West Virginia University
Patrick McGinley is Professor of Law at West Virginia University School of Law, where he's taught courses in coal and natural resources law and litigation for 40 years.
PROFILE
Patrick McGinley
Guest
FROM Patrick McGinley
To the Point
Donald Trump and the fate of the planet Climate scientists say the Paris Agreement on greenhouse emissions may offer the last, best chance to slow global warming. Some 200 countries are gathered in Morocco to nail down the accords -- led by the US and China. But, during his campaign, America's President-elect called global warming a hoax — invented by China. His transition team features a climate-change denier. If Trump pulls out, do the Paris Accords have a future? What about his promises to end the Obama Clean-Power Plan, dismantle the EPA and bring back coal?
To the Point
Peabody Energy's Bankruptcy and the Demise of Big Coal A major bankruptcy today may tell a much anticipated story: the coal industry may never be coming back. As the search for alternatives to fossil fuels continues, politicians from certain states inveigh against "the war against coal." Today, the biggest American coal company of all, Peabody, declared bankruptcy . Patrick McGinley is a professor at the West Virginia School of Law. He's taught courses about the law involving energy sources for 40 years.
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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
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
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
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.