To the Point

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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. How did everything change so fast? Where are we headed? The...

KCRW


    • Mar 10, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 51m AVG DURATION
    • 3,163 EPISODES

    4.6 from 574 ratings Listeners of To the Point that love the show mention: olney, thank you warren, kcrw's, informed guests, sides of an issue, balanced discussion, moderated, ummm, topics of the day, fair minded, intelligent questions, representing, airwaves, moderator, well balanced, opposing, climate change, news show, always well, wayne.


    Ivy Insights

    The To the Point podcast, hosted by Warren Olney, is a must-listen for anyone interested in news and current events. With his expertise and the diverse range of experts he brings on as guests, Warren consistently delivers insightful and informative discussions. One of the best aspects of this podcast is Warren's ability to provide definitions and relevant history for those who may be unfamiliar with certain topics. This makes it accessible and valuable for listeners of all levels of knowledge. Additionally, the podcast format allows for more in-depth analysis and research, which is a major benefit compared to its previous radio hour format.

    However, some listeners may miss the more frequent shows that were aired on the radio. The transition to a weekly podcast means less content available overall, which may disappoint dedicated fans who enjoyed regularly tuning in. Furthermore, while most guests are well-prepared and knowledgeable, there have been occasional episodes where guests did not meet expectations. It can be disappointing when a guest does not contribute effectively to the discussion or fails to provide valuable insights.

    In conclusion, The To the Point podcast is an outstanding source of objective and relevant reporting. Warren Olney's impeccable reputation as a host shines through in every episode as he navigates tough questions with fairness and respect for his guests. Although there may be some drawbacks like fewer episodes overall and occasional subpar guests, these minor issues do not detract from the overall quality of this show. It remains one of the best podcasts out there for engaging with important issues and gaining a deeper understanding of current events.



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    Latest episodes from To the Point

    Nicholas Kristof on good news in a bad world; Steve Lopez on aging

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 63:05


    Despite war and pandemic, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof finds good news in a “stunning” decline of worldwide poverty and “extraordinary” improvements in child mortality. Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez examines retirement options for an aging population as he finds himself getting older.

    For the first time in Iran's history, women are leading a counter-revolution

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2022 46:02


    Writer and author of The Great Revolution: Turmoil and Transformation in Iran, Robin Wright says that after weeks of protest on the streets of Iran, “for the first time in human history, you're beginning to see a counter revolution ignited by women. ”  Later, despite the failure of the UN's leadership conference on climate change, New York Times science reporter David Wallace-Wells says, “we're moving much faster than most analysts projected a few years ago,” and says the climate crisis is not as bad as he thought when he wrote,”The Uninhabitable Earth” five years ago. 

    Can the news media help save democracy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 61:32


    Former New York Times and Washington Post Media Critic Margaret Sullivan says America faces a threat to democracy. In her new book, “Newsroom Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink-Stained Life,” she says it's time to move on from “objectivity” and make reporting a form of activism. And, Scott Galloway says America is not yet lost, but it has gone adrift, and that's the title of his latest book. In “Adrift,” he talks about income inequality, polarization, and failing young men. But he says, “I think they can be undone … the ills that plague us are fixable.”  

    Will Trump run for White House again, can PG&E keep lights on?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2022 55:37


    Will Trump run for the presidency again? And in the aftermath of California's deadly wildfires, can the state's largest utility, PG&E, mend its ways?

    Diablo Canyon: Can the nuclear plant work safely for 10 more years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 58:34


    What are the risks of keeping the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant open? And an atheist and Muslim agree on what happens when people find religion through politics.

    Even journalists are avoiding bad news. How do we change media?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 40:16


    Does the news really have to be all that bad, or does our addiction to catastrophe drive outlets to deliver what sells? How might today's media be fixed?

    SCOTUS strikes down concealed-carry law. Is gun control in danger?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 57:30


    What to expect of the Supreme Court's decision to ease conceal-carry restrictions, Biden's new gun safety law, and the Sandy Hook lawsuit? Then, does it matter if Russia leaves the International Space Station?

    Baby formula crisis reveals dangers of too little competition in US economy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2022 62:28


    Why does America's baby formula shortage continue? Also, Norm Eisen's new book traces corruption from the Trump White House to the rest of the country. 

    UN won't end Russia-Ukraine war, diversity can threaten democracy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2022 59:16


    The United Nations can't stop Russia's war on Ukraine. And author Yascha Mounk says more diversity is a threat to democracy, but he's still hopeful. 

    Ukraine faces ‘bloody stalemate' — and 4 other scenarios

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2022 64:21


    Russia's assault on Ukraine is the most destructive event in Europe since World War II, and though it's hard to determine how or when it might end, a team from Foreign Policy magazine came up with an assessment of what might be in store for Ukraine. 

    Will sanctions against Russia make Putin more volatile?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 57:54


    What does the first week of Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine say about the likelihood of a cyber and nuclear war? While the West imposes heavy sanctions, Russian forces encounter fierce Ukrainian resistance on the ground.  

