To the Point

Latest Episodes:

Will Medical Care for the Elderly and Poor Be a Broken Promise? Mar 26, 2008

Show notes

The federal government promises healthcare for the elderly and the poor, but Medicare and Medicaid are steaming toward a "fiscal train wreck." The law requires the next president to resolve a problem that's been building for years. Also, Iraq's escalating violence.

Political Comebacks and Shifting Opinions Mar 25, 2008

Show notes

Last week political pundits had Barack Obama on life support because of his pastor, Jeremiah Wright. This week, they're asking when Hillary Clinton will quit the campaign. Do primary victories really determine who's likely to win in November? What's behind the sudden swings in conventional wisdom? Also, the US military admits a big mistake, and a surprise Obama endorsement from a conservative Republican.

Fighting Terrorism with Tactics from the Cold War Mar 24, 2008

Show notes

Osama bin Laden and other terrorists are harder to get close to than the Soviet leaders during the Cold War. US agencies want an increase in "soft power" to get inside the heads of extremists and potential recruits. We hear the pros and cons and ask if al Qaeda is running a better propaganda machine than the western alliance. Also, the Mayor of Detroit is charged with felony crimes, and the Olympic Torch begins its trip from Greece to China.

China, Tibet and the Summer Olympics Mar 21, 2008

Show notes

The Olympic games are providing an international forum for Tibetan grievances against Chinese rule. During a week of violent protest, China has cracked down. What's the international reaction? Will the incident make life better or worse in Tibet? Also, Obama wins another endorsement, and presidential candidates and passport files.

Patriotism and Political Dialogue in America Mar 20, 2008

Show notes

The furor over Barack Obama's church has pushed his presidential campaign into the most dangerous possible political territory -- questions about his patriotism. Has the founding fathers' notion of American exceptionalism created to an exceptionally patriotic country? Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell talks about the defining role patriotism plays in American politics and what role patriotism plays in the politics of other countries. Also, President Bush signs legislation to protect the US-Mexico border, and a look at Hillary Clinton's daily schedules when she was First Lady.

The African American Church: Intersection of Race, Religion, Politics Mar 19, 2008

Show notes

Race, religion and politics collided in Barack Obama's presidential campaign yesterday as they do every Sunday in many African American churches. Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell talks to the reporter who sparked the controversy, and discusses the roots of the black church in the US and its current role in African American society. Also, President Bush marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, and how the Panama Canal helped create the Reagan Revolution.

Gun Battle in the US Supreme Court Mar 18, 2008

Show notes

Today the Supreme Court hears arguments in the case of a Washington, DC security guard that could re-define America's relationship to guns. Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell explores whether the Second Amendment grants each of us an absolute individual right to bear arms and how likely it is that the court will find all gun control laws unconstitutional and return the country to an unfettered free market in guns. Also, Barack Obama on his former pastor, and the crisis in Tibet.

After Five Years in, Where Do We Stand in Iraq? Mar 17, 2008

Show notes

With US troops now on the ground in Iraq for a period longer than World War II, what do we have to show for their efforts? Guest host Lawrence O'Donnell explores progress in Iraq and American response to our efforts there. Also, the Bear Stearns collapse: how a crisis on Wall Street affects the economy.

The Democratic Party: Stuck in the Mud? Mar 14, 2008

Show notes

Democrats are increasingly worried that the nasty campaign between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton is destroying what's supposed to be their race to win in November. Is it just them or is the party itself divided on race, gender, age and social class? What does it all mean for November? Also, a bailout for Bear Stearns, and the Vatican adds to the list of sins.

Energy Security and Global Warming Mar 13, 2008

Show notes

US energy demands are rising as the price of oil goes through the roof and foreign sources are increasingly uncertain. Canadian tar sands and domestic coal would provide energy security, but at the risk of increased global warming. Can renewables be developed in time? How high is the price of economic growth? Also, the Secretary of the Treasury wants to rein in mortgage markets, and Florida Democrats and the presidential nomination. What a mess!

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected