Homework

If you didn't see Frontline last night -- and chances are you didn't -- go watch the whole episode here.

Then read this Times piece on the brush-off Paul Volcker appears to be getting and note how eerily similar it is to the treatment Brooksley Born received in the aforementioned Frontline episode.

Next, consider the superficiality of this action by the White House in comparison to the actual problem of poorly regulated financial institutions.

Finally, let Nate Silver explain why this is all a big deal.

[We'll probably go into more depth over the Frontline thing later -- there are two absolutely riveting and dramatic moments in the episode that are certainly worthy of more discussion.]