Hi from the CNN newsroom in New York..

Here's what we're working on for tonight's program.  John Roberts is filling in for Campbell tonight.  It's a busy night, and we're really looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

First up...  is time to declare victory in Iraq and bring the troops home right now?    Britain has already done that.  A senior U.S. military official thinks so, too.  What do you think?

Next, John will ask the chef who was in the house the day Michael Jackson died an important question: Why was her name found among the prescriptions that may have contributed to Jackson's death?  What would you ask her?

And here's a story that got us talking in the newsroom all day.  Two police chiefs in Ohio were arraigned today for allegedly breaking into a home.  Whose home?  The home of the surrogate hired by Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker.   Our newsroom debate is our question tonight:  have we– as American society– become so celebrity-obsessed that police chiefs would allegedly go so far?    Or do celebrities give up certain rights of privacy when they enter into the entertainment industry.   We'd love to hear what you have to say.

OK, time to put some finishing touches... and we'll see you at 8PM Eastern.

“Guardedly optimistic about the direction our economy is going,” that's President Obama's reaction to today's news that the U.S. economy did better than expected in April, May and June.

The House of Representatives approved another two billion dollars for the government's cash for clunkers program which gives consumers up to $4,500 for trading-in gas guzzlers for new, fuel-efficient cars. The program's so popular it's running out of money. Michigan Democrat John Dingle said, “this is a great problem to have in the midst of all the problems we confront.”

The House also voted to tighten restrictions on compensation for Wall Street executives.

Democratic Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut is planning for surgery to treat prostate cancer, "I'm gonna be fine in all of this. Again, we caught early.”

And tonight the President and Vice President get together with all 22 cabinet-rank officials to discuss "priorities for the administration's agenda moving forward".

As you probably know, members of Congress can send mail for free. Instead of putting a stamp in the upper-right corner of an envelope like the rest of us, members can simply write their name and off it goes. The idea – which goes back to the early days of the Congress – is to make it easy for lawmakers to keep in touch with their constituents.

Now, in the heat of the health care debate, this privilege has become the subject of an ongoing battle.
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BY Kelli Zink
Celebtv.com
Why is it that we always want what we can’t have?

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews has given the American sports lover hundreds of thousands of hours of her time from the sidelines, locker room, even the red carpet. But she refuses to pose in lingerie or exploit her looks and in turn, some sicko has gone to extreme measures to film Ms. Andrews in her most private moments and post it for all of cyberspace to see.

I’ve always looked up to this woman, who has achieved success in a male-dominated field but hasn’t lost an inch of her femininity.

With her supermodel looks and dream job, one would think Erin would have an attitude but as I learned first-hand, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I met Erin when she worked on a project with my company, Intersport, hosting a CelebTV.com special.

She couldn’t have been more down to earth, treating everyone from the interns to the boss with equal respect.

One of her visits to our studio was at the time a sportswriter criticized Erin for a certain dress she wore in the Cubs clubhouse during a post-game interview. Erin took this extremely personally and was hurt, upset and frustrated. A week later, when a reporter made a similar comment about me in his column, Erin was the first person I reached out to.

Erin believes females should stick together and support each other. Reading her inspiring e-mail allowed me to brush off the hateful remark and move on.

Now Erin has to move on. I’m sure men’s magazines have always wanted to score a “tasteful” cover shoot with the sports siren. I’m sure SI would love her in a swim suit. Hell, I bet Victoria’s Secret would throw her on the runway as an angel. But no- all Erin wants is to do a job she loves and is damn good at.

So America- show’s over. Move on.

There's so much on the show tonight.

We're monitoring the "beer chat" President Obama and Vice Presdient Biden are moderating at the White House with Professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge MA Police Sergeant James Crowley.  Did you see the tape of it?  What are your thoughts on this?  Will this change things in America?

And, you may have heard about the Erin Andrews story.   She's the ESPN sportscaster who was secretly videotaped in her hotel room.  She called 911 to get paparazzi off her front yard in her gated community. She said she was being treated like Britney Spears.  What are your thoughts on this story? 

Also tonight, some late-breaking new exclusive information on the Michael Jackson Investigation.   Randi Kaye is working the story, and I can't share it with you right now, but you'll see this new information first on "Campbell Brown."

This evening at the White House, President Obama has a beer with a black Harvard professor and the white policeman who arrested him.

A new CNN poll of polls puts the President's approval rating at 54%...with 37% disapproving.

The House passed a $636 billion military spending bill today. It cuts money for the controversial F-22 jet fighter.

The Senate's number-three Republican, Lamar Alexander, is breaking with his party's leadership on judge Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination, he said, “I will vote to confirm her.”

A jury is deliberating the corruption case against ex-Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson…who was caught with $90,000 in cash in his freezer.

Senator Edward Kennedy, tennis legend Billy Jean King, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu are among the 16 newly-announced recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks about former Governor Sarah Palin, how he thinks President Obama is doing, and Glenn Beck's comments about the President.

BROWN:A lot to talk about on that front. But let me first ask you about President Obama, because you recently said that his first seven months have been, in your view, much worse than you had thought they would be.

What has alarmed you the most?
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By Mia Amber Davis
Creative Editor-At-Large for Plus Model Magazine

Statistics say that over 62% of women in the U.S. wear a size 14 or higher.  (The UK is not far behind us.) We are definitely a nation of size yet we seem to be the most undesirable aspect of our culture.

"Fat" people are often over looked as attractive, smart, active and healthy simply because of their weight.

There also seems to be a different standard of beauty within the African-American and Latino cultures where more "junk in the trunk" is a great thing!

As a plus size model, actress and Creative Editor-At-Large for Plus Model Magazine I am in constant contact with the Plus Community.

While I may not know anyone in my circle who is "overweight" with health issues stemming from that weight – I believe that having health issues does not specifically concern the overweight community. I believe there are many "skinny" or "normal sized" people who are sick with illnesses such as diabetes and high cholesterol but no one is pointing the finger at them because they are "thin."  

The CDC's findings of $147 Billion Dollars being spent to care for and treat obese Americans does not pertain to me or any of the thousands I have met throughout my career in the plus industry.

Let me tell you a little about my story...
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Will.i.am speaks with Campbell about the music he was making with Michael Jackson before the singer's death in June. He also talks about their friendship and Jackson as an artist.

CAMPBELL BROWN: So, Will, I understand you and Michael were collaborating together just before he passed away. Tell us what you're working on?

WILL.I.AM, MUSICIAN, ACTIVIST: I had the pleasure and the blessing to work with Michael Jackson for the last, say, around two-and-a-half years I've been communicating with Michael Jackson, talking all of the time on the phone and I flew out and worked with him in Ireland, came back to America and we did "Thriller 25."

I remixed and produced three songs on that album that came out. And it was just - I can't even find the words to describe how thrilled and excited I was working with him and talking with him on the phone and spending time with him, learning from him, exchanging ideas.

It was awesome. He is a great man.

BROWN: So was there a new album that you guys were working on?

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Tonight, the latest developments in the Michael Jackson case, Will.i.am talks about the music he recorded with Michael Jackson’s right before his death. Will they ever be released?

And former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks about Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and other politics of the day.

Also, Bernie Madoff speaks out. Campbell sits down with a lawyer who visited Madoff in prison and listened to Madoff’s story of scamming innocent people out of billions of dollars.

What are your thoughts on the topics? We want to know and will start posting your comments at 8pm ET.
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