American Morning
'Phantom of the Opera' actor George Lee Andrews discusses his 9,382 performances with the show
After 23 years playing the role of Monsieur André in "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway, actor George Lee Andrews gave his final performance as a member of the cast on Saturday night .
Andrews holds the Guinnes World Record for being the actor to spend the longest time performing in a single Broadway show – 9,382 performances to be exact.
Today on American Morning, Andrews discusses his experiences with the show and explains what's next for his career.
African American unemployment at its highest level since 1984
The August jobs report released by the Labor Department on Friday painted a bleak picture about racial inequality in the jobs market. Unemployment for African Americans is now at an astounding 16.7%, its highest level since 1984. This is more than double the unemployment figure for whites, which fell slightly last month to 8%.
With President Obama set to lay out his jobs plan in a highly-anticipated speech on Thursday, what does he need to say to restore faith in the African American public about jobs?
Robert Kuttner, co-founder and co-editor of American Prospect, and C. Nicole Mason, executive director of the NYU Women of Color Policy Network, join Christine Romans today to weigh in on black unemployment in America and what can be done right now to help ease the unemployment situation.
Union members to 'March for Jobs' in Pittsburg today
More than 70,000 people are expected to march in a Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh today geared at bringing a special focus on jobs and the unemployed. It's dubbed the "March for Jobs."
Organizers have made it clear that any politicians who are hostile to the labor movement are not welcome at the event and will be turned away.
This morning on American Morning, Allegeny County President of the AFL-CIO Jack Shea and Jim Bonner, an unemployed transit worker attending the march, explain what they think needs to happen to get Americans back to work.
Political panel: 2012 candidates to spend Labor Day campaigning
Candidates and potential candidates for the 2012 GOP nomination have been busy campaigning this weekend and they will have no rest this Labor Day as they try to rally supporters in a host of events across the country.
Following a appearance in Iowa on Saturday where she spoke to a group of around 2,000 people who had gathered hoping that she'd make some indication as to whether or not she'd run for the nomination, Sarah Palin will be in New Hampshire today for a Tea Party event.
Meanwhile, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and Michelle Bachmann will be at a forum in South Carolina event hosted by Senator Jim DeMint, a leader in the new conservative grassroots movement that includes so-called tea partiers.
Roll Call politics writer Shira Toeplitz and Politico senior political reporter Ben Smith explain what Palin's weekend event could signal about her intentions to run and whether Sen. DeMint's forum will push Perry to the front of the candidate pack.
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Talk Back: Do unions help or hurt America?
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From CNN's Carol Costello:
Last month, labor activists in Wisconsin successfully recalled two anti-union state lawmakers after Governor Scott Walker took on public unions and effectively killed collective bargaining earlier in the year.
Labor union leaders who contend that a war is being waged against hard-working Americans by anti-union lawmakers, point to this success, among others, as evidence that they have not lost power.
However, only 11 percent of the U.S. labor force is now represented by unions and middle class workers continue to be faced with plateaued wages and a wage gap that is growing wider and wider. Critics blame the labor unions for these situations, arguing that their large pensions and greed have forced companies to send jobs overseas.
Talk Back: Do unions help or hurt America?
Let us know what you think. Your response may be read on this morning's broadcast.
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