The week ahead with Marcus Mabry and James Surowiecki

It’s Monday, which means it is time to take a look at the week ahead. For their educated guesses as to what is on the agenda for the week is James Surowiecki, The Balance Sheet writer for The New Yorker, and Marcus Mabry, international business editor for the New York Times.

What’s on this week’s agenda?

Monday: GM chief expected to step down

? The chairman and chief executive of General Motors Corp. of eight years, Rick Wagoner, is resigning.
? Wagoner’s unexpected move is part of an agreement made by GM with the Obama administration.
? We’ll learn more about the strings of President Obama’s auto bailout plan in a speech by the president Monday morning.
? More: G.M. Chief Is Said to Be Resigning in Deal With U.S. (The New York Times)
? More: GM chairman to leave US car maker (BBC)

Monday: President Obama’s auto team is expected to offer aid to GM and Chrysler

? The president’s task force on the auto industry is expected to back increasing short-term aid to General Motors and Chrysler in return for concessions that would help the companies survive the economic downturn.
? More: With a Busy Agenda, Obama Turns to Auto Bailout Plan (The New York Times)
? More: Auto Task Force Set to Back More Loans — With Strings (The Wall Street Journal)

Tuesday: Election Tuesday symbolizes judgment on president

? Tuesday’s election for the successor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., pits Republican Jim Tedisco against Democrat Scott Murphy who has the backing of President Obama
? Leaders say the selection will be a judgment on the president, stimulus plan and strength of the political parties
? More: NY House race seen as first test of Obama’s power (The Associated Press)

Tuesday?Thursday: President Obama and the First Lady begin their first overseas tour

? Mr. Obama will meet with Chinese leader Hu Jintao, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, British Queen Elizabeth II, and heads of state from Saudi Arabia, India and South Korea.
? President Obama will seek support for his new Afghanistan-Pakistan plan from European nations and deal with the issue of Iranian nuclear ambitions. ? The president will also seek to maintain Chinese support for purchasing U.S. government debt and ease tensions with Russia over energy and missile defense.
? He will also be seeking help to enlist Iran in the U.S. effort to stabilize Afghanistan and Pakistan.
? President Obama will be attending the G-20 summit, as well as a 60th anniversary summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and a European Union-U.S. summit.
?More: Regulation Goals Replace Stimulus Push (Wall Street Journal)
? More: Barack Obama: ‘Every decision we’re making counts’ (The Telegraph)