Washington Correspondent, Economist
Washington correspondent, and former Africa Editor, for The Economist; author of The Shackled Continent: Africa's Past, Present and Future
PROFILE
Robert Guest
Guest
FROM Robert Guest
To the Point
Questions for the President? President Barack Obama made political theater last week when he fielded questions from Republicans. Politics watchers on both sides of the aisle loved the sparkling Q&A, and now a coalition of Democrats and Republicans is demanding he repeat the process , in regular debates akin to Britain’s Questions for the Prime Minister . But the White House says no. Why? Could more direct dialogue help Obama get his message out? Could it benefit the republic?
To the Point
Barack Obama and Tough Love for Africa On his last day in Italy, the President told African diplomats the legacy of colonialism is no excuse for their lack of prosperous democracies. Then he headed for sub-Saharan Africa, where he'll bypass the undeveloped, politically unstable countries of Nigeria and Kenya -- birthplace of his father -- in favor of Ghana, with its growing economy and recent history of peaceful transitions of power. Why is he going? How is he likely to be received? What's the best way for the developed world to help a troubled continent?
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To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
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
Is the threat from Russia missing from the Russia meddling probe? There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls?