time now for conversation nation. joining me tonight political strategist angela rye, political science professor jason johnson and mike.com's liz plank. thank you all for being here. >> thanks reverend. >> pleasure to be here. >> we start with president obama and his highest approval rating in two years, 48% of americans approve, and the numbers are rising as americans are more optimistic on the economy. 52% say the economy is either very good or somewhat good. from the start president obama has pushed the middle class. he talked about it with "hardball's" chris matthews. >> chris, think about it. i've spent the last six and a half years yanking this economy