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.

China's economic instability, is it a political crisis?

I'm Barbara Bogave sitting in for Warren Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International, a daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Since the 2007 global recession, China has been the hallmark of reliable growth and stable investment.

But this summer, Chinese stocks have plunged almost 40%, rattling investor confidence in Beijing's ability to guide the world's second largest economy.

Some China observers say Black Monday is just the beginning of the end of China's economic miracle.

Will declining confidence in Beijing prompt reforms? Will the government continue cracking down on critics?

Also on today's talking point, Pope Francis says priests can forgive women who've had abortions.

A first merciful papal step into the abortion debate?

First News.

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Stream BBC World Service, NPR and KCRW programs.

Continuous coverage on our mobile 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.

It's to the point I Barbara Bove in for Warren only.

Just ahead, China and U.S. stocks tumbled once again today, after bad news from that nation's

manufacturing sector, is the world's second largest economy in a free fall, and can Beijing

rebuild confidence while cracking down on dissent?

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