- Social:
Brookings Institution
Mark Muro is Director of Policy for the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution.
PROFILE
Mark Muro
Guest
FROM Mark Muro
To the Point
It's 'Made in America' week: What does that even mean today? This week, surrounded by American goods, President Trump kicked off his ' Made in America ' week. It's part of his nationalist agenda to bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas. But what does ‘made in America' mean today? How difficult is it to buy products made entirely in the USA? Where are products actually made in the country? We look at how big companies are moving from small towns to big cities in the digital era.
To the Point
The paradox of automation Many American workers are panicked about automation, for good reason. Computers and robots are replacing more and more men and women. The upside is that technological change creates new jobs at the same time it takes old ones away -- but there's a kicker. The new jobs are very different. That means re-education, re-location and other adjustments that can sometimes be painful. It's also a fundamental challenge to Donald Trump, who promised to bring back the old manufacturing jobs for blue-collar workers. They aren't going to be there. When Donald Trump met the heads of Amazon, Apple and other titans of tech this week, he celebrated their contributions to the new economy. He embraced them and promised help from his administration.
Which Way, L.A.?
Solyndra and the Future of Clean and Green Technology Congressional investigators have revealed details of how $535 million in federal dollars went down the drain on guaranteed loans for high-tech solar panels. The Bush Administration put the deal in motion, but Solyndra went bankrupt on President Obama's watch, and Republicans are circulating embarrassing emails. Is the scandal really as bad as it sounds? If the US wants a "Green Economy" to create jobs here at home, are loan guarantees needed, despite the risk? Are there other ways to compete with China, which subsidizes all manufacturing costs so it can undersell the competition?
To the Point
Solyndra and the Future of Clean and Green Technology Congressional investigators have revealed details of how $535 million in federal dollars went down the drain on guaranteed loans for high-tech solar panels. The Bush Administration put the deal in motion, but Solyndra went bankrupt on President Obama's watch, and Republicans are circulating embarrassing emails. Is the scandal really as bad as it sounds? If the US wants a "Green Economy" to create jobs here at home, are loan guarantees needed, despite the risk? Are there other ways to compete with China, which subsidizes all manufacturing costs so it can undersell the competition?
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Left, Right & Center
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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.
To the Point
Human Rights in the era of Donald Trump President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.
To the Point
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.