NPR: Listen Up: More Questions Answered Here

Listen Up: More Questions Answered Here

Filed under: What I Didn't Understand Today

Street vendor Son Luom hangs a $100 bill beach towel from her stand just outside the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Click for answers.

Here's the next installment of our podcast, in which Adam Davidson tackles questions from you, the listening public. Mike Pesca sat in -- don't miss the part where he asks Adam how a person voting on the economy could choose between John McCain and Barack Obama.

If we didn't catch your question in this round, check back with us. A few came in after we'd recorded this edition. One question, though, I'll edit and then turn over to the crowd. It's from Polly. Maybe you can help:

Regarding investing in CDs at Washington Mutual: While the principal amount should be safe if WaMu fails, it's my understanding that the FDIC often decreases CD interest rates since failing banks often offer above market rates as they desperately try raise capital.

Ideas, anyone?

Download the podcast here; subscribe here.

Laura Conaway

5:46 PM ET | 09-16-2008 | permalink

comments | | e-mail

Comments

View all comments »

Add a Comment

Please note that all comments must adhere to the NPR.org discussion rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.

Starting with the first US company to delcare itself in trouble, I'd like to know is where did all their money go? Or was it all just a shell game...robbing Peter to pay Paul? Who eventually ends up with all the money that's been made by these companies? Fannie may and the like

Sent by Jane Popp | 6:22 PM ET | 09-16-2008

Thanks dudes. I feel a little better.

Sent by RR Anderson | 6:45 PM ET | 09-16-2008

I wonder if the SEC Chair's apparent lack of effective policing action and reluctance to solve what problems over which the SEC has authority is part of a Republican agenda to dismantle regulatory agencies by delivering incompetence

Sent by Judy Erickson | 7:37 PM ET | 09-16-2008

Thanks for the answer. This is a great service for your listeners!

Sent by Kay | 8:40 PM ET | 09-16-2008

This is probably more than could be reasonably answered during your podcast - which is so welcome - but I do not fully understand the connection between excessively lax mortgage lending (i.e. the subprime exhuberance), securitization and CDOs, the so-called 'credit crunch', and then the downward spiral from Bear Stearns (why so critical to the financial system whereas evidently Lehman was not) to Freddie & Fannie (no subprime here so why the bailout?) to Merrill (why not as perilous a spiral as Lehman) and now AIG. Could you please connect perhaps a few of these dots? Thanks!!!

Sent by M. Desai | 12:44 AM ET | 09-17-2008

I'd like something explained: My question may sound like a challenge or commentary but honestly, I'm just confused. Is there any reason the administration is balking at the idea of capping "golden parachutes" beyond protecting special interests? What would be their economic explanation for being opposed to that? Or the economic interest in opposing judges working to prevent foreclosures?

Sent by L. Drilias | 1:55 PM ET | 09-23-2008

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
Please send me updates from NPR.	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

E-mail |
Print

Planet Money Stories

more stories »

About Planet Money

Planet Money is a multimedia team covering the global economy. You can follow us on this blog and on Twitter. You can also e-mail us directly and/or join our Facebook group. For more information, see our Frequently Asked Questions and rules for discussion.