journalist and author
Former long-time reporter for the New York Times and author of several books, including All the Shah's Men: An American Coup and the Roots of Middle East Terror, Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq and The Brothers: John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War
The Dulles Brothers' Secret World War John Foster Dulles was Secretary of State during the Eisenhower Administration. His brother, Allen Dulles, was the first head of the CIA. They were very different characters, but they shared identical visions of America’s place in the world. Stephen Kinzer was a foreign correspondent for the New York Times for many years, and author most recently of The Brothers : John Foster Dulles, Allen Dulles, and Their Secret World War.
A Possible Nuclear Deal with Iran Divides Traditional Allies Nuclear talks will resume tomorrow between Iran, the US and five other countries, and the rhetoric is heating up on all sides of the issue. While the US says an agreement is "close," France says Iran's path to a bomb would still be too easy. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the deal is a threat to its very existence, and Arab nations — including Saudi Arabia — are taking Israel's side. In Congress, Republicans, and some Democrats, say it's time to increase economic sanctions, not to relax them, as the proposed agreement would do. Why are the US and traditional partners so divided? Is a deal or the lack of a deal most likely to lead to war?
Another Growing Crisis in the Middle East Iran has released a videotape and three letters purporting to be from Faye Turney, the lone woman among fifteen British captives, apologizing for crossing into Iran's territorial waters. Today, a second detainee, Nathan Thomas Summers, is shown on video, once again with an apology. Tony Blair calls Iran's actions disgusting violations of international law that will isolate Iran from the rest of the world. At the same time, both Iran and the US are conducting naval maneuvers in the Persian Gulf--the US with two aircraft carriers and dozens of other ships. What are the prospects for resolution or escalation as neither side shows any sign of backing down? Today's confrontation is a current affair, but there are centuries of history behind it. What's the history of British and American relations with oil-rich Iran?
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.
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.
Replacing Obamacare: Now you see it… now you don’t As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same?
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?
