former US Ambassador to the Russian Federation
Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; former US Ambassador to the Russian Federation (1997-2001)
PROFILE
James Collins
Guest
FROM James Collins
Which Way, L.A.?
High-level Talks in Moscow At the United Nations less than a month ago, Russian President Medvedev was asked about Iran developing the capacity to build nuclear weapons. "In some cases" he said," sanctions are inevitable ." But in Moscow yesterday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said sanctions would be "counterproductive." He was standing next to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton .
To the Point
The US and Russia: Iran and Nuclear Weapons At the United Nations less than a month ago, Russian President Medvedev was asked about Iran developing the capacity to build nuclear weapons. ”In some cases” he said,” sanctions are inevitable .” But in Moscow yesterday, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said sanctions would be “counterproductive.” He was standing next to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s in Moscow to talk about Iran’s nuclear program. Also on her agenda is renewing the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty , which expires in December, a major goal of President Obama. At the United Nations last month, President Obama expressed a sense of urgency about nuclear weapons. Has he really been able to “re-set” relations with Russia after all? Even if the Cold War rivals agree to reduce their nuclear weapons, will Congress go along?
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To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
Trump's new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.