Morning Edition

Mortgage broker Freddie Mac named Donald Layton as its new chief executive officer. Layton worked for JPMorgan Chase for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2004.

Charles Baird will be alone on the island for one year. He'll able to send short text messages, but won't be receiving any. By freeing himself from all media, he expects to have enough time to make a documentary about himself.

JetBlue Airways apologized after removing a passenger from her flight because she was on a no-fly list. The passenger looks innocent enough — maybe because she's 18 months old. Her mother told WPBF-TV in Florida that the idea her daughter is a threat was "absurd" and "made no sense."

Mitt Romney's presidential campaign is in damage control mode after an article in The Washington Post accused the candidate of bullying in high school. Romney says he does not remember the incidents. Several of his classmates independently recall him going after students who seemed different, vulnerable or effeminate.

J.P. Morgan Chase reported $2 billion in losses over the last six weeks, and said there may be more to come. In a news conference shortly after the market closed Thursday, CEO Jamie Dimon said the losses stemmed from a credit default swap that was "poorly executed and poorly monitored."

David Greene checks in with Tyler Saladino, a minor league baseball player for the Chicago White Sox organization. As he works his way up to the majors, Saladino is currently an infielder for the Birmingham Barons in Alabama.

Former GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann announced Thursday that she has asked the Swiss Consulate to withdraw her Swiss citizenship. The Minnesota Congresswoman is married to the son of Swiss-born parents. Earlier this year, the couple formally registered for dual citizenship.

In Egypt's first presidential debate, only the top two candidates participated. Voters go to the polls later this month to choose among a field of 13 candidates. The winner is expected to be decided in a runoff next month.

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, mothers will be treated to a little more this holiday. All told, American consumers are expected to spend about $18.6 billion on the moms, stepmoms or grandmas in their lives.

The drop on Japan's Nikkei stock exchange follows Thursday's report that the company suffered a net loss of $5.7 billion for the last fiscal year. The once dominant tech company has fallen behind other industry giants like Samsung and Apple, and seen especially heavy losses in its TV division.