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Harvard Business School
Historian of Business at Harvard Business School and author of The Story of American Business: From the Pages of the New York Times
PROFILE
Nancy Koehn
Guest
FROM Nancy Koehn
Which Way, L.A.?
Is Apple Facing the Music? Last year it was Wired magazine, reporting on allegedly inhumane working conditions at Foxconn, which makes iPads and iPhones for Apple at two factories in China. But it was two stories last month in the New York Times, and a broadcast on public radio's This American Life that apparently led 250,000 customers to turn in complaints last week to the world's most valuable company. Today, Apple stock reached an all-time high of more than $500 a share as the company announced an independent audit of working conditions at Chinese subcontractors that make 90 percent of its products. How bad are working conditions? Do consumers care enough to change their buying habits? NOTE: After this To the Point discussion aired, This American Life discovered that its program, Mr. Daisey Goes to the Apple Factory, was partially fabricated, and has since dedicated an entire program to detailing the errors Daisey's story about visiting Foxconn. You can listen to TAL's program Retraction to learn more.
To the Point
Is Apple Facing the Music? Last year it was Wired magazine, reporting on allegedly inhumane working conditions at Foxconn, which makes iPads and iPhones for Apple at two factories in China. But it was two stories last month in the New York Times, and a broadcast on public radio's This American Life , that apparently led 250,000 customers to turn in complaints last week to the world's most valuable company. After weeks of reports about sub-standard working conditions at suppliers in China, Apple has initiated an independent audit of 90 percent of the factories. Inspections reportedly began today. In the US, protesters admit they still use Apple products. Will the audit provide reassurance that the company is doing right at the same time it's doing well? Why is Apple being singled out when many other American tech companies use the same suppliers? NOTE: After this To the Point discussion aired, This American Life discovered that its program, Mr. Daisey Goes to the Apple Factory, was partially fabricated, and has since dedicated an entire program to detailing the errors Daisey's story about visiting Foxconn. You can listen to TAL's episode, Retraction , to learn more.
Which Way, L.A.?
Where Are the New Jobs? On this Labor Day, with unemployment seemingly stuck at 9 percent, all eyes are on Washington, which the Gallop Poll finds more confident about the economy than the rest of America. Last month, the economy created no new jobs at all , and 14 million people are out of work. The unemployed don't stand in lines anymore. They're an invisible army, except on the Internet, which doesn't have the same impact. Democrats and Republicans don't agree on the best way to create more jobs. It's more government spending versus budget cuts and deregulation, and it's unclear if the President will try to change that paradigm in his speech to the joint session on Thursday. ( KCRW will broadcast the speech live at 4pm .) We hear about long-term solutions, ask about the short term and hear a voice for the unemployed.
To the Point
Where Are the New Jobs? On this Labor Day, with unemployment seemingly stuck at 9 percent, all eyes are on Washington, which the Gallop Poll finds more confident about the economy than the rest of America. Last month, the economy created no new jobs at all , and 14 million people are out of work. The unemployed don't stand in lines anymore. They're an invisible army, except on the Internet, which doesn't have the same impact. Democrats and Republicans don't agree on the best way to create more jobs. It's more government spending versus budget cuts and deregulation, and it's unclear if the President will try to change that paradigm in his speech to the joint session on Thursday. ( KCRW will broadcast the speech live at 4pm .) We hear about long-term solutions, ask about the short term and hear a voice for the unemployed.
Recommended
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
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 plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.