Christian Science Monitor
White House correspondent for the Christian Science Monitor
PROFILE
Linda Feldman
Guest
FROM Linda Feldman
Which Way, L.A.?
Healthcare Reform: Should Obama Have Fought for Single-Payer? The US Supreme Court opened a new session today with an unexpected challenge. The Obama Justice Department has asked that it resolve differences between lower courts on the President’s controversial healthcare reform, specifically the mandate for all Americans to buy health insurance whether they want to or not. What could that mean for next year's elections? Is a "single payer" plan providing "universal coverage" still a live issue after all?
To the Point
The President, the US Supreme Court and Healthcare Reform The US Supreme Court opens a new session today with an unexpected challenge. President Obama's healthcare reform requires all Americans to buy health insurance, but 26 states have sued, claiming that's unconstitutional. The federal courts are so divided that the Obama Justice Department has now asked the Supreme Court to resolve the issue once and for all. That could be a major gamble for his re-election campaign, depending on whether the court takes the case, what it decides and when. With health costs and premiums rising, it also poses a lingering question: should the President have proposed a single-payer plan in the first place?
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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
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.
Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
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.