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President Barack Obama considers Tom Daschle's tax woes to be a "very serious" matter, but is confident the former Senate majority leader is the right person to head the Department of Health and Human Services. Daschle was to meet with the Senate Finance Committee Monday.

President Obama is expected to nominate Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire as his commerce secretary on Tuesday, White House officials confirmed, as Democrats described a deal over how to replace Gregg in the Senate.

The spate of nationwide layoffs continues. Companies announced cuts to more than 40,000 on Monday. Barry Ritholtz, CEO and director of equity research at Fusion IQ who writes about the economy at his blog, The Big Picture, says layoffs are likely to continue for some time to come.

There are indications that Democratic Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the choice to fill Hillary Clinton's vacated Senate seat. An official announcement is expected Friday from New York Gov. David Paterson. The Senate slot opened when Clinton became secretary of state.

The Illinois Senate began the impeachment trial of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich Monday morning, but Blagojevich had other plans. He was making the rounds of television talk shows, taking his message to the court of public opinion.

President Barack Obama is freezing all pending federal rules changes left by the Bush administration. He also froze salaries for White House staffers who make more than $100,000 a year. And because of some bungled wording during Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony, Chief Justice John Roberts re-administered the oath to Obama Wednesday.

Hillary Clinton has taken charge at the U.S. State Department. The secretary of State named George Mitchell to be a special envoy to the Middle East and Richard Holbrooke to be a representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales on Monday rejected critics' charges that he allowed the Justice Department to become politicized under his watch, telling NPR that he believes history will favorably judge his tenure. But he acknowledged having made mistakes.

Author John Updike, the relentless chronicler of postwar America, has died. He was 76. Updike is best known for his four Rabbit novels. Updike also contributed stories, essays, poems and book reviews to The New Yorker. David Remnick, the magazine's editor, talks to Renee Montagne about how Updike will be remembered.

The impeachment trial of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich begins Monday in the state Senate. Instead of going to the state capital to defend himself against charges that he has abused the power of his office, Blagojevich will be making the rounds to TV studios in New York. He's trying to salvage what's left of his flagging political career.