2009 NOVEMBER
Nov. 13, 2009

Shields and Brooks Gauge 9/11 Trials, Afghan Troop Decision
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks break down the top political headlines of the past week, including Justice Department plans to try five Guantanamo Bay detainees in federal court in New York, and President Obama's Afghan strategy review.

  

Nov. 13, 2009

Holder: 9/11 Trials Will Weigh 'Crime of the Century'
In an interview with Jim Lehrer, Attorney General Eric Holder discusses the decision to prosecute the alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees in civilian federal court in New York, calling the stakes "enormous."

  

Nov. 13, 2009

Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Among Detainees to Face Trial in N.Y.
The Justice Department on Friday announced plans to try suspected 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees, in federal court. Ray Suarez reports.

  

Nov. 13, 2009

Reid Aims to Begin Senate Health Care Debate Next Week
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is aiming to bring a health care reform bill to the Senate floor next week, but several obstacles remain. NewsHour health correspondent Betty Ann Bowser discusses the week's health reform news.

Nov. 13, 2009

Mideast Political Uncertainty Stymies Peace Process
Barack Obama's first call made as president to a foreign leader went to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He told the beleaguered leader that he was firmly committed to working for Middle East peace, and that he saw Abbas as his partner.

Nov. 13, 2009

Obama Seeks to Reinforce Key Alliances on Asian Tour
President Barack Obama arrived in Japan on Friday at the start of his weeklong tour of key allied Asian nations. His visit is aimed at strengthening allegiances and tackling climate change, Afghanistan and the global economy.

Nov. 13, 2009

Holder: 9/11 Suspects 'Must Face Ultimate Justice'
The five men accused of plotting the Sept. 11 attacks, including the alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, will stand trial in a civilian federal court in New York City, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced Friday.

Nov. 12, 2009

The Overload Factor: Is President Obama Too Busy?
As President Obama departs for Asia, he leaves a full menu of unfinished business at home: two wars to manage, a struggling economy and his push for health care reform, to name a few. Jim Lehrer speaks to a panel of experts about the so-called "overload factor" for presidents.

  

Nov. 12, 2009

10 Years After Independence, East Timor Still Rebuilding
Special correspondent Kira Kay examines East Timor's ongoing effort to rebuild itself, 10 years after winning independence from Indonesia. The report is part of the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting's Fragile States project, a partnership with the Bureau of International Reporting.

  

Nov. 12, 2009

Competing Philosophies Emerge in Review of Afghan Strategy
President Obama has ordered his top advisers to revise the Afghan war options they presented him. That word came after the top U.S. diplomat in Afghanistan warned against sending large new numbers of troops. Judy Woodruff talks to a reporter for more.

  

Nov. 12, 2009

Cost Estimates Prove Key to Health Reform Debate
This week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is waiting to hear back from one of the most influential yet least well-known figures in this year's health care reform debate: Douglas Elmendorf, the director of the Congressional Budget Office.

Nov. 12, 2009

Home Foreclosures, New Jobless Claims Decline
Foreclosure numbers dropped for the third straight month in October, and new claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to figures released Thursday.

Nov. 11, 2009

Other News: Europe Marks Armistice Day
In other news, leaders across Europe commemorated the 91st anniversary of the end of World War I, and 11 people died in a pair of attacks in northwestern Pakistan.

  

Nov. 11, 2009

With Afghan Decision Looming, Obama Honors Veterans
Just days after the deadly shooting at Fort Hood, President Barack Obama marked Veterans Day with an address at Arlington National Cemetery. Hours later, he met with military advisers to discuss a new strategy for Afghanistan. Kwame Holman reports.

  

Nov. 11, 2009

On Veterans Day, Obama Faces Afghan Decision
On the day that veterans around the country are honored for their service, President Barack Obama is set to meet with his top military advisers to continue discussions about the possibility of sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Nov. 10, 2009

Counting the Costs of Health Care Reform
Can health care reform change the system and cut costs? Judy Woodruff gets one take from Gail Wilensky, a former administrator of the federal Medicare program.

