To the Point

By KCRWNews

To the Point episodes

July 21, 2008 To Drill or Not to Drill
John McCain and other Republicans say it's time to start drilling for oil off the shores of America. Barack Obama leads those Democrats who say, not so fast. Also, a war-crimes trial gets underway in Guantánamo Bay, and Barack Obama visits Iraq.
52 min
July 18, 2008 Muslims, Arabs and the Obama Campaign
When Barack Obama says it's a "smear" to call him a Muslim, Muslim supporters have second thoughts. He's had kind words for the Palestinians, but his hard line for Israel has Arab Americans worried. Does Obama's message of unity have limits? Is he distancing himself from voters who could make a difference? Also, the Bush Administration on Iran and climate change.
52 min
July 17, 2008 Economic Crisis: Reality and Psychology
Institutions put in place after the Great Depression are supposed to insure that no such thing can happen again, but major financial institutions are in big trouble. Also, former Attorney General Ashcroft testifies on interrogation before Congress, and gasoline prices, offshore oil and global warming in an election year.
52 min
July 16, 2008 What's Really Happened in the War on Terror?
A new book called The Dark Side compiles evidence that "enhanced
interrogation" has made America more vulnerable, rather than safer. Is
it torture? Did those who ordered it commit war crimes? Was it
counter-productive to the war on terror? Also, rising inflation, and confidence in the economy.
52 min
July 15, 2008 McCain and Obama on Iraq and Afghanistan
McCain and Obama today went head to head on Iraq and Afghanistan. We
hear about the "surge" and a timetable for troop withdrawals. Is the
Iraq war a distraction from terrorist threats in another part of the
world? Also, Bush and Bernanke on the economy, and the growth in medication for pet mental illness.
52 min
July 14, 2008 Bolstering Confidence in America's Finances
Last week Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae lost almost half their stock value—a real blow to the two companies that hold almost half all US mortgages. Bankers, federal officials and members of Congress spent a busy weekend on a bailout that could mean billions in taxpayer money. Also, the President got what he wanted from the Democrats who run Congress including Barack Obama, who promised a filibuster but then voted "yes."
52 min
July 11, 2008 Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson and Political Expectations
Barack Obama is the first African American to secure the nomination of a major political party. Black leaders and public intellectuals--who never thought that would happen—are struggling over how to respond. Also, the Secretary of the Treasury seeks to assuage new mortgage fears, and the president of Sudan may face criminal charges at the International Criminal Court.
52 min
July 10, 2008 The World's Biggest Challenge: Feeding Humanity
Some 800 million people around the world are already hungry and millions more face starvation due to the rising price of food. Also, a possible government bailout for two mortgage lenders, and war powers conflicts between the White House and Congress.
52 min
July 09, 2008 Saber Rattling from Tehran, Tel Aviv, Moscow and Washington
Iran today test-fired nine ballistic missiles, including one which it says has the capacity to strike an Israeli city. Also, the candidates and the economy.
52 min
July 08, 2008 Newspapers in Big Trouble, Should Americans Care?
The Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times are facing serious financial trouble, and
local newspapers are cutting back all over the country. Also, the Fed's new rules to crack down on shady lending practices, and 500 tons of uranium have been shipped from Iraq to Canada.
51 min

About To the Point

From the publisher's feed

A monthly reality-check on the issues Americans care about most. Host Warren Olney draws on his decades of experience to explore the people and issues shaping – and disrupting - our world. How did…