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New York Times
Writer for the New York Times and author of The Challenge: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld and the Fight over Presidential Power
PROFILE
Jonathan Mahler
Guest
FROM Jonathan Mahler
To the Point
Has the Bush Administration Taken Presidential Power Too Far? If Bill Clinton's impeachment was a curb on the excesses of the executive branch, it didn't last long. Even some Republicans concede that George W. Bush claimed unprecedented presidential authority, which may have led to violations of law. Now some constitutional lawyers advocate high-level prosecutions for torturing prisoners, spying without warrants, and denying American citizens basic rights. Are such trials needed to re-establish the rule of law or is it better to move on?
To the Point
Victory for Bin Laden's Driver at Guantanamo Sentencing In America's first war-crimes trial since World War II, a six-officer military commission found Osama bin Laden's former driver guilty of supporting terrorism. The prosecution asked that same jury for a sentence of 30 years. Instead, it gave Salim Hamdan 66 months in prison…with credit for 61 already served. Carol Rosenberg is in Guantánamo Bay for the Miami Herald. Jonathan Mahler is author of the new book, The Challenge : Hamdan versus Rumsfeld.
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To the Point
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
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
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
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?