Capitol Hill Sees Busy Week July 31, 2005 • Host Liane Hansen speaks with NPR's political editor Ron Elving about a very busy week on Capitol Hill. Issues include the energy and transportation bills, the nominations of John Roberts to the Supreme Court and John Bolton to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's declaration supporting stem-cell research and the labor movement's troubles.
Big Unions Split from the AFL-CIO Chicago Laborites Appraise AFL-CIO Schism July 30, 2005 • Chicago has deep historic ties to the labor movement. But do blue collar workers there still feel a kinship with the union cause, and are they following the rift that has split apart the AFL-CIO?
Government's New Role Could Be Marriage Broker July 30, 2005 • Can the government promote marriage? Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KA) has proposed funding for a program that encourages healthy marriages for low-income residents of Washington, D.C.
World U.S. Air Force Must Give Up Uzbek Base July 30, 2005 • The central Asian nation of Uzbekistan says the United States will no longer be able to use an air base that is a key hub for operations in Afghanistan. American forces have six months to vacate the base. Relief operations are likely to be hurt, too.
World On-Again, Off-Again N. Korea Nuclear Talks Resume July 30, 2005 • After 13 months of silence, U.S. and North Korean officials met this week as part of revived six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear plans. Jack Pritchard, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, offers perspective on the talks.
Business Big Unions Split from the AFL-CIO July 30, 2005 • In the biggest split in the American labor movement in more than 70 years, two unions leave the AFL-CIO. The Service Employees International Union and the Teamsters say that by quitting the federation, they hope to organize more workers and revitalize the struggling labor movement.
Israel's Withdrawal from Gaza In Depth: Q & A on Israel's Pullout from Gaza July 29, 2005 • Israel's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip beginning Aug. 17 has been controversial within Israel and raises huge challenges for Palestinian leaders. Mideast Correspondent Peter Kenyon answers questions about the pullout.
Will John Bolton Get a Recess Appointment? July 29, 2005 • President Bush continues to support John Bolton for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Bolton has come under new scrutiny and critics say that he may have lied to the confirmation committee. Expectations are growing that the president will give Bolton a recess appointment.
National Congress Poised for Month-Long Break July 29, 2005 • Congress will put the final touches on stacks of legislation that have been in the works for months as it heads into its August recess. From energy to gun control, bills are being pushed through the last stages, and sent to President Bush.
Science Senate Ponders Several Stem-Cell Bills July 29, 2005 • In the wake of Senator Frist's comments on stem-cell research, Michele Norris talks with NPR's Julie Rovner about the specifics in each of the stem-cell bills being considered by the Senate.
Alexis de Tocqueville's Persistent Political Clout July 29, 2005 • Friday marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, who visited America in 1831 and recorded his impressions of the nation's unique brand of democracy. Eric Weiner reflects on de Tocqueville's observations, and how the Frenchman's musings still have a political impact many generations later.
Religion Rogue Catholic Bishops Ordain Women in Canada July 29, 2005 • Earlier this week, nine Roman Catholic women were ordained to serve as priests and deacons in the church -- an act the Vatican denounced as illegal. Two women from Germany and Austria, unofficially declared bishops, performed the rites on a boat in the river between Ontario, Canada, and northern New York state. The women say they were undeterred by the threat of excommunication. Greg Warner of North Country Public Radio reports.
National Frist Clashes with Bush on Stem Cell Research July 29, 2005 • Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist announced Friday he will support legislation expanding federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The new position by the senator, who is also a lauded medical doctor, contradicts that of President Bush and religious and social conservatives.
Opinion Analysis Political Roundup: CAFTA Vote, AFL-CIO Schism July 29, 2005 • Madeleine Brand discusses this week's political wranglings with NPR senior correspondent Juan Williams. Among the topics: the narrow passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) in Congress late Wednesday night, and the rift in one of the nation's largest trade unions.
National Attorney-Activist Sues N.Y. for Alleged Exam Bias July 29, 2005 • Ed Gordon speaks with the migrant worker turned lawyer Willie Gary, now the lead attorney in a lawsuit against the state of New York over alleged discrimination in civil service exams. Marc Carey, spokesman for the New York's civil service office, denies the test is biased. Gary has built a practice on huge jury verdicts or settlements against companies including Walt Disney and Coca-Cola, and he continues his pro bono work on slave reparations.
