Terrorist attack within five years (vague enough for you?); Republican Saxby Chambliss wins Georgia Senate seat; Bush prevents federal employees from joining unions; Wal-Mart sued for black friday trampling death.

Tonight:

My take on the news of day, plus just in time for your trip to visit the in-laws this holiday season: Jeffrey Goldberg, Atlantic magazine national correspondent on “The Things He Carried,” his latest article on what he was able to carry onto a plane and what you should really be worrying about, if you’re flying this Thanksgiving weekend. Yeah, we know it's kind of obnoxious to talk about this, but it's because we care. We really do. Goldberg is the author of "Prisoners: A Story of Friendship and Terror" (2007); he blogs at jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com.

And your calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Mike Papantonio talk about the Alaskan Independence Party - a shady extremist group that advocates Alaska's secession from the United States, with strong ties to Sarah Palin. For more, check out Bobby's piece "The Last Refuge of a Scoundrel" on Huffington Post.

From Ron Reagan:

Rachel Maddow on her BIG get: Obama!

Plus Sonja Eddings Brown, Rev. Susan Russell, Chris Carlson, on some of the more controversial ballot proposals:

- Prop 8 California Constitutional Amendment to eliminate same-sex couples from marriage.

- Prop 1000 in Washington State "Right to Die"

Plus, linguist George Lakoff & filmmaker Eugene Jarecki on framing talk about war and politics.

And your calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

Tonight:

- Why we heart Barbara West

- A close-up look at the war with AL Qaeda and the Taliban with producer and correspondent Martin Smith. In his 25 years producing for FRONTLINE, he has covered the world: from revolution in Central America and the fall of communism in Russia, to the rise of al Qaeda and the war in Iraq. His new doc: "The War Briefing," airs tonight at 9 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings), and will be streaming online at www.pbs.org/frontline.

And you calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

It's Free-for-All Friday and on today's show:

- national security
- domestic policy

Joining the free-for-all will be Laura Flanders on 'What Real National Security Means For American Families'... it's the topic of a panel she's running in Seattle this weekend. Check out www.livefrommainstreet.org for more details. Laura Flanders is the host of GRITtv and RadioNation and the author of "Blue Grit: True Democrats Take Back Politics from the Politicians" and "BUSHWOMEN: Tales of a Cynical Species."

And because it's Friday, it's time for our week-that-was special correspondent, Jonathan Alter, who'll argue the Left needs to play politics in a new, smart, liberal way, now that the ball's on the left side of the court. And this will impact some scared cows, like unions and education, he says. By day, Alter is Senior Editor and Columnist at Newsweek; his latest book is "Between the Lines: A View Inside American Politics, People, and Culture."

And your calls, anything goes.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

Mike Papantonio of GoLeft TV and Air America's Ring of Fire talks with award-winning actor Jeffrey Wright about his portrayal of Colin Powell in Oliver Stone's "W."  You can also catch him in the upcoming James Bond film "Quantom of Solace."

From Ron Reagan . . .

On the heels of last week's story broken by ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=5987804&page=1 – we're discussing in greater depth how the NSA has transformed since 9/11.

It's the topic of James Bamford's new book, "THE SHADOW FACTORY: The Ultra-Secret NSA from 9/11 to the Eavesdropping on America" (out this week on Doubleday).

The New York Times bestselling author is an expert on the National Security Agency and this is his third in a trilogy ("Body of Secrets" and "The Puzzle Palace") of books discussing the ultra-secret agency.

Plus, we'll take your calls.

866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.

From Ron Reagan...
The Dow’s fallen below 9000 today, and talk of nationalizing banks...
And there's another meltdown in progress: ABC News broke the story this morning – http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Story?id=5987804&page=1 – tthe NSA monitoring pillow-talk of American military personnel, their families and journos in Iraq. This while the new NIE says Afghanistan is in downward spiral. Fortunately for us all, the White House says it has launched an "urgent review" of the situation with that country. But is it too little too late?
I'll take up the topic with Ilan Goldenberg, Policy Director at The National Security Network , who will have the facts on Afghanistan.
Plus your calls.
866 – 303 – 2270 IS THE NUMBER TO CALL-IN FOR YOU LISTENERS OUT THERE.