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New York Times
Berlin Bureau Chief for the New York Times
PROFILE
Alison Smale
Guest
FROM Alison Smale
To the Point
A Culture Clash Threatens European Unity More than 500 complaints of sometimes violent sexual assault have come to light since New Year's Eve in Cologne, Germany. Delayed police reports say women were groped, abused and forced to run a gauntlet. Some of the suspects who have been detained are from North Africa and the Middle East. But police reports were delayed, and that's led to charges of a cover-up on behalf of innocent refugees. Outrage in Germany is growing with potentially dire consequences for innocent refugees — and for one of Europe's historic achievements: Some of the open borders finally established after centuries of warfare are closing again.
To the Point
Anti-Islam Protests and Counter Protests Rock Germany Despite appeals from Chancellor Angela Merkel, churches and business leaders, thousands of Germans turned out in Berlin, Dresden and other major cities last night to protest what they call "the Islamization of Europe." There were counter-demonstrations as well, as we hear from Alison Smale, Berlin Bureau Chief for the New York Times .
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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
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
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.