Contributor, DailyBeast.com
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, and contributor to the DailyBeast.com; former reporter for the New York Times
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Lucinda Franks
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FROM Lucinda Franks
Which Way, L.A.?
Bernard Madoff: Behind Bars After pleading guilty to 11 felony counts in federal court today, Bernard Madoff did not go home to his Upper East Side apartment, but to jail, until he is sentenced on June 16. In the courtroom, he explained how his scheme worked and what he did with the money. Madoff cheated 4800 people out of billions of dollars. Is it possible he did it alone? How could the SEC have investigated and found nothing wrong? Is it enough to blame him? What's being done to make sure this doesn't happen again?
To the Point
Bernard Madoff: Behind Bars Bernard Madoff told a federal court he was "ashamed" and "sorry," but that his massive Ponzi scheme was designed to "satisfy" his "clients." The judge accepted Madoff's guilty plea to 11 felony charges , revoked his bail and sent him to jail to await sentencing on June 16. Madoff cheated 4800 people out of billions of dollars. Is it possible he did it alone? How could the SEC have investigated and found nothing wrong? Is it enough to blame Madoff? What's being done to make sure this doesn't happen again?
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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
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
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.
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.