A U.S. offensive in Afghanistan. Al Franken heads to the Senate. Mark Sanford keeps talking. And unemployment keeps rising. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Iranian crackdown. Health care politics in high gear. And the South Carolina governor’s Argentine affair. Our weekly news roundtable unpacks the headlines.

Big banks bolt TARP. CEOs get a pay czar. Iran goes to the polls. And a deadly shooting in Washington. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Obama in Egypt. GM in bankruptcy. And a French airliner goes down. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Democrats defy Obama on Guantanamo. The president speaks. Detroit emissions get a haircut. Iran tests a missile. It’s the weekly news roundtable.

Obama puts the brakes on photos of abuse. Health care and Wall Street get wake-up calls. An Afghan commander gets the boot. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The New York Times’ David Leonhardt on the economy. The Washington Post’s Perry Bacon on politics. And Jack Beatty on it all.

Pandemic fever. Arlen Specter joins the Democrats. Chrysler in bankruptcy. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The torture debate grows red hot. The Taliban advance in Pakistan. Craigslist under fire. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Torture memos released. President Obama travels to Mexico and the Summit of the Americas. Somali pirates vow revenge. And the economy sends mixed signals. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Earthquake in Italy. The president, all over. Gay marriage rolls on. And Somali pirates take an American hostage. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The G-20 speaks. Detroit gets an ultimatum. North Korea fuels up for launch. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The President spells out his Afghan plan. Geithner rolls out new regs. Wrangling over the budget. Hillary Clinton talks drugs in Mexico. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Bonus fever. The Fed prints a trillion dollars. The pope disses condoms in Africa. Our news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Madoff pleads guilty, Chinese gunboats on the high seas, and Obama signs a big spending bill — with earmarks. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The White House moves on health and housing, Hillary Clinton hits the Mid-East, and Rush Limbaugh fires up the GOP.

Obama sets his course and delivers his budget. The stock market staggers. And North Korea talks of a “satellite” launch. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

The president signs the stimulus, automakers face the music, and Hillary Clinton goes to Asia. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Congress makes a deal on the stimulus. Bankers take the hot seat. The Taliban shoots up the Afghan capital. Our news roundtable goes behind the headlines.

Obama moves on executive pay, the Senate faces the stimulus, Iran launches a satellite. Our weekly news roundtable goes behind the headlines.