Washington Post
Economic policy correspondent for the Washington Post, he also edits its policy blog, Storyline; former economics correspondent for National Journal; former energy and environment reporter for the Tribune Company
PROFILE
Jim Tankersley
Guest
FROM Jim Tankersley
To the Point
Economic Inequality Fuels an Angry Electorate Five days before the Iowa caucuses, the presidential campaigns of both political parties are more chaotic than ever. Donald Trump is dropping out of tomorrow's final debate in a battle with Fox News. Bernie Sanders spent part of today with the President in the Oval Office. Meantime, prospective voters face a troubling reality: wealth is concentrated in fewer hands since the 19th-Century and the days of the Robber Barons. Democrats and Republicans are appealing in different ways to Americans who fear they're being left behind by a booming economy and a changing culture.
To the Point
"It's the Economy, Stupid…" The economy was the subject of last night's fourth Republican presidential debate, and you could almost hear Bill Clinton's slogan from 1992. But the eight candidates struggled to define their differences, when they were almost unanimous: ‘cut taxes, cut spending; don't raise the minimum wage.' Despite a recovery that's driven unemployment down to 5%, polls show that Republican voters are anxious about the economy. We hear about last night's appeals to the base of the party and how the GOP's economic vision compares to the Democrats'.
To the Point
Is America Losing Its Middle Class? There's good news today: the US economy grew 5% in the summer quarter. But bad news continues: that growth is not trickling down to everyone. The gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is now the biggest on record, and it's not likely to get much smaller any time soon. Opportunities are not what they were before the Recession—let alone before high-paying manufacturing jobs went overseas. We hear about the under-employment of educated people, the bleak outlook for Millennials and the financial plight of racial minorities.
To the Point
Can Barack Obama Go It Alone in His Second Term? In his fifth State of the Union address last night, President Obama asked a divided Congress to increase the federal minimum wage. But he also conceded that a divided Congress is not likely to embrace his agenda. This morning, Congress stayed in Washington long enough to pass a Farm Bill, before House Republicans headed for a working retreat to talk about immigration reform behind closed doors. The President got into campaign mode — at a Costco in Maryland -- repeating last night's promise that if Congress doesn't make this "a year of action," he will. Get ready for more from the Bully Pulpit, as the President tries to achieve familiar objectives before he becomes a "lame duck." We hear what he can do with executive orders — and what requires Congressional action, including immigration reform.
To the Point
Income Inequality, Economic Anxiety and the Minimum Wage Fast food workers are back on the streets in 100 cities today. Walmart saw strikes on Black Friday. Yesterday, in a speech about the economy, President Obama said "the defining challenge of our time" is the decline of upward mobility, and called for a hike in the minimum wage. It's all about income inequality, a growing trend since before Great Recession. Instead of upward mobility into the Middle Class, many newly created jobs don't give workers enough to live on — even when they're full-time. We look at reality in some American workplaces and at the politics of restoring the American Dream.
To the Point
Obama Renews Focus on Economy as Partisan Battles Loom Normal.dotm 0 0 1 66 377 KCRW-Santa Monica College 3 1 462 12.0 0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Bill Clinton made “it’s the economy, stupid” a rule of American politics. Now Barack Obama says Washington “has largely taken its eye off the ball.” Nobody disagrees, but Republicans were trashing the President’s latest “pivot” to jobs and the Middle Class even before today’s “major speech” was delivered. We’ll hear what Mr. Obama has to say as he kicks off another public relations campaign. What about job growth, stimulus spending and the sequester?
To the Point
Lukewarm Jobs Report in the Campaign's Final Days The last report before the Presidential election shows more new jobs than had been expected in October, but an increase in unemployment. Mitt Romne y made the most of that in a speech in Wisconsin, saying that the President's promise of lowering unemployment had fallen short by 9 million jobs. Today, President Obama responded during a speech in Ohio, saying that Romney ads about auto manufacturing jobs being shipped to China were untrue. Jim Tankersley is economics correspondent for the National Journal .
