President Obama's popularity is slipping according a new ABC/Washington Post poll. Remembering Walter Cronkite and a federal judge overturns LAPD consent decree. Also AirTalk airs its broadcast from JPL on the 40th anniversary of the moon landing.
Poll shows lower ratings for Obama
According to a Washington Post/ABC News poll, fewer Americans approve of President Obama's handling of health care reform. The President's health care-specific approval rating has dropped 6-points since last month, to 49% for July. Analysts particularly noted eroded support among political independents. However, his overall approval rating remains high, at 59%. Has your opinion of President Obama's handling of health care changed since June? Add your thoughts here.
Walter Cronkite dies
Newsman Walter Cronkite, who was known as "the most trusted man in America", died last week at age 92. From 1962 to 1981, he anchored the CBS evening news, and covered the assassinations of President Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., the moon landing, and the Vietnam War. Larry Mantle looks back on the career of Walter Cronkite. Comment here.
Bob O'Rourke, Vice President for Communications at CalTech, and friend of Walter Cronkite
Federal judge ends LAPD consent decree
A U.S. District judge has released the Los Angeles Police Department from an eight-year long consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice. The decree, which required several reforms and federal monitoring of the LAPD, was imposed in response to the alleged corruption and civil rights abuses of the Rampart corruption scandal. In lifting the consent decree, the judge stated significant reforms had been made with the LAPD. While acknowledging progress under police chief William Bratton, organizations such as the ACLU have expressed disappointment in the decision, citing evidence of continued racial profiling. Larry Mantle finds out what the removal of the consent decree means for the LAPD. Add your thoughts here.
Connie Rice, Civil rights attorney and co-Director of The Advancement Project
Tranquility Base +40
On July 16th, 1969, a Saturn V rocket thundered off the pad at Cape Canaveral, carrying Apollo 11 on its historic mission to the moon. Four days later, on July 20th, Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. But the program that made the landing possible started years before that, with a series of lunar exploration probes, many of them designed right here at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 1972, the last two astronauts walked on the lunar surface, ending America's moon program....or at least putting it on long-term hiatus. Today, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are gearing up again--this time to return to the moon and establish a permanent base. JPL is working on the landing systems, probes and other tools that will once again help make this dream reality. NASA's Ares rockets and Orion spacecraft will carry the next generation to the moon. As part of a special program recorded at JPL's von Karman Auditorium, Larry and guests look back at Apollo and forward towards Ares, Orion, Constellation and beyond.
Panelists:
Dr. Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society
John Casani, Special Assistant to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director. Casani began his career at JPL in 1956 and worked on some of the first lunar probe missions.
Mike Sander, Manager, Exploration Systems and Technology Office, JPL
Scott Jay "Doc" Horowitz, former Shuttle astronaut and Ares 1 designer
Special web extra: Live from JPL
In this exclusive web extra, expert panelists answer questions as they commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.
On July 16th, 1969, a Saturn V rocket thundered off the pad at Cape Canaveral, carrying Apollo 11 on its historic mission to the moon. Four days later, on July 20th, Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the moon. But the program that made the landing possible started years before that, with a series of lunar exploration probes, many of them designed right here at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In 1972, the last two astronauts walked on the lunar surface, ending America's moon program....or at least putting it on long-term hiatus. Today, NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are gearing up again--this time to return to the moon and establish a permanent base. JPL is working on the landing systems, probes and other tools that will once again help make this dream reality. NASA's Ares rockets and Orion spacecraft will carry the next generation to the moon. As part of a special program recorded at JPL's von Karman Auditorium, Larry and guests look back at Apollo and forward towards Ares, Orion, Constellation and beyond.
Panelists:
Dr. Louis Friedman, Executive Director of The Planetary Society
John Casani, Special Assistant to the JPL Director. Casani began his career at JPL in 1956 and worked on some of the first lunar probe missions.
Mike Sander, Manager, Exploration Systems and Technology Office, JPL
Scott Jay "Doc" Horowitz, former Shuttle Astronaut and Ares 1 designer