To the Point

Latest Episodes:

Going Gluten-Free: Science or Fiction? Dec 24, 2014

Show notes

Gluten-free food is crowding the grocery shelves, and food companies are raking in billions of dollars. Many consumers insist it makes them feel better. But what's replacing the gluten? We separate fact from fiction.

Is America Losing Its Middle Class? Dec 23, 2014

Show notes

The state of America's middle class appears to be in continuing decline, despite surprisingly good news today from the Commerce Department. We hear about the under-employment of educated people, the bleak outlook for Millennials and the financial plight of racial minorities.

Will North Korea Pay a Price for the Sony Hacking? Dec 22, 2014

Show notes

The US and North Korea have escalated their rhetoric, but there's still some question about North Korea's responsibility for the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures. Is the so-called "hermit kingdom" as sophisticated as the FBI says it is? How does it compare to Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, which is so far the world's leader in cyber-warfare?

Havana's Hope for a Better Future Dec 19, 2014

Show notes

President Obama is reversing a US policy established before he was born, beginning to normalize ties with Communist Cuba. We hear what it might — or might not — mean in Cuba itself, and in the western hemisphere.

Vladimir Putin: Is it the Economy, Stupid? Dec 18, 2014

Show notes

Declining oil prices and economic sanctions because of Ukraine have Russia's economy close to recession. Vladimir Putin today reassured Russians about the economy and suggested the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Crimea.

Historic Thaw in US-Cuban Relations and 2016 Presidential Contenders Dec 17, 2014

Show notes

Hillary Clinton is still playing it coy when it comes to another run for the White House. Jeb Bush has beat her to the punch, becoming the first major player to say he'll “actively explore” a possible campaign. We hear early assessments of what's in store between now and 2016.

The Sony Hack's Ominous Message to Other Companies Dec 16, 2014

Show notes

The cyber attack on Sony Pictures was so complete and so destructive that one security expert says the company should disconnect from the Internet. Is it the work of North Korea? Who else has the motive? What's the message about the risk to other networks that major private companies now depend on?

The CIA: Torture, Partisanship — and Accountability Dec 15, 2014

Show notes

Last week's report on the CIA is hardly the last word on America's harsh interrogation tactics in the aftermath of September 11. Even former CIA agents disagree. And the Obama White House is using the same legal authority to justify drone strikes against suspected terrorists.

Have Egyptians Made Peace with Military Rule? Dec 12, 2014

Show notes

Former Egyptian Dictator Hosni Mubarak is out of legal jeopardy. Another military strong man sits as president and the opposition is in jail. In Egypt it looks like the Arab winter has set in.

Reporting on Rape Dec 11, 2014

Show notes

A Rolling Stone magazine story about rape on campus led the University of Virginia to suspend fraternities. Since then, the article has become a sensation as much for what it got wrong as for what it reported. How should “sexual misconduct” be defined by journalists, college administrators and the law?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected