6 chapters across the catalog
White House Staff Departures and Peter Orszag's Wedding
High-level departures from the Obama administration are discussed, including Rahm Emanuel, David Axelrod, and Lawrence Summers. Former budget director Peter Orszag was reportedly snubbed by White House colleagues who canceled their attendance at his wedding following his public support for extending the Bush tax cuts.
White House Resignations, Christina Romer and Peter Orszag
The hosts discuss the departures of key Obama administration figures, including economic advisor Christina Romer and budget director Peter Orszag. They criticize Romer for her failed unemployment projections and Orszag for his ties to the Council on Foreign Relations. The segment highlights the lack of private-sector experience among the administration's top officials.
Iceland Bank Collapse, IMF Squeeze and Peter Orszag
Iceland is facing extreme pressure from the IMF, the UK, and the Netherlands to repay billions of euros following its bank collapse. The repayment terms amount to 80% of the country's GNP, a debt the hosts argue is impossible to satisfy. They note that Peter Orszag, the current U.S. Budget Director, previously served as a consultant to the Icelandic government during the crisis.
Global War on Terror Name Change, Overseas Contingency Operations
The Obama administration has officially moved to retire the phrase "Global War on Terror" in favor of "Overseas Contingency Operations." A memo circulated within the Pentagon instructs staff to avoid terms like "Long War" to describe military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Budget Director Peter Orszag utilized the new terminology during recent fiscal briefings.
Peter Orszag, Budget Directives and Iceland Consulting
Peter Orszag, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is scrutinized for his extensive professional documentation and his past role as a consultant to the Central Bank of Iceland. Orszag has issued highly detailed directives regarding the formatting of transparency reports for the stimulus package.
Peter Orszag, Central Bank of Iceland, White House Transparency
Peter Orszag, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, is scrutinized for his previous role as an advisor to the Central Bank of Iceland prior to its economic collapse. His memo regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is critiqued for its use of vague language like "reasonable" and "mitigated" regarding fraud and waste.
