For the past two weeks, our featured topic has been the U.S. Economy. The month of September has produced a financial crisis that the Wall Street Journal and many market observers have called the worst since the Great Depression. With elections just six weeks away, Barack Obama and John McCain have traded attacks on the economy, while Congress is rushing to pass legislation to protect homeowners and curb the market turmoil that brought down several major insurers and banks. Our members found a range of stories on the new challenges facing the economy and how the candidates plan to address them if elected. Here are some of our top stories.
News
On Wall Street as on Main Street, a Problem of Denial
New York Times (News Analysis)
No End in Sight to the Financial Crisis
Economist (News Analysis)
Worst Crisis Since '30s, with No End in Sight
Wall Street Journal (News Analysis)
New Architecture for the Financial World
Washington Post (News Analysis)
Senate Democrats Want Pay Limits, Equity in Bailout
Reuters (News Report)
Sorting Out the Truth on taxes
PolitiFact (News Analysis)
Bailout May Give Housing Market Some Breathing Room
L.A. Times (News Report)
Estimates Say Fed Budget Deficit Nearing $407B
Associated Press (News Report)
Nominees Ignore Credit Crunch
Washington Independent (News Report)
Financial Bailout: Who's Minding the Store?
Real Time Investigations (Special Report)
Opinion
Perhaps, Time to Play some Offense
New York Times (Opinion)
If You Like Michigan's Economy, You'll Love Obama's
Wall Street Journal (Opinion)
A Crisis that could make the U.S. Election a Cleaner Contest
The Independent (Opinion)
Fault Lines Expose Flimsy Foundations
Financial Times (Opinion)
Public Policy Matters After All
Columbia Journalism Review (Opinion)
Financial Rescues show that Faith in Free Market is Shaken
Washington Post (Opinion)
Effort to Contain Financial Crisis Failing
Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Opinion)
McCain Attacks Wall Street Greed--While 83 Wall Street Lobbyists Work for his Campaign
Mother Jones (Blog Post)
Heckuva Job, Bernake
The Nation (Opinion)
Amid a Painful Economic Meltdown, Will Obama be Bold Enough to Win?
AlterNet (Opinion)
This week: Foreign Policy
This week our featured topic is U.S. Foreign Policy. The first presidential debate between John McCain and Barack Obama will take place this Friday, and its focus is expected to be foreign policy. As the news media cover this charged topic, help us find the best journalism on how the candidates plan to approach U.S. relations with Russia, the Middle East, and China, among others. Get started by visiting our Foreign Policy topic page and reviewing or submitting some of our recommended stories.
– Derek Hawkins