Week In The News: French Fall Out, Immigration Reform On Deck, Oscar Nomination Surprises

Paris terror attack fall out. Congress takes on Obama over immigration. Mitt Romney in 2016? Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Waves of fallout and follow-on from the Charlie Hebdo attack this week.  Al Qaeda claims credit.  Belgians say they busted up another big terror plot in a hail of gunfire.  The French crack down on free speech that supports terror.  Arrests all over.  Europe is gripped.  In Washington, the Republican Congress takes on the White House on immigration and Wall Street regulation.  An alleged planned terror attack on the US Capitol building is foiled.  Travel to Cuba is freed up.  Mitt Romney makes a buzz.  The pope on free speech.  This hour On Point:  our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.
-- Tom Ashbrook

Rachel Smolkin, executive editor for digital politics at CNN. (@rachelsmolkin)

Michael Hirsh, national editor at POLITICO Magazine. (@michaelphirsh)

Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst. (@JackBeattyNPR)

CNN Politics: Why Mitt Romney wants in on 2016 — "So, from a cost-benefit standpoint, there's no downside for those entering the presidential sweepstakes for the first time. Let's say you know you probably won't win, but — looking back at the last campaign — you'll probably get your 15 minutes of fame. (Can you say Herman Cain?) It's a good way to elevate yourself if you bring anything at all to the table. And even if you don't, it's still a good platform from which you can increase your speech fees, board availabilities and TV appearances. So get behind that podium, asap."

POLITICO Magazine: The Real GOP Split on Immigration — "The main thrust of the Midwestern pro-immigration argument is based on two points: first, that immigrants tend to be more entrepreneurial than native-borns and therefore are job creators; and second, Midwestern colleges and universities have large numbers of foreign students, and the region wants to keep them after they graduate by opening up the number of visas available."

The Wall Street Journal: House Votes to Block Obama’s Executive Action on Immigration — "The House passed legislation Wednesday to nullify President Barack Obama ’s immigration policies, tying the contentious issue to a bill funding homeland security and setting up a clash with Democrats who are expected to block the measure in the Senate."