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

Harsh truths about income inequality.

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

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

The world's 85 richest people control as much wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion. Think about those numbers.

85, 3.5 billion. With the U.S. leading the way, the gap is growing between the rich and the rest,

provoking stark warnings about social stability. We'll hear how income inequality got to be on the agenda for the rich and the rest, provoking stark warnings about social stability.

We'll hear how income inequality got to be on the agenda for the rich and powerful at this week's World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

How did the very rich get that way?

Will they ever share their wealth willingly?

Or is greed a form of addiction?

Today's talking point?

The late Daniel Pearl's final story. First, here's the news. KCRW programs. Continuous coverage and accessible via our smartphone app or online at KCRW.

Support for To The Point comes from the members of KCRW and from the Public Radio International

Program Fund. Hello again. Warren Allie, back with To The Point. In next week's State of the Union

speech, President Obama plans to discuss the growth of

income inequality, a potential cause for crisis, not just in the U.S., but all over the world.

We'll hear how it's being addressed from the World Economic Forum in Davos to the world of Wall Street.

Today's talking point, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has confessed to killing Wall Street Journal reporter

Daniel Pearl,

but a murder trial is unlikely. We are how far a close friend has gone to make sure that

KSM was guilty. First, this news update. The Geneva two Syrian peace talks were scheduled to start

...