KCRW's To the Point

How much defense the US needs and what it can afford are issues raised by "sequester." Will it happen or will the White House and Congress kick the can down the road again?

Last night's presidential debate turned into a prime-time political confrontation, this time including a president fully engaged with a challenger ready for action.

"Small business" may be crucial to small-town, independent entrepreneurship, but is it really the engine of job growth claimed by President Obama and Mitt Romney?

VP Biden and Rep Ryan disagreed last week on women's rights issues. We hear how abortion and Supreme Court appointments have become issues in the presidential campaign.

Last night's vice-presidential debate might be old news by the Obama-Romney "town hall" on Tuesday, but Biden and Ryan still had an impact on the national campaign story.

Even many Republicans concede that the GOP has given up on cities, in favor of the fast-growing suburbs. Will turning away from urban centers mean future political costs?

Today, the US Supreme Court took up affirmative action and the effort to equalize educational opportunity in a diverse society with a history of racial discrimination.

The prospect for a military strike against Iran's nuclear program is now part of the presidential campaign. But what do we really know about Iran's capacity or intentions?

How does President Obama feel about coping with a hostile Congress? What about former Governor Mitt Romney's record with Democrats in Massachusetts?

College education is quite costly, and many graduates are underemployed or unemployed. What are the benefits of traditional higher education in a changing economy?

The early consensus is that an aggressive Mitt Romney won last night's debate against President Obama, who was defensive and lacking in energy. We hear early reaction.

Americans are eating the wrong foods, with and obesity now a pandemic. But efforts to improve nutrition have created a furor over the role of government in our lives.

The Veterans Administration is far behind in processing claims. We hear why so many vets are so frustrated, despite bipartisan promises they'll get what they deserve.

Early voting has changed the dynamics of presidential campaigns. Will the race effectively be over before Election Day? And has "Voter ID" boomeranged against the GOP?

Internet technology uses more electrical power than any other US industry except for manufacturing. How much energy is wasted to keep your information available full time?