In the Headlines

"Talks Implode During a Day of Chaos; Fate of Bailout Plan Remains Unresolved" (David Herszenhorn, Carl Hulse and Sheryl Stolberg, New York Times) - The day began with an agreement that Washington hoped would end the financial crisis that has gripped the nation. It dissolved into a verbal brawl in the Cabinet Room of the White House, urgent warnings from the president and pleas from a Treasury secretary who knelt before the House speaker and appealed for her support.

"Crisis Likely to Alter Planned Foreign-Policy Debate" (Nick Timiraos, Wall Street Journal) - The financial crisis could broaden the focus of Friday's presidential debate -- if it goes as planned -- beyond foreign policy to issues of U.S. financial security. Both campaigns are readying for possible questions about the country's debt, the role of sovereign-wealth funds and trade policy.

"Obama, McCain aren't worlds apart on foreign policy" (Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times) - Even as they campaign on their differences, John McCain and Barack Obama have been quietly recalibrating their messages on foreign policy in ways that often have moved them closer to the political center -- and to each other.

"In a first, Palin takes press questions" (Kenneth Vogel, The Politico) - Sarah Palin fielded four questions from a small group of reporters Thursday after touring several Sept. 11-related sites, articulating a forceful approach to the war on terror but offering mostly evasive answers to specific questions.

On the Morning Shows

Fox and Friends - Joe Lieberman: "John McCain wants to go to the debate tonight, but he believes his first responsibility as a senator also as an American leader -- potential president -- is to be here trying to put this together."

Good Morning America - Nancy Pelosi: "We're making progress, we're still working on the legislation, we hope to work with deliberate speed and pass it soon. I think Sen. McCain's involvement is sort of a blip. I think the meeting was disruptive of the negotiations that were going on."

Today - Lindsey Graham: "A group of Democrats had a meeting and a press conference I wasn't aware of saying there was an agreement. McCain's leadership is to try to stop yelling at each other, announcing bills that don't exist, try to create organization from chaos. We won't get there by press conferences that aren't checked with other people before they give them."

Bill Richardson: "Sen. McCain has not suspended his campaign. There are still rallies, photo ops, etc. McCain injected himself into something he wasn't a part of. What we have right now is total chaos by injecting Presidential politics."

(Greg Bobrinskoy contributed to the Morning Report.)