President Obama found himself before friendly crowds again -- he went to Europe. Why did he go there? Take our news quiz for the answer.
Here are some random but real hints: Sort of a "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down those missiles"; but he was so well-suited for the job; Karzai was upset; and it'll need to be the show-up-at-the-polls state. Answers are at the bottom of the quiz.
1. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned what Arizona law?
a. A requirement of proof of citizenship to register to vote
b. A proof of U.S. citizenship before being allowed to get a drivers license
c. Demonstration that residents owned property before being allowed to vote
d. A test of constitutional knowledge before being allowed to register to vote
2. In his speech at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate, President Obama called for what?
a. A united war effort in Syria
b. Reducing U.S. nuclear arsenals by one-third
c. Doubling Western green energy efforts by 2018
d. Inviting Russia to join NATO
3. What Sopranos actor passed away this week?
a. Steven Van Zandt
b. Steve Buscemi
c. James Gandolfini
d. Edie Falco
4. What company abruptly fired its founder and spokesman on Wednesday?
a. Papa Johns fired John Schnatter ("Better ingredients, better pizza")
b. Google fired Sergey Brin ("Don't be evil")
c. Huffington Post fired Arianna Huffington ("Write for my blog")
d. Men's Warehouse fired George Zimmer ("You're going to like the way you look; I guarantee it")
5. The United States announced -- and then put on hold -- peace talks with whom?
a. North Korea
b. al Qaeda
c. The Taliban
d. Edward Snowden
6. President Obama journeyed to Northern Ireland to attend what meeting?
a. TED Talks
b. The World Economic Forum
c. NATO
d. The Group of Eight summit
7. The mayor of what major Canadian city was arrested and charged with fraud?
a. Montreal
b. Toronto
c. Vancouver
d. Green Bay
8. Hillary Clinton hasn't even announced she's running for president yet, but she has already received the endorsement of whom?
a. Senator Dianne Feinstein
b. Senator Claire McCaskill
c. California Governor Jerry Brown
d. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker
9. What did the head of the National Security Agency tell members of Congress regarding its controversial surveillance programs?
a. They helped disrupt more than 50 possible terrorist attacks
b. He first heard about them when they were reported on MSNBC's Morning Joe
c. He never informed President Obama about their existence
d. He read them the contents of their private emails
10. Mass anti-government protests resulted in the president of what country canceling a trip to Japan?
a. Brazil
b. Turkey
c. Iran
d. United States
BONUS. Markets slumped this week after the U.S. Federal Reserve issued what news?
a. It urged everyone to buy gold
b. It was going to wind down its stimulus efforts
c. It was going to increase its stimulus efforts
d. It was concerned that American GDP would fall behind China's by 2018
The news and the quizzes don't stop there! Join us for our next live Week to Week political commentary program with a news quiz at The Commonwealth Club on July 26 in San Francisco, featuring Carla Marinucci, Debra J. Saunders, and Dr. Larry Gerston.
ANSWERS: 1) a. 2) b. 3) c. 4) d. 5) c. 6) d. 7) a. 8) b. 9) a. 10) a. BONUS) b.
EXPLANATIONS OF THE HINTS: Reagan had a similar message for Putin's predecessor; the meetings were put on hold because of objections from Afghan President Hamid Karzai; Men's Warehouse, well-suited -- we were kind of proud of that one; and McCaskill is senator from the Show-Me State, Missouri.