Imagine an eBay auction for $20 billion. That's what the Federal Reserve conducted this week to pump cash into our struggling financial system. Banks gobbled the money up at a high penalty rate of 4.65%. Jill Barshay reports.
Six months ago the biggest issue in the presidential campaign was Iraq. Now, it's the economy. Kai Ryssdal speaks with Matthew Yglesias, an associate editor at Atlantic Monthly magazine, about the campaigns' shift to pocketbook issues.
TV and movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer has signed on with MTV to produce video games. The network is pouring $500 million into interactive entertainment and hoping the action-flick mogul can get things moving. Jeremy Hobson reports.
One of the most pernicious viruses to hit computers this year is called Storm Worm. And it's got e-commerce in its DNA. Ed Skoudis, who tracks bugs like these for a living, explains how this pest wreaks havoc.
While most Americans seem to be riding out the credit crunch, a large number are struggling to stay afloat. Steve Tripoli reports on the people increasingly swamped by a second wave of debt distress.
Nearly 5 million pint-size primpers hit spas every year in this country. And the budding self-indulgent set is also hoping for spa toys under the Christmas tree. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports.
Time Magazine announced its Person of the Year today: Russian President Vladimir Putin. The magazine says Putin has put his country back on the map. Commentator David Frum agrees, but he says Putin is driving Russia to a dangerous place.
Christmas tree farmers in Denmark have been accused of engaging in price fixing. Kai Ryssdal called one to get his reaction. But there wasn't a whole lot of yuletide spirit in the response.
