Editor and Publisher of Talkers magazine
Editor and Publisher of Talkers magazine
PROFILE
Michael Harrison
Guest
FROM Michael Harrison
To the Point
Talk Radio and the Immigration Debate The immigration bill now in the Senate would beef up border security, create a guest-worker program and create new rules for newcomers, but a new poll shows that 65% of Americans think it's all about "amnesty" for 12 million undocumented workers. The legislation is supported by President Bush and a fragile coalition of Democrats and Republicans who are feeling the heat of grassroots campaigning by the conservative right wing. Both Republican Senators from Georgia started out as co-sponsors, but backed off after an onslaught of phone calls, e-mails, faxes and letters sparked, in part, by conservative talk radio. How influential are these and how did get that way? When did they break ranks with President Bush?
To the Point
How Did Don Imus Go Down in Flames? Last night, the Rutgers women's basketball team met with ousted talk-show host Don Imus and this morning, coach Vivian Stringer called him "remorseful." Time magazine once named Imus one of America's 25 most influential people. He's in the National Broadcaster's Hall of Fame . But he's out of a job for the moment, for calling the Scarlet Knights " nappy headed hos ." With a record of calling Arabs "ragheads" and Jews "money grubbing," how did Imus last as long as he did? Why did presidential candidates and network news stars appear on his program when he insulted Hillary Clinton and Leslie Stahl? Was Imus worse than other shock-jocks or rappers? Why was last week's comment the last straw?
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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
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.
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
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.