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Wall Street Journal
Correspondent covering national politics for the Wall Street Journal; former Congressional correspondent for the Los Angeles Times
PROFILE
Janet Hook
Guest
FROM Janet Hook
To the Point
Trump's bad week eclipses Clinton controversies…again This week has been so bad for Donald Trump that today, when Hillary Clinton made public last year's $10 million income , it caused hardly a ripple. After all, she and Bill paid 43.2% in state and federal taxes. Then, there were the latest poll by NBC and the Wall Street Journal . Janet Hook, covers national politics for the paper, has an update.
To the Point
War Fever: The Temperature Is Rising... Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee today about the threat from ISIL, or ISIS.
To the Point
House GOP Defend Bipartisan Budget Deal The bipartisan budget agreement released yesterday on Capitol Hill has been attacked by conservative groups, including Heritage Action , the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity . House Speaker John Boehner was asked today about their opposition. He accused the groups "who came out and opposed it before they ever saw it," as "using the American people for their own goals... If you're for more deficit reduction, you're for this agreement." Janet Hook is congressional correspondent for the Wall Street Journal .
To the Point
Could New House Proposal Derail Compromise? As the Senate leaders of both parties appeared to have reached a compromise, with a vote likely tomorrow, House Republicans met this morning to plan adding new provisions. That could stymie the process of reopening the government and raising the debt ceiling two days from now. Janet Hook is a congressional correspondent for the Wall Street Journal .
To the Point
Pressure Builds to End the Government Shutdown President Obama went to a construction company near Washington today with a simple message for House Speaker John Boehner.
To the Point
President Obama Addresses Shutdown After a week of failing to call Congressional leaders, President Obama did contact the four leaders of both parties in the Senate and Congress last night. But this morning, he showed no sign of giving in. So, in Washington, the political stalemate goes on while, around the country, so-called "nonessential" government services are out of business. We hear what the President and Congressional leaders are saying and look at the shutdown's initial impact. Despite Republican efforts, the Affordable Care Act began enrollment today with health insurance exchanges opening up around the country.
Which Way, L.A.?
Fallout from Super Committee Failure Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Super Committee has failed . Republicans and Democrats were supposed to come up with a deficit reduction deal, but in the end Republicans once again refused to substantially raise taxes, preferring instead to cut domestic programs, and Democrats stood by their mantra of achieving deficit reduction goals by balancing new taxes and spending cuts. Both sides are trying to figure out how to deal with the consequences: $1.2 trillion in mandated spending cuts set to take effect in January 2013. Who will bear the brunt of those cuts? Military spending is supposed to face huge cuts, but will legislators and lobbyists let that happen? What about other economic issues on the Congressional agenda? What will happen when voters go to the polls a year from now? Will deficit reduction and bi-partisanship failure be on their minds?
To the Point
Fallout from Super Committee Failure Perhaps to the surprise of no one, the Super Committee has failed . Republicans and Democrats were supposed to come up with a deficit reduction deal, but in the end Republicans once again refused to substantially raise taxes, preferring instead to cut domestic programs, and Democrats stood by their mantra of achieving deficit reduction goals by balancing new taxes and spending cuts. Both sides are trying to figure out how to deal with the consequences: $1.2 trillion in mandated spending cuts set to take effect in January 2013. Who will bear the brunt of those cuts? Military spending is supposed to face huge cuts, but will legislators and lobbyists let that happen? What about other economic issues on the Congressional agenda? What will happen when voters go to the polls a year from now? Will deficit reduction and bi-partisanship failure be on their minds?
To the Point
GOP Negotiators Pull Out of Budget Talks Bi-partisan budget talks headed by Vice President Biden lost an important participant today. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor pulled out, saying an impasse over taxes requires that discussions be held at a higher level. Janet Hook is congressional correspondent for the Wall Street Journal .
To the Point
A Closer Look at the 2011 Budget Agreement Congress has until this Friday to vote on last Friday's budget deal between their leaders and President Obama. Because details weren't revealed until Tuesday, there's enough grumbling to create some uncertainty about passage. Janet Hook covers Congress for the Wall Street Journal .
Which Way, L.A.?
Healthcare: Policy and Partisan Politics Some 40 Democrats and Republicans joined the televised healthcare summit today, with President Obama asking not where they differed but where they agreed. The President began today’s summit claiming that politics has trumped common sense. The Republicans responded that restructuring 17% of the economy is too ambitious for a single 2400-page bill. Will a rare chance for voters to see elected officials tackle the details of substantive issues make any difference on Capitol Hill or in this year’s elections?
To the Point
Healthcare: Policy and Partisan Politics Some 40 Democrats and Republicans joined the televised healthcare summit today, with President Obama asking not where they differed but where they agreed. In an exercise in political theater designed by the White House to build public support for the Democrats' massive overhaul, the President began the summit claiming that politics has trumped common sense. The Republicans pleaded their case: that restructuring 17% of the economy is too ambitious for a single 2400-page bill. Will a rare chance for voters to see elected officials tackle the details of substantive issues make any difference on Capitol Hill or in this year's elections?
Which Way, L.A.?
Massachusetts Changes the Game Last night, Republican Scott Brown was triumphant after his upset election to the US Senate seat held by the late Democrat Ted Kennedy for 47 years. At this morning’s news conference, Scott Brown said the President had called with congratulations and that they hit it off. We look at the aftermath of an upset that has transformed the political environment in an election year.
To the Point
Massachusetts Changes the Game Last night, Republican Scott Brown was triumphant after his upset election to the US Senate seat held by the late Democrat Ted Kennedy for 47 years, humiliating the Democrats just one year after Barack Obama's inauguration. But the Massachusetts Republican has not attacked the President himself, and today Brown promised bipartisanship when he gets to Washington. What does his victory mean for healthcare reform and the rest of the presidential agenda? And what are the lessons for Democrats nationwide? We look at the aftermath of an upset that has transformed the political environment in an election year.
To the Point
Stimulating the Economy, Now and in the Future The President and the Congress are prepared to break records for government spending, with consequences for America and the rest of the world. The stimulus package is supposed to move fast enough to have immediate impact, but not so fast that it's reckless or wasteful. The House bill calls for prohibiting foreign steel and iron from infrastructure projects. The Senate version being debated this week goes further, with few exceptions to the requirement for American-made goods and equipment. Republicans, including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, call that "protectionism." Could such provisions lead to foreign retaliation? Do other elements advance the Democrats' social agenda, rather than focusing on creating jobs. What should be the long-term objectives? Can past levels of growth and prosperity be restored or will Americans have to tighten their belts permanently?
Recommended
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.
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
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
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.