The Washington Report from WQXR: Recent Episodes
David Sanger of The New York Times and Kerry Nolan of WNYC
The Washington Report has been a WQXR tradition for many years. Each week, The New York Times' David Sanger joins us with a preview of the top stories from Washington.
Kerry Nolan talks with The New York Times' David Sanger about news from inside and beyond the Beltway.
Kerry Nolan talks with The New York Times' David Sanger about news from inside the Beltway and beyond.
Kerry Nolan talks with The New York Times' David Sanger about news in and beyond the Beltway.
Kerry Nolan talks with the New York Times' David Sanger about the week's news from Washington.
Kerry Nolan sits down with the New York Times' David Sanger to discuss the latest developments from Washington.
David Sanger of the New York Times speaks with WNYC's David Furst about the president's surprise visit to Afghanistan and who he did—and didn't—meet with, military policy in a time of little appetite for foreign intervention, and the indictments of members of China's People's Liberation Army on charges of espionage.
David Sanger of the New York Times joins WNYC's Richard Hake to discuss the latest out of Ukraine, American forces in Yemen and former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's new book.
David Sanger of the New York Times speaks with WNYC's Richard Hake on the latest news out of the nation's capitol, including the President and the new job figures and his meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel and Obama as comedian at White House Correspondents Dinner.
David Sanger of the New York Times and WNYC's Richard Hake discuss the latest developments on President Obama's overseas trip to Asia and sanctions against Russia as well as The U.S. Supreme Court and the Aero company.
David Sanger from the New York Times discusses Ukraine, and the sign up for the Affordable Care Act with WNYC's David Furst.
David Sanger from the New York Times discusses Ukraine, the heart bleed bug and the anniversary of Civil Rights Act with WNYC's Richard Hake.
Richard Hake and the New York Times' David Sanger discuss Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's trip to China to address cyber security concerns, and take a look at security following a second Fort Hood shooting and the GOP search for an alternative presidential candidate in the wake of Bridgegate.
Richard Hake and the New York Times' David Sanger discuss the President's meeting with the king of Saudi Arabia and take a look at the latest enrollment numbers as the deadline for the Affordable Care Act enrollment nears.
Kerry Nolan talks with the New York Times' David Sanger about China's accusation of U.S. spying, the President's third nuclear summit meeting and how Russia's movements in Crimea will overshadow the economic summit in the Netherlands.
Kerry Nolan and the New York Times' David Sanger discuss the future of Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula and take a look at why Washington insiders don't believe the missing Malaysian Airliner was the victim of a terrorist act.
Kerry Nolan speaks with the New York Times' David Sanger about this weekend's move by Russian troops into the Crimea, the White House's reaction, and what happens going forward.
Kerry Nolan talks with The New York Times' David Sanger about how easily NSA leaker Edward Snowden was able to collect so much data; we turn to Sochi for a look at Russia's image here in the US and back home, the Attorney General is set to make an announcement on same-sex marriage.
Kerry Nolan talks with The New York Times' David Sanger about what, aside from security, the U-S hopes to take away from the Olympics; how President Obama will try to further his agenda without Congressional help and how there may actually be some cooperation on Capitol Hill with respect to immigration.
Kerry Nolan talks with the New York Times' David Sanger about the way out of Afghanistan, the shaky start to peace talks with Syria's government and its' rebel forces and he'll preview President Obama's State of The Union speech.
Kerry Nolan speaks with the New York Times' David Sanger about Iran's cooperation with U.N. nuclear inspectors and whether that means economic sanctions will be lifted; and Sanger takes a look at Friday's speech by President Obama, in which he lays out a plan for future intelligence gathering.
Kerry Nolan talks with the New York Times's David Sanger about the former Secretary of Defense's new memoir and is the George Washington Bridge scandal now out of Governor Christie's hands?
Kerry Nolan speaks with David Sanger of the New York Times about his predictions from last year and his feelings about the big news stories bubbling up in 2014.
Kerry Nolan speaks with David Sanger from The New York Times about the ongoing NSA surveillance story and what we can expect from President Obama; and is it an exaggeration to call this the most dysfunctional year ever in Washington?
Kerry Nolan talks with the New York Times' David Sanger about whether the biggest issue in the aftermath of the NSA surveillance revelations might be economic rather than political; also, what does the House-passed budget deal really mean?
Kerry Nolan speaks with the New York Times' David Sanger about how the late Nelson Mandela was viewed by the West during the Cold War years; Germany hasn't let the furor over the NSA's alleged wiretapping of Chancellor Angela Merkel die down and the US unemployment rate has finally dropped to 7 percent.
