Politics Audio/Video - NPR

The Platform Committee for the Republican National Convention has launched a Web site to introduce participatory democracy to the platform-writing process. Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) says it is an offer to every American to have an input on the Republican platform.

There is a stalemate in Congress over gas and oil prices. Democrats push a bill to rein in oil speculators and Republicans block it with a filibuster. GOP senators say they'll keep talking about energy until Democrats let them offer a wide array of amendments.

Congress is expected to vote this week on legislation to address the home foreclosure crisis, and shore up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Here, a look at what the bill would do.

Sen. Barack Obama drew a crowd of more than 200,000 people for a speech in Berlin. The Democratic presidential hopeful called on the U.S. and Europe to mend frayed ties and called for efforts at "shared security" in Afghanistan.

Sen. John McCain recently floated the idea of instituting a "Yankee" version of the prime minister's questions period in Britain. During these sessions, the prime minister is bombarded by questions on a range of subjects from members of Parliament. Does the presidential hopeful realize what he might be getting into?

In the latest political podcast, NPR Senior Washington Editor Rob Elving and Political Editor Ken Rudin discuss Obama's trip overseas and McCain's focus on domestic issues.

Democratic and Republican bloggers have joined forces to punish members of Congress who voted for a revised government surveillance bill backed by the White House. One independent online group raised roughly $350,000 to spend on anti-FISA TV and radio ads.

Sen. John McCain has campaigned across the U.S. this week, stressing economic concerns and other domestic topics. As Sen. Barack Obama traveled abroad, McCain sought to empathize with American voters who are hurting.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is in Germany Thursday. Meanwhile, McCain was scheduled to tour an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, but Hurricane Dolly forced him to change his plans. Instead the Republican presidential contender is off to Ohio for a town hall meeting.

Coke is a big business all around the world. But in Africa, the soda is so pervasive that it acts like a key indicator of political stability. In other words, if you can't get a Coke somewhere, you might want to get out of the country — fast. We examine this unusual political indicator.

Atlantic editors Ross Douthat and Reihan Salam say the Republican Party needs to make big changes.

Barack Obama is in Germany, where he will meet German leader Angela Merkel. The likely Democratic presidential nominee will also give the only public speech of his weeklong foreign tour, at a Berlin park. On Friday, he'll visit France. Journalists Stefan Kornelius in Germany and Jean Lesieur in France talk about Obama's expected reception in Europe.

Congress has put the far-reaching housing bill on a fast track to the president. The House passed the measure Wednesday, and it goes to the Senate this week. It would help homeowners facing foreclosure, and put in place a rescue plan for troubled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Bush administration is now talking to governments it once shunned. The secretary of state met with the North Korean foreign minister this week; the undersecretary participated in talks with Iran's nuclear negotiator last weekend. The new approach has angered critics, but it doesn't extend to all "problem countries."

After 15 years, Congress is reconsidering its "don't ask, don't tell" policy for gays in the military. Figures show about 12,000 service members have been discharged because of their sexual orientation. And recent polls show 75 percent of Americans think people who are openly gay should be allowed to serve.

For years, the chief punishment for immigrants caught working illegally in the United States was deportation. Now they can face criminal charges such as identity theft, which can bring a hefty prison sentence. Immigrant rights groups and some members of Congress are challenging the practice.

The House passed the mammoth housing bill and has sent it to the Senate. The bill aims to restore confidence in the housing market by shoring up mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and offering qualified homeowners a chance to refinance their mortgages.

In this week's edition of The Political Junkie, guests discuss Barack Obama's visit to Iraq and John McCain's insistence that he was right to support the troop surge. Also: charges of pro-Obama media bias, and the latest word on top candidates for VP.

This year's presidential election will create at least one Senate vacancy. In Illinois, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is one of the possible choices to fill Barack Obama's seat, while Arizona's Democratic governor must name a Republican to the Senate if John McCain is elected president.

As Barack Obama makes headlines overseas, his presidential rival, John McCain, returned to New Hampshire on Tuesday. It's the site of his primary victory, and he used the visit to criticize the Illinois senator on foreign policy.

Barack Obama is expected to be received with the kind of religious fervor usually reserved for the Pope when he arrives in Germany on Thursday. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is seen by most Germans as a potential savior of Germany's close relationship with America.

President Bush reversed his stance on a congressional plan to help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac weather the mortgage crisis and to provide struggling homeowners with more affordable loans. White House press secretary Dana Perino said the president had decided it was not the time for a veto fight.

Barack Obama is in Israel and the Palestinian territories Wednesday. The Democratic presidential candidate meets with senior officials of the Israeli government and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. Obama is greeted warmly but with some skepticism by Israelis and Palestinians.

The rescue plan for giant mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac promises credit and possible stock purchases. It might cost the U.S. nothing — or it might cost $25 billion. Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd says balancing investor confidence and taxpayer exposure is a fine line, but "doing nothing is not an option."

If elected, John McCain has said he would appoint Supreme Court justices who would overturn Roe v. Wade. Barack Obama supports abortion rights but has said he's open to restrictions on late abortions.

A plan by Democrats to curb speculation in oil markets is moving ahead. The Senate has voted to clear a procedural hurdle for the legislation. Democrats blame speculation for the spike in oil prices. Republicans say the move will have little effect.

U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, who can't stand the way that TV commercials seem louder than everything else, recently introduced a bill to require the FCC to regulate the volume of ads. It declares, "Advertisements accompanying video programming shall not be excessively noisy or strident."

This week, Congress votes on a bill that would help homeowners facing foreclosure. The measure may also include a Bush administration plan to help mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. How might the proposed measure help homeowners?

Barack Obama had a fruitful day of meetings Monday in Iraq with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and top U.S. commander Gen. David Petraeus. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is expected Tuesday in Jordan.

Barack Obama has been making news traveling around the Middle East in an effort to strengthen his foreign policy experience. John McCain is at home polishing his credentials on domestic economic issues.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey says he wants Congress, not judges, to make policy on how Guantanamo detainees may challenge their detention. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the Bush administration three times in cases related to processing Guantanamo detainees.

The presumed Democratic presidential nominee met Monday with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and senior U.S. and Iraqi officials in Iraq. But Sudarsan Raghavan, the Washington Post's Baghdad bureau chief, says Obama reporters with no details of his discussions.

Republican John McCain vows not to cede the youth vote to his Democratic rival, Barack Obama. And while they're not getting as much attention as their Democratic counterparts, thousands of young GOP volunteers are turning out to help the McCain campaign.

Congress members say they're determined to do something about fuel prices before leaving for their August recess. But there's little consensus on energy issues. Will Democrats and Republicans be able to agree on any proposals to lower fuel prices?

The stakes for the Democratic presidential candidate's Mideast trip are unbelievably high, says Jim VandeHei of Politico.com.

Barack Obama is in Iraq, where he'll meet with U.S. commanders and troops, as well as Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee met with President Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan this weekend and then made a stop in Kuwait.

Republican John McCain says he supports nuclear power. Democrat Barack Obama says it shouldn't be taken off the table. But the issue is a delicate one, and both presidential candidates have chosen their words with care.

Weekend Edition's regular and sometimes controversial essayist Diane Roberts just came back from Europe. She comments on the fascination overseas with the U.S. presidential campaign.

American diplomat Winston Lord was involved in secret negotiations with Vietnam during the height of the war and also in secret talks with China. He talks about how to open a dialogue and negotiate with enemies of the United States.