Oil Spill; Airline Food; Sweet Honey In The Rock

The confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan continue, and campaign finance and the recent court ruling on handguns are major areas of questioning from Senators. Barbara Arnwine, executive director of the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights sat in on a day of Kagan’s questioning and joins us to share her reflections from the Senate hearing room.

Oil Spill, Day 68. As oil continues to flow in the Gulf, we continue to assess the environmental damage. Oceana, the leading advocacy group protecting the world’s oceans, is out front working in Washington and Louisiana to help alleviate the oil spill’s damage. Jackie Savitz, campaign director for Oceana, discusses the current state of the disaster.

Everyone knows the talk about airline food—the industry doesn’t exactly have a reputation for serving up tasty dishes. But now reports show problems with hygiene and food quality that can potentially lead to serious health risks. We talk to USA Today’s Gary Stoller to find out what’s really cooking on commercial airlines.

Rounding out the show, we talk with Dr. Ysaye Barnwell, a 31-year member of the renowned black folk a cappella ensemble and national treasure, Sweet Honey In The Rock. Their latest project is the song “Are We A Nation?,” written in response to the Arizona immigration law and following in the group’s long tradition of raising their collective voice in the struggle to advance peace and justice. She also raises her voice in song with our host—though she’s already denied him membership in the group.

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