a story that she is still writing, most days with a board on the face of a wave.  ABC's Abbie Boudreau has more.  

Host: Cheri Preston

Producer: Jason Wesalo

Download or stream this episode of the Perspective Podcast