NPR News

How Obama Got His Groove Back, And Other Debate Takeaways

Credit Charlie Neibergall / AP

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and President Obama spar over energy policy during the second presidential debate at Hofstra University on Tuesday.

By Alan Greenblatt

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 12:25 am

Anyone who thought the presidential candidates couldn't get aggressive within a town hall-style format underestimated the sharp differences in policy that divide them.

President Obama and Mitt Romney remained continuously critical against one another throughout their second debate Tuesday night. Neither ever seemed to finish a statement without launching an attack against his opponent.

6:26 pm

Tue October 16, 2012

Court Overturns Conviction Of Bin Laden Driver

Credit AP

A federal appeals court on Tuesday threw out the conviction of Salim Ahmed Hamdan, a former driver for Osama bin Laden, who served a prison term for material support for terrorism.

By Dina Temple-Raston

Listen

A federal appeals court on Tuesday overturned the conviction of Osama bin Laden's former driver and bodyguard, Salim Ahmed Hamdan. If the name sounds familiar, it should. Hamdan was at the center of a Supreme Court case that ruled that the Bush administration's military commission system at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was unconstitutional.

6:19 pm

Tue October 16, 2012

Federal Investigators Search Pharmacy Linked To Meningitis Outbreak

By Mark Memmott

Originally published on Tue October 16, 2012 6:42 pm

"The top federal prosecutor in Massachusetts on Tuesday said federal agents raided the New England Compounding Center, the pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak that has killed 15 people and sickened more than 200 others," Reuters writes.

6:03 pm

Tue October 16, 2012

In Neck-And-Neck Nevada, Voters We Met In February Offer Few October Surprises

Next image Previous image

Credit Becky Lettenberger / NPR

Jared Fisher, who runs an outdoor recreation and bicycle company, voted for Barack Obama in 2008. He says he has yet to decide who he'll vote for this year.

Credit Liz Halloran / NPR

Robin Caprice voted for Obama in 2008, but says she plans to vote for Romney this year.

Credit Becky Lettenberger / NPR

Jillian Batchelor, 30, voted for Obama in 2008, but says she's "99 percent sure" she'll vote for Mitt Romney in November.

By Liz Halloran

Originally published on Tue October 16, 2012 6:54 pm

With eyes on the presidential debate in New York, we decided to turn ours to the swing state of Nevada, where President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney are battling mightily over the state's small but crucial trove of six electoral votes.

Polls show the race at a near dead heat in the Silver State, which was hit harder than any other by the recession, and still records among the highest unemployment and home foreclosure rates in the nation.

5:42 pm

Tue October 16, 2012

Dals: Simple Indian Comfort Food

Next image Previous image

Credit Reem Rizvi for NPR

Credit Courtesy of Chef K.N. Vinod

By editor

Originally published on Wed October 17, 2012 5:27 am

My first official kitchen chore, at the ripe age of 6, was to help Mom with the dal. It is one of the first dishes I learned to cook from her, and I still consider her the ultimate dal expert. Dal is sort of an umbrella term under which my family (and, I bet, most Indians) lump pulses and legumes such as lentils, beans and dried peas.

Now Playing

NPR News

Pages

It's All Politics

11:47 pm

Tue October 16, 2012