Perspective Podcast - January 4, 2013

In this edition of Perspective...

The Fiscal Cliff Fix
It's the fiscal cliff deal that almost wasn't.  We saw all kinds of drama and political tension right up to and past the New Year's deadline.  A deal was reached but there are many in Congress unhappy with the outcome.  ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl explains how it all finally came together.

Killer Romance?
And now a twisted tale of romance gone wrong.  It's the murder trial of a 32-year-old woman who stands accused of a violent crime: slashing, stabbing, and shooting her one-time boyfriend.  Since her arrest, she has gone from saying they were both attacked ... to claiming self-defense.  Soon, it will be up to a jury to decide if she lands on death row.  ABC's Ryan Owens reports from Phoenix.

No Way Out
In South America, one U-S citizen has been jailed without charges for more than a year-and-a-half.  It's a story we first reported in May of 20-12, but now ABC's Terry Moran has new developments surround the man detained in Bolivia.

Underwear Billionaire
Spanx shape-ware will likely go down in history as the iconic undergarment of our time.  What started as a simple idea -- a fresh take on the girdle -- has grown into a billion dollar empire.  And the creator of Spanx is now the youngest woman ever to grace the Forbes billionaire list.  Here's ABC's Juju Chang.

The Almighty Dollar
This year's holiday gift giving has drawn to a close and for many it's time to face those lofty credit card bills.  The average American spent an estimated 700 dollars during the holiday season, so now that it's time to tighten our belts we're taking a look at some of the bargain stores that might help.  ABC's Ryan Owens brings us inside the booming business of being cheap.

Cashing in on Old Electronics
It might be time to re-evaluate what you keep in your junk closet.  If you have an old digital camera, an i-pod, or a computer lying around, it may be worth more than you think.  ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi brings us the quickest ways to turn old electronics into dollar signs.
Extreme Cougars
In today's culture we've all heard of cougars -- older women on the prowl for young men.  It's not a new concept.  Men have been doing it for decades, and ABC's Nick Watt met up with some cougars for whom extreme age difference is definitely no barrier.

Django Unchained
This awards season, one name on everybody's lips seems to be Django.  The controversial gun-slinging movie has already picked up five Golden Globe nominations, and become the most successful Quentin Tarantino movie ever at the box office.  But as ABC's Cynthia McFadden reports, it's rave reviews have been accompanied by plenty of criticism.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - December 28, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Your Voice Your Vote
The presidential election dominated headlines for most of 20-12.  It began with the battle for the Republican nomination and culminated in a victory for President Obama on November 6th.  ABC's Steven Portnoy followed the contest from the beginning.

Supreme Court Health Care Ruling
One of the biggest political stories this year besides the election, came from the United States Supreme Court.  In late June, it upheld the so-called individual mandate requiring Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty, a key part of President Obama's signature health care reform law.  ABC's Vic Ratner has the details from Washington.

Weather of 2012
Severe weather threatened much of the country in 20-12, from wildfires and droughts to hurricanes and flooding. The damage cost billions, and recovery efforts from the most recent disaster, Superstorm Sandy, are still underway along the east coast.  Here's ABC's Doug Limerick.

The Trayvon Martin Shooting
In February, a shooting in Florida sparked a heated dialogue about race in the small town of Sanford. 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman.  Martin was African American.  ABC's Aaron Katersky was in Sanford in the days following the shooting.

The Movie Theater Massacre
Gun violence struck again this Summer, when movie-goers in Aurora, Colorado were attacked by a lone gunman.  Police say James Holmes entered a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises and began firing.  ABC's Alex Stone was there in the wake of the tragedy.

The Elementary School Tragedy
Unfortunately Aurora wasn't the only community hit by a tragic mass-shooting.  On the morning of December 14th, a 20-year-old shooter entered Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut and opened fire in a first grade classroom.  

