Updated

Veteran newscaster John Gibson gets to the core of the most salient issues facing America today as host of FNC's hard-hitting primetime show The Big Story with John Gibson, airing Monday through Friday at 5 p.m. ET, with expert legal analysis from Judge Andrew Napolitano and in-depth field reports from correspondent Heather Nauert.

Tuesday, Sept. 23:

Republicans rush to President Bush's defense, saying Sen. Ted Kennedy's anti-administration comments amount to hate speech
• Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah

It looks like the head of Iraq's U.S.-appointed governing council — Ahmed Chalabi — is biting the hand that feeds him
Entifadh Qanbar, spokesman for the Iraqi National Congress

With the French opposing U.S. actions in Iraq at every turn, it's starting to sound less like a troublesome ally and more like a full-blown enemy
Bernard Henri-Levy, author of Who Killed Daniel Pearl?

Reservists and National Guard troops know when they sign up that there's a chance they could see active duty. But it the Pentagon now asking too much of them?
• Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

Attorney General John Ashcroft is playing hardball, ordering federal prosecutors to throw the book at defendants
• Judge Andrew Napolitano, FNC senior judicial analyst

From 1960 to 1975, kids learned life lessons through the animated adventures of Davey and Goliath
• Rev. Eric Safer, director for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

The Big Story’s "candidate of the day" in the California recall election
David "Laughing Horse" Robinson, California gubernatorial candidate

Be sure to tune into The Big Story with John Gibson ... weekdays at 5 p.m. ET.

Topics and guests subject to change.