To the Point

By KCRWNews

To the Point episodes

April 24, 2007 Darfur: The Search for Solutions
President Bush has threatened to expand economic
sanctions against Sudan, but he's given the UN's new Secretary General more
time for diplomacy. The humanitarian
crisis in Sudan is more complex than it looks to westerners. Is it time for more peacekeepers? What about climate change? Also, new
questions raised over the death of former football star Pat Tillman and, on
Reporter's Notebook, from inside the Bush Administration, an investigation of
Karl Rove. How far will it go?
52 min
April 23, 2007 Abortion: After the US Supreme Court's Latest Decision
A majority of the US Supreme Court has changed its standards when it
comes to abortion. The minority finds that "alarming." Can doctors
still use what they believe are the safest procedures? What's left of a
woman's right to choose? Also, the death of former Russian president, Boris Yeltsin and, on Reporter's Notebook, the FDA knew in
advance that spinach might be contaminated, but failed to stop it from
getting into the food supply.
52 min
April 20, 2007 Guns, Abortion and Political Realities
High-profile events of this week have put hot-button issues back on the nation's agenda, but action on one is much more likely than it is on the other. Have the Democrats given up on gun control? Will the Republicans shoot themselves in the foot by pushing too hard on abortion? Also, Democratic Senate Leader Harry Reid calls the war in Iraq "lost" and, on Reporter's Notebook, the case of Luis Posada, a 79-year old accused of terrorism by Cuba and Venezuela, and released on bail by a US Court of Appeals.
52 min
April 19, 2007 Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on the Political Hot Seat
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has been roasted by Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Can Gonzales maintain the credibility required to run the Department of Justice? We hear about today's Senate committee hearing and talk with one of the fired US attorneys. Also, Defense Secretary Robert Gates makes a surprise trip to Baghdad to meet with Iraqi leaders and, on Reporter's Notebook, the US Supreme Court's turnabout on abortion. What does it mean for a woman's right to choose?
52 min
April 18, 2007 The Standoff over the Iraq Spending Bill

How will House Democrats resolve their differences with
Senate Democrats on an Iraq
spending bill? How do they avoid the
President’s promised veto for any bill that has a timetable for withdrawal from
Iraq? We talk about the stand-off in Washington and what it means on the ground in Iraq. On Reporter's Notebook, the computer that ate
your tax return. Lawrence O'Donnell guest hosts.
52 min
April 17, 2007 The Aftermath of Unspeakable Tragedy
President Bush is in Blacksburg, Virginia for a convocation on the Virginia Tech campus, where 32 people were shot to death yesterday and their killer committed suicide. We hear about the gunman and what might have been indications that he would turn to violence, and talk about gun control. On Reporter's Notebook, on this tax day, Republicans and Democrats advocate tax reform. What are the prospects?
52 min
April 16, 2007 Can US Attorney General Gonzales Hold On to His Job?
Senators of both parties are less than impressed by what Attorney General Alberto Gonzales plans to tell their committee tomorrow. As influential conservatives call for Gonzales to step down, we'll hear about Karl Rove, missing e-mails and the role of politics in the administration of justice. Also, radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has ordered six cabinet ministers to quit the Iraqi government and, on Reporter's Notebook, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt want to develop nuclear power. Is it for energy or to counter Iran?
52 min
April 13, 2007 How Did Don Imus Go Down in Flames?
Radio shock-jock Don Imus had a record of brutal, vulgar
attacks on ethnic groups and women, but celebrity politicians and news figures were
regulars on his program. Why was the slur on the Rutgers
basketball team the last straw? What does the episode illustrate about America's
popular culture? Also, a promotion for his girlfriend spells trouble for World
Bank President Paul Wolfowitz and, on Reporter's Notebook, Kurt Vonnegut, the
Free Speech Movement, and today's bitter disputes about language.
52 min
April 12, 2007 As Feds Play Politics, Local Solutions to Immigration Emerge
As the White House and Congress grapple over immigration reform, local towns and cities dramatize the nation's divisions. There's "zero tolerance" in one place and a welcome mat in another. Is illegal immigration both a burden and a blessing? Also, a suicide bomber strikes inside Baghdad's Green Zone and, on Reporter's Notebook, Don Imus and words that offend, depending on who's using them.
52 min
April 11, 2007 Assessing 'Benchmark' Progress in Iraq, Two Months into Surge
Despite other differences, President Bush and his critics agree that t Iraqi violence will end only when there is national reconciliation. Is the Iraqi government meeting benchmarks designed to give Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds a stake in peace and stability? Should the US threaten to cut off support until more progress is made? Also, the President wants to create a new 'war czar' position, but nobody seems to want the job and, on Reporter's Notebook, all charges are about to be dropped. What's next for the Duke lacrosse players publicly accused of sexual assault?
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…