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

The Democrats take over on Capitol Hill.

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. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco made history today. She is now the first female House Speaker in American history.

Pelosi leads a 31-vote Democratic majority. On the Senate side, the new majority leader, Harry Reid, has just one vote to work with.

On to the point, what is the Democratic agenda?

Can the new leaders hold their party together? When it comes to ethics reform, do they really mean it?

Will new legislation be met with vetoes from the Republican in the White House? What about the war in Iraq?

On reporter's notebook later on, the breakup of a Russian rocket in outer space creates a

sensation in several Western states. First, the news. Support for To the Point comes from subscribers

of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio International Program Fund, whose contributors

include the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Hello again. Woman, I'll be back with To the Point. Nancy Pelosi is now Speaker of the House of Representatives as the Democrats take over Capitol Hill.

On To the Point, we'll look at their agenda and its chance of success. Can they make a difference in domestic policy?

What about the war in Iraq? On reporter's notebook, a spectacular light display in

the skies over Colorado as debris from outer space lands in Wyoming. We heard about the breakup of a

Russian rocket. First, this news update, John Negroponte is the career diplomat who was named America's

first director of national intelligence in 2005.

Now he reportedly is stepping down a notch to be number two at Condoleezza Rice's Department of State.

He'll be replaced by retired Vice Admiral Mike McConnell.

Daphne Linser covers national security for the Washington Post.

Daphna, always good to have you on our program.

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