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

Will the Newtown Massacre be the tipping point for new gun control?

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

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most. Vice President Biden said today, nothing has touched the hearts of

the American people like the bodies of children riddled with bullets. He promised action in

Washington backed by gun owners, like former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, a shooting victim.

She, New York Mayor Bloomberg, and others are pledging big money to

overcome the political cloud of the NRA. We'll talk of responsible ownership and violence

reduction overcome fears of confiscation and erosion of the Second Amendment. On reporter's

notebook later on, last year was the hottest year in American history. First, here's the news.

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Hello again. I'm Warren Alney, back with To the Point. The slaughter of children in Newtown,, Connecticut has infused new energy into the gun control movement. Will a new strategy sound like good politics to at least

some Republicans? Will there be enough money to challenge the power of the NRA? On reporter's

notebook, the U.S. is heating up faster than ever, and last year was the hottest on record, has

climate change become a fact of everyday life?

First, this news update. Unnamed White House sources are now confirming that Jack Liu, the president's

chief of staff, will be nominated tomorrow to replace Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner. Hans Nichols

is covering that story for Bloomberg News. Good to have you on our program.

It was always a pleasure. This is a man who is a career government officials, I understand it.

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