To the Point
Fading Trust in American Institutions
There's widespread mistrust of all three branches of government. Will both presidential candidates have to face that challenge to appeal to the voters?
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenThe presidential race is beginning to find its focus, but there's widespread mistrust of all three branches of government. Will candidates of both parties have to face that challenge to appeal to the voters? Also, President Obama attacks the Republican budget, and the US Supreme Court divides again — 5 to 4 -- on how county jailers can treat drivers picked up for minor offensives.
Banner image; The US Supreme Court Building is seen in this March 31, 2012 photo on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Photo by Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesPresident Obama Attacks the Republican Budget
President Obama flayed his Republican opposition today as so far right that, "Ronald Reagan could not get through a Republican primary today." He attacked the GOP latest budget proposal as a "recipe for economic decline," and tried to reframe this year's election campaign. David Nakamura is a staff writer at the Washington Post .
Read the story7 minFading Trust in American Institutions
From the Left to the Right, there's a loss of confidence in political institutions: not just the Congress any more, but also the Presidency and the US Supreme Court. But there's disagreement about whether that's good or bad. After all, Thomas Jefferson wanted a revolution every 20 years.
Read the story37 minSupreme Court Approves Strip Searches
Albert Florence was arrested for failing to pay a traffic fine, stripped searched twice and held for we week until he demonstrated that the fine had already been paid. He sued county jail officials for humiliation and violation of privacy, but the US Supreme Court turned him down.
Read the story6 min
