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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
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
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
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.