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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White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
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 plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
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.