At Davos, countries make their own trade deals without the U.S. The world’s business and political leaders are in the Swiss town of Davos for the annual World Economic Forum meeting. President Trump has also arrived to “tell the world how great America is and is doing,” as he tweeted. But many of the world’s leaders have rejected the president’s “America First” attitude. And many countries have moved forward with trade agreements that do not include the United States.

"Free Trade" and Presidential Politics Ronald Reagan, both Presidents Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama have all supported massive trade agreements from NAFTA to CAFTA to the Trans Pacific Partnership. Economists disagree about who wins and who loses in these complex, economic agreements, which are negotiated in secret, with lobbyists for powerful interest groups making sure they get in on the action. The TPP been signed by the US and 11 Asian countries, but it's still waiting for an up or down vote in Congress. Meantime, it's become a hot-button issue in both the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns.

President Obama Swings for the Fences and Fence-Straddlers Last night in Charlotte, President Barack Obama made his plea for a second term with a tone of humility. "I'm no longer just a candidate. I'm the President." The speech lacked the soaring rhetoric of candidate Obama in 2008. Instead, it was grounded in the prose of reality – what's been accomplished, what remains to be done. Nor did Obama match the impassioned, folksy delivery of Bill Clinton from the night before, but he did paint a definitive choice for voters, outlining the stark differences between the Democrats and the Republicans. Did he manage to persuade those important swing voters to give him more time?     To the Point has been broadcasting live from the Democratic convention all week. You can find extended interviews, pictures and more at KCRW.org/election2012 .

Long-term Unemployment and Bridging the 'Skills Gap' Continued unemployment at 8.2 percent is not just a political story, but a measure of human misery. When formerly middle class workers are on the streets with their children, what's the future of the "American Dream?" We talk about the human cost of long-term unemployment for millions of Americans, the causes and potential solutions.

Occupy Wall Street: What's the Message? It's a far cry from Tahrir Square in Cairo, but Occupy Wall Street has been camped out for two weeks in Zuccotti Park between the New York Stock Exchange and the site of the former World Trade Center. The self-described "leaderless resistance movement" includes about 200 college students, recent graduates and others protesting a whole set of economic issues, from a lack of jobs to the ties between government and big business. They've endured pepper spray from a senior New York Police commander and enjoyed visits from celebrities, including Susan Sarandon and Michael Moore. They're a presence on Facebook and Twitter, and they're trying to organize nationwide. Will they ever compete with the Tea Party? What's the connection to economic unhappiness in other parts of the world?

Closing Out the Old Year and Ringing In the New Those end-of-the-year wrap-ups are starting to show up everywhere, and they're not making for cheery reading. 2010 was a rough year for many people who continued to struggle. In the United States, the news was dominated by the economy and big changes on the political landscape as Tea Partiers shook up the status quo. What's ahead on horizon? In 2011, where should we be looking for good news? Who's thinking about new answers to solve ongoing problems and prevent future disasters? How do disasters and downturns affect our cultural psyche? How does the world look beyond our own horizons? Are things brighter for the developing world?

The Great Recession: Counting Costs, Contemplating Change A new survey by the Pew Research Center says that more than half of the nation's working adults have been directly hit by the recession. While the personal costs are high, the changes in individual lives will undoubtedly affect the broader social landscape. Will this kind of economic and institutional upheaval lead to the kind of shared sacrifice Americans experienced during World War II? How will young people, the so-called Millennial Generation, plan for a future that seems less secure?

Trying to Stabilize the Housing Crisis Fifteen million Americans are “underwater,” meaning they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. The Obama Administration has $75 billion for a program called Making Home Affordable , but there’s widespread agreement that it’s a failure that could be making things worse.