Meghan McCain to Sit In for Hasselbeck on the View

Goodbye, celebrity gossip, recipes—hello, health care, gay marriage

(NEWSER) - The View is bringing politics to the daytime talk show, once the realm of cooking tips and fashion advice. Discussion of topics like health care is "one of the reasons I watch it," an audience member tells the Los Angeles Times . "When they do the fashion stuff, I tune out." Washington has also taken notice: "The View is definitely a show that makes it on to the agenda of staff meetings when you're doing strategic planning," says a strategist. More»

(NEWSER) - Elisabeth Hasselbeck is expecting her third child in August, and the pregnancy came as a surprise, People reports. “I didn't even know for 2 months,” the co-host told her friends on The View today, noting that she and her husband “were thoroughly happy with the surprise of it.” Hasselbeck said she had chalked up her lethargy to election fatigue, but “no—I was knocked up and didn’t realize it!” More»

Rosie O'Donnell's right-wing rival back from maternity leave

(NEWSER) - Conservative TV co-host Elizabeth Hasselbeck will return to "The View" on Monday after a two-month maternity leave—and she'll be bringing her new son, Taylor Thomas, with her. Hasselbeck infamously had it out on the air with liberal co-host Rosie O'Donnell over the war in Iraq shortly before the feisty comedian quit the show last year. More»

Compassionate conservative, or 'Weeper of the House?'

(NEWSER) - John Boehner, widely mocked for choking up during his victory speech last month, turned on the waterworks again during a 60 Minutes interview, leaving pundits, and the ladies of The View, wondering whether the incoming speaker of the House is compassionate—or just a crybaby. "A sensitive side isn't what the country wants to see in a strong leader," Republican strategist Ed Rollins tells ABC News . "He's got to show strength and leadership and a willingness to stand up to the president. You never saw Pelosi crying." More»

Trouble is 'thin line' between journalism, commentary: Meghan McCain

(NEWSER) - Keith Olbermann shouldn’t have been taken to task for donating to Democrats because he’s not a journalist—he’s a commentator, argues Meghan McCain in the Daily Beast . But the kerfuffle spotlights a key issue as the lines between entertainment, journalism, and commentary blur: News outlets need to decide which category they fall into, and be clear about it. More»