To the Point

Junk science is making the headlines as never before. It's so bad that the editor-in-chief of one of the world's best-known medical journals says, "half of all scientific literature is fault." Who can we trust?

An upcoming US Supreme Court decision may shake the foundations of Obamacare. That sounds like what Republicans have been asking for, but there could be a high political price to pay.

Where have all the honeybees gone? A sudden spike in the death of honeybees across the nation is alarming beekeepers, farmers and environmentalists, but they can't agree what's causing it. 

The President of FIFA says this week's corruption charges bring "shame and humiliation" to football. But he's not stepping aside despite calls for a change in leadership. With such deep roots in culture and with billions at stake, can the world's most beautiful game be cleaned up? We look at how the world is reacting to soccer's corruption scandal.

Twenty states have passed laws allowing nurse practitioners to perform duties usually reserved for doctors, without a physician's supervision. It's a boon for rural states where doctors are scarce, but MD's argue patient care suffers. It's just one aspect of the new direction medicine is taking towards lowering cost and taking advantage of higher tech alternatives, exemplified by such practices as telemedicine and remote controlled surgery.

Key provisions of the nation's post 9/11 surveillance program are set to expire at the end of the month if the Senate doesn't act. Will Congress renew or reform disputed provisions in the Patriot Act, including the NSA's controversial sweeping collection of Americans phone records?

Wearable devices are big business — sold as a way to develop healthier habits. But critics say the urge for self-awareness can make users slaves to technology — and that sharing intimate personal information can make them vulnerable to exploitation.

Public radio tells listeners it depends on them, not corporate advertising.  Now Ira Glass, of This America Life, says "public radio is ready for capitalism." Newspapers are running ads that look just like their stories. In the age of podcasting and native advertising, important lines are beginning to blur.

America's highways and railroads were once the envy of the rest of the world, but they've become decidedly second rate. Meantime, Congress is deadlocked — not just over funding the transportation system but what its goals should be.

ISIS, the so-called Islamic State, has seized Ramadi, a major Iraqi City — creating new challenges for the governments of Iraq and the United States. We hear what it could mean on the ground — and for America's presidential campaign.