Obama

President Obama will address a joint session of Congress Thursday, September 8 at 3:00pm Alaska time (7 PM ET) to talk about the economy and his jobs creation plan. KSKA: Thursday, 9/8 at 3:00 pm

President Obama has signed into law a deal to raise the debt ceiling, fending off a national default, which he warned could roil the markets and leave the U.S. without enough money to pay its bills.

With the debt-ceiling legislation signed into law Tuesday afternoon, the nation no longer needs to worry about defaultmageddon, at least not until early 2013. That's when the U.S. Treasury once again runs out of room to borrow again. Even though there wasn't a default this time, the partisan fight left plenty of wreckage lying about.

The rating agency said the debt ceiling agreement is a step in the right direction for the country and said the chances of a default on its debt remain "extremely low."

The votes still have to come but Sunday night President Obama announced an agreement between Republican and Democratic Congressional leaders. Just what the rank and file membership think will be revealed Monday morning.

Host Michel Martin interviews President Barack Obama about the Gang of Six's bipartisan debt-reduction plan, job stimulation, and which public programs he believes should be protected from spending cuts. Obama also comments on whether he thinks he has a special responsibility to look out for African-Americans' interests.

Congressional experts say there’s just one week left until politicians in Washington have to come up with a debt ceiling deal. It's actually two-and-a-half weeks when the U.S. will hit its debt limit, but the Congress needs the extra time to write up a plan and get it passed through the House and Senate.

Wednesday, there was a confirmation hearing for two Alaska women who have been appointed to federal judgeships by President Obama. The hearing went well but the appointments could still get snagged on national politics.

It pulls together top officials from agencies like Energy Department and the Environmental Protection Agency and will be led by Interior Department Deputy Secretary David Hayes.

The Obama Administration's new National Oceans Council had listening sessions earlier this month in Barrow.