Listen to Which Way, L.A.? on KCRW 89.9 in Santa Monica, CA

In Washington Jobs, in Los Angeles Possible Layoffs

Wed, Dec 9 Listen

A worst-case budget plan could mean 8000 layoffs at the LA Unified School District. Also, there's a new voice at City Hall, and life is going to be different in the City of Vernon. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, the TARP bailout will cost $200 billion less than expected, and President Obama wants the money to help create jobs.

A 'Civilian Surge' in Afghanistan; Political Warfare in Sacramento

Tue, Dec 8 Listen

Sacramento politics and shades of Willie Brown, Plus, why does the leader of LA's Roman Catholics call the Senate's healthcare reform bill "immoral?" On our rebroadcast of To the Point, the President's escalation of force in Afghanistan will have a civilian component, although he's left it to others to explain the details.

Climate Change, LA's 2nd District, and Matters of Church and State

Mon, Dec 7 Listen

A city council race during LA's Christmas Season and LA's Episcopal Diocese defies the Church of England. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, 15,000 delegates, 5,000 reporters and 98 world leaders are gathering in Copenhagen to talk about climate change as the basic science faces a new challenge.

That 'Other War,' and the LA Auto Show

Thu, Dec 3 Listen

The LA Auto Show gets a new look and LA swears in a new police chief?again. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, with the world now focused on Afghanistan, what about the war in Iraq? Can civilian government be stabilized? Is the alternative renewed violence that would pull US troops back into action? What would that mean for the surge in Afghanistan?

The Speech Is Over, the Campaign Begins

Wed, Dec 2 Listen

President Obama laid out his new strategy for Afghanistan last night, and the all-out effort to sell it got underway today on Capitol Hill with testimony from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. On the special one-hour rebroadcast of today's To the Point, we get an analysis as well as national and international reaction to the speech.

Senate Takes Up Healthcare Reform; LA Gets Hit by Dubai

Mon, Nov 30 Listen

Dubai?s financial crisis hits Los Angeles, Black Friday and the retail economy, and Tiger Woods? injuries keep him away from Thousand Oaks. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, healthcare reform has finally made it to the Senate floor, and there?s a chance that both houses might pass their different versions by the end of this year.

Concussions on the Football Field and Public Money in California

Thu, Nov 26 Listen

Mexico cracks down at the US border, Jerry Brown keeps a lid on public records, and trouble at the state retirement system could be expensive for taxpayers. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, do concussions on the football field cause brain damage? Have coaches, team doctors and players themselves been in denial?

Hunger in America and 'Kick a Ginger Day' in Calabassas

Tue, Nov 24 Listen

Is there any way to control what kids see on Facebook or how they react? Does California have a new lieutenant governor or not? On our rebroadcast of To the Point, despite the obesity epidemic, recent studies say tens of millions of people -- including children -- are going hungry. What's the Obama Administration doing? Is "food insecurity" a matter of politics as well as economics?

Controlling Air Traffic and Distributing Medical Marijuana

Mon, Nov 23 Listen

Another effort to regulate medical marijuana in the City of Los Angeles. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, existing technology could make air travel faster, more fuel efficient and cheaper, but the air traffic control system won?t be updated until 2025. We hear why and what passengers can expect in the meantime.

Healthcare Reform in Washington; Education in California

Thu, Nov 19 Listen

King hospital gets new life, but the state's latest $21 billion shortfall poses another threat to education. We hear what it could mean for LA Unified and what's being done to qualify for the President's Race-to-the Top money. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, Democrats want their healthcare reform bill on the Senate floor before next week's Thanksgiving vacation. Republicans will do all they can to prevent that from happening.

Global Warming, Higher Education in California

Wed, Nov 18 Listen

Closing Guantanamo, Opening Up the LAUSD

Tue, Nov 17 Listen

Charlie Beck starts his first term as Chief of the LAPD and the LA School District begins farming out schools to outside operators. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, to make good on his promise to close Guantanamo Bay, President Obama needs to re-locate more than 200 prisoners. One likely location in northwestern Illinois has set off a political firestorm.

For Obama, Job One; In Southern California, Art and Pot

Mon, Nov 16 Listen

The LA City Council debates a question other cities answered long ago: how to regulate medical marijuana. Also, Eli Broad's massive collection of contemporary art could mean prestige and money for Beverly Hills or Santa Monica. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, in the "jobless recovery," the President says "Job One" is creating jobs. What can he do? Can he do it before the mid-term elections?

Diplomacy in Asia and Partisan Politics in California

Thu, Nov 12 Listen

Republicans Pounce on Attorney General Jerry Brown, whose press secretary might have broken state law by taping a phone conversation without asking permission from the other party. Also, the brown pelican is off the endangered species list. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, as President Obama goes to Asia, the US is still in deep trouble while China is riding high.

Iran and Diplomatic Confusion; LA Veterans Home from the Wars

Wed, Nov 11 Listen

In addition to the visible wounds of combat, hundreds of thousands of veterans come home from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries nobody else can see. What?s happening to those with PTSD and brain damage as they try to adjust to life in LA? On our rebroadcast of To the Point, political divisions inside Iran appear to be threatening a nuclear deal with the west, even though competing Iranian factions may want it to happen.

Fort Hood Killings; Swine Flu; Political Reform in California

Tue, Nov 10 Listen

There's a shortage of H1N1 vaccine in LA County and a shortage of information about how many people are dying from swine flu. We hear about that and some bad news for efforts to reform government in California. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, 13 people were gunned down last Thursday at Fort Hood, Texas. Were they victims of terrorism? Could the incident have been prevented?

