National

Looming Cuts Could Mean Big Changes For U.S. Military

2:01pm February 12, 2013

Without a deal by March 1, across-the-board federal spending cuts will kick in — including deep cuts to the nation's defense budget. Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, and NPR's Tom Bowman discuss what sequestration might mean for the U.S. military.

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U.S. Rep. James Clyburn explains the hope he carries along with him in his career to his granddaughter Sydney Reed.

National

Relentless, Despite Losses: Congressman's Climb To The Hill

11:26am February 12, 2013

by NPR Staff

Rep. James Clyburn talks to his granddaughter about his long road to becoming a U.S. congressman. After many losses, he never gave up, even when others suggested it was time to move on. Today, he's the highest-ranking African-American in Congress.

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Prison provides an opportunity for networking with more seasoned criminals.

When Crime Pays: Prison Can Teach Some To Be Better Criminals

11:26am February 12, 2013

by Shankar Vedantam

Research from an Ohio sociologist has found that inmates "earn" illegal money in greater amounts after they serve time. Prison may serve as a classroom where inexperienced delinquents learn from hardened criminals — and become more dangerous criminals themselves.

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Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a town hall meeting on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. She officially leaves her post on Friday.

Hillary Clinton Leaving The Stage — At Least For Now — And On A High Note

11:26am February 12, 2013

by Mara Liasson

The secretary of state ends her tenure Friday as a respected national figure with sky-high approval ratings. "I don't see myself getting back into politics," she says. But that hasn't slowed speculation about a 2016 presidential bid.

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Ed Koch Dies; Outspoken Mayor Brought N.Y. Back From The Brink

11:26am February 12, 2013

by Joel Rose

New York was practically falling apart in 1977 when Koch first ran for mayor, but he created a feeling the city could come back. His larger-than-life personality was well-suited to the nation's biggest city but could also get him in trouble. A spokesman says Koch died early Friday. He was 88.

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Treasury Nominee's Citigroup Experience Raises Questions For Some

9:02am February 12, 2013

by Ailsa Chang

Jack Lew is known as a smart, unassuming budget wonk who has spent most of his career in government policy-making jobs. Lew, President Obama's nominee to be Treasury secretary, is expected to face questions about his management years at Citigroup before the government bailed out the banking giant.

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An analyst looks at code in the malware lab of a cybersecurity defense lab at the Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Sept. 29, 2011.

National

In Cyberwar, Software Flaws Are A Hot Commodity

8:50am February 12, 2013

by Tom Gjelten

In the past, security researchers who stumbled on a software flaw would typically report the flaw to the software's manufacturer. But that changed when cyberweapon designers started looking at these flaws as vulnerabilities that could serve as a back door into a computer network.

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Sen. Rubio's Response Gives GOP A Chance To Woo Hispanics

8:44am February 12, 2013

by David Welna

The 41-year-old Florida senator will deliver the official Republican response to President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night. It's a chance for a party that has fared badly with both young and Hispanic voters to showcase a new stance on immigration.

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Fixing Long Lines At The Polls May Be Harder Than You Think

5:00am February 12, 2013

by Pam Fessler

President Obama is expected to once again address Election Day problems in his State of the Union address, this time with some possible solutions. But some worry that involving Congress will just make things worse. And one MIT professor says it's not yet clear what would fix the problem.

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Obama Speech To Set Second Term's Tone

5:00am February 12, 2013

by Mara Liasson

President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night will pick up where his inaugural speech left off. He's expected to bring up the issues of the economy, overhauling immigration, gun control and the budget.

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