  

Nov. 10, 2009

Premiums 'Will Go Down' Under Health Bill, Orszag Says
In an interview with Judy Woodruff, Peter Orszag, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, outlines how health care reform will reduce medical costs.

  

Nov. 10, 2009

News Wrap: White House Disputes Reports of Afghan Troop Surge
In other news, White House officials insisted President Obama has not decided how many more troops to send to Afghanistan, and a suicide car bombing in Pakistan killed at least 24 people.

  

Nov. 10, 2009

Competing Senate, House Financial Reform Bills Differ Over Fed's Role
Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, D-Conn., unveiled legislation Tuesday that would dramatically reform how U.S. banks are regulated. The bill differs from legislation moving through the House of Representatives on several key issues.

Nov. 10, 2009

Jailed Hikers Caught in Tensions Between U.S. and Iran
Three U.S. hikers, captured in Iran, are at the center of a war of words this week, with initial reports suggesting they would be charged with espionage, but subsequent statements saying they would be prosecuted for entering the country illegally.

Nov. 9, 2009

Berlin Remembers Fall of Wall 20 Years Later
On the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Germans celebrated the event that came to symbolize the end of the Cold War. Jeffrey Brown reports.

  

Nov. 9, 2009

Extended Interview with Karzai: 'We Do What Is Right' for Afghanistan
In an exclusive interview with Margaret Warner, Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledges there is corruption at different levels of government, but says the country is working to address it and that the international community must respect the decisions of the Afghan courts.

Nov. 9, 2009

Karzai on Firing Corrupt Officials: 'We Have and We Will'
In an exclusive interview with Margaret Warner, Afghan President Hamid Karzai discusses ending corruption in his country, his views on President Obama's rethinking of military strategy in the region, and more.

  

Nov. 9, 2009

News Wrap: G-20 Stimulus Pledge Boosts Markets
In other news, the Dow Jones industrial average closed at a 13-month high after G-20 nations pledged to continue stimulus efforts, and Iraq set a date for national elections.

  

Nov. 9, 2009

Battle Lines Emerge in Senate Over Health Care Reform
After narrowly passing the House late Saturday, the focus of the health care reform push now moves to the Senate, where a range of issues, including the public option, and how the bill treats abortion, may prove contentious topics of debate.

  

Nov. 9, 2009

Abortion Opponents, Advocates Look to Senate
Abortion opponents scored a victory Saturday night as the House passed a health care reform bill that includes strong anti-abortion language. Two advocates give their take on the bill and what comes next as the focus shifts to the Senate.

Nov. 9, 2009

20 Years After Fall of Berlin Wall, Some Iron Curtain Divisions Remain
Twenty years ago, the Berlin Wall came down, signaling the demise of the Cold War. As world leaders gathered to mark the historic event at Brandenburg Gate on Monday, a historian, pollster and German correspondent discussed what the events meant.

Nov. 7, 2009

House Opens Floor Debate on Health Reform Legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives began its floor debate of a sweeping health care reform bill Saturday, as President Obama traveled to Capitol Hill to rally Democratic lawmakers to the cause.

Nov. 6, 2009

Shields, Brooks Examine GOP's 'Morale Boost'
Columnists Mark Shields and David Brooks sort through the week's news, including impending health care legislation and a worsening job market.

  

Nov. 6, 2009

Karzai Faces Western Pressure to Stamp Out Corruption
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned Afghan President Hamid Karzai that the Afghanistan government must wipe out corruption. Margaret Warner reports from Kabul.

  

Nov. 6, 2009

Democrats' Health Bill Nears House Vote
Betty Ann Bowser speaks with key policymakers about the ongoing health care debate surrounding House Democrats' new reform proposal.

  

Nov. 6, 2009

House Health Care Vote Could Be Delayed Past Saturday
House Democratic Leaders worked Friday to line up enough votes to pass a sweeping health care reform measure, but it seemed possible the vote might be delayed past House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Saturday deadline.

Nov. 6, 2009

Political Pact in Honduras Appears to Fall Apart
A U.S.-brokered deal meant to mend the political crisis in Honduras by forming a unity government has fallen apart, ousted President Manuel Zelaya said Friday.