    Why protesting at politicians' homes may help undo climate change

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 57:46


    An environmental activist is calling on like-minded advocates to build an “adamant nonviolent movement” to rapidly reach zero emissions. 

    California is no longer climate change leader, says assembly speaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2022 45:06


    California is losing its leadership position in the effort to mitigate climate change, and politics and other disasters may be to blame, according to a state lawmaker. Also, while two probes into the failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election results are underway, some have intensified their efforts to normalize the insurrection. 

    California breaks promise to clean up radioactive pollution from nuclear meltdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2021 40:39


    A nuclear meltdown near the San Fernando and Simi Valleys was kept secret for 20 years. Despite a cluster of rare childhood cancers in nearby communities, California officials have not kept the promise to clean up radioactive contamination at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory site.

    Sports superstars increasingly refuse to ‘shut up and dribble'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 47:22


    Celebrity athletes are shaping American politics and culture, says Jane Coaston of the New York Times. And even before this month's UN climate conference (COP26) in Glasgow, wildfires, droughts, and floods have been increasing Americans' belief in climate change, according to Anthony Leiserowitz, who directs the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

    Abortion and climate change: What will upcoming decisions mean in the long haul?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2021 54:44


    When the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stop a draconian new Texas abortion law, especially since Roe v. Wade is already on the high court's caseload, Slate's legal affairs correspondent Dahlia Lithwick says she was “stunned, numbed, and frozen.” Also, Vox reporter Umair Irfan describes the five potential scenarios outlined by the world's top scientists for next month's World Climate Summit in Glasgow.

    The recall in California goes on as nation building in Afghanistan comes to an end.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2021 71:49


    California's recall makes sense, but the electoral system as a whole needs reform, according to columnist Joe Matthews. Also in this episode, author Rajiv Chandrasekaran says Afghanistan once had an American-style suburb in the 1950s until the Soviet Union took over. Meanwhile, Colonel Andrew Bacevich calls America's latest intervention in Afghanistan “preposterous” and insists the U.S. needs a new role on the global stage. 

    Fighting the Delta variant and California's drought

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 45:44


    Andy Slavitt, who was President Joe Biden's former COVID advisor, talks about the recent Delta variant surge and best safety practices. The second part of this episode looks at how historic water wars could worsen California's drought.

    LA's 1970s pop culture affects today's politics. Plus controlling wildfires with fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2021 58:23


    CNN's Ron Brownstein says LA was so creative with music, movies, and TV in the 1970s that it's still shaping American politics today. He writes about that in his new book “Rock Me on the Water.” KCRW  also hears how California firefighters are updating an ancient Native American practice despite the risk of being sued.  

    Supreme Court could outlaw abortion once again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2021 71:50


    For most of American history, abortion has been legal, outlawed only from 1867 to 1973. Now the U.S. Supreme Court might outlaw it again by overturning Roe v. Wade. Also, young activists blame governments for climate change. 

    In Our Backyard No. 6 (bonus): Warning! This is your Tortoise Service Announcement

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 7:53


    With rising heat, deadly drought, and erratic storms, the desert tortoise needs your help. And there are many things you can do, especially if you are camping over the weekend or driving to Las Vegas. Susanna Mann and Gabby Barnas from the Ivanpah Desert Tortoise Research Facility will tell you all the little things that make a big difference for our wildlife friends in the desert. This is a special sixth bonus episode to In Our Backyard EP6: Life in the desert demands resilience, especially when lightning strikes

    In Our Backyard No. 6: Life in the desert demands resilience, especially when lightning strikes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2021 36:20


    California deserts are unique in the world, but heat and drought threaten plants and animals with extinction. At the same time, desert windmills and solar farms provide clean energy to millions of people.

    In Our Backyard No. 5 (bonus): Melting icebergs are the least of your worries when it comes to rising seas. Satellites prove it

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 6:29


    Rising seas got you confused? Severine Fournier from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab  explains the basics of our warming ocean as a result of climate change. What she’s got to say might melt your brain.

    In Our Backyard No. 5: Sea level rise means life on California’s beaches is ending up on the rocks

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 35:11


    Scientists say that all 800 miles of California beaches may disappear in the next 80 years because of sea level rise caused by climate change. Scientists say large-scale interventions will be required to save them. Warren Olney finds that current practices are making things worse rather than better. 

    In Our Backyard E4B: Are you ready for the next wildfire? Get set for the hottest tips on preparedness when it’s time to go

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 15:47


    California wildfires are dangerous, but they don’t have to be deadly. Don Butz, Lakeside Fire chief and  San Diego Fire Safe Council president, says we can protect ourselves by following simple steps from American Red Cross’ Ready, Set, Go plan. We cover everything from managing gardens to assembling supply kits. This is a special fourth bonus episode to In Our Backyard E4: Fire is part of California’s natural landscape. We’ll always be waiting for the next, inevitable smoke out.

