To the Point

Public Broadcasting Gets a Reprieve--for the Moment

What some public broadcasters called the "fight of our lives" is over, at least for the moment. Yesterday in Congress, 87 Republicans joined Democrats in reversing $100 million in cuts from the budgets of television and radio stations. That restoration came after an extensive public relations campaign by stations all over the country. Another $100 million in cuts still remain, and the political controversy is still going strong. Why do TV and radio stations need public money? What's unique about the programming they provide? What about charges of "liberal bias" and the appointment of a former Republican Party official to oversee distribution of public funds? We speak with a former radio journalist, public broadcasting administrators, and a conservative media watchdog. Making News: President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister al-Jaafari Meet Members of Congress in both parties have called for a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, but speaking at a White House news conference today, President Bush told Iraqi Prime Minister al-Jaafari that's not going to happen. Richard Wolffe, senior White House correspondent for Newsweek magazine, was there. Reporter's Notebook: Does Chinese Bid for Unocal Put US at Risk? As Chevron negotiates to buy Unocal for $17 billion, a third oil company has made an unsolicited bid of $18.5. Today's Los Angeles Times reports that CNOOC Limited holds board meetings in English, has a chief executive schooled in the US and talks about serving its shareholders. With 71% of those shares belong to the Chinese government, Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, offers some thoughts on whether CNOOC is an appropriate owner of a major American oil company.