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Linda Wertheimer talks with Congressman Christoper Cox (R-47th) from California about why he supports a bigger tax cut than President Bush's proposal.

Robert Siegel talks to MIT professor Marvin Minksy about Dr. Claude Shannon, a mathematician who wrote about communications theory. Shannon died Saturday. Shannon's theories led to "packet" switching, which makes the Internet possible. Minsky says Shannon ranks on a level with Einstein. The two worked together years ago. Shannon did his work at AT&T Labs in the 1940s and '50s.

Commentator Matthew Rothschilde says the battle over the estate tax is just a money grab for the wealthiest Americans. He says repealing it will create an "aristocracy of wealth." Rothschilde is editor of the Progressive Magazine in Madison, Wis.

In the second part of our Changing Face of America series on homeschooling, NPR's Robert Smith tackles the issue of socialization. There's a persistent worry among parents who are considering homeschooling that their children will suffer for lack of the social interaction that happens in schools. There's not much evidence to support that fear. Most homeschoolers interact with peers often -- as members of academic groups and extracurricular sports teams, for example. In fact, some research points to a better quality of interaction for children educated at home who are comfortable with friendships with children older and younger than themselves, as well as adults.

More people look to the Web for information about religion than for auctions or online banking. Commentator Steve Waldman thinks that this is because the Internet offers anonymity.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on what's at stake for President Bush tonight as he prepares to make his case for his tax-cut proposals to a joint session of Congress -- as well as the American people. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are already battling over the president's plan.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on how the administration readies for tomorrow night's speech by President Bush before a joint session of Congress on his budget. Mr. Bush is trying to win approval of his tax-cut program. But for most Americans, this will be their first real opportunity to see the president in action since the inauguration.

Robert Siegel talks with NPR's Jennifer Ludden in Jerusalem about today's vote by members of Israel's Labor Party to join a national unity government with supporters of Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon.

NPR's Ted Clark reports on the many problems confronting Colombia's President Andres Pastrana, who meets with President Bush today at the White House. Those problems include the illegal drug trade, insurgent and paramilitary violence, and a troubled economy. Although there are concerns in both countries about American involvement in Colombia, the U.S. is cautiously providing the nation with military assistance.

NPR's Julie Rovner speculates on how President Bush will deal with several key abortion issues within the next few months: the so-called 'abortion drug' RU486, and medical research on human embryos.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Washington Post reporter Rajiv Chandrasekaran, in Indonesia. Thousands of refugees are fleeing the island of Borneo amid skirmishes between soldiers and police.

Host Bob Edwards talks with William Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International. He says the United States is a leading exporter of devices of torture, and calls for an end to the export of thumbscrews, serrated handcuffs, stun belts, and other instruments.

Mark Moran, from member station KJZZ, reports on a new tax on tourists in Arizona, that will help build a state-of-the-art football stadium in Phoenix.

Arguments began yesterday in Microsoft's appeal of the court order that the company be split apart. NPR's Larry Abramson reports on the proceedings.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports on a newly released CD-ROM with searchable archives of a Civil War-era bank used by former slaves. For more information on the searchable archives, check out www.media.lds.org

NPR's Julie McCarthy reports from Brussels that Secretary of State Colin Powell wrapped up a foreign tour with a stop at NATO headquarters today. He reassured allies that the United States has no plans to withdraw prematurely from the Balkans. When Powell arrived, plans for missile defense and a European rapid reaction force were high on the agenda. But the allies decided to focus on events in the Balkans -- particularly attacks by ethnic Albanian rebels in southern Serbia and Macedonia.

In the last part of Morning Edition's February series on what makes a city great, NPR's Susan Stamberg hears how a rich cultural mix, great shopping, and exotic food made people head to London and Amsterdam in droves -- in the 1600's. She speaks with author and historian Simon Schama about the color -- and the dreck, drugs and drink -- of these great cities three centuries ago.

Host Bob Edwards talks with Paul Eisenstein, editor of The Car Connection.Com, about the plan unveiled yesterday by DaimlerChrysler to help pull its ailing partners--Chrysler and Mitsubishi--out of the red by 2002.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on how estate taxes work, and who pays them. A number of lawmakers, including President Bush, would like to repeal the estate tax. Others say its a progressive tax that generates revenue from only the wealthiest 2-percent of Americans.

Joshua Levs of member station WABE reports that today is the deadline for pilots to reach an agreement with Delta Airlines. They had been negotiating wages and benefits in their contract with the airline, but the focus now is which planes they fly. As tensions mount in the airline industry, President Bush could impose a two-month cooling-off period.

Host Bob Edwards talks with sports commentator John Feinstein about the college basketball season. Louisville's coach, Danny Crumb is under pressure to retire, and speculation is already high about his replacement. With the ensuing NCAA tournament, Feinstein says the ACC will have at least five bids, though Stanford is the favorite to win.

Though he says he's no big fan of auto-racing, commentator Frank Deford defends NASCAR as a sport. He says fans are not attracted to NASCAR because they want to see accidents or death, and he points out that many of the sport's northern detractors are fans of an equally dangerous sport, boxing.

NPR's Phillip Martin reports on the struggle for understanding between the African-American community and the growing number of black African immigrants in Nashville, Tennessee. This story is part of NPR's ongoing series, The Changing Face of America.

NPR's Larry Abramson reports that federal judges are questioning the order to break up Microsoft. An appeals panel is finding complications with the government's reasoning in the case, and questions the ethics of Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson in commenting to the media about Microsoft executives.

Charlene Scott of member station WFCR reports on a new play written by actress Lynn Redgrave. Redgrave, daughter of esteemed British actor Michael Redgrave and sister of actress Vanessa Redgrave, began writing for the stage in 1993 with Shakespeare for my Father. She says her new work The Mandrake Root is not autobiographical although the main character, an elderly British woman named Rose, was inspired by her mother. The play is making its world premier in New Haven, Connecticut.