Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer hosted a special edition of Countdown to Election Day on CNN Sunday night.
The latest CNN-ORC Poll released on Sunday have Present Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney in a tie at 49% each.
John King was working the maps and also joined in the anaylsis with Dana Bash, David Gergen, Van Jones, Alex Castellanos and Gloria Borger. Jessica Yellin was with the President in Ohio and 2 other States today.Jim Acosta reported from Pennsylvania while traveling with the Romney campaign.
Anderson checked in with Don Lemon in Ohio, Poppy Harlow in Iowa and Kyung Lah in Colorado. Tom Forman reported on the Senate campaign from CNN's 'virtual Senate'. Portions of POTUS speech in Ohio were shown live and sound bites from Romney's speeches today were shown also.
Tuesday night's coverage starts at 6PM ET. Here's the rundown for CNN's election coverage this week:
Monday, November 5
Early Start with John Bermanand Zoraida Sambolin and Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien air live from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., respectively, from Washington.
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer airs live from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Erin Burnett OutFront airs live from Columbus, Ohio, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Anderson Cooper 360° airs live from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. from Washington.
Erin Burnett OutFront airs live from Columbus, Ohio, from 11 p.m. to midnight.
Piers Morgan Tonight airs live from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. and midnight to 1 a.m. from New York.
Tuesday, November 6: ELECTION DAY
Early Start with John Bermanand Zoraida Sambolin and Starting Point with Soledad O’Brien air live from Washington from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., respectively.
Election Day in America editions of CNN Newsroom will provide live coverage from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with updates from CNN’s correspondents in the final battleground states.
A special one-hour Election Day in America edition of Erin Burnett OutFront airs live at 2 p.m. from Columbus, Ohio.
A special one-hour Election Day in America edition of Anderson Cooper 360° airs live at 3 p.m. from Washington.
A special Election Day in America edition of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer airs live beginning at 4 p.m.
ELECTION NIGHT IN AMERICA full team coverage begins at 6 p.m. and continues through night and early morning to 3 a.m.
Wednesday, November 7
America’s Choice 2012 coverage will begin at 3 a.m. with Early Start anchors John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin and Starting Point anchor Soledad O’Brien. Sambolin will be live from Chicago, Berman and O’Brien are live from Washington.
At 9 a.m. America’s Choice 2012 continues with Kate Bolduan and Joe Johns from Washington.
At noon, post-election day editions of CNN Newsroom continue with anchors Wolf Blitzer, Suzanne Malveaux, John King and Brooke Baldwin from Washington and Atlanta.
Post-Election Day editions of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Erin Burnett OutFront, Anderson Cooper 360°, and Piers Morgan Tonight will air live at their regularly scheduled times.
Wolf Blitzer, Dana Bash, Erin Burnett, Jim Acosta, Candy Crowley and Anderson Cooper gave viewers a quick overview of the set up at the Tampa Convention Center for delegates, guests and members of the media during Sunday night's America's Choice 2012: Countdown to the Republican National Convention.
The Washington Post reported late Tuesday afternoon that John King and Dana Bash have separated. The couple married on June 25, 2008 and have a 1 year old son. This was the second marriage for both.
Congratulation to John King and Dana Bash on the birth of their son, Jonah Frank King, on Tuesday afternoon. John sent this email to friends and co-workers:
We are ecstatic to announce the birth of Jonah Frank King. Our amazing son is named for two of our heroes; my mom, Joan King, and Dana's grandfather, Frank Weinman. Unlike either of his parents, Jonah beat his deadline. By two weeks no less. But he is a healthy, happy six pounds 14 ounces with a strong grip and a passion for the Red Sox. Dana is doing great. Speechless at times. But healthy and overjoyed at our miracle.
Because of the big news week in Egypt we've neglected a few CNN domestic items.
At the top of the list is John King and Dana Bash's announcement that they are expecting a baby this summer. The Kings have been married since May of 2008 and this is their first child. John has 2 children from his a previous marriage. ATC sends congratulations to the lucky couple.
The Hollywood Reporter published a Q & A with Jim Walton, president of CNN Worldwide on Thursday. Here's a portion, read more after the jump.
