Regional Director for Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
Regional Director for Africa at the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, established in 1983 and funded by the US Congress to promote and support democracy around the world
Can Nigeria's New President Bring Reform and Stability? Nigerians witnessed an historic first this week, the peaceful transfer of power from one civilian president to another. Despite this first after the nation 's long history of coups and military rule, the election process that brought Umaru Yar'Adua to power has been widely criticized as fraudulent and will most likely result in legal challenges to his victory. What will be on his agenda as he tries to govern the second-wealthiest country in Africa, where half the population lives in poverty? Can he build on the anti-corruption successes of his predecessor? Will the new president be able to persuade rebels in the oil-rich south to stop their attacks, which have cut the country's oil production by one-third? What about the expectations of average Nigerians? Sara Terry guest hosts.
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.
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
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.