National

Robert Bork, nominated by President Reagan to the Supreme Court, is sworn in before the Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing, Sept. 15, 1987.

Robert Bork's Supreme Court Nomination 'Changed Everything, Maybe Forever'

8:31pm December 19, 2012

by Nina Totenberg

Known as a charming and witty man in private, Bork, who died Wednesday, was dour and humorless in his Senate confirmation hearings, and his answers seemed to play into the stereotype liberals painted of a man who cared little for the public. His Senate rejection changed the way future nominees have testified.

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The contents of a box of some of the new foods containing caffeine collected by the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Not Just For Coffee Anymore: The Rise Of Caffeinated Foods

8:45am December 19, 2012

by Allison Aubrey

Are we getting "Jack'd"? A surge in new caffeine-containing foods leads to new questions about just how much caffeine we're getting in our daily lives. Some advocates are calling for labeling, and they raise concerns about children's and teens' consumption.

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Flowers, candles and stuffed animals make up a makeshift memorial in Newtown, Conn., on Monday. Much of the initial news coverage of Friday's events was later found to be inaccurate.

National

Coverage Rapid, And Often Wrong, In Tragedy's Early Hours

2:09pm December 18, 2012

by David Folkenflik

Much of what Americans learned from the news media Friday about the events in Newtown was wrong. Journalists know early accounts of crisis events are often misleading and incomplete, but often are compelled to pursue them without waiting for authoritative confirmation.

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Cyndy Aafedt (left) owns the El Rancho hotel in Williston, N.D. Jobs in town have been hard to fill. Her employee, Mary Joy Hardt (right), who is from the Philippines, is one of many people with J-1 visas helping to fill retail, hotel and restaurant job o

The Downsides Of Living In An Oil Boomtown

11:18am December 18, 2012

by Meg Luther Lindholm

The population explosion in Williston, N.D., has been a blessing and a curse for many local businesses. Stores and restaurants are struggling to find workers because they can't compete with what most oil jobs pay. Plus, there's now a day care shortage, and housing costs have skyrocketed.

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Hasbro's pink Easy-Bake Oven is under fire for reinforcing gender stereotypes.

National

Girls, Boys And Toys: Rethinking Stereotypes In What Kids Play With

6:50am December 18, 2012

by Heidi Glenn

A New Jersey teenager who launched a campaign to get Hasbro to make a gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven is expected to meet with the toy company Monday afternoon. Her campaign seems to be part of heightened gender messaging awareness in toys this holiday season.

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Gun Issues Return To Political Debate

6:42am December 18, 2012

by Mara Liasson

For almost 20 years, Democrats have been convinced that gun control is a sure way to lose elections. And in his first term, President Obama never proposed any new gun legislation. But in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., massacre, he's promising to use whatever powers he has to prevent similar tragedies.

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Maria Lola Melisio, 18, entered the U.S. illegally with her mother when she was 7. Now she's an undocumented resident living in Alabama, which has one of the country's toughest immigration laws.

Federal-State Tug Of War: Drawing The Lines In Immigration Overhaul

7:19pm December 17, 2012

by Debbie Elliott

In recent years, states have passed a patchwork of immigration laws, at times running afoul of the U.S. Constitution. Advocates for the tough measures say state and local governments should still have a role, even as the debate shifts to the federal level.

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Some Senators Show Willingness To Take On Gun Laws

7:19pm December 17, 2012

by David Welna

The combination of a powerful gun owners' lobby and a loss of public support for gun control has stymied efforts in recent years to tighten gun laws. But there are signs the Newtown massacre may prompt change on Capitol Hill.

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Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye Dies At 88 Of Respiratory Complications

7:19pm December 17, 2012

Hawaii Sen. Daniel Inouye died Monday at the age of 88. His cause of death was respiratory complications. Inouye had served in the U.S. Senate since 1962. Melissa Block talks to Ron Elving about his life and political career.

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Fiscal Cliff Talks May Have Hit Breakthrough Moment

7:19pm December 17, 2012

President Obama met with House Speaker John Boehner again Monday to resolve the fiscal cliff deadline. As the nation's attention turned to the school shooting in Connecticut, there seemed to be some movement toward a deal. Robert Siegel talks to Tamara Keith.

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