Join left-right and center host Bob Shear for his new podcast, Shear Intelligence.

The twice-monthly podcast features thinkers and trendsetters in conversation with one of political journalism's leading voices.

Through the show's unique and sometimes surprising perspectives, you'll get up to speed on the current issues shaping the Beltway and the world.

Find sheer intelligence on KCRW's iTunes page.

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

Will the United States become the United Cities of America?

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

The daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The 50 United States are accidents of history, unrelated to current population density or productivity.

They were never designed to solve today's problems. Now there's a movement for something new,

connections across state borders between vast metropolitan regions where the power really lies,

and cities around the world are getting together, hoping to end national gridlock and address security, pandemic disease, and climate change.

Today's talking point, some Republicans may be running for cover, but President Obama says Donald Trump has to be taken seriously.

First, here's the news.

Check out KCRW's All News channel, News 24.

Programming from KCRW, NPR, BBC, and more, 24 hours a day.

Go to KCRW.com slash News24 or listen on KCRW SAP. Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International Program Fund.

Hello again, Mormon. I'll be back with To the Point. The 50 states are central to America's political system, but real power now lies in the growing metropolitan regions that cross state boundaries.

We'll hear how cities are getting together to overcome our national gridlock before unsolved problems reached the crisis stage.

Today's talking point, Donald Trump, is the presumptive presidential nominee,

but House Speaker Paul Ryan, the GOP's leading legislator, says he's not on board yet.

Will the media scrutinize Trump as they do other contenders?

...