Kiplinger reports on banking and economic recovery. Kiplinger editor, Jim Ostroff, joins Jim Blasingame to report on improvements in the banking sector and what that means for economic recovery. They also talk about some of the employee details in the new health care law.

After 11 years, Kiplinger's Joan Pryde says goodbye. Joan Pryde joined Jim's Brain Trust in January 1998 and has been a weekly resource ever since. Today she announced her departure from Kiplinger as she takes a high level speech-writing job with the IRS. Jim thanks her for her abiding support and wishes her God speed.

Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to report on the trillions of dollars of cash being hoarded by major corporations, and what that will mean for recovery when these companies start spending again. The also discuss a controversial NLRB appointment and this agency's tilt toward labor.

Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to report on the current status of proposed financial reform legislation. Jim reveals why these new regs will hurt small businesses because of the costs and unnecessary restrictions it will place on lending banks.

What have we learned about causes of the financial crisis? Scott Patterson joins Jim Blasingame to discuss what caused the financial crisis, the people who created it, and the political committee that is supposed to recommend reforms.

How are public policies and political attitudes hurting small business recovery? Rob Levin joins Jim Blasingame to talk about why policies such as the health care bill and other anti-business attitudes by politicians make small businesses hesitant to invest and hire.

Kiplinger on the looming states' rights battles with the Feds. Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about some of the federal mandates that various states are taking exception with and the plans being taken to resist these future obligations.

Reporting on tax issues affecting small business, Kiplinger's Joan Pryde talks with Jim Blasingame about jobs creation tax deductions, Section 179 direct expending and other elements of the evolving tax code.

Reporting on current economic issues, Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame to talk about productivity gains, challenges in the housing industry among other economic indicators.

Reporting on progress in the war in Afghanistan, Kiplinger's Joan Pryde joins Jim Blasingame with the progress, and they compare this effort with that of past attempts at controlling this region.