host: steven sloan from politico. thank you.captioning performed by national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] >> tomorrow, robert van order looks at the mortgage loan forgiveness. then bradford fitch discuss this orientation session for congress. members- elect in congress. after that, a member of the autistic self advocacy network on being an adult with autism, and the federal role supporting autistic adults and children. washington journal, live saturday at 7:00 a.m. eastern, on c-span. coming up, we will hear about the syrian civil war from a spokesman with the national coalition for a position, followed by a look at how the white house and congress are facing a fiscal cook, followed by john boehner on capitol hill. later, a discussion of the fiscal cliff and tax cuts. >> i think of the old poem, "song of life," by longfellow. it says lives, great men all remind us. we can make our lives supply and -- sublime and, departing, leave behind us footsteps on the sands of time. warren l

host: steven sloan from politico. thank you.national captioning institute] [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2012] >> tomorrow on washington journal, and a look at the mortgage debt relief act, which was passed by congress in the early days of the housing crisis, and a discussion of orientation sessions for senior aides and aides of members- elect in congress. and a member of the autistic and advocacy network on being an adult with autism, and the federal role in supporting autistic adults and children. washington journal, live saturday at 7:00 a.m. eastern on c-span. >> when i think of warren, i think of the "[sa;, pf -- " psalm of life" by longfellow. in departing, leave behind us footsteps on the sands of time. warren rudman the footsteps in the united states senate and the sands of time. many people serve here and are soon forgotten, and he is not one of them. i think the reasons are quite simple. he was admired. he had courage. he had principles. he got things done. he made things happen. he cared more abou

we will go to steven sloan from politico. word coming in that president obama and john boehner talked on the phone and later on wednesday. what have we learned if anything about that conversation? caller: very little has leaked out on the conversation. we're not sure how long it lasted. it is a sign that maybe even incremental progress has been made this week. host: can we glean anything from who called who identify this phone conversation? when the last time they talk before wednesday afternoon was? host: it has been about one week since they talked. we do not even know, as far as i know, who called the. they really have given us the details on the call. host: we are talking to steven sloan. what is the latest on the two sites? who seems more willing to compromise at this point? caller: we are still a in this game of chicken. both sides have made their offers. neither side appears at the moment close to making new offers or backpedaling on the offers may have made it. we still are in is still made mode right now. we will hav