THR: You mentioned new programs. How do you feel about the performance of Piers Morgan so far?
Walton: It's spectacular. I'm really pleased. He is so clever, he is really smart, he is a big personality. And he works hard and does his homework. He's been stepping into the Egypt story now. We couldn't be happier.
THR: What about ratings? Have you noticed what kind of guests and topics do better for him or whether the show does better when he steps into breaking news versus has celebrity guests?
Walton: It's really too early to put a stamp on it. Piers and his producers and Ken Jautz who runs CNN U.S. will work together and look at what happens each day, review and always try to make it better each day. I can assure you that Piers will be every bit a part of the conversation, and the interview will be the basis of what that program is. But I think it is in its early days. He has tried all sorts of different types of shows in the two and a half weeks he has been on the air. Maybe that's what it will always be like.
THR: Parker Spitzer has been on the air longer, and you have tweaked that a bit. How happy are you with it now?
Walton: Much has been said and much has been written about the program. If you look at it just on its merits, it's one of the smartest programs on television - whether cable or broadcast. It fits very much within the brand of CNN and what it stands for. And if you look at the last 10 days or so, its performance has gotten a lot better and the past couple of nights it has beaten MSNBC. It's got some momentum right now.
THR: How do you explain that?
Walton: We had a couple of folks who weren't television professionals, and now they have got some time under their belts. They are performing, and the show just gets better and better.
THR: Anything you can say about the chatter that it will be just Spitzer one day?
Walton: I have got a little saying here at CNN internally that you can't burp without somebody somewhere writing. CNN commands a lot of attention, which is great. What you can count on is that we have Dr. Drew coming on HLN in primetime soon. That's the talent focus for our company right now
CNN's Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash has won the 2010 Dirksen Award for Distinguished Coverage of Congress, the National Press Foundation announced Wednesday.
"These reporters produced good, tight coverage of members of Congress. Their work informed the public about how the system works," the foundation judges said in a statement regarding this year's three recipients.
The NPF specifically noted Bash's coverage of Congressional earmarks and Senatorial "holds" as exemplary. Senatorial holds are a practice by which one Senator can halt the approval process of a presidential appointee in order to gain leverage for unrelated matters.
The award will be presented on March 1, 2011 at the 28th annual NPF Awards Dinner, and carry a cash prize. When asked about the award, Bash said "I am humbled and honored to receive this award. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the fabulous group of journalists I'm privileged to work with on CNN's Capitol Hill team". This is the second time Bash has won this award.
Earlier this month, FishbowlDC posted an interview with CNN's Brianna Keilar:
How often do you Google yourself? My tech-savvy grandma takes care of that for me.
Who is your favorite working journalist? [CNN's] Dana Bash. I think she's the hardest working journalist on the Hill and she's a pleasure to work with.
John King and Dana Bash pictured above with Bash's father Professor Stuart Schwartz (on left) and Marc Rosenweig (on right) spoke Montclair State University. Click here for the article from the University News along with additional photos.
On November 23, 2009, around 60 students from the Department of Broadcasting’s “Introduction to Broadcasting” and “Media Ethics” courses were treated to a special visit from CNN journalists John King and Dana Bash. Invited by Broadcasting Professor Stuart Schwartz, a veteran ABC news producer and Bash’s father, the two journalists shared career advice and answered questions for the students.
“Our goal with having Dana and John here today is to give us a sense for how things operate in the real world—in a working newsroom,” said Schwartz as he introduced King and Bash to the students gathered in the DuMont Television Center. He commented that although there have been many changes in the business, and the way in which news is delivered, there is still a demand for it. “People are still hungry for information,” he said.
Bash, CNN’s senior political correspondent covering Capitol Hill, has spent her entire 16-year broadcast career at CNN. She spoke about her start in the business in the Tape Library of CNN working as a field producer, and about even earlier internships. “The most that I learned about what I wanted to do—and not do—was at my internships,” she told the students.
Bash and King, who were married in 2008, were also candid about the difficulties of balancing their work and personal lives. “It’s tough,” admitted Bash. “I’m on air Monday through Friday and John is on air on the weekends. We don’t have a day off together.”
