Bloomberg BusinessWeek
Staff writer and former Detroit Bureau Chief for Bloomberg BusinessWeek
PROFILE
David Welch
Guest
FROM David Welch
To the Point
Tobacco Rivals in Talks to Merge America’s tobacco industry may be re-shaped by a merger of Reynolds-American and Lorillard, this country’s second- and third-largest makers of cigarettes. It’s all about a decline in the US market for traditional cigarettes, and the expected growth of e-cigarettes as a replacement. David Welch reports for Bloomberg News.
To the Point
Snack Lovers Prepare: Kraft Is Becoming Mondelez Kraft Foods, Incorporated sells $31 billion worth of snack foods around the world. After testing with focus groups in 28 languages, the maker of macaroni and cheese, Oreo cookies and Ritz crackers, Kraft has adopted a new name. When Bell Atlantic merged with GTE, brand-namers combined the Latin word "veritas" with the English "horizon" to come up with the now-familiar "Verizon." " Mondelez " is also a composite, invented to evoke the idea that Kraft Foods products are part of a "delicious world."
To the Point
Ahead of IPO, GM Posts Largest Quarterly Profit in 11 Years After bankruptcy and a federal bailout, General Motors has made its largest quarterly profit in 11 years. What's good for General Motors may be good politically for Barack Obama. David Welch writes for Bloomberg BusinessWeek .
To the Point
General Motors on a Collision Course with Bankruptcy General Motors is closer than ever to bankruptcy. It needed 90% of its investors to exchange debt for shares in the company in order to qualify for fed money. GM announced today that it had failed to meet that threshold. David Welch is Detroit Bureau Chief for BusinessWeek magazine.
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To the Point
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.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
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.
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.