Mara Liasson

With Texas Trip, Obama Tries To Steer Focus Back To Economy

Mara Liasson — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:56:00 +0000

President Obama turns his attention back to his economic agenda Thursday when he travels to Austin, Texas, where he will visit a technology high school and a company that makes the machines that make silicon chips.

The White House says the trip is part of Obama's Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour. It also appears to be an effort by the president to get back to the issues Americans care most about.

It has been a difficult spring for Obama. He couldn't get Congress to work with him to stop the automatic spending cuts of the sequester or to enact wider background checks for gun sales.

Political Battle Over Health Law Starts Next Chapter

Mara Liasson — Fri, 03 May 2013 08:41:00 +0000

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DAVID GREENE, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene.

It's one of the basic lessons in school - how a bill becomes a law - sounds so finite. Of course the part they don't always teach is how the political debate over a law can just keep going. The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is now the law of the land.

White House Undecided On Action For Syria Crossing 'Red Line'

Mara Liasson — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:59:00 +0000

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ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

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And I'm Audie Cornish. Has the so-called red line been crossed in Syria? Today, the Obama administration said it believes the Syrian regime has used chemical weapons and, as President Obama has said in the past, that is a red line that would trigger serious consequences.

Immigration Proves A 'Rubik's Cube' For Many Republicans

Mara Liasson — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 21:37:00 +0000

While an immigration overhaul has drawn support from church groups, business, labor and even former opponents, there's still deep opposition — mostly centered in the Republican Party.

The last time a president tried to pass a comprehensive immigration overhaul was in 2007, and George W. Bush's fellow Republicans in Congress killed his bill.

Is Caroline Kennedy Qualified To Be U.S. Ambassador To Japan?

Mara Liasson — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 10:43:00 +0000

President Obama is expected to name Caroline Kennedy, daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, ambassador to Japan. The job has been critical to U.S. trade and business interests with the world's third largest economy. But Kennedy has no prior experience in government or business.