US Congress
US Congressman from Virginia (R) and a member of the House Armed Services Committee
PROFILE
Scott Rigell
Guest
FROM Scott Rigell
To the Point
Is the White House Playing a Waiting Game? US plans to punish Syria with military action may be on hold for the moment. President Obama says he has not made a decision, and Republicans and Democrats in Congress are demanding a consultation. Last night, on the PBS News Hour, the President discussed the possible consequences of the kind of action he's contemplating. Meanwhile, the British parliament is balking at providing support. Military experts and diplomats agree that a limited strike won't change the course of Syria's civil war, and could lead to retaliation. Many questions remain: what's the evidence of crimes against humanity? Is Syria a threat to the US? Will intervention lead to a wider war?
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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?
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.
Left, Right & Center
The week that wouldn't quit Will next week get even weirder? (Special one-hour episode)
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.