The inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama is nearing and controversy has already begun to erupt about the historic event. Obama has asked the Rev. Rick Warren, senior pastor of Saddleback Church and the best-selling author of the "Purpose Driven Life," to provide the opening prayer of the inaugural ceremony. That this popular and well-respected Christian leader would be tapped for the invocation has upset many on the far left and in the gay community. ...more

January 3, 2009

"Where We Stand," a new PBS documentary about challenges facing American education, is both inspiring and depressing. ...more

September 18, 2008

Citing the specter of attacks from independent groups on the right, Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, announced Thursday that he would opt out of the public financing system for the general election campaign. ...more

June 20, 2008

U.S. Navy ships laden with relief supplies will steam away from Myanmar's coast today, their helicopters barred by the ruling junta even though millions of cyclone survivors need food, shelter or medical care. ...more

June 4, 2008