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Voters of Texas 23 have cast their ballots. The Democrats can add another point to their column. On Saturday, corrupt Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was handily reelected by the people of New Orleans. Plus, lots to talk about in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election with NPR's political editor, Ken Rudin.

Despite deep differences over how to proceed in Iraq, the Senate gives its unanimous approval for Robert Gates to take over the reins at the Pentagon from Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush's second Secretary of Defense is taking office at a time of uncertainty over what will happen next in the war.

John Bolton, President Bush's choice to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has announced he won't stay in his job once his temporary appointment expires in early January. The decision symbolizes the new political reality facing President Bush.

U.N. Ambassador John Bolton announces that he will step down at the end of his temporary appointment, which expires in a few weeks along with the current session of Congress. Bolton faced a tough, if not impossible, fight for Senate confirmation.

Earlier today on Capitol Hill, the co-chairs of the Iraq Study Group presented their highly-anticipated recommendations for the war in Iraq. Join us for an NPR News Special.

This week, the Senate will hold confirmation hearings for Robert Gates to replace outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

An update on today's senate confirmation hearings for Robert Gates, the President's nominee to replace Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense.

The White House says a day-long delay in a planned meeting between President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has nothing to do with a newly leaked White House memo questioning whether Maliki can control violence in Iraq. The session has been postponed until Thursday. Michele Norris talks with NPR's David Greene.

Once recognized as the preeminent intelligence expert on the Soviet Union, in 1991 Robert Gates saw many friends and subordinates testify against his nomination to be director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

The Supreme Court hears arguments on whether student placement systems in Louisville, Ky., and Seattle, Wash., are acceptable ways to maintain racial diversity -- or are unacceptable quota systems. The programs are being challenged by parents whose children weren't placed in their preferred schools.

Now that the Iraq Study Group report is out, conservatives are no happier than they were with the leaked information about it. Many say it amounts to a call for surrender. Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham have been among those calling for more U.S. troops to fight the insurgency.

Republicans in Congress have formed ties with business lobbyists in the capital over the past 12 years of GOP rule -- part of a concerted effort called the "K Street Project." But soon, both the House and Senate will have a Democratic makeover, and some of those partnerships will be cut off.

A growing number of illegal immigrants in the United States are children who've come alone. The U.S. approach to these children is conflicted: Immigration officials still work to deport them, even as Health and Human Services operates a network of shelters to care for them.

Colorful and good for you, cranberries turn any meal into a showstopper. But their glamorous exterior belies a bitter truth: Raw cranberries are mouth-puckeringly sour. These recipes make the most of the edible jewels.

The new Congress will also result in House leadership changes, with Democrat Nancy Pelosi ready to exert her new influence on the chamber. And the Republicans will be voting on who will represent it in its new minority position.

A day after he handed his resignation to President Bush, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says the war in Iraq wasn't going as well as had been planned, echoing President Bush's appraisal about recent progress in the conflict. Rumsfeld declined to give himself a performance grade.

The first woman to serve as the United States ambassador to the United Nations had died. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick was 80. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1981, Kirkpatrick distinguished herself as a blunt and forceful advocate of the administration's policies.

The new Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, set in 1990's Sierra Leone, has raised awareness about so-called "conflict diamonds" -- diamonds mined in war zones and sold to finance insurgent warfare. Michele Norris talks with Alex Yearsley, with Global Witness, about what consumers can do to avoid buying these gems.

A look at the missing Mars Global Surveyor and new evidence of water on Mars.

Senator Tim Johnson is in critical condition in a Washington hospital, putting the slim Democratic lead in jeopardy. What happens when a lawmaker becomes incapacitated?

Iraqi politicians are offering mixed reactions to the Iraq Study Group's recommendations. Some regard it as a plan for fixing America's problems rather than those of Iraq.

The Motley Fool's Tom Gardner answers listener questions on investment strategies, tactics, and what to buy or sell.

Writer James Traub discusses his new book, The Best Intentions: Kofi Annan and the UN in the Era of American World Power. Traub recounts the intertwined story of Annan, the United Nations and American foreign policy from 1992 to the present. Traub is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. His other books include City on a Hill and The Devil's Playground.

The first president is often seen as old, stiff and boring. These words are daggers to the hearts of those who run Washington's historic mansion. So a new center seeks to recreate the vibrancy and adventure of Washington's revolutionary life.

The double-digit tuition hikes of recent years have slowed, though tuition is still rising faster than the inflation rate in some places, according to the College Board. The group has released its new report on tuition increases at U.S. public and private universities.