To the Point
3,167 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 575 ratingsA 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 everything change so fast? Where are we headed? The conversations are informal, edgy and always informative. If Warren's asking, you want to know the answer.
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Episodes
Malcolm Gladwell on the page and in the podcast
September 30, 2019 07:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBMalcolm Gladwell’s latest book, “Talking to Strangers,” is out, while he’s hosting the podcast, “Revisionist History.” In both media, Big Ideas reveal surprising connections between disparate events and actions. Warren talks with one of America’s most popular public intellectuals.
The UN: Climate change and future generations
September 25, 2019 07:00 - 38 minutes - 33.9 MBGreta Thunberg inspired Fridays for Future--school strikes around the world. Were the leaders of major polluters paying attention? Not according to what they told the United Nations. We’ll hear how youthful protesters are reacting to business as usual.
Is the world waking up to climate change?
September 19, 2019 07:00 - 48 minutes - 43.7 MBStudents are cutting class, and workers are striking worldwide. At the UN, governments will be held accountable for promises made in the Paris Accords. Multinational corporations are feeling international pressure. Will activism and awareness add up to action?
Saving the planet one hamburger at a time
September 16, 2019 07:00 - 16 minutes - 14 MBIf Americans cut just one hamburger from their diet every week, it would be like taking 10 million cars off the road every year. After cutting energy use, less meat and more plant-based food add up to the easiest--and healthiest--way to reduce your carbon footprint.
The decline of organized labor and America’s middle class
September 12, 2019 07:00 - 55 minutes - 50.2 MBIn 1950, America had the richest middle class in the world, but now U.S. workers face wage stagnation and historic wealth inequality. That's according to Steven Greenhouse, author of “Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor."
National Security and Climate Change
September 05, 2019 07:00 - 42 minutes - 37.8 MBRising oceans wildfires and water shortages threaten US military operations worldwide. At the same time, the Pentagon is a major emitter of greenhouse gases. Can the defense establishment clean up its act and keep America safe at the same time?
The high cost of cheap plastics
August 31, 2019 16:00 - 35 minutes - 31.5 MBConsumers do their duty filling those blue bins every day, but recycling centers are shutting down. Just 9% of plastic waste is ever processed for second use. Public cleanup expenses and worldwide pollution have led to calls for a ban on single-use plastics, despite the cost to convenience.
Can the Democrats get it together in time?
August 29, 2019 07:00 - 36 minutes - 32.6 MBThe race for the presidential nomination poses another stress test for the Democratic Party. With unity the essential requirement for defeating President Trump, too many candidates may stay in the contest too long. We’ll look at the potential consequences of a divided nominating convention.
Did Boeing prioritize profits over safety?
August 19, 2019 07:00 - 41 minutes - 37.1 MBMonths after two deadly crashes, Boeing’s 737 Max aircraft still isn’t cleared for take off. The grounding has cost Boeing billions and thousands of flights have been cancelled. Investigations portray a culture of deceit and cost cutting, incentivizing corporate profit over product safety.
What will it take to prevent mass shootings?
August 08, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBWill mass shootings become part of America’s background noise? That’s an ugly prospect raised by the deaths of 34 people this week in Texas, Ohio and California. So, why are such atrocities on the rise? President Trump and others blame video games and mental illness, but evidence shows otherwise. In fact, it appears there’s reason behind the madness. UCLA constitutional law professor Adam Winkler says, “I think that they are designed to create terror and to spread ter...
California v. Trump on auto emissions
August 03, 2019 16:00 - 38 minutes - 34.3 MBPresident Trump wants to roll back Obama-era emission standards. But, after secret meetings with California’s top regulator, Ford, Honda, VW and BMW won’t go along. Will Toyota, GM and other car makers be left behind?
Are Democratic candidates playing into Trump’s hands?
July 30, 2019 07:00 - 27 minutes - 23.9 MBOnce again it’s the race for the White House as Reality TV, with 20 performers focused on making the next audition. Are “bold proposals” politically risky? Are moderators letting the candidates off easy?
Beat climate change: get out of your car?
