Hi, I'm Armin Olney. Thanks so much for listening to To the Point and Which Way, L.A.

You know, Elvis Mitchell has the inside scoop on all things pop culture.

Every week, he hosts intimate conversations with creators and directors and actors and more

about what makes them tick, and each week I'm amazed at what I hear on The Treatment.

You can find the treatment on KCRW's iTunes page.

From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Coal, clean air, and presidential power.

Hello again, I'm Armin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court today pitted the coal industry against the Environmental Protection Agency.

Twenty states that produce and burn coal for electricity

joined the opposition to power plant regulation, while 17 other states said it's needed.

Today's debate about the costs of high-tech scrubbers to prevent toxic pollution comes

in the context of other cases, alleging Obama administration overreach. Did the justices provide any clues about rulings

to come on Obamacare and actions against climate change? Today's talking point, Africa's rising,

but only for a select few. First, here's the news.

Listen to KCRW's 24-hour all-news channel.

Stream BBC World Service, NPR and KCRW programs.

Continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at kCRW.com.

Support for To the Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Warren. I'll be back with To The Point. Once again, the U.S. Supreme Court appeared divided today on a challenge to the Obama administration. Do the EPA's proposed regulations on coal-fired power plants exceed its authority to protect public health? Does the Clean Air Act require the agency to consider the cost?

Today's talking point, a new book called The Looting Machine gives the lie to the cliche that Africa's rising,

even though the continent is experiencing unprecedented growth.

...