- Social:
Brookings Institution
Mark Muro is Director of Policy for the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution.
PROFILE
Mark Muro
Guest
FROM Mark Muro
To the Point
It's 'Made in America' week: What does that even mean today? This week, surrounded by American goods, President Trump kicked off his ' Made in America ' week. It's part of his nationalist agenda to bring manufacturing jobs back from overseas. But what does ‘made in America' mean today? How difficult is it to buy products made entirely in the USA? Where are products actually made in the country? We look at how big companies are moving from small towns to big cities in the digital era.
To the Point
The paradox of automation Many American workers are panicked about automation, for good reason. Computers and robots are replacing more and more men and women. The upside is that technological change creates new jobs at the same time it takes old ones away -- but there's a kicker. The new jobs are very different. That means re-education, re-location and other adjustments that can sometimes be painful. It's also a fundamental challenge to Donald Trump, who promised to bring back the old manufacturing jobs for blue-collar workers. They aren't going to be there. When Donald Trump met the heads of Amazon, Apple and other titans of tech this week, he celebrated their contributions to the new economy. He embraced them and promised help from his administration.
Which Way, L.A.?
Solyndra and the Future of Clean and Green Technology Congressional investigators have revealed details of how $535 million in federal dollars went down the drain on guaranteed loans for high-tech solar panels. The Bush Administration put the deal in motion, but Solyndra went bankrupt on President Obama's watch, and Republicans are circulating embarrassing emails. Is the scandal really as bad as it sounds? If the US wants a "Green Economy" to create jobs here at home, are loan guarantees needed, despite the risk? Are there other ways to compete with China, which subsidizes all manufacturing costs so it can undersell the competition?
To the Point
Solyndra and the Future of Clean and Green Technology Congressional investigators have revealed details of how $535 million in federal dollars went down the drain on guaranteed loans for high-tech solar panels. The Bush Administration put the deal in motion, but Solyndra went bankrupt on President Obama's watch, and Republicans are circulating embarrassing emails. Is the scandal really as bad as it sounds? If the US wants a "Green Economy" to create jobs here at home, are loan guarantees needed, despite the risk? Are there other ways to compete with China, which subsidizes all manufacturing costs so it can undersell the competition?
Recommended
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
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
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
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?