former Chief Economist, International Monetary Fund
Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and former chief economist for the International Monetary Fund
PROFILE
Raghuram Rajan
Guest
FROM Raghuram Rajan
To the Point
Lawmakers Announce Deal on Bailout Plan The White House, the candidates and the Congress are working together on a massive commitment of public money. Saying that the entire economy is in danger, President Bush told the nation last night that the failure to act now might lead to a panic. The pressure is on as Democrats and Republicans struggle to rescue Wall Street and reassure taxpayers at the same time. This afternoon, Congressional negotiators gave no details, but after hours behind closed doors they emerged to announce they've worked out a compromise. We hear what the latest polls show about public opinion. What's the difference between a "bailout" and an "investment?" With just five weeks left until election day, should John McCain and Barack Obama debate as scheduled tomorrow night?
To the Point
AIG's Global Reach, What's Next? Bear Stearns was bailed out , along with Freddie and Fannie , while Lehman Brothers was allowed to fail . But with a trillion dollars in assets, American International Group turns out to be big enough to threaten the global economy, moving the Federal Reserved to agree to what the New York Times calls "the most radical intervention in private business in the central bank's history." The insurance company does business all over the world, insuring cars, houses, retirement plans and companies, along with a lot of exotic financial instruments based on risky mortgages. Why does AIG qualify for $85 billion in American taxpayers' money? Will unprecedented government intervention ease the private financial crisis? Will other troubled companies be standing in line?
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To the Point
Ex-FBI Director Comey tells his side of the story Today, former FBI Director James Comey came close to calling the President who fired him a liar. The White House denied the claim and called it insulting, but Republican Senators did not challenge Comey’s truthfulness. Many questions remain: did the President try to obstruct a federal investigation? Later, we’ll go behind the “velvet rope” for a look at 5-Star health care for the richest Americans.
To the Point
White House budget proposal slashes and burns President Trump's first budget request is considered dead on arrival in Congress — a familiar development in Capitol Hill. We hear what it reveals about the priorities of the new administration. What's likely to die… and what might survive?
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 Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.