American Morning
A look at the surprising, Cold War-era espionage plot
(CNN) – Most of the 11 people suspected in the alleged Russian spy ring lived all-American lives, with spouses, successful careers and children. The FBI says it was all a part of an elaborate cover to gather U.S. intelligence. But what exactly were they after? And what did they manage to get? To help answer some of those questions, we were joined on Wednesday's American Morning by Oleg Kalugin, the former chief of KGB foreign counterintelligence.
Striking redhead linked to spy ring
(CNN) – 11 people are suspected of being secret agents for Russia. The FBI says they've been operating in "deep cover" for more than a decade, living seemingly normal lives. Our Deb Feyerick takes a closer look at some of the accused.
Leadership, goals and obstacles in Afghanistan
(CNN) – The situation in Afghanistan is intensifying. Gen. David Patraeus is sailing towards a full confirmation as the top commander, but there's still plenty of debate. The biggest being the July 2011 deadline for troop withdrawal. An attack this morning on the Jalalabad airport by Taliban insurgents only underscores this reality. Our Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the report.
Obesity rates spike in 28 states
(CNN) – New evidence suggests Americans are not improving when it comes to a healthy weight. Adult obesity rates shot up in 28 states over the past year. There are obesity provisions built in to the new health care reform law and the White House is crusading against childhood obesity. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta joined us on Wednesday's American Morning to break it all down.
Kagan videos show nominee praising Obama
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/06/30/kagan.elena.gi.art.jpg caption="Videos of Elena Kagan show she raised questions about Harriet Miers and praised Obama. CNN's Jim Acosta reports."]
By CNN’s Jim Acosta and Bonney Kapp, CNN
(CNN) – President Obama’s pick for the Supreme Court has gone out of her way to avoid controversy during her legal career. But she can be seen and heard letting down her guard at times in videos posted on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Web site.
Kagan’s appearances at various seminars, graduations and alumni dinners were recorded on video by the Harvard Law School, where she served as dean. Watch 
At a 2005 Harvard alumni awards dinner for then-Senator Barack Obama, Kagan gushes over the man who would become president as “her hero.”
Recalling how she witnessed his speech to the 2004 Democratic National Convention Kagan says, “He said a few words and the place was mesmerized. You could have heard a pin drop and that's all in part because of these rock star qualities. The eloquence, the magnetism, the great looks, the brilliance."
LIVE Blog: Chat with us during the show
Editor's Note: Welcome to American Morning's LIVE Blog where you can discuss the "most news in the morning" with us each week day. Join the live chat during the show by adding your comments below. It's your chance to share your thoughts on the day's headlines. You have a better chance of having your comment get past our moderators if you follow our rules: 1) Keep it brief 2) No writing in ALL CAPS 3) Use your real name (first name only is fine) 4) No links 5) Watch your language (that includes $#&*).
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/US/06/30/hurricane.alex/t1main.alex.01.cnn.jpg caption="Alex has strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico to become the first hurricane of the season. Forecasters say the storm is expected to make landfall in northeastern Mexico or southern Texas by late Wednesday or early Thursday."]
Hurricane Alex makes way toward Mexico, Texas coasts
(CNN) – Hurricane Alex gained strength early Wednesday as the storm began to take aim on the western Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center reported.
The Category 1 storm, which became the first June hurricane on the Atlantic side of the United States since 1995, is expected to make landfall in northeastern Mexico or southern Texas by late Wednesday or early Thursday.
The hurricane center's advisory issued at 2 a.m. ET said Alex was moving erratically, but generally westward, at 5 mph. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 80 mph and was about 255 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas.
President Barack Obama issued a federal emergency declaration for Texas ahead of the expected arrival of Alex, the White House said Tuesday night.
A hurricane warning was issued for the Gulf Coast from Baffin Bay, Texas, to La Cruz, Mexico. A hurricane warning means that hurricane conditions and tropical storm-force winds are expected in the forecast area within 36 hours. Read more | Full coverage | LIVE: Undersea view
CNN broadcasting legend Larry King to step down
Larry King, the iconic TV interviewer, will step aside from hosting of his prime time CNN show later this year, he said Tuesday.
King, 76, made the announcement with a short posting to his Twitter account, citing his desire to spend more time with his wife and young children.
"I want to share some personal news with you. 25 years ago, I sat across this table from New York Governor Mario Cuomo for the first broadcast of Larry King Live. Now, decades later, I talked to the guys here at CNN and I told them I would like to end Larry King Live, the nightly show, this fall and CNN has graciously accepted, giving me more time for my wife and I to get to the kids' little league games," King wrote.
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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.
