Mara Liasson

Surveillance Revelations Spark Lackluster Public Discord

Mara Liasson — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:01:00 +0000

When a former IT contractor at the National Security Agency gave The Guardian U.S. government surveillance information, he told the paper that his only motivation was to spark a public debate about government surveillance.

"This is something that's not our place to decide," Edward Snowden said.

Obama To Push Jobs, Education At N.C. Middle School

Mara Liasson — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:52:00 +0000

As part of his Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour, President Obama travels to Mooresville, N.C., Thursday. He'll highlight Mooresville Middle School's focus on technology and digital learning. Young voters cite the economy and education as top concerns. Neither political party has been adept at addressing these issues for young people.

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

Mara Liasson — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:27:00 +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.

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

Mara Liasson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:16:00 +0000

Transcript

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST:

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

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

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.

Proposition 8 Case Has High Political Stakes For Both Parties

Mara Liasson — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 20:56:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

We'll learn what the court decides to do about DOMA and California's Proposition 8 sometime this summer. Its options vary widely. But no matter what the result, there will be political implications.

NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson joins us to walk through some of them.

And, Mara, first, let's talk briefly about this really sea change in public opinion now in favor of same-sex marriage. Could the court reverse that tide in any way?

MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: No, the court cannot reverse that tide.

RNC Report Calls For Community Outreach, Revamped Primary Rules

Mara Liasson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 08:43:00 +0000

Transcript

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And the Republican Party has issued a blistering assessment of why it lost the 2012 election. The Republican National Committee Growth and Opportunity Project told the party that if it wants to win national elections in the future, it needs to change the way it communicates with voters and runs its campaigns.

NPR's Mara Liasson reports.

MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: The GOP's election autopsy was brutal. Focus groups describe the party as narrow minded and out of touch, filled with stuffy old men who favor the rich.

It's Still Early, But GOP Hopefuls Test The Waters For 2016

Mara Liasson — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 07:56:00 +0000

During the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that begins Thursday, a slew of men who appear to want to try their hand at leading the GOP back to the White House in 2016 will be speaking, though not every potential presidential candidate was invited.

Yes, it's four years away, but that hasn't stopped Republican hopefuls from testing the waters.

Republicans Face Off Over Strategy For Picking Candidates

Mara Liasson — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:06:00 +0000

Republicans have a steep hill to climb if they want to take control of the Senate next year. The GOP would need to pick up six seats in 2014.

There are plenty of open seats and vulnerable Democrats up for re-election, but Republicans are debating the best way to win.

Last year's Senate results were disappointing for the GOP: The party ended up losing a number of seats it thought were winnable — and now it's trying to figure out what to do differently next year.

Karl Rove and the big donors behind his Crossroads superPAC have one idea.

Obama's Second Term Cabinet Nears Completion With New Nominations

Mara Liasson — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:43:00 +0000

Transcript

AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:

From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Audie Cornish.

Three new faces joined President Obama today at the White House.

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: Today, I'm announcing my plan to nominate three outstanding individuals to help us tackle some of our most important challenges.

CORNISH: And with that, the president named a new energy secretary, a new budget director, and a new head of the Environmental Protection Agency. In a few minutes, we'll hear more about the EPA nominee.

One Strategy For A GOP Overhaul? Follow The Democrats' Example

Mara Liasson — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 22:19:00 +0000

These are difficult times for the Republican Party.

Automatic Budget Cuts Near As Democrats, GOP Stand Firm

Mara Liasson — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 11:35:00 +0000

It looks like the across the board spending cuts that were never supposed to happen are going to — at least for a while. It's another sign of Washington's dysfunction.

Obama Speech To Set Second Term's Tone

Mara Liasson — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 09:47:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Linda Wertheimer.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

And I'm Renée Montagne. President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address tonight, to a joint session of Congress. The president will announce that the U.S. is withdrawing 34,000 troops from Afghanistan within a year. But as always, much of the speech will address domestic issues.

Public Pressure, Background Checks Central To Obama Gun Control Strategy

Mara Liasson — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 10:07:00 +0000

Gun control historically has been one of the most divisive issues in Congress, between the parties and even inside the Democratic coalition. Yet some in President Obama's own party say he has put together a gun agenda that is sweeping without being too painful for most Democrats to support.

"He did the right thing when he laid out his principles. It was not a crazy wish list," says Jim Kessler, co-founder of the centrist Democrat group Third Way.

Hillary Clinton Leaving The Stage — At Least For Now — And On A High Note

Mara Liasson — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 08:44:00 +0000

Hillary Clinton leaves her job Friday as secretary of state with sky-high approval ratings, and there's already a superPAC established urging her to run for president in 2016.

She's one of the most famous women in the world and, as she leaves office, perhaps the If Obama has one person to thank for being in the catbird seat on the fiscal cliff talks, it's Lew, who could be Obama's pick to be the next Treasury secretary.

Gun Issues Return To Political Debate

Mara Liasson — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 10:31:00 +0000

Transcript

DAVID GREENE, HOST:

In the wake of those mass killings in Newtown, Connecticut, there is a new conversation in Washington about gun laws. And there are signs that the outcome could be different than in the past.

Here's NPR's national political correspondent Mara Liasson.

MARA LIASSON, BYLINE: For almost 20 years, Democrats have been convinced that pushing gun control is a surefire way to lose elections. Even after three previous mass shootings, President Obama didn't propose any new gun laws.

Obama And House GOP Engage In Fiscal Cliff Talks, Just Not With Each Other

Mara Liasson — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:33:00 +0000

The president and House Republicans continued to snipe at each other Wednesday over the impending set of automatic tax hikes and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff.