State of the Union (audio)

Trifecta of Controversy

CNN — Sun, 19 May 2013 13:05:04 EDT

A week's worth of wall to wall problems haven't yet rained on the President's parade. New poll numbers show a 53 percent approval rating. What it all means for the President's ambitious second term agenda with White House Senior Adviser Dan Pfeiffer. The GOP is at full throttle and polls show public support for what they're doing, Senator Rand Paul joins us. And our panel weighs in on the worst political week of President Obama's tenure.

Double Trouble for the Administration

CNN — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:23:55 EDT

Our Sunday exclusive with Republican Susan Collins of Maine on the IRS and Benghazi. Before during and after the attack. Former Ambassador Thomas Pickering was part of a panel that looked into it all. He joins us with his take. Then, a shocking Pentagon report estimating more than 25,000 sexual assaults are committed every year in the military. The problem and the fix with two Iraq War Veterans now serving on Capitol Hill, Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard and Tammy Duckworth of Illinois.

Changing Political Calculus

CNN — Sun, 05 May 2013 12:55:38 EDT

The Boston bombing case, where it stops we still don't know: the scope of the terror plot. Plus why a new gun law could still happen and immigration reform may not with the Senate's number two Democrat Dick Durbin and House Homeland Security Committee Member Republican Peter King. Then, as we learn more about the how, what about the why? The roots of radicalization with our expert panel. Plus, a Republican Senator accuses his own party of tanking legislation for a political win while President Obama insists he's still got game.

Connecting the Dots

CNN — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 13:02:01 EDT

The latest on the Boston bombing investigation. We'll talk with a Senator and Congressman who got classified briefings: Sen. Dan Coats (R-Intel Cmte) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Intel Cmte) and then get analysis from two experts: Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and Former Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns. Plus, an all-star political panel with Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn).

Terrorism in the Homeland

CNN — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:59:44 EDT

Today, investigators dig for the details behind the chaos. While Boston fires it up and begins moving on, Boston strong with Massachusetts Senator Mo Cowan. Then, with new details come concern that the Feds missed an early warning about one of the suspects, a conversation with the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Michael McCaul. Senators Lindsay Graham and Chuck Schumer on the difference between a terrorist and a criminal, and whether Boston changes Washington's immigration debate. Then, when the unimaginable becomes real, our all star panel on what we know about the suspects and what it tells us about their mission.

North Korea: Force or Farce?

CNN — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 13:06:26 EDT

The U.S. warns of consequences if North Korea turns its talk into action. The threats from Pyongyang: a show of force, or a side show farce? Arizona Senator John McCain gives us his take. And a compromise on background checks for gun sales means nobody is happy: Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania on the deal nobody loves, but enough people might embrace. Then one of the Republican's promising new faces is all in. Florida's Marco Rubio, on whether he can coax fellow conservatives into supporting immigration reform.

Cyber Warfare on the Rise

CNN — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 13:06:23 EDT

Today, the administration sounds the alarm on the next battlefield, cyberspace. We have an exclusive interview with the Leaders of the House Intelligence Committee: Republican Mike Rogers of Michigan and Democrat Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland. From the battlefields in Iraq to the battles on Capitol Hill, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Rep. Tom Cotton (R-AR) join us to discuss how their experiences in combat shape their policy positions today, ten years after Shock and Awe. Plus, Rand Paul wins the conservative straw poll. Can he help resuscitate the Grand ol' Party? Our political panel sounds off - Al Cardenas of the American Conservative Union, Democratic Strategist KiKi McLean, Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona and a new face in the political world, Dr. Ben Carson.

Spring Thaw on Capitol Hill?

CNN — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 13:11:24 EDT

Today, the President breaks bread with Republicans: the White House calls it a "change of approach". Republicans call it a "good foundation" for future talks. What do Democrats say? Our conversation with the top Democrat in The House, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Plus, as the President reaches out to rank and file Republicans, where does that leave their leadership? Our Sunday exclusive with House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. Then, he re-emerges, pushing a new book on immigration wars and raising eyebrows for not saying no to a presidential run. 2016 and the state of the Republican Party, with Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Plus, the long road to the next election, Rand Paul's long talk in senate, and no more long lines for White House tours with our political panel: Anita Dunn, Newt Gingrich, Alex Castellanos and Donna Brazille.

Bitter Politics, Broken Government

CNN — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:52:22 EST

Today, after months of dire predictions and remarkable consensus that it should never happen. It happened, mandatory budget cuts. Moving beyond who did this to what's next? And then, the President's Top Economic Adviser Gene Sperling on plan-b and his side of the Woodward-White House fracas. Plus are politics suffocating lawmaking? Posing the question to the two lawmakers leading their parties 2014 election efforts in the house, Congressmen Steve Israel and Greg Walden. And, the stock market soars to new highs, while incomes plummet to one of the deepest one month declines in 20 years. Our panel weighs in on the two economies.

U.S. on the Brink...Again

CNN — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 12:51:43 EST

Today, if you can't beat 'em, scare 'em. Delayed planes and cancelled flights. The world of automatic budget cuts according to Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood. Then, despite some republican calls to pull the plug on Chuck Hagel's nomination for Defense Chief, and a slow walk of the nomination of John Brennan as CIA Director the President stands by his men. Weighing the odds with Senator John McCain. Guns and immigration: before bills governing either become law they first go through the Judiciary Committee. A conversation with Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy about the art of the doable on two of the most contentious issues of our time. Plus, five days from the next fiscal cliffhanger on forced spending cuts. Deal or more hyperbole: We'll ask our political panel Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, Former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, PBS' Gwen Ifill and Jackie Calmes of the New York Times.

Obama's Wish List

CNN — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:28:28 EST

The President takes his push for gun control, jobs and universal preschool to the people and away from the gridlock in the Capitol. Can Democrats in the Senate help push his political laundry list? We'll talk to the President's man on Capitol Hill, New York Senator Chuck Schumer. From nominees to the budget, Republicans are angling for a fight. Are they overplaying their hand? We'll ask Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming. And dire warnings if the sequester goes through, just 11 days from now. Can Congress agree to a plan to avoid the cuts, while still fighting over gun control, immigration and the president's nominees? We have Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, and Intelligence Committee Chairman, Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers. Congress goes on an extended holiday with a looming deadline. That and more with our political roundtable: Former Republican Congressman Steven LaTourette, former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain, Jeff Zeleny from the New York Times, and C-N-N Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash.

Politics, Policy and Theatre

CNN — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 12:48:19 EST

Today, President Obama readies his State of the Union message. A chance to lay out details of an aggressive 2nd term agenda. A prequel with Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky who will deliver the tea party response to the President. Then, an Independent voice in a partisan Senate, our exclusive with Senator Angus King of Maine. And former Bush and Obama Defense Secretary Robert Gates with the case for drones and the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Then, our political panel on State of the Union watching, and the new chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Plus, the high price of a penny.