Boehner: Democrats Knew About Torture

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) states that the Democrats knew that torture was occurring and did nothing to stop it. They were complicit and thus share some of the blame for allowing torture to take hold in America. (0:17)
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Pelosi: CIA Shifting The Spotlight To Congress

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) explains how the CIA created the laws allowing them to implement waterboarding as an interrogation technique, but it failed to tell Congress what was happening. She believes that the CIA is attempting to shift the spotlight from themselves and onto other groups, like Congress. (0:27)
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Somalia's Piracy Pandemic

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl’s investigative report into the recent pandemic of piracy off of the Horn of Africa. The report focuses on why the piracy is taking place and what can be done to stop it. It includes perspectives from Somali Ambassador-at-large Abdi Awallah Jama, George Mason University Political Science Professor Hazel McFerson, Maersk-Alabama Captain Richard Phillips, and CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus. (07:30)
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Hoyer: Who Will Bailout America?

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) discusses how reckless fiscal policy moved from Main Street, to Wall Street, to Congress, and how this irresponsibility drastically hurt America because everyone, including the government, lived "beyond its means." (0:29)
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The Democrats Will Support Arlen Specter

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) talks with Ron Brownstein of the National Journal at a breakfast on Capitol Hill. Reid, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden all said that they would personally support Arlen Specter in his 2010 election. Reid said that support was not conditional.

“I’m not going to be in a forever, never position, but the facts are that [Specter is] going to vote with us most of the time,” Reid Said. “I can’t foresee him doing anything that would be so mean spirited that Obama, Biden, and Reid would turn against him.” (00:44)
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Boehner: The Question is, Do You Feel Safer?

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) expresses concern at President Barack Obama's national security approach, and questions the wisdom of releasing detainees from Guantanamo Bay without knowing where they will be sent. (00:44)
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T. Boone Pickens: We can replace foreign oil

Ellen Ratner speaks with T. Boone Pickens on his energy plan. Pickens advocates switching to natural gas for many current oil consumers. (5:28)
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Congressman Sestak On Arlen Specter

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Regarding Arlen Specter changing parties, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said that it's better for the constituents of Pennsylvania to decide which candidate should win the primary. He feels like the Democratic National Party backing Specter may be giving him too much of an advantage in the Pennsylvania primary. President Barack Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have already committed to personally supporting Specter in his 2010 election. (00:47)
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Charney: The Budget Is A "Transformative Package"

by Christina Lovato, University of New Mexico-Talk Radio News Service

The campaign to Rebuild and Renew America Now!, a coalition of 116 national and over 700 state and local progressive, labor and advocacy organizations working together to pass the President’s budget held a press conference this afternoon and said they are confident that Congress will do what is best for the American people, and that is to pass it. Alan Charney, the Program Director for US Action said that the budget is “transformative,” and said that it will set the U.S. on a road to long term recovery. (00:41)

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Corker: Congressional Committees Are Irrelevant

Senator Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) states his reasons why he believes that the act created to reform the War Powers Act of 1973, the War Powers Consultation Act, could cause Congressional committees to become more irrelevant than they already are.

He worries that allowing the president to get his information from one source could render the Congressional committees useless because the president already has a group of advisers that give him the information necessary information to engage in war.
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General Petraeus Talks About Educating Soldiers

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

General David Petraeus says before Congress that it is important for soldiers to have an expanded understanding of Afghanistan, so that the army can function better as a whole. (01:18)
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"Critical government programs…endangered by staffing crisis"

Professor Linda Bilmes of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University speaks with Jay Goodman Tamboli about her new book, The People Factor: Strengthening America by Investing in Public Service and the staffing crisis that faces the American government. Bilmes and co-author W. Scott Gould are calling on a federal investment of $10 billion over the next five years to improve recruiting, training, and management of the federal workforce. (10:33)
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Somalia's Piracy Problem

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the security and humanitarian crisis presently plaguing Somalia. Ruhl interviews Somalia's Ambassador-At-Large to the U.S., Abdi Awaleh Jama, and also speaks with Joel Carny from Refugees International.

Read the full article here

Version 1: (00:30)
Version 2: (02:00)
Version 3: (03:25)
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The unemployment crisis

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Correspondent Michael Ruhl reports on the recent release of the unemployment statistics for March.

Long segment: (01:00)
Short segment: (00:32)
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The unemployment statistics for march

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Bureau of Labor Statistics Commissioner Keith Hall testifies before Congress on the nation's unemployment numbers from March 2009, and how the recession has affected employment.

Hall said that unemployment numbers have climbed from 8.1 percent to 8.5 percent, and that the industries hardest hit are manufacturing, construction, and temporary services.

(00:34)
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A partisan budget

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

At a Republican Radio Row, Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) spoke about President Obama's budget. He is disappointed at the partisan atmosphere which has swallowed Congress in the budget process and in legislation thus far in this Congress.

(08:02)
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What would Reagan do?

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Congressman Ted Poe (R-Texas) spoke with Michael Ruhl at the House Republican Conference Radio Row concerning what kind of budget Ronald Reagan would put together in this economy. He emphasized the importance of the Government staying out of the private sector, the limited role of small government, and the need for limited taxation.

Poe called the President Obama's budget an abomination, but said that the Republicans may themselves be spending too much in their budget.

(08:42)
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"Americans can't love losing freedom"

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

At the House Republican Conference Radio Row, Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO) spoke with Michael Ruhl about President Obama's budget, and how it takes freedom away from American citizens through over regulation and over taxation. He said that it shackles the country in "the gold chains of the welfare state". Akin said that the Obama administration wants to pass on debt to future generations, which he said would make ours the opposite of the greatest generation.

(04:46)
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Ralph Nader interview on the need for election reform

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Former presidential candidate and long time consumer rights advocate Ralph Nader talked with Michael Ruhl to discuss the status of his lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee (DNC). This was immediately following the circuit court argument for Nader vs. DNC. Nader claims that he was harassed and burdened in 2004 presidential election by the DNC, in what he calls "an abuse of the legal process" and malicious prosecution. In this interview, Nader explained background of the case, and the case's current status. He said, "there is no other western democracy that comes close to obstructing voters and obstructing candidates as is the case in our country."

Nader also spoke about the two-party system, and the effect that his case has on future third party candidates in the presidential process. He said that his case is designed to draw boundaries, to make sure that third party candidates can exercise their First Amendment rights. Nader also referred to the issue as one of democracy, because he said in limiting ballot access, one is truly limiting the right of the people to decide who they want to represent them. Nader called for national ballot standards, instead of ballot standards which vary state by state. He also advocated instant runoff voting and public funding of public campaigns.

Nader said that the two-party system is not allowing third parties access to the higher tiers of federal government, and this two-party system is moving gradually to a one-party system, where gerrymandered districts make reelection almost certain for many members of Congress. He called this a system that can be rented by the rich. In spite of the stronghold that the two parties have on the system, Nader said that he has talked with several members of Congress who may be interested in helping to move legislation on election reform. He mentioned by name: John Conyers (D-Mich.), Ron Paul (R-Texas), Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), and Jessie Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.). He anticipates this reform effort to be difficult, because as he said, "the foxes are guarding the chicken coop." Nader seems ready for a fight.

(08:50)
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McGovern thinks military options might stop genocide

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Congressman Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said today that although he hopes diplomacy can work to stop the genocide in Darfur, he thinks that a military option should be on the table. He thinks this military option could take the form of a no-fly zone. (01:43)
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