Dan Patterson speaks with Cedar Rapids, Iowa resident Dave Langston about the devastating impact of flooding in Eastern Iowa. Mr. Langston describes the extent of the damage in Cedar Rapids, evacuations, and the flood’s impact on animals. The flood could destroy up to 20% of the Midwest’s corn crops, significantly impacting food and fuel prices around the world. Corn has risen from about $2.50 per bushel to over $7.00 per bushel. Local lawmakers say the price could rise as high as $9.00 per bushel. (7:21)

Local Iowa corn field. Photo by Marion Patterson.

TRNS Chief UN Correspondent Dan Patterson grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If you have commentary, feedback, pictures or video of the Eastern Iowa Flood, send them to danpatterson [at] talkradionews [dot] com

 

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March 11, 2008, Talkers Magazine and Christian Solidarity International co-sponsored a trip to Southern Sudan and Southern Darfur. Radio Hosts included Joe Madison (XM Satellite Radio and WOL-AM), Thom Hartmann (Syndicated), Jack Rice (WCCO), Rusty Humphries (Syndicated), Ellen Ratner (Talk Radio News Service), and Dr. John Eibner of Christian Solidarity International. The group brought with them “Sacks of Hope” which are sponsored by donations.

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John Nichols, The Nation’s Washington correspondent and co-founder of Free Press, chastises the mainstream media for its racism and sexism during the Democratic primaries in an interview with Talk Radio News Correspondent Elia Herman at the National Conference for Media Reform in Minneapolis. Nichols also talks about his first job as a reporter and his interview with former Vice President Hubert Humphrey at age 11. (8:29)

 

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President George W. Bush speaks at the groundbreaking of the United States Institute of Peace headquarters today. Bush stated that freedom is universal and the birthrights of every man woman and child and the USIP is working to create freedom throughout the world. (0:34)

 

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TRNS bureau chief Ellen Ratner interviews Peter Salama, the chief of health for UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) about current efforts being made by UNICEF in countries experiencing natural disaster. (6:29)

 

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The Obama campaign held a conference call advocating the creation of a National Catastrophic Insurance Fund. The call focused on describing Senator Obama’s support for such a fund, as well as the way Obama’s opponent for the presidency, Republican John McCain, has sided with current president George Bush in “letting the market work itself out” instead of helping people in need of governmental assistance.

Obama’s supporters described a system which the people in the states most in need of affordable disaster insurance could acquire it, with particular attention being paid to Florida (being that they are the most susceptible to being effected by a natural disaster). The call hosts noted that the money needed to lower insurance costs would come from private funding, and they mentioned that this would help make certain that states unwilling to pay for the insurance of people in other states would not have to do so. (more…)

Every year, the Talk Radio News Service produces Talk Radio Day at the United Nations. The annual event precedes TRNS’s annual talk radio conference and features high-profile guests. Previous guests have included personalities such as Al Sharpton and Alan Colmes, as well as high-level UN ambassadors and representatives. Talk Radio hosts have included Marc Bernier, Jack Rice, Lars Larson, Michael Medved, Thom Hartmann, Doug Stephan and Joe Madison.

We’ll continue to update pictures, video, and audio through the day.

More pictures from TRNS 3rd Annual United Nations Talk Radio Day

Briefer: Dana Perino

White House press secretary Dana Perino briefed the press on the president’s radio address which will focus on the administration’s priorities for Congress. She specifically mentioned the war supplemental funding, the GI bill, the FISA legislation, the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, and the approval of Steve Preston to be the new secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The president will be giving the commencement address at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. Perino said that the speech will focus on the culture of responsibility and the importance of volunteering and serving in the military.

The main topic for questions was the book of former White House press secretary Scott McClellen which alleges “a culture of deception” in Washington and in the White House in particular during the run up to the Iraq war. Perino said that the president has not read the book and she has not discussed it with him. She said that the White House will continue to push back against the premise of the book that the White House communications department mislead the public as the administration approached the Iraq war.

In response to a question about the allegations that a Commerce Department laptop was hacked into during a trip to China, Perino said that the White House does not comment on on going investigations but that it has taken all measures to protect against cyber attacks, including international trips where White House staff are prohibited from brining Blackberry phones.

Democratic congressional primary contender Shirley Golub (D-Calif.) sent one of her representatives to the steps of the Capitol building dressed as a chicken to protest the decisions made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her time in office. Golub’s goal was to demonstrate the uselessness of electing another “chicken” to the House of Representatives. Golub is running against Pelosi in the upcoming California congressional democratic primary.

Golub’s chicken ranted on the west steps of the Capitol yelling different anti-Pelosi sentiments, such as, “Where are all the congressmen? Did they all fly the coop?” and “Shirley Golub sent me here to demonstrate what its like to send a chicken to Congress.” When the chicken was asked why he was protesting, he said that Pelosi was being a chicken about the war in Iraq and impeachment, and even claimed to be one of her cousins.

Talk Radio News Service embedded military affairs correspondent Richard Miller interviews Peter Jouvenal, a former war photographer and a hotel owner in Kabul, Afghanistan about his experiences covering the constant state of war in Afghanistan. (21:25)

 

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