To the Point
Universal Pre-School Education: Poverty and Politics
President Obama is again pushing universal pre-school, without much chance of getting it funded. We look at the potential impact on poverty and political reality.
By Warren Olney • • 51m ListenFor the second year in a row, President Obama is pushing universal pre-school education, without much chance of getting a program funded by Congress. We look at how it works, the potential impact on poverty and at the political realities. Also, al Qaeda Dumps its Syria affiliate, and the "confessions" of a former agent for America's transportation security.
Banner image: Children sing the Pledge of Allegiance during a pre-school graduation. Photo: CherryPoint
In this episode
3 storiesAl Qaeda Dumps Its Syria Affiliate
Since 911, al Qaeda has been synonymous with brutal terrorism in the interests of establishing an Islamic caliphate throughout the Muslim world. Today, its current leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has dissociated al Qaeda from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which he calls too extreme. Liz Sly is Beirut Bureau Chief for the Washington Post .
Read the story8 minUniversal Pre-School Education: Poverty and Politics
A few states subsidize pre-school for all their four-year olds, with the red state of Oklahoma leading the way. In last year's State of the Union address, the President called for early education to be made universal. The idea went nowhere in Congress.
Read the story34 minAlarming Confessions of a TSA Airport Screener
A former agent for the Transportation Security Administration has written what he calls a "confession" about his duties as an airport screener. If you were worried about invasion of privacy, you were probably right.
Read the story9 min
