Ali Gharib, Think Progress joins Thom Hartmann. Violence in Afghanistan has escalated tremendously over the past two weeks. Is a full military withdrawl from the country still plausible - and is there a way to stop the current violence?

The Good! *Corey Husic* Husic - a 17 year old high school student from Pennsylvania - sent a loud and clear message to the Heartland Institute - the conservative organization planning to create a nation of global warming deniers. The Bad! *Arizona Congressional Candidate Frank Antenori* At a Arizona Tea Party rally last week - Antenori told a crowd of about 300 people that President Obama's presidency is very similar to Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990. And the Very Very Ugly! *Rick Berman* Viewers of the Oscar broadcast last night may have noticed a peculiar ad during the show - an ad attacking the Humane Society of America claiming that only a small portion of donations made to them actually go to help fund animal shelters.

Crazy Alert! Dictator Drama...

Thom talks with Think Progress's National Security Reporter Ali Gharib on the real causes of the protests in Afghanistan. Also discussed: why Republicans deny science, the Univ. of Virginia's hunger strike and Thom's "Daily Take" on why Santorum wants to turn America into a theocracy.

Tonight's "Big Picture Rumble" panel discuses the Republicans eagerness to bomb Iran, Jeb Bush's critique of the GOP candidates, Occupy Wall Street 2.0 and Maryland becoming the eighth state to allow gay marriage. In today's "Daily Take" Thom discusses the end of US dominance in the global economy.

So what is it that the banksters, billionaires, and transnational CEOs see that most Americans don't see? It's the end of US dominance in the global economy. And not just US dominance - but the end of Western dominance altogether. Right now - a global power shift is occurring underneath all of us. With the United States economy still struggling through the muck - and the European economy in complete free fall - new economic powers around the world are seeing this as an opportunity to gain more power in the global marketplace. Those new economic powers are known as the BRIC nations - Brazil, Russia, India, and China - plus, South Africa. The BRIC nations are home to 40% of the world's population and already account for a quarter of the global economy.

Thom discusses last night's GOP debate and the economy with Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein. Also discussed: the Republicans pathetic infrastructure spending bill, the latest from the Occupy Wall Street movement and Thom's "Daily Take" on the GOP candidates eagerness to go to war with Iran.

America has been in a state of war for over a decade now. Why are Republicans so intent on starting another one - and how much damage could it do to our nation?

The Good! *US District Judge Carl Barbier* Judge Barbier ruled Wednesday that BP and one of it's minority partners in the blown-up well-site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion are liable for civil penalties under the Clean Water Act. The Bad! *State Governments* The $26 billion dollar foreclosure fraud settlement was intended to help those affected most by the crisis - the homeowners. And the Very Very Ugly! *Arizona Congressional Candidate Gabriela Mercer* Mercer - a Republican candidate for Congress - told a group of Tea Party members yesterday that her opponent - incumbent Rep. Raul Grijalva - was anti-American.

What ocean temps have to do w/the evolution of the human race

The Sperm vs Billionaire Protection Plan

Sara Robinson, AlterNet Visions joins Thom Hartmann. The Conservative audience booed the topic of birth control at last night's Republican debate. How long will contraception continue to be such a pervasive issue in American politics? While many of the world's religions are stuck in the tenth century when it comes to gender roles in society, the rest of humanity is catching up - Rick Santorum notwithstanding. Let's hope the progress continues...

The world's newest "dictator" can't control the Academy Awards!

David Itkin, Candidate for Delegate - the 99% Declaration, joins Thom Hartmann. Workers in Indiana are fighting back against the state's new Right to Work for less law. How does their battle translate to the newest offshoot of the Occupy movement? Plus - Just how much support do the 99% have within the Occupy Movement?

Shirley Ybarra, Reason Foundation joins Thom Hartmann. The Republican transportation bill was an absolute failure. When can Americans expect to see the creation of a 21st century infrastructure?