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

Race in America, the president's changing strategy.

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

A daily look at the issues, Americans care about most.

When America's first black president was elected in 2008, he held the promise of unifying

the country along racial lines. Today, after two weeks of low-key comment on the police

killing of Michael Brown, he was a no-show at the funeral in Missouri. The White House sees strong

public gestures as polarizing. His approval ratings have

dropped even among Americans of color. But away from the podium, there's a different story.

We'll hear how executive actions might serve the long-term interests of the President's party.

Today's talking point, a U.S. hostage is released by jihadists for free. First, here's the news.

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Program Fund. Hello again, Warren Alney, back with To the Point. A White House delegation attended

today's funeral for Michael Brown in Missouri. He was the unarmed young black man killed two

weeks ago by a white policeman in Ferguson.

Did the president miss an opportunity by not going himself?

Today's talking point, just days after the public execution of U.S. reporter James Foley by the Islamic State,

another American hostage has been released by a different jihadist group without any ransom.

We'll hear how that happened.

First, today's news update, at least 10 tanks, two armored vehicles, and two trucks showing

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