To the Point

Is this country finally turning a corner when it comes to sexual harassment?

Are there any effective strategies that work to curb gun violence? 

To the Point is a weekly reality check on the issues Americans care about most. Host Warren Olney draws on his decades of experience to explore the people and issues shaping – and disrupting - our world. 

Today, on our final radio broadcast, we look at how new technology has changed everything since we first went on the air in the year 2000. It's Google, the iPhone and much, much more.

From broadcasting to cable news to Facebook, Twitter, websites and bloggers. We hear how technology has changed journalism since this program first went on the air in the year 2000.

This program began in the year 2000 with coverage of the contested election of President George W. Bush. Changes in the following 17 years were supposed to improve the integrity of the electoral process. Is the "guarantee" that every American has the right to vote more — or less — a reality?  

In this last week before To the Point becomes a weekly podcast, and we're looking back at what's changed since our program began. During 16 of our 17 years, the US has been a nation at war. Today, we hear about the "military-industrial complex" Dwight Eisenhower warned about and how it's shaping the country.

The US Supreme Court decided the Presidential election in the year 2000. The majority over-ruled the courts of Florida despite promises to uphold states rights. That was the first big story for this program. Today we look at what's happened since.

After failing to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, President Trump and Republicans in both Houses of Congress want reform of another kind -- before Christmas. Will they be able to pass their tax cuts that soon? What's at stake for next year's elections?

Big Tech was on the defensive this week on Capitol Hill. Twitter, Facebook, and Google held back their famous CEO's and sent their lawyers to be grilled by members of both parties. But Republicans and Democrats may have learned more than expected. Russian disinformation is aimed at creating social upheaval not just at partisan politics. 

In New York yesterday, a 29-year-old Green Card holder from Uzbekistan mowed down pedestrians and cyclists on a bike path near the rebuilt World Trade Center. Eight people were killed — at least six were tourists from Argentina and Belgium.

Barack Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize with his promise to work for an end to nuclear weapons—but he began "modernizing" the arsenal anyway. President Trump is accelerating the process. We hear progress reports and conflicting opinions about the first buildup since the end of the Cold War. 

One-time Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was in court today to face charges including money laundering and conspiracy against the United States to avoid paying taxes. Also today, a low-level aide pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about trying to set up a meeting with Russians and the Trump campaign. We look for connections. 

President Trump's trip to Asia will take him to Beijing -- as the President of that country, Xi Jinping, is being called the world's most powerful leader. We hear what that could mean for other countries, especially the US — and for the Chinese people.

ISIS may have been defeated in Iraq and Syria, but the ideology that motivated the Islamic State isn't dead yet. We hear about ISIS "provinces" around the world… and about fighters who've returned to their home countries.