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?
Recommended
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
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.