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

Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors, with hats in hands.

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

A daily look of the issues, Americans care about most.

Backed by organized labor, the CEOs of the big three want a federal bailout,

but there's no consensus on how or whether to save them.

Democrats, Republicans, and the Bush White House may let Barack Obama pick up the pieces,

even though GM may go bankrupt before he takes office.

With CEOs and labor leaders marching on Capitol Hill will get a progress report,

we'll also learn about Joe Lieberman's punishment for supporting John McCain.

On reporter's notebook later on, pirates defy naval warships

and seize their biggest prize yet off the horn of Africa.

First, here's the news.

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

and from the Public Radio International Program Fund,

whose contributors include the Ford Foundation

and the John D. and Catherine T. McArthur Foundation.

Hello again, Warren Alney, back with

To the Point. The big three are launching a big push for a Washington bailout. If Democrats and Republicans

can't resolve their differences, though, will the auto industry still be in business when the White

House changes hands? We'll have that story today, and Democrats wrap Joe Lieberman's knuckles.

On reporter's notebook, a giant oil tanker has been

...