Cooled Off Hot Topics

Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. Katrina formed on August 23, 2005 and caused devastation along much of the north-central Gulf Coast of the U.S. At least 1,836 people lost their lives and the total cost was estimated at $125 billion. Most notable were the catastrophic effects on the city of New Orleans, LA, and in coastal Mississippi. The slow government response raised many questions about the country’s disaster readiness, including why agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) appeared unprepared to deal with a forecasted natural disaster. The criticisms resulted in an investigation by the U.S. Congress and FEMA’s director, Michael Brown, retiring. Learn about Hurricane Katrina by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Pope Benedict XVI, born Joseph Ratzinger on 16 April 1927 in Germany, is the 265th and reigning Pope. After the passing of Pope John Paul II he was elected Bishop of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church on April19, 2005. On Sunday, April 24, 2005 he celebrated the Papal Inauguration Mass and took possession of his cathedral on May 7, 2005. Benedict XVI is viewed as a defender of traditional Catholic doctrine and values. Pope Benedict XVI is also one of the best-known Catholic theologians since the 1950s and a prolific author. Learn about Pope Benedict by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Port security refers to all homeland security and counterterrorism activities that fall within the port and maritime domain. It includes the protection of the seaports themselves, the protection and inspection of the cargo moving through the ports, and security in the maritime domain. Some organizations that take part in this important task are the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, International Maritime Organization, local law enforcement agencies, etc. Learn about port security by reading NewsMax Hot Topics. This is a very important part of homeland security.

Katie Couric is anchor and managing editor of the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, a 60 Minutes correspondent and the anchor of CBS News primetime specials. She completed a 15-year run as co-anchor of NBC News’ Today on May 31, 2006. She has covered most of the major news events in the past 15 years and has interviewed some of the world’s elite. Along with receiving awards, Couric has also helped establish several organizations. Learn about Katie Couric by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The Bush administration includes President George W. Bush, Vice President Richard Cheney, Bush’s Cabinet, and other select officials and advisors. President Bush and his administration took office on January 20, 2001, and continues through to the present day. George Bush and his administration’s term is scheduled to end at noon on January 20th, 2009, when the administration of the 44th President, to be elected in November 2008, is to take office. Learn about the Bush administrationand President George W. Bush by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

George W. Bush is the 43rd President of the United States. He was sworn into office on January 20, 2001, re-elected on November 2, 2004, and sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2005. Prior to his Presidency, President Bush served for 6 years as the 46th Governor of the State of Texas. Since becoming President, George Bush has worked with the Congress to create an ownership society and build a future of security, prosperity, and opportunity for all Americans. He has also taken unprecedented steps to protect our homeland and create a world free from terror. Learn about President Bush by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The 2006 elections led to many changed in America. During the elections Democrats took control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate for the first time in a dozen years. The Democratic Party also captured a majority of governorships and state legislatures. Learn about the 2006 elections by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. Biological warfare is the use of biological agents that can be spread through the air, through water, or in food. Terrorists may use biological weapons because they can be extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Learn about bioterrorism by reading NewsMax Hot Topics. Also find out the full facts about bioterror.

Mainland China has considered Taiwan a renegade province ever since communist forces drove the nationalists off the mainland in 1949. China has repeatedly threatened to use military power against the island if it declares independence and has staged a series of naval exercises off the coast of Taiwan. While a recent Pentagon report warns that China is considering further coercive moves, People’s Republic of China accuses the United States of fabricating a ‘China threat’ to continue arms sales to Taiwan. Learn about China and Taiwan by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) plans the Party’s quadrennial presidential nominating convention; promotes the election of Party candidates with both technical and financial support; and works with national, state, and local party organizations, elected officials, candidates, and constituencies to respond to the needs and views of the Democratic electorate and the nation. Learn about the Democratic National Committee and it’s leader Howard Dean by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Elizabeth Dole currently serves as a United States senator representing the state of North Carolina. As Senator, Elizabeth Dole is focused on growing the economy and creating jobs, strengthening national security and modernizing our military, improving education and making quality health care more affordable and accessible. She has also served in both the Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush presidential administrations. Learn about Elizabeth Dole by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Executive orders are edicts issued by the President of the United States. The concept of an executive order is loosely derived from the grant of “executive power” given to the President by Article Two of the United States Constitution, Section 1, and the statement “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed” in Article II, Section 3. Learn about executive orders by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

In 2004 Mel Gibson directed the Academy Award nominated film The Passion of the Christ about the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life, from the moment of his arrest, trial to crucifixion, known to Christians as “The Passion”. Learn about Gibson’s controversial film The Passion by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Al Gore is an American politician, teacher, businessman, and environmentalist. From 1993 to 2001, Gore was the 45th Vice President of the United States, serving with Bill Clinton. Most recently he has been known for his documentary An Inconvenient Truth about global warming. Learn about Al Gore by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The gun control debate is centered on the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which protects “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” Gun control advocates believe that right does not extend to ownership of military-style firearms that are otherwise known as assault weapons. On the other hand gun rights groups, led by the NRA, argue that these and other proposals infringe on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Learn about gun control by reading NewsMax Hot Topics. Also read more about the National Rifle Association.

