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2006 JANUARY TUESDAY, January 31, 2006 Federal Reserve Chairman Greenspan Retires Three experts comment on the end of Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's 18-year tenure as the nation's chief architect of economic policy.    2009 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 - 1997 2006
	Analysts Preview State of the Union Columnists David Brooks and Tom Oliphant speak with Jim Lehrer prior to President Bush's State of the Union address.      Friends Remember Coretta Scott King Two family friends discuss the life and achievements of Coretta Scott King, civil rights crusader and widow of Martin Luther King Jr.      Senate Confirms Samuel Alito to Supreme Court Kwame Holman reports on the Senate voting 58-42 to confirm Samuel Alito as the 110th Supreme Court justice. Alito took the oath of office in a private ceremony a few hours later.    Supreme Court Watch MONDAY, January 30, 2006 New Report Finds Shortcomings in Iraq Reconstruction Since 2003 the United States has spent more than $30 billion toward relief and reconstruction in Iraq. Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, discusses a new report that finds shortcomings in the rebuilding.    Iraq in Transition Roadside Bombing Injures ABC News Anchorman Bob Woodruff A Media Unit report on the roadside bombing that severely injured ABC News anchorman Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt, followed by a discussion with a colleague of theirs.    Iraq in Transition New Hamas Palestinian Government Considers Stance Toward Israel After last week's unexpected victory for Hamas in the Palestinian elections, the party must consider whether to ease its hard-line stance toward Israel in order to increase chances of receiving foreign aid.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Former Presidential Advisers Preview State of the Union Three former presidential advisers discuss what President Bush needs to discuss in his sixth State of the Union address to the nation Tuesday night, as well as the importance of the annual political ritual.      Playwright Wendy Wasserstein Dies at Age 55 A look back at the life and work of playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who died Monday at the age of 55.      FRIDAY, January 27, 2006 Hamas Faces Uncertain Future Three experts debate the future of Hamas now that militant party must run the Palestinian Authority and decide how deal with Israel -- a task made more difficult by many Fatah supporters's vehement opposition to a Hamas-run parliament.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Senate Debates Supreme Court Nominee Alito The Senate took up debate on Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito following a party-line vote for approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Democrats, who have been trying to rally support for a filibuster against the nominee, appear to lack the votes to succeed.    Supreme Court Watch Shields and Brooks Debate Alito's Nomination, Middle East Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks debate the Senate confirmation of Judge Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court and the week's dramatic developments in the Middle East.    Political Wrap Oprah Retracts Support of Frey Memoir Oprah Winfrey brought James Frey, author of "A Million Little Pieces," a memoir about drug addiction, back on her show to answer charges that he lied to her and his readers by fabricating parts of the book. A cultural historian discusses the cultural impact of Winfrey's show and the Oprah Book Club.      THURSDAY, January 26, 2006 Hamas Wins Palestinian Authority Elections Following a background report, Margaret Warner reports from Jerusalem on Hamas' victory Thursday in the Palestinian elections.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict World Reacts to Hamas Election Victory Following excerpts from President Bush's reaction to the Hamas win in Wednesday's Palestinian elections, Ray Suarez reports on reaction of world leaders from Davos, Switzerland, site of the World Economic Forum.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Experts Discuss Hamas' Parliamentary Win With the militant group Hamas' stunning political victory in Wednesday's Palestinian parliamentary elections, two experts share their reactions regarding the potential impact on the Palestinian government and the peace process.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Auto Parts Supplier Experiences Cutbacks General Motors announced Thursday that it lost $8.6 billion last year -- the most since 1992. A report from Flint, Mich. examines the struggles of the union at Delphi, a parts supplier formerly owned by GM where workers are preparing for the worst.      WEDNESDAY, January 25, 2006 Palestinians Vote in Parliamentary Elections Palestinians voted in large numbers Wednesday in their first parliamentary election in a decade. Margaret Warner reports from Ramallah.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Experts Discuss Drug Company Gifts A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association says 90 percent of the $21 billion pharmaceutical companies spend on marketing goes directly to physicians. Two experts discusses the debate concerning whether free samples from drug companies influence patients' care.      After Two Years, Journey Continues for Mars Rovers NASA's rovers Spirit and Opportunity -- once thought to have a life span of only three months -- are entering their third year of exploring Mars. They have found evidence of Mars' watery past and have been making other observations about the Red Planet ever since.      Google Agrees to Censor Chinese Version Google has agreed to censor its search engine in China. In return for blocking politically sensitive terms, Google gains access to the world's No. 2 Internet market. Following a background report, an expert discusses censorship for business interests and the implications this decision may have on the Internet.   