NPR News

The controversy over President Obama's targeted-killings-by-drone policy is a reminder that the default position of presidents in times of crisis is to side with national security over civil liberties. That instinct has been true throughout history, and has been acted on by liberal presidents and core conservatives.

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While a big number, it's way down from the $3.1 billion loss posted during that period last year. The Postal Service said it's already cut its operating costs, but it needs Congressional help to put it back on sound financial footing.

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The assassination of Chokri Belaid has sparked protests. Emotions are running as high as they were two years ago at the start of the Arab Spring.

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As the Africa Cup of Nations reaches fever pitch, allegations of unfair officiating are drowning out the trumpet-like vuvuzelas blasting in South Africa. Host Michel Martin speaks with Nigerian soccer journalist Osasu Obayiuwana for a look ahead to the final between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Burkina Faso's Stallions.

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New Jersey Governor Chris Christie isn't laughing about his weight anymore. After poking fun at himself earlier this week, he ended up telling a former White House doctor to "shut up," when she commented on his size. Did he overreact? The Barbershop guys weigh in.

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As a leader of the Southern Baptist Convention, Richard Land has spent nearly 25 years on the front lines of America's so-called 'culture war'. Now, as social conservatives worry that they're losing key policy battles, Land tells host Michel Martin that he may be stepping down from his post, but not from the fight.

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Civil rights advocates have long relied on a principle called, "disparate impact," to prove minorities are discriminated in housing. Now, the Supreme Court is poised to review whether it's a legitimate tool in such cases. Host Michel Martin speaks with investigative journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, who has written about the issue for ProPublica.

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Talk about the ultimate space jam. The song is called "I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)," and it's a very long-distance collaboration between Canadians Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies and Chris Hadfield, who currently commands the International Space Station. The song premiered Friday.

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Health care professionals aren't giving Americans the stress management advice they want, according to a new survey. The untreated anxiety may be good news for the snack food and video game industries.

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Thanks to The Weather Channel, the blizzard that's barreling toward New England has a name that makes many think of a cute little fish. Does that make sense?

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What's the easiest way to raise money in one Midwestern city? Asking questions like that. On any given winter weekend in the St. Louis area, thousands of people turn out and play trivia to benefit charity.

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A report in The Smoking Gun about the hacking has led to a criminal investigation. The hacker reportedly got hold of photos, cellphone numbers and home addresses. Also, some "sensitive correspondence."

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Also: Tens of thousands take to streets of Tunis for funeral of slain opposition leader; car bombings target Shiites in Iraq; EU leaders try to reach budget deal; Bush family's emails are hacked.

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From Pennsylvania and New Jersey north through New York State and into New England, blizzard and storm warnings are up. By the time the storm is over on Saturday, some places may have 3 feet of new snow.

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Also: Geico's spokeslizard writes an advice book; Amazon patents the sale of used e-books; and a Stephen Colbert interview gets interesting.

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The search for former Los Angeles police officer Christopher Jordan Dorner, who's suspected of killing a police officer and two other people, has stretched across a large area. It's feared he's intent on killing more officers.

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A storm poised to dump up to 2 feet of snow from New York City to Boston and beyond beginning Friday could be one for the record books, forecasters warned. Residents scurried to stock up on food and water and road crews readied salt and sand.

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At its closest approach, the office building-sized asteroid will be only about 17,200 miles above the surface of our planet. That's far nearer to us than the moon, and even closer than some weather and communications satellites. Some people think this near miss should serve as a wake-up call.

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Congress likes to say it doesn't do earmarks anymore. And while that may be true, it's also a fact that targeted provisions are still useful in moving legislation — even critical legislation like the bill that pulled Washington back from the fiscal cliff last month.

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Houses of worship are still trying to recover from the damage done by the superstorm last fall. The government has encouraged them to apply for aid, but it's not clear whether they'll qualify. For some, even disaster relief would break down the boundary between "church and state."

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