American Morning
Van Hollen hopes 'cooler heads prevail' in budget demands
Earlier on American Morning, Texas Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling told AM's Christine Romans that Senate Democrats have done little to help reach a budget deal for funding the federal government. "So far there's nothing in the Senate," Hensarling said. "The Democrats not only do they not have a bill, they don't have a plan. They've put nothing on the table."
Maryland Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen responds this morning with AM's Kiran Chetry. Van Hollen says it is the Republicans' unwillingness to move on their position, rather, that is holding back a deal. He says Tea Party Republicans are "fueling this drive toward a shutdown."
"I really hope that cooler heads will prevail," Van Hollen tells AM, "because if you go to a shutdown, it will create all sorts of problems around the country."
Watch Van Hollen's full interview with Kiran here:
Obama intervening in budget battle 'better late than never'
The budget battle continues in Washington today with only a few days left for Congress to come to an agreement on the 2011 federal budget. If a deal is not reached by Friday at midnight, part of the government will shut down. President Obama has called a White House meeting Tuesday for Congressional leaders to try to reach a deal and avoid the shutdown.
So, how close is Congress to closing a deal? Today on American Morning, AM’s Christine Romans talks with Texas Republican Rep. Jeb Hensarling, a member of the GOP leadership involved with negotiations.
Hensarling tells AM that Obama stepping in is "better late than never." But, he says, not having a Senate bill is a problem. "I'm afraid the Senate probably wants to have a shutdown. They think it's in their political best interest."
For the full interview, watch here:
Toobin: Setting change for 9/11 trial will not change outcome
(CNN)— Attorney General Eric Holder announced Monday that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other 9/11 terror suspects will face a military trial at the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba. The decision is a sharp reversal for the Obama administration, which wanted the terror suspects to have federal civilian trials. Besides Mohammed, the other suspects to face charges of participating in the 9/11 plot are Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi. All five are at Guantanamo.
Today on American Morning, CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin talks about the differences between a military and civilian trial for Khalid Sheik Mohammed, how the trial will play out, and the political implications of Obama’s reversal on his original decision.
Jesse Ventura talks conspiracy theory, 2012 presidential race
He's been the governor of Minnesota, a Navy SEAL, a pro-wrestler, a Harvard professor, and most recently an author. Today on American Morning, Kiran Chetry, Ali Velshi and Christine Romans talk politics with the man himself, Jesse Ventura.
Ventura, the author of a new book 63 Documents the Government Doesn't Want You to Read, explains the documents in his book and gives his take on the 2012 elections. Does he think a third party has a chance in the 2012 presidential race? "Probably not because as Ralph Nader said we live under a two-party dictatorship." Ventura tells AM. "Nobody else is let into the game."
Ventura says if Ron Paul leaves the Republican Party and chooses to run in 2012 under a third party, then he would consider being Paul's running mate.
For more of Ventura's outlook on the day's politics, watch here:
Should college athletes get paid?
You’ll see it tonight in the stands at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. Thousands of fans spending money to watch college athletes play ball and wearing t-shirts with the athletes’ numbers and names on their backs. With so much money to be made in college sports should the stars of the programs, the actual student athletes, get paid for their success?
“Absolutely,” they should get paid, CNN education contributor Steve Perry tells AM’s Christine Romans on today’s American Morning. College athletes earn about $120,000 a year if you factor in training, medical help and tutoring, but Perry says that is not enough. He explains why athletes should at least be able to earn money off their own images through endorsements.
Remember the Ohio State football players suspended in December for selling memorabilia from their winning games? What do you think, should colleges pay their athletes?
Documentary chronicles producer's five decades in Hollywood
You may recognize him from Ocean’s Eleven films, but it’s his behind-the-scenes work that gives a glimpse into the building of some of Hollywood’s most famous stars.
Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Neil Diamond, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts—he’s worked with them all. Prolific film producer and personal manager Jerry Weintraub, who got his start promoting Elvis Presley, has worked in Hollywood for five decades.
Today on American Morning he previews his HBO documentary “His Way" chronicling his Hollywood career. The documentary, premiering Monday at 9 pm ET, features commentary from George H.W. Bush, George Clooney, Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, among many others. What's it about Weintraub that's enabled him such longevity in Hollywood?
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