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In an astounding 62% of the decisions, conservatives prevailed, and more importantly, often prevailed in dramatic ways, according to new data.

Book critic MAUREEN CORRIGAN gives her summer reading round-up (part one): "Neanderthal," by John Darton (Random House); "Firestorm," by Nevada Barr (Putnam); "The World at Night," by Alan Furst (Random House); "Ruined By Reading," by Lynne Sharon Schwartz (Beacon).Movie critic JOHN POWERS reviews the new action thriller "The Rock," starring Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage. In the film, Cage and Connery team up to retake Alcatraz from a crazed general.

Writer Alec Wilkinson is the author of new memoir, My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell (Houghton Mifflin) about his relationship with writer and editor William Maxwell. Maxwell was fiction editor for the New Yorker from 1936-1976 and worked with such authors as J.D. Salinger, John Cheever, John Updike, Eudora Welty and scores of others. Maxwell was the author of a number of novels, including Time Will Darken It, and So Long, See You Tomorrow, as well as several short story collections. He died at the age of 91 in August 2000. Wilkinson is a staff writer for the New Yorker, and has been there since 1980. He's the author of several books including, Midnights, Moonshine, and Big Sugar. We'll listen to a rebroadcast of a 1995 interview with Maxwell (3/29/95), and to an interview with Alec Wilkinson shortly after Maxwell's death (8/4/2000).

Dating can be difficult at the best of times, but if you're the Man of Steel it's near impossible — until now. The latest edition of Justice League gives Superman a romantic break by pairing him up with Wonder Woman. According to Justice League writer Geoff Johns, the relationship will definitely cause tension around the office.

Teacher John Scopes was convicted and fined $100 for violating a Tennessee law that banned the teaching of evolution because it contradicted the Bible.

"Naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act — that is a fine tribute," former President Barack Obama said. "But John wouldn't want us to stop there."

Former Vice President Biden gave an emotional tribute to his former colleague and friend Sen. John McCain. Biden's son, Beau, died of the same type of brain cancer that took McCain's life.

Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards, has survived campaigns, cancer, the death of a child and her husband's infidelity. In her new book, Resilience, Edwards discusses the adversities she has faced — and her efforts to move on.

Many of us intuitively feel that the bitter partisanship of American politics is bad for our nation. So should we be concerned about the health of our democracy? This week on Hidden Brain, we revisit two of our favorite conversations about U.S. politics. We start by talking with political scientist John Hibbing about the psychological differences between liberals and conservatives. Then, we explore the role of conflict in democracy with historian David Moss.

The Helphas enjoyed a surge of popularity on Netflix, perhaps owing to its commitment to the idea that the personal matters most. But where injustices persist, that's a flawed idea at best.

As demand on pitchers (and their elbows) mounts, players are getting "Tommy John" surgery at a record pace. Doctