Los Angeles Times
Special correspondent, and former Bogota Bureau Chief, for the Los Angeles Times
PROFILE
Chris Kraul
Guest
FROM Chris Kraul
To the Point
After Decades of war in Colombia, peace has a chance In 1964, Colombian peasant farmers—virtual slaves of urban landowners--formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as the FARC. Since then, 200,000 people have died and millions have been displaced in the Western Hemisphere's longest-running conflict. Now, there's a peace deal — if Colombia's voters approve it next month. But both sides -- peasant farmers and Marxist rebels against urban landowners using death squads and right-wing paramilitaries -- have committed atrocities over the years. Can victims and perpetrators learn to live side by side? We look at the history, the hopes and the fears of a beleaguered nation.
To the Point
A Narrow Victory for Venezuela's New President The late Hugo Chavez hand-picked his successor as President of Venezuela, but after a brief but hard-hitting campaign, interim president Nicolás Maduro won with only 50.7 percent in yesterday's voting. His opponent, provincial Governor Henrique Capriles, has called for a recount. Chris Kraul special correspondent for the Los Angeles Times , joins us from Caracas.
To the Point
Questions Abound as Chavez Starts New Term in Absentia Hugo Chavez was supposed to be sworn in today for a; third term as President of Venezuela, but he’s languishing in a Cuban hospital and hasn’t been see in public for more than a month.
To the Point
Trauma of Chilean Miners after Being Trapped 69 Days Intense media attention is now adding to the emotional and psychological trauma of the 33 miners rescued after 69 days underground in Chile. What does the incident itself say about Chile? Chris Kraul is still there for the Los Angeles Times .
To the Point
Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and the FARC Colombia's air strike in Ecuador killed an important leader of the FARC rebel group, but Ecuador denounced the raid as a violation of sovereignty. The Organization of American States has now passed a resolution that satisfied both those countries. But Colombia is headed to the UN, complaining that Ecuador and Venezuela are actively supporting the FARC. Chris Kraul reports from Bogota, Colombia for the Los Angeles Times .
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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
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
To the Point
What happens when America retreats from the world? Is President Trump taking his "America First" agenda to extremes, withdrawing the country from the international stage on trade and climate change, distancing America from its traditional allies across the Atlantic and even threatening to physically isolate the country through the building of a wall along its southern border? León Krauze guest hosts.
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.