2009 JULY
July 3, 2009

Palin Resignation, Minnesota Senate Election Resolution Top Week's News
Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson mull Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's surprise resignation announcement and the Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling that Democrat Al Franken defeated Republican Norm Coleman for a U.S. Senate seat.

  

JUNE
June 26, 2009

Climate Bill, Sanford's Future Top Week's Political News
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks examine developments in the landmark climate change legislation before Congress, as well as the fallout from S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford's admission to an extramarital affair.

  

June 19, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull U.S. Response to Iran
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the Obama administration's response to political turmoil in Iran and new plans to overhaul the financial regulation system.

  

June 12, 2009

Shields, Brooks Mull Health Reform, Palin's Role in GOP
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the chances for health care reform to clear Congress this year, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's role in the GOP and the significance of the Virginia governor's race.

  

June 5, 2009

Obama's Cairo Speech, Sotomayor Top Week's News
David Brooks and Ruth Marcus discuss the news of the week, including President Obama's speech on U.S.-Muslim ties, Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court bid and GM's bankruptcy plan.

  

MAY
May 22, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Security Debate, Supreme Court Fight
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the impact of President Obama and former Vice President Cheney's security policy speeches and the buildup to the president's announcement of a Supreme Court pick.

  

May 15, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Torture Flap, Cheney's Reemergence
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the top news of the week, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's comments on torture tactics and former Vice President Dick Cheney's remarks on policy direction.

  

May 8, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Economic Expectations, Afghan Policy
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks examine the outcome of the banking stress test results, U.S. policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan and remember the life of Jack Kemp.

  

May 1, 2009

Brewing Court Battle, Specter's Switch Top Week's News
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks mull the implications of Supreme Court Justice David Souter's retirement and Sen. Arlen Specter's decision to join the Democratic Party.

  

APRIL
April 24, 2009

Shields, Brooks Mull Torture Memos, Obama's Leadership
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the Obama administration's decision to release Bush-era memos on interrogation tactics and the shape of the president's first 100 days in office.

  

April 17, 2009

CIA Interrogation Memos, U.S.-Cuba Relations Top Week's News
Columnists Ruth Marcus and Michael Gerson discuss the week's news, including the release of memos detailing CIA interrogation methods and the possibility of the U.S. and Cuba holding new talks.

  

April 10, 2009

Military Budget Changes, Same-sex Marriage Top Week's News
Columnist Mark Shields and editor Rich Lowry analyze the week's political news, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates' military budget priorities and two more states allowing same-sex couples to marry.

  

April 3, 2009

Shields and Brooks on Economy's Moves, Obama's Trip
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks weigh the news of the week, including what new unemployment numbers say about the economy, tough talk on the auto industry and President Obama's trip to Europe.

  

MARCH
March 27, 2009

Afghanistan Strategy, Budget Pitch Top Week's News
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks mull how President Barack Obama's budget blueprint is faring in Congress and discuss his strategy for growing resources and personnel in Afghanistan.

  

March 20, 2009

AIG Bonus Outrage, Deficit Complicate Obama Agenda
With Washington still railing against more than $160 million of bonuses at insurance giant AIG, Mark Shields and Byron York consider the impact of the furor and the new estimates of the growing federal deficit on President Obama's agenda.

  

March 13, 2009

Economic Strategy, Stem Cell Policy Top Week's News
Columnists Mark Shields and Michael Gerson weigh the news of the week, including President Barack Obama's approach on the economy, his decision to lift restrictions on stem cell research funding, and more.

  

March 6, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Obama's Agenda, Economy's Troubles
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks weigh the week's news, including February's spike in unemployment, President Barack Obama's priorities amid the economic crisis and the debate over the future of the GOP.

  

FEBRUARY
February 27, 2009

Shields and Brooks Weigh Obama's Troop, Budget Plans
Syndicated columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks examine President Obama's newly-announced plan to end the combat mission in Iraq and what the president's budget blueprint says about his administration's spending priorities.

