From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

Can Barack Obama follow the money?

Hello again, I'm Orin Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most, lawmakers in both parties are

outraged that the Bush administration lost track of $350 billion, the first half of last year's

massive financial bailout. Today, at Barack Obama's request, President Bush agreed to ask for the

second half, so Obama will have it as soon as he takes office next week. On To the point,

we'll hear how banks refuse to account for their use of taxpayer money, while there was no effort

to prevent mortgage foreclosures. What's Obama saying to assure Congress he can do better?

On reporter's notebook later on, the U.S. and Mexico, immigration and violent drug cartels. First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

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Foundation, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, dedicated to the idea that all people

deserve the chance to live a healthy, productive life. Information at Gates Foundation.org.

Hello again. Waman Alney, back with To the Point. The first half of last year's $700 billion

financial bailout was so badly handled

that Congress is reluctant to hand out the second half. If Barack Obama can't make the case that he can do better, he may suffer his first defeat before he's even in office.

On Reporters' Notebook, as Obama meets with Mexican President Calderon, will hear about the threat posed to the U.S. by increasingly violent drug cartels.

First, this news update. Bernard Madoff is accused of running a $50 billion investment fraud scheme,

and he's violated conditions of his release on $10 million bail. But a U.S. magistrate judge today

refused the government's request to imprison Madoff until his trial.

Diana Henriquez is the senior financial writer for the New York Times, and Diana, good to

...