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For more than 30 years, Henry Louis Gates Jr. has been an influential public intellectual. He may be best known for his research tracing the family and genetic history of famous African-Americans. A selection of his writings on race, politics and culture appear in The Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Reader.

Three years ago, a Chicago man found historic documents in an abandoned house and took them to a rare-books dealer. The papers and books belonged to Richard T. Greener, a 19th century intellectual, who was the first African-American to graduate from Harvard University.

Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Ron Elving about where the candidates stand in the 2012 presidential race, including their responses to the volatility in the Middle East.

On Medicare, the stimulus and a story about the GM plant in his hometown, the GOP vice presidential nominee got some facts wrong, according to the news outlets and nonpartisan watchdogs that parse politicians' words.

West Nile virus has hit Dallas County, Texas, hard this year. Officials there have declared a state of emergency against the mosquito-borne illness. For the first time in decades, they plan to begin aerial spraying to control the mosquito population.

Some argue that there's plenty of room in the military's budget for cutbacks, but others say that could lead to more threats. A group of experts go head to head on the issue for an Intelligence Squared U.S. debate.

The dual victories the Supreme Court handed to same-sex-marriage supporters Thursday mean Washington will no longer be the focus of the fight. The next gay-rights battles will be over state laws prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Also, Lionsgate on Orson Scott Card; the best books coming out this week.

Forced to choose between a tyranny of the majority or a tyranny of the minority, the Senate went with custom and chose the latter.

Ten years ago Congress approved a $15 billion plan to combat HIV in developing countries. Since then, the global health initiative has funded HIV treatment for nearly 7 million people and prevented hundreds of thousands of babies from getting infected during childbirth.