Week in the News

24:00

April 03, 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama gestures during a press conference at the end of the G20 Summit at the Excel centre in London, Thursday, April 2, 2009. The objective of the London Summit is to bring the world's biggest economies together to help restore global economic growth through enhanced international coordination. (AP) — President Barack Obama gestures during a press conference at the end of the G20 Summit at the Excel centre in London on April 2, 2009. (AP)

It was G20 time this week. President Barack Obama’s debut on the world stage, and a stab at slowing global economic meltdown.

There were no miracles, but there were steps: a trillion dollars for emerging nations and — in spite of the First Lady touching the Queen (oh, horrors!) — a sense of shared purpose, for now.

Back home, the White House got most of the budget it wanted from Congress. Deficit to follow. And Detroit got a big, fat ultimatum. Bankruptcy for GM now a real and not-distant possibility.

This hour, On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

You can join the conversation. Has the G20 done enough? Too much? The right thing? What about the Obamas abroad? The Obama budget at home? The White House ultimatum for GM and Chrysler?Guests:

From New York we're joined by Chrystia Freeland, U.S. managing editor of The Financial Times. She interviewed President Obama on the eve of the G-20 summit in London.
Joining us from Washington is Liz Halloran, Washington correspndent for NPR.org.
And from Hanover, N.H., we're joined by Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor at The Atlantic.

This program aired on April 3, 2009.

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