Analysis

The Vatican is now under the control of the cardinals who will elect a new leader of the Catholic Church. On Thursday, Pope Benedict gave up his ring, cape and red papal shoes and became pope emeritus.

President Obama goes before a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening to deliver his State of the Union message. White House briefers say the president plans to bring the national conversation back to the economy after weeks of focusing on immigration and gun violence.

The president will visit the city's police department — most police organizations favor tougher gun laws. The president leaves behind a new Congress that's getting down to business. Consuming most lawmakers' time are the budget and deficit.

The proposal would include a pathway to citizenship for millions of people now in the United States illegally. Republicans have led the opposition to that change up to now, commonly calling it amnesty.

Less than a week into his second term, President Obama has already met with resistance over procedural matters, such as his use of the recess appointment to circumvent the Senate confirmation process. Weekends on All Things Considered host Robert Smith speaks with James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic.

With just a couple of days before President Obama receives his second inaugural parade, weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about whether we can expect Obama's second term to fall into the same patterns as previous second-term presidents. Historically, the second term has an emphasis on foreign policy and is often riddled with scandal.

With yet another impasse over the debt ceiling looming, the White House may be forced to mull some strange solutions, but it won't be a $1 trillion coin. Weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about the other options on table.

For more about the week ahead in politics, Renee Montagne talks to regular Morning Edition contributor Cokie Roberts.

Weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden talks with regular contributor James Fallows of The Atlantic about some of the top stories in the news this past week.

Weekend Edition Saturday guest host Linda Wertheimer talks with NPR's Debbie Elliott about how next year's debate on immigration reform might take shape.