Chile's New President Outlines Goals Michelle Bachelet, Chile's new president-elect, speaks about her experience during the 1973 coup led by former dictator Augusto Pinochet and her goals as the country's first female president.      TUESDAY, January 24, 2006 Senate Panel Approves Alito Nomination The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-8, along party lines, to approve Judge Samuel Alito as a Supreme Court justice.    Supreme Court Watch Conservative Party Wins in Canada Canada's Conservative Party scored an election day victory Monday night, bringing to an end 13 years of the Liberal Party as the majority in the government. Following a background report, a reporter discusses the shift in power.      Palestinians Prepare for Elections Palestinians head to the polls for parliamentary elections. Experts predict a close contest between the ruling Fatah party and the Islamic military movement Hamas.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Post Web Site Halts Comments Section The Washington Post's Web site recently shut down the viewer comments section of one of its weblogs after an article by the Post's ombudsman caused a flood of complaints.      Atrocities Serve as Evidence in Saddam Trial The NewsHour provides an excerpt from a Frontline/World report on the search for evidence of mass murders allegedly ordered by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Iraq in Transition MONDAY, January 23, 2006 Attorney General Defends Domestic Wiretapping Program White House officials launched a public defense of the National Security Agency domestic wiretap program. At the center of the defense is Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who discusses the surveillance program.    Domestic Security Leahy Challenges Domestic Spying Program In response to U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' defense of the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., called the program illegal and said it threatens civil liberties in the United States.    Domestic Security Ford Announces Layoffs, New Business Plan The Ford Motor Co. announced restructuring plans that will cut 25,000 to 30,000 jobs and idle 14 plants by 2012. Two guests discuss the potential impact of the layoffs as well as Ford's new business plan.      Senate Holds Hearings on Mine Safety Following the death of 14 miners in separate accidents in West Virginia, the Senate held hearings on mine safety Monday.      FRIDAY, January 20, 2006 Shiite Alliance Wins Most Seats in Iraq Elections The election commission in Iraq released preliminary results from parliamentary elections on Dec. 15 showing an alliance of Shiite religious parties capturing most of the body's 275 seats but falling short of a majority needed to govern without coalition partners. Two guests discuss what this could mean for the future of Iraq.    Iraq in Transition New Orleans Businesses Struggle to Rebuild A commission called Bring New Orleans Back is charged with helping struggling business owners get back on their feet after much of their property and the city's tourist industry were damaged by Hurricane Katrina.    Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Google Rebuffs Government Subpoena A Media Unit report examines Google's fight against a government subpoena requesting access to the search records of millions of people. Two guests discuss what the case could mean for individual privacy protection in the 21st century.      Shields and Brooks Discuss Domestic Spying, Lobbying Reform Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks debate the White House's justification of domestic spying by the National Security Agency, a speech by former Vice President Al Gore condemning the program and lobbying reforms.    Political Wrap THURSDAY, January 19, 2006 Bin Laden Threatens U.S. in New Message Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden threatened the United States on an audio tape aired Thursday by Al-Jazeera. Following a background report, two experts discuss the threat and its implications.      Investigation on Former Housing Secretary Ends The decade-long independent council investigation of former U.S. Housing Secretary Henry Cisneros ended Thursday. Cisneros was accused of lying to the FBI during his confirmation process background check about payments he made to a former mistress.      Essayist Ponders Women and Power Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming looks at a television show and whether the country is accepting of a female president. Essays Earthquake Survivors in Pakistan Face Harsh Winter Earthquake survivors in the remote Himalayan village of Moori Patan, Pakistan face a frigid winter.      Spacecraft's Journey to Pluto Begins NASA's New Horizons spacecraft took off aboard an Atlas V rocket on a 10-year, 3-billion-mile trip to Pluto. A scientist discusses the mission.      WEDNESDAY, January 18, 2006 Supreme Court Sends Abortion Case Back to New Hampshire The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday that a lower court was wrong to declare a New Hampshire abortion law unconstitutional and sent the case back to the lower court to find less drastic ways to repair the statute.    Supreme Court Watch Congress Debates Changing Lobbying Rules Democrats and Republicans announced competing bills to reform lobbying practices on Capitol Hill in the wake of a corruption scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff.      Reid Discusses Lobbying, Spying and Iraq Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., discusses the Democratic plan to reform lobbying practices in Congress, the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, domestic surveillance and the war in Iraq.      