To the Point

As the NATO summit ended today in Wales, Prime Minister David Cameron was trying to keep his own country together. In less than two weeks, the UK will no longer be the “United Kingdom” if Scotland votes to become independent. There’s a lot at stake for America, the global economy, diplomacy and international defense.

Political prognosticators say, “Follow the money.” And, in this year’s mid-term elections, there’s more money to follow than ever. Is the lack of limit on campaign contributions a victory for “free speech” or a defeat for democracy? What’s the possible impact on the House and the Senate this year?

It’s been 41 years since the US Supreme Court approved a woman’s right to choose an abortion. Now the anti-abortion movement may be close to getting another case before a very different Supreme Court—hoping for a different decision.

America’s “failing education system” has become a cliché of contemporary journalism—and it’s most often blamed on the teachers. As another school year gets under way across the country, we’ll hear how today’s controversies reflect the history of a crucial profession.

On this rebroadcast of To The Point: General Motors risked its reputation by instituting a record number of recalls after news of deaths and injuries due to faulty ignition switches. The company has admitted it failed for years to address safety problems. So why are sales back to where they were before the recession?

For the first time, a majority of public-school students are ethnic minorities—but that doesn’t mean greater diversity in the schools. It’s been 60 years since the US Supreme Court ruled that separate could never be equal, but segregation is back. What does that mean for the quality of education?

Michael Brown’s killing was not an isolated incident. The FBI reports that a white police officer kills a black person almost twice a week. A new poll shows both blacks and whites believe cops are not held accountable for excessive force or for racial discrimination. We’ll hear calls for police reform, and a new kind of federal assistance.

The US reportedly is mobilizing a coalition of allies for possible military action in Syria, raising uncomfortable questions. The target is not the Assad dictatorship, which the US opposes, but the extremist Islamic State—Assad’s mortal enemy. Which side is America on?

President Obama’s looking at airstrikes in Syria to slow the advance of the ultra-extremist Islamic State—a growing threat to America and its interests. But that could help Syria’s brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad, stay in power, by helping him against his most effective enemy.

A White House delegation attended today’s funeral for Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri.  He was the unarmed, young black man killed 2 weeks ago by a white policeman.  Did the President miss an opportunity by not going himself?