July 27, 2019 16:00 - 35 minutes - 31.9 MBThe original purpose of cities was to bring people together. That was their function for thousands of years. Then came the 20th Century and the automobile, which, “blew cities apart.” That’s according to Robert Kunzig of National Geographic, who tells us that, Climate Change may bring cities together again. Satellite research by NASA shows that cars--not to mention trucks and buses--produce a major part of the greenhouse gases responsible for climate change. Getting ri...
Partisanship and Racism from the Bully Pulpit
July 25, 2019 07:00 - 53 minutes - 48.1 MBTeddy Roosevelt coined the term “Bully Pulpit.” Other presidents have used it to get the nation behind them. For President Trump, it’s an instrument of division. Republicans have given up on a “big tent” party. Reporters have to repeat overtly racist attacks on Congresswomen of color.
Federal scientists censored and forced to move
July 20, 2019 16:00 - 24 minutes - 21.8 MBScience continues to suffer attack from the Trump administration. Testimony on climate change and national security has been censored. Government research jobs are being moved out of Wasington. There’s a “real exodus” of expertise needed to face the challenges of the future.
Can Fake News Lead to Real War?
July 18, 2019 07:00 - 44 minutes - 40 MB“False flag” reports, even outright deceptions, have led to some of America’s longest wars. New technology makes another disastrous mistake more likely than ever. Tensions between the US and Iran are fertile ground for Artificial Intelligence, internet hackers and hawks in both countries.
It’s time to talk about climate change
July 15, 2019 07:00 - 23 minutes - 21 MBThe challenge of climate change can seem overwhelming--especially with the Trump administration dropping the ball. But cities have opportunities to make change. Consumers can develop new habits. And ending our climate silence to talk about climate change could lead to real progress.
The housing shortage, the presidential campaign and the NIMBYs
July 11, 2019 07:00 - 42 minutes - 38 MBThe house with the picket fence is an American tradition, protected by law. But, as prices rise, homeowners are closing the door on the next generation. Presidential candidates are proposing incentives to build apartment houses where they’ve been banned for generations. Beware the wrath of the NIMBYs.
President Trump crosses the line
July 04, 2019 07:00 - 48 minutes - 43.2 MBOn the other side of the DMZ, President Trump shook hands with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. A new book reveals Kim’s early life in a bubble and how his brutal dictatorship is covered up with a cult of personality.
Trump reverses Obama on climate change
June 29, 2019 16:00 - 35 minutes - 31.5 MBPresident Trump is finally fulfilling his campaign pledge to undo the Obama Clean Power Plan. It’s supposedly a boost for “Clean Coal,” but Wall Street is skeptical and environmentalists are outraged. What does the federal rollback mean for state efforts to beat Climate Change?
Political debate or political circus?
June 25, 2019 07:00 - 48 minutes - 43.6 MBThis week’s Democratic presidential debates will feature 20 candidates, five moderators and a lot of commercials. Potential voters might not be able to learn as much as they want to. How will traditional news coverage--and social media--shape their understanding of what’s going on?
Wildfires and climate change
June 24, 2019 07:00 - 35 minutes - 31.6 MBIn California, generations of victims have adapted, rebuilt and expanded development into fire-prone areas. But last year’s blazes set new records for massive destruction. With climate change, scientists say the fires will only get worse. Are Californians prepared? Are they paying attention?
CNN and President Trump: Truth and Truth Decay
June 20, 2019 07:00 - 53 minutes - 48 MBWhen the Chief Executive lies repeatedly, what’s a reporter to do? CNN’s Jim Acosta defends his multiple public challenges of Donald Trump in a book called, “The Enemy of the People.” Is Acosta serving as Truth’s messenger or inadvertently playing the President’s game?
To combat climate change, should you stop flying?
June 17, 2019 07:00 - 33 minutes - 29.3 MBJet aircraft contribute 2% of all greenhouse gases--raising challenging questions. Is there a moral obligation to travel less? What are the alternatives to going by plane? Are there different standards if you’re traveling for business, vacation or keeping the family together?
Gerrymandering and the US Census put the Supreme Court in the 'political thicket'
June 13, 2019 07:00 - 36 minutes - 32.9 MBAmerica is politically polarized, and the US Supreme Court is also divided. In a few days, it will answer two questions. Will non-citizens be counted in the next census? Can politicians choose who votes in elections? We’ll hear how the Court’s rulings might impact Democrats and Republicans.
