To the Point
Obama Takes Executive Action on Gun Control
Despite mass shootings, including the slaughter of children in Newtown, Connecticut, Congress has refused President Obama's demands for new gun control. This week's executive actions guarantee the issue will be part of a presidential campaign — for the first time since the year 2000.
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenDespite mass shootings, including the slaughter of children in Newtown, Connecticut, Congress has refused President Obama's demands for new gun control. This week's executive actions guarantee the issue will be part of a presidential campaign — for the first time since the year 2000.
Later on the program, panic about terrorism is "at least as frightening as the violence itself." We talk to a scientist about thinking rationally.
In this episode
3 storiesNorth Korean Nuclear Threat Resurfaces
North Korea claimed today it has tested a thermonuclear weapon, also known as a "hydrogen bomb." That claim is being questioned, but the test alone was enough to generate an emergency session of the UN Security Council.
Read the story7 minGun Control and the Race to the White House
For the first time since Al Gore lost to George W. Bush, Democrats are pushing for gun control in a presidential campaign. Three years ago, the US Senate refused to enact new gun control legislation. Now President Obama is using his bully pulpit to explain admittedly "modest" executive actions guaranteed to get the political pot boiling.
Read the story34 minHow Should We Think Rationally about Fear?
Crimes identified as "terror" attacks inspire panic. Does that distract our attention from thinking rationally about what's really dangerous and what's not?
Read the story9 min
Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Andrea Brody
Senior Producer, KCRW's Life Examined and To the Point podcast
Paul von Zielbauer
Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times
Sarah Sweeney
Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW