To the Point
The Super Committee, the Deficit and the Pentagon
Will the Super Committee achieve the debt reduction that eluded the President and Speaker Boehner? Also, a West Wing shake-up, and a brush with a "potentially hazardous asteroid."
By Warren Olney • • 50m ListenThe so-called Super Committee has just over two weeks to complete a monumental reduction of America's deficit over the next 10 years. Will it achieve the "Grand Bargain" that eluded the President and House Speaker John Boehner? What if it fails? Also, a West Wing shake-up aims to right course ahead of re-election campaign, and YU55, a 1300-foot-long asteroid that will pass closer to Earth than the Moon tonight.
Banner image: (L-R) Naval Chief of Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos testify before the House Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill November 2, 2011 in Washington, DC about the future of the military services and the possible consequences of a massive cut in defense spending if the Congressional deficit reduction "Super Committee" fails to reach an agreement before November 23. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
In this episode
3 storiesWest Wing Shake-up Aims to Right Course Ahead of Re-Election Campaign
There's been a major shakeup at the Obama White House. Chief of Staff William Daley has shifted day-to-day operations to a veteran Congressional staffer, Pete Rouse. Ezra Klein reports for the Washington Post .
Read the story8 minWhat if the Super Committee Fails?
When six members of each party came out from behind closed doors last week, it appeared their Super Committee was deadlocked over spending cuts and taxes. Both sides want to reduce the deficit, but the deadline is just over two weeks away.
Read the story36 minHuge Asteroid Makes Earth Fly-By
About four football fields across, the asteroid YU55 might not be big enough to eliminate civilization, but if it struck Earth it could leave a crater six miles wide, which could turn in to a bubbling cauldron and spew enough dust to cool temperatures for years to come. Astronomers, who've been tracking it for six years, say that won't happen.
Read the story7 min
