Washington

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson let it be known today that the White House has decided to consider letting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy up jumbo loans, something it's been opposed to. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke added it better happen soon. Steve Tripoli reports.

Michael Mukasey, the president's nominee for attorney general, has been in a private law practice the last year where he helped pick up new clients needing white-collar criminal defense -- such as subprime lenders who might have run afoul of the law. Steve Henn reports.

Fed chief Ben Bernanke spoke to the Bundesbank in Berlin today. We were all ready for a statement, but he uttered not a word about the little financial crisis we're having.

Next week, lawmakers will be voting on a wide array of budget bills. Odds are President Bush will veto anything he thinks spends too much or that hints of a tax increase. But to succeed, says commentator Jeff Birnbaum, he'll need a little help from his friends.

Lawmakers will hold hearings later this month into why so many tainted Chinese imports have been showing up on store shelves. Mattel CEO Bob Eckert and a government agency will be on the hot seat. Janet Babin reports.

Critics say mining companies are sacrificing safety to get every last lump of coal out of the ground. Jeremy Hobson reports that demand and prices for coal are up, giving companies incentive to mine every inch they can.

Congress returns from recess this week. First up: what to do about the mortgage meltdown and ensuing credit market crisis. Some worry that lawmakers will be too generous with taxpayer money in the fix. Steve Tripoli reports.

When Congress returns after the Labor Day holiday, it will debate re-authorizing a program to help U.S. workers who lose their jobs due to imports or off-shoring. But a new proposal could damage the middle class, says commentator Beth Shulman.

President Bush rolls out a rescue plan for homeowners facing foreclosure when their adjustable-rate mortgages adjust too far. Is it too little, too late? John Dimsdale reports on potential bailouts for lenders and borrowers.

The U.S. Army is launching a major investigation into fraud reports in all those private contracts awarded for military operations in Iraq. With 18,000 contracts in four years, they'll be plenty busy. John Dimsdale reports.