Sanders: Tax Breaks Should Not Come From Social Security Trust Fund

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) talks with TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner momentarily following President Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress regarding his new vision to boost job growth and spur the economy, the American Jobs Act. (0:32)

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TRNS Interviews House Majority Whip James Clyburn

Talk Radio News Service Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), who serves as the House Majority Whip. (7:08)
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TRNS Discusses Sarah Palin With Charles Dunn, Dean Of Government At Regent University

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Charles Dunn, the Dean of Government at Regent University in Virginia, on how the Conservative community views Sarah Palin and steps the former Vice Presidential candidate can take to improve the way she is perceived by the public. Dunn also discusses Palin's resignation from the Alaskan governorship, describing the decision as "very smart politics." (7:32)
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Democrat Levin Talks Healthcare With TRNS

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) about where things stand with the senate healthcare bill. Levin says he is hopeful that a final bill in the Senate will come to the floor by the end of the week. Calling it a "long, complicated bill," Levin explains that folks have some time to read the full legislation online. Finally, Levin, one of the more liberal members of the Senate, says it is essential for the Senate's version to contain a public option plan. Click on the audio icon below to listen to the entire conversation. (5:02)
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Oregon Democrat Shares Latest On Senate Health Reform Bill

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) about the status of healthcare reform legislation in the Senate. Merkley tells Ratner that he expects Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to release a merged bill later today, but adds that Republicans will attempt to block a vote on the bill, which he hopes will take place by this weekend at the latest. The Democrat from Oregon says he doesn't think the bill will come out of conference until January. Merkley describes the whole process as being "painfully slow." Click the audio icon below to listen to the full interview. (7:44)
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Singapore Opposition Leader Wants Obama To Address Human Rights Abuses During Upcoming Visit

Talk Radio News Service Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Mr. Soon Ju-An Chee, the opposition leader in Singapore. Soon Ju-An tells Ms. Ratner that he and his supporters would like U.S. President Barack Obama to address the serious human rights abuses taking place in Singapore when he visits that nation later this week. Soon Ju-An adds that Obama must hold political leaders in Singapore accountable for various violations involving the country's legal system and crackdown on the press. Click the audio icon below to listen to the full conversation. (8:16)
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First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Having Huge Effect Says Economist

Talk Radio News Service Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with Dr. Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist with the National Association of Realtors. Yun discusses the first-time home buyer tax credit which was part of the stimulus plan, and how it has positively impacted home sales of late. Yun says that there has never been a better time than now to buy a home, but adds that the time to take advantage of the tax credit is running out. Says Yun, unless his organization can successfully lobby Congress to extend the deadline, home buyers will need to close by the end of November. (4:11)
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Female Blogger Describes Healthcare Conversation With Valerie Jarrett

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Loralee Choate with BlogHer.com. Choate says that the Obama administration has really opened itself up to the blogosphere, and cites a conversation with White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett regarding healthcare reform as an example. (10:18)
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Female Blogger Explains How Current Administration Has Embraced New Media

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Elisa Camahort Page of BlogHer.com about the role the blogosphere has played in covering the Obama administration. (6:42)
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America's Future Now Radio Row: Rep. Russ Carnahan

Talk Radio News Service's Washington Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner talks to Congressman Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) about "America's pocket book, energy, and healthcare." (8:01)
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America's Future Now Radio Row: Rep. Barney Frank

Talk Radio News Service's Washington Bureau Chief talks to Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) about the current economic crisis. (4:16)
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America's Future Now Radio Row: Rep. Jane Schakowsky

Talk Radio News Service's Washington Bureau Chief to Rep. Jane Schakowsky (D-Ill) about health care and the possibility for reform before Congress takes its summer recess. (5:09)
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America's Future Now Radio Row Interview with Peter Laarman

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner interviews Peter Laarman with Progressive Christians United about what his organization is doing to help Americans prevent foreclosures at the grassroots level. (6:56)
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America's Future Now Radio Row Interview with Robert Kuttner

TRNS Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner speaks with The American Prospect Co-Founder Robert Kuttner about his latest editorial column entitled, "Tough Love For Obama." (6:57)
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America's Future Now Radio Row: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton

Talk Radio News Service’s Washington Bureau Chief Ellen Ratner talks to Congresswomen Eleanor Holmes Norton on Healthcare. (7:09)
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"Promises I Made My Mother"

Ellen Ratner interviews Sam Haskell, former Executive Vice President of the William Morris Talent Agency, about his new book, "Promises I Made My Mother."

13:40
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Interview with Lyndon LaRouche on the economy

Ellen Ratner interviews Lyndon LaRouche. He tracks historical events which led to the current economic crisis starting with President Truman. LaRouche describes President Obama as having limited competence, and no comprehension of the economy. He also predicts, "We are about to go into a breakdown which is almost unprecendented," and the way to fix it is by putting the bank system into bankruptcy reorganization. (07:15)

For more of LaRouche's information visit: http://larouchepac.com/
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Pelosi attends Maria Leavey Breakfast with Media

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

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) Speaks at the annual Maria Leavey Breakfast in the US Capitol. Pelosi talks about health care, education, working with President Obama, and the speed at which the economic recovery package was rushed through. The Speaker said jokingly about the recovery package that if she had wanted to, she "could have fast tracked it much faster". (56:41)
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Interview with President Jimmy Carter on the Middle East

President Jimmy Carter and his new book "We Can Have Peace in the Holy Land, A Plan that Will Work" (Simon & Schuster) discusses what needs to be done and how Hamas can be brought into the process. He recently visited the area and the Carter Center has a office in Ramallah. He is hopeful with the Obama administration and discusses the steps that need to take place. He also talks about his very first job as well as Ellen Ratner's cousin, President Carter's Ambassador to Austria who predicted the problems that now exist.
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Interview with the Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors

Ellen Ratner interviews Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, about the troubled housing market (4:44).
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