American Morning
Kiran: Tuesday Roundup
Happy Tuesday morning!
Legalize drugs?
The idea is gaining some unlikely support in the wake of the growing violence in Mexico. Since late 2006, Mexico’s drug violence has killed more than 9,000 people as cartels and gangs battle each other for territory and fight against government crackdown. The violence has spilled over the U.S. border where kidnappings and killings are on the rise. Read more.
There's a school of thought that it will take more than increased law enforcement to combat the drug problem. Some are now calling for legalizing ALL drugs, not just marijuana, in order to win this war. One of those voices, leading Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, made the case for legalization on American Morning. Here's my interview with him today.
Here is Jeffrey Miron’s commentary I was talking about and another one with a counterpoint.
As always we'd like to get your thoughts. Comment here or follow us at twitter.com/amfix and twitter.com/kiranchetrycnn.
See you tomorrow!
Kiran
Churches hit by recession
We've heard about bailouts for banks and homeowners.
But what about churches?
Nobody is talking about such an idea. But churches are also being hit hard by the recession. Houses of worship are having trouble completing projects. And some are even going under.
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.
Leno Spoofs American Morning
Couch, desk, microphone.
The formula for the successful late night set hasn't changed since the early days of TV, but Jay Leno was a little intrigued with our new layout.
Grilling Geithner
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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.
Fast Forward
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The stories that will be making news later today.
New ash-fall warnings are in effect today for parts of southern Alaska after the Mount Redoubt volcano erupted for a 6th time yesterday sending a burst of ash nearly 60 thousand feet high. Residents are being told to seal windows and doors and protect water supplies.
At 2 pm Eastern – the battle on the border comes to Washington. A House Appropriations Subcommittee will hear from government agents about America's efforts to keep Mexico's bloody war against drug cartels from slipping into the U.S.
At 9:40 Eastern – this morning President Obama will make a really long distance call to congratulate the shuttle "Discovery" crew and astronauts at the International Space Station on their current mission. The President will make the call with Congressional leaders and middle school students from the Washington area.
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