In the United States, the gap between rich and poor has grown exponentially in recent years. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the number of Americans who do not earn enough to feed themselves and their families. It is likely that some 50 to 60 million Americans, or one in five, are hungry.

Hunger and homelessness in America with Sasha Abramsky and our panel. Kimjongilia: A Film About North Korea. And the Uptake and Mother Jones team up to cover the SCOTUS hearings.

President Obama was elected with a large enough mandate for fundamental change that he could forge a fresh social compact, lock in place a new set of mutual obligations and rewrite the relationship between the state and the populace. The need for change is obvious. In 2008 the official poverty line stood at a shameful $10,590 for a single person and $21,203 for a family of four. If Obama rewrites the social contract and all the rest, he might be able contain the calamity of the 2008 economic collapse. "But if he fails," as Sasha Abramsky writes, "that calamity will haunt the next several decades..."

GRITtv host Laura Flanders popped up on The Ed Show again, exploring the fading glory of Bailin' Palin, the placebo of healthcare reform without a strong public option, and, of course, the king himself, Michael Jackson.

Jules Rosskam's "Against A Trans Narrative," looks at Trans Identity through the lens of personal experience. The film combines dramatic reenactment, spoken word, theater-styled performances, as well as commentary by the film's own participants to address issues such as clashing views on feminism and sexism. The Feminist Review has called the film, "...arguably the best movie about gender I’ve ever viewed." Take a look.

Al Franken officially earned his seat in the U.S. Senate last week, winning by slightly over 300 votes out of 2.9 million cast in Minnesota. Franken’s campaign hinged on a dedication to healthcare reform, and with 60 Senate seats now belonging to Democrats, the time seems ripe to make that happen. Joining us today to discuss how the Dems should go about improving healthcare policy is Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist and one of only two Independent Senators currently in Congress. He has compiled a booklet titled “The Health Care Crisis: Letters from Vermont and America” and speaks passionately on the behalf of real, meaningful, cost-effective healthcare reform in the U.S.

Since the death of Michael Jackson on June 25, the media has been consumed with coverage of the event, culminating in Tuesday's public memorial service at the LA Staples Center that was both heartfelt and, at times, over the top. Even bearing in mind America's fascination with celebrity, was Jackson's death overcovered in the media? Also, was the complexity of his life explored to enough extent in his remembrance? Sarah Palin's resignation in her first term as Alaskan Governor has also brought controversy to the US media, which prompted questioning and criticism from all media outlets, including Fox News. Does she have any political power or credibility left? Other topics include Matt Taibbi's investigation of Goldman Sachs and their corrupt ties with government, the death of the father of the Vietnam War, and can print journalism continue to stay afloat? Joining us in our media panel today to converse about these issues, we have Elinor Tatum, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Amsterdam News, Joe Conason, National Correspondent for the New York Observer and a contributor to salon.com, and Rolling Stone Executive Editor Eric Bates.

In the headlines this week: Michael Jackson is remembered, Sarah Palin resigns as Governor and Matt Taibbi exposes our government's corrupt ties with Goldman Sachs. To discuss all this and more, we are joined on our media panel by Elinor Tatum, Joe Conason and Eric Bates. Then, Sen. Bernie Sanders on Franken's win and healthcare reform. And this week in Got Docs: Against a Trans Narrative.

Remember Stella D'Oro -- not the cookies -- but the workers' fight? Last year, members of Local 50 of the Bakery and Grain Millers Union refused demands for 20% wage cuts and slashes in health and pension benefits at the Stella D'Oro factory in New York. More than than 130 workers went on strike. We interviewed several in our studio. Well, 11 months on, the National Labor Relations Board has ordered the company to reinstate and pay back wages to strikers. They're back at work. That's the good news; the bad news is the company’s owner – the Connecticut-based private equity fund Brynwood Partners–is now threatening to close the factory.

Senator McConnell: maybe we do want a health care option brought to us by the people who now bring us motor vehicle registration and license renewals! A 'public' health care option that was as good as many of our motor vehicle departments would be efficient, responsive to consumer demand, concerned about the experience of people who use the service, and regularly looking for opportunities to improve.