jeffrey brown has that story. >> brown: on the information superhighway that is the internet, what, if any, rules should there be for, say, speed limits or public access? should such decisions be left to those who build the network, the so-called gatekeepers of the web? and what's the proper role for government regulation of online traffic? today the federal communications commission took a major and controversial step toward answering some of those questions, approving its first rules for internet access, often referred to as net neutrality. here to explain is cecilia kang, technology reporter for the "washington post." welcome to you. let's define the terms first because we use that sort of ugly term net neutrality. >> it is certainly ugly. it makes one want to fall asleep. net neutrality is the idea-- and it's a very basic principle-- that a consumer should be able to access any internet service, any internet content that they choose on... to their liking, on their wireless phone, on their home computer, whatever they want to access they should have the ability to access unimpeded.

i'm jeffrey brown. president obama assessed the legislative output of the last week and said today the nation is not doomed to endless gridlock. >> ifill: and i'm gwen ifill. on the "newshour" tonight: we take a look at the president's lame duck accomplishments and ask andy kohut and susan page what the seven weeks since his midterm shellacking tell us about what comes next. >> brown: then, we take a closer look at two other major pieces of legislation passed this week. first, today's bill to provide health care benefits to the survivors and first responders of 9/11. >> ifill: and eric olson of the pew trust walks us through the new food safety law. >> brown: ray suarez wraps up his series of reports from havana. tonight, a look at medical diplomacy, cuba-style. >> tens of thousands of doctors have treated millions of patients in the poorest countries on earth. finding good will for a country shunned by the united states. >> brown: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs news

jeffrey brown has the story. >> brown: the word >> brown: the word unprecedented was heard often here and elsewhere in discussing the actions by the fed back in 2008, as financial markets threatened to seize up and panic spread. yesterday we learned a great deal more about the breadth of those moves, as the fed released new data on its emergency programs that, combined, exceeded $3 trillion. among the many new disclosures? the extent to which emergency aid went not just to wall street firms, but to foreign banks in the form of short-term loans-- and to many non-bank companies. and the number of instances when major firms like goldman sachs, morgan stanley and citigroup borrowed from the fed-- in some cases more than 200 times. neil irwin has been covering the fed for the "washington post" and he joins us now. >> thanks. >> brown: the first thing that jumps out is we knew this was big but we didn't quite know how big, right? >> exactly. we knew there were many billions of dollars lent during the dark days of the financial crisis in 2008/2009, the question was who was getting the money.

i'm jeffrey brown. fewer americans applied for unemployment benefits last week raising hopes for a healthier job market next year. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we recap the latest numbers and take an end of the year look at the stock market, mostly up despite a lackluster economy. >> brown: then, from sudan: jeffrey kaye reports on the changes ahead after next month's vote on independence. >> i have never seen a country which will be starting out with as little infrastructure as southern sudan should the referendum result in a vote for separation. >> suarez: we have two takes on charitable giving-- a look at the use of social media for fundraising and the story of a company that puts its profits into philanthropy. >> brown: judy woodruff talks with veteran congressman james oberstar of minnesota, one of the leading democrats swept out of office in last month's election. >> suarez: we examine an arizona law that restricts what can be taught in ethnic studies classes. ♪ >> bro

. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we look at the state of play and the debate within the democratic party about making a deal. >> ifill: then we go inside a rare televised court hearing on california's same-sex marriage ban. >> brown: margaret warner updates the new talks on iran's nuclear program, as tehran claims to have mastered another key step in processing uranium. >> ifill: ray suarez sits down with former president jimmy carter to talk about his latest book, today's political climate, and the war in afghanistan. >> i don't think we have the capability or the will to actually prevail militarily over the taliban. that seems to me to be an almost hopeless case. ♪ the lord is here >> brown: and we listen to the sound, the style, and the spirit of a gospel music contest. >> most genres got their start in gospel music. you take some of the greatest r and b celebrities. the first thing they'll tell you is we started in a gospel choir. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major fu

jeffrey brown has our conversation. >> brown: 'tis the season, once again, for the latest tech gadgetsbe bought and sold, sometimes with breathless hype of their ability to change your life and rock your world. it can be overwhelming to keep track, keep up and decide if you really need that new camera, laptop, tv or smart phone. but david pogue has been doing just that for ten years now as tech columnist for "the new york times," and he joins us now. welcome to you. >> thank you. >> brown: so, once again, here we are in the blitz of the season and everything's kind of thrown at us. broadly speaking, where's the action right now? what interests you? >> i'd say all the action these days is app phones, which i'm calling the iphone and android and the other touchscreen phones; not smart phones, which are like phones with email, like blackberry, but app phones, you can install your own programs. in my column, i cant remember the last time i wrote about a p.c.-- you know, like the reagan administration. but it's all about app phones. i think there's a lot of buzz about e-book readers. you kn

