National Bureau of Economic Research
Professor of Economics at Harvard University and director of the National Bureau of Economic Research
PROFILE
Richard Freeman
Guest
FROM Richard Freeman
To the Point
Occupy Wall Street: What's the Message? It's a far cry from Tahrir Square in Cairo, but Occupy Wall Street has been camped out for two weeks in Zuccotti Park between the New York Stock Exchange and the site of the former World Trade Center. The self-described "leaderless resistance movement" includes about 200 college students, recent graduates and others protesting a whole set of economic issues, from a lack of jobs to the ties between government and big business. They've endured pepper spray from a senior New York Police commander and enjoyed visits from celebrities, including Susan Sarandon and Michael Moore. They're a presence on Facebook and Twitter, and they're trying to organize nationwide. Will they ever compete with the Tea Party? What's the connection to economic unhappiness in other parts of the world?
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To the Point
Venezuela spirals into economic and political chaos Venezuela, a country whose potential for prosperity is unmatched, finds itself on the verge of civil war. What sustains the repressive government? With time running out, guest host León Krauze looks at what the international community can do to pull the country from the edge of collapse.
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
Janesville and the American Dream Janesville, Wisconsin is the hometown of Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. But he couldn’t prevent the closing of the General Motors factory after 100 years. On this Memorial Day rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear what’s happened to what once was a model of American middle-class unity.
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.