To the Point

Fifty-seven-million Americans don't get enough to eat, and massive amounts of food go to waste. At the same time much of the world depends on American agri-business. Is going local a better way? Also, tensions on the Korean Peninsula soar after the North attacks. On Reporter's Notebook, were US and Afghan leaders tricked into bogus talks about peace with a Taliban imposter?

Forget the start of withdrawal from Afghanistan in July of next year. The US and NATO have now extended major combat until 2014, even though President Karzai wants forces reduced.  We look at the aftermath of the summit in Lisbon.  Also, the TSA responds to traveler outcry over scanners and pat-downs, and Pope Benedict surprises the Roman Catholic Church. 

25% of the world now bans plastic bags, and Los Angeles County is one of a growing number of US communities getting on board. Will the limits of cloth bags like Grandma used to carry require thinking about what goes in them? What are the consequences for the economy? President Obama has arrived in Lisbon for a NATO summit on the alliance’s global mission and on strategy for Afghanistan in the next four years. Also, the big news at the LA Auto Show so far is the Chevy Volt winning Green Car of the Year--three times.

Has the Transportation Security Administration gone too far?  Is the real key to security the intelligence gathered before anyone gets to the airport? President Obama claims that the START treaty with Russia is "a national imperative".  Also, a surprising verdict in a terrorist trial.

Republican Governor Rick Perry of Texas swept back into office in this month's election only to face a $25 billion deficit, proportionally even larger than California's. Wednesday, on To the Point, how did an economic boom become a fiscal disaster? What about Perry's promise to provide a fix without federal help or new taxes.

It's down to the wire for the lame-duck session of Congress with Democrats still in control but drastically weakened by Republican victories the midterm elections. We get a preview. Also, Charlie Rangel is found guilty of ethics violations, and Kate Middleton won't be "Waity Katy" any more.

If "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is not repealed by this year's lame-duck session of Congress, gay and lesbian activists say they'll resort to the courts. What's the impact of a Pentagon study of the rank and file, leaked to the public in advance of scheduled debate on Capitol Hill?  Also, Charlie Rangel walks out of his ethics hearing, and a possible end to US combat in Afghanistan.

The G-20 meeting in South Korea's being called a failure for President Obama, who wanted global consensus for economic recovery.  Why is the US now the bad guy, when so recently other countries joined it in ganging up on China? Also, will there be compromise between Republicans and Democrats on taxes? On Reporter's Notebook, new and old media merge.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been talking tough about settlements in East Jerusalem and a US threat of military action over Iran's nuclear program. Have last week's midterm elections changed the diplomatic dynamic for President Obama? Also, Iraq's government impasse is broken, and the US national debt and public sacrifice.

Different states select their judges in different ways, including appointment and a variety of election systems. When three Supreme Court justices were rejected last week, the decision of Iowa voters was celebrated as a rebuke of judicial overreach and decried as a threat to judicial independence. We hear about same-sex marriage and judicial selection. Also, GM posts largest quarterly profit in 11 years, and how America's top achievers in math compare to the rest of the world.