Perspective Podcast - August 31, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Must Love Mitt
Ann Romney came to the Republican National Convention this week with a mission... to humanize her husband.  And New Jersey Governor Chris Christie threw his considerable political weight into the mix with a speech that fired up the delegates.  Right now Mitt Romney remains a vague and unappealing candidate to many voters according to the latest ABC News/ Washington Post poll.  It shows Mitt Romney has the lowest personal popularity of any presidential candidate in decades... forty percent of registered voters see Romney favorably overall, while 51 percent rate him unfavorably - that's worse than Michael Dukakis, Al Gore and Jimmy Carter.  So the stakes were very high as Ann Romney took the stage Tuesday night, as ABC's Terry Moran reports.

X-Man: Paul Ryan
Paul Ryan is Mitt Romney's 42 year-old running mate.  And when he took the stage Wednesday night it was a moment of pride for some in the "Lolla-Palooza" generation.  ABC's David Wright tells us why.

Tea Time At The RNC
Wednesday evening at the Republican National Convention brought quite a buzz to the hall because many of the delegates there believe they saw and heard the future of their party...  and they hope the country.  Paul Ryan, the 42 year-old congressman from Jamesville, Wisconsin, darling of the Tea Party conservatives and Mitt Romney's choice for Vice President, gave a speech that wowed the crowd.  It may have been Mitt Romney's convention, but for one night it felt like Paul Ryan's *party."  Once again, ABC's Terry Moran.

A New Kind Of Republican?
Mia Love spoke for only two minutes Tuesday night at the RNC.  Her time slot was early on, when most delegates are still milling around the hall and not paying much attention.  But she managed to do what many of the later, bigger name speakers failed to do: energize the hall and bring the delegates to their feet.  That's why there's a lot of talk about Mia Love following the convention.  She is the African American - and Mormon - Mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah.  And she has a good shot of becoming the first black woman Republican elected to Congress if she can beat Utah Democrat Jim Matheson.  ABC News' Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl introduces us to Mia Love.

Mitt's Moment
It was Mitt Romney's week and Thursday was the biggest night of his political life.  He took center stage at the Republican National Convention and he gave the speech that everyone had been waiting for... not just for the people at the convention, but voters across the country.  He tried to make the case why voters should fire Barack Obama and put him, Mitt Romney, in the White House.  What was said on that stage will go a long way to defining Mitt Romney for voters and defining his campaign for the White House.  Again, here's ABC's Terry Moran.

Ann Romney's Review
Mitt Romney gave the most important speech of his life Thursday night and more personal than ever.  The big question now is, will it give him the bounce the GOP is hoping for.  So how did he do?  The would-be first lady - Ann Romney - sat down for some analysis with ABC's Chief Political Correspondent George Stephanopoulos.

Conspirator-In-Chief?
Now the controversial conservative film - a surprise box office smash - that makes the shocking charge that President Obama has a secret un-American agenda... as the filmmaker told ABC's David Wright.

Balloon Man
It's a tradition everybody loves at the conventions - the big balloon drop.  Who doesn't love balloons?  ABC's David Wright meets the man whose military precision and years of experience are behind the big balloon drop.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Ryan Kessler

Download or stream this edition of Perspective

Perspective Podcast - August 24, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Lance Armstrong
Cyclist Lance Armstrong announced this week he will give up his long fight against doping allegations.  He is being banned from cycling for life and stripped of his Tour de France titles.  ABC's Neil Karlinsky has the details.

Penn State: An Insider Speaks
Now we turn to the scandal that rocked Penn State University.  Jerry Sandusky now sits in jail awaiting sentencing after being convicted on all 45 counts of abusing boys over 15 years.  Now, one of the central figures at Penn State is speaking out about what he knew, his regrets, and the report that implicated him in the cover up.  Here's ABC's Josh Elliott.

Inside the Obama Campaign
The president's re-election campaign often casts itself as a fully-functioning, well-oiled machine.  But the new e-Book "Obama's Last Stand," claims there is plenty of discord coming out of the campaign's Chicago headquarters.  For more ABC's Senior Political Team -- Rick Klein, Amy Walter, and David Chalian -- spoke the e-Book's author, Glenn Thrush.

