Week in the News

24:24

January 30, 2009

President Barack Obama, right, and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner speak with reporters as they meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. (AP)

Tens of thousands more layoffs announced this week — unemployment reaching levels not seen in 30 years. Even the Post Office is talking about cutting a day of mail delivery.

Obama’s $800 billion stimulus package passed in the House, but will it be enough?

Meantime, the president re-introduces America to the Arab world. The nightmare in Illinois comes to an end — Rod Blagojevich is out of a job.

This hour, On Point: Our news roundtable and the biggest stories of the week.

You can join the conversation. What’s your top story this week? Will the stimulus package stimulate the anemic economy? Share your thoughts.
-Guy Raz, guest host

Guests:

From Washington, we're joined by Charles Babington, White House correspondent for the Associated Press.
With us from New York is Ta-Nehisi Coates, associate editor and blogger at The Atlantic. He’s the author of the memoir “The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood.”
And from Hanover, N.H., is On Point new analyst Jack Beatty.

This program aired on January 30, 2009.

week in the news