Politics NPR's expanded coverage of U.S. and world politics, the latest news from Congress and the White House and elections.

Tuesday

House Rejects Debt Limit Increase Without Cuts

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Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, center, visits a Civil War-era cemetery, Tuesday, May 31, 2011, at Gettysburg National Military Park. Timothy Jacobsen/AP hide caption

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Timothy Jacobsen/AP

Asma Jehangir, a human rights advocate and lawyer in Lahore, Pakistan, is an outspoken critic of the military. Jim Wildman/NPR hide caption

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Jim Wildman/NPR

Criticizing Pakistan's Military: Dangerous, As Is Life

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Monday

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey pauses before speaking to family members of fallen service members at a Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors seminar. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

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Evan Vucci/AP

Obama Taps Army General To Lead Joint Chiefs

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President Obama, with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaks during a town hall meeting April 20 at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Facebook Has Powerful Friends; Will Users Suffer?

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Sunday

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin greets some of the thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts and military veterans participating in the Rolling Thunder rally on Sunday. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Palin Kick-Starts Bus Tour On Back Of Motorcycle

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Corn is big business in Iowa, which has usually made anything but support for ethanol subsidies off-limits for presidential hopefuls. Steve Pope/AP hide caption

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Steve Pope/AP

Who's Afraid Of Ethanol? The 2012 Race Will Tell

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Friday

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) speaks during a Tea Party Town Hall meeting in February at the National Press Club in Washington. The freshman lawmaker is being hailed by civil libertarians for putting privacy concerns over the Patriot Act back in the spotlight. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Images

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney focuses on a key issue — corn — in Ankeny, Iowa, on Friday, as he prepares to launch his 2012 presidential bid. Charlie Neibergall/AP hide caption

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Charlie Neibergall/AP

Romney Back In Iowa, Shadowed by 2008 Loss

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President Obama's signature. Chuck Kennedy/The White House hide caption

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Chuck Kennedy/The White House

Elizabeth Warren, assistant to the president and special adviser to the Treasury secretary on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, testifies before a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Consumer Agency: A Political Lightning Rod

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Thursday