is smiley. -- tavis smiley.

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. president obama this week unveiled his new jobs plan, but now the debate over the cost. first up tonight, reaction from a key republican on the senate and finance committee, john cornyn of texas. also, the unlikely race for best picture four oscars. "up" became only the second animated film in hollywood history to be nominated for that category. john cornyn and pete docter, coming up right now. >> there are so many things that walmart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly, we're helping build stronger communities and relationships. because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment

i'm tavis smiley. first up tonight a rare conversation with music legend bill withers. he penned some of the most enduring songs including "ain't no sunshine," "lean on me" and "just the two of us." a documentary called "still bill" explores the life of bill withers including his decision to step away from the music business. the film is open in select city across the country. also a few words tonight about the lunch counter sit-ins in greensboro 50 years ago. we're glad you could join us. bill withers and remembering the greensboro four coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley.

from los angeles, i am tavis smiley. tonight, a conversation with icon that singer, songwriter patti smith. in the 1970's, she won a lot of acclaim for her poetry and music, including her seminal 1975 album, "forces." she has just released a critically acclaimed memoir about her relationship with photographer robert mapplethorpe. tonight, she opens up about the relationship and the times that she helped define more than 40 years ago. it we're glad you joined us. our conversation with patti smith, coming up right now. >> there are so many things that walmart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly, we're helping build stronger communities and relationships. because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports "tavis smiley." tavis and nationwide, working

tavis: hi, i'm tavis smiley.me next time for a conversation with the legendary director garry marshall on his latest project "valentine's day". that's next time. we'll see you then. >> there are so many things wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better. but mostly we're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships. because of your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. ♪ nationwide is on your side ♪ and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> we are pbs.

i'm tavis smiley. over the next 40 years the population of the united states is expected to grow by 100 million. while many view that as cause for concern, a thought-provoking new book says the change will actually be beneficial. first up, a conversation about that with note the author and futurist joel kotkin. his book is called "the next hundred million." also the legendary producer and director garry marshall stops by, the director behind seminal shows such as "pretty woman" and "happy days" stops by. wire glad you've joined us. announcer: there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing like helping people live better but mostly we're looking forward to building stronger relationships because with your help the best is yet to cument >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. working to improve financial literacy and the empowerment that comes with it. >> nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. pbs station from view

is smiley. -- tavis smiley. working to improve financial literacy and the economic empowerment that comes with it. >> nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. thank you. >> wyclef jean has returned from his hometown in hate following up on relief efforts there. he continues to raise money through his charitable organization he found back in 2005. yesterday here in los angeles he joined quincy jones and an all-star lineup to record "we are the world 25" proceeds from the song will go toward continuing relief efforts. wyclef it's always good to see you, man. >> good to see you, sir. >> are you holding on? >> we've holding on. >> i've been waiting to ask you at the grammy awards the other night, you spoke in english, spoke to the people in haiti in decree old. what did you say? >> the funny thing was there was something written for me on the teleprompter. so i prewarned them i don't think i'm going to say what's on the teleprompter. but basically in decree old i

tavis: did evening from los angeles, i am have a smiley. --tavis smiley. first of tonight is a conversation with one of the leading voices against the rise of big business. he is the author is"so damn much money." so, richard schif stockf by. starting tomorrow night, he will be in "past life." that is coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, but mostly, we are looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance problem supports smiley.

>> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. chavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve -- tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve stability. >> and by contributions to your pbs stations by viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> evan bayh recently announced his decision not to seek another term in the senate. he also served two terms as governor of indiana. he joins us tonight from capitol hill. it is always good to have you back on the program. >> good to be with you. tavis: for those who did not see the "the new york times" piece you wrote last sunday, which

i'm tavis smiley. despite president obama's vow to end the war in iraq, the u.s. continues there. joining me is thomas ricks, the author of the text about iraq, "fiasco," it is out in paper back with its follow-up, "the gamble." also tonight james horner. he is nominated for an oscar for his work on "avatar." he also worked on "titanic." he has the distinction for working on the two top hollywood films in thisist. -- in history. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to helping build stronger communities and relationships because with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance proudly

tavis: did evening from los angeles, i am have a smiley. --tavis smiley. first of tonight is a conversation with one of the leading voices against the rise of big business. he is the author is"so damn much money." so, richard schif stockf by. starting tomorrow night, he will be in "past life." that is coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, but mostly, we are looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. with your help, the best is yet to come. >> nationwide insurance problem supports smiley. and to improve literacy and economic power that comes wit it. nationwide is on your side. >> and by contributions from viewers like you. thank you. tavis: he is a noted author that serves as a senior correspondent at the washington post. his most recent book is called "damn much money." joins us from washington. it is good to have you on this program. >> it is nice to be with you. tavis: there is so much i want to get to. but i came across a ground -- a graph that i want to put on the screen and

tavis: good evening, from los angeles, i'm tavis smiley. as the white house considers reversing course and moving the controversial terror trials out of the new york city, there is a renewed debate on how the u.s. should be dealing with suspected terrorists. first up font tonight, a conversation with one of the central figures in this debate, john yoo. the official justice department official and author of the bush era torture memos is out with a new book on the use of president power called "crisis and command." also tonight, actor ed o'neal stops by, the former star with "married... with children" is enjoying success in prime time on tv's number one new comedy, "modern family." we're glad youoined us, author john yao and actor ed o'neal coming up right now. >> there are so many things that wal-mart is looking forward to doing, like helping people live better, but mostly we're looking forward to building stronger communities and relationships. because of your help, the best is yet to come.

. >> nationwide insurance proudly supports tavis smiley. chavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve -- tavis and nationwide insurance, working to improve stability. >> and by contributions to your pbs stations by viewers like you. thank you. [captioning made possible by kcet public television] >> evan bayh recently announced his decision not to seek another term in the senate. he also served two terms as governor of indiana. he joins us tonight from capitol hill. it is always good to have you back on the program. >> good to be with you. tavis: for those who did not see the "the new york times" piece you wrote last sunday, which went in depth into why you decided to not run for office from indiana in terms of the senate again, explain that, particularly against the backdrop of having a 20-point lead in the polls, $13 million in the bank, why step aside as a democrat when you are running everything in washington, why leave now? >> i am all about getting things done to help people make the most of their lives. i was privileged to do th