Christian Science Monitor Reporter Kidnapped in Iraq Journalist Jill Carroll's captors in Iraq released a videotape of her on Wednesday.    Iraq in Transition TUESDAY, January 17, 2006 Supreme Court Upholds Oregon Assisted Suicide Law The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday upheld an Oregon law that allows doctor-assisted suicide. By a 6-3 vote, the court said the U.S. Justice Department may not use a federal drug law to override the state law.    Supreme Court Watch SEC Announces Companies Must Disclose Pay and Benefits The Securities and Exchange Commission said Tuesday that companies must spell out total pay and benefits for top executives, including stock options. Following a background report, two experts discuss the possible ramifications for companies.      New Orleans Universities Open After Hurricane Katrina Hurricane-damaged colleges and universities that were closed all last semester welcomed back faculty and students this week.    Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Biographer Marks Ben Franklin's 300th Birthday Biographer Walter Isaacson, president of the Aspen Institute and author of "Benjamin Franklin: An American Life," discusses Franklin's life to mark his 300th birthday.      MONDAY, January 16, 2006 Chile Elects First Female President Chile elected Socialist Michelle Bachelet, a 54-year-old single mother and pediatrician who suffered imprisonment, torture and exile under the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, as its first female president.      Medicare Drug Program Suffers Technical Problems More than two weeks after its launch, technical glitches in Medicare's prescription drug program continue to prevent many low-income seniors from receiving much-needed prescriptions.      Biography Highlights Martin Luther King Jr. Taylor Branch, author of "On Canaan's Edge," the final installment of his three-volume biography of Martin Luther King Jr., discusses the civil rights leader's life and legacy.   NASA Mission Returns Cosmic Dust Scientists hope the interstellar dust recovered from NASA's Stardust capsule will help them learn more about the formation of the solar system 4.6 billion years ago -- and possibly the origins of life.      FRIDAY, January 13, 2006 Senate Judiciary Committee Concludes Alito Hearings The Senate Judiciary Committee concluding confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito on Friday with witness testimonies.    Supreme Court Watch Shields and Brooks on Final Day of Alito Hearings Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the Senate confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and the push to gain support in the Democratic party.    Supreme Court Watch Hotel Crunch Hinders Rebirth of New Orleans The combination of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina and tourists hoping to visit the Crescent City has created a hotel crunch in New Orleans.    Rebuilding the Gulf Coast New German Chancellor Angela Merkel Visits U.S. In the first meeting between President Bush and Germany's new Chancellor Angela Merkel, the two leaders criticized Iran's nuclear research program but disagreed over using prison camps such as Guantanamo Bay.      James Frey Controversy Raises Issues of Fiction in Memoirs Accusations that author James Frey fabricated parts of his memoir, "A Million Little Pieces" has sparked a controvery over publishing fiction in a memoir.      THURSDAY, January 12, 2006 Law Professors Analyze Alito Hearings Senators wrapped up their questioning in the fourth day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito.    Supreme Court Watch Europe and the United States Press to Refer Iran to Security Council Britain, France, Germany and the United States pressed to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council after Iran announced Tuesday that it would resume uranium enrichment efforts.    Tracking Nuclear Proliferation General Motors Faces Financial Hurdles Pensions, health care benefits and a costly jobs bank create steep cost disadvantages for General Motors compared to foreign car manufacturers.      WEDNESDAY, January 11, 2006 Alito Record Reveals Views on Abortion, Executive Power Two constitutional legal scholars analyze what the second day of questioning in Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Judge Samuel Alito revealed about his legal opinions on abortion and executive power.    Supreme Court Watch New Orleans Residents React to City Revitalization Plan Residents of New Orleans are reacting to the recommendations of a city revitalization commission, whose members were appointed by Mayor Ray Nagin.    Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Report Criticizes Armor Given to U.S. Troops in Iraq A recent study revealing that vulnerabilities in body armor accounted for around 300 of 2200 deaths of U.S. soldiers in Iraq has sparked a debate over the armor's durability and effectiveness.    Iraq in Transition TUESDAY, January 10, 2006 Judge Alito Answers Questions About Presidential Powers and Privacy Senators questioned Judge Samuel Alito on presidential powers, privacy and abortion during hearings on whether he should be confirmed as a Supreme Court justice. Two court watchers analyze what Alito revealed about his opinions.    Supreme Court Watch Iran Resumes Nuclear Processing An Independent Television News report from Iran, where nuclear workers removed U.N. seals from uranium enrichment equipment Tuesday and resumed nuclear research. Tracking Nuclear Proliferation Health Care Costs Doubled Between 1993 and 2004 The overall cost of health care doubled between 1993 and 2004, and in 2004, health care spending topped $1.9 trillion or 16 percent of the nation's economic output -- the largest share on record, according to a report released Monday by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.      