Topic: Asset Freeze

The U.S. government froze $33 billion in Libyan assets, a figure that coincidentally matches the $33 billion in budget cuts recently announced by Vice President Joe Biden and John Boehner. Additionally, the hosts note that President Obama's national address was scheduled at 7:30 PM to avoid conflicting with ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," illustrating the priority of entertainment over statecraft.

Following Hosni Mubarak's resignation, reports surfaced that Switzerland had frozen his bank accounts, though critics suggest his wealth is actually held in UK-based hedge funds and real estate. The Swiss government's announcement is viewed as propaganda to maintain the appearance of banking integrity. Meanwhile, media coverage in Egypt shifted from reporting on riots to showing protesters cleaning Tahrir Square to provide a positive "real-time" conclusion for television audiences.