'China, Inc'
Veteran journalist who writes for the New York Times, USA Today and Harpers; author of China, Inc: How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World and Shock of Gray: The Aging of the World's Population and How it Pits Young against Old, Child against Parent, Worker against Boss, Company against Rival, and Nation against Nation; former floor trader at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Barbie Packs Her Bags in Shanghai Two years ago, Mattel opened a six-story, 36,000 square foot store on the fiftieth anniversary of its iconic Barbie doll. Now, Mattel is shutting down the Shanghai Barbie store and eight others around the country. Mattel says its Shanghai store "successfully accomplished its mission" and that a new Barbie brand strategy will be rolled out to reach even more Chinese consumers. But Mattel isn't the only genius retailer to have trouble in the world's fastest growing economy. Veteran journalist Ted Fishman is author of China, Inc : How the Rise of the Next Superpower Challenges America and the World.
An Age of Austerity: Can It Happen Here? In France, pension reform has led to street demonstrations and occasional violence. In Britain, a new coalition government is prepared for massive cuts in government spending. In the US, calls for "smaller government" are the major theme of this year's political season. What would that really mean?
An Age of Austerity: Can It Happen Here? The French senate today passed pension reform despite weeks of angry street demonstrations and occasional violence. In Britain, a new coalition government is prepared to dismantle much of the welfare state . In the midst of the economic crisis, calls for "smaller government" have been deafening in America's election campaigns. But what might that really mean? Will Democrats stand for shredded safety nets? Will Republicans approve cuts in Social Security and Medicare? Are new taxes out of the question? Does either political party have the moral authority to face new realities, or will the fear of bold action lead to paralysis and partisanship intensified?
Are Chinese Workers Paying the Price for Cheap Goods? Some 21 million toys made in China and imported by the United States have been recalled because of lead paint or other dangerous defects. With the holidays approaching, that has Americans worried and angry about possible health affects on their children. Yet while trying to improve its 21 st Century standing by sending men to the moon, China's workers are living and dying in 19th Century conditions. That's according to journalistic investigations and testimony to Congress , which is looking at a proposal to ban imports from overseas "sweatshops," where Chinese workers are exposed all day, every day to Benzene, Lead, Cadmium, Toluene, Nickel and Mercury. We hear about workers exposed to a witches' brew of cancer-causing chemicals 84 hours a week for 53¢ an hour. Already worried about product safety, will US consumers pay more for the safety of human beings 5000 miles away?
President Trump: US to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Trump says he was elected to serve Pittsburgh, not Paris.
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.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.