MONDAY, January 9, 2006 Judge Alito Makes Opening Statements at Confirmation Hearings Two constitutional law scholars analyze opening statements on the first day of Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito, including questions over his judicial philosophy and views on executive power.      Majority Leader Tom DeLay Gives Up Leadership Post In a letter delivered Saturday to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, said he will not seek to recapture his leadership post. A congressional expert discusses the effect Delay had in the House and who might take his place.      IBM and Verizon Replace Pension Plans With 401K Recent announcements by IBM and Verizon that they plan to replace pension plans with 401(k) retirement plans have raised questions about the future of employee benefits at other companies      FRIDAY, January 6, 2006 Abramoff Case Highlights Problems with Washington Lobbying The recent guilty plea of Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff has thrown the spotlight on lobbying in Washington. Three experts, including two former lawmakers who are now lobbyists, take a closer look at the lobbying industry.      Shields and Brooks Discuss Abramoff Guilty Plea, Alito Hearing Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks discuss the guilty pleas of Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the upcoming confirmation hearings for Samuel Alito to the U.S. Supreme Court.    Political Wrap Remembering Rhythm and Blues singer Lou Rawls Lou Rawls was known for his suave manner and smooth voice. He recorded 52 albums that crossed over several kinds of music, winning three Grammys and scoring several big hits.   THURSDAY, January 5, 2006 Former U.S. Officials Discuss Iraq with President Bush Former cabinet members met with President Bush to discuss his administration's strategy in Iraq. Madeleine Albright, secretary of state in the Clinton Administration, and James Schlesinger, secretary of defense in the Nixon and Ford administrations talk about the war in Iraq.    Iraq in Transition Sharon Illness Signals End of Political Career Doctors announced that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will not return to politics after suffering a stroke Wednesday night, signaling the end of an era in Israeli politics since he took office in 2001.    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Rise and Fall of Independence Air The low-cost airline Independence Air has made its last flight. A report looks at the rise and fall of the airline and what its closure means for the industry.      Texas Defeats USC in a Classic Championship Game In a game likely to be remembered as one of the greatest in college football history, Texas defeated USC 41-38 in the Rose Bowl to capture the school's first national championship since 1970.   WEDNESDAY, January 4, 2006 Deadly Day in Iraq A reporter in Baghdad discusses the latest wave of deadly attacks in Iraq that killed more than 50 Iraqis Wednesday.    Iraq in Transition Assessing Coal Mining Safety Following an update on the coal mine explosion in Sago, W.Va. that resulted in the deaths of 12 workers and left one in critical condition, a former mine inspector gives an assessment of technological advancements and safety procedures in the coal mining industry.      Jack Abramoff Pleads Guilty to Federal Conspiracy Charges in Florida A day after pleading guilty on three charges in a deal with prosecutors Tuesday, former Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty in Miami to federal conspiracy and wire fraud charges.   Fighting Malaria in Africa Residents in rural communities in Africa have begun purchasing mosquito nets with international aid money as an affordable, available and effective method of preventing malaria.      191 U.S. Military Personnel Killed in Afghanistan The Pentagon has confirmed the deaths of 191 American personnel in Afghanistan since the beginning of U.S. military intervention in Oct. 2001. This report details the losses of life suffered by the U.S. in the Afghan war.      TUESDAY, January 3, 2006 Mine Safety Issues Examined as Search Continues For Coal Miners The search for 13 miners continued Tuesday in West Virginia. Following an update from a reporter, an expert discusses mine safety issues.      Refugees International Officials Discuss Recovery Efforts in Pakistan Relief efforts continue in Pakistan three months after a devastating earthquake struck the region. Following a report detailing the efforts, two officials from Refugees International discuss the recovery.      Abramoff Pleads Guilty and Agrees to Cooperate in Probe Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion, and agreed to cooperate in a probe that may implicate members of Congress.      MONDAY, January 2, 2006 Russia and Ukraine Feud Over Natural Gas Pipeline A dispute between Russia and the Ukraine over natural gas prices and distribution has threatened much of Europe's natural gas supply. After a background report from Independent Television News, two guests discuss the causes of the pipeline dispute and the implications for Western Europe.      SUNDAY, January 1, 2006 Sharon's Grave Condition Raises Questions About Strokes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had emergency surgery again Friday to stop bleeding in the brain after suffering a massive stroke Wednesday. A doctor discusses the causes of and treatments for strokes Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Media's Timing Questioned on West Virginia Mining and NSA Eavesdropping Two recent news stories have raised questions about how the media operate: the media's premature announcement that some of the workers trapped in a West Virginia coal mine were alive, and the timing of stories on domestic spying by the National Security Agency.
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