Hey, I'm Josh Barrow, your new host of Left, Right, and Center.

Every week, join Rich Lowry, Bob Shear and Me for a contentious yet civilized debate of the week's big political stories, from ISIS to the U.S. economy to this 47 candidate presidential election we're having.

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

Getting less tough on crime without going soft.

Hello again, I'm Arminowley, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most. High-ranking senators in both political parties have agreed on how to

reduce some unintended consequences of the war on crime. Mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent

drug crimes are so long, they're disastrous, especially for low-income families. Children grow up without parents.

A rare bipartisan reform bill includes some lawmakers who helped write the penalties that are now

deemed excessive. Supporters on both sides say it doesn't go far enough, but it might have a

chance of passing at least in the Senate. Today's talking point, a boycott of Saudi Arabia led by Muslims.

First, here's the news.

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International Program Fund.

Hello again, Marvin.

I'll be back with To the Point.

Both Democrats and

Republicans now agree that the war on crime got tougher than it needed to be. Mandatory minimum

sentences for nonviolent drug crimes are too harsh, and they're not worth the high cost of incarceration.

...