Columbia Journalism Review
Acting Managing Editor of the Columbia Journalism Review
PROFILE
Jill Drew
Guest
FROM Jill Drew
Which Way, L.A.?
Public Broadcasting in the Cross Hairs Republicans in Congress have de-funded public broadcasting, and the cuts include $94 million the Corporation for Public Broadcasting gives to public radio stations, which then help to fund NPR. Two embarrassing incidents have made NPR's struggle to get the money restored more difficult than it had to be.
To the Point
Public Broadcasting in the Cross Hairs The Republican Congress has voted to eliminate federal money for public broadcasting, including $94 million the Corporation for Public Broadcasting gives to public radio stations, which then help to fund NPR. Republicans see NPR as too liberal, and felt vindicated when NPR fired Juan Williams for comments on Fox News. Now, in an ambush interview , an NPR fundraiser called Tea Party conservatives anti-intellectual racists, and NPR's president has been ousted . Is NPR really biased? Is it ready for damage control? What about public stations that need federal money but don't even carry NPR News?
Recommended
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.
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
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
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?