in other news, congress provides plenty of material for stephen colbert. today he returned the favor testifying before a house subcommittee in character as a faux commentator. not the strangest thing that's ever happened on capitol hill, but close. congressional correspondent nancy cordes was there. >> reporter: with stephen colbert at the witness table, this congressional hearing felt more like open mic night. >> i certainly hope that my star power can bump this hearing all the way up to c-span 1. >> reporter: the fake conservative t.v. host was invited to testify about the plight of migrant farm workers after he accepted a challenge on his show. >> i'll do it. >> reporter: to spend a day packing corn or picking beans. >> are there any beans in the shade? when you're picking beans you have to spend all day bending over, it turns out-- and i did not know this-- most soil is at ground level. if we can put a man on the moon, why can't we make the earth waist high? >> does one day in the field make you an expert witness? >> i believe one day of me studying an

news stories today. a blunt warning for the congress from michael bloomberg of new york. says congress needs to do more. we'll go through the record of this session and see how much is good and what is not so good. >>> a bit later, you're worried out there. is the recession over? what should you do with your money? having a hard time saving? we'll connect your finances with the politics of washington with jean. >>> sanjay gupta had an interview with michael j. fox about his long running battle with parkinson's. it's an emotional interview. sanjay will be with us to give us the details. on your next business trip, pack your marriott rewards visa card. get triple points every time you use your card at marriott. apply now and earn 22,500 bonus points when you use your card and enjoy a free night stay. so, before you know it, work time becomes well-deserved downtime. apply now at marriott.com/freenightstay. you've got staying power. that was the moment of truth. medicare by itself doesn't cover everything. i don't want to spend my life worrying about what would happen if one

trying to get from you the explanation of what the parisi is for and what you would change in a new congress. i appreciate you joining us today. >> this is the first step towards what would be changed. >> congressman mack thorn berry, appreciate it. >>> and president obama addresses it u.n. general assembly calling on global leaders to support the path of peace and also support the two-state solution in the mideast. we tco-host of the daily rundown joins us in new york because that's where the president is. and savannah, the president making a pledge today when it comes to mideast peace and palestine. >> that's what stood out with this speech. long speech, wide ranging. a progress report. the push on middle east piece. israel and palestine. it's about to be tested severely with question if israel would continue the moratorium on settlement building not looking as though it's likely to do that. the u.s. is hoping that israel would do that and create an atmosphere that's conducive to peace. and he really addressed not only the israelis and the palestines but the other arab leaders saying you'v

elections. >>> fed chairman ben bernanke testifies on the progress of implementing the new financial overhaul law. congresst much of the substance of the new rules to the discretion of regulators. >>> we will learn the details today about a massive recall from fisher price. it's believed that over a dozen products are involved, including millions of tricycles and highchairs. >>> former president jimmy carter is expected to be released from the cleveland hospital where he spent the last two nights. doctors say a viral infection likely caused the upset stomach that carter suffered on tuesday. >>> and tour de france champion alberto contador addresses the steroids scandal that resulted in him being ejected from cycling. contador tested positive for a banned substance in july. he says it's linked to food contamination. >>> for some of you, your local news is next. when i had my heart attack, i couldn't believe it. it was a real shock. i remember being at the hospital thinking, "i should have done more to take care of myself." you should've. that's why i'm exercising more now. eating healthier. and i also trust

this is new york and new england, and we'll go back to 1980, house and senate seats in the united states congress80, 28 republicans from the state of new york and the six new england states. that's 1980. let's come forward to 1992, the number is 25, relatively consistent, you lost a couple in new york and you see that there. 1996, let me come forward, you get back up to 29 in 19 6, even though bill clinton wins reelection. 29 republicans in the united states congress from new york and the new england states in 1996. let me give it a better nudge. 7 today, 7 today and if you come up and look at the summary, she's being finicky today. there we go, 1980 7, today, 4. can you be representative of the northeast if your members can't win? >> well i think on the economic issues which largely but not exclusively drives a lot of these tea party advocates, you can be in new england. i think republican also do much better in new england this year riding this wave. if it becomes cultural alignments strictly cultural alignments, then i think you're going to be strong in some parts of the country and much weake

