Posts Tagged ‘Media Matters for America’
LiveBlog for Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
• Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) calls in at 6:05am Pacific to talk about health care reform, the economy, and Afghanistan.
• Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about jobs, the economy, and health care reform.
• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• David Plouffe, former campaign manager for President Obama, calls in at 7:30am Pacific to talk about his new book, “The Audacity To Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory.”
• Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays With Hal.”
• President Obama huddled with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao this morning, the final day of his visit to China. The White House praised the meetings as strengthening possibilities for future cooperation. President Obama then toured the Great Wall of China before flying to South Korea.
• Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) declined yesterday to say when he would introduce a hotly anticipated health care reform bill. He said he was waiting for a cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, and that estimate won’t be completed until at least this afternoon.
• Somali pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama yesterday for the second time but guards on board repelled the takeover attempt.
Tags: Barack Obama, David Plouffe, Hal Sparks, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, Joe Sestak, Karl Frisch, Keith Ellison, Maersk Alabama, Media Matters for America, Wen Jiabao
Posted in liveblog | 333 Comments »
LiveBlog for Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday, November 16th, 2009
• The Rude Pundit (Lee Papa) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about moving Gitmo detainees to New York, and the media’s shoddy treatment of women.
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Joe Decker, founder of GodHatesShrimp.com, calls in at 8:30am Pacific to talk about how ridiculous religious arguments against homosexuality are.
• Politely but firmly pressing for greater freedoms on China’s own turf, President Obama spoke in Shanghai this morning against censorship, saying tough criticisms of political leaders should be allowed and the free flow of information on the internet “should be encouraged.”
• While President Obama’s decision about sending more troops to Afghanistan is primarily a military one, it also has substantial budget implications that are adding pressure to limit the commitment. Governmental estimates place the cost of adding 40,000 troops at $40 billion to $54 billion a year.
• Today’s Commerce Department report on October retail sales is likely to set the tone for the rest of the week on Wall Street. Economists polled by Reuters predict retail sales rose 0.8 percent in October after at 1.5 percent drop in September. Stronger consumer spending is needed for any rebound, and disappointment is likely to send stocks falling today.
Tags: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Eric Boehlert, God Hates Shrimp, Joe Decker, Lee Papa, Media Matters for America, Retail Sales, Rude Pundit
Posted in liveblog | 230 Comments »
LiveBlog for Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
• Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) calls in at 6:05am Pacific to talk about health care reform and the economy.
• Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about Veterans’ Day, health care reform, the economy, and his run for Senate.
• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays With Hal.”
• Former President Bill Clinton told anxious Senate Dems yesterday to pass a health care bill soon because the U.S. economy can’t resist the toxic combination of exorbitant medical costs and nearly 50 million uninsured for much longer.
• Caution returned to the stock market yesterday as investors decided to slow an advance that has lifted the Dow Jones industrial average 475 points in five days. Stocks fell in light trading, though the Dow tacked on 20 points to close at a new high for the year.
• A senior government official tells ABC News that investigators have found that alleged Ft. Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Hasan had “more unexplained connections to people being tracked by the FBI” than just radical cleric Anwar al Awlaki. Names and countries of origin are likely to emerge soon, according to officials.
Tags: Anwar al Awlaki, Bill Clinton, Dow Jones, Ft. Hood, Hal Sparks, Health Care Reform, Joe Sestak, Karl Frisch, Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, Maxine Waters, Media Matters for America
Posted in liveblog | 325 Comments »
LiveBlog for Monday, November 9, 2009
Monday, November 9th, 2009
• The Rude Pundit (Lee Papa) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about passage of the health care reform bill in the House of Representatives.
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Mary Bonauto, Civil Rights Project Director at Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), calls in at 7:30am Pacific to discuss the repeal of gay marriage in Maine.
• Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for a special Monday edition of “Humpdays with Hal.”
• President Obama yesterday praised the “historic” House vote to pass a bill overhauling the nation’s ailing health care system, and said it is now time for the Senate to “take the baton” and complete its work. The House passed its health care bill late Saturday night by a 220-215 vote, with 39 Dems opposing and 1 GOPer supporting.
