To the Point
The Supreme Court Takes On Healthcare
Share |

The Supreme Court Takes On Healthcare

Host:
Produced by:
Subscribe to this Podcast:
Podcast iTunes Podcast
Listen to/Watch entire show:
Listen Download Add to My Shows

Next week, the Affordable Care Act Republicans call "Obamacare" will get a historic degree of attention from the US Supreme Court. We look at the potential consequences for the President, the Chief Justice and tens of millions of Americans. Also, the Toulouse shooting prompts national soul-searching in France, and Kraft — the maker of Ritz crackers, Oreo cookies, and macaroni and cheese — is changing its name. Why change the brand from a household word to "Mandolez?"

Banner image: Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) speaks during a press conference at the US Capitol March 21, 2012 in Washington, DC. Republican members from the House of Representatives gathered to speak out against the healthcare bill. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Making News

Toulouse Shooting Prompts National Soul-Searching in France ()

In France, authorities still don't know if the man who killed seven people, including a rabbi and three Jewish children, was acting alone or part of a wider plot. The suspect, Mohammed Merah, was shot by police as he jumped from his apartment window spraying a hail of gunfire. Hugh Carnegy, European Managing Editor for the Financial Times, has an update.

Guests:
Links:

Main Topic

The Supreme Court: Healthcare and History ()

Led by Florida, 26 states have challenged President Obama's Affordable Care Act, passed two years ago without the vote of a single Republican. Next week, the US Supreme Court will hear three days of oral arguments on the case — the first time that's happened in 45 years. But laws like this, that raise constitutional issues and intimately affect tens of millions of people, don't come around very often. Lower courts have been sharply divided on the principal question: can the federal government punish Americans who don't buy health insurance? Can the government mandate that Americans buy health insurance? What's at stake for the legacies of Chief Justice Roberts and President Obama in the midst of an election year?

Guests:
Links:

Reporter's Notebook

Snack Lovers Prepare: Kraft Is Becoming Mondelez ()

Kraft Foods, Incorporated sells $31 billion worth of snack foods around the world. After testing with focus groups in 28 languages, the maker of macaroni and cheese, Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers, Kraft has adopted a new name. When Bell Atlantic merged with GTE, brand-namers combined the Latin word "veritas" with the English "horizon" to come up with the now-familiar "Verizon." "Mondelez" is also a composite, invented to evoke the idea that Kraft Foods products are part of a "delicious world."

Guests:
Links:

Engage & Discuss

Further the conversation with your thoughts and comments. Agree, disagree, present a different perspective -- engage.

For information and guidelines click: Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Please note, comments are moderated. KCRW reserves the right to edit and or remove posts deemed off-topic, abusive or not in accordance with KCRW's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.