but you have to understand that a new congress on the very first day extend the tax rates. so, they may not get extended in december. >>neil: they would become retroactive. >>guest: you can retroact anything but going to jail. i don't ... this lame duck is very dangerous particularly with the kind of president we have right now who wants to get some things done and what is going to be the backlash of all the democrats who are going do lose their seats. and they don't want to extend the tax rates for those making over $250,000 because they want that $700 billion to spend. >>neil: you think the sort of middle ground of extending them for everyone for another one or two years, that is not a sure thing? that everything is up in the air? >>guest: actually, it is a sure thing if they get to a vote. they may not get to a vote in the house of representatives but if you bring up tax cuts in the senate, an amendment in the senate would pass and i am almost certain that would extend the tax rates for much for one or two years and the house of representatives would have to react. >>nei

running out for congress to pass the legislation before the midterm elections in november and a new congresses office in january. >>> as you probably just getting ready to make dinner. here's a study that may have you thinking twice about what's in your own kitchen. a study done by the health department suggests that at least one in seven home kitchens would flunk the kind of health inspections done in restaurants. a study found that fewer than 3% of kitchens would get a grade of a or b. in compareson, 98% of restaurants get an a or b each year. >>> as we take a peak outside, it might be a bit too hot out there for you. bill martin will tell us which areas are set to see some pretty big changes. >>> california is now 64 days into it's fiscal year with no budget in sight. today a lawmaker tried to bring attention to local services being compromised because sacramento failed to pass a budget. >> we know we all benefit when these services are in place. >> reporter: officials say cuts would be better than the present situation. >> so that we know how much money we do have. even if it's a reduced

the president will announce details on wednesday, setting the stage for a new round of skirmishes in congress. joel brown, cbs news, the white house. >>> the former flight attendant for jetblue who cursed out a passenger then slid down the emergency chute may be able to avoid jail time. steven slater appeared in court today in new york. he has agreed to undergo a mental health evaluation. he may qualify for alternative sentencing that involves community service and counseling. the district attorney says slater now appears to be taking seriously these charges against him including criminal mischief, reckless endangerment and trespassing. >>> well, keeping businesses afloat. >> i really needed that money. and it was one of the types of positions. >> the type of loan helping bay area companies grow. it's more common in developing countries than here. >>> clouds are returning to parts of the bay area right now and you know what? we are even starting to see some drizzle. look at that on the lens there. we'll talk about that and your forecast next. ,,,,,, our real national pastime? saving money. an

new things in there. measures for better transparency and accountability in the congress.s a basic recognition i think republicans will say raising taxes on anyone at the time the situation we're in from an economic standpoint is unwise and anti-growth. it's got a proposal to bring us back to 2008 levels in spending and cap them. those are ideas that have been bottom up ideas that have come back from the voice of america and those are ideas that frankly the american people are -- >> except george w. bush when he went to the american people and proposed those tax cuts even for the wealthiest americans there was a surplus brought by clinton. now we have a massive deficit and continuing the bush tax cuts for the healthiest americans would lead to a 700 billion dollar deficit and paul krug sman a liberal columnist in new york city today said if you took the republicans plan which is including all of the bush tax cuts and protect all of the programs that republicans want, you would essentially have to cut everything else in the federal government. no more parks, no more small b

weeks away from the midterm election, a cbs news/"new york times" poll show most voters are dissatisfied with congressit is time to elect someone new. the republican party is viewed less favorably than the democrats. >>> meanwhile, housing foreclosures at their highest rate since the start of the housing crisis. more than 95,000 homes were repossessed last month. >>> the blow-out bp well in the gulf is expected to be killed once and for all by sunday, less than 20 feet left to drill on the relief well, allowing crews to permanently seal it from the bottom. more than 200 million gallons of oil spewed from it. 11 workers were killed. meanwhile, many frustrated residents and businesses affected by the disaster say they are still waiting to be paid back for their losses. >> you killed my working-class business. >> reporter: for two hours straight, one frustrated business owner after another told kenneth fineberg, the administrator of the $20 billion fund to compensate victims of bp's oil spill that his system for paying claims is broken. >> our worst fear was that we would get to this point in the season

the story is whether we are going to get a new congress that addresses these issues i think the answer. >> whether or not christine o'donnell wins in november it will not impact her party. it is joe bidens former seat. delaware the first state everyone saying it was an important win i don't know if folks at home know the back sisterry of christine o'donnell she is a controversial candidate, polarizing and some says the bad for the party. >> well, not republican main stream candidate how closely are you tied together? >> look the democrat calls himself the bearded markist or did. that is one race. we have to look at this, if you are telling me they may not win the senate and that is democrat victory that is crazy. if you look at the broad scope of this you will see 60 seats change the fall in the house and senate combined. >> let's bring it to the state of california, polls show democrats have a 14 point advantage. it is a very blue state yet polls show much of the races, senate and goodbyer that to recall running neck and neck. -- gubernatorial. >>> mchas been everywhere in this strait

tent, the price republicans will pay will be a whole lot higher starting november 3rd into the new congress and trying to beat obama in 2012. chris, what about that imp implications for 2012? >> jon then's exactly right. look. the 2012 primary season is over. there's a primary in hawaii on saturday but the focus on the democratic side, a governor nor's race there but 2012, this matters. if you are sarah palin who by the way endorsed o'donnell and ayotte ahead, you are jim demint that endorsed o'donnell, you are rick perry in texas. you look and say the tea party has at least much power as the party establishment. why wouldn't i get in this race in 2012. >> interesting. >> absolutely. i think palin's in it and o'donnell could be, you know, a precursor of fore taste of the 2012 presidential where the republican party establishment is extremely uncomfortable with the idea of nominating sarah palin for president but she gets it. >> all right. i'm wondering what poppy bush is thinking today. george h.w. bush miked mike castle. we'll see. nice to see both of you. thanks so much. >> thanks. >>> tu

chris cox came in third out of three republican candidates for congress here in new york. >>> now, to a developing story from the middle east. the palestinians are now threatening to walk out of peace talks if the jewish settlements and the west bank issue are not resolved. simon mcgregor-wood is live in jerusalem with a status report. good morning, simon. >> reporter: good morning, vinita. you're absolutely right.

news. congress will extend the bush tax cuts for the middle class that's the promise today from house speakerappen before lawmakers head home to campaign. >> there isn't a person in our caucus that isn't for tax cuts for the middle class. it's not about the elections. it's about the policy and we're all very strong on that and members with a vote or without a vote can go home and talk about their commitment to that. >> jon: the tax cuts expire at the end of the year. just yesterday, senate democrats put off their vote until after election day. white house correspondent mike emanuel live here in new york. i guess democrats and republicans are battling over the tax cuts for the richest americans, right? >> jon, the most drama is on the democratic side. you have the leaders who don't want to extend it for individuals making more than $200,000 a year or families making more than 250,000 adds year. you have got democrats who are in tough races who think maybe tax cuts should not be raised during a difficult economic recovery or, perhaps, you know, people from wealthy districts who don't want to ra

news. congress will not be going home at the end of the week. >> they're still here until early next week,y. >>> have you been freaking out about the abed bug epidemic? get a load of this, in chicago, complaints of those blood sucking pests are up 76% this year. so, it seems somehow appropriate that there is a summit today in suburban chicago. experts from all around the country putting their heads together trying to take a bite out of the creepy, rapidly growing national problem. the bed bug summit was organized by bed bug central and jeffrey joins me now from the summit. good to see you. thanks for being here. if there is any indication of how serious people are taking bed bugs, i understand that the summit sold out. who's there and what do you hope to accomplish? >> basically, we have all the experts from all over the country here to exchange ideas about where we need to go with bed bug research and we have vendors from all over the country that are promoting bed bug control and discussing which ones are best. >> it's good for exterminators but for the rest of us, just very, very creepy

but it is -- it is the way -- there is a lot of time between the election and the new congress, traditionallywe have come back to do the people's business. we will come back and we will be preparing for a democratic majority. i wouldn't say that if i didn't believe it was so. that i wasn't so convinced that our members are battle-tested, ready for the campaign and we'll see. >> woodruff: on that note, house speaker nancy pelosi, thank you very much for talking with us. >> thank you. my pleasure. >> suarez: we have requested an interview with house republican leader john boehner. >> brown: next: a story about how federal stimulus dollars are helping build a new transportation system in rural mississippi. it's another in our "blueprint america" series-- a collaboration with wnet.org in new york city. the reporter is special correspondent miles o'brien. >> unit one, gonna be 10-80 leaving the center. >> reporter: it's 6:00 a.m. in natchez, mississippi a small town of about 20,000 people right along the mississippi river. >> good morning, kenny. >> morning time right back charles, how you doing?

