this week i'm off on q&a, our guest is john sopko. "q&a."s week on c-span >> john sopko, explain what you do. >> i am the special inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction, appoint

. >> next, "q&a," with john sock go -- sopko. and then republican lawmakers on the conservative domestic agenda. and then another chance to see keith ellison and others at the new populism conference. >> you can now take species in with you wherever you go with our free radio app for your smartphone or tablet. listen to all three c-span tv channels or c-span radio anytime . there is a schedule for each of our networks, you can tune in whenever you want, my podcasts from our secure -- signature shows -- take c-span with you wherever you go. download the free app online. >> coming up tonight on c-span, "q&a" with john sopko, special inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction. who discusses how american taxpayer money is spent and misspent to the war-torn country of afghanistan. >> john sopko, explain what you do. >> i am the special inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction, appointed by the president about two years ago to oversee all reconstruction money that the u.s. government spends in afghanistan by any agency. i

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector general and out american taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan tonight at eight on c-span's q&a. >> here's a look at some upcoming book fairs and festivals happening around the country. is know about book fairs and festivals in your area and we will add them to our list. e-mail them at c-span tv.org. spent book tv asks what are you reading this summer? >> i brought some books that i've recently read that i thought people might really like. the first one is by scott berg called wilson. is a new biography of woodrow wilson. actually a very favorable and thoughtful volume. scott berg took 13 years of meticulous scholarship to write this book, and it shows. it's one of the most thoughtful, balanced biographies of this very complex figure in american history to lead his own contradictions. what i think it gives you some really new insights and new appreciation for woodrow wilson, a very pivotal figure in history of american presidents. just a delightful read and i recommend it to come one of the best biographies i've read in a long time

pentagon inspector general john sopko call it a total waste of taxpayer money. >> the building will probably never be used and it maybe destroyed. >> at a cost of $34 million and 64,000 square feet, it's larger than a football field. complete with a war room, theater and enough office space to accommodate 1500 workers. long before it was built, major general richard mills said he didn't need the building and didn't want it. there will soon be no one to use it. america's draw down from afghanistan, the number of forces has fallen from 20,000 to 7000. >> that was 2013. how did that happen? >> what's what we're trying to find out. we don't really know. we have an ongoing investigation special projects looking at how did we end up like this. we're building a building -- basically we wasted 34 or $35 million for a building that nobody wanted. the general said i don't want it, edon't want to use it. general allen, who was his supervisor said, we still trying to identify who in the pentagon or who in the military dead -- did it and why. we can't find records. it is shocking by the lack of candor we

this week i'm off on q&a, our guest is john sopko. "q&a."s week on c-span >> john sopko, explain what you do. >> i am the special inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction, appointed by the president about two years ago to oversee all reconstruction money that the u.s. government spends in afghanistan by any agency. i am not in the department of defense, department of state, but any u.s. government agency that spends money over there, which is about 100 $3 billion via spent so far enough to understand. lex what does it mean by reconstruction gap go-- >> what does it mean by reconstruction? >> reconstruction is defined broadly. schools roads paying the salaries of the law ,nforcement am of the army fighting the equipment, seating them. lex why did you do that? why did you come out of private practice? calls, youe house usually return the call and listen, and they asked if i could help out. they needed someone to take over the reins. it was a challenge. i was happy at the law firm but was interested in a challenge, and this has been cha

sopko,guest is john inspector general for afghanistan reconstruction. thank you. >> thank you. >> for free transcripts or to give us comments about this program, visit us at qna.org. q&a programs are also available as podcasts. >> today, president obama promised u.s. forces in afghanistan that america's longest warble come to close at the end of the year. the president made a surprise celebrate the memorial day holiday with troops, and said the mission will end at years end, and the warble come to responsible conclusion. after leaving afghanistan, the president flew to germany to visit troops at the airbase before returning to washington. includes's new book writer christopher hitchens talking about his life. a risk in the bikini and lifestyle. -- bohemian lifestyle. i decided to take it. it helped my concentration. it taught -- stopped me being bored, adn stopped other people being boring. it enhanced the moment. what i do it again? the answer is probably yes. it is easy for me to say, but it has not been nice to my children. if i say i would do that a

