This week’s agenda: U.S. credit rating, Obama bus tour, Verizon strike
Credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s downgraded the U.S.’s credit rating for the first time in history on Friday, causing jaws to drop across the country, and raising the blood-pressures of leaders worldwide as many held emergency meetings to fend off any backlash this news might create. President Obama will be preparing this week for his upcoming bus tour to reconnect with voters in the Midwest. Meanwhile, News Corp. will release their fourth quarter results on Wednesday, the PGA Championship kicks off on Thursday, and Dennis Rodman will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday. Charlie Herman, economics and business editor for The Takeaway and WNYC, looks at what lawmakers need do this week, as well as how much this downgrade will likely end up affecting consumer competence. Callie Crossley, host of The Callie Crossley Show on WGBH in Boston, talks about what the president needs to do this week before he heads out on this tour.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!