To the Point

When he killed his trainer at SeaWorld, was the Orca called Tilikum an enraged, wild animal out of control or just curious about her ponytail? We hear different answers to that and other questions about Orcas, dolphins and commercial whaling. Also, the Supreme Court takes up a gun control, and the Postmaster General tells Congress what it will take to save the US mail service.

Greece is on the brink of financial ruin, and proposed austerity measures have sparked strikes and street demonstrations. How did Wall Street banks help create the crisis? Will hedge funds reap profits by making things worse? Also, this weekend's magnitude-8.8 earthquake in Chile. On Reporter's Notebook, will Democrats pass healthcare reform at the cost of losing seats in Congress?

With Fed Chief Ben Bernanke warning about the dangers of long-term unemployment, 13 Senate Republicans joined Democrats to support a jobs bill worth $35 billion. How does it look to small business and unemployed people themselves? Should the government spend even more to create jobs or get out of the way of the private sector? Also, New York's troubled politics, and from Canada to Russia, the Winter Olympics and the environment.  

With Barack Obama presiding, Democrats and Republicans hashed out the details of healthcare reform for several hours across the street from the White House. We look at the possible impact of today's televised "summit."  Also, the Afghan flag is raised over Marjah, and a gruesome incident at Sea World in Florida raises new demands to release whales from captivity.

Before hearing from the CEO of Toyota today, members of Congress grilled the Secretary of Transportation about why regulators were so slow to act on sudden acceleration. We hear about auto safety, Toyota's future and the economy of Japan. Also, health insurers justify rate hikes, and a struggling Rhode Island high school fires all of its teachers.

Unemployment, bank bailouts and government gridlock have created a nightmare scenario for the party in power. Some Washington pundits are suggesting the Democrats might lose control of either the House or the Senate. We get an early rundown of this year’s elections. Also, hearings on Toyota begin in the House, and President Hamid Karzai makes a political move that alienates his western supporters.

For the first time in the lengthy debate on healthcare reform, President Obama has come up with his own plan. Would it increase

Back in 1925, the Scopes trial raised the question of what should and should not be taught in school — specifically, evolution versus creationism. Eighty-five years later, that debate is still going strong.  In Texas, questions are being raised about if and how the political and religious beliefs of elected officials should influence classroom content, from science to history. Also, more help for struggling homeowners, and making amends to African American farmers. Chery Glaser guest hosts.

President Obama has made it clear that nuclear power must play a role in America's drive for a clean energy future. By backing nuclear power, the President seen as trying to win GOP support for his bigger environmental and climate goals.  But did he give away something for nothing? What’s he getting in return? But should the government pay to make that happen? Also, the President's meeting with the Dalai Lama, and the Winter Olympics get hip. Chery Glaser guest hosts.

Is it just bravado or is President Obama really as confident as he seems about next week's bipartisan White House summit on healthcare reform? Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell talks about what advantages Republican leaders will have in the unprecedented televised negotiating session. Will it be the President's final meeting on healthcare reform or the beginning of a new bipartisan strategy to pass a bill? Also, Toyota considers another recall, and the judge who changed the face of Little League Baseball.