To the Point
Doomday Scenarios: What to Believe?
By January of this year, global warming had been added to rumors of nuclear war and the "Doomsday Clock" was moved two minutes closer to midnight. That hasn't been changed since. On this archived New Year's Eve edition of To the Point, are recent predictions of catastrophe are equally credible? Also, a progress report on congressional ethics reform, and New Year's Eve in Des Moines, Iowa.
By Warren Olney • • 1h 0m ListenBy January of this year, global warming had been added to rumors of nuclear war and the "Doomsday Clock" was moved two minutes closer to midnight. That hasn't been changed since. On this archived New Year's Eve edition of To the Point, are recent predictions of catastrophe are equally credible? Are they any more likely than what humankind has survived already? Does popular culture promote understanding or increase unreasonable fears? Also, a progress report on congressional ethics reform, and New Year's Eve in Des Moines, Iowa: stereotypes and reality from a New Yorker's point of view.
In this episode
3 storiesDoomsday Scenarios
When the Soviet Union developed nuclear weapons, the magazine Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created the Doomsday Clock . As the prospect of nuclear war gets more likely, the minute hand gets closer to midnight. In January, when this program first aired, the hand was moved from seven minutes until midnight to five—the closest it's been…
Read the story1 minWill New Ethics Rules Make a Difference on Capitol Hill?
After lobbyists and members of Congress went to prison for political corruption, new Democratic majorities were elected last November to the House and the Senate. Their leaders promised ethics reform by the end of this year. Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, has a progress report.
Read the story6 minNew Year's Eve in Des Moines
This New Year's Eve is almost the eve of the Iowa Caucuses , the first time Americans will record their preferences for the presidential candidates of 2008.
Read the story9 min
