Harvard University's Saguaro Seminar
Executive Director of the Saguaro Seminar: Civic Engagement in America, a program of Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government
PROFILE
Tom Sander
Guest
FROM Tom Sander
To the Point
September 11 and Young People In the days after 9/11, Americans felt a sense of national unity unseen since World War II. Within six months, it was gone, except among the Middle Class young. Members of what's called the "9/11 Generation" are still more politically aware, socially conscious and plugged in than their parents. That's also true in countries now experiencing the so-called "Arab Spring," for very different reasons. We look at causes and consequences today.
To the Point
America's Loss of Community When an entire family tragically vanished from a house down the street, Peter Lovenheim realized he hadn't known them or his remaining neighbors either. To the distress of his teen-age daughter — and his own surprise — many of them accepted when he asked to sleep over so they could get better acquainted. His book on what happened has reignited discussion about the increased fragmentation of American life and the broader issue of civic disengagement. Has real communication been replaced by communication technologies? Can a nation of people who don't know each other continue to stick together?
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To the Point
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.
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.