live from our nation's capital, this is "washington week with gwen ifill." corporate funding for "washington week" is provided by -- -- >> this rock has never stood still. since 1875 we've been there for our clients through good times and bad. when their needs changed we were there to meet them. through the years from insurance to investment management, from real estate to retirement solutions, we've developed new ideas for the financial challenges ahead. this rock has never stood still and that's o thing that will never change. prudential. >> corporate funding is also provided by boeing, at&t, rethink possible. additional funding for "washington week" is provided by the annenberg foundation, the corporation for public broadcasting and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. once again, live from washington, substituting for gwen ifill, john dickerson of "slate" magazine and cbs news. john: good evening. it was a week for a new script in politics. the republican race quickened and became more action-packed. michelle bachmann be

i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the newshour tonight, we assess the first-ever downgrade of the u.s. credit rating and the market drop with economists paul krugman and kenneth rogoff and terry belton of j.p. morgan. >> ifill: then margaret warner examines the deadly helicopter crash that claimed the lives of 30 u.s. forces in afghanistan over the weekend. >> woodruff: plus, we have two education stories. special correspondent john tulenko reports on the cheating scandal that rocked atlanta's schools. >> the pressure to boost scores by any means necessary is so great that teachers think they have to get those scores up by hook or by crook. >> ifill: and the president issues a new executive order to circumvent congress and revamp the "no child left behind" law. >> where there's a high bar, the folks who are doing the right thick for children, we want to give them a lot more flexibility, frankly get out of the way and let them hit that higher bar. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for t

once again, reporting from iowa this week, gwen ifill. gwen: hello from iowa. the summer kickoff to voting in the first caucus state next january. tomorrow there's a straw poll. last night there was a debate. in between we're here at the iowa state fair with dan balz of the "washington post," who's been with me here all week. what's been the most amazing thing you've seen? >> the debate on thursday night was such a contrast to what we saw two months ago in new hampshire. if that was a sleepy debate, this was an eruppings. we've been waiting for this race to heath up to get people engaged and we saw that thursday night. almost everyone in the group had something to prove. gwen: was there someone who came in with more to prove? >> governor pawlenty from minnesota clearly needs all the help he can get. his campaign has been struggling. the straw poll will be a big moment for him and i think he needed to take on congresswoman bachman because she's got more momentum. but governor huntsman wanted to make an impression. newt gingrich wanted to erase the idea that his

once again, live from washington, moderator gwen ifill. gwen: good evening. it's been a dizzying week. good news followed by bad news followed by mystifying news, starting with today's new jobless numbers. the good news? better than expected job creation. for those who have been unemployed have been out of work much longer. >> the unemployment rate went down, not up. but while this marks the 17th month in a row of job growth in the private sector, nearly two and a half million new private sector jobs in all, we have to create more jobs than that each month to make up for the more than eight million jobs that the recession claimed. gwen: by the end of the day the dow jones industrial average was up 61 points after a 500 poiment develop yesterday. is the economy just recovering slowly or is it headed back into recession? >> if you asked six different economists, you'd probably get six different answers. we just don't know. this recovery has been unlike any we've seen in the past. the word mystifying is pretty accurate. for the economy and even the federal reser

i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we get the latest on the death toll, the damage and the power outages and we talk to homeland security secretary janet napolitano about the federal response to the storm. >> it's been very costly. there have been questions raised about the amount of monies that we have available now that irene has hit. let me just assure your viewers that the survivors' needs will be met. they are our number one priority. >> ifill: then margaret warner gets an update the conflict in libya from simon denyer of the "washington post" as rebels advance toward moammar qaddafi's hometown. >> brown: we debate a proposed oil pipeline that would carry crude 1,700 miles from alberta, canada to the gulf coast in texas. >> ifill: betty anne bowser reports on prescription drugs in short supply forcing tough choices for patients and doctors. >> it really cripples our ability to treat properly. we have to become creative of how to treat patients because often the chemo patients can't wait

. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we look at the federal reserve's decision to hold interest rates near zero for the next two years and assess its impact on a weakening economy. >> woodruff: then we get the latest on the riots and looting raging across london and spreading elsewhere in britain from ned temko of the "london observer." >> ifill: in a special report from global post, three syrian dissidents share stories of peaceful protests and violent crackdowns. >> for us, we use our hands. for them they use their guns. we need to film everything for media. >> woodruff: and ray suarez looks at a campaign linking teens around the world. >> for the girls in the united states, if they have a sense that they can really touch a girl in another country, it motivates them. >> woodruff: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> okay, listen. somebody has got to get serious. >> i think... >> we need renewable energy. >> ...renewable energy is vi

thank you. >> once again, live from washington, moderator gwen ifill. gwen: good evening. as the week began, it seemed as if the end game in libya had arrived. rebels marched into tripoli and directly into moammar gaddafis compound. the only thing missing was a toppled statue in the town square. but president obamas statement was muted -- correctly so, as it turned out. >> the situation is still very fluid. there remains a degree of uncertainty, and there are still regime elements who pose a threat, but this much is clear, the gaddafi regime is coming to an end, and the future of libya is in the hands of its people. gwen: that uncertainty remains tonight. no one is quite sure where gaddafi is, whether the rebels are poised to take over, or whether the weeks events vindicate u.s. policy toward libya. starting with the most obvious question, nancy, whats become of gaddafi? >> that is the looming question over this revolution. that's why the revolution started. we saw rebels take his compound, wear his fur coat, wear his gold chains and seemingly take control and yet, he some

i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. on the "newshour" tonight: we look at the top tier of g.o.p. hopefuls and political editor david chalian examines president obama's response as he kicks off a three-day "economy and jobs" bus tour in the midwest. >> ifill: then, margaret warner gets an update on the fighting in libya as rebels gain new ground. >> woodruff: we talk with the norwegian foreign minister about how his country is coping in the aftermath of mass killings that left 77 dead. >> we will be marked forever after by the 2nd of july. such an experience collect tifl has marked us in addition to the terrible suffering of those affected directly. >> ifill: and jeffrey brown talks with australian actors cate blanchett and richard roxburgh about the challenges of bringing chekov to the stage. >> it's very easy to make chekov very small and it's epic. it's epic moments in people's very small domestic lives. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> oil

gwen ifill begins our coverage. >> ifill: they're all here, deep into an iowa summer, as the 2012 presential suddenly picks up speed. former massachusetts governor mitt romney tackled hecklers at the state fair. >> hold on just a moment. hold on just a moment! i'm going to let you speak in just a moment. ready for my answer. you want someone who's going to raise taxes? i'm not going to raise taxes. >> ifill: minnesota representative michele bachmann targeted her appeal to the state's powerful network of social conservatives. >> it's about having somebody who's new and bold and is going to get her done. i'm not interested in two terms; i'm interested in getting it done. we got to get it right in 2012. we are going to have a tidal wave election. with the right candidate, it will be a tidal wave. >> ifill: as political spectacles go, it was hard to look away. the candidates flocked to the famous state fair, with its fried food, amusement rides, its cow carved out of butter, and its potential voters. >> people are really fed up with congress, no matter what party. i think it's down to 10% approv

good evening, i'm gwen ifill. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the "newshour" tonight, we update the rescue, the recovery and the clean up after hurricane irene. >> ifill: then, ray suarez examines the obama administration's move to block the merger of two wireless giants at&t and t-mobile with cecilia kang of the "washington post." >> brown: we have a report from tripoli, where libyans are marking the end of ramadan and celebrating the first holiday in decades without moammar qaddafi in power. >> ( translated ): this is the first time in my life i feel that i am free and i pray free without any restrictions from qaddafi's regime. >> ifill: from texas, we get the latest on the scorching temperatures, raging wildfires and the worst drought on record from wade goodwyn of npr. >> brown: we look at who's behind the spike in the illegal marijuana trade in california in a story produced by the center for investigative reporting. >> we're at a fork in the road. if we don't make an aggressive push now to take back public lands, we may be at a point of

journalism heavy-hitters - including margaret warner, gwen ifill, jeffrey brown, judy woodruff and rayrez - produce a high-quality newscast night in, night out. your pledge right now-- in any amount - is an investment in their work. and in the information you need. don't wait. call now. we know your days are full. and of course we can access news in so many ways - from podcasts and live streams, to social media sites and smart phones. the pbs newshour approaches new technology with you in mind: if it will help keep you more informed, they make it happen. in the past year, "the pbs newshour" nearly tripled its reach via new platforms. but like the nightly newscast, those technologies aren't free. viewers who pledged last year made this expansion possible. so, fund the future - make your contribution now. it only takes a minute to make or renew your pledge by calling the number on your screen. it's simple and rewarding. >> american strategy in iraq. what we're trying to figure out how to do is get this message across that the newshour is not just an archive online of last night's broadca

. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the newshour tonight, we get the latest on the aftermath of the storm, and on the rescue and recovery efforts from senator patrick leahy. >> you see bridges out. roads that have just been torn apart. i've lived here all my life. i've never seen anything quite like this in vermont. >> brown: then, we assess the state of the housing crisis as home prices in some cities ticked up last spring, but fell overall during the past year. >> ifill: from brazil, fred de sam lazaro examines how the changing role of women has led to smaller families. >> brown: margaret warner talks to author joby warrick about his real-life thriller, the story of an al qaeda agent who infiltrated the cia and detonated a suicide bomb at a u.s. base in afghanistan. >> three layers of security without being checked or searched a single time until the moment he was within a few feet of a great number of operatives. >> ifill: and ray suarez profiles latin american poet and political activist ernesto cardenal. >> brow

. >> ifill: i'm gwen ifill and here's what i want to know. is the u.s. any safer than before 9/11? >> woodruff: i'm judy woodruff. next question. was the course or direction of your life changed on 9/11? if so, how? >> suarez: i'm ray suarez with question number three. maybe you've heard it said over the last ten years that 9/11 changed everything. did it? >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. here's my question. how would you describe current relations between muslims and non-muslims in the united states? >> sreenivasan: here's our final question: have we achieved a balance between security and civil liberties? remember, you can send us your video response through our youtube channel at youtube.com keep your answer to under 90 second. we look forward to hearing what you have to say on this day of remember rens. >> warner: and that's the "newshour" for tonight. on thursday, we'll look at the stakes for republican presidential contenders in tomorrow night's debate. i'm margaret warner. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. we'll see you online and again here tomorrow evening. thank you and

by the way with you is in iowa is gwen ifill, she will be reporting tomorrow night on the race and statethe debate there. >> thank you, judy. >> woodruff: and david will answer your questions about the gop events in iowa and the 2012 election season. submit yours on the newshour's blog. and well >> warner: we'll be back shortly with a conversation with donald berwick, the man in charge of medicare and medicaid. but first, this is pledge week on pbs. this break allows your public television station to ask for your support. >> warner: finally tonight, a profile of one of president obama's leading players in implementing health care reform. health correspondent betty ann bowser has our look at the man and the controversy surrounding him. >> reporter: dr. don berwick is arguably the most important figure in health care reform today. as head of medicare and medicaid he's in charge of the health care of over one in three americans, equally important. he's a key person charged with implementing the federal health care reform law. a harvard trained pediatrician and reformer, berwick spent 30 yea

plus gwen ifill reflects on his "i have a dream" speech. and a reminder-- we've launched a new project ahead of the tenth anniversary of the september 11 attacks. we call it the "9/11 video quilt." together with our colleagues at pbs stations across the country, we've collected your thoughts on what's changed since 2001. here's a sampling of some of the responses we've received recently. >> because everybody is doing their little part, even if its-- even if you are's military, civilian or law enforcement, just like you ride the train or bus, there's messages every where you see something, say something so somebody can react on it. everybody gets involved. i would imagine it is. >> no, i don't. and the reason is that i don't think there's a way to prevent it i just don't think there is a way to prevent it. i really feel that if they wanted it to come back and do something, they'll come back and do something. >> i would rather be safe than sorry. based on the procedures which they have now, i think it is a positive. i rather save myself the e

two takes on the political fallout from the debt limit deal-- one from judy woodruff and one from gwen ifillhose are on the rundown blog. plus on art beat, jeff talks about the pulitzer prize-winning play, "clybourne park," with the artistic director of washington, d.c.'s wooly mammoth theater all that and more is on our web site: newshour.pbs.org. jeff? >> brown: and that's the "newshour" for tonight. on monday, we'll have the latest economic news and an update on the news-corp hacking scandal in britain. i'm jeffrey brown. >> lehrer: and i'm jim lehrer. "washington week" can be seen later this evening on most pbs stations. we'll see you online and again here monday evening. have a nice weekend. thank you and good night. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productive life. and with the ongoing support of these institutions and foundations. and... this program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. and by contributions to your

by the way with you is in iowa is gwen ifill, she will be reporting tomorrow night on the race and statethe debate there. >> thank you, judy. >> woodruff: and david will answer your questions about the gop events in iowa and the 2012 election season. submit yours on the newshour's blog. and well >> warner: we'll be back shortly with a conversation with donald berwick, the man in charge of medicare and medicaid. but first, this is pledge week on pbs. this break allows your public television station to ask for your support. and that support helps keep programs like ours on the air. >> woodruff: now, for those stations not taking a pledge break, another "economist" film project collaboration. supriyo sen-- director of the film "wagah"--examines a daily ceremony on the pakistan-india border. the ritual is described by a young pakistani child in this excerpt. within my name is manpreet singh, i live in attari. i go to school in the morning and afternoon. i sell dvds of parade held there. this is my mommy, this is my daddy. this is the zero line. that side is pakistan and this side is india. t