To the Point

Robert Mueller was named Special Counsel to investigate intelligence-agency findings that Russia tried to help Donald Trump get elected. Now, the President has conceded it happened, and it appears that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is focused on money laundering and organized crime.

All 48 Democrats are sure to vote "No" on the Senate's version of healthcare reform. Both moderates and conservatives see devils in the details, so not all 52 Republicans are prepared to vote "Yes." We find out what it's likely to mean if they do.

Recent strikes against Iranian-backed troops and the downing of a Syrian fighter-plane have Russia accusing the US of “complicity in terrorism.” It's threatening to make targets of planes and drones flown too far into its comfort zone by the western coalition. We'll update divisions in the Trump Administration over what to do.

Since their candidate lost a congressional race in Georgia last night, Democratic Party regulars are licking their wounds.  But around the country, some party activists aren't just disappointed, they're planning to start something new.

What a difference a year makes. That's how long it's been since Britain narrowly voted to leave the European Union and go back on its own. But, on both sides of the English Channel, political realities have dramatically changed. Will there be a "hard" Brexit, a "soft" Brexit… or no Brexit after all?

Kansas was the "canary in the coal mine" for an experiment in supply-side economics, but critics say "the canary is now on life support." Even with taxes on the increase again in Kansas, will the experiment be repeated in Washington?

The tiny nation of Qatar is the latest focus of conflict and confusion in the Middle East. President Trump has joined its Arab neighbors, who call it a funder of terror. But the US is still selling the oil-rich country $12 billion worth of jet fighters.

A Congressman is gunned down during baseball practice along with three other people — just one of more than 150 mass shootings this year. Will bullets striking so close to home change anything on Capitol Hill? We get some answers

In Virginia's Democratic primary for Governor yesterday, a candidate of the Liberal Wing was soundly defeated by a Party Regular. We look at the potential consequences as voices for change challenge the status quo.

There's much being made about the Trump administration's possible ties with Russia. But the bottom line is Russia's effort to influence American democracy. Do the President and his aides care enough to take action before voters go back to the polls? 

As the Senate deliberates replacing Obmacare, health coverage for millions of people is at stake. There've been no public hearings, and a draft measure won't be made public. Is the House version so unpopular that that Senate is hiding a version that looks much the same? 

Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election. 

Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans. 

President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.

President Trump’s UN Ambassador, Nikki Haley, said today the US might pull out of the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. Serious violators of human rights are members of the Council itself–and a US resignation could make things worse. Later on today’s show, now that he’s into his second term, comedian turned US Senator Al Franken is telling jokes again.