As the host of CNN’s popular Sunday morning talk show, “State of the Union with John King,” King is already a well-known figure in broadcast journalism but he will likely become even better known soon. He has been tapped to host a new primetime program beginning in early 2010 that will take over the time slot formerly held by Lou Dobbs and his program, “Lou Dobbs Tonight.”
Acknowledging the changes going on in the industry, King told the students, “It’s a scary time on one hand, but if I was you, I’d be excited. Technology is making news more accessible and understandable.” In discussing technology, he told them “You’re lucky, you are using some of the same equipment we use at the newsroom.”
In addition to technological skills, both journalists stressed the importance of writing to the students. “It’s all about writing,” said King, who started his career as a print journalist for the Associated Press. “I can’t underscore enough the importance of writing.”
Kiki Ryan from Politico reviewed an event held this past weekend at the Washington, D.C. home of Juleanna Glover in honor of Rebecca Project for Human Rights.
According to the charity's website, they are a national legal and policy organization that advocates for public policy reform, justice and dignity for vulnerable families. The Rebecca Project strives to reform child welfare, criminal justice, and substance abuse policies that impact the lives of vulnerable families. [They] frame the pervasiveness of violence against women and girls, the draconian conditions that too often characterize maternal incarceration, and the dearth of access to health and healing for mothers and their children, as fundamental human rights violations. [They] seek to stop the shattering cycle of violence, trauma and addiction. [They] seek to urge for policies and practices that honor, strengthen, and render whole the sacred ties between parents and children. [They] affirm the worth and dignity of every child, every family.
Among those from CNN spotted at the event were Dana Bash, Jessica Yellin, Amy Holmes, and Edie Emery. To read the review, see Ryan's article: Stories of Success.
Washington Women in Public Relations has announced that CNN's Senior Congressional Correspondent, Dana Bash, will be the keynote speaker at the 20th Annual Washington PR Woman of the Year ceremony.
The event will be held at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center on Wednesday, November 4, 2009. More information is available at: http://www.wwpr.org/woman-year.htm.
George Washington University graduate and CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent, Dana Bash, spoke at the university this past weekend as part of the Colonials Weekend. Below is an excerpt that appeared on the GW Hatchet Newsroom:
Photo credit: Marie McGrory /Hatchet Photographer
“[By] covering Congress I really do have the best job on TV news,” Bash said.
While remembering her time as a GW undergraduate, she said, “One thing that has not changed is the incredible experience and support [of the University].”
Bash spoke about the various internships she secured through her professors in the political communication department.
She said one of her first internships was with CBS Washington Bureau where she was assigned the task of watching for then-Supreme Court Justice nominee Clarence Thomas at the Palm Hotel in order to alert producers if he were to arrive there during the time of his contentious confirmation hearings in 1991.
The behind the scenes video clip for this week's State of the Union with John King was shot in Washington, D.C. The clip has an interesting start with John King asking, "What do you want to talk about?"
The first interview on program this morning was a pre-recorded interview that King did with Senator John McCain earlier in the week. Topics covered during the interview:
President Obama's Nobel Peace Award
Afghanistan war
McCain: We need more troops
Iran & nuclear negotiations
Economy & job creation
Health Care Reform - Senate bill
McCain: GOP needs an agenda
McCain: Tensions with Palin
King talked to two Democratic Senators in a live interview during the second half of the first hour: Senator Debbie Stabenow and Senator Bob Casey. King asked them about repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, the inclusion of sexual orientation into the hate crime bill, and the "don't ask, don't tell" policies. King had a hard time of getting the Senators to answer the question about repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and even asked Senator Stabenow directly why she wasn't answering the question. When asked about whether "don't ask, don't tell" should be looked at now or after the 2012 election, Senator Stabenow answered that human rights and jobs are always important issues and should be their primary focus. (Maybe its me, but I think she tried to dodge another question.)
King then moved on to asking the Senators about Afghanistan and troop levels as well as health care reform.
John King was in Kentucky this week for the American Dispatch segment. He took a look at the impact the recession has had on the horse racing industry: an industry that supports 100,000 jobs in the area. He also visited Hazard Kentucky.
