Chief Economist, Concord Coalition
Chief economist with the Concord Coalition, and blogger at EconomistMom.com; former staffer in the Congressional Budget Office and senior economist on the staff of the Council of Economic Advisers in both the Clinton and Bush Administrations
President Obama's First Joint Session of Congress In the past month, President Obama has been criticized for presenting too grim a picture of America's current challenges. In his first address to a joint session of Congress last night, Obama did predict hard times, but in contrast to recent speeches, he insisted that recovery is a certainty. He explained why he wants to give banks more taxpayer money and outlined ambitious plans for healthcare, alternative energy and education. Did the President strike the right note of optimism in perilous times? What did Governor Bobby Jindal say on behalf of the Republicans?
Obama Addresses a Joint Session of Congress Oratorical ability has been a defining characteristic of some presidents. For others, the inability to make a good speech has been a serious limitation. In the past month, President Obama has been criticized for presenting too grim a picture of America's current challenges. Last night, the President painted a grim picture of America's economic crisis and predicted hard times. But in contrast to recent speeches, he insisted that recovery is a certainty. He explained why he wants to give banks more taxpayer money and outlined ambitious plans for healthcare, alternative energy and education. Did the President strike the right note of optimism in perilous times? What did Governor Bobby Jindal say on behalf of the Republicans?
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.
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.
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?
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.