- Social:
University of Dayton, Ohio
Professor of History at the University of Dayton, Ohio, whose research focuses on science and technology, and the history of the automobile
PROFILE
John Heitmann
Guest
FROM John Heitmann
To the Point
GM on the Hot Seat — All Over Again For many years, General Motors knowingly installed ignition switches that failed to meet specifications in Chevy Cobalts and other small cars. Since then, at least 13 people have died in accidents linked to defective switches GM could have replaced for $2. GM has admitted that officials knew of defective ignition switches for almost 10 years before undertaking a massive recall this year. Now, there's a criminal probe and Congress is asking, 'what did GM executives — and federal regulators -- know and when did they know it?' Can Mary Barra, the company's new CEO, persuade Capitol Hill and millions of customers that GM has cleaned up its act since the federal bailout?
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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
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 new look at civil rights and global warming President Trump is reportedly ready to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. We look at the possible consequences. On the second half of the program, we hear about cuts in Obama-Era civil rights programs called for by the Trump Administration's first budget plan.
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.