Which Way L.A.?

Terror on Trial: Politics as Usual

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

On our rebroadcast of To the Point, in this mid-term election year, is political rhetoric obscuring the real issues in the debate of trying the alleged Christmas Day bomber? Sara Terry guest hosts.

Can Tea Parties Brew Real Political Change?

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Scott Brown was sworn in today, the Republican who won the late Ted Kennedy's US Senate seat in Massachusetts. A lot of the credit for that game-changing political upset went to the Tea Party movement, whose convention begins today in Nashville, Tennessee. But it's still not clear just what the Tea Party movement is. As we hear on this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, tea partiers themselves are struggling to figure out if they're a movement, an adjunct of the Republican Party or a collection of angry protesters who can't get along.

For Toyota, How Bad Will It Get?

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

Toyota worked hard to be number one in automobile sales throughout the US, and it carefully cultivated its reputation for quality and reliability. Last month, sales nationwide declined by some 16% while the sales of other cars were on the increase. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, will the repairs work? How serious are the latest concerns? How can Toyota recover from the tarnishing of its image?

The Battle over the Budget in an Election Year

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

The Democrats are in big trouble in this election year, and there's no better evidence than the $3.8 billion budget President Obama presented yesterday. He had to concede that the economy's bad and will have to get worse before it gets better, and described himself of being caught between reducing the deficit in the long run and the need to create jobs in the short run. On this rebroadcast of To the Point, we hear more about the economics and the politics behind the budget, what's at stake for Medicare, Social Security and taxes if Washington doesn't get a grip on the deficit.

Time to Negotiate Peace with the Taliban in Afghanistan?

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 22:00:00 EST

To say these are challenging times for the Obama Administration in Afghanistan would be a gross understatement. With the Taliban possibly at their greatest moment of strength, is this the best time to negotiate or the worst? On the rebroadcast of today's To the Point, we hear a debate.

In DC, the State of the Union; in CA, High-Speed Rail, Medical Marijuana

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

Will the President's push for rapid rail get construction started in California? Also, after years of debate the LA City Council's produced a medical marijuana ordinance almost nobody likes. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, during last night's State of the Union Address, President Obama admitted mistakes while defending his first year in office. What does he want for the future? What is he likely to get?

The President Gets Ready to Speak; California Prison Reform

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

California claims it's reducing the number of people in prison at the same time it's increasing public safety. Some cops and victims' rights groups claim dangerous criminals will be turned out on the streets. We hear both sides. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, just one year ago, Democrats were talking about a new political era. Now, President Obama faces a nation of angry voters.

Free Speech for Corporations; Political Competition for California

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

In 2008, Californians voted for real, election-day competition between Republicans and Democrats, but Proposition 11 sounded easier to implement than it's turned out to be. We hear what's happening to a process that was supposed to restore democracy. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, has the US Supreme Court scored a victory for free speech or increased the influence of money in politics in it's 5-4 ruling removing campaign spending limits for corporations.

Google in China and Marijuana in California

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

The State Supreme Court issues a ruling on medical marijuana. Also, the City of LA may lay off workers after all and privatize assets, including Ontario Airport, and the rain might not be as disastrous as predicted. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, cyber attacks on Google in China have turned into an international incident with Hillary Clinton calling today for "consequences" and "condemnation."

GOP Upset in Massachusetts; Rain, Political Storms in California

podmaster@kcrw.org (Warren Olney) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:00:00 EST

If it happened in Massachusetts, can it happen here? The late Ted Kennedy?s seat has gone Republican. Is Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer in trouble? What about Attorney General Jerry Brown, who wants to be governor all over again? We look at the sea-change in politics and check the weather.