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NPR's John Burnett reports on a day in the life of a Democratic party leader in a state where the election will be tight. Trey Ourso works 14 hours a day to ensure support for his party's candidates -- getting out the vote, organizing campaign workers, and attending fund-raisers. (7:10

All Things Considered ponders how famous speeches might have been improved if only they had included references to "just plain folks" in the crowd. From Marc Anthony's Oration on the Dead Body of Julius Caesar, to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and through the famous words of FDR and JFK, we insert the anecdotal remark.

In the back rooms of Kabul's photo shops, thousands of photos dating as far back as 40-plus years sit unclaimed. It remains to be seen if these photo studios can survive a new period of Taliban rule.

In his first speech to delegates at the U.N. General Assembly, President Biden's remarks stood in contrast to his predecessor's approach. "We must work together as never before," Biden said.

Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer, died in London weeks after drinking tea that was later found to have been laced with the deadly radioactive compound polonium-210.

NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports on the fourth day of spreading violence through Israel and the West Bank.

Today Green Party Presidential Candidate Ralph Nader held a protest rally to raise the fact that he's excluded from this week's upcoming presidential debates.

Jacki talks with the cameraman who shot footage of a Palestinian father and son caught in crossfire on Saturday. A 12-year-old Palestinian boy Mohammed Ramal Aldura was killed . Jacki talks with Talal Abu Rameh, a journalist and cameraman for France Two Television.

The summer olympics games are now over in Sydney, Australia. NPR's Howard Berkes reports on the what's been learned and takes a look ahead to the winter games of 2002 in Salt Lake City. (

We remember Carl Sigman, who died this past Tuesday at the age of 91. The versatile lyricist wrote: It's All In The Game, Enjoy Yourself, Ebb Tide, Pennsylvania 6-5000, and dozens of others.

The Pope recently cannonized some 120 Chinese Catholics who died in China under religious persecution. Rob Gifford in Beijing reports on China's reaction.

Jacki speaks with NPR's Sylvia Poggioli from the capital of Montenegro about the scheduled plans for general strikes tomorrow through Serbia to hurry the process of Perident Slobodan Milosevic leaving office after a sound defeat in last week's elections.

The Internet has exploded the way we do business but according to author Christopher Kush, it hasn't had much impact on how we govern. Many of us can't find the information we want from all that's on line. Kush speaks to host Jacki Lyden about web sites that can make you a more informed voter.

Jacki talks to award winning Irish novelist Colm Toibin. His latest book, Blackwater Lightship, was shortlisted for Britain's Booker Prize. Toibin, who is gay, reads from the novel and discusses the conflicts of the between three generations of a family coming to grips with the death of a gay grandson from AIDS.

NPR's Barbara Bradley reports on two developments from Virginia that involve the use of DNA testing to establish guilt or innocence in criminal cases. In one case, a man who once had been within five days of execution was exonerated of a rape and murder that occurred eighteen years ago. In the other case, a federal judge has ruled that prisoners who claim they were wrongfully convicted have a constitutional right to request DNA testing of the physical evidence.

NPR's Joanne Silberner reports on the birth of a test tube baby intended from birth to help his sister. The sister is six years old and has a rare disease that prevents her from creating her own bone marrow. The disease is treatable by transplanting cells from blood taken from the umbilical cord at birth, but the cells must match or they'll prove troublesome. So a Colorado couple had several embryos created and then selected the one most likely to provide the best transplant. The boy is now five weeks old, and cells from his umbilical cord have been transplanted to his sister.

NPR's Ted Clark reports Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is preparing for crisis talks in Paris tomorrow with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Albright is seeking an agreement to end the bloodshed sweeping the West Bank and Gaza. She is also working for an eventual resumption of the stalled peace talks.

NPR's Andy Bowers reviews last night's debate between Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush. Coming just 5 weeks before Election Day, this was the first debate between the two candidates who are locked in one of the closest presidential races in decades.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports that the Supreme Court will consider its second case testing the limits of police searches this week. After tackling whether the police can set up automotive drug-search checkpoints yesterday, the court hears arguments today about whether hospitals have the right to test pregnant women for drugs and have police charge those who test positive.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on today's arguments before the Supreme Court on whether police should be allowed to stop cars at random and expose them to drug-sniffing dogs. The case from Indianapolis involved a roadblock-style action, similar to sobriety checkpoints. In this case, the motorist had no drugs, but was outraged, saying his privacy had been invaded by the dog search. Police say the dog search is no more invasive than the alcohol roadblock, which the court has upheld. Today, the justices asked both sides where a line could be drawn between checking for impaired drivers and those who are transporting illegal goods.

Writer Daniel Asa Rose tells the story of a chance meeting late one night in a bar in on Nantucket. The man sitting next to him turned out to share his birthday, his birthplace and even the same maternity ward. Though they had spent lives traveling in completely different directions, they were once again breathing the same air, nearly five decades later.

NPR's Anthony Brooks reports on what both Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush need to do in their debate tonight. With polls showing the two presidential candidates running in a dead heat, and indications that the broadcast might reach an audience of 75-million Americans, what happens tonight could go a long way in determining who will be the 43rd president of the United States.

Commentator Mark Hertsgaard says the Commission on Presidential Debates makes it nearly impossible for any candidate -- except those from the Democratic and Republican parties -- to participate. He says the debates are essential to any candidacy, and exclusionary rules help the two big parties retain their monopoly over the political system.

Commentator Meghan Daum has left New York City for a small farm house in Nebraska, but she has found that some small communities still have big city problems.

NPR's Mandelit Del Barco reports from Los Angeles on a series of one-day strikes by County employees, who are demanding higher pay. They include clerical workers, social workers, road repair crews, librarians, and healthcare workers.