To the Point
Obama and Romney Square Off in the Swing State of Ohio President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney are staging dueling events — simultaneously -- in the swing state of Ohio. In the past hour, the and Romney were in Cleveland and Cincinnati respectively in appearances scheduled to happen just five minutes apart. We hear about what was shaping up as a big moment in the presidential campaign from Jim Tankersley, economic correspondent for the National Journal .
Which Way, L.A.?
Tax Fairness and the Presidential Campaign Is America's tax system fair? President Obama calls progressive taxation " the defining issue of our time ," an question of "economic fairness." The Republicans call it "class warfare." Elizabeth Warren, who helped the Consumer Protection Bureau and is now a Democratic candidate for the US Senate, recently spoke out against the tax disparity on Jon Stewart's The Daily Show. Should the rich pay a higher tax rate? Is that a penalty for achieving the American Dream?
To the Point
Tax Fairness and the Presidential Campaign When Mitt Romney released his tax returns, they showed a rate of just 14 percent on $20 million in profits, dividends and interest. The next day in his State of the Union address, President Obama called for tax reform that's become known as the Buffett Rule, calling economic fairness "the defining issue of our time." The President called for a 30 percent minimum tax on millionaires. "Tax fairness" will be part of his reelection campaign. Romney says it's all about "envy," and Republicans call it "class warfare." We ask a prominent pollster if Americans really care. Whatever happened to "progressive" taxation, where the richest pay the highest rates of all? With lower rates, do they really invest in creating new jobs? If their rates are increased, will they be penalized for achieving the American Dream?
To the Point
Unemployment Drops, but Not Payroll Taxes Unemployment unexpectedly dropped last month from 9 to 8.6 percent, good news for President Obama. Jim Tankersley is economics correspondent for the National Journal .
To the Point
Central Bankers Join Forces in Response to European Debt Crisis While heads of state are debating the prospects for another global recession, a coalition of central banks today took some action. It could be the first step in avoiding a financial crisis in Europe that could spread worldwide. Jim Tankersley is economics correspondent for the National Journal .
To the Point
Washington Watches as Economy Slips Just 54,000 new jobs were created last month, compared to 232,000 in April. After the jobs report came out Friday, President Obama went to Ohio to celebrate the auto-industry bailout of 2009. The Republicans blamed him for unemployment and talked about long-term improvements in reducing the deficit. Did either Obama or the Republicans offer any plans for immediate action? Did they try to reach a consensus on what to do now? Jim Tankersly is economics correspondent for the National Journal .
Which Way, L.A.?
Obama, Republicans Bring Out the Budget Knives This week, Republicans plan to set records with proposed spending cuts. Today, President Obama offered what he's calling a "responsible alternative." It hits hard at programs dear to Democrats — to provide increases for education, infrastructure and clean energy. It also raises some taxes. Republicans call it an "abdication of leadership." But it's just the beginning of a process that could lead to a government shutdown if there's no compromise. Is either side really making hard choices? We look at the early maneuvering and ask why neither side has yet to mention Medicare, the military, Social Security and the long-term deficit.
To the Point
Obama, Republicans Bring Out the Budget Knives This week, Republicans plan to set records with proposed spending cuts. Today, President Obama offered what he's calling a " responsible alternative ." It hits hard at programs dear to Democrats — to provide increases for education, infrastructure and clean energy. It also raises some taxes. Republicans call it an "abdication of leadership." But it's just the beginning of a process that could lead to a government shutdown if there's no compromise. Is either side really making hard choices? We look at the early maneuvering and ask why neither side has yet to mention Medicare, the military, Social Security and the long-term deficit.
To the Point
Senate Ponders 15-Cent-a-Gallon Gas Tax Climate change legislation passed by the House is stalled in the Senate, and the latest possible compromise features a tax on gasoline. Though new taxes are anathema to Republicans, Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina thinks a tax at the pump might be the way to get votes from his GOP colleagues. He's working with Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and Independent Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut. Jim Tanklersley reports on the environment for the Tribune Company 's Washington bureau.
Recommended
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
To the Point
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
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
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.