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David Beckham's contract with LA Galaxy ends Dec. 31. Beckham's star power has helped make soccer more popular in America. Host Audie Cornish speaks with football critic David Henry Sterry about the impact Beckham has had on Major League Soccer.

The Republican presidential debates have mattered more this year than anything else in determining which candidate had the momentum and the lead in the race for the White House nomination.Thus, Thursday evening's Sioux City, Iowa debate could be decisive in narrowing the gap between Newt Gingrich and the rest of the field or cementing his frontrunner status.

The influential writer and cultural critic died Thursday at the age of 62 from complications of cancer of the esophagus. Hitchens confronted his disease in part by writing, bringing the same unsparing insight to his mortality that he had directed at so many other subjects.

Each year, as Congress works to wrap up budget and tax bills and other "must-pass" legislation, inevitably not so must-pass items creep into the mix — inserted either to smooth passage for the more important things, or in the hopes that no one will notice. This year marks the first time that leadership has been unable to use earmarks to buy off reluctant votes, and has turned to other forms of grease instead. NPR's David Welna reports.

Iowa voters will go to local caucus meetings on Jan. 3 in the first round of the presidential nominating process. In the Republican race, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul lead the polls, but it's unclear whether there will be a big winner in Iowa, Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving tells Robert Siegel.

What happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas: PolitiFact offers a reality check on squads some of the candidates' statements from the GOP debate.

The Federal Reserve has announced a plan to drive long-term interest rates even lower. But with borrowers still too cautious to take on additional debt, will the move have a positive effect? Some experts say they're not holding their breath. "The Fed can only do so much," one analyst says.

President Obama had a rare bipartisan economic success when Congress passed three trade deals this week. But some important parts of Obama's political base are not fans, which could have political consequences for the president.

Economic disparities and race are closely aligned issues in America. Host Audie Cornish talks with Harvard economics professor Roland Fryer, who recently won a MacArthur genius grant for his research on the subject.

As the U.S. wraps up its military presence in Iraq, officials are facing the huge logistical challenge of pulling out after nearly nine years. As bases are transferred to Iraqi control, it's cheaper to leave some equipment behind rather than ship it home.