  

February 20, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Economic Woes, Obama's Plans
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the week's news, including reaction to President Barack Obama's economic recovery efforts and what role the government should take in easing the financial crisis.

  

February 13, 2009

Stimulus Battle, Obama Cabinet Top Week's News
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks mull the political news of the week, including the battle in Congress over the stimulus bill and Sen. Judd Gregg's decision to drop his bid to become the Obama administration's commerce chief.

  

February 6, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Stimulus Debate, Obama's Next Policy Steps
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the tough debate on Capitol Hill over the stimulus bill, the tax trouble that ended Tom Daschle's Cabinet nomination and how President Obama is faring so far.

  

JANUARY
January 30, 2009

Shields and Brooks Weigh Illinois, RNC Actions
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks consider the Republican National Committee's selection of a new chairman and Illinois politics following the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

  

January 30, 2009

Shrinking GDP, Obama Task Force Cap Week's Economic News
There was more evidence Friday the recession is getting worse, a fact that President Obama and his economic team continued to confront. Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks mull Mr. Obama's approach.

  

January 23, 2009

Shields and Brooks Weigh Obama's First Week, Economy Plans
President Barack Obama wasted no time putting his stamp on key policy areas during his first few days in office -- including renewing a push for an economic stimulus plan. Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the moves.

  

January 16, 2009

Inauguration, Transition and Bush Farewell Top Week's Political News
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks look ahead to Inauguration Day, discuss Barack Obama's dinner with conservative columnists and analyze President Bush's attempts to shape a legacy.

  

January 9, 2009

Shields and Brooks Mull Obama's Intel Picks, Stimulus Plan
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks assess the week's news, including Obama's new intelligence team and his push to get a new economic stimulus package through Congress.

  

January 2, 2009

New Year Brings New Congress, Foreign Policy Challenges
Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne and National Review Editor Ramesh Ponnuru discuss President-elect Obama's mounting foreign policy concerns, the shape of the new Congress, and an emerging economic stimulus plan.

  

2008 DECEMBER
December 26, 2008

Shields, Gerson Reflect on Historic Year, Challenges Ahead
After a year that saw a global economic crisis develop and a historic presidential election take place, Mark Shields and Michael Gerson look back on 2008's news highlights and discuss what to expect in the year to come.

  

December 19, 2008

Shields and Brooks Examine Auto Plan, Blagojevich Case, Kennedy's Senate Bid
This week, the White House announced an aid package to keep the Big Three afloat, and Gov. Rod Blagojevich denied accusations of plotting to sell President-elect Obama's senate seat. Mark Shields and David Brooks offer their analysis.

  

December 12, 2008

Shields and Brooks Mull Auto Rescue, Blagojevich Scandal
Political news took a dramatic turn this week with the corruption charges levied against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Mark Shields and David Brooks mull the Blagojevich story and the debate over aid for automakers.

  

December 5, 2008

Economy's Stumbles, Obama's Cabinet Top Week's News
Columnists David Brooks and Ruth Marcus weigh the news of the week, including rising job losses, the auto industry bailout and President-elect Barack Obama's latest Cabinet picks.

  

NOVEMBER
November 28, 2008

Obama Tasked With Vetting Economic Policy Team's Competing Ideas
Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine President-elect Barack Obama's new economic team and the challenges he may face in evaluating their views on the financial crisis.

  

November 21, 2008

David Brooks and Ruth Marcus Discuss Obama's Cabinet Picks, Economy's Woes
David Brooks and Ruth Marcus weigh reports that President-elect Barack Obama plans to choose Sen. Hillary Clinton and Timothy Geithner, among others, for Cabinet posts and the search for solutions to the economic crisis.

  

November 14, 2008

Changes to Bailout Package, Obama Transition Top Week's News
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks assess the latest changes to the implementation of the $700 billion federal rescue plan, the Obama administration's ongoing transition process and other news of the week.

