In wake of NPR controversy, Fox News gives Juan Williams an expanded role  —  The cable news network signs the analyst to a new three-year contract for nearly $2 million.  Meanwhile, conservative figures blast the public radio network for its response to Williams' comments about Muslims.

Ground War More Intense Than 2006, Early Voting More Prevalent  —  Democrats Stirring But Are No Match for Energized Republicans  —  As the midterm elections approach, there is every indication that voter turnout will be as high as in 2006, but unlike four years ago, Republicans …

Will Rand Paul ‘Man Up’?  —  A confession: When Kentucky's Democratic Senate nominee Jack Conway put up his controversial “Aqua Buddha” ad, alluding to the GQ report that an undergraduate Rand Paul had “kidnapped” a woman and forced her to pray to what Conway grandiosely called “a false idol” …

Top Companies Aid Chamber of Commerce in Policy Fights  —  Prudential Financial sent in a $2 million donation last year as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a national advertising campaign to weaken the historic rewrite of the nation's financial regulations.

Hurricane Sarah  —  The election is two weeks away, but the campaign trail reviews of Sarah Palin are already in, and they aren't pretty.  —  According to multiple Republican campaign sources, the former Alaska governor wreaks havoc on campaign logistics and planning.

Toxic powder sent to Arizona congressman  —  Office locked down after swastika-covered envelope discovered  —  TUCSON, Ariz. — White powder delivered in an swastika-covered envelope to the Tucson, Ariz., office of Rep. Raul Grijalva is a toxic substance, the Democratic congressman said the FBI told him Thursday afternoon.

Cyber Attack Strikes FreedomWorks  —  A mysterious cyber attack apparently struck the computer servers at the pro-tea party group FreedomWorks this morning, just as it launched a major fund-raising drive.  —  FreedomWorks officials are investigating, but they suspect they were attacked deliberately …

A Brief History of NPR's Intolerance and Imbalance  —  From calling Tea Party members “Tea Baggers,” to saying that “the evaporation of 4 million” Christians would leave the world a better place, to suggesting that God could give former Sen. Jesse Helms or his family AIDS from a blood transfusion …

Christine O'Donnell: Favorite Democratic punching bag  —  Christine O'Donnell is only on one state's ballot this year, but it would be easy for voters elsewhere to think otherwise.  Democrats in some of the nation's most competitive Senate races are invoking the Delaware Republican Senate …

Nina Totenberg  —  Nina Totenberg is NPR's award-winning legal affairs correspondent.  Her reports air regularly on NPR's critically acclaimed newsmagazines All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition.  —  Totenberg's coverage of the Supreme Court and legal affairs has won her widespread recognition.

Reid: 'I've never had to prove my manhood to anyone'  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fired back at his Republican opponent Sharron Angle Thursday for telling him to “man up” when it comes to Social Security reform.  —  Reid, who is in a deadlocked race with the Tea Party-backed GOP nominee …

Campaign's Big Spender  —  Public-Employees Union Now Leads All Groups in Independent Election Outlays  —  The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is now the biggest outside spender of the 2010 elections, thanks to an 11th-hour effort to boost Democrats that has vaulted …

West Winning Wild CD 22 Race, Poll Shows  —  In rematch, Republican holds slight lead over Rep. Klein in ‘referendum on the president’  —  Republican Allen West narrowly leads U.S. Rep. Ron Klein in a bruising battle for South Florida's 22nd Congressional District, a new Sunshine State News Poll shows.

New study shows ObamaCare subsidies potentially five times higher in first year than predicted  —  In passing ObamaCare, Democrats argued that it would provide a net relief to the budget deficit in its balance of new taxes and fees, drastic cuts to Medicare Advantage, and the subsidies …

Cafe owner ordered to remove extractor fan because neighbour claimed ‘smell of frying bacon offends Muslims’  —  A hard-working cafe owner has been ordered to tear down an extractor fan - because the smell of her frying bacon ‘offends’ Muslims.  —  Planning bosses acted against Beverley Akciecek …