The Fall of an Industrial Titan: General Motors Goes Bankrupt
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President Obama said today he expects a new General Motors to emerge from the ashes of its historic filing for bankruptcy. He also warned that there are more hard times ahead. Guest host Sara Terry considers what a restructured GM will look like, how hands-off the government will be as the company’s major stakeholder, and what the failure means for auto workers, parts suppliers and dealers? Also, the battle for Minnesota’s still-contested US Senate seat. On Reporter's Notebook, anti-abortionists called him “Tiller the killer." Now, Doctor George Tiller, who performed late-term abortions, has been killed.
Banner image: General Motors CEO Fritz Henderson speaks with reporters following an announcement that General Motors Corp., the world's largest automaker for 77 years, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today. Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Making News
Coleman, Franken Back in Court over Minnesota Senate Seat ()
The battle for Minnesota's still-contested US Senate seat reached the state's supreme court today. Republican Norm Coleman is challenging lower court rulings that upheld a win by Democrat and former comedian Al Franken. Richard Hasen, who specializes in election law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, blogs at ElectionLawBlog.org.
Guests:
- Rick Hasen: Professor of Law, Loyola Law School
Main Topic
The Fall of an Industrial Titan: General Motors Goes Bankrupt ()
It used to be said that “what’s good for General Motors is good for the country.” Not any more. The car company that muscled its way to becoming one of the largest manufacturers in the world filed for bankruptcy today. It’s the fourth largest bankruptcy in American history. After pouring billions of dollars into the failed company, how will the US government restructure GM, as it becomes the major stakeholder? Will the United Auto Workers union survive or be forced to merge with another union? What kind of cars will roll off the assembly line of a new, streamlined GM?
Guests:
- Tim Higgins: Business writer for the Detroit Free Press
- Maryann Keller: veteran independent auto analyst
- Todd Lassa: Detroit Editor, Motor Trend
- Dan Neil: Pulitzer Prize-winning auto critic, Los Angeles Times
- Richard Block: Professor of Labor and Industrial Relations, Michigan State University
Links:
- Neil's article on GM failure as lesson for US economy
- Chrysler-Fiat alliance
- Obama on GM bankruptcy, restructuring
- Higgins' article on GM restructuring
- Block's consultation to GAO on financial status of GM and Chrysler
- Lassa's blog on GM's Volt plug-in hybrid
- Bankruptcy court approves Chrysler-Fiat deal
Reporter's Notebook
The Slaying of a Doctor and the Anti-Abortion Movement ()
George Tiller was a doctor who provided late-term abortions. Known as “St. George” by supporters and “Dr. Killer by the anti-abortion movement, he was a frequent target for anti-abortion protests. Yesterday, he was murdered at the church he attends in Wichita, Kansas. Carole Joffe, professor of sociology at the University of California-Davis, studies the politics and sociology of reproductive health.
Guests:
- Carole Joffe: Professor of Sociology, University of California-Davis
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