Climate change and the constitutional right to a livable future
June 10, 2019 07:00 - 29 minutes - 25.7 MBThe federal government may have to stand trial for violating the rights of young people. Their lawsuit making Washington liable for climate change is being taken seriously by the Supreme Court. If the verdict was guilty, what would the remedy be?
Does Roe v. Wade have a future?
June 07, 2019 16:00 - 43 minutes - 38.9 MBAbortion is legal under federal law, but Red State Republicans are making it hard for women to exercise their constitutional right to choose. President Trump’s choices for the Supreme Court will help him turn out the base in next year’s re-election campaign.
California Democrats and the Presidential Nomination
June 05, 2019 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.3 MBFor the first time since 1972, California Democrats are positioned to make a difference. Fourteen candidates showed up for the party convention in San Francisco. When will they be back again? Will they look harder for delegate votes or campaign contributions?
Can Trump Revoke Climate Science?
June 03, 2019 07:00 - 39 minutes - 34.9 MBPresident Trump on the National Climate Assessment: “I don’t believe it.” Now he’s ordered federal agencies to downplay evidence-based predictions. They can’t even use the phrase “climate change.” A former head of the EPA explains what it will mean to lose track of impending disaster.
The Supreme Court and Partisan Politics
May 30, 2019 07:00 - 36 minutes - 32.6 MB“Supreme Revenge” describes increasingly bitter battles over the highest court in the land. It’s the title of a Frontline documentary featuring Reagan, Obama and Trump. The age and health of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg make the Supreme Court a crucial issue in next year’s presidential campaign.
Should ‘Climate Change’ be ‘Climate Crisis?’
May 27, 2019 07:00 - 32 minutes - 28.6 MBThe biggest story of modern times is bad for audience ratings. To save money, news outlets are hiding the truth of environmental disaster. A new playbook, “Covering Climate Change” says dire scientific warnings are not “alarmism,” but needed to inspire public demands for action.
Does the Trump White House want war with Iran?
May 23, 2019 07:00 - 47 minutes - 42.4 MBPresident Trump has invited Iran to “pick up the phone and call” him. He’s also threatened the “end” of that country. It’s the latest act in a long international drama. America’s allies and adversaries fear another Middle East conflict might happen by accident.
The climate change candidate: Washington State Governor Jay Inslee
May 18, 2019 16:00 - 27 minutes - 23.9 MBAll the White House hopefuls talk about Climate Change. But Democrat Jay Inslee says it’s not just one issue; it’s all the issues. It would be the “organizing principle” for his Administration. He claims he could transform the economy without sacrificing prosperity despite massive disruptions.
The powers of Congress vs Trump’s executive privilege
May 16, 2019 07:00 - 49 minutes - 44.6 MBCongress is investigating misconduct alleged by the Mueller report. White House lawyers are rejecting every subpoena. The struggle is basic to divided government: the Executive versus the Legislature, while the Judiciary stands by. It’s a great lesson for Civics 101. Is it also a “constitutional crisis?”
Climate change and species extinction
May 10, 2019 16:00 - 30 minutes - 26.6 MBMore than a million species of plants, animals, fish and insects are going extinct because of human activity. A massive report from the UN blames it partly on climate change. The Trump Administration signed on. But talk is not action. What needs to be done?
Health insurance and the presidential campaign
May 09, 2019 07:00 - 52 minutes - 47.3 MBGet ready for more debate about health insurance as Trump runs for re-election. Democratic hopefuls are debating reforms while Republicans accuse them of “socialized medicine.” What does that mean? What’s the difference between “Medicare for All” and “Medicare for America?” You may need to know.
Republicans look at climate change and see… Democrats
May 06, 2019 07:00 - 38 minutes - 34.1 MBPartisanship is more powerful than science, even for conservative environmentalists. They don’t buy warnings about an existential crisis. But, mounting evidence of climate change has pressured GOP officials into offering plans. How does their “New Manhattan Project” compare with the Democrats’ “Green New Deal?”
The big dangers of Big Tech: Is it too late for regulation?
