Another 'Czar' at the Obama White House

Making News

Will GM and Magna Reach a Deal? ()

As General Motors heads toward bankruptcy, Canadian company Magna and the German government are trying to resolve differences over GM's European subsidiaries, Opel and Vauxhall. Marcus Walker is in Berlin for the Wall Street Journal.

Guests:

• Marcus Walker: Berlin Correspondent, Wall Street Journal, @MMQWalker

Main Topic

Another 'Czar' at the Obama White House ()

Cyber crime is a real threat to the economy. Railroads, air traffic control and electric utilities are already the targets of “Weapons of Mass Disruption.” That was the President's message today as he created a new job to make up for a dismal lack of national preparation. The Cyber-security Coordinator will be on both the economic and national security councils with access to the President, but critics insist that won't work. We hear how serious the problem is and ask if creating the new “Czar” will be more than a symbolic gesture.

Guests:

• James Lewis: Director, CSIS's Commission on Cybersecurity, @james_a_lewis
• Paul Light: Professor of Public Service, New York University
• John Arquilla: Professor of Defense Analysis, Naval Postgraduate School
• Tom Kellermann: former Senior Risk Management Specialist, World Bank Security Team

Links:

• CSIS report, 'Securing Cyberspace for the 44th Presidency'

Reporter's Notebook

Ahmadinejad Woos Voters with Potatoes ()

Iran's President is up for re-election two weeks from today, and the world is waiting for possible changes in nuclear policy. Iranian voters have other concerns and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is addressing them. While President Herbert Hoover famously offered “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage,” the Ahmadinejad regime is handing out 400,000 tons of potatoes. His opponents accuse him of bribing the poor. Borzou Daragahi, Middle East correspondent for the Los Angeles Times, is in Tehran to cover the elections.

Guests:

• Borzou Daragahi: Middle East Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, @borzou