  

November 7, 2008

Shields and Brooks Probe Obama's Economic, Transition Plans
Following President-elect Barack Obama's first post-election news conference, columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks assess his plans for the economy and his selection for chief of staff.

  

OCTOBER
October 31, 2008

Shields, Brooks Reflect on Campaigns' Defining Moments
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks recap the week's economic and political news, and recall significant campaign twists and turns in their last analysis before Nov. 4.

  

October 24, 2008

Shields and Brooks Look at Election Strategy, Financial Crisis
Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks take a look at candidates' campaign strategies for the final stretch of the election season and the search for answers to the global financial crisis.

  

October 17, 2008

Economy Dominates Campaigning as Race Enters Final Stretch
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks evaluate the candidates' renewed focus on the economy and the likely strategies at play as the Obama and McCain campaigns enter the final stretch.

  

October 10, 2008

Market Meltdown, Tone on Campaign Trail Top the Week's News
Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review Senior Editor Ramesh Ponnuru discuss the presidential candidates' plans for the troubled economy and how voters are reacting as Election Day draws ever closer.

  

October 3, 2008

VP Debate, Battleground Strategies Top Campaign Headlines
This week, Congress pushed through a massive financial rescue plan and vice presidential hopefuls faced off in a key debate. Analysts Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks weigh all things politics.

  

SEPTEMBER
September 26, 2008

Shields, Brooks Weigh in on the Week's Dramatic Bailout Debate
It was a devastating week on Wall Street and a contentious one in Congress as politicians battled over bailout proposals. With the presidential candidates heading to the first debate, political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks reflect on the developments.

  

September 19, 2008

Wall Street Upheaveal Puts McCain, Obama to the Test
Wall Street's woes put the economy at the top of the campaign agendas of John McCain and Barack Obama this week as the two sought to shape their views on government regulation and other issues. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks examine reactions to the crisis.

  

September 12, 2008

Shields and Brooks Weigh Facts, Fiction in Campaign Ads
Recent campaign ads have been criticized by political fact checkers for distorting facts and spreading falsities. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the debate over truthfulness on the campaign trail.

  

September 5, 2008

Shields and Brooks Assess New Dynamics of '08 Race
With both national party conventions now complete, Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama hit the ground running as the race begins to Election Day. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the road ahead.

  

September 1, 2008

Shields and Brooks Weigh Impact of Subdued RNC on McCain Campaign
Hurricane Gustav's brush with New Orleans on the first scheduled day of the GOP convention has changed the dynamic of the event. Political analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the convention's abbreviated first day and what lies ahead in the coming week.

  

AUGUST
August 29, 2008

Shields and Brooks Reflect on Democrats' Big Week
With the Democratic convention now complete, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks offer insight on the strengths and weaknesses of Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field and on the roles Hillary and Bill Clinton played at the DNC.

  

August 29, 2008

Shields and Brooks Mull Road Ahead for McCain-Palin Ticket
Sen. John McCain's unexpected choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin stirred a flurry of speculation over the evolving dynamics of the 2008 presidential race. Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks assess the move.

  

August 22, 2008

Obama's Likely Running Mate, New Attack Ads Top Campaign News
Analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss the suspense over Sen. Barack Obama's announcement of his vice presidential running mate and the latest ad war between the Democrat and GOP rival Sen. John McCain.

  

August 15, 2008

Marcus and Lowry Weigh Reactions to Georgia Crisis
The Georgia-Russia conflict has put the foreign policy skills of Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama to the test. Analysts Ruth Marcus and Rich Lowry weigh the candidate responses and other political news of the week.

  

August 8, 2008

Shields and Brooks Mull GOP Retirements, Convention Plans
As an increasing number of GOP House members announce they will not run for re-election, analysts Mark Shields and David Brooks discuss possible power shifts in Congress and emerging plans for the party conventions.