Reliable Sources started off talking about the Nobel Peace Prize award to President Obama and the reaction from the press and pundits. Howard Kurtz pre-recorded an interview with the White House Communications Director, Anita Dunn. She responded to the negative reaction of some commentators. Kurtz asked her about her comments about FOX News, "It's opinion journalism masquerading as news." that appeared in Time magazine earlier this week. She stated this morning that FOX News "often operates almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican party." Kurtz followed up to the comment to ask her whether that was reason why Obama didn't include FOX news when he did his Sunday morning interviews a few weeks ago: yes. She went on to clarify that she doesn't have an issue with Major Garrett (WHC for FOX) but pointed out that Chris Wallace had not been fair to the administration. FOX issued a statement in response to this interview, but declined to have someone appear on Reliable Sources.
The first panel of the hour included Ana Marie Cox and Chris Stirewalt. The topics included the statements from the White House Communications Director, the pundits "slamming" Obama for receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, the Obama SNL skits from the past two weeks and its influence on the mainstream media, and MSNBC's Olbermann's expressing his views on health care reform.
Next Kurtz talked with Sharon Waxman, David Zurawik and Steve Friedman about the coverage of the David Letterman scandal (meanwhile Senator Ensign's sex scandal doesn't get as much coverage).
Friedman made an interesting (and true) statement during the segment: "Television is the greatest democracy in the world: people vote with their clicker." My one question: who calls it a clicker anymore?
The panel then discussed the negative impact Jay Leno's move to 10PM has been hurting local news ratings on NBC affiliates.
The 11AM hour brings us to the Sounds of Sunday and the pundits.
Four commentators in the first panel: Peter Sprigg, Bill Bennett, Donna Brazile, and Robert Traynham. They discussed the President's comments at the Human Rights Campaign dinner about don't ask; don't tell and the Defense of Marriage Act and the potential culture war that could result from taking on these issues at this time.
A panel shake up at for the second segment Brazile and Bennett keep their seats and Candy Crowley and Dana Bash join the fun. They continue to discuss the "don't ask; don't tell" policy, and Defense of Marriage Act. Bennett thought that King was spending too much time this morning on these issues.
The panel then focused on troop levels in Afghanistan and the health care debate. And the lightening round topics were Gov. Palin and the Nobel Peace Prize.
I don't know if anyone else noticed this, but the 11AM hour went by very quickly and seemed to always be "interrupted" by the commerical breaks. I don't know if it was the lively debate or keeping Brazile and Bennett though the whole hour or having a three - four person panel instead of a two - three person panel. Whatever the cause, it seemed to work for that portion of the program.
CNN Diner segment was at Rick's White Light Diner in Frankfort, Kentucky. King spoke with Rick Paul (owner of the diner), Joel Schrader, and an unidentified woman. By far, the most spirited conversation that we've seen during the diner segment as they discussed health care reform.
The Last Word went to Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service and the Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rear Admiral Anne Schuchat, MD, to discuss H1N1 (swine flu) and the vaccine. Per Dr. Schuchat if you're getting the shots or a shot and one nasal mist, you can receive the H1N1 and the seasonal flu vaccination during the same visit. If you're receiving nasal mists of both vaccinations, then she recommended waiting three weeks between them.
King mentioned that he will be heading to Alaska this coming week: it will be the 40th state that he's visited since State of the Union began.
State of the Union with John King started off on Sunday morning at the magic map with John King comparing satellite images of the area in Iran where a secret nuclear facility has been constructed.
King's first interview (pre-recorded) was with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. King asked Gates about the nuclear facility in Iran, about military options concerning Iran, the impact this new facility has on Israel, and whether additional sanctions would make a difference.
The second segment with the Gates focused on potential increased troop levels in Afghanistan, the unresolved election in Afghanistan. Gates had some harsh criticism for the prior administration's handling of the war:
KING: General McChrystal, in an interview that will air on "60 Minutes" tonight, talks about the breadth and the geographic spread of the violence in Afghanistan. He says, "It's a little more than I would have gathered."
