Democratic consultant with Strother Duffy Strother
Democratic consultant with Strother Duffy Strother, a Democratic media firm based in Washington, DC; former political reporter
PROFILE
Dane Strother
Guest
FROM Dane Strother
To the Point
Guns, Abortion and Political Realities This week's tragedy at Virginia Tech and a decision by the US Supreme Court have revived debate on the right to bear arms and a woman's right to abortion. Based on public opinion, it ought to be easier to enact new gun controls than to limit abortion but, in fact, it's not. Majorities of Americans support both--with restrictions, but conservative minorities are dominating the debates on policy. Why are Democrats backing away from an issue that matters to their liberal base? Will Republicans end up hurting their cause by pushing too hard to please conservatives? Has framing both issues in absolute terms made compromise unattainable?
To the Point
Can the Turtles Catch Up with the Hares? Former Senator John Edwards says he’s not worried that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are getting all the attention, but New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson 's frustrated about it. So are Senators Chris Dodd and Joseph Biden , who, like Richardson, have lengthy experience. With the first primaries 10 months away, polls show five also-rans way behind the top three. How did that happen? Why don't the so-called "second tier" candidates just drop out like Tom Vilsack , Evan Bayh and Mark Warner ? We speak with political scientists, strategists and speechwriters about polls, pundits, party activists and money.
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To the Point
Will the Senate write a healthcare bill in secret? While Democrats and Republicans argue White House relations with Russia, another question is being decided behind closed doors: who gets help buying health insurance and who doesn't? We hear how the pros and cons are being shrouded in secrecy.
To the Point
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.
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
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.