State Budget Breakdown; Recession Menu; Clinton Goes to Asia; Politics and Race in the Age of Obama; Tales From the Decade of Excess
State Budget Breakdown
After a frustrating holiday weekend that failed to yield the one vote needed to end California's budget stalemate, the state will begin layoff proceedings today for 20,000 government workers. In addition to the layoffs, the state also plans to halt all remaining public works projects, potentially putting thousands of construction workers out of jobs.
Recession Menu
The economic climate is taking its toll on the restaurant industry. With more and more customers choosing to brown bag their lunch or cook at home restaurant owners are predicting a steady decline in revenues. Casual dinning restaurants like CPK, Chili's and P.F. Chang's are the ones taking the hardest hit and are bracing for the worst still to come. Larry speaks to industry insiders about how customers and restaurateurs are dealing with the economic challenges.
Clinton Goes to Asia
Departing from the traditional inaugural trip to Europe, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is spending the week traveling Asia. Clinton is scheduled to travel through Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia. More than just a meet and great, she hopes to tackle a whole slue of global topics, ranging from economic recovery, nuclear proliferation and the environment. On Sunday she addressed North Korea's nuclear program and she is hoping to create a better partnership with China. Larry talks to experts about how Clinton's trip will affect relations.
Politics and Race in the Age of Obama
Gwen Ifill contends in her book The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama (Doubleday Press) that the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who are the direct beneficiaries of the 1960s struggle. Focusing on the impact of Barack Obama's presidential victory the book also provides insight into several issues including generational conflict, the race/gender clash and the issue of being "black enough." Ifill draws on interviews with some of the most prominent players in the Black political structure including interviews with President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Reverend Jesse Jackson. Larry talks to Ifill about this remarkable evolution of politics and the future of American democracy in the Age of Obama.
Tales From the Decade of Excess
As a fledgling actor in early 80's New York, David Henry Sterry's first big break was a two year stint as the roller-skating emcee at Chippendales nightclub. In his memoir "Master of Ceremonies", Sterry recounts the behind-the-scenes secrets and extravagance of the era's nonstop party culture. He also tells how the party came to an end after the murder of his boss. David Henry Sterry talks with Larry Mantle about his experiences at New York's legendary nightclub.