Staff Writer, Washington Post
Staff writer covering the Treasury Department and the financial industry for the Washington Post
PROFILE
David Cho
Guest
FROM David Cho
To the Point
Obama Picks a Fight with the Big Banks Former chair of the Federal Reserve, Paul Volker, is gaining clout with the Obama Administration, pushing a crackdown on Wall Street. Meantime the current chair, Ben Bernanke , may not have the votes to be reconfirmed when his term runs out in a little over a week. David Cho reports for the Washington Post . Segment image of yesterday's Obama-Volker. Official White House Photo: Pete Souza
Which Way, L.A.?
Too Big to Fail...and Still Growing Banks that were rescued as “too big to fail” are now bigger than ever. JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup now issue half of America’s mortgages and two-thirds of its credit cards.
To the Point
Too Big to Fail - and Still Growing Some banks are paying back their part of the $700 billion in TARP loans -- with interest. But challenging questions remain. America's banks that were rescued as "too big to fail" are now bigger than ever, but smaller banks are failing fast. What's the connection? With just four banks -- JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup -- now issue half America's mortgages and two-thirds of its credit cards, do consumers still have any choice? Are the institutions that put the entire economy at risk being rewarded? Will it be harder than ever for the government to wrestle them down to size?
To the Point
New Rules on Executive Compensation The financial crisis was front and center today with the announcement of plans to tighten restrictions on compensation for executives of banks and other companies getting federal bail-out money. President Obama dismissed such rewards in the midst of the current economic crisis as “bad taste” and “bad strategy” that he would not tolerate. David Cho covers the Treasury Department and the financial crisis for the Washington Post .
Which Way, L.A.?
Can Barack Obama Follow the Money? At Barack Obama's request, President Bush will ask Congress before he leaves office for the second half of the $700 billion financial bailout . But the first half was so badly spent that Congress may not go along.
To the Point
Can Barack Obama Follow the Money? Lawmakers in both parties are outraged that the Bush Administration lost track of $350 billion, the first half of last year's massive financial bailout . Today, at Barack Obama's request, President Bush agreed to ask for the second half, so Obama will have it as soon as he takes office next week. We hear how banks refused to account for their use of taxpayer money, while there was no effort to prevent mortgage foreclosures. What's Obama saying to assure Congress he can do better?
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To the Point
Trump plays scolder-in-chief with NATO allies At the opening of NATO’s dramatic new headquarters in Brussels today, President Trump acknowledged that Article 5 — promising that “an attack on one nation is an attack on all” -- has only been invoked one time: in the aftermath of September 11. But the President failed to provide what 27 other Alliance members have been waiting for: a re-commitment by America’s new leader to Article 5. Instead, they got a scolding.
To the Point
Terrorism and tweets, hate speech and murder Just days before an election, Britain is coping with a rash of deadly terrorism, and Prime Minister Theresa May is on the defensive. And again today, President Trump has tweeted criticism of the Mayor of London. Later, a double murder in Portland, Oregon has revealed the ugly past of a supposedly “progressive” city. One immediate question: is “hate speech” protected by the First Amendment?
To the Point
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?