and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> ifill: capitol hill lawmakers spent today behind various closed doors working to avoid or guarantee a coming legislative logjam. for now, democrats and republicans are holding fast to their positions on nearly every issue. the skies over the capitol were cloudy today, and so were prospects for compromise on several key issues. all 42 republican senators drew their line in the sand in a letter to democratic leader harry reid. "tax and spending cuts," they wrote, "must take priority over anything on the democrats' wish list, including allowing gays to serve in the military, ratifying a nuclear treaty and extending jobless benefits. while there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the senate's attention," the lawmakers wrote, "we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike." senator reid said the republican approach is a cynical one. >> with this letter, they have simply put i

pbs. >> be more. pbs.

and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> lehrer: the long-awaited pentagon study on the effects of ending "don't ask, don't tell" was released today. it concluded there could be initial disruptions from dropping the ban on gays serving openly in the ranks, but there would be no long-lasting problems. the pentagon study began ten months ago. the question: what happens if congress repeals the policy that forced more than 13,000 personnel to leave the military in the last 17 years. some 115,000 troops responded to a mailed questionnaire. 70% said allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would have positive, mixed or no effect. on the other hand, 30% predicted negative effects. among combat troops 40% were opposed to the idea. that figure climbed to 46% among u.s. marines who answered the survey. defense secretary gates and the chairman of the joint chiefs admiral mike mullen favor lifting the ban as does president obama. at a briefing today, gates addressed the combat unit concerns. >> part of this is a question

pbs. >> h.r. haldeman. what is cavett? he fills every show -- leader of to see the the free world, most powerful man in america, cavett, how can we screw him? one of nixon's wittier moments. how to screw me. he screwed my entire staff. i learned years later by two people talking quinn sedul, weru audited? tavis: everybody got audited. >> one of his favorite hobbies was illegally using a irs. tavis: for a book that is called talk show, it raises this question for me, and you could not have to call names, and please cannot give my name is under hit list. when you are as regarded as a talk-show host is to have ben, and you are as good as you are, how do you watch talk shows? is it difficult to watch stuff that you think is so not good? >> it is, in a way, yeah. partly because, i am mainly watching other people's talk shows. not my dvd's of my talk show. i hope they do this. i would have done this. johnny carson said once, it's gonna be armed forces radio for dick. we were very, very good frie

to order this dvd, call 1-800- play-pbs or visit online at shoppbs.org. >> be more. pbs.

to order this dvd, call 1-800- play-pbs or visit online at shoppbs.org. >> be more. pbs. >> so, ah, your seat good? got the mirrors all adjusted? you can see everything ok? just stay off the freeways, all right? i don't want you going out on those yet. and leave your phone in your purse, i don't want you texting. >> daddy... ok! ok, here you go. be careful. >> thanks dad. >> and call me--but not while you're driving. we knew this day was coming. that's why we bought a subaru.

. >> and from contributions to your pbs station from veers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] tavis: gordon brown is, of course, the former prime minister of great britain whose public service includes his time as english chancellor of the exchequer and he has released a text about the economic downturn called "beyond the crash." overcoming the first crisis of globalization. he joins us tonight from new york. it is an honor to have you on this program. >> it is a pleasure. tavis: let me start by asking the obvious. you called the book "beyond the crash." by that, you mean exactly what? >> i mean if you look at lehman brothers, the subprime mortgage crisis, irish banks, greek debt, what's happening around the world, the slow recovery, we're seeing something bigger than the individual crisis themselves. we're dealing with a fundamental shift in the way the economy is working. for 200 years, america and europe dominated world production and world exports and manufacturing. now for the first time, the rest of the world outproduc

pbs.org >> join me next time as patti smith won the national book award. we will see you then. >> all i know is his name is james, and he needs extra help with his reading. >> i am james. >> yes. >> to everyone making a difference -- >> thank you. >> you help us all live better. >> nationwide insurance supports tavis smiley. with every question and every answer, nationwide insurance is proud to join tavis in working to improve financial literacy and remove obstacles to economic empowerment, one conversation at a time. a nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> be more. pbs.