the question i think a lot of folks ask, is if a new congress doesn't solve anything with this anger and the unemployment rate doesn't go down, 2012 could be open season on third party front. >> yeah, interesting. all right, chuck todd. >> okay. >> from the white house north lawn. thanks. >> i'll see you in the morning. >> coming up next, senator john kerry will join us live. and still ahead, more of andrea's exclusive interview with iranian president mahmoud ahmadinejad. what he says about those american hikers jailed in iran and the controversy over the new york city mosque. >>> and what's behind the surge of republican women running for office? we'll get into that. you're yaching "andrea mitchell reports" only on msnbc. i went tt and she said hair was growing back... i was like, yes, this works... [ male announcer ] only rogaine is proven to regrow hair in 85% of guys. puhh puhh puhh putt and that's it. [ male announcer ] stop losing. start gaining. bankers are known to be a little bit in love with themselves.. trust me.. are we going up? we can get the next one. i'd like to get y

to represent left-wing thought police about obama care, she should be forced to resign by the new congress. >> wow. republicans, well, they warned us that the health care law would turn america socialists, communist, facist and we're still a democracy and a big vote coming up in november. nobody, keep in mind, no one is going to be pulling the plug on grandma tomorrow. and nobody is getting between you and your doctor. here's the president again on that issue. >> you're going to be able to choose your doctor and not have to go through some network in an emergency situation as a consequence of these rules. so it gives customers more choice and more options. >> now, that's the best package we can sell to the american people on this health care bill in just a short period of time here on tv tonight. now, i've been saying that the administration needs to go out and sell what this health care reform actually does for people. and i think the president nailed it today. he hit it out of the park. now he needs to stay on offense. republicans and the tea party are the same thing. there is no differe

breaks for small businesses. >> small businesses produce most of the new jobs in this country. >> reporter: republicans in congressalled the new program an election year ploy. >>> southwest customers may soon be able to get away to new destinations. the low fare airline is trying to buy airtran for $1.4 billion. if the deal is approved, southwest will fly to 37 new cities including lane. it means expanding service in boston and new york and moving in to reagan national airport. experts say it could be a win for consumers. >> that means, for the first time, you have a strong national low-cost carrier flying out of national, which may help reduce to the rate. >> reporter: southwest would take over airtran's slots at reagan national and offer 11 night flights in and out of deal. >>> wusa is getting you a free cup of coffee tomorrow. in honor of national coffee day i will be live at this coffee shop at 801 pleasant drive in rookville, maryland. come in until noon at that location and get a free cup of coffee. swing by. say hi and get a free cup of coffee. >> she will go anywhere for that coffee. >>> for more living sm

become so taboo in the course of these campaigns that it's going to be very difficult for the new congress, for congressional republicans particularly, to ever cast a vote to fund the government. >> rose: is that what you mean, mark? >> that is a very big part of what i mean. a lot of people in our business, all of us love politics, it's a great american mast time and spectator sport. but governing is what matters. that why we have the elections. a lot of people say what does this mean for president obama? there are implication there is. but there are basic governing things that have to be done not just for the political health of the republican party-- although the congressman spoke to that, i think, quite on point. it's also for the health of the country. almost every challenge we face now is going to require cooperation between a democratic president and a republican-controlled congress in whole or in part and i think the tea party and the animation that it's bringing now to bring specific people in and to put the fear of god into a lot of non-tea party establishment republicans is goin

one-third of the new congress in 2006, which is the reason nancy pelosi is the majority leader today,e democrats who ran specifically and full -- with full-throated enthusiasm for a specific conservative ideas and issues. including culturally conservative ones. this is a center right, more conservative country. amy brings up the good point. she says the point of this election is where's this country going? those conservatives who where identified 2-1. independents who identify 2-1 are saying we're not going where you liberals want to take us. that's what it's about. she's right. that's where the country is. >> i wanted to jump in and ask amy goodman one more question. we talked about the words whining and irresponsible. do you think the left is whining? do you think they're irresponsible? as the president and the administration have asserted? >> i think people are organizing all over this country. i don't think it's about whining. the administration wants to characterize it that way. you know, it's interesting. you don't have the conservatives going after the tea party movement. you d