Mormons
In the past 12 years we have seen the election of the first black president. the first Jewish candidate on a major ticket, and now the first Mormon nominee for president.  It's an historic moment for the Mormon faith, which is still relatively unknown to many people.  With the Republican National Convention just moments away, ABC's Dan Harris takes a closer look at Governor Romney's uniquely American religion.

True Believers
A boom in the Yoga business is producing a growing number of self-styled spiritual gurus, and you're about to meet one young filmmaker who set out to create a movie about what he says are fake spiritual leaders.  Instead, he decided to become one.  ABC's Nick Watt has the story.

Atheist Camp
And now to Atheism in America.  There are tens of millions of non-believers across the country.  That number has more than doubled in the past two decades and now there's a new movement to separate Church and *Summer camp*.  ABC's Linsey Davis reports a wave of Atheist camps are offering God-free alternatives to religious camps.

Hans Zimmer
He's the Academy Award-winning composer responsible for the soundtracks to some of the biggest blockbuster movies in years.  Hans Zimmer is the man behind the music of the latest Batman trilogy, Inception, and Gladiator, to name just a few.  For more on Hollywood's top music man, here's ABC's David Wright.

Bonnie Raitt
The great blues artist Muddy Waters used to say the blues had a baby, and they named it rock 'n' roll.  But when it comes to Bonnie Raitt, it's as if the blues and country gave birth to *her* songs.  We sat down with Raitt to learn more about the artist and her music.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective

Perspective Podcast - August 17, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Paul Ryan
Last weekend marked a new chapter in Mitt Romney's election campaign with the announcement of Paul Ryan as his running mate.  Campaign rhetoric is escalating on both sides with attacks on economic policy, tax rates, and medicare.  For more about the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, here's ABC Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl.

On the Campaign Trail
Things continue to heat up in the race for the White House, with Mitt Romney telling donors this week President Obama is diminishing the office.  That came just one day after the president took a personal jab at Romney.  ABC's David Muir has more from the campaign trail.

Hitting the Jackpot
A Powerball ticket sold in Michigan this week is now worth an estimated 337-million dollars.  That's the third-largest Powerball jackpot in history.  Few things capture American's imagination like instant wealth, and as ABC's John Donvan discovered, that dream gives rise to some strange and unusual strategies in pursuit of the prize.

New Year, New Face
Back to school means new classes, new books, and for one teen ... a new face.  Most high-schoolers are uncomfortable with their body image in one way or another, and the 14-year-old girl you're about to meet was bullied relentlessly because of her looks.  A non-profit organization stepped in and helped pay for her cosmetic surgery.  ABC's Bianna Golodryga has the story.

Sparkle
This weekend Whitney Houston is back on the big screen starring in "Sparkle," a film she also co-produced.  It was a project close to her heart and those who worked with her say the Whitney Houston they saw on set did not foreshadow her tragic end.  ABC's Deborah Roberts reports.

The Expendables 2
Sylvester Stallone wrote, directed and starred in "The Expendables 2."  The action movie is packed with an all-star cast of Hollywood tough guys, including the return of Arnold Schwarzenegger to the big screen.  ABC's Cecilia Vega sat down with the cast where Stallone speaks, for the first time, about the death of his son, Sage.

Marc Maron
There's one place where some of the funniest comedians in the country go to open up.  Comics like Robin Williams, Norm McDonald and Louis C.K. head to fellow comedian Marc Maron's *garage,* where he records a very successful, weekly podcast.  ABC's David Wright went there to find out more.

Taylor Swift
This week Taylor Swift held an online YouTube chat with thousands of her devoted fans where the six-time Grammy winner unveiled her new album.  ABC's Cynthia McFadden spoke to the country star about her work and the latest in her life.

Host:  Aaron Katersky
Producer:  Colin Tipton

Download or stream this edition of Perspective