NPR Top Stories
German Left Courts the Working Class
A new political party in Germany has made saving the working class and the country's welfare system rallying points for attracting votes. Die Linke, or the Left Party, is drawing support from mainstream parties with a radical message.
Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens Loses Re-Election Bid
Stevens, one of the longest serving senators in the history of the Senate, at last check trailed his Democratic rival, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, by more than 3,700 votes as absentee and overseas ballots were counted.
Vote Count Going Against Alaska's Stevens
Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the history of the Senate, is falling behind Democrat Mark Begich in his re-election bid as absentee ballots and other ballots are counted.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
In Afghanistan, 'New Spirit' To Confront The Taliban
Retired Army Col. John Nagl, an expert on counterinsurgency, says he saw a new U.S. determination to stamp out the insurgent Taliban when he visited Afghanistan this month. He says the U.S. 'can win this war' if military commander Gen. David McKiernan gets the resources he needs.
Sources: Holder Tapped For Attorney General
President-elect Barack Obama has decided to nominate Eric Holder as attorney general, according to a source close to the Obama-Biden transition team. If confirmed, Holder would be the country's first African-American to lead the Justice Department.
Economic Slowdown Tests Dayton's Job Center
The Job Center in Dayton, Ohio, is busy these days. It's a one-stop center for help with food stamps, Medicaid, resumes, employment searches and classes for new skills. Forty-three agencies are under one roof.
Holder Is Obama's Pick For Attorney General
Washington attorney Eric Holder has been chosen by President-elect Barack Obama to be the next attorney general. Holder, a former U.S. attorney who served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under President Clinton, would be the nation's first black attorney general.
Lucrative Piracy Business Thrives Off Somali Coast
Pirate attacks on shipping vessels in the Gulf of Aden are on the rise. The director of the Nelson Institute for International and Public Affairs at James Madison University says piracy and ransom will exceed more than $50 million this year.
Lieberman To Keep Key Senate Committee Post
Sen. Joe Lieberman will keep his job as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee. Democrats decided against replacing the independent from Connecticut, but did strip him of the chairmanship of an environmental panel.
Paulson Sticks To Bailout Strategy
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson once again defends his management of the federal government's $700 billion rescue program for the financial industry. Democrats want some of the money used to help other ailing industries, as well as struggling homeowners.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Auto Bosses Seek Help On Capitol Hill
Detroit auto executives make their pitch for emergency financial aid at a Senate hearing. GM, Ford and Chrysler say they need about $25 billion in loans. For the moment, they may not have the votes to make that happen.
Inspecting Fire Damage In Sylmar
Residents of a fire-ravaged mobile home park in the Los Angeles suburb of Sylmar are allowed to return home. About 500 of 600 homes in the complex were destroyed Saturday as wildfires raked Southern California.
Study Suggests Buying Toxic Assets Could Work
Purchasing toxic assets from banks is still the fairest way to save the American economy, say two University of Maryland economics professors. To prove it, they had a group of graduate students take part in what's known as a reverse auction.
When Money Was A Dirty Word
Fifty years ago, unless the family was playing Monopoly, parents didn't talk about finances with their children. Parents didn't even talk about money with each other. Now it's all people talk about. What happened?
Democrats Let Lieberman Keep Chairmanship
Democrats decided Tuesday to let Sen. Joe Lieberman keep his prized chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee, despite his support for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Meanwhile, Democrats are bracing for a battle on Wednesday over control of the House energy panel.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
Fate Of Alaska Sen. Stevens Remains Uncertain
At this point Republican incumbent Ted Stevens is behind Democratic challenger Mark Begich by just over a thousand votes. Even if he's able to pull off a victory, Stevens still faces an expulsion vote in the Senate. His Republican colleagues put off a preliminary step toward one Tuesday — waiting to see what happens in Alaska.
» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us
After Bans, Tobacco Tries Direct Marketing
For decades, tobacco companies advertised on TV, radio, billboards and magazine pages. When the 1998 tobacco settlement put an end to that, they began targeting smokers online and in person. Now the industry spends twice as much on marketing as it did 10 years ago.
Senate Debates Bailout For U.S. Automakers
Help for the auto industry is a top priority for Democratic leaders, and it was the opening item of business as the U.S. Senate resumed its duties after a six-week break. But many senators appear to be feeling bailout burnout.
Job Cuts Show Depth Of Citigroup's Problems
The banking titan will cut 15 percent of its global staff, which could mean the elimination of more than 50,000 jobs. Citigroup suffered big losses because of the collapse in subprime mortgages. Its efforts to climb out of the hole have been complicated by the economic slowdown.
Hispanic Turnout May Spur Immigration Overhaul
In recent years, politicians have treated immigration as the third rail. But as the number of Hispanics grows — and as they turn out in greater numbers at the polls — advocates say the issue of immigration will be harder to ignore.
