To the Point

KCRW

4.6 (577)
NEWS

A monthly 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 conversations are informal, edgy and always informative. If Warren's asking, you want to know the answer.

03/10/2023

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

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.

1h 5m
12/05/2022

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

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.

48 min
10/31/2022

Can the news media help save democracy?

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.”

1h 3m
10/06/2022

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

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?

57 min
09/08/2022

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

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.

1 hr
08/05/2022

Is catastrophic news coverage fit for human consumption?

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?

41 min
07/07/2022

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

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?

59 min
05/26/2022

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

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.

1h 4m

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TRAILER

Introducing 'In Our Backyard'

In Our Backyard is a six-part series that explores how Southern California is changing in the face of global warming, and how we can respond.

04/20/2021

•

3 min

Warren Olney

Host

4.6

out of 5

577 Ratings

Best & Brightest

10/14/2022

Mc Funk

I look forward to this podcast as Warren always has the best and brightest experts on subjects being discussed. I appreciate that as host, Warren will often provide definitions and relevant history for the layperson who may need that. Hoping that the program will continue to provide such well needed objective, relevant reporting. Thanks Warren.
Warren is a true scholar

04/04/2021

Mr stogie

While I do miss the more frequent shows on the airwaves, I also very much enjoy the newer platform as warren gets to take more researched ‘deep dive’ looks at current events. Warren is always well educated on the subject matter of debate, he is a very fair moderator and a relentless interviewer. He doesn’t let guests get away with dodging questions but his style is such that guests feel respected even under tough cross examination. Truly an impressive show from a man with an impeccable reputation and devotion to advancing the public discourse.
The best host

12/10/2020

pinknoisepod

I miss Warren Olney on the airwaves. To The Point is still excellent and I enjoy when the podcast goes a bit longer than the radio hour did.
Not so good anymore

04/03/2021

Celina4**¥

I used to arrange my days to hear Warren dig into confusing issues and look at both sides of an issue. But now he seems to roll out his own confirmation bias and push for the utopian revolution of the left.

A monthly 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 conversations are informal, edgy and always informative. If Warren's asking, you want to know the answer.