    In Our Backyard E4: Fire is part of California’s natural landscape. We’ll always be waiting for the next, inevitable smoke out

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2021 37:02


    Native Californians used fire to fight fire for thousands of years, but European settlers banned it in the early 1900s. Since then, mismanagement, development, and now climate uchange have increased wildfires and the need for widespread evacuations. But host Warren Olney learns that state and federal governments are gradually reviving ancient practices.

    In Our Backyard E3B: Heat islands are killers, but they don’t have to be

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 6:25


    Live in a heat island? Want to know more? This is a special third bonus episode to In Our Backyard: Heat is the deadliest aspect of climate change. It’s turning LA’s neediest neighborhoods red hot.

    In Our Backyard: Heat is the deadliest aspect of climate change. It’s turning some underserved LA neighborhoods red hot

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 44:58


    Redlining and other forms of discrimination have turned LA’s Black and Brown neighborhoods into “urban heat islands” that are especially vulnerable to climate change. Community activists tell Warren Olney they’re organizing to demand a seat at the table for tree planting and stopping a planned expansion of freeways in residential neighborhoods.

    ‘Black community’ implies homogeneity and people are more libertarian than they think, says Jane Coaston

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2021 49:07


    KCRW’s Warren Olney talks with Jane Coaston, host of the New York Times podcast “The Argument,” about politics and race.

    In Our Backyard E2: Fresh air is hard to find in the big cities. Here are tips to keep you safe

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 5:35


    Pollution blows. Here are some helpful ways to keep your lungs healthy. This is a special second bonus episode to In Our Backyard: Greenhouse emissions we can't see are often out of mind, causing pollution power lines

    In Our Backyard: Efforts to fight climate change can backfire without focus on environmental injustice

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 42:43


    LA smog isn’t as visible as it used to be, but what’s out of sight can’t be out of mind. Air pollution is a major component of greenhouse emissions, as well as contributing to environmental injustice.  In episode two of “In Our Backyard,” host Warren Olney hears how fighting both global warming and environmental injustice go hand in hand.

    Miss Sherman

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 4:18


    Sherman Indian High School was once part of systematic genocide against Native Americans. Now, it’s a place of healing.

    Southern California Polar Bear

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2021 35:15


    Southern California has a unique relationship with climate change. So what’s happening now? How did we get here? And what can we do? This first episode of my limited series "In Our Backyard" explores all that.

    In Our Backyard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2021 2:10


    In Our Backyard, a new series on climate change, from Warren Olney. Coming Thursday!

    backyard in our backyard warren olney
    Everything must change when it comes to climate, says author

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 33:20


    KCRW’s Warren Olney talks with Ben Ehrenreich about his recent New Republic article titled “We’re Hurtling Toward Global Suicide.” Ehrenreich is a freelance journalist and author of “Desert Notebooks: A Roadmap for the End of Time.”      

    Texas blames blackouts on the Green New Deal, and Joe Biden says ‘America’s back’

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 58:42


    Warren Olney talks about the blackout during the Texas deep freeze with meteorologist John Morales and USC energy expert Kelly Sanders. Andrew Bacevich of the Quincy Institute has a warning about President Biden’s boast that “America is back.”    

    Right-wing US terrorists go global as Janet Yellen copes with climate crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 66:45


    Warren Olney talks about the globalization of America’s right-wing extremists with ProPublica’s Sebastian Rotella and American University professor Carolyn Gallaher. Later on, Rachel Kyte, Dean of the Fletcher School at Tufts University, tells him that Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will help Joe Biden combine his agendas for climate and economics.

    Political and religious violence at the US Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 49:10


    Warren Olney talks about the U.S. Capitol insurrection with presidential historian Tim Naftali and David French, an evangelical Christian and columnist for the Dispatch and Time magazine.

    What’s next for Biden, climate change and Trump’s big lie?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2020 65:33


    KCRW’s Warren Olney talks with Harvard law professor Jody Freeman and Princeton international affairs professor Michael Oppenheimer about Biden’s climate plans and what it means to reach “net zero” by 2050. Then Brown University politics professor Corey Brettschneider warns that phony claims of election fraud are dangerous to democracy.

    Authoritarianism in America: What it means for Republicans and Democrats

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2020 82:19


    Win or lose, Joe Biden has a personal story of tragedy and ultimate survival. KCRW’s Warren Olney talks with Evan Osnos, author of “Joe Biden: The Life, the Run, and What Matters Now.” He also hears from John Dean, former White House Counsel under President Nixon and co-author of  “Authoritarian Nightmare: Trump and His Followers.”

    Trump v. Biden on climate change

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 20:31


    President Trump denies climate change. But Joe Biden has laid out “the boldest plan of any candidate in history,” says UC Santa Barbara environmental scientist Leah Stokes. KCRW hears how climate change threads the political difference between fossil fuel workers — who are worried about their jobs — and advocates of the “Green New Deal.”

    A new low for US presidential debates and election integrity

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 68:32


    The first debate of the 2020 presidential campaign was like no other. Forget Lincoln-Douglas, Kennedy-Nixon or Reagan-Carter. Can a hallowed democatic institution be restored before the November election?  

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