• The alleged Ft. Hood shooter apparently attended the same Virginia mosque as two 9/11 hijackers in 2001, at a time when a radical imam preached there. The FBI is looking into any possible associations.
• Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) has declared a state of emergency in Louisiana as Hurricane Ida heads toward the Gulf Coast. It’s the first hurricane to target the U.S. this season.
Tags: Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, Eric Boehlert, Ft. Hood, GLAD, Hal Sparks, Health Care Reform, Hurrican Ida, Lee Papa, Mary Bonauto, Media Matters for America, Rude Pundit
Posted in liveblog | 432 Comments »
LiveBlog for Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) calls in at 7:33am Pacific to talk about health care reform, the economy, and yesterday’s elections.
• Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays with Hal.”
• Republicans won gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey yesterday, two states that had backed President Obama last year. Dem Bill Owens beat Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in upstate New York. Opponents of gay marriage claimed a victory in Maine, but voters approved an “everything but marriage” law in Washington State that greatly expands the rights of gay couples.
• In a blow to the White House, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) signaled yesterday that Congress may fail to meet a year-end deadline for passing health care legislation, leaving the measure’s fate to the uncertainties of the 2010 election season.
• Republicans boycotted the start of committee debate yesterday on a bill to curb greenhouse gases, protesting that the bill’s costs have not been fully examined. The action put a spotlight on the difficulties Dem leaders face in moving climate legislation this year.
Tags: Bill Owens, Climate Change, Doug Hoffman, Hal Sparks, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, Karl Frisch, Media Matters for America, Ron Kind
Posted in liveblog | 420 Comments »
LiveBlog for Monday, November 2, 2009
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
• The Rude Pundit (Lee Papa) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk rude about the news of the day.
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:30am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Morgan Hurley, reporter for SDGLN.com (San Diego Gay and Lesbian News), calls in at 8:30am Pacific to talk about her story regarding a proposed ban on divorces in California.
• Afghanistan’s Election Commission announced this morning that Saturday’s runoff election between Hamid Karzai and Abdullah Abdullah has been cancelled. Abdullah dropped out of the race yesterday, and the Obama administration said it was prepared to work with Karzai to combat corruption and confront the Taliban insurgency.
• GOP nominee in New York’s 23rd Congressional special election tomorrow, Dede Scozzafava, announced this weekend that she’s suspending her campaign. Her exit leaves Conservative Party nominee Doug Hoffman as the favorite to win the formerly hotly contested 3-way race. Scozzafava threw her support behind Dem Bill Owens.
• The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that just 2 percent of Americans younger than 65 would sign up for the public option plan under the health care bill that Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is steering toward House approval
• The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 last night to take a 3-1 lead in the World Series.
Tags: Abdullah Abdullah, Afghanistan, Bill Owens, Dede Scozzafava, Doug Hoffman, Eric Boehlert, Hamid Karzai, Health Care Reform, Lee Papa, Media Matters for America, Morgan Hurley, Nancy Pelosi, Rude Pundit, SDGLN
Posted in liveblog | 158 Comments »
LiveBlog for Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
• Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about health care reform.
• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Comedian Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays with Hal.”
• Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said yesterday that while he’s “strongly inclined” to vote to move Sen. Harry Reid’s (D-NV) health care plan with an opt-out public option to the Senate floor for debate, he would ultimately oppose the measure and join a GOP filibuster because it includes that option.
• The White House said yesterday that President Obama has nearly finished gathering information and advice on how to proceed in Afghanistan. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters that a planned meeting on Friday with the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be among the last events in the decision-making process.
• The FAA has revoked the licenses of the two Northwest Airlines pilots who flew a passenger jet past their Minneapolis destination by 150 miles last week. They had violated numerous regulations, including failing to comply with air traffic control instructions and clearances and operating carelessly and recklessly.