The Jerry Sandusky Trial
This year Jerry Sandusky stood trial, accused of molesting 10 boys during his time as the defensive coordinator for Penn State's football program.  He was charged with 45 counts of child sex abuse.  ABC's Aaron Katersky was in the court room for the trial.

The CIA Sex Scandal
Later in the year, a sex scandal caused CIA Director David Petraeus to resign just days after President Obama won reelection.  An FBI investigation revealed he was having an affair with his biographer, Paula Broadwell.  ABC's Scott Goldberg has those details.

World News of 2012
Overseas news in 20-12 included a brutal civil war in Syria, escalated tension between Israel and Iran, and a deadly attack on the U-S consulate in Libya.  ABC's Tom Rivers has more from the foreign desk in London.

Economic Headlines of 2012
Foreign news this year also had economic implications here in the U-S, with debt crises in Europe causing volatility on Wall Street.  Many Americans were still looking for employment, while strides were made in the housing market and the auto industry.  ABC's Richard Davies has more.

The Year in Entertainment
This year we saw our fair share of celebrity mishaps, box office blockbusters, and a dance craze from Korea.  There were big winners at the Oscars and Grammys as well. Here with all the years entertainment news is ABC's David Blaustein.

Lives Lost in 2012
The list of names lost in 2012 is long, from actors and comedians to astronauts and musicians.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - December 21, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

A Week of Heartache
This week there were far too many funerals in Newtown, Connecticut, a community changed forever by tragedy.  It was just over a week ago that 20 young children and their teachers were killed by gunman Adam Lanza, who opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary school.  It was an unthinkable act that shocked us all.  And for days, we have been dealing, in our own ways, with the grief.  ABC's Juju Chang reports from Newtown.

Lost Innocence
No matter how many times we see tragedies like this -- in malls, movie theaters, or schools -- we are often puzzled by what to tell our kids.  How do we make them feel safe at a time when the world can seem so scary?  ABC's Deborah Roberts is here with details about how to help.

The Shooter
As the nation struggles to process what happened at Sandy Hook, we're taking a closer look at the shooter -- the young man whose life story could hold clues to what went so wrong. Here's ABC Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross.

Children and Mental Health
In the wake of this shooting, there are a lot of questions about children and mental illness.  An estimated one in five kids in this country suffer from some sort of mental disorder and their parents are often desperate for help and for answers.

Helping the Mentally Ill
Since the Connecticut shooting, other parents have come forward, scared their child's mental illness could lead to another tragedy.  ABC's John Donvan has their story.

The President's Response
The events that unfolded at Sandy Hook Elementary have not only shattered a small town, they have also ushered in a moment of national reckoning. President Obama traveled to Connecticut and gave an emotional speech vowing to create change, but will Washington respond with more than words? Here's ABC Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper.

The NRA Speaks Out
One week after the shooting, the National Rifle Association gave its response to the violence.

Senator Manchin on Gun Control
Senator Joe Manchin, a proudly pro-gun Democrat from West Virginia, has put himself forward as a possible dealmaker on new gun control laws.  He is a proud NRA member who says he will defend the Second Amendment, but adds that he also has a responsibility to speak up about gun control.  For more on his plan, ABC Senior Washington Editor Rick Klein and ABC Senior Political Director Amy Walter spoke to Senator Manchin in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington.

Fighting Back
As we all know, last Friday's shooting in Newtown is not unprecedented.  From Aurora to Tucson to Virginia Tech, mass shootings have become a depressingly familiar part of our reality, a fact that one young man is fighting to change.  Five years after he was shot at Virginia Tech, he's working to expose how easy it can be to buy powerful guns in this country.  Here's ABC's Terry Moran.

The Words of the Children
The shooting in Newtown has changed all of us.  The violence that shattered that community has reverberated across the country.  But it has, of course, most closely touched the students at Sandy Hook Elementary.  We'll end our program with some of their words.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream the latest edition of Perspective