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References to the fiscal cliff, set for Jan. 1, have become ubiquitous in Washington. But many may have forgotten just how and when the looming tax increases and spending cuts were first devised.

The state has the largest pension-fund shortfall in the nation, with about $96 billion of liability. Lawmakers are running up against a tight deadline: A new Legislature will be sworn in next week. State employees swarmed the Capitol this week to protest the underfunding of their pensions, as well as pending legislation on the issue.

Mitt Romney's choice of former Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt, who supports a key part of President Obama's health care law, has irked some conservatives.

Drones have become the U.S. weapon of choice in the fight against terrorism. But critics say the United States needs to be careful because its rationale for the use of the high-tech weapons could be abused by others.

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney had been getting some attention for his critique that the president was politicizing the anniversary of Osama bin Laden's death. That is, until Obama flew to Afghanistan, signed an international agreement and addressed the troops and the nation.

This week Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum got their Secret Service code names: Romney is "Javelin," Santorum is "Petrus." Presidents have been getting code names back to Harry Truman, who was called "General." Ian Chillag and Mike Danforth of the podcast How To Do Everything look into how these code names are assigned.

The former vice president is recovering from a heart transplant he received over the weekend. Experts say it's unusual for a 71-year-old to get a transplant, but more and more older people are getting them as the procedures improve and the population ages.

The House is expected to pass a bill that would eliminate a board that is charged with reining in Medicare spending. But Democrats generally oppose the change, and President Obama has promised to veto the legislation if it ever gets that far.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. is perhaps 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. Originally broadcast May 8, 2012.

The presidential candidate is getting lots of attention for his remarks about immigration in the latest GOP debate. But his statements are actually in line with the positions of Republicans from years past — Ronald Reagan included — and may help attract Latino votes.