Eddie Robinson talks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about the new challenges facing President Barack Obama's healthcare website, the long-running dispute between China and Japan, and how the U.S. plans to destroy Syria's chemical weapons at sea.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about this weekend's preliminary deal with Iran, which temporarily halts that country's nuclear program while a more permanent solution is worked out.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the difficulty in finding a place to destroy Syria's chemical weapons stockpile; DC's local insurance commissioner was sacked after he made a negative remark about the ACA website and remembering JFK, 50 years after his assassination.
Kerry Nolantalks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about this weekend's failed nuclear negotiations with Iran, about the latest problems with the rollout of the Affordable Care Act and why Typhoon Haiyan was so devastating.
In this week's Washington Report, Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the rocky rollout of Obamacare and the possible reining-in of the National Security Agency's computer and phone sweeps. Also, former President Clinton's ex-fundraiser is ahead in the polls as the Democratic candidate for Senate in Virginia. What makes this race so unusual?
Eddie Robinson talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the ongoing government shutdown and its impact on global markets. They also discuss the head of the NSA's attempt to defend his agency's surveillance programs amid criticism from America's allies.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about this past weekend's raids. They also look at the partial shutdown of the federal government as it enters its second week.
Eddie Robinson talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the possibility of the U.S. government's first shutdown in nearly two decades as well as a preview of what to look for as a diplomatic push restarts Iran nuclear negotiations.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about a possible thaw in U.S. relations with Iran, as as a new Iranian president attends the annual meeting of the U.N. General Assembly. He also touches on Syria and the battle over Obamacare on Capitol Hill.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger on the President's seeming indecision on Syria and Lawrence Summer's pullout as a candidate for Chair of the Federal Reserve.
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about President Obama's push for military intervention in Syria.
Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about President Obama's decision to seek Congressional approval before taking military action in Syria. Sanger also looks at the candidates for the Chair at the Federal Reserve.
Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the ongoing crisis in Syria; and he takes a look at the challenge facing a president who has to note a significant anniversary without overshadowing it.
Host Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sangerabout President Obama's plan to provide greater oversight when it comes to government surveillance programs; we look at drone strikes in Yemen and what that means in the war on terror and Congress left for its' summer break without dealing with the budget. Has the sequester really hurt the economy?
Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times' chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about the story behind the closure of 19 Embassies and missions in the Middle East and elsewhere in Africa; also, what happens to US/Russia relations now that Edward Snowden has been given temporary asylum in Russia; and Congress starts its' summer break without resolving key budget issues. What happens when they get back?
Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about whether Detroit's bankruptcy sets a dangerous precedent for municipal workers. He'll also take a look at Secretary of State John Kerry's attempts to restart Middle East peace talks and he remembers White House reporter Helen Thomas, who covered every president since JFK.
This week, Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times' Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about the Obama administration's reaction to the Zimmerman trial, about so-called computer vulnerabilities and why they are so valuable to governments and about whether new elections in Egypt will be held sooner than later.
This week, Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about the latest political unrest in Egypt and why President Obama has been so quiet about it. He also looks at the lessons emerging from this weekend's plane crash at the San Francisco airport.
Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times Chief Washington correspondent David Sanger about the EU reaction to the latest leaks from Edward Snowden and last week's Supreme Court decisions on same-sex marriage.
In this week's edition of The Washington Report, Kerry Nolan speaks with David Sanger about the ongoing saga of Edward Snowden, the man who has admitted leaking secrets about the NSA's electronic surveillance program. He also looks at the final day of the current Supreme Court term and the cases the judges are set to rule on.
In this week's Washington Report online, Kerry Nolan talks with David Sanger about whether the election of Iran's new President really means a moderation of the hard-line government; what happens now that the US is arming Syrian rebels and just how transparent the NSA is likely to get in the wake of the surveillance leaks.
In this week's Washington report, Kerry Nolan speaks with David Sanger- Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times - about the former CIA employee who has been identified as the source of the electronic surveillance leaks.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger - chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times - speaks with Kerry Nolan about the upcoming meeting between President Obama and China's President Xi Jinping; about new military movements by China in the Pacific and why the New York Times was among the news outlets who declined to meet with Attorney General Eric Holder in the Justice Department's probe of press leaks.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger - Chief Washington Correspondent for the New York Times - talks with Kerry Nolan about President Obama's speech last week and about the government's ongoing investigation of leaks to the press.
In this week's Washington Report, Kerry Nolan speaks with New York Times' Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about a new kind of cyber-attack; he looks at what we learned from the Benghazi hearings and ponders the question: is the President a lame duck already?
In this week's Washington Report, Kerry Nolan talks with New York Times Chief Washington Correspondent David Sanger about chemical weapons in Syria's Civil War, whether the Boston bombing suspects had overseas training and whether it's such a good idea for reporters to cozy up to the people they cover.