We've been at this nearly eight years. Why are we still surprised?
GATES: Well, I will tell you, I think that the strategy that the president put forward in late March is the first real strategy we have had for Afghanistan since the early 1980s. And that strategy was more about the Soviet Union than it was about Afghanistan.
KING: You served in the Bush administration. That's a pretty broad damnation of the Bush strategy.
GATES: Well, the reality is, we were fighting a holding action. We were very deeply engaged in Iraq. I increased -- I extended the 10th Mountain Division the first month I was on this job in January of '07. I extended -- I put another brigade into Afghanistan in the spring of 2007. And that's all we had to put in there. Every -- we were -- we were too stretched to do more. And I think we did not have the kind of comprehensive strategy that we have now.
KING: And if it comes to the point of sending more, this time, if the president agrees and General McChrystal gets -- maybe it's 20,000, 30,000, or 40,000, do we have the troops now? If you needed 40,000, could you find it?
GATES: Well, I think, if the president were to decide to approve additional combat forces, they really probably could not begin to flow until some time in January.
Next on the program was a live interview with Senator Evan Bayh (D) and Senator Bob Corker (R). King began by asking Sen. Bayh about whether the US should go into the 6 party talks with Iran using "carrots" or "sticks". King asked whether the sanctions should be imposed now or in January; the Chinese are going to be key to making any additional sanctions work. King questioned how an intelligence report (available to the public) that was released during the Bush administration states that Iran wasn't pursuing their nuclear program and yet this new facility is clearly setup for use with a weapons program.
Next, the Senators were asked about troop levels in Afghanistan and health care reform.
In this week's American Dispatch, King visited Jefferson County, Mississippi to report on unemployment in this community that is 90% African American and has the highest unemployment rate in the state.
Howard Kurtz was on at 10AM with Reliable Sources.
Kurtz's first panel included Ed Henry, Margaret Carlson, Jim Geraghty, and Lauren Ashburn. The panel discussed President Obama's relationship with the press. Henry spent a good portion of the discussion defending CNN in comparison to other cable news networks.
The second segment with the panel discussed Bob Woodward's article in the Washington Post about the plans in Afghanistan and an article the New York Times ran about the Obama asking NY's Governor Patterson not to run for re-election.
The program continued with Kurtz's pre-recorded interview with Joy Behar. Behar's new program, The Joy Behar Show, premieres at 9PM Tuesday night on CNN's sister network HLN.
Kurtz interviewed Christopher Andersen, the author of a new book about the Obamas entitled: Barack and Michelle: Portrait of an American Marriage. Andersen took issue with Kurtz's characterization of the book as "dirt digging". Kurtz took issue with Andersen "quoting" conversations that the Obama's had based on information from third parties.
The Sounds of Sunday hour started off with John King talking to James Carville and Mary Matalin in the DC studio. They discussed the war in Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear program. The second segment included the closing of Gitmo and President Clinton's comments about the GOP and the "vast right wing conspiracy".
The CNN Diner segment this week was from Jackson, Mississippi at the Coffee Roastery with Dr. David Cole, Nikdra Ford (owner of the Coffee Roastery), and Ted Duckworth. King asked them about Obama's performance so far, the economy and health care reform.
Barbara Starr, Gloria Borger, and Dana Bash joined King in the studio. King started the segment at the Magic Wall reviewing the satellite images of the Iranian nuclear site. The first part of the discussion centered around the policies surrounding the revelation that Iran has concealed this latest nuclear facility.
The second segment with the group included discussing the war in Afghanistan and President Clinton's change of opinion on gay marriage.
The Last Word went to Merrilee Carlson, a gold star mother and the President of Families United. Her son, Army Sergeant Michael Carlson died serving his country in Iraq. Her organization supports the troops.
One bonus clip tonight... while John King was in Portland, Maine earlier this month, he was interviewed on WCSH6's 207
John King was in Maine this week when he taped the preview for this week's State of the Union.
On this morning's program, we got see updated music and graphics for the program. The first guest was Press Secretary Robert Gibbs to discuss the tea party protests in DC, health care, and Representative Wilson's outburst during the President's speech. Gibbs was also asked about the House Democrats who have taken money from health care PACs and whether or not the attacks on the President's policies are because of his race.