It Was 20 Years Ago Today: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

Mon, Nov 9 Listen

There are huge celebrations in Berlin, as world leaders gather to mark an event that changed the face of the world. It was twenty years ago today that the Berlin Wall came down. In this rebroadcast of today's To the Point, guest host Sara Terry asks whether the past two decades have lived up to the promise of that moment, and how the end of the Cold War era shaped the political and economic realities of today. Also, the Supreme Court considers life sentences for children, and why pro-choice...

Global Warming and National Security

Thu, Nov 5 Listen

Nobody doubts that dealing with global warming will be expensive, so supporters of climate change legislation are raising questions of national security. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, is that a diversionary tactic or will climate change increase terrorism, force mass migration and destabilize entire regions? Also, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas threatens to retire. On Reporter's Notebook, we ask the man who ran Barak Obama's "perfect" campaign what happened on Tuesday.

Off-year Election Results and Water for California

Wed, Nov 4 Listen

Anthony Villaraigosa talks about his choice for a new chief of the LAPD and the rest of his own term as mayor. Plus, the State Legislature finally passes a water program, including $11 billion in bonds that will have to get voter approval. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, Republicans took governorships from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey. A Democrat took a congressional seat from the GOP in upstate New York. Maine voters said "no" to same-sex marriage. What messages do "off-year...

Obama and Middle East Peace; Villagraigosa and the LAPD

Tue, Nov 3 Listen

Mayor Villagraigosa has chosen Deputy Chief Charlie Beck to succeed Bill Bratton as Chief of the LAPD. We hear from both men and get reaction from a cross section of city figures. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, Hillary Clinton's having a tough time with Israelis and Arabs, and Congress is about to condemn a UN report on war crimes in Gaza.

Credibility in Afghanistan and Homeless in LA

Mon, Nov 2 Listen

Despite the recession, the number of homeless people in LA County has gone down, or has it? Ethics investigations are underway into two local members of Congress. Latinos are celebrating the Day of the Dead. On To the Point, Abdullah Abdullah has dropped out, so there won't be a run-off, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai will get a second term. Will he be "credible" to his own people or to President Obama as he decides whether to send more American soldiers?

The 'Public Option,' TV Sets and the Dodgers in Divorce Court

Thu, Oct 29 Listen

Today's North Hollywood synagogue shooting, greening TV sets, and the Dodgers in divorce court. On our rebroadcast of today?s To the Point, the "public option" is not dead after all. The House and the Senate will debate two different versions of healthcare reform.

Swine Flu, the Decline of Newspapers and the Chief of the LAPD

Wed, Oct 28 Listen

California newspapers are on the ropes. As they compete with themselves on the Internet, the New York Times may be covering local news in LA and San Francisco. We hear about that and the three insiders most likely to succeed LA Police Chief Bill Bratton. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, mixed messages about swine flu and the availability of H1N1 vaccine have led to confusion and unexpected public anxiety.

China's Economy and California's Water Wars

Tue, Oct 27 Listen

After years of delay and months of closed-door negotiations, a massive state water plan is finally out in the open. Does that mean it can be voted on this week as legislative leaders predicted? We hear from Sacramento. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, China will soon pass Japan as the world's second largest economy, but it's not easy to cope with such rapid expansion. How long can the growth continue? Can the US and China afford to be adversaries?

Executive Pay on Wall Street and New Digs for the LAPD

Mon, Oct 26 Listen

Parker Center has been replaced as police headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. Does the new building, so far without a name, represent a new way for the LAPD to protect and serve? On our rebroadcast of To the Point, traders and brokers who almost wrecked the economy got bonuses anyway, even as their companies were being saved by taxpayer bailouts. Will Obama Administration pay cuts punish the right people? Will new rules protect against another recession?

Local Politics with National Impact; LAPD's New Home

Thu, Oct 22 Listen

On Reporter's Notebook, the legacy of the first Chief to reshape the LAPD. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, local elections in New Jersey, Virginia and Maine could be important for the President, the Democratic Party and same sex marriage. Also, the Pay Czar cuts executive compensation.

Afghanistan's Run-off Election and Women in America's Workplace

Wed, Oct 21 Listen

Women are half the workforce. Why don't they get the same pay as men for the same job? On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, incompetence, corruption and Afghanistan's presidential election. Will a run-off produce what the White House calls a "credible partner" deserving of more US troops to fight the Taliban and maintain stability?

Pakistan, Medical Marijuana and the Rights of Reporters

Tue, Oct 20 Listen

The LA City Council gets a proposal to regulate medical marijuana. Will it allow sales for money? Did the LA County Sheriff violate laws protecting reporters' freedoms? On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, Pakistan's army is finally taking on the Taliban in South Waziristan.

Big Banks, Medical Marijuana and the LAPD

Mon, Oct 19 Listen

The federal government won't crack down any more on medical marijuana, but local officials are itching to prosecute. Plus, Mayor Villaraigosa says keep the LA Police Department at full force ? whatever it costs. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, even Alan Greenspan says it's time to break up financial institutions that are "too big to fail."

The President Goes to The Big Easy; Bill Bratton's Leaving LA

Thu, Oct 15 Listen

California's public employees take another hit, a veteran reporter remembers Parker Center and LAPD Chief Bill Bratton talks about politics in Los Angeles. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, President Obama touched down briefly in New Orleans today, and the Big Easy seemed to be saying, "It's about time."

Which Way, L.A.? (Current Affairs)