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As the public debates what might happen if the government enacts a public health care option, Arizona's experience may serve as a touchstone. The state has offered small businesses a public option since 1985 — and it has received a mixed reception.

NPR news analyst Cokie Roberts talks with Renee Montagne about the latest in Afghanistan policy and the effects it may have on other goals of the Obama administration. Also, what needs to happen with health care?

Many analysts say Pakistan, not Afghanistan, is the most critical component of U.S. strategy in the region. Amid the current Washington debate over whether more U.S. troops should be deployed to Afghanistan, Pakistan is getting relatively little attention.

Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz, and Israeli Ada Yonath won Wednesday for mapping ribosomes, the protein-producing factories within cells, at the atomic level. Their work has been fundamental to the scientific understanding of life and has helped researchers develop antibiotic cures for various diseases.

A former Marine captain who became the first foreign service official to publicly resign in protest over the war in Afghanistan says staying in the country is not in America's interest. Matthew Hoh says leaving Afghanistan would not turn the country into an al-Qaida safe haven again.

For decades, the Mount Wilson Observatory was the center of the universe for astronomical researchers. Now it's the focal point for Southern California firefighters, as they beat back a fire that has devoured nearly 122,000 acres and threatens to destroy 100 years of history.

During the presidential campaign, candidate Obama cited the war in Afghanistan as a "good war" — in contrast to the U.S. effort in Iraq. But as violence in Afghanistan escalates while support for the war deteriorates, can President Obama afford to stay the course? Can he afford not to?

The flood of campaign contributions let loose by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision is having an effect on the midterm elections. An effect, commentator E.J. Dionne of The New Republic says, that is changing the election process and keeping voters in the dark.

For the past two years, the president has had strong Democratic majorities in the House and Senate. He has used those majorities to push sweeping legislation through Congress against the almost unanimous opposition of Republicans. After Tuesday, those Congressional majorities will almost certainly shrink -- and may disappear altogether. He's making one last push to hold on.

As the House settled in Friday to debate a rule that would set the stage for a vote next week, there were a lot of new faces. But the arguments made had a familiar ring to them. Most of the debate centered on the massive law's cost to the federal budget -- just like it did before the law passed.