To The Point

To the Point

Take a rapid-fire tour of the day’s hot-button issues.

Official posters of the candidates for the 2017 French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron, left, head of the political movement En Marche!, or Onwards!, and Marine Le Pen, of French National Front (FN).

Does it matter who won the French election? It might matter more who's running Facebook.

Technology is transforming societies more deeply than the political vibrations of 2017.

Does it matter who won the French election? It might matter more who's running Facebook.
François Fillon (2nd L), a former French prime minister, a member of The Republicans political party and 2017 presidential candidate of the French center-right, and Troyes Mayor Francois Baroin visit Le Coq Sportif factory as they attend a campaign visit

Politics in France are completely upended

Politics in France are completely upended
Kirk W. Johnson

There's just one person this new tweeter wants to reach: @realDonaldTrump

There's just one person this new tweeter wants to reach: @realDonaldTrump
The entrance of the Icelandic Pirate Party headquarters

Pirates in Iceland are on the verge of gaining real political power

Pirates in Iceland are on the verge of gaining real political power
People inspect a damaged site after airstrikes

Syrian holdouts struggle under attack by regime and Western-backed forces

Syrian holdouts struggle under attack by regime and Western-backed forces
Hostra University students are pictured playing the roles of the candidates and moderator.

Why tonight's debate will be strictly structured — and might not even really be a 'debate'

Many characterize the "presidential debates" more as joint appearances or joint press conferences, rather than debates. And the Byzantine rules that cover the debates go back decades.

Why tonight's debate will be strictly structured — and might not even really be a 'debate'
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with reporters during a visit for a summit of former Soviet republics at Kyrgyzstan's international Manas airport outside Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, September 17, 2016.

How close are Trump and Putin?

A closer look into the "bromance."

How close are Trump and Putin?
Israel's new defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, left, next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they sign a coalition deal to broaden the government's parliamentary majority on May 25.

How did such an inflammatory politician end up in Israel's 2nd most-powerful job?

The US editor for Israeli daily Ha’aretz says the hard-right defense minister isn't all that different from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, but "his bark may turn out worse than his bite."

How did such an inflammatory politician end up in Israel's 2nd most-powerful job?
Rodrigo Duterte

Heard about 'Donald Trump of the Philippines'? His record isn't as extreme as his talk.

Rodrigo Duterte is set to be the next leader of the Philippines, and has promised: “I will be a dictator, no doubt about it. But only against the forces of evil.”

Heard about 'Donald Trump of the Philippines'? His record isn't as extreme as his talk.
A protester stands in front of a burning barricade during a demonstration in Cairo January 28, 2011.

Authors argue it's too early to label the 'Arab Spring' a failure

It's been five years since the Arab Spring started, with hopes for tremendous change for residents of dictatorships throughout the region. Most of those protests failed, though two authors say it's too soon to judge.

Authors argue it's too early to label the 'Arab Spring' a failure
Protesters flee from tear gas

More than five years after the Arab Spring protests, Egyptian protesters are still disappearing

Mostafa Massouny is one of more than 1,800 Egyptians who just disappeared in 2015. They're believed to have been taken by Egyptian authorities, to an unknown fate.

More than five years after the Arab Spring protests, Egyptian protesters are still disappearing
Donald Trump on CNN

Trump gets advantages on broadcast TV other candidates can only dream of

Studies have shown that Donald Trump gets "free media" on broadcast television to the tune of nearly $2 billion since his campaign began. And he's allowed to do things — like phone interviews — other candidates never can do.

Trump gets advantages on broadcast TV other candidates can only dream of
Youth in India

India's a young country — and the youth want to change the world

India is a massive country, a massive country of young people. And all of those young people want to challenge the rules that keep them from achieving what they truly want to.

India's a young country — and the youth want to change the world
Donald Trump

World's view on Trump's rise: Why is the US so angry?

Donald Trump's lead in the GOP primary has stunned a lot of people, and not just Americans. Citizens of foreign nations can't help choose the next president, but they're undoubtedly influenced by who occupies the White House.

World's view on Trump's rise: Why is the US so angry?
Mark Oberholtzer's truck

How a Texas plumber's truck wound up in ISIS' hands

Texas plumber Mark Oberholtzer has filed a lawsuit against a car dealership after he traded in his truck with the promise they would remove the decals for his business that were on it. That didn't happen — and making matters worse, it wound up in the hands of ISIS.

How a Texas plumber's truck wound up in ISIS' hands