Today's Highlights

Economic Policy

unemployment rises to 9.6% in August

Today

A key Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reading on the nation’s jobs situation reported this morning that the unemployment rate for August moved up for the first time in four months to 9.6 percent. Read More »

Private employers added 67,000 new jobs in August, down from July's total of 107,000. The drop in new jobs helped push the jobless rate up to 9.6 percent from 9.5 percent in July. Overall, the nation lost 54,000 jobs as 114,000 temporary census workers completed their employment and more than a half-million Americans resumed their job searches in August.

President Obama made remarks earlier today on the latest job numbers and called for a "positive approach" to revive the struggling economy and urged lawmakers to pass another aid package for small businesses.

Mideast Policy

National Politics

Mideast Peace Talks Set to Resume in Two Weeks

Mideast Peace Talks Set to Resume in Two Weeks

Today

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gathered in DC this week, at the behest of the Obama administration, in their first face-to-face meetings on Middle East peace since December 2008.

The first round of talks has concluded but the leaders will meet again at an undisclosed location in the Middle East on September 14th and 15th, according to special State Dept. Envoy George Mitchell. During a special briefing at the State Department yesterday, he reported that both parties agreed on several points, including key provisions on a two state solution and a deal to complete the talks in one year.

Pres. Obama launched this new round of peace talks between Israeli President Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, which included support from Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Campaign 2010 programming today on C-SPAN

Campaign 2010 programming today on C-SPAN

Today

The American Political Science Association held a discussion on the upcoming elections with several conservative journalists and political analysts taking a look at congressional races and the prospects for the Republicans to capture the House and Senate.

Tonight, C‑SPAN will feature debates from this past week. Our coverage includes the California Senate race between Sen. Barbara Boxer (D) and challenger Carly Fiorina (R); the Arizona Governors debate with Gov. Jan Brewer (R), Democratic State Attorney General Terry Goddard, and several third party candidates; and the Nevada Governors debate between Rory Reid (D) and Brian Sandoval (R).

Earlier today, the Washington Journal wrapped up its series on electoral politics with a conversation about the science of polling. Alan Abramowitz, Political Science Professor for Emory University, discussed the accuracy of data collection, how polls are interpreted and how public opinion is swayed by poll results.

Recent Programs

Panel Discussion on 2010 Elections The American Political Science Association held their annual 2010 meeting and conducted a discussion on the 2010 midterm elections. Speakers included Jonah Goldberg of National Review online.
Washington, DC
watch Panel Discussion
Connect with C-SPAN
C-SPAN's Video Library

This Week on C-SPAN


  • Supreme Court Oral Argument: Panetti v. Quarterman (2007)

  • Q&A: Meredith Whitney, Financial Analyst
Thanks to Our Affiliates