welcome to bbc news broadcast our viewers on pbs in america. a war of words between the u.s. and venezuela. washington is planning to rule by decree. the harrier jump jet, one of the greatest military innovations bows out after 40 years. the u.s. government has announced it is selling bp and other companies over the oil spill and the gulf of mexico. the spokesman for the justice department says it will hold them fully accountable for the billions of dollars spent on cleanup. >> of the explosion killed 11 men. and wrecking the fishing industry. the american government said it happened because of safety regulations were violated. they failed to take safety precautions and failed to use the best available technology and failed to maintain equipment. >> we intend to prove that the defendants under the oil pollution act. as well as environmental damages. >> president obama's de was criticized, and not looking just for damages, but signs as well. if they can prove gross negligence, and could amount to 13 billion pounds. >> they suffered an enormous consequences. >> of the case agai

and proud to support pbs's "to the contrary" with bonnie erbe. additional funding provided by: the colcom foundation the charles a. frueauff foundaon and by the sanofi aventis foundation. >> this week on "to the contrary" the deficit and you, why you should be concerned about the nation's growing financial woes. behind the headlines: should we send nurses out on the street to help drug addicts? canada does! >> hello, i'm bonnie erbe. welcome to "to the contrary," a discussion of news and social trends from diverse perspectives. up first: how the federal deficit affects you. the number one political issue next year will be how to cut the federal deficit---it sounds boring but the deficit directly affects you and your family in so many ways---how much you pay in taxes, the interest rate on your mortgage and whether you receive government support as just a few examples. washington is so deeply divided on whether to raise your taxes or cut programs that help you, even an 18-member commission, nicknamed simpson bowles, couldn't agree on how to handle

welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- getting back on their feet. help japanese robots are helping brain-injured patients wall. and bringing christmas cheer to millions. we'll hear from three different santas as they prepare for the big day. hello. at least 170 killings, mass arrests, reports of mass graves. the u.n. secretary general on voice stopped at gunpoint when he tried to investigate. the situation in the ivory coast is living up to the worst fears of observers. as the situation escalates, the president is still unwilling to sit down, and the man internationally acclaimed as the new president remains in a hotel. we have this. >> in port districts of the country's commercial capital, a stronghold for the man widely believed to have when the disputed election. people try to get on with their daily lives, but the neighborhood is not as busy as usual. the residents live in fear. this mosque was hit by heavy gunfire just before last friday's prayers. people are scared,

welcome to "bbc world news," broadcaster or viewers on pbs in america and elsewhere around the globe. my name is mike embley. australia and migrant tragedy. a boat is smashed on the rocks of christmas island. and somalian refugees korea trying to stop the people trafficking. hello. have courage, says president obama. "resisted those who want to drag your country back into the past." there was an appeal to the people of kenya to cooperate with the international criminal court in investigating the violence that followed the elections in the country three years ago. at least 1200 people died, and the prosecutor has now named six men believed responsible, and they include the deputy prime minister. we have this report. >> with these names, -- >> here in this slum, where some of the worst violence happens, people gathered around the tv set to watch the long awaited announcement. >> killing. >> the disputed 2007 elections tore the country apart along tribal lines. people were killed, and politicians were accused of instigating the attacks as they fought for power. the six suspects were name

pbs.

contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. once again, live from washington, moderator gwen ifill. gwen: good evening. almost as if their coaches were about to be turned into pumpkins, the house voted to extend the expiring bush era tax cuts at one minute before the stroke of midnight last night. impending holiday deadlines focused a legislative mind in washington. remember the christmas eve health care vote? this year is no different. so now with any number of critical issues still hanging fire, every victory is one that can be universally claimed. >> candidly speak, there are some elements of this legislation i don't like. there's some el lts that members of my party don't like. there's some elements that republicans here today don't like. that's the nature of compromise. >> we want to stop all of the tax hikes for at least the next two years, and secondly, that we ought to have the funding bill through september 30 at 2008 levels before the stimulus and before the bailouts and all the other nonsense that's gone on here. gwe

welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- she denied it spying for russia on behalf of the british parliament's. and 30 years after the murder of john lennon, the first british journalist on the scene recalls one of music's saddest days. ed hello to you. the latest twist in the wikileaks drama unfolded in a london court. julian assange is now in a british prison until another court hearing next week. he faces allegations of sexual assault. his supporters summoned at a large sum of money to get him out on bail, but this was refused. frank gardner's report does contain flash photography. >> and get back. >> and media throng at this afternoon as the elusive wikileaks founder was called to westminster. julian assange is accused of sex crimes in sweden, which he denies. >> i believe it that he could have been released today, but the judge had a different view. and now we will see the evidence against him so we can test the strength of these allegations, which we believe to be very

contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. got the mirrors all adjusted? you can see everything ok? just stay off the freeways, all right? i don't want you going out on those yet. and leave your phone in your purse, i don't want you texting. >> daddy... ok! ok, here you go. be careful. >> thanks dad. >> and call me--but not while you're driving. we knew this day was coming. that's why we bought a subaru.

welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast to our viewers on pbs in america, also around the globe. my name is mike embley. coming up later for you -- fresh riots in haiti as anger builds over presidential election results. and diamonds as abundant on plants as sand is on earth. -- planets as sand is on earth. hello. the bbc is hearing from wikileaks that the whistleblowing website will carry-on releasing at sensitive diplomatic correspondence even though its founder is in custody. he has been fighting extradition to sweden overt sex offenses. australia has said that american citizens are responsible for the release says, not julian assange. >> julian assange might be the headline -- behind bars and fighting extradition -- but the wikileaks organization has made clear they are not just one person and it has the ability and intends to keep the diplomatic cables coming four weeks to come. >> week are putting into place a plan that was in place. >> how much more material do you have to release? >> we have the intention is to release all of them. that will take some time. weeks if not m

. >> a very warm welcome to "bbc world news," broadcast on pbs in america and around the globe. coming up later, russia's president meets the indian president with deals on nuclear energy in the the clutches -- and electric's stock topped the -- nuclear arms top the agenda. more wedding bells for the royal family. the queen's great granddaughter announces her engagement. >> after more than nine months of political deadlock, iraq has a new government. nouri maliki's second term has been floated through parliament along with several key appointments. the major sectarian and ethnic groups. the lack of a political settlement has played a big part in the violin and stability. our colleague reports from baghdad. >> when the moment finally came ca, it happened rather quickly. maliki read quickly names the the. people voted on each and every one with a brief reyes of the hand. >> i'd like to congratulate the minister for receiving their new posts, wishing them success and good luck. i would like to thank members of the former government who were loyal in their work and accomplished thei

we have to leave you early to give you an opportunity to support your local pbs station. but we continue, check it out on pbs.org and keep it up with daily developments. we'll see you again next week on "washington week." good night. >> fundsing for "washington week" is provided by -- >> i would love to have been a musician, but i knew that i was going to need a day job. we actually have a lot of scientists that play music. there's definitely a tie there. one thing our scientists are working on is carbon capture in storage which could prevent co 26rbings2 from entering the atmosphere. we built a plan that we could freeze it. it looks like snow. it's one way we're helping provide energy with fewer emissions. >> this rock has never stood still. since 1875, we've been there for our clients through good times and bad. when they need change, twhrerp to meet them. we've developed new ideas for the financial challenges ahead. this rock has never stood still. and that's one thing that will never change. prudential. >> corporate funding is also provided by -- boeing, and wells far

welcome to "bbc news", broadcast to viewers on pbs. and holocaust survivor accused of committing a sin by renting part of his home to their students. vintage art. how japanese comic book characters are proving a boon to french wine makers. hello. the risk of nuclear terrorism is spelled out in the latest batch of documents released by the website wikileaks. in supposedly confidential government cables, britain, the u.s., and russia expressed deep concern that islamist militants could still enough material to construct and detonate a crude nuclear weapon. our security correspondent has this report. >> it is official. the fate of pakistan's and a clear arsenal is worrying the west. secret cables released tonight by wikileaks revealed a catalog of fears. the u.k. has deep concerns about the safety and security of pakistan's nuclear weapons. despite safeguards of pakistan's side, classified cables real fears of a nuclear confrontation between pakistan and india. others warn of nuclear terrorism. the major concern is that someone working in