May 02, 2019 07:00 - 58 minutes - 52.5 MBBig Tech is a benefit to the modern world. But unlimited data collection may lead to unlimited power. The cost already includes invasion of privacy, political manipulation, terrorism and possible tyranny. Can Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple be brought under control?
Air Pollution: The original component of Climate Change
April 29, 2019 07:00 - 45 minutes - 40.4 MBIt’s invisible in some places, but dirty air kills millions of people all over the world. That’s even true in America, despite the Clean Air Act and California’s Air Resources Board. But, after Volkswagen’s diesel scandal, Europe can’t brag.
After Mueller: a dysfunctional White House and impeachment prospects
April 25, 2019 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.3 MBDemocrats are divided: impeachment now or further investigations? Top aides don’t do what the president tells them. News and social media report on chaos as government workers struggle to follow the law.
Amazon Workers to Jeff Bezos: Fight climate change
April 18, 2019 07:00 - 20 minutes - 17.9 MBTech workers at Amazon are risking their jobs to combat climate change. They’ve signed a petition that challenges billionaire CEO Jeff Bezos to stop helping oil and gas companies develop more fossil fuels. With a new source of profit at stake, will Bezos get the message?
Is it time to make gun control great again?
April 18, 2019 07:00 - 36 minutes - 32.1 MBEven the Wild West had gun control. Most Americans want it now--especially kids afraid of school shootings. But politicians offer “thoughts and prayers,” instead of enacting protections. What about a plan for a safer future with fewer guns?
The ‘Smoking Gun’ of climate change in the Arctic
April 11, 2019 19:00 - 19 minutes - 17 MBWhat happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic. It’s not just glacial melting and rising seas, but rising temperatures mean trouble for plants and animals. New studies show the Arctic faces a new reality--and so does the rest of the world.
Is Trump a ‘Good Neighbor’ to Venezuela and Central America?
April 11, 2019 07:00 - 50 minutes - 45.1 MBOil sanctions for Venezuela and aid cuts to Central America: Trump claims they promote democracy and curb illegal immigration. Will they make life better or worse for poverty-stricken people in repressive regimes of both the Left and the Right?
Using fiction to tell the truth about Washington
April 04, 2019 07:00 - 47 minutes - 42.3 MBMore Americans are losing faith in “Fake News.” So journalist Tom Rosenstiel is writing novels. His latest, The Good Lie, starts a conversation on what loss of trust in media means for the business of government, including national security.
Fighting climate change at the local level
April 04, 2019 07:00 - 16 minutes - 14.2 MBPresident Trump has made federal policy out of denying climate change. But state, county and city laws and ordinances are still on the books. A new handbook provides easy access to legal pathways for cutting 80% of emissions by 2050. Lawyers are organizing.
Bribery is the price of admission to some of America’s ‘best’ schools
March 21, 2019 07:00 - 50 minutes - 45.2 MBUnqualified kids are admitted to some of America’s most prestigious institutions. Parents, administrators and coaches face criminal charges. Should higher learning be about more than status, money, prestige and power? Also: Boeing, the FAA and two deadly crashes.
Afghanistan: Why so long? How much longer?
March 14, 2019 07:00 - 54 minutes - 48.7 MBAfter 17 years, the U.S. is trying to negotiate its way out of Afghanistan. One partner in the search for peace is the Taliban, once an enemy in the “War on Terror.” An Afghan-American describes how a military colossus has changed the country since 9/11, when he was 9. What has America learned about “perpetual war?”
Is nuclear power the answer to climate change?
March 07, 2019 08:00 - 53 minutes - 47.8 MBHuman civilization is threatened by climate change. But it also needs the energy from fossil fuels that now emit greenhouse gases. Are renewables like wind and solar developing fast enough? Is nuclear power still needed, or is it too expensive and too dangerous in both the present and in the future?
Netanyahu, Israeli extremists and America’s Jews
February 28, 2019 08:00 - 46 minutes - 41.5 MBLiberal Jews are outraged. Even AIPAC has broken precedent, criticizing Netanyahu’s political allies in his effort to maintain power. Will President Trump’s Republicans replace the Democrats as Israel’s major supporters on Capitol Hill? Also: The impact of Michael Cohen’s case against President Trump.