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New York Times
Alexander Burns is a national political correspondent for the New York Times. He is a former senior political reporter for Politico.
PROFILE
Alexander Burns
Guest
FROM Alexander Burns
To the Point
Gunfire brings calls for unity on Capitol Hill A shooting spree targeting Republicans practicing for a charity baseball game this morning in Northern Virginia, brought a declaration of unity from House speaker Paul Ryan. "An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us." But as the Era of Donald Trump gets underway, Democrats are divided. Liberal activists dream of impeachment and enacting a single-payer health system, while party regulars just want to get back to governing. Yesterday, the primary election for Governor of Virginia was a test for both factions. When they get back to business as usual, can Democrats formulate a common strategy for upcoming elections? We hear what happened as both parties call for unity — at least for the moment.
To the Point
The New York Primary: A Bare-Knuckle Brawl "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." That's what New Yorkers like to say about the Big Apple. And Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton seem determined to test the proposition in next week's presidential primary. He questions her judgment. She says he can't explain his own economic plan. Last night, they traded barbs on criminal justice, US policy on Israel and the power of Wall Street banks. Can Brooklyn-born Bernie pull off an upset, against Hillary – twice elected to the Senate from her adopted home state? We hear from experts on presidential politics, and reporters in the thick of the race.
To the Point
Governor Chris Christie Faces the Cameras in Bridge Scandal Chris Christie this morning used words like " blindsided, sad, and betrayed " to describe his reaction to embarrassing revelations that his aides had a role in shutting down access lanes to the George Washington Bridge last fall. That action, which caused a three-day traffic jam for Fort Lee, was allegedly taken by the New Jersey Governor's top aides in retaliation against the Democratic Mayor of Fort Lee, who failed to endorse Christie for re-election. Today Christie apologized and fired one of his aides. The US Attorney in New Jersey has opened an independent investigation. Alexander Burns is senior political reporter for Politico .
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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
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.
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
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?