Nov. 5, 2009

U.N. Exits Afghanistan Following Deadly Suicide Bombing
In Afghanistan, the U.N. announced that it is pulling back 600 employees after a deadly attack on staff. Margaret Warner has more from Kabul.

  

Nov. 5, 2009

Endorsements, Protests Mark Health Care Debate
House Democrats' health reform plan received AARP's backing Thursday, but thousands of protesters rallied against the plan on Capitol Hill. Kwame Holman reports.

  

Nov. 5, 2009

Obama Expected to Sign Extended Unemployment Benefits, Homebuyer Credit
The House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to extend aid to jobless workers and offer tax breaks to homebuyers. President Obama was expected to sign the measure on Friday. Ray Suarez reports.

  

Nov. 5, 2009

Other News: Stocks Rally on Falling Jobless Claims
In other news, falling weekly jobless claims contributed to a Wall Street rally, and there are new warning signs that the U.S. might be facing a shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine.

  

Nov. 5, 2009

Health Reform Bill Picks Up Endorsements as House Nears Vote
With the U.S. House of Representatives nearing a vote on a sweeping bid to overhaul the nation's health care system, Democrats secured endorsements from two key groups Thursday while opponents rallied against the bill at the U.S. Capitol.

Nov. 5, 2009

Aid for Jobless, Homebuyers Clears Congress
Congress has passed legislation that would expand a popular homebuyer's tax credit and extend unemployment benefits in a bid to breathe more life into the struggling American economy.

Nov. 4, 2009

TV, Radio Talkers Shaping Political Discourse in U.S.
Jeffrey Brown examines the impact of television and radio talk show hosts and how they affect the way Americans think about politics.

  

Nov. 4, 2009

Abdullah Calls for Legitimacy in Afghan Government
Former Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah spoke with Margaret Warner in Kabul Wednesday to discuss his decision to drop out of the runoff election and allegations of electoral fraud shrouding President Hamid Karzai's new term.

  

Nov. 4, 2009

Taliban Link Explored in British Troop Deaths
Nick Paton Walsh of Independent Television News reports on a fatal attack in Afghanistan against British soldiers patrolling Helmand Province.

  

Nov. 4, 2009

Other News: Iranian Protesters Clash With Police
In other news, thousands of Iranian protesters clashed with police in the streets of Tehran on the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover, and the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether prosecutors can be sued for damages.

  

Nov. 4, 2009

GOP Touts Different Sort of 'Change' in Va., N.J. Wins
Judy Woodruff speaks with Amy Walter, editor of The Hotline, and Stuart Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Report, about the political implications of Tuesday's gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia.

  

Nov. 4, 2009

Maine Gay Marriage Repeal Draws Mixed Reaction
Voters in Maine on Tuesday dealt another defeat to gay-rights advocates after voting to repeal a new state law allowing same-sex marriage.

Nov. 4, 2009

U.K. Health Secretary: British, American Systems Can Learn From Each Other
In the past few months, American politicians and press have portrayed Britain's National Health Service in two very different lights: as an example of effective universal health care and, on the other hand, as a morass of long lines and rationing.

Nov. 4, 2009

Iranian Protesters Clash on Anniversary of U.S. Embassy Takeover
Thousands of Iranians rallied outside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran Wednesday to mark 30 years since Iranian students took over the compound and held dozens of Americans hostage. Opposition supporters also briefly staged their own protests.

Nov. 4, 2009

GOP Scores Key Victories in N.J., Va. Governor Races
Republican Chris Christie is projected to defeat incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in a hard-fought New Jersey contest, the Associated Press reported, marking the second key gubernatorial victory for the GOP Tuesday night.

Nov. 4, 2009

GM Reversal on Opel Deal Rankles German Officials
In a surprise reversal that has left politicians across Germany fuming, General Motors' board has voted to abandon a deal to sell its European operations to car-parts supplier Magna International Inc. and Russian bank Sberbank.

Nov. 4, 2009

GOP Says Election Wins Show Rebirth
The Republican Party trumpeted wins in both the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections Tuesday as signs of the party's resurgence just a year after Barack Obama and the Democrats dominated the 2008 elections.