there are people in the aid at state, at the pentagon who care about wasting money. >> john sopko ons role as inspector general and how american taxpayers dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan, sunday night at 8:00 on c-span's q&a. >> the u.s. senate about to gavel in for legislative business. general speeches will start the day and a final vote on david barron's nomination to be a judge for the first circuit of appeals is scheduled for 1:45 eastern. mr. baron has been opposed by kentucky senator rand paul and others because of some memos he wrote providing the legal justification for drone strikes against u.s. citizens abroad. now live to the senate floor on c-span2. the president pro tempore: the senate will come to order. the chaplain, dr. barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray. creator, redeemer, sustainer, you called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. dispel the shadows of confusion in our lives, replacing them with your clarity and peace.

john sopko. h >> in some respects, apple and google arguably started at the same time. in thebviously started 1970's, but then steve jobs got fired from the company in the mid-1980's and apple went from a. of 10 or 15 years where its fortunes really declined steadily. it wasn't really until 1997, when steve jobs returned, that apple's fortunes really began to rebound. in fact, it is pretty well-known among people who pay attention to what is going on in the valley, that when steve jobs came back, apple had 90 days of toh left before it was going in.r in some respects, you could say both companies started around the same time. >> tracing the origins of apple and google, monday on the communicators at eight a.m. eastern on c-span2. republican governor mike pence wants to expand health age. the obama administration would have to approve the expansion. the american enterprise institute hosted the governor and former u.s. representative on monday. this is about 50 minutes. >> good morning, ladies and gentlemen. i'm delighted to welcome you to this morning's event featuring g

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector general and how taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan sunday night at 8:00 on c-span's "q&a." >> republican governor mike pence wants to expand health care coverage for indiana's low income earners. the plan would be paid with the heatllth care law. the american enterprise institute hosted the governor and former u.s. representative on monday. this is about 50 minutes >> good morning, ladies and gentlemen. i am arthur rooks, president of the american enterprise institute. i am pleased to welcome you to thies event. we are looking to hear about his state's new proposal for obama care and medicaid. mike pence was elected as the 50th governor in 2012. prior to that he was the representative in the sixth district for 6 terms. he has had a huge amount of experience. he has distinguished himself in his career. today's policy is no exception. it is my honor to welcome governor mike pence. [applause] >> thank you for that introduction and for the hospitality. i'm grateful to you, not just for your hospitality today, but for really

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector general. sunday night at 8:00 p.m. on c-span q and a. five the heritage foundation hosted an event previewing the upcoming elections in ukraine. those are set to be held on sunday. citizens will vote on a successor to replace viktor yanukovych. this is one hour 25 minutes. all stop make sure they have been turned off. think president putin that we can thank -- discuss this. our host is a senior fellow for diplomacy. she focuses on u.s. government institutions and strategic outrage. the hooverllow at institution at stanford. she works with the institute for political journalism. she is a member of the council on foreign relations. [applause] >> we are here again to talk about ukraine. it is a subject that we have talked about quite frequently al. today we will look at the presidential elections coming up. contested.uite it is a subject that are three analyst will cover from a number of respective. one is whether they will take place at all. soonerre those who would that it did not happen. be airst speaker will senior fellow at the center

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector general. sunday night at 8:00 on c-span q&a. >> you can take c-span with you wherever you go. we have a free radio app. it is for your smartphone or tablet will stop listen to all of rta -- channels. there is a schedule on each of our network so you can tune in when you want. you can play podcasts from our signature grams. take c-span with you wherever you go. online orour free at your iphone, android, but there is also >> nancy pelosi named five democrats to the house committee on benghazi. elijah cummings, adam smith, linda sanchez, and tammy duckworth. those democrats join the minority leader at a press conference where she discussed the decision to up like her colleagues even though she opposed the creation of the ommittee. >> good afternoon. ont happens in benghazi september 11, 2012 was a tragedy. families and loved ones for those were lost, lost their lives, and for american diplomatic corps and all americans. unfortunately, the republican obsession with benghazi has not been about vict

