The American government still spends too much money on defense, Trillin says.

Question: When you read the newspaper or what the news, what issues stand out for you?

Calvin Trillin: Right now the issue is Iraq that stands out for me because people are just steadily getting killed there. And when I see the . . . that . . . those pictures at the end of the PBS News Hour, it’s heartbreaking to see those people being killed for, to my mind, no reason; and sent there by a bunch of people who were very careful not to put themselves in danger, and whose sons and daughters are not in danger. So I think for that reason if for nothing else, it’s the most . . . it’s the kind of overwhelming issue in the country now.