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The Democratic convention has put a spotlight on national politics. But for the nation's mayors, all politics is local. Host Michel Martin speaks with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He talks about the challenges facing American cities.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station took a spare toothbrush along on a spacewalk today and used it to help clean debris from around some bolts. What do you use them for? (Besides brushing your teeth, that is.)

Gina Rinehart inherited a mining company and built it into a multi-billion dollar fortune. She says Australia needs to cut labor costs and cut taxes because many "Africans want to work" and are willing to do so "for $2 a day."

In recent years, there's been a growing tendency for parties to offer convention speaking slots to ordinary Americans. Their testimonials might be more effective at conveying the benefits of various policies than claims from politicians themselves.

New York Times Washington bureau chief David Leonhardt compares Obama's and Romney's tax plans, Medicare plans and conflicting claims on whether Americans are better off now than four years ago. "I think it's fair to say the typical American household isn't better off, but the country is," he tells Fresh Air.

Matt Bissonnette, the former Navy SEAL who wrote No Easy Day, reportedly plans to give part of his proceeds from the book to the Navy SEAL Foundation, a non-profit that aids Naval Special Warfare personnel and their families. But the group says it won't accept any money from the book's sales.

A vaginal ring that releases a drug against HIV shows promise in an animal study as a way to prevent infections. The results bolster hopes that an ongoing clinical trial of a similar ring in people will prove to be successful.

A USDA report shows that 18 million households are struggling with the lingering effects of the recession. Particularly hard hit are households with children headed by single mothers who may be working but aren't earning enough to get by without assistance.

Cage's most lasting influence may be in his ideas — about the boundaries between noise and music and the artistic freedom that comes from breaking the rules.

State officials express confidence that a federal immigration database will expose more ineligible voters, but critics say the effort harms eligible minorities.