Ithaca College
Associate professor of Sociology at Ithaca College and visiting scholar at the Center on Aging and Work at Boston College
PROFILE
Stephen Sweet
Guest
FROM Stephen Sweet
To the Point
A Slower Recovery for Older Workers This week, two senators introduced a bipartisan plan to renew long term unemployment benefits for the more than 3 million Americans still looking for work. Congress allowed the benefit to expire last December. But even if the bill passes and insurance is reinstated, it provides only a temporary bit of relief. In the meantime, the long term effects of the recession and this sluggish recovery are hitting some Americans more than ever. One group stands out: middle aged women. As the economy took a dive, many women left the workforce to care for their aging parents – now as they try to re-enter the workforce they find their applications are going straight into the "do not call" pile. Special thanks to Over 50 and Out of Work .
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Left, Right & Center
How was the trip? President Trump's travels got less fun as he went from the Middle East to Europe.
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
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.
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.