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Columbus Dispatch
Chief political reporter for the Columbus DispatchPROFILE
Joe Hallett
Guest
FROM Joe Hallett
To the Point
Day Three of the Government Shutdown On Day Three of the government shutdown, moderate Republicans are showing signs of anger at Tea-Party colleagues who are adamant about using the government shutdown to accomplish their goals. We’ll hear where they come from and what they want.
Which Way, L.A.?
Debt Showdown: Playing Politics with the US Economy E-mail and phone lines are jammed on Capitol Hill, and there's a nasty Twitter campaign against all of Washington. But despite the impending deadline, Democrats and Republicans are still far apart on the debt ceiling. House Republicans and Senate Democrats are each working on plans unacceptable to the other, and President Obama is still talking about compromising on a Big Deal, including new revenue. He says the "hard deadline" is next Tuesday, August 2 when the government will run out of borrowing authority. But it's now reported that there will still be enough money to pay the bills until August 10. One of our gests calls it "The Politics of Calamity."
To the Point
Deadlock on Capitol Hill The US is advancing toward the once-unthinkable prospect of default by next Tuesday, August 2, unless it turns out to be August 10 instead. While President Obama talks about "compromising" on a Big Deal, including new revenue, he's threatened to veto the Republicans' plan and Republicans won't vote for a Democratic alternative. Sarah Palin is the latest Republican to accuse the President of "fear mongering," but the head of the IMF says US default would be "very, very, very serious." In the midst of all the uncertainty, are both parties playing with economic disaster? Is it really all about next year's elections?
Recommended
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
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
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
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.