American Morning
Look who's asking
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/25/obama.conf.getty.art.jpg caption=" President Barack Obama answers questions during a prime time news conference."]
The New York Times: No. Washington Post: No. No. Ebony Magazine: Yes.
When the President was asked about the drug war in Mexico and homelessness, the questions didn't come from the mainstream media. And last night's news conference seems to indicate a trend for this president... reaching out to voters wherever they get their news.
A correspondent from Univision asked the President whether the drug cartel violence on the Mexican border posed a national security threat to the United States. The plight of the poor was raised by a correspondent with Ebony magazine. Spending on national defense and veterans care came up in a question from a correspondent with the military newspaper Stars and Stripes.
The President took questions from niche reporters at his first news conference when he called on a correspondent from the Huffington post. That reporter wasn't called on this time. But a correspondent from new media newcomer Politico was.
Political observers say this is a savvy way for the President to sell his message by going over the heads of the mainstream news media. Tomorrow, the President has plans to take questions on the economy directly from Americans on the White House web site.
Jobless react to Obama's pitch
The group was made up of people from different backgrounds and professions.
What they have in common – they're all unemployed.
They also share strong opinions on what they wanted to hear from the President.
Are you unemployed? What are your opinions on the President's news conference? Comment below.
Advice for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/24/geithner.getty.march24.art.jpg caption="Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies on Capitol Hill today."]
Advice for Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner: Never let 'em see you sweat.
Especially when you're getting grilled on Capitol Hill. With the AIG bonus debacle still fresh, members of Congress are sure to milk every minute of their allotted time to get a good soundbite for their local news. Depending on how cynical you are, Geithner either faces tough questioning to get to the bottom of the mistakes that led to the AIG bonus payments, or Geithner is simply a player in Congress's political theater. (Geithner knows the drill: he has testified seven times already in this young administration.)
There will no doubt be preening and screaming from some about who knew what and when about those now infamous bonuses.
Gibbs: Plan to move forward
With some lawmakers calling for him to go, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will be back on Capitol Hill this morning asking for even more power to deal with the financial crisis.
Is this something you should be worried about?
It's certain to come up during the President's prime time news conference tonight.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs joined us live from the White House Briefing Room to discuss the plan.
Grilling Geithner
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/24/geithner.getty.art.jpg caption="Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is expected back on Capitol Hill today."]
The hottest seat in America may well be the one directly in front of any Congressional committee investigating the failures at AIG and other banks.
The man who has landed in that seat more times recently than anyone else is the President's Treasury Secretary. Seven times Secretary Timothy Geithner has been forced to testify before congressional committees ranging from The Senate Budget Committee to the House Ways and Means panel.
On Tuesday Geithner makes his eighth Congressional appearance. This time it's in front of the House Financial Services Committee.
Congressional committees are supposed to call in witnesses to gather information for legislation or investigate possible incompetence or wrongdoing. But these aren't always the only reasons.
Buying toxic bank assets
Today, the Obama administration will roll out its latest plan to tackle the banking crisis and get loans flowing to families and businesses again.
President Obama's Chief Economic Adviser, Christina Romer, joined us live from the White House.
About this Show
Welcome to the American Morning blog where you can get daily news updates from American Morning's reporters and producers. Join us for "the most news in the morning," weekdays from 6-9 a.m. ET, only on CNN.
On Twitter
