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Congress hopes to get out of town by this weekend, but first has to figure out how to deal with the payroll tax holiday. President Obama's main priority these past weeks has grudging support from many Republicans, who, in turn, are trying to exact concessions from Obama and Senate Democrats on GOP priorities. NPR congressional correspondent David Welna talks to Melissa Block about the latest maneuvering.

Congress recently prevented the Energy Department from spending money to enforce a planned phase-out of energy-wasting 100-watt incandescent light bulbs. Conservatives saw getting rid of the bulbs as limiting Americans' choices. But the industry says it's really too late to make a difference.

The lame-duck Congress has just weeks to jump to the rescue of an economy moving closer and closer to the so-called fiscal cliff — a $600 billion cluster of automatic spending cuts and tax hikes due to hit at year's end.

White House spokesman Jay Carney put an end to intense speculation Thursday about whether President Obama would do an end run around Congress with one simple line: "This administration does not believe the 14th Amendment gives the president the power to ignore the debt ceiling — period."

President Obama may nominate former Nebraska Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel to be the next defense secretary. The Vietnam veteran could bring a bipartisan presence to Obama's Cabinet, but only if he survives opposition from some in his own party.

The National Book Critics Circle has announced that two feminist literary scholars, Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar, will receive a lifetime achievement award. Critic Maureen Corrigan says their groundbreaking 1979 book, The Madwoman in the Attic, changed the way we read.

These days, untruths and falsehoods whisper to millions through the Internet and social media. If people are believing what they want to, then it's time to mourn for facts.

As governors weigh whether to participate in an expansion of Medicaid under the federal health law, some worry the change could attract people who don't qualify for a special subsidy. Adding them to Medicaid rolls could strain states' budgets.

The young, educated and ethnically diverse voters that make up some of President Obama's key constituencies will be a bigger percentage of the electorate in 2012. But this demographic shift may not be enough to compensate for the president's dwindling approval ratings.

The U.S. has poured $28 billion of economic assistance into Egypt in recent decades. But now when Egypt's needs are the greatest, the U.S. and Europe are cash strapped. The Obama administration is trying to quickly reprogram aid to make sure it helps bolster democratic forces in the country and creates jobs to help ease the country's transition. The International Monetary Fund's chief Christine Lagarde says her door is open as well, but countries like Egypt need to ask for aid, which does come with some conditions. Meanwhile, leading members of Congress say the U.S. has to also start imposing conditions, particularly on U.S. military aid.