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Rundown 5/27
ResumePresident Obama Defends Administration, Suspends Offshore Drilling Leases
President Obama defended his administration's response the BP Gulf oil disaster, and outlined new safety regulations while extending the moratorium on permits to drill new deepwater wells at his first press conference since the BP oil disaster . "This notion that somehow the federal government is sitting on the sidelines and for the last 3 or 4 or 5 weeks, we've just been letting BP make a whole bunch of decisions, is simply not true," he said. "What is true, is that when it comes to stopping the leak down below, the federal government does not possess superior technology to BP." We speak with Rick Klein Senior Washington News Editor for ABC World News.
'Top Kill' Slowing Oil, MMS Head Resigns
There are reports that BP's "top kill" to stem the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico may be working, as Elizabeth Birnbaum, head of the Minerals Management Service, resigns under pressure, and scientists say that BP's gushing oil well has surpassed the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster as the nation's largest oil accident in history. We speak with Joel Achenbach, national reporter for the Washington Post, he also writes the Post's Achenblog.
Tension Escalates Between North and South Korea
Group Uses Zero Rupee Note To Fight Bribery In India
In India, bribery is a part of daily life. To receive a birth certificate, start a business or pay taxes a person must pay a little extra "for tea". The group Fifth Pillar is trying to chip away at India's culture of corruption with its zero rupee note. We speak with Vijay Anand, the President of Fifth Pillar , about how the rogue currency helps citizens say no to bribery.
Oceanographer Sylvia Earle Bemoans Lack of Preparedness, Dependence on Oil
Oceanographer Sylvia Earle says the country is poorly prepared to respond to an oil disaster at the ocean floor, partly because there's insufficient research and understanding of ocean life. "There's life all the way to the surface. It's a living minestrone," she says. Earle says no one knows how life in the deep ocean is effected by chemical dispersants, and just because oil is kept off the shore does not mean the problem doesn't still exist. We speak with Earle, who is former chief scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Remembering The Life Of Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige is considered the greatest pitcher ever, but the color barrier in major league baseball kept him from the big leagues until he was 42 years old. But he was the brightest star in the old Negro Leagues and his story comes to life in Larry Tye's book, “Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend." We revisit a conversation between Here & Now's Alex Ashlock and Larry Tye from last year.
Music From The Show
- Air, "Mike Mills"
- Paul Simon, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
- The Rolling Stones, "Miss You"
- The Wee Trio, "Flint"
- Calexico, "Crumble"
- Talking Heads, "This Must Be the Place"
This program aired on May 27, 2010.