To the Point
It's Not Democracy, It's the Rules
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are outraged along with their supporters about Republican and Democratic Party rules for the presidential nominating process, but it was never intended to be an exercise in direct democracy.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenDonald Trump and Bernie Sanders are outraged along with their supporters about Republican and Democratic Party rules for the presidential nominating process, but it was never intended to be an exercise in direct democracy.
Later on the program, NPR's role in a Supreme Court nomination battle that changed America.
Photo: Gage Skidmore
In this episode
3 storiesJobless Claims Match Lowest Figure in 43 Years
This year's election may or may not turn on the state of economy, but polls almost always show it's the voters' number one issue. Today there was unexpected news that the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits dropped last week to the lowest point since 1973.
Read the story7 minIt's Not Democracy, It's the Rules
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are outraged that the presidential nominating process turns out not to be an exercise in direct democracy, and many voters agree. But it's not and it never has been. Most of the time that doesn't matter because there's a clear front-runner before the nominating convention begins.
Read the story32 minThe NPR Story behind HBO's 'Confirmation'
With an opening Saturday, the HBO film Confirmation is about the Senate hearings that ultimately put Clarence Thomas on the US Supreme Court in 1991. One witness was Anita Hill, a young lawyer who claimed that Thomas sexually harassed her when she worked for him at two federal agencies.
Read the story11 min
