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Susan Wachter, professor of financial management and real estate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business, gives a history lesson in the mortgage industry — this week's stars are "Fannie," "Freddie" and "Indy."

With an eye on the fast-growing Hispanic vote, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama addressed the League of United Latin American Citizens on Tuesday. Both presumptive presidential nominees spoke about immigration.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke called on Congress Tuesday to write new laws that would expand the Fed's role in preventing financial crises, such as the collapse of Bear Stearns last March. He also indicated the Fed may keep its discount window lending open to big financial firms longer.

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama address the League of United Latin American Citizens. Democrats aim to increase Hispanic turnout, while Republicans hope to build on the inroads George W. Bush made among Hispanic voters in 2004.

Searing temperatures are expected this week in most of California, spelling more risk for firefighters and for people laboring in agricultural fields. This summer, at least one farmworker has died due to heat exhaustion. California officials are trying to better enforce laws requiring growers to provide adequate water and shade.

It hasn't been lost on automakers that Americans are looking for cars that are reliable and affordable. In fact, car companies have been marketing their vehicles that way for decades, starting as far back as when Henry Ford's Model T hit the scene.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey says he's doing all he can to make sure the Justice Department recovers from months of scandal. Mukasey testified Wednesday for nearly three hours before the Senate Judiciary Committee, but Senators got few of the answers they were looking for.

Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki demanded this week that the U.S. set a timetable for withdrawing military forces. Kenneth Katzman, a senior analyst on Iraq policy for the Congressional Research Service, talks with Linda Wertheimer about the possibility of such an agreement.

The Senate has approved and sent to the White House a bitterly contested rewrite of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The bill overhauls disputed rules on secret government eavesdropping. It also shields phone companies from lawsuits for their role in the administration's warrantless eavesdropping program.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stock values are down again Friday. Investors are worried that the two home mortgage giants may collapse from the burden of homeowners defaulting on their mortgages. Already, the two companies have posted $11 billion in losses.