David Sanger, Chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times reports from Tel Aviv and talks with Kerry Nolan about the decision to send non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels; the aftermath of last week's bombing at the Boston Marathon and how Israel has handled similar terrorist attacks.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the idea of bipartisan compromise in Congress; about dueling intelligence reports on North Korea and the pain of tax day.
A tax and budget deal, an immigration reform deal and restrictions on gun sales. All three eluded him during his first term, but in the next few weeks, President Obama will try and get movement on all three. In this week on The Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Nolan discusses if this policy trifecta will happen.
Also, tensions continue to simmer on the Korean peninsula. Sanger reports that the U.S. and South Korea have a new "counterpunch'' strategy to deal with provocations from North Korea. He explains how this differs from the war plan that has been around for decades.
And five Americans die in one bombing attack in Afghanistan over the weekend, including 25-year- old Foreign Service officer Anne Smedinghoff. As the U.S. pulls back its forces, are American diplomats there more vulnerable?
In the 60 years since the end of the Korean war, it’s hard to remember a time when the United States seemed more on edge about North Korea. The U.S. has sent B-2 stealth bombers over the peninsula in recent days and Kim Jong Un, the North's young leader, has threatened the destruction of American cities. This week on The Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan discusses the ratcheting up of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Also, it’s been more than three months since the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Has the momentum for gun control legislation ground to a halt? And as the Supreme Court hear arguments last week on same-sex marriage, polls show that the public seems ahead of the courts on the issue. Is the law moving too fast for a court decision?
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula have been mounting. The North Koreans scrapped the 60-year armistice that ended the Korean War and threatened a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced that the U.S. would spend a billion dollars expanding its missile defense sites in Alaska and California, in part because of North Korea’s “irresponsible and reckless provocations.” This week on The Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent forThe New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan discuss if the missile defense system will deter the North Koreans.
Also, March 19th marks the 10 year anniversary of then President Bush’s announcement of the invasion of Iraq. The legacy of that decision has affected the question of when and how to intervene overseas for many leaders in Washington, D.C.
Lastly, President Obama will be traveling to the Middle East this week. And Israel is on the itinerary. But as Sanger explains, expectations for the visit, the president’s first to that country, is low.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel made his first overseas trip to Afghanistan as head of the Pentagon. By most accounts, it wasn’t exactly a diplomatic success. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Marc Garber about the bumps and bruises from the trip, as well as the debate that is brewing over how much can be cut from the defense budget.
Also, the jobs report saw a large bump last month, which sent the stock market surging. But are we setting ourselves up for a crash?
The sequester — $85 billion in across the board spending cuts — has begun. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about what people can expect and whether the real impacts can still be avoided.
Also, for love of the game, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with basketball player Dennis Rodman and a film crew. The reclusive leader has not met with many officials, and Rodman came back with a message for President Obama.
And just what is the purpose of the cyber attacks launched by countries like China and Iran?
The Obama administration makes a back-up plan for the overhaul of immigration, and Republicans don't like it one bit. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the outrage over the administration's "Plan B" for immigration, the difficulty that Chuck Hagel is facing in his quest for confirmation as defense secretary, and new calls to watch the skies for threats from outer space.
Arms reduction has not been a defining feature of the Obama administration. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about his move toward reducing the country's nuclear force. He also follows up on an executive order, expected this week, that would affect how companies prepare for cyberattacks, and the approaching "sequester," or automatic cut in funds, that the federal government is facing.
Cyber attacks are a growing area of concern for the U.S. government. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about an effort to come with rules to governing the use of cyber-weapons. He also discusses the recent airstrike against a scientific research center in Syria and President Obama's skeet shooting record.
It’s been a busy week in the nation’s capitol. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the final week of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State, as well as an effort to reinstate an assault weapons ban and U.S. assistance to France in Mali.
It's Inauguration Day. In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about what to look for in President Obama's second inaugural address, and how this event compares to his first inauguration.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about some objections being raised by Republicans to President Obama's nominations of Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary, John Brennen as Director of the CIA and Jack Lew as Treasury Secretary, as well as the French involvement in Mali.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the likely selection by the President of Chuck Hagel as Defense Secretary and John Brennen as Director of the CIA and the ongoing drama of the debt-ceiling negotiations.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the elementary school shooting in Newtown Connecticut and what it may mean for gun policy in the United States.
