University of Georgia
Professor and Director of the Atmospheric Sciences Program at the University of Georgia
PROFILE
Marshall Shepherd
Guest
FROM Marshall Shepherd
To the Point
Record Floods in Red States Record flooding this week in Houston killed eight people, devastated more than a thousand homes, and caused at least $5 billion in damage. And the storms aren't over. Forecasters predict that in coming days rains along the Gulf Coast could create flooding levels that haven't been seen for 500 years. While there's no definitive link between isolated extreme storms and global climate change, scientists agree that a warming planet increases the frequency of intense weather events, as well as rising seas. Some Red State mayors of cities affected by rising seas are now breaking ranks with party leadership and calling for policies to combat global warming. But are extreme weather events enough to budge top Republican leaders from their staunch denial of climate change science?
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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
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?
To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
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.