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For perspective on why Democrats and Republicans in Washington have not been able to work together to avoid a countdown to the fiscal cliff, All Things Considered host Robert Siegel talks with Norm Ornstein, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Ornstein says a big part of the problem is how Republicans in Congress have behaved like a parliamentary minority.

Communities hit by Hurricane Sandy are waiting for more help from Washington. There's been no agreement on how much air they can expect, but people in the storm zone are concerned that repairs and rebuilding will be delayed, leaving them vulnerable to future storms.

The leader of the judicial branch of government uses his end-of-year report on the state of federal courts to highlight efforts to trim government costs, and to note: "For each citizen's tax dollar, only two-tenths of one penny go toward funding the entire third branch of government!"

Singer-songwriter Rashida Jolley uses the harp to create a sound that's entirely her own. She combines pop, hip-hop, rhythm and blues and classical music into her debut album, Tales of My Heart. Jolley shares her musical inspirations with host Michel Martin in an encore presentation.

The new documentary, West of Memphis, delves into the controversial case of three Arkansas teens who were convicted of murder in 1994. Host Michel Martin speaks with Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson and Damien Echols, one of men convicted in the case.

The United States is on track to install a record number of solar power systems — thanks in large part to low-cost solar panels from China. U.S. officials have imposed trade tariffs on Chinese panels, but a trade war with China could put U.S. solar jobs at risk.

Financial woes and contentious negotiations between labor and management have plagued many American orchestras this year. Where can they go from here?

For all but one of the states, the pay hikes are part of automatic adjustments designed to keep up with the cost of living.

The compromise deal, which was approved by the Senate earlier Tuesday, stops large tax increases for 99 percent of Americans and delays massive spending cuts for two months. The bill now goes to President Obama, who is expected to sign it into law.

We run down 50 favorite pop culture moments of last year, from television to film to books.