American Morning
Time runs out for 1.2 million on unemployment
(CNN) – Last week, the House passed a bill to extend benefits to those who have been unemployed longer than six months. But by then, the Senate had already taken off for a week-long break. The stalled bill is making life difficult for more than a million out-of-work Americans, including Debra Rousey. She lost her job as a bank branch manager in November and her last unemployment check cleared about two weeks ago. She joined us on Monday's American Morning to share her story.
Jorge Ramos: Prioritize immigration reform
(CNN) – The push for immigration reform is under way. Last week, President Obama called for securing the borders and paving the way for an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants to become legal citizens. Univision anchor Jorge Ramos is urging President Obama to prioritize immigration reform. Ramos is the author of a new book, "A Country for All," and he joined us on Monday's American Morning.
Nuclear fusion the 'Holy Grail' of green energy?
(CNN) – There are a lot of options on the path to better, greener power: solar, wind, hydro-electric. But for a small and devoted group, the way to move ahead is nuclear fusion. Believe it or not, but that tech-savvy guy next door may just be building a fusion reactor in his basement. Our Carol Costello introduces us to one of these amateur scientists.
Is the water safe enough for swimming?
(CNN) – BP said Monday that the cost of its response to the Gulf oil disaster now totals approximately $3.12 billion. That includes containment, relief well drilling, grants to Gulf states, claims paid and federal costs, the oil giant said. The Fourth of July weekend brought beach-goers to the Gulf shore, despite the oil spill. But how safe is the water? The town of Pensacola lets people swim, but is anyone sure the water is really safe? Our John Zarrella reports.
Political ads aim for a memorable message
(CNN) – It's only July, but across America campaign ads for the upcoming mid-term elections have already gone viral. Attention-grabbing spots have emerged featuring female candidates firing machine guns, actors playing our founding fathers, and the "dirtier" side of dairy farms. Our Jim Acosta reports.
Madonna's new girls' school
Editor's Note: In an American Morning original series, “Big Stars, Big Giving,” Alina Cho looks at celebrity philanthropy and how these big stars can make a big impact. Through one-on-one interviews with Elton John, Ben Stiller, Madonna, Martha Stewart and Richard Branson, she shares what causes have become their passion, and how you can get involved. Originally posted December 23, 2009.
By Alina Cho, CNN
Madonna has spent most of her life being provocative about almost everything; above all, her personal life.
These days nothing is more personal than her two children, adopted from Malawi. It’s a small African nation where half the population lives on less than a dollar a day, and where more than a half million children are orphaned by AIDS.
“I would love to take them all home, yes, if I could,” Madonna tells me.
Because she can't, and because she's Madonna, she made a documentary, called I Am, Because We Are, about Malawi.
“People always ask me why I chose Malawi, and I tell them, ‘I didn't. It chose me.'"
She also founded the charity Raising Malawi, to help feed, educate and provide medical care to some of Malawi's orphans – the ones she can't bring home.
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.
