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Commentator Gustav Niebuhr, a professor of religion and the media, has noticed something interesting this election season. President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards are all Methodists. He explains what that could mean for this mainline religious movement.

Critic David Bianculli has some thoughts about the fall season and cable's impact on network television. He says ABC may have the year's two best shows: the prime-time soap opera Desperate Housewives and the action/suspense show Lost.

In her convention speech, Ann Romney talked about the role of women in America. Host Michel Martin caught up with Rep. Marsha Blackburn before the speech. Blackburn says the concerns of women voters were key in drafting the Republican platform. She co-chairs the GOP platform committee, and heads the Women's Policy Committee in the House.

President Obama and Governor Romney have discussed the middle class a great deal during the debates, but the candidates haven't spent nearly as much time talking about the poor. To get a read on the state of poverty in America, host Michel Martin talks with Irwin Redlener, of the Children's Health Fund and Timothy Noah, a columnist for The New Republic.

Pam Grier, the blaxploitation sex symbol from the 1970s, now plays a straight character in the Showtime lesbian drama The L Word. Grier talks Farai Chideya about the show, which is about to start its fourth season.

The jazz pianist has improvised around Beatles songs. He's written works for operatic soprano Renee Fleming. And now, with his new double album, Highway Rider, he's created a large-scale work for chamber orchestra and jazz ensemble, produced by pop artist Jon Brion.

At the end of a week dominated by news of George Zimmerman's verdict, the Barbershop guys share what strikes them about the case.

Several times in earth's history continents have collided to form supercontinents only to later break apart. Geologist Ross Mitchell discusses a new study in Nature that predicts in 50 to 200 million years time the Americas and Eurasia will collide to form a supercontinent over the Arctic.

Violent conflicts that have continued through the holiday season have left many seeking solace. Rabbi and author Harold Kushner says one source that could help people of different faiths is Psalm 23, the famous "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want" psalm. Hear Kushner and NPR's Jacki Lyden.

Sure it's seasonal work, but the pay can be pretty good for a mall Santa, especially if the beard is real. Some of the men who play the role for children at stores even take their month-long job so seriously that they give it year-round attention. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.