Next, Senator Susan Collins (R), Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D) talked with King about health care reform and the war in Afghanistan.
The American Dispatch was from Maine. King took a look at the impact of the large number of independent voters in the state. (And demonstrated this with lobsters- watch the video for details of his lobster bucket math.)
Reliable Sources with Howard Kurtz started at 10AM. His first panel included Sam Tanenhaus, David Brody, and Ceci Connolly and they discussed political pundits and the coverage of Obama's health care plan as well as the President's speech to students.
Next was Ana Marie Cox and Chris Stirewalt to discuss the Beck vs Olbermann battle and the Van Jones controversy
Gail Shister and James Poniewozik discussed CNN's coverage of the Coast Guard's exercise on the Potomac and Jay Leno's debut at 10PM.
The 11 AM Sounds of Sunday started off with a discussion with Ed Gillespie & Donna Brazile. King asked them about Rep. Wilson's "you lie!" outburst, the protests in Washington, the health care public option, and the public's concern about the cost of health care reform.
This week's CNN Diner segment was from Portland, Maine. King talked with Judy Colby George, Bob Gregoire, & David Unger about health care reform and their thoughts on 9/11 – eight years later.
The next panel included Ed Henry, Gloria Borger, and Dana Bash. They covered the health care reform legislation, swine flu vaccinations, Rep. Wilson's outburst, and the war in Afghanistan.
The Last Word went to Rep. Eric Cantor (R). King asked Cantor about health care reform, troops in Afghanistan, Rep Wilson's outburst, and whether Rep. Cantor was disrespectful during the President's speech by working on his blackberry.
John King was live from the Minnesota State Fair this morning on CNN's State of the Union.
But before we get to this morning program, here's the behind the scene's video which was taped in DC with King talking about Sunday's program.
Some of you may have noticed that a longer version of the video was originally posted to the CNN Political Ticker, but has since disappeared. The original had John King speaking on fast forward part way through and then repeated the entire discussion.
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) and Senator Ben Nelson (D) (via unsynchronized phone/ video) discussed health care legislation and what they want to hear from the President when he addresses Congress on Wednesday night. They also discussed the swine flu and regular flu vaccinations and the troop levels in Afghanistan. King asked the Senators about the latest poll numbers in the Cook Report that show that the President's numbers on the economy, health care, and the budget deficit have fallen below 50% - could these mean that the Democrats are in trouble in 2010? Sen. Klobuchar did her best to get King to try a piece of chocolate covered bacon (he politely declined).
Minnesota's Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) joined King at the fair to discuss health care reform. He doesn't think there should be a public option or that the "trigger option" should be used either. King asked the Governor to comment about George Will's recent comments that it is time to pull out of Afghanistan. The Governor thinks that we should commit more troops and finish the mission. King questioned Pawlenty about his travels around the country (even though he is still Governor); Pawlenty declined that he was already running for President. King also questioned whether Pawlenty would have been a better choice for Senator McCain's running mate (instead of Gov. Palin). And Pawlenty was pushing bacon flavored lip balm.
The swine flu has caused the Minnesota Fair to cancel the 4-H musical this year. Earlier in the week, King spoke with Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the CDC. Some states are seeing a number of cases confirmed cases of H1N1, which is early compared to the typical flu season. It takes 6 months to create a vaccine for a new strain of the flu virus. Dr. Frieden is confident of the safety of the new vaccine and his own children will be receiving the vaccination when it becomes available in October.
King was talking to people at the fair about health care:
John King's American Dispatch this week was from a dairy farm in Waterloo, Wisconsin. The farm is part of a co-op. Wisconsin already has a dozen health care co-ops. (King even learned how to milk a cow.)
At the top of the hour, Howard Kurtz took over with pre-recorded Reliable Sources back in the Washington, D.C. studio.
The top story this morning was Diane Sawyer taking over in January for Charlie Gibson on World News. Tina Brown, David Zurawik, and Rome Hartman discussed the succession.
