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

New Life for an American Institution, leaking.

Hello again, I'm Aronalney, and this is To the Point. Every administration is subject to leaks of information, but the era of

Donald Trump is setting some kind of record. The president portrays himself as a victim, but this

week began with news that he was the leaker of intelligent secrets to Russia. Since then, reports

about Israel, Turkey, James Comey, and Michael Flynn have been attributed to anonymous sources. Who are they? What do they want?

Leaks can be self-serving even against the law or a threat to national security. Are they

sometimes necessary reinforcements of the people's right to know? Later, on today's talking point,

a prize-winning reporter's moving account of war and survival on the battlefield and in the bedroom.

First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Warren. I'll hear back with To the Point. President Obama tried to clamp down on leakers,

but the Trump administration is besieged almost as never before. Are the anonymous sources partisans or worried professionals?

Are they endangering the Republic or performing a public service? We'll talk

about that today. On our talking point, I'll talk with Pulitzer Prize winning reporter Jeffrey Gettleman.

His new very intimate memoir covers romance, war, and survival, and his love affair with East

Africa, where he's correspondent for the New York Times. First is news update.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for five years

to avoid being arrested to face charges of rape in Sweden.

Today, Swedish authorities said they are dropping the investigation.

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