Week in the News

24:07

October 23, 2009

U.S. Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass, whispers with Kai Eide, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, looks on during a press conference, in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Afghanistan's election commission Tuesday ordered a Nov. 7 runoff in the disputed presidential poll. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) whispers with Kai Eide, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, as Afghan President Hamid Karzai, right, looks on during a press conference in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2009. Afghanistan's election commission Tuesday ordered a Nov. 7 runoff in the disputed presidential poll. (AP)

Two pilots may have been asleep this week with 147 passengers onboard. The pay czar, Kenneth Feinberg, was not.
New pay cuts rolled out for top execs at bailed-out banks, and Fed oversight for pay at thousands of banks across the country.
In Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai bows to election fraud charges and a likely runoff vote. Pakistan and the Taliban go bloody nose to nose.
On Capitol Hill, the health care “public option” comes back. Bad polls for the GOP. And the White House tangles with Dick Cheney and Fox News.
This hour, On Point: Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
You can join the conversation. Tell us what you think — here on this page, on Twitter, and on Facebook.Guests:

Jay Newton-Small, congressional correspondent for Time magazine. She also writes for Time’s “Swampland” politics blog.
Tom Gjelten, NPR correspondent covering national security and intelligence. His new book, just out in paperback, is: "Bacardi and the Long Fight for Cuba: A Biography of a Cause."
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst and senior editor for The Atlantic.

This program aired on October 23, 2009.

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