especially with the new republican congress are minimal. >> michelle, do you think there's any otheractor in play here? for example, what is the military primarily concerned about? they are concerned about terrorism, are they not? >> well, it depends on who the president is. i mean you know, they are dealing with a war in iraq. the war in afghanistan. with military bases all over the world. i think that what gates is suggesting here is important, but we also want to make sure that we don't put the country in a position where our armed forces are in any type of danger whatsoever. >> in china -- >> you talk about modern warfare. report said in 2001, the people in afghanistan sent out a request for horse feed. there was a time when people said were we in modern warfare. our men in afghanistan are taking the war to the afghans and trying totect protect people on horses. >> china is back in play in terms of naval power. but eisenhower told jack kennedy, bring the troops home, all of them from europe, otherwise >>> issue four, veal velma and barack. >> the scene, a washington, d.c. town ha

new york right now. the veteran lawmaker has been an embarrassment to a lot of democrats who vowed to clean up congress. we're talking about charlie rangel who's fighting to survive an ethics scandal and his own political career. joe johns is in rangel's home base in new york city in harlem. set the scene for us, joe, what's going on? >> wolf, 80 years old, 20 terms in the congress, well known as the first african-american to chair the house ways and means committee. of course, as you said, charlie rangel is now fighting for his political life. he's held up by many republicans as one of the reasons why the democrats should not control the united states congress. nonetheless, he's very popular here in the hometown, the home area in new york city. take a look -- what happened this morning when charlie rangel showed up at 7:30 a.m. to go and vote for himself. >> i am saying that you're wrong. >> we need charlie to go back to washington to work with president obama to say, yes, charlie rangel has always been there for us. i urge you now to be there for him and this tuesday's democratic primary. >> so, it's a

the fda is urging congress to pass new legislation giving it more power to order recalls and enforce safety standards. some victims of the salmonella outbreak agreed. >> the infection wiped me out to the point where i was unable to function. >> reporter: 77-year-old carol laboto almost died and says if congress does nothing, she's afraid it could happen again. joel brown, cbs news, washington. >>> the defense department confirmed all nine coalition troops killed in a helicopter crash tuesday in afghanistan were americans. they included five soldiers from the 101st air-borne division and four sailors including three navy s.e.a.l.s. no word yet on what caused the crash. the military says it was not enemy fire. >>> new evidence this morning that iraqi dictator saddam hussein was not an ally or supporter of al qaeda from new declassified notes on the interrogation of a member of saddam's inner circle. tariq aziz told the fbi he delighted in al qaeda bombings of u.s. embassies but did not trust osama bin laden or other islamic militants. >>> just ahead on the morning news, details about a

he'll work a budget deal with republicans in the new congress. is, after this primary season, no republican is going to want to do a deal with a democrat. >> i think a deal on something like immigration or energy is probably far fetched, but entitlement reform you might be able to do it because the core issue of the tea party movement is controlling government spending and reducing the deficit. >> what's your takeaway from yesterday? >> that the republicans may have lost the senate seat they may have won. it makes winning the senate probably impossible. but long term it's a dangerous message for the republican party. if they want to be a majority party, stla to nominate people who can win in the states they are running. nominating somebody like this is good for sarah palin and jim demint in the short term. in the long term the party has to decide how it becomes a big ten and wins national elections, not just primaries. >> by the way, that's what karl rove said last night on sean hannity's show. he said we republicans have now lost the senate seat

you have been doing this as long as i have, watching the 24/7 news cycle infect congress and now it's gone to a level i don't think any of us ever thought where an actor or comedian decided to go, in character, on capitol hill. what did we witness today? >> we have seen celebrities parade in congress. kevin costner was talking about coast guard issues. they are in and out all the time. for colbert to be there in character was taking it to a new level. bizarre at that. they were trying to get attention. they were trying to get attention for this issue. she succeeded. i think she and other democrats on the hill are going to be surprised at the negative attention rather than the issue itself. >> here is more of colbert testifying today. take a listen. >> we know there's a long tradition of great nations importing foreign workers to do their farmwork. after all, it was the ancient israel lites that built the food pyramid. this is america. i want a tomato picked by an american. >> john, we are going to go to the craziness that you are in the middle of in nevada in a minute. you are in wash