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector wren and how american taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan, at 8:00.ght this is 45 minutes. >> good morning, ladies and gentlemen and we are honored to have you at aei. i'm delighted to welcome you to this event in partnership with the yg network and national affairs. we want to talk to you today about policy solutions in bringing back the middle class and solving problems of poverty we have seen now for 50 years. today is the 50th anniversary of president lyndon johnson's great society speech that was the beginning of an experiment that basically remade the way our government interacts with its citizens, particularly citizens who are economically vulnerable. president johnson painted a picture of the great society with the following words -- the great society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to it's a his talents. place where leisure is a welcome chance to build and reflect and not a feared cause of boredom and restlessness. it's a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of t

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector wren and how american taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan, at 8:00.ght

. >> john sopko on his role as inspector general. sunday night at 8:00 on c-span q&a.

. >> john sopko how american taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstruction in afghanistan sunday night at 8:00 on c-span's c & a. >> an independent audit has found that medicare may be overpaying hospitals and estimated $5 billion due to the 18-month suspension of a rule that tells hospitals when patients can be admitted. the american hospital association disputes that figure. that finding was discussed in this house ways and mean committee hearing on medicare payments to hospitals. witnesses include officials from the agencies that administer medicare, and hospital administrators. this is two hours and 50 minutes. >> good morning. thank you all for joining us this morning. every dollar spent on -- should have been used to care for seniors. we're here to discuss the problems facing hospitals today, but also to find solutions that bring sense to our medicare program and improve care for america's seniors. today's hearing will examine hospital issues, including those related to cms's midnight policy, as well as audits and appeals. this is a bipartisan concern, shared by many stakeholders

. >> john sopko. sunday night at 8:00 on c-span q&a.ting at this landing, all of this stairwell and bannister that you see, they were the original banisters and steps from when clara barton was here. i am walking on the same stairs that clara barton did for that eight year period of time when she lived in the building. found the envelopes for a stationery set, a military portfolio, as it is called. clara used these as a fundraising product while the civil war was going on. you can see how nice and fancy the engraving work is done. it lists what was in the kit. she tied this together to hang up for when she was trying to sell these. where sheld come by was and take a look at what she had. thehe life and work of american red cross founder, clara barton. starting saturday, we will visit the clara barton missing soldiers office museum. at 11:00, your calls and tweets for george wunderlich. it is part of our three day memorial day weekend. >> "washington journal" continues. >> we are joined by louis gohmert. i want to start with the question

. >> john sopko as his role as inspector general and how american taxpayer dollars are spent on reconstructionn afghanistan sunday night at 8:00 on c-span's "q&a." >> "washington journal" continues. host: joining us now from miami, florida is the federal affairs of sportsmen alliance bill horn, discussing to amend state a position to guarantee the right to hunt and fish. bill horn, why is a push in recent years on this, our hunting rights under threat in states? guest: absolutely. you have got the development of a very significant eyes of this movement, anti-hunting, animal rights have begun to systematically attack our traditions of hunting and fishing, and one of the techniques or tools that we are pushing on in the legal and public policy arena is to blunt those attacks by having, put in the state constitutions the concept that hunting and fishing are important to traditions, need to be maintained any to be protected, and obviously inserting those in states constitutions is probably the best way to protect these activities. host: how would it be different in the state constitution versus ot

. >> john sopko on his role of inspector general.ay night at 8:00 on c-span's "q&a." >> "washington journal" continues. host: we want to introduce you to christopher ingraham. he is with the washington post where he writes their wonkblog column. guest: its a blog about politics, politics and economics. host: where did you come from? guest: i was with the brookings institution. i was creating a lot of their charts and maps. before that i was at the pew research doing work won the web. host: when fid you get interested in all of those facts and figures with politics? guest: it probably started when i was at the research center. there's a lot of public data out there. it was the 2008 and the 2008 election. host: we invited you on to talk about your series of article on gerrymandering and the u.s. and congress. what is gerrymandering? guest: we should start with redistricting. the congressional district boundaries need to get redrawn to better reflect the changing. population in the united states. most states the state legislatures handl