Tags: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Hal Sparks, Harry Reid, Joe Lieberman, John Yarmuth, Karl Frisch, Media Matters for America, Northwest Airlines, Robert Gibbs
Posted in liveblog | 294 Comments »
LiveBlog for Monday, October 26, 2009
Monday, October 26th, 2009
• The Rude Pundit (Lee Papa) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about Ann Coulter, Pat Buchanan, and Britney Spears.
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Comedian Sara Benincasa calls in at 8:30am Pacific to tell us about her columns for The Huffington Post and her upcoming tour dates.
• Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid are expected to make decisions this week in hopes the long-delayed health care reform bills can come to a vote early next month. Officials familiar with the Senate talks say businesses would not be required to provide health insurance, but large companies would owe significant penalties if any worker needs government subsidies to buy coverage on their own.
• Top lawmakers sparred yesterday over the timing of President Obama’s decision on how to move ahead in Afghanistan, with Republicans urging a quick move to boost troop levels and Dems counseling patience.
• President Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect non-infected patients.
Tags: Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Eric Boehlert, Harry Reid, Health Care Reform, Lee Papa, Media Matters for America, Nancy Pelosi, Rude Pundit, Sara Benincasa, Swine Flu
Posted in liveblog | 163 Comments »
LiveBlog for Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009
• Lester Brown, Founder of the Earth Policy Institute and author of “Plan B 4.0,” calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about the need for immediate environmental action.
• Karl Frisch, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) calls in at 7:30am Pacific to talk about health care reform.
• Hal Sparks joins us in studio at 8:05am Pacific for another edition of “Humpdays With Hal.”
• Comedian Margaret Cho calls in at 8:30am Pacific to talk about her upcoming shows and the release of her new concert DVD, “Beautiful.”
• President Obama has sought to spend no more than $900 billion over a 10-year period on health care reform. Yesterday, however, House Dem leaders received a new cost estimate of $871 billion from congressional budget umpires who measured a bill with a a robust public option.
• President Obama spoke with Afghan President Hamid Karzai yesterday and congratulated him for accepting the report of the UN-backed Election Complaint Commission which ruled that he garnered under 50% of the vote in the August election after vote fraud had been factored in, mandating a recount.
• Oprah Winfrey announced yesterday that Sarah Palin will appear on her show on Monday, November 16th.
Tags: Afghanistan, Allyson Schwartz, Barack Obama, Earth Policy Institute, Hal Sparks, Hamid Karzai, Health Care Reform, Karl Frisch, Lester Brown, Margaret Cho, Media Matters for America, Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Palin
Posted in liveblog | 146 Comments »
LiveBlog for Monday, October 19, 2009
Monday, October 19th, 2009
• The Rude Pundit (Lee Papa) calls in at 6:30am Pacific to talk about gays in the military, and the historical inaccuracies at the GOP’s new website.
• Eric Boehlert, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America, calls in at 7:05am Pacific to co-host Right Wing World.
• Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA) calls in at 8:30am Pacific to make a major announcement about his campaign to be senator from Pennsylvania.
• Three days after the world watched a giant balloon fly through the air as a tearful family expressed fears that their 6-year-old boy could be inside, authorities announced what millions already suspected: The whole thing was staged. Colorado authorities believe the event was a “publicity stunt” by the family to market themselves for a reality show.
• The White House will not commit to health care legislation that would cap insurance premiums or tax benefits, taking a wait-and-see approach as congressional negotiators seek a deal. President Obama will not demand that a final bill include a public option, though that’s his preference, advisers said yesterday.
• Defense Secretary Robert Gates is undertaking the tricky task of trying to persuade allies to remain committed to the war in Afghanistan even as the Obama administration debates whether to send more troops to fight. Allies like Japan and Great Britain, however, are showing signs of pulling back.
Tags: Afghanistan, Balloon Boy, Barack Obama, Eric Boehlert, Health Care Reform, Joe Sestak, Lee Papa, Media Matters for America, Robert Gates, Rude Pundit
Posted in liveblog | 408 Comments »
