This program is 29 minutes long
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(Studio: Brian Williams) The Supreme Court’s agreement to review a New Hampshire law requiring minors wanting an abortion to notify a parent noted.
(Supreme Court: Pete Williams) The potential impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to hear the abortion case examined; scenes shown of an abortion rights demonstration outside the court; details given about the law that makes no exceptions when the 48-hour notification requirement would endanger the patient’s life. [Planned Parenthood president Karen PEARL†, anti-abortion lawyer Jay SEKULOW†- offer views on the New Hampshire law.] [American University Law School professor Stephen WERMIEL†- notes the impact on states’ freedom to restrict access to abortion.] The uncertainty over whether the hearing will include ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist noted; recent photo & Grand Canyon University video shown of Rehnquist. [REHNQUIST – accepts an honorary degree.]
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(Studio: Brian Williams) The emotional debate in the Senate over eliminating the filibuster for judicial nominees noted. NOTE: technical problem with the report acknowledged.
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(White House: David Gregory) The White House meeting between President Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai reviewed; details given of strain between them over reports of prisoner abuse by American troops, the opium trade and the “Newsweek” Koran controversy. [BUSH – outlines the role of the US military in Afghanistan.] [KARZAI – downplays the view that the “Newsweek” story prompted deadly riots.]
#790864
(Studio: Brian Williams) Report re-introduced.
(Capitol: Chip Reid) The emotional debate in the Senate over eliminating the filibuster for judicial nominees reviewed; scenes shown of cots being set up in the Senate in preparation for an all-night session. [Senators Pat ROBERTS†, Bill FRIST, Dianne FEINSTEIN, Harry REID – comment on historical precedents for filibustering.]
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Operation Squeeze Play, a joint US-Iraqi operation to round up militants in Baghdad, and car bombings in Baghdad & Mosul reported; scenes shown.
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(Washington: Andrea Mitchell) First Lady Laura Bush’s mission to soften the US image on her tour of the Middle East featured; scene shown of her at the pyramids in Egypt and being heckled in Jerusalem; GAO report criticizing the State Department’s public relations efforts among Arabs quoted. [From “Today,” BUSH - comments on recent incidents tarnishing the American image.] [At an Israeli gathering, Secretary of State Condoleezza RICE – calls for Arab states to end support for extremism.] [State Department spokesman Richard BOUCHER†, public opinion expert Steven KULL†- comment on diplomacy efforts in the Arab world.]
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(Haifa, Israel: Lisa Myers) The seizure from a fishing boat of Hizballah CD-ROMs that provide instructions for making weapons to be used in terror attacks featured; Israeli military footage shown; excerpts, including a guide for making a suicide vest that recently appeared on a militant Islamic Website, shown. [Boat captain Mohammed DARWISH† {thru translator} – says he did not know what they were carrying.] [NBC News analyst retired Col. Rick FRANCONA††- comments on the instructions for making the high-powered explosive RDX; says you no longer have to be part of a terrorist group.]
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(Studio: Brian Williams) The trial in Washington state to overturn last year’s gubernatorial election, which Christine Gregoire won over Dino Rossi, noted.
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(New York: Tom Costello) Two controversies involving Viagra outlined; details given of the finding that Medicaid provided Viagra for released violent sex offenders in New York and the plan for Medicare to provide seniors with Viagra and similar drugs while birth control is not covered. [Senator Charles SCHUMER†, psychotherapist Dr. Robin LUDWIG†- react to the New York finding.] [NARAL Pro-Choice America Nancy KEENAN†- says it’s a question of fairness in insurance.]
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(Studio: Brian Williams) A new study finding the cholesterol-lowering statin drug Crestor has more side effects than its competitors, including Zocor & Lipitor, noted.
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(Studio: Brian Williams) Report introduced.
(Pittsburgh: Robert Bazell) A new study showing no improvement since a landmark 1999 study on deaths due to medical mistakes reviewed; scenes shown of a University of Pittsburgh Medical School simulator using a robotic dummy to demonstrate how errors occur. [Harvard School of Public Health Dr. Lucian LEAPE†- comments.] [University of Pittsburgh Dr. John SCHAEFER††- comments on the demonstration.]
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