Lecturer in Journalism, University of Minnesota
Freelance writer and professor at the University of Minnesota Journalism School
PROFILE
Elizabeth Larsen
Guest
FROM Elizabeth Larsen
To the Point
The Business of Child Adoptions Spurred by church groups, charities and Hollywood stars, American families had been adopting foreign children at an increasing rate. But there are signs of corruption in what's become an international business. Members of a French aid group, Zoe's Arc , are under arrest in Africa on charges of stealing 103 children from Chad while claiming they were orphans from Darfur. The United Nations says they were not , but kids—ranging from one to 10--who were living with family members in Chad, where adoption is virtually forbidden under Islamic law. The incident has sparked outrage all over Africa, in part because colonial history and cultural misunderstanding. Meantime, an adoptive American mother struggles with personal pain and cultural differences. Why don't more American parents adopt American kids?
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What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
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.
To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.