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NPR's Tavis Smiley talks to Alice Huffman, the first African-American woman to chair the Democratic National Convention. Among other topics, they discuss the DNC's record number of minority delegates for next week's convention and why the DNC chose Boston as the host city.

Harry Stephen Keeler wrote stupefyingly bad mystery novels in the first half of the 20th century. Now he's something of a literary cult figure. Hear "Keeler-head" Paul Collins and NPR's Scott Simon.

NPR's Madeleine Brand talks to Tess Vigeland of Marketplace about a circulation scandal involving the publishers of Newsday and the Spanish-language newspaper Hoy.

Illinois Republicans are scrambling to find a senatorial candidate to run against Democratic rising star Barack Obama. NPR's Noah Adams talks with the vice-chair of the Illinois GOP about their political strategy and their top contenders.

Commentator Michael Eric Dyson offers insight on why the Rev. Jesse Jackson continues to be held in such high regard within the African-American community.

As China's strict communist ideology erodes, prostitution booms. But Christian churches are sprouting in the heartland. In the third of a series on his journey through the world's most populous nation, NPR's Rob Gifford notes the resurgence of prostitution and religion.

Government investigators continue poring over the documents and photographs that led to this week's terror warnings, some of them from a laptop computer seized in Pakistan. The files reportedly contain detailed information about financial institutions in New York City, Newark and Washington, DC. Hear Homeland Security advisor Frances Townsend and NPR's Michele Norris.

Both President Bush and Sen. John Kerry are campaigning today in Davenport, Iowa -- in fact, their campaign events are scheduled to occur only minutes away from each other. NPR's Noah Adams talks to NPR's Scott Horsley, who is covering the events in Davenport.

The U.S. government is sending 20,000 talking books to Afghanistan in an effort to improve maternal and child health. The country has the world's highest maternal mortality rate, and statistics for children are even grimmer. NPR's Julie Rovner reports.

Trumpeter Steven Bernstein hunts for music that's been overlooked by classic jazz. He does his musical detective work in a back room he calls his "laboratory."

Alex Cohen profiles designer Paul Frank, who gained fame as the creator of a well-known sock monkey named Julius. Critics are debating whether Julius is a commercial product or a work of art.

Personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary joins NPR's Noah Adams to answer questions sent in by our listeners. Singletary writes the syndicated column "The Color of Money" for The Washington Post and is also author of the book 7 Money Mantras for a Richer Life.

Writers often have precise rituals for putting their thoughts on paper. Spy novelist Daniel Silva admits his approach is manically methodical. As part of the Creative Spaces series, Silva invites NPR's Michele Norris into his den to talk process.

in Kabul, preparations are being made for Afghanistan's upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Foreign organizations are trying to give the country's political parties the information, tools and tactics they need to become viable parts of the democratic process. Hear reporter Rachel Martin.

Slate contributor Daniel Gross has a new take on the typical "red-state, blue-state" analysis of the U.S. presidential election. He says the differences between Wal-Mart and Costco, America's two major discount retailers, offer insight about America's political topography.

President Bush has nominated House Intelligence Committee Chairman Porter Goss (R-FL) to direct the Central Intelligence Agency. But it's unclear what Goss' role would be, as Congress considers a proposal to create a national director to supervise the CIA and other intelligence agencies. Hear NPR's Pam Fessler.

The Federal Reserve helps set the pace -- and the tone -- for the U.S. economy. While the body's interest rate changes ripple across global markets, the public knows little of its inner workings. Now a former Fed governor, Laurence Meyer, has written a book about his six years there. Hear NPR's Melissa Block and Meyer.

Humanitarian and rights groups say Sudanese government forces and Arab militiamen have committed fresh attacks throughout Darfur, including helicopter gunship bombings, rape and raids. Hear NPR's Jason Beaubien.

President Bush nominates Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL) to direct the Central Intelligence Agency. Goss is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a past CIA officer. But his political background has lead to concerns of a confirmation battle. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

Raquel Maria Dillon of New Hampshire Public Radio reports on a group of parishioners who've left the Episcopal Church in that state because of the installment of Bishop Gene Robinson, who is openly gay.

In a one-day visit to Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld praises the country's efforts to register voters ahead of the October elections. Addressing Afghanistan's booming opium production, Rumsfeld says U.S. forces will step up their efforts to crack down on the country's drug trade. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and reporter Rachel Martin.

NPR's Eric Niiler reports from the former Iraqi embassy in Washington, D.C., on what the structure and contents of that building communicate about deposed dictator Saddam Hussein's secretive regime.

Former Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes announced over the weekend that he will enter the Illinois Senate race against Democrat Barack Obama. NPR's Juan Williams speaks with Steve Rauschenberger, a conservative Republican state senator in Illinois, who pushed for the Keyes nomination. Williams will also talk about bare-knuckle politics with Wayne Slater, a senior political writer for The Dallas Morning News and co-author of the book, Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential.

NPR's Alex Chadwick talks to Slate political writer Will Saletan about what's new in the presidential campaign with regard to Iran, the economy and Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry's military service.

NPR's Alex Chadwick and NPR Washington, D.C., editor Ron Elving discuss President Bush's choice of Rep. Porter Goss (R-FL), currently the head of the House Intelligence Committee, to replace George Tenet as director of the CIA.