The Washington Report will be taking the next two weeks off.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the so-called fiscal cliff, the Supreme court and gay marriage, and the latest from Syria.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the fiscal cliff negotiations and the Assad regime in Syria.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the temporary truce in the middle east and the coming fiscal cliff negotiations.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the missile exchanges between Hamas and the Israelis, and about the resignation of former CIA director David Petraeus.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the resignation of General David Petraeus and the search for a new CIA director.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Eddie Robinson about the devastating storm that slammed into the East Coast last week, and could send gusty winds of uncertainty through Tuesday's presidential election.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about Hurricane Sandy and an equally volatile campaign season.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about how arms that are sent into Syria are ending up in the hands of hard-line Islamist Jihadis. Then he discusses what's behind the recent cyber-attacks on a Saudi Oil Company. Last, he takes a look ahead to the second round of presidential debates, scheduled to take place Tuesday.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the presidential campaigns and the coming vice presidential debates.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about what to expect during Wednesday's first presidential debate and the latest revelations about the attack on the embassy in Libya that led to the murder of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three others. Then, Sanger remembers the late New York Times publisher Arthur "Punch" Sulzberger.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the presidential campaigns and the UN General Assembly this week.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about last week's Republican National Convention, this week's Democratic National Convention, and the threat of nuclear strikes on Iran from Israel.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the impact of Tropical Storm Isaac on the Republican National Convention, and his memories of the late legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about candidate Mitt Romney's running mate Paul Ryan, President Obama's poll numbers, and the threat from Israel of a strike against Iran's nuclear complex.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the benefits and drawbacks of candidate Mitt Romney's pick of Paul Ryan to share the GOP ticket.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the situation in Syria, the jobs picture in the United States, and the accusation by Senate leader Harry Reid that Mitt Romney did not pay taxes.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's trip to Israel and his recent comments regarding Iran. Then Sanger takes a look at the campaign trail here at home, where the economy is bringing some mixed results in the polls.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the cracks appearing in Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's regime and what it could mean for the region. Then Sanger discusses the political reaction to the shooting in Colorado and looks ahead to to the new year, when Bush-era tax cuts expire at the same time as some pretty sweeping spending cuts go into effect.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about developments in the competing US presidential campaigns in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Health care Act. Then Sanger discusses the LIBOR scandal in Europe and the ongoing struggle for power in Egypt.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Brian Zumhagen about the Bush-era tax cuts, the European economy. Then Sanger discusses US sanctions and military presence in Iran and the recent move by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi to reconvene the parliament.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Lance Luckey about who will benefit from the Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act, the administration's tough new sanctions against Iran, and Mexico poised to re-elect the PRI.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the elections in Egypt, what the United States knows about Egypt's new president, and the future of Egyptian foreign policy. Looking ahead, Sanger previews this week's upcoming Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about elections in Egypt and the future of democracy there; and elections in Greece and what they might mean for the Eurozone. He also talks about presidential campaigning in the U.S, where a flush of cash has met a dearth of message.
Finally, Sanger discusses the debate over cyber-warfare and the ongoing investigations into leaks.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about the policy changes following last week's air strike in Afghanistan and the recent foreign policy disclosures. Sanger also discusses the President's campaign gaffe that the private sector is doing just fine, and why he takes issue with the word "leaks".
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Brian Zumhagen about Iran's nuclear program and the United States' covert opposition. Sanger discusses the role of computer worms and cyber attacks in this international conflict. Finally, Sanger addresses the speculation from conservatives that the White House is leaking information about President Obama's role in drone strikes and cyber attacks to increase bolster his image as a strong commander-in-chief in an election year.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about how the United Nations is grappling with escalating violence in Syria. Sanger also weighs in on what he calls the "interregnum" between the primary campaigns and the general election when it comes to the race for the White House. Finally, on this Memorial Day, a reflection on where the United States military stands after some 10 years of continuous fighting abroad.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about how Mitt Romney does not always listen to some of his advisers when it comes to campaign strategy. He also weighs in on how President Obama's endorsement of same sex marriage is likely to affect the November presidential election.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, talks to Kerry Nolan about recent elections in France and Greece, the jobs numbers released Friday morning, and President Obama's presidential campaign 2.0.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, speaks to Kerry Nolan about U.S. diplomatic relations with China and South Korea.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, speaks to Kerry Nolan about scandals at the Secret Service and the General Services Administration and how President Obama is dealing with them.
the scandals currently troubling the Obama administration and check on the state of the economic recovery.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, speaks to Kerry Nolan about North Korea's failed attempt to launch a space satellite. He also weighs in on U.S. negotiations with Iran over the country's nuclear program and a spate of attacks in the Afghan capital of Kabul over the weekend.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, speaks to Kerry Nolan about upcoming negotiations between the United States and Iran over that country's nuclear program. He also weighs in on whether Mitt Romney is seizing on Friday's lower-than-expected jobs numbers to make an economic argument against President Obama.
In this week's Washington Report, David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for the New York Times, speaks to Kerry Nolan about the Obama administration's decision to send communications equipment to the opposition fighters in Syria. He also weighs in on the how the Supreme Court's coming ruling on President Obama's health care law will play in President Obama's re-election campaign.