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Christian Science Monitor
Politics Editor and Deputy Washington Bureau Chief for the Christian Science Monitor
PROFILE
Gail Russell Chaddock
Guest
FROM Gail Russell Chaddock
To the Point
Obama Gives Netanyahu a Countdown to the Peace Process Benjamin Netanyahu seemed to be selling peace with the Palestinians today in a speech to AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel lobby. This, after President Obama publicly questioned Netanyahu's commitment to the peace process and despite opposition from within Netanyahu's political party. At the same time, the Israeli Prime Minister continues to insist that peace depends on the Palestinians recognizing Israel as "the Jewish State." And, as promised, Netanyahu left no room for compromise when it came to Iran's nuclear program. We get a progress report on the peace process, US-Israeli relations and the complicating factor of Iran's nuclear program.
To the Point
Is the Syrian Crisis about More than Chemical Weapons? In Sweden today, President Obama shifted responsibility for punishing Syria -- "I didn't set a 'red line,' the world set a red line" – and said the credibility of Congress is on the line. As the debate continues in Washington, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has delayed debate on a bipartisan resolution to authorize force against Syria. On the House side , Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and the Chair of the Joint Chiefs, General Martin Dempsey testified alongside Secretary of State John Kerry . One major player on Capitol Hill is AIPAC , the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. What's Israel itself doing behind the scenes? We hear how countries, including Saudi Arabia, are using the Syrian crisis to advance their own agendas as the Middle East gets more complicated than ever.
To the Point
Gridlock Melts on Payroll Tax Cut Deal The House and the Senate today passed a $150 billion economic package, which extends the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits for the rest of this year. The voting was mixed in both parties. Gail Russell Chaddock, congressional correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor , has the details.
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Partisan Sniping on Capitol Hill ahead of Debt-Ceiling Deadline Congress will return to Washington tomorrow after the Senate cancelled the Fourth of July recess. It's all about the urgency of raising the national debt ceiling before August 2. But last week, the political rhetoric was harsher than ever, which could have unintended consequences. That's according to Gail Russell Chaddock with the Christian Science Monitor .
To the Point
Partisan Sniping on Capitol Hill ahead of Debt-Ceiling Deadline Congress will return to Washington tomorrow after the Senate cancelled the Fourth of July recess. It's all about the urgency of raising the national debt ceiling before August 2. But last week, the political rhetoric was harsher than ever, which could have unintended consequences. That's according to Gail Russell Chaddock with the Christian Science Monitor .
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Republicans Take Aim at Medicare Republican House Speaker John Boehner met President Obama at the White House today, but they failed to make a deal to avoid a government shutdown on Friday. Meanwhile, Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia blamed the stalemate on a "lack of [Democratic] leadership in the Senate." As the battle raged over this year's federal budget today, the chair of the House Budget Committee, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, presented his much-awaited plan for cutting the deficit and restructuring Medicaid and Medicare. We hear the details and look at the political consequences.
To the Point
Money, Medicare and Next Year's Election As the White House and Congress struggled to avoid a government shutdown based on this year's budget, chair of the House Budget Committee, Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan, presented his much-awaited plan for next year. Republicans claim it would save almost $6 trillion in ten years by spending cuts, restructuring Medicaid and Medicare and providing a choice of private insurance plans. Critics say it would make the rich richer and require the old and the sick to shoulder rising healthcare costs on their own. Does anybody expect the package to become law, or is it designed to shape debate about the role of government in next year's presidential campaign?
To the Point
Controversial House Hearing on Radical Islam in the US New York Republican Peter King opened Congressional hearings today on what he called the "threat of radicalization among Muslim Americans." One witness was Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim ever elected to Congress. Gail Russell Chaddock is the Congressional correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor .
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One Last Push for the DREAM Act After the results of this month's elections, supporters think comprehensive immigration reform is a lost cause in the next Congress. But President Obama says a "down payment" would be passage of what's called the DREAM Act during the lame-duck session. The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act would apply to some 2.1 million people brought to the US illegally by their parents when they were under the age of 16. They'd get "conditional green cards" allowing them to work and putting them on a path to citizenship. We hear several perspectives, including that of Pedro Ramirez, Student Body President at Cal State Fresno, who was recently exposed as being in the US illegally.
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Obama on the Economy…at Last The November elections are less than two months away, and Democrats have their backs against the wall. As he tours the country this week, President Obama is now pushing some Republican-sounding proposals for boosting the economy. Monday in Milwaukee, he was in campaign mode . Today, he's in Cleveland to unveil some business-friendly proposals .
To the Point
Obama on the Economy…at Last The November elections are less than two months away, and Democrats have their backs against the wall. As he tours the country this week, President Obama is now pushing some Republican-sounding proposals for boosting the economy. Monday in Milwaukee, he was in campaign mode . Today, the pitch is going personal, from a president whose childhood included food stamps. In Cleveland, Obama unveiled some business-friendly proposals , including tax credits worth $100 billion for research and development, $200 billion in write-offs for capital investments and extension of most of President Bush’s tax cuts, along with $50 billion in spending on roads and bridges. But even some Democrats are asking, what took so long?
To the Point
Healthcare Bill Leads to Violence Today, the Congress and Senate are trying to finalize healthcare reform. Last night, more than 100 House Democrats met with Capitol Police and the FBI to voice concern over recent threats and vandalism. Ohio Democrat Steve Driehaus blames Republican rhetoric. Though he did not respond directly to that accusation, Republican leader John Boehner decried the violence, as did House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Gail Russell Chaddock reports on Congress for the Christian Science Monitor .
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The Politics of Security and Terrorism Terminal C at Newark's Liberty International Airport was shut down for several hours last night after a man reportedly walked through the wrong side of a checkpoint. Passengers on aircraft that had not taken off were sent back to the terminal. And today intense new screening has been put into effect for all citizens of 14 nations, including Yemen, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
To the Point
Security in the Skies and Politics in Washington President Obama now says the man who tried to bring down a US airplane on Christmas day was " trained, equipped and directed " by al Qaeda in Yemen. Several embassies there have been shut down, and new restrictions are now in effect for citizens of Yemen and 13 other countries who are flying to the US. The Administration says there was no "smoking gun" that could have prevented the would-be bomber from boarding the plane, but criticism continues. We hear about new measures to protect travelers as the Obama Administration responds to charges that it's weak on security.
To the Point
Rangel Retains Gavel Despite GOP Corruption Allegations After years of high-profile scandals that knocked Republicans off pedestals on Capitol Hill, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi promised the "most open and ethical" Congress in history. Now Republicans are striking back. Charles Rangel , one of the senior members of Congress, is chair of the Ways ad Means Committee, which oversees the Internal Revenue Service. Among other charges, the New York Democrat is accused of failing to report his own income. Gail Russell Chaddock reports for the Christian Science Monitor .
To the Point
Senate Works on Stimulus as Economy Sheds Jobs The US lost almost 600,000 jobs last month, and unemployment rose to 7.6% of the labor force, the highest level in 16 years. With the Senate still debating the stimulus bil l, President Obama used the numbers to call for action , and called it "inexcusable and irresponsible for any of us to get bogged down in distraction, delay or politics as usual while millions of Americans are being put out of work." Gail Russell Chaddock reports on Congress for the Christian Science Monitor .
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To the Point
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
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
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
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.