Kurtz spoke with Lara Logan about being an embedded reporter in Afghanistan. They also discussed the AP's decision to put out a graphic photo of a dead marine, Lance Cpl. Bernard. Kurtz asked Logan about there not being a news bureau in Kabul (like there had been in Baghdad). Logan responded that soldiers don't have basic necessities like water and electricity- the news media isn't a priority for them. They also discussed her decision to go back into Afghanistan now that she has a 8 month old child (and she's leaving again tomorrow to return).
Kurtz talked with Dr. Daniel Ellsberg, the man who leaked the Pentagon papers on the Vietnam war. A new movie about the incident, The Most Dangerous Man in America, is being released. He thought at the time that he was breaking a law when he released the top secret documents to the press and fully expected to go to prison for the rest of his life. Dr. Ellsberg sees a lot of parallels between Vietnam and Iraq.
Kurtz talked with Michael Lewittes about GossipCop.com which patrols the celebrity news stories and separates the fact from fiction.
John King was back live at 11AM with the Sound of Sunday (and the beginning of the hour of pundits).
The commentator panel had Ed Rollins (R) and Joe Trippi (D) (both via video link - neither were at the fair with King). They talked about health care reform (both the legislation and the speech that the President will give to Congress on Wednesday), and what the poll results from the Cook Report indicate for the balance of power in Congress. In response to Van Jones' resignation, Trippi commented that conservative talk radio is gunning for a failed Presidency.
The CNN Diner segment this week was at the Minnesota State Fair (where there is lots of food on a stick) with Susan Reynolds, Roger Akenbuom, and Dave Theisen.
Dana Bash, Ed Henry, and Candy Crowley joined King via video link from Washington, D.C. for the Correspondent panel. The panel talked about Democrat's expectation for President Obama's upcoming speech to Congress and the future of a public option for health care. They also discussed the troop levels in Afghanistan and the dilemma that the President faces with liberals pushing for withdrawal and Republicans backing an increase in troops.
Ed Henry did a bit of flip-flopping this week. Two weeks ago, during the Lightening Round when asked about getting "wee-weed up", Henry wouldn't comment:
KING: OK lightning round now, Ed Henry, Jessica Yellin, Dana Bash, here's one. We learn new things from our president all the time, including some language. Here's the president on a conference call the other day with his supporters. He said, "There is something about August going into September where everyone in Washington gets all wee-weed up. I don't know what that is, but that's what happens."
Put me in the "I don't know what that is" column. You're the senior White House correspondent.
HENRY: I was in New York visiting my parents. My mom told me when I was in school, never talk about wee-wee. We're not talking about it on "State of the Union."
Source: CNN Transcript, State of the Union with John King August 23, 2009 11AM hour
Now, this week, again during the Lightening Round, Henry brought up the topic of getting "wee-weed up".
KING: ... Here is Charles Krauthammer, as we begin the "Lightning Round." Charles Krauthammer writing in The Washington Post on Friday: "What happened to President Obama? His wax wings having melted, he is the man who fell to earth. For a man who only recently bred a cult, ordinariness is a great burden. And for his acolytes, a crushing disappointment, Obama has become a politician, like others."
Ed Henry, I'm assuming they don't like the Icarus analogy over at the White House.
(LAUGHTER)
HENRY: Oh, they clearly don't. And there is clearly one solution to all of this. He needs to get wee-wee'd up. As he said a couple of weeks ago, nobody knew what that meant. And I still don't quite know what it is. He accused Republicans in Washington of getting all wee-wee'd up. I think he needs to do that.
And what it probably means is, he needs to get fired up, he needs to go at it, be a little more aggressive. It's looking right now like he's a little passive watching all of this go by. So he needs to get wee-wee'd up.
Source: CNN Transcript, State of the Union with John King September 6, 2009, 11AM hour.
The noon hour brought a repeat of material from the 9AM hour ( 45 minutes later live programming resumed). The Last Word went to Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison to talk about health care and what the President should say on Wednesday night. He wants progressive leaders to walk away if a public option is not part of the bill. He also talked about a "civilian surge" in Afghanistan.
An added bonus from the website this week... take a look back at the first six months of State of the Union with John King:
