To the Point

Is the Endangered Species Act Endangered?

Bald eagles, humpback whales and California condors are among the creatures saved from extinction by the Endangered Species Act. The fairy shrimp and tiger salamander face as much risk as they always have because of human encroachment on their habitat. All sides agree that current federal law is not perfect, but scientists say a bill just passed by the House could make things better for developers and speculators--but worse for endangered plants and animals. Is the Act a lifesaver or a boondoggle? Why must indigenous wildlife be preserved? Will an overhaul passed by the House serve developers and land speculators at the expense of endangered creatures? We hear from farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, business and former officials of the Interior Department and the National Fish and Wildlife Service.Making News: At Moussaoui Trial, Failure to Tell the Truth Caused 9/11The latest witness at the penalty trial of of Zacarias Moussaoui told the court today that Moussaoui's confession of conspiring with al Quaeda could have helped track down hijackers before 9/11 if Moussaoui had come clean sooner. Dahlia Lithwick is following the case for Slate.com.Reporter's Notebook: Study Finds Depression Drugs Work Half of the TimeA $35 million taxpayer-funded study on drugs for depression has been awaited eagerly by the pharmaceutical industry, doctors and patients. Results from the largest trial of its kind are now in and the verdict is mixed. Celexa, Wellbutrin, Zoloft and Effexor all work in very different ways, but the outcomes are very much the same; they're successful half of the time, as we hear from Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health.