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Bruce Bartlett Guest
Bruce Bartlett

journalist and historian

Bruce Bartlett is the author of Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy, Wrong on Race: The Democrats Buried Past,  The New American Economy: The Failure of Reaganomics and a New Way Forward,  The Benefit and the Burden: Tax Reform — Why We Need It and What It Will Take The Truth Matters: A Citizen’s Guide to Separating Facts and Lies and Stopping Fake News in Its Tracks.

Bartlett is a former columnist for the Fiscal Times, the New York Times and Forbes. He served as a domestic policy advisor to President Reagan and as a Treasury Department economist under President George H.W. Bush. He also worked on Capitol Hill for the late Rep. Jack Kemp.

FROM Bruce Bartlett

The news media and a crisis of credibility
To the Point

The news media and a crisis of credibility When To the Point went on the air in the year 2000, the Y2K scare had turned out to be "fake news." The big story was the disputed presidential election. Cable news was becoming a real challenge to established broadcasters. Google was barely more than a startup. Facebook and Twitter didn’t exist. Now, digital media is dominant in distributing information — and misinformation, often dismissed as "fake news." While the "free press" may be essential to democracy, President Trump calls editors and reporters "the enemies of the people." Can journalism regain the trust of listeners, viewers and readers?

33 MIN Nov 09, 2017

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures by Unhappy Republicans
To the Point

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures by Unhappy Republicans Big money is finally being spent by Republicans desperate to prevent Donald Trump from winning their party's presidential nomination. Mitt Romney's voice is featured in robo-calls on behalf of alternative prospects. And if Rubio, Kasich and Ted Cruz together could stop Trump's nomination, Romney says he would accept the choice of a so-called "brokered convention." We hear more about that scheme and others as time is running out for moderate, conservative and Tea-Party Republicans.

31 MIN, 52 SEC Mar 08, 2016

"It's the Economy, Stupid…"
To the Point

"It's the Economy, Stupid…" The economy was the subject of last night's fourth Republican presidential debate, and you could almost hear Bill Clinton's slogan from 1992. But the eight candidates struggled to define their differences, when they were almost unanimous: ‘cut taxes, cut spending; don't raise the minimum wage.' Despite a recovery that's driven unemployment down to 5%, polls show that Republican voters are anxious about the economy. We hear about last night's appeals to the base of the party and how the GOP's economic vision compares to the Democrats'.

34 MIN, 41 SEC Nov 11, 2015

Is Congress Stepping Away from the Brink?
To the Point

Is Congress Stepping Away from the Brink? The government will be reopened and the debt limit raised if Senate leaders get their way, and if Speaker Boehner allows a vote in the House. But the deal would last only until early next year. Between now and then, Congress would hold the budget hearings it should have conducted this Spring. Can disagreements about spending, taxes and Medicare be resolved in such a short time? What about the ongoing dispute over Obamacare?  This may be the moment to take a deep breath, but long-term relief could be a long time coming. After Senate leaders announced their agreement today, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said President Obama hopes both houses will pass it.

33 MIN, 37 SEC Oct 16, 2013

Political Brinksmanship and the Debt Ceiling
Which Way, L.A.?

Political Brinksmanship and the Debt Ceiling Treasury Secretary Geithner says the first default in US government history would mean economic catastrophe , and it's just two weeks away. David Brooks (at left), the New York Times' conservative columnist shocked Washington this week by saying that Republicans may not be "fit to govern." Many Republicans see default as an opportunity to force massive spending cuts, even if the government has to shut down. But President Obama rejects any short-term fix and sees an opportunity of another kind. Will Republicans drive the country into default? Has the President made too many concessions or, as he said yesterday, is this an "opportunity to do something big?" Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

26 MIN, 32 SEC Jul 06, 2011

The Debt Limit and Economic Brinksmanship
To the Point

The Debt Limit and Economic Brinksmanship With the first default in US government history predicted for August 2, President Obama has rejected any short-term fix . Tomorrow, he's invited the top two Democratic and Republican leaders of both parties to visit the White House "to do something big." Treasury Secretary Geithner says default would mean economic catastrophe. Speaker John Boehner says Obama doesn't understand "economic and legislative reality," but will show up at the White House tomorrow. "Legislative reality" could mean that Boehner can't control his own Republican members, many of whom deny that default will have dire consequences and see it as an opportunity to force massive spending cuts, even if the government has to shut down.  Should the President be happy to get even a short-term fix? Has he already made so many concessions that Republicans could claim victory?

36 MIN, 17 SEC Jul 06, 2011

Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election
Which Way, L.A.?

Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election Tax cuts signed into law by George W. Bush were attacked for making the rich richer at the expense of the Middle Class and for helping to turn a federal surplus into a deficit.  They are scheduled to expire at the end of this year and Republicans are warning of the biggest tax increase in history. President Obama wants to let the tax cuts expire in the top bracket, but keep them in place for individuals making $200,000 or less and for couples at or below $250,000.

