To the Point

By KCRWNews

To the Point episodes

June 23, 2008 Is the US Losing Track of its Nuclear Weapons?
Six nuclear missiles were missing for 36 hours until the Air Force discovered they had been flown across the United States. It was 18 months before nose cones turned up in Taiwan, where they’d been shipped as helicopter parts. The Air Force’s top military and civilian officers were fired this month, but now it turns out that hundreds—possibly thousands—of nuclear weapons components are missing. On Reporter's Notebook, comedian George Carlin remembered.
52 min
June 20, 2008 Are Political Spouses 'Fair Game?'
In this year's run for the White House, Michelle Obama has received
more coverage than Cindy McCain. Why should a presidential
candidate's spouse be the object of so much attention? Also, Congress
agrees to re-write wiretapping rules, and entrepreneurial barons made
the banana the most popular fruit in the US, and $4 for gasoline. What about $1 a pound for bananas?
52 min
June 19, 2008 Energy Costs, the Environment and the Presidential Campaign
John McCain has reversed himself on offshore oil drilling, and President Bush has joined McCain's call for ending the nationwide moratorium. Would that help bring gasoline prices down? What would it mean for the environment? With energy costs skyrocketing, is it good politics? Also, President Bush visits flooded Iowa cities, and Obama does an about-face on public campaign funding.
52 min
June 18, 2008 The Taliban in Afghanistan: Back with a Vengeance
NATO forces and Afghan soldiers have launched operations against what could be the Taliban's long-anticipated "Spring offensive." Also, the President asks Congress to lift the ban on off-shore drilling, and "Curveball" goes public.
52 min
June 17, 2008 Has Guantanamo Bay Been Holding the Wrong Men?
The US Supreme Court says prisoners at Guantánamo Bay can challenge their detentions in court. Has the prison for terrorists been holding the wrong men? Also, Israel is silent as Hamas announces that a truce is imminent, and McCain and Obama on oil and the environment.
52 min
June 16, 2008 Is Midwestern Flood Damage Worse than It Needed to Be?
This year's Midwest rainfall and flooding is the worst since 1993, which was the worst in living memory up until then. Has recent development guaranteed that the devastation will be more extensive than it needed to be? In Britain, Bush gets agreements to increase pressure on Iran, and same-sex marriage in California.
52 min
June 13, 2008 Do Political Labels Still Fit in an Era of Change?
Is Barack Obama a tax-and-spend liberal Democrat or is he not liberal enough? Is Republican John McCain a real conservative -- a "maverick" -- or something else? After decades of political polarization, both candidates claim they want to be agents of change. Do the familiar labels still matter at all? Also, rising flood waters wreak havoc in Iowa, and California's latest tourist attraction: same-sex marriage.
52 min
June 12, 2008 Immigration Reform: Outside the Beltway
Congress has dropped the ball on illegal immigration, leading states and cities to enact new laws and round up immigrants on their own. We hear about the impact on local business. When immigrants are driven out, where do they go? Will the issue take center stage in the presidential campaign? Also, Iowa residents flee as flood waters rise, and Guantánamo prisoners get legal rights.
52 min
June 11, 2008 Can Democrats Close the 'God Gap?'
John McCain has failed to inspire the religious right, while Barack Obama is reaching out to evangelical Christians. Can the Democrats win voters of faith away from the Republicans? What about the separation of church and state? Also, German's Chancellor backs President Bush’s call for sanctions against Iran, and more US trouble in Pakistan.
52 min
June 10, 2008 How Much Longer for US Troops in Iraq?
The Bush Administration promises no "secret deal" to keep US troops in Iraq, but Senators of both parties say confidential agreements could tie the next president's hands. Is the US trying to establish permanent bases? We'll hear what's being said in Iraq, elsewhere in the Middle East, on Capitol Hill and on the campaign trail. Also, Senate Republicans vote against Democratic energy bill, and NASA has unexpected trouble on Mars.
52 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…