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Two former reporters are now making a living digging up dirt on political candidates. They help their clients find obscured truths on their competition — and on themselves. While name-calling isn't new, there are more ways to spread a damaging message. But as this election showed, that message isn't always factually based.

Unable to sleep in the days after the Newtown, Conn., killings, Emily Leukhardt found herself writing about the sister who she says was "just fundamentally good."

Early sales numbers suggest it was a lackluster season for retailers, and slow holiday sales mean fewer opportunities for retail workers hoping to make holiday temp jobs permanent.

Are people still talking about 2012? Bring on 2013! Here, NPR Music editor Stephen Thompson discusses forthcoming albums by Atoms for Peace, Aaron Neville, Kacey Musgraves and Rhye.

Blood diamonds, as they were once known, helped fuel atrocities in both Sierra Leone and neighboring Liberia. While no longer termed "conflict diamonds," they remain a divisive issue for the small West African nation.

President Obama hasn't even named his choice to replace Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who plans to step down at the end of this term. But there's already been a lot of heated rhetoric this week over one of the front-runners, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice.

President Obama's critics say the September attack in Libya and the official response reflect poorly on his administration. While they focused on TV comments by U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, David Petraeus' resignation from the CIA complicated the debate. Some — but not all — questions were answered in closed hearings this week.

City planner Jeff Speck says walking will remain a choice in most American cities for years to come, but that it's important to incentivize pedestrians. In his book, Walkable City, Speck says urban walks have to be useful, safe, comfortable and interesting.

As violence intensifies between Israelis and Palestinians, politics is playing a big role in how governments in the region are reacting. Israel has an election coming up, while Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood is navigating new territory and Syria is hoping for a distraction. Host Scott Simon talks with Rob Malley of the International Crisis Group.

Former Bears Coach Mike Ditka was hospitalized after suffering a minor stroke on Friday. He's telling fans not to worry, but he will be taking the weekend off from his job as analyst at ESPN.