Barack Obama has picked a secretary of education who’s endorsed both sides of the raging debate over how to improve American schools. Will he become an agent of change or will splitting the difference reinforce the status quo? Why is Obama so focused on early childhood education? Also, the White House steps in to bail out automakers, and shipping nations worldwide are launching a military crackdown on Somali pirates, but the Pentagon says at least one more pirate band will get millions of dollars.
Banner image: Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, framed by a book shelf. Photo: Tim Boyle/Getty Images