On Jan. 3, all across Iowa, the campaigning ends and the voting begins. Thousands of Iowans will enter gyms, libraries and private homes to participate in a ritual of the American political system.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/30/144489004/confused-about-the-iowa-caucuses-heres-a-guide?ft=1&f=1014

Edwards, Donna F. Ehlers, Vernon J. Ellison, Keith Ellsworth, Brad Emerson, Jo Ann

Want a bit of quiet in a harried world? Author Alan Heathcock has found the solution — he reads a poem every morning, and he's found himself in love with the genre.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/26/143853118/a-poem-a-day-portable-peaceful-and-perfect?ft=1&f=1057

Bono Mack, Mary Boozman, John Bordallo, Madeleine Z. Boren, Dan Boswell, Leonard L.

John Cochrane, Wall St. Journal
The Federal Reserve last week announced its new "Enhanced Prudential Standards and Early Remediation Requirements" for big banks, as required by the Dodd-Frank law. You have to pity the poor Fed because it faces an impossible task.The Fed's proposal opens with an eloquent ode to the evils of too-big-to-fail and moral hazard. And then it spends 168 pages describing exactly how it's going to stop any large financial institution from ever failing again.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/12/30/the_feds_mission_impossible_112593.html

Fudge, Marcia L. Gallegly, Elton Garamendi, John Garrett, Scott Gerlach, Jim

Want a bit of quiet in a harried world? Author Alan Heathcock has found the solution — he reads a poem every morning, and he's found himself in love with the genre.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/26/143853118/a-poem-a-day-portable-peaceful-and-perfect?ft=1&f=1057

Calvert, Ken Camp, Dave Campbell, John Cantor, Eric Cao, Anh \\\\\\\"Joseph\\\\\\\'\\\\\\\'

The Iron Lady is a look at the life of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, played by actress Meryl Streep. Streep's performance has been winning early praise, but how well does the movie capture what really happened? Robert Siegel talks with political biographer John Campbell. Campbell wrote The Iron Lady: Margaret Thatcher, from Grocer's Daughter to Prime Minister. This is the final installment of our fact check film series.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144449825/how-accurate-is-the-iron-lady?ft=1&f=1004

Costello, Jerry F. Courtney, Joe Crenshaw, Ander Critz, Mark S. Crowley, Joseph

Stacy Khadaroo, Christian Science Monitor
Mitt Romney may have just as much reason as Ron Paul to be happy about the Texas congressman’s strong support in Iowa and New Hampshire.With the two candidates in the top two slots in both states, it’s looking less likely that another candidate can coalesce enough support to challenge Mr. Romney. And there’s little doubt about who would win in a Romney-Paul matchup, political science experts say.

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/2011/12/30/why_romney_backers_like_paul_270188.html

Cassidy, Bill Castle, Michael N. Castor, Kathy Chaffetz, Jason Chandler, Ben

Substituting for white sugar brings a spirit of adventure to baking for food writer Nicole Spiridakis. Her experimenting started with honey and branched out to agave, molasses, maple syrup and more.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/27/144321788/baking-with-sweet-alternatives?ft=1&f=1057

Griffith, Parker Grijalva, Raúl M. Guthrie, Brett Gutierrez, Luis V. Hall, John J.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/181042551?client_source=feed&format=rss

Boren, Dan Boswell, Leonard L. Boucher, Rick Boustany, Charles W. Jr. Boyd, Allen

An Arab League monitoring mission is visiting Homs and Hama, major centers of Syria's anti-government uprising, and witnessed violence firsthand. Activists say at least 40 protesters were killed by security forces Thursday. The presence of the monitors has emboldened the protesters, who are chronicling their struggle in videos.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144446831/in-syria-arab-league-monitors-caught-in-crossfire?ft=1&f=1004

Castle, Michael N. Castor, Kathy Chaffetz, Jason Chandler, Ben Childers, Travis W.

Saving money and lives, as well as improving national security, are the goals behind a U.S. military initiative to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. At one outpost in remote Afghanistan, Marines are using solar power; the Navy is also experimenting with biofuels.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/29/144395953/u-s-military-tests-out-green-tech-in-afghanistan?ft=1&f=1004

Fortenberry, Jeff Foster, Bill Foxx, Virginia Frank, Barney Franks, Trent