Steven Hatfill is the former U.S. Army bio-weapons scientist named a “person of interest” in the 2001 anthrax attacks. He denied having any connection to the fatal anthrax mailings and filed suit against Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Justice Department and the FBI because he believed his constitutional rights had been violated. Learn about Steven Hatfill by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The right to impeach public officials is secured by the U.S. Constitution which indicates the grounds for impeachment: “the President, Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” Impeachment requires a majority vote of the House. The vice president presides over the Senate proceedings in the case of all officials except the president, whose trial is presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. Learn more about impeachment and its existence in present day by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Janet Reno is the first female Attorney General of the United States. She was nominated by President Bill Clinton on February 11, 1993 and served until the end of the Clinton administration in January 2001. She was the second longest serving Attorney General. Learn about Janet Reno by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Senator John Kerry is the junior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, in his fourth term of office. As the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party, he was defeated in the 2004 presidential election by the Republican incumbent President George W. Bush. Senator Kerry is currently the Chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. He is also a Vietnam Veteran. Learn about John Kerry by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Senator John McCain is an American Republican politician, currently the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. He was a presidential candidate in the 2000 election, but was defeated by George W. Bush for the Republican nomination. McCain formally announced on April 25, 2007 that he is seeking the Republican Presidential nomination in the 2008 election. Learn about John McCain by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The United States is currently attempting to develop several components of a missile defense system designed to protect U.S. territory from attack by long-range strategic ballistic missiles. According to the National Missile Defense Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-38), “It is the policy of the United States to deploy as soon as is technologically possible an effective National Missile Defense system capable of defending the territory of the United States against limited ballistic missile attack (whether accidental, unauthorized, or deliberate) with funding subject to the annual authorization of appropriations and the annual appropriation of funds for National Missile Defense.” Learn about missile defense by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Ralph Nader is an American attorney and political activist. He has promoted many issues including consumer rights, feminism, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government. More recently Nader has been a critic of American foreign policy. His activism has also played a large part in the creation of many governmental and non-governmental organizations. Learn about Ralph Nader by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

When news happens NewsMax is there to get an exclusive on the top stories. Read these Hot Topics on NewsMax.

Zogby International has been tracking public opinion since 1984 in North America, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. Their mission is to offer the best polling, market research, information services, and business solutions worldwide based on accuracy and detailed strategic information. Zogby polls, led by John Zogby, enhance the public’s knowledge on what is going on in today’s world. Learn what Zogby polls are saying related to headline news by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

North Korea has been at odds with the United States, Japan and South Korea (with whom it remains technically at war) since the cease fire of the Korean War in 1953. North Korea’s relations with the United States have become particularly tense in recent years as President George W. Bush labeled North Korea part of an “axis of evil.” Learn more about North Korea and Kim Jong-il by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The Panama Canal is a major ship canal that traverses the Isthmus of Panama in Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Construction of the canal was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken. Since opening, the canal has been enormously successful, and continues to be a key conduit for international shipping. Learn about the Panama Canal and it’s influence in the world today by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

In the United States presidential election of 2000 Republican George W. Bush was elected over Democrat Al Gore in one of the closest and most controversial presidential elections in the history of the United States on November 7, 2000. Democratic candidate Al Gore, the Vice President of the United States, received more popular votes but fewer electoral votes than Republican candidate George W. Bush, the Governor of Texas. Learn about the 2000 Presidential election by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

The Republican National Committee provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is also responsible for organizing and running the Republican National Convention. The current chairman of the Republican party is Mike Duncan, and the General Chairman is Senator Mel Martinez, a first-termer from Florida. Learn about the RNC by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

Russia is a transcontinental country extending over a vast expanse of Asia and Europe. It’s President, Vladimir Putin is known for trying to re-establish the strong and independent role Russia once played all the while seeking stronger ties with other nations. Learn about Russia by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.

On July 17, 1996 TWA Flight 800 exploded off Long Island and plunged into the Atlantic, killing all 230 people aboard. There was much speculation regarding what caused the flight to go down, some even believed that it was a terrorist attack, but in 2000 NTSB investigation ended with the conclusion that the probable cause of the accident was “an explosion of the center wing fuel tank, resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but, of the sources evaluated by the investigation, the most likely was a short circuit outside of the CWT that allowed excessive voltage to enter it through electrical wiring associated with the fuel quantity indication system.” Learn about the TWA 800 by reading NewsMax Hot Topics.