congress. >>> on our broadcast here tonight, hard times. new numbers that may shock some americans about their country. i have and running a day after her surprise victory. the senate candidate from delaware. the tea party woman of the moment is raising big money. the question is, votes in november. >>> keeping tabs on peaceful groups and protestor in this country. now the secret's out and it's a huge embarrassment. >>> gold rush. prices for gold as a record high. people are either flocking to it or worried about it. >>> also tonight, did the first lady really say that? "nightly news" begins now. captions paid for by nbc-universal television >>> good evening. there are new numbers out tonight on the state of poverty in the united states. that deserve our attention. they tell a bleak story of strugle in an economy that is leaving a lot of citizens behind. the numbers from the census bureau show that in 2009, 14.3% of americans were living below the poverty line. that's up from the year before, and the highest since 1994. in terms of actual peopl

with the upcoming midterm elections, you can expect a lot of new faces in congress. a lot of new representatives and senators have been elected on platforms that are really opposed to government intervention in the economy. what is your plan for working with the new congress to make sure that we get the actions that you see are necessary to end this recession? what do you see as common ground with the republicans in congress -- some solutions that can bring the recession to an end? >> well, let me just say that i do not believe in wholesale government intervention in the economy. my starting point is that, what makes us the most wealthy and and and the country on earth is the free-market system -- most dynamic and wealthy country on earth is the free-market system. what stars off -- starts off as a small business, aol, facebook, it revolutionizes our economy and becomes a large company. that is our strength. that is the starting point where republicans and democrats should be able to come together. we all believe in that. there are some fundamental differences. at the

an approach focused on cutting spending, which is sadly a new idea for congress. >> reporter: however, some conservative activists say the plan does not go far enough. they want deeper cuts in spending and wanton cloud social changes like a federal ban on same-sex marriage. >>> today's the day that dc's presumptive mayor elect vincent gray will meet with the dc school chancellor michelle rhee. the closed door meeting is underway right now at the wilson building and that's where kristin fisher is standing by with more on what we can expect from this highly- anticipated meeting. >> we still don't know if we will get any definitive answer as to what will happen with michelle rhee, but at the very least we should get some kind of indication as to how their relationship is going to progress, if at all over the next few weeks. this has been the dominant issue since vince gray won the democratic primary last week. rhee has already signaled she has no long-term interest in working for gray. one day after his primary victory she called it devastating for school children. not the statement you

habit been tried in washington, an approach focused on cutting spending, which is sadly a new idea for congress reporter: the republican plan is called a "pledge to america." it calls for slashing $100 billion from government programs except the military. it would leave bush era tax cuts in place for everyone and would replace president obama's healthcare plan with a smaller version. the president argues that's not going to safety country any cash. >> yeah -- that's not going to save the country any cash. >> why would you want to repeal something that the congressional budget office says is going to save a trillion dollars if you are serious about my deficit? it doesn't make sense. >> reporter: the gop plan is short on specifics, but party leaders say that's not the point. they want to show americans where they will take the country if they win control of congress. >> government is out of control in washington. and we need to rein it in and begin a new drive for a smaller less costly and more accountable government. >> reporter: some conservative activists say this plan doesn't go far enough, w

a look at what crews appreciated today plus a new law that a congress woman is pushing to make sure another deadly explosion doesn't happen again anywhere in the country, that's when kron 4 news returns. ?o?oxñw?w?oó >>> tonight's headlines, areas of the mid-west being battered by serious flooding. this is portage, wisconsin, a levy failed, eacuations have taken place, there is also flooding in minnesota and south dakota. the man who owns segways died last night. the body of jimi heselden and his segway were found in a river. investigators do not suspect foul play. he bought the company last september and known for giving millions to charity. a plan crashed into a building in arizona today. the cause is still not known. >>> another day of potentially recording breaking heat. tomorrow, changes to our forecast that will affect when he will start to see relief. i will have detailed and a full forecast in just a few minutes. wearing shirts ♪ ♪ which caused a trend alert ♪ and everyone ♪ saw everybody ♪ tell'em all ♪ tell'em something, where to go and what it's all about ♪ ♪ tell them how to fee