26 MIN, 18 SEC Jul 28, 2010

Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election
To the Point

Tax Cuts, the Deficit and the November Election Tax cuts signed into law by George W. Bush were attacked for making the rich richer at the expense of the Middle Class, and for helping to turn a federal surplus into a deficit. They are scheduled to expire at the end of this year and Republicans are warning of the biggest tax increase in history. President Obama wants to let the tax cuts expire in the top bracket, but keep them in place for individuals making $200,000 or less and for couples at or below $250,000. The impending epic political battle will have high stakes for taxpayers, the deficit and economic recovery. Will Republicans and Democrats find a middle ground in an election year?  What are the consequences of no action at all?

35 MIN, 13 SEC Jul 28, 2010

Obama's Plan for Creating Jobs
Which Way, L.A.?

Obama's Plan for Creating Jobs The President is on his way to Europe to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize , but early today he met with leaders of both parties to talk about jobs. Afterward, he repeated the outline of a plan proposed yesterday in a speech in Washington.

27 MIN, 49 SEC Dec 09, 2009

Obama's Plan for Creating Jobs
To the Point

Obama's Plan for Creating Jobs Today, before leaving for Europe to pick up his Nobel Prize, the President met with leaders of both parties to talk about jobs. During the meeting, he acknowledged the "less than full bi-partisan support for the Recovery Act and other steps that have broken the free-fall of our economy." Afterward, he repeated the outline of a plan proposed yesterday in a speech in Washington. Saying that the TARP bailout won't cost as much as predicted , the President wants part of the windfall to help create jobs. With the employment picture improving, what's the rush? Should the unexpected money all go to pay down the deficit?

28 MIN, 17 SEC Dec 09, 2009

Does Bipartisanship Really Matter?
To the Point

Does Bipartisanship Really Matter? President Obama ended his first full week in office with an appeal to America's Middle Class, appointing a task force to be headed by Vice President Biden. Will that appeal to Republicans around the country and set their Congressional leaders off stride?  House members gave Obama a warm welcome on Capitol Hill, but not a single vote for his stimulus package . Will bipartisanship raise its head in the Senate? Some Democrats are complaining that the President's made too many concessions, especially on tax cuts, when GOP help isn't needed to pass a bill. We get an early progress report on emerging strategies and the prospect for action with new blood in the White House.

33 MIN, 45 SEC Jan 30, 2009

Do Political Labels Still Fit in an Era of Change?
To the Point

Do Political Labels Still Fit in an Era of Change? As the presidential campaign begins in earnest, both candidates are trying to define themselves and each other. But the distinctions are blurred. "Blue Dog" Congressional Democrats say Barack Obama 's too liberal, while labor leaders worry that he's not liberal enough. John McCain is supposed to be a "maverick" Republican, but he's sounding more like President Bush. Is he or is he not a real conservative? Why are some Republicans calling themselves " Obamacons ?" Will those labels still matter this coming November?

36 MIN, 28 SEC Jun 13, 2008

Race and Party Politics
To the Point

Race and Party Politics On this holiday dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , race is still a major factor in American life and politics. Since 1964, black Americans have voted consistently Democratic, but historically it was the Republicans who opposed slavery, Jim Crow and school segregation. A new book called Wrong on Race argues that contemporary Republicans are getting a bad rap and offers a recommendation. Bruce Bartlett, an aide to then-Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, is the author.

6 MIN, 48 SEC Jan 21, 2008

GOP Candidates Face Off in Presidential Debate
To the Point

GOP Candidates Face Off in Presidential Debate Last night at the Reagan Library in California , ten candidates got a total of 90 minutes to make their cases for the Republican presidential nomination.  The name of Ronald Reagan was invoked 19 times.  President Bush was hardly mentioned.  Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Senator John McCain , who lead in the polls, faced off with Mitt Romney and seven lesser-known hopefuls trying to get into the top tier. The former Massachusetts Governor is included in the top tier because he has so much money.  Where would they take the country on Iraq, Iran, illegal immigration and Roe versus Wade ?  We hear from the Christian, moderate and fiscal-conservative wings of the party.  Who said what they wanted to hear?  Who would appeal to Democrats and Independents?

May 04, 2007

Dr. King's Peaceful Protests a Lesson for Others
To the Point

Dr. King's Peaceful Protests a Lesson for Others Racial segregation in the US was enforced by decades of police brutality, lynchings and other forms of violence. Familiar images from America's civil rights movement include the use of dogs, nightsticks and firehouses. Dr. Martin Luther King insisted that the response of civil rights marchers be disciplined non-violence. That's one of his greatest achievements, according to Bruce Bartlett, a conservative columnist who worked in the Reagan and first Bush Administrations.

6 MIN, 51 SEC Jan 15, 2007

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29 MIN, 55 SEC Nov 16, 2018

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