To the Point

By KCRWNews

To the Point episodes

October 17, 2006 Risk Assessment, Climate Change and Insurance Rates
Travelers and Fireman's Fund are among the insurance
companies joining the fight against global warming. The result could be a
difference in what you pay for premiums, what you drive and where you live. Can
the world's biggest industry help reduce greenhouse gases, or is global warming
just a good excuse to raise premiums while reducing risk? Also, North Korea
calls UN sanctions a "declaration of war," and the FDA's about to approve milk
and meat from cloned animals--but they may already be out of the barn.
52 min
October 16, 2006 Are the Democrats This Year's October Surprise?
Even conservative pundits are saying the Republicans have
lost the House and may lose the Senate. So why are President Bush and Carl Rove
optimistic about next months elections? Is it self-confidence or
self-delusion? What about money,
organization and the partisan gerrymandering of district boundaries? Plus, an update on yesterday's massive
earthquake near Hawaii,
and on this UN World Food Day, a conversation about where people are hungriest--and
why.
52 min
October 13, 2006 National Policy, the Presidency and State Governors
Virginias
former Governor Mark Warner has shaken up the Democratic race for President--by
withdrawing. That demonstrates the importance of governorships in the race for
the White House. We find out why governors matter even if they're not running
nationwide and look at some of this year's most interesting contests. Also,
the head of the British Army causes an uproar over Iraq,
and how micro-lending produced a Nobel Peace Prize for Bangladesh.
52 min
October 12, 2006 Politics and the Economy in the Mid-Term Elections
The gap between the rich and the middle class is growing
fast, but President Bush says the economy will help Republicans in next month's
elections. Will healthcare costs and gasoline prices make a difference? Do
voters resent the wealthy--or want to be like them? Plus, the US grows impatient over the UN debate over sanctions
against North Korea,
and an American citizen from Orange County, California-turned-spokesman for
al-Qaeda is indicted for treason.
52 min
October 11, 2006 The Future of Non-Proliferation
North
Korea has defied the UN
Security Council and tested a nuclear weapon. Iran may not be far behind. What’s
happened to the nuclear non-proliferation regime? Is it still possible to stop the spread of
the atom bomb? Also, calculating the
civilian death toll from the war in Iraq.
52 min
October 10, 2006 Assessing North Korea and Saving Face in Iraq
Despite doubts that North Korea really tested a nuclear weapon, even China says it ought to be "punished" just for trying. We hear from the UN, see how North Korea's test compares to those of other nations and ask about failures of diplomacy. Also, are "stay the course" and "cut and run" the only alternatives in Iraq, and the death of a journalist shines a spotlight on Moscow's war in Chechnya.
52 min
October 09, 2006 Korean Nominated as Secretary General, Defiant DPRK Conducts Nuclear Test
The UN makes its first moves to nominate South Korea's Ban Ki-moon as its new Secretary
General, a significant choice in terms of his possible diplomatic influence
with North Korea. Meantime, the global community reacts to North Korea's claims to have conducted
its first nuclear test. Diana Nyad guest hosts.
52 min
October 06, 2006 School Shootings Prompt Call for Gun Control
There've
been three deadly school shootings in less than two weeks, but the only call
for gun control fell flat on its face. Despite polls showing public support, is gun control politically
dead? When it comes to protecting
children, what should the top priorities be? Also, the UN urges North Korea not to test nuclear weapons, and two American astronomers win the Nobel Prize for their
work confirming the birth of the universe. Diana Nyad guest hosts.

52 min
October 05, 2006 NATO Takes Over in Afghanistan to Face a Resurgent Taliban
As NATO takes over military operations in Afghanistan, experts warn there are not enough troops to stop the Taliban from making a comeback. What's happened since US forces routed the Taliban 5 years ago? We hear about drug money, the failure of reconstruction and Pakistan. Also, Assembly Speaker Dennis Hastert stands his ground on the Mark Foley scandal, and developing computers to monitor newspapers in search of threats against the United States.

52 min
October 04, 2006 Can GOP Contain Latest Scandal, Retain Congressional Control?
Mark Foley's now infamous e-mails to teen-age boys have
rocked Republican leaders in Congress. What did they know and when did they know it? What will the scandal mean for control of the
Congress? Plus, another landmark
death-toll in Iraq, and
school shootings and gun control in Pennsylvania.
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…