This week's show comes from Brussels, where Gordon Brown attended the
European summit.
We discuss whether the prime minister is the hero of the hour after Paul Krugman, the Nobel prize winning economist, opened a New York Times article with the words: "Has Gordon Brown saved the world financial system?"
We also discuss the US presidential election after the third and final debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.
And we ask what is left of the government's counter-terrorism bill after Gordon Brown abandoned his parliamentary battle to allow police to detain terror suspects without charge for up to 42 days. Ministers announced the climbdown after the House of Lords overwhelmingly rejected the measure.
Joining Nick around the table in Brussels is Jacki Davis, the director of communications at the European Policy Centre. Jacki says Gordon Brown has changed from Mr Grumpy to Mr Happy.
Ian Traynor, the Guardian's Europe editor, says Brown is in the driving seat as the world works out its response to the financial crisis. But Ian says that as that turns into a broader economic crisis his smile is likely to fade.
Aditya Chakrabortty, the Guardian's economics leader writer, joins us from London. Aditya agrees with Ian and says that the sharp rise in the number of unemployed shows the challenge the prime minister will soon be facing.
We also hear from Simon Hoggart, the Guardian's parliamentary sketchwriter, who gives us his take on this week's session of prime minister's questions. With Gordon Brown absent in Brussels, Harriet Harman faced William Hague across the dispatch box.
From Washington, Guardian journalist Richard Adams describes the final presidential debate which took place on Wednesday night on Long Island.
And finally we hear from David Davis, the former shadow home secretary, who tells us of his delight after peers rejected the 42-days plan.