i'm jeffrey brown. last-minute shopping helped bolster a surprisingly good holiday season for retailers. >> warner: and i'm margaret warner. on the "newshour" this christmas eve, we talk to retail analyst dana telsey about what's behind the strong sales numbers. >> brown: then, we hear from new mexico governor bill richardson, just back from north korea. >> warner: lindsey hilsum of "independent television news" reports on iraqi christians forced to flee in the face of anti-christian violence. >> christianity's been here for 2,000 years. but the killings, bombings and attacks of the last few weeks may have tipped the balance. people want to go. >> brown: we examine the uptick in illegal harvesting of holiday greenery from the forests of washington state. >> warner: mark shields and michael gerson analyze this week's news. ♪ >> brown: plus, we take a second look at paul solman's story about a great composer who was also a smart investor. that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs

i'm jeffrey brown. fewer americans applied for unemployment benefits last week raising hopes for a healthier job market next year. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we recap the latest numbers and take an end of the year look at the stock market, mostly up despite a lackluster economy. >> okay, listen. somebody has got to get serious. >> i think... >> we need renewable energy. >> ...renewable energy is vital to our planet. >> you hear about alternatives, right? wind, solar, algae. >> i think it's going to work an a big scale. only, i think it's going to be affordable. >> so, where are they? >> it has to work in the real world. at chevron, we're investing millions in solar and biofuel technology to make it work. >> we've got to get on this now. >> right now. >> 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 progr

. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we have a report on the president's four-hour trip, where he addressed troops at bagram air force base. >> lehrer: and we look at what the weak unemployment numbers mean for a recovery. >> brown: plus, paul solman examines the bleak job market for recent college graduates. >> i don't want to seem ungrateful, you know. i just feel like i've devoted years of my life and thousands of dollars into developing specialized skills that i'm not using. >> lehrer: then, we look at the failed vote of a presidential commission to approve a plan for cutting the deficit. >> we took a big banana and threw it into the gorilla cage and the gorilla has picked it up like they do, they peel it, mash it, play with it. but they will eat some >> brown: david brooks and ruth marcus analyze this week's news. >> lehrer: and we excerpt today's testimony by u.s. military chiefs about the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs news

. >> lehrer: and jeffrey brown profiles the unexpected partnership of a city and a leading dance company.çç hari sreenivasan almost three years ago, renown choreographer tray mcintire surprised a lot of people in the dance world by making boise, idaho, the home of his new company. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> well, the best companies are driven by new ideas. >> our history depends on new ideas. we spend billions on advanced technologies. >> it's all about investing in the future. >> we can find new energy-- more cleaner, safer and smarter. >> collaborating with the best in the field. >> chevron works with the smartest people at leading universities and tech companies. >> and yet, it's really basic. >> it's paying off everyday. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare.çç >> and by the bill and melinda gates foundation. dedicated to the idea that all people deserve the chance to live a healthy productiv

. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, ray suarez outlines the $850 billion package, and reports on last night's debate and vote in the house. >> lehrer: then, margaret warner looks at the u.s. push to get pakistan to root out insurgents within its borders. >> brown: special correspondent stephanie hanes reports from the dominican republic on haitian immigrants living in a legal limbo. >> lehrer: outgoing white house economic advisor lawrence summers gives his take on the tax cut deal and more. >> compromise that was right with a weak economy in 2010 would be very wrong two years from now as the economy recovers and progresses. >> brown: and mark shields and david brooks analyze this week's news. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> auto companies make huge profits. >> last year, chevron made a lot of money. >> where does it go? >> every penny and more went into bringing energy to the world. >> the economy is tough right now,

i'm jeffrey brown. the digging out was under way today after a powerful blizzard crippled the east coast. >> warner: and i'm margaret warner. on the newshour tonight, we have the latest on efforts to get stranded passengers to their destinations after more than 5,000 flights were cancelled. >> brown: then betty ann bowser reports on challenges to the new federal health care reform law in one midwestern state. on november 2 republicans here in wisconsin took over everything from the state house to a number of u.s. congressional districts. we're here at the capitol in madison to see how lawmakers intend to use their new influence to put the health-care reform law on pause. >> warner: and we get perspective on where health care reform stands nationally and the battles ahead from julie rovner of npr. >> brown: plus, we examine political dissent and the law in russia, as oil tycoon mikhail khodorkovsky is found guilty of embezzlement. >> wanrer: we begin a week of encore reports from paul solman on the forec

. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, we report on the scene in oslo and beijing, and judy woodruff examines the state of u.s.-china relations. >> lehrer: then, margaret warner gets the latest on the violent protests in britain over tuition hikes from ned temko of "the observer" in london. >> brown: we update today's back and forth on capitol hill on the tax cut deal. >> lehrer: mark shields and david brooks analyze this week's news. >> ♪ i'm expressing with my full capabilities ♪ and now i'm living in correctional facilities... >> brown: and we look at rap music as a form of lyric poetry. a new anthology makes the case. >> i think when you get to dive into these lyrics you get to see how much depth is really in what these people are saying. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> opportunity can start anywhere and go everywhere. to help revitalize a neighborhood in massachusetts; restore a historic landmark in harlem; fund a l

. >> brown: and i'm jeffrey brown. on the newshour tonight, the movement on start comes after a weekend of votes on capitol hill. we recap what happened, and assess where things stand. >> ifill: judy woodruff examines the challenges ahead as the u.s. military prepares to allow gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military for the first time. >> brown: ray suarez begins a series of reports from havana. tonight, the push for economic reform in cuba. >> suarez: in advance of next spring's communist party congress, the country is buzzing about what shape reform might take. what will the next cuba look like? >> ifill: and we talk to white house health reform director nancy-ann deparle and virginia attorney general ken cuccinelli on whether americans can be forced to pay for health coverage. that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> this was me-- best ribs in nelson county. but i wasn't winning any ribbons managing my diabetes. it was so complicated. there was a l

. >> warner: and, jeffrey brown talks with cartoonist gary trudeau about his new book chronicling 40 years of the "doonesbury" comic strip. >> i'm a short-order cook. i'm just trying to get through the week. just trying to push the story forward a little bit. and i do that in the most erratic way possible. >> woodruff: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> opportunity can start anywhere and go everywhere. to help revitalize a neighborhood in massachusetts; restore a historic landmark in harlem; fund a local business in chicago; expand green energy initiatives in seattle. because when you're giving, lending and investing in more communities across the country, more opportunities happen. this is the engine that connects zero emission technologies to breathing a little easier, while taking 4.6 million truckloads off the road every year. bnsf, the engine that connects us. >> 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 o

i'm jeffrey brown. on this new year's eve, revelers gathered around the world to ring in 2011. >> suarez: and i'm ray suarez. on the "newshour" tonight, we look at the preparations and the celebrations as severe weather battered parts of the u.s. and elsewhere. >> brown: then, we re-visit one of the year's biggest stories: the gulf oil spill with an update from national oceanic and atmospheric administration chief jane lubchenko. >> suarez: plus tom bearden returns to the gulf where scientists are searching for lessons learned from damage done to fish. >> it's possible that what we could do is be able to give some information back to the people who are deciding about the way to deal with oil spills as to what the best approach might be. >> brown: we wrap up a week of encore reports on the foreclosure crisis from paul solman with a look at winners and losers when mortgages are modified. >> suarez: e.j. dionne and michael gerson offer their end of the year analysis filling in for mark shields and david br

. ♪ attend the tale of "sweeney todd" ♪ >> ifill: and jeffrey brown talks to broadway legend stephendheim about his life, his times and the art of writing rhymes. >> if the lyric is too packed, then the ear, the audiences' ear, can't take everything in. it's like an over-egged cake; it just is too rich. >> lehrer: that's all ahead on tonight's newshour. major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> this was me-- best ribs in nelson county. but i wasn't winning any ribbons managing my diabetes. it was so complicated. there was a lot of information out there, but it was frustrating trying to get the answers i needed. then, my company partnered with united healthcare. they provided on-site screenings, healthy cooking tips. that's a recipe i'm keeping. >> turning complex data into easy tools. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> opportunity can start anywhere and go everywhere. to help revitalize a neighborhood in massachusetts; restore a historic landmark in harlem; fund a local business in chicago; expan

. >> ifill: and jeffrey brown talks to rocker patti smith about her award winning new memoir. >> it was a time when the cult of celebrity wasn't so big and we weren't so separated from the people who were creating our cultural voice because we were also trying to add to it simultaneously. >> ifill: that's all ahead on tonight's "newshour." major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by: >> for three hours a week, i'm a coach, but when i was diagnosed with prostate cancer, i needed a coach. our doctor was great, but with so many tough decisions, i felt lost. united healthcare offered a specially trained r.n., who helped us weigh and understand all our options. for me, cancer was as scary as a fastball is to some of these kids, but my coach had hit that pitch before. >> turning data into useful answers. we're 78,000 people looking out for 70 million americans. that's health in numbers. united healthcare. >> 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