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Now the White House chief of staff, Lew finessed the 2011 deal that set up the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes set for the new year — and did it in a way that put President Obama in the catbird seat for the current talks. Now he's a possible pick to be the next Treasury secretary.

Republicans want to raise revenue by closing loopholes in the tax code instead of by raising rates. But tax breaks like the charitable deduction and the mortgage interest deduction come with interest groups willing to fight tooth and nail for them.

Host Scott Simon catches up on the week in sports with Howard Bryant of ESPN: A surprise contender out of Chicago is taking on a well-funded operation with a mighty offensive attack and an NBA firing that surprised exactly no one.

A study of online conversation finds some big differences in geographically distinct parts of Florida around the issue of unemployment. This kind of information could be important to President Obama and Mitt Romney in how they shape their messages while visiting the state, and in advertisements.

The framers of the Constitution didn't spell out all the responsibilities of the speaker of the House. In practice, one of those duties has been engaging in one-on-one negotiations with a president on important policy issues. But John Boehner says no more — even with new fiscal fights looming.

Gangsters in Karachi are a little different from the American variety. They often control armed groups linked to political parties. Uzair Baloch is known as the don of Karachi's Lyari slum. But ask him if he's a gangster, and he'll laugh. He says he's a politician and a social worker.

A year after the Navy SEAL operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed Osama bin Laden, the CIA is stepping up drone attacks in Yemen and has broadened its targeting of al-Qaida's arm there. It is clear that al-Qaida isn't dead yet, and counterterrorism officials say the group is diminished. But its ideology, a kind of al-Qaida-ism, will take longer to die.

Many top athletes are rejecting the processed drinks and gels companies are squarely aiming at them. Instead, they rely on old fashioned water and healthy food to rehydrate and replenish nutrients.

The huge House GOP freshman class that swept into office in 2010 faces its first re-election challenge next year, one that at least some of them may not be able to meet. New fundraising figures show that many freshmen have relatively low campaign bank balances heading into the election year.

NPR's Steve Inskeep talks with Bridesmaids director Paul Feig about his must-see movie picks. The comedy selections on Feig's list are surprisingly sparse — in fact, his choices run the gamut from the serious to the downright bizarre.