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Early on in American history, before radio and television, charisma wasn't particularly useful, one scholar says, since most decisions were made behind closed doors. Not so today. But how much difference do personality characteristics and charisma make?

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener feedback on previous show topics including elderly drivers and giving up the keys, and the doping scandal that stripped Lance Armstrong of his Tour de France victories and forced him to resign from his position as chairman of the Livestrong Foundation.

The Emir of Qatar is scheduled to become the first foreign leader to visit the Gaza Strip since Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. The Qatari leader is offering Gaza around $400 million in development aid to help Gazans rebuild after the destruction of the 2009 war with Israel.

Three one-act plays recently performed in Beirut are based on the actual words of Syrians. The show was performed in a bunkerlike space to replicate the conditions artists making such work endure. The actress could not be named. A TV series also takes on Syrian politics — Top Goon is an ensemble of finger puppets who lampoon President Bashar Assad. The filmmakers are also anonymous. To be caught with one of these puppets might be worse than being caught with a stinger missile.

Despite its status as a device that defines the modern age, the television has its roots in the 19th century, when radio pioneers suspected they could also transmit images. Even the word "television," combining Greek and Latin roots to mean "far-sight," stems from the 1900 world's fair.

Officially, U.S. and allied commanders say that Afghan forces are "in the lead" on security in their country. But with the transition to Afghan control looming, senior U.S. officers say that's just wishful thinking. The U.S. needs to stop coddling the Afghans, these officers say, and let them do their job.

A new report says that while girls still lag far behind boys in the juvenile courts, the justice system is failing to take into account their physical and emotional needs. Most girls are locked up for crimes such as running away, school absences or even violating curfew — things that aren't even offenses for adults.

Republican Richard Mourdock, who is running for Senate, ignited controversy with his explanation for why he opposes abortion in the case of rape.

Mitzi Bolanos said she's Hispanic and never felt discriminated against — until she started walking around with her pit bull. Bolanos wants to fight dog discrimination and opposes widespread bans on the notorious terriers. She's in the first class of students at the Lewis and Clark Law School Center for Animal Law Studies.

Emails sent to the White House and other agencies reported Ansar al-Sharia's claim, Reuters and Fox News say. The issue of how quickly officials knew that terrorist groups may have been involved has become a hot topic on the campaign trail.