Enlarge Matt Stone/AP Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (left) answers a question during a debate against Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren on Monday at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, Mass. Matt Stone/AP Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown (left) answers a question during a debate against Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren on Monday at the University of

Enlarge Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images Afghan children run to school on Sept. 24. Whoever takes over as the next U.S. president will have to determine how many troops will remain after the December 2014 deadline to help with long-term security. Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty Images Afghan children run to school on Sept. 24. Whoever takes over as the

Enlarge Lauren Sommer/for NPR Wetlands are returning naturally at Liberty Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. The state plans to restore more than 100,000 acres of habitat in the area. Lauren Sommer/for NPR Wetlands are returning naturally at Liberty Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California. The state plans to restore more

by Howard Berkes ‘); } }, onPlay: function() { if ($(“#jwPlayer162393879_wrapper .loading”).length 0){ $(‘#jwPlayer162393879_wrapper .loading’).remove(); } } } }); } } catch (e) { NPR.messaging.exception(e, ‘jw player javascript’, ‘look in CommonJwPlayer.inc’, NPR.messaging.constants.PLAYER_JS_ERROR); }; Hear Howard Berkes’ Report On ‘All Things Considered’ Enlarge Jens Meyer/AP U.S. speedskater Simon Cho competes at the Short Track Speedskating World

Enlarge Scott Cunningham/Getty Images Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves acknowledges the crowd before his last at-bat against the St. Louis Cardinals during the National League Wild Card Game Friday in Atlanta, Ga. Scott Cunningham/Getty Images Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves acknowledges the crowd before his last at-bat against the St. Louis Cardinals during

Enlarge Bruno Vincent/Getty Images Abu Hamza al-Masri leads prayers in London in 2004. He and four other terrorism suspects have been extradited to the U.S. after their yearslong battles to avoid facing charges there. Bruno Vincent/Getty Images Abu Hamza al-Masri leads prayers in London in 2004. He and four other terrorism suspects have been extradited

Gustavo Cuevas/EPA/Landov Spaniards protest the construction of the EuroVegas gambling complex at Puerta del Sol in Madrid last month. American billionaire, casino mogul and Republican donor Sheldon Adelson has a new project: a $35 billion gambling megacity in Europe. He has chosen debt-ridden Spain as the location for “EuroVegas,” which is expected to bring up

Enlarge Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney finish their debate at the University of Denver on Wednesday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney finish their debate at the University of Denver on Wednesday. Here’s one thing President Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney could

Ask an economist like Eswar Prasad, who used to be the China guy at the Intentional Monetary Found, “So, do you know, what’s the unemployment rate in China?” And he’ll answer, “We don’t.” The official unemployment rate, put out by the government, Prasad says, is 6.5 percent. “But that number has no credibility at all.”

Liz Halloran/NPR Kim Deal (left) and Connie Moser, at Deal’s house in Occoquan, Va. We headed to Virginia’s Prince William County, a swing county in a swing state, to watch Wednesday night’s presidential debate with four undecided voters — three of whom voted for Barack Obama in 2008, one who voted for Republican John McCain.

In their first of three debates, President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney “traded barbs” and stretched some facts, say the nonpartisan watchdogs at PolitiFact.com. Similarly, the researchers at the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s FactCheck.org found examples of truth-stretching by both men. Overall, it was a debate packed with facts, a wonk’s delight. From the

Enlarge Charlie Neibergall/AP Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama talk after the first presidential debate at the University of Denver on Wednesday. Charlie Neibergall/AP Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama talk after the first presidential debate at the University of Denver on Wednesday. Mitt Romney may have given his campaign something