STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
That phrase about one small step for man is about to be out of date. The Trump administration has promised to put the first woman on the moon by 2024. The new plans for space come amid celebrations of the anniversary of the first moon landing 50 years ago. That feat grew out of a U.S. space race with the Soviet Union that changed much of American life. Here's President Dwight Eisenhower talking about Sputnik 1, the satellite first launched by the Soviet Union in October 1957.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DWIGHT EISENHOWER: We congratulate Soviet scientists upon putting a satellite into orbit. The United States satellite program has been designed from its inception for maximum result in scientific research.
INSKEEP: Now, the U.S. is turning its eyes upward again. And space is our topic as we ask Cokie. Cokie Roberts joins us regularly to talk about how politics and the government work. Hi, Cokie.
COKIE ROBERTS, BYLINE: Hi, Steve.
INSKEEP: And here's our first question.
BRIDGET HALLIGAN: I'm Bridget Halligan (ph) of Des Moines, Iowa. Is anyone actually still interested in going to space or what space exploration offers us? It seems the hype was huge when the program started years ago but appears it's become a joke with Space Force.
ROBERTS: Actually, recent polling, Steve, shows a good bit of interest in the program. A CBS survey conducted in June showed fully 3/4 saying the moon shot was worth it in terms of time and money. And about the same number said they favored sending astronauts to explore Mars. And close to that member favor sending astronauts back to the moon - although almost as many said they personally would not like to go (laughter).
INSKEEP: OK, not for everybody.
ROBERTS: Now, in terms of a space force, that's a whole new branch of the military proposed by President Trump. A Pew survey in May and June does show significant opposition to that - about 60%. But people still strongly support U.S. leadership in space, though clearly it's not what it was back at the beginning of the program when the whole country sat up and took notice.
I found the report interesting. And? Honestly, when "Ask Cokie"was introduced as a segment, I thought it was going to be a nightmare and was prepared to laugh.
"Iraq snapshot" (THE COMMON ILLS):
Friday, July 26, 2019. Joe Biden continues to struggle while insisting, "Come at me, bro!"
Starting in the US where the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nominee is on.
25 are seeking the nomination, 20 will be allowed to debate over two nights next week. The press has declared War Hawk Joe Biden the front runner.
The people have not spoken.
But Joe keeps speaking, keeps putting his foot in his mouth.
America needs Medicare For All. Joe says "no" while running on Barack Obama's coattails. There's a problem.
Starting in the US where the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nominee is on.
25 are seeking the nomination, 20 will be allowed to debate over two nights next week. The press has declared War Hawk Joe Biden the front runner.
The people have not spoken.
But Joe keeps speaking, keeps putting his foot in his mouth.
America needs Medicare For All. Joe says "no" while running on Barack Obama's coattails. There's a problem.
Joe Biden released this new video arguing against Medicare for All, while President Obama himself praised the idea
Guess Joe's not as close to Barack as he likes to claim.
In a new development, Joe has issued a warning, his version of "Come at me, bro."
Democratic presidential frontrunner Joe Biden is out with a stark warning for his opponents ahead of next week's debates. He's saying: if you come at me, this time, I’m ready to hit back.
@EdOKeefe reports.
If you come at me this time, I'm ready to hit back.
Hmm.
A president needs to be ready on day one, Joe. And supposedly you have all this experience that makes you so qualified. But you can't handle your first debate?
Joe's an embarrassment.
Which is why support for Joe continues to drop. And then drop some more.
"Please clap..."
Though every poll still shows him running atop the Democratic field, since he joined the race in late April, Biden’s support has been cut almost in half.
Whatever Joe does in next week's debate, let's hope he lays off the make up. I haven't seen so much foundation on anyone since a TV actress with a heroin habit in the 80s.
Joe Biden will forever be the War Hawk who sold the Iraq War and kept it going. He's not the only one. Many did so in the US and elsewhere. In Australia . . .
John Howard is a War Criminal. He's the forgotten War Criminal because Tony Blair was Bully Boy Bush's lapdog and no one could ever figure out what was lower than a lapdog. Whatever that was, it's John Howard.
Meanwhile . . .
True or false? Who knows. Haythem is a well known liar with a long streak of lies. He's also State of Law -- but isn't that redundant? He's lied about government formation in the past, he's lied about so much. He also has a history of being seen by the Iraqi people as a tool of Iran. If people are being declared terrorist by the US government, then they can always fight the charges. The declaration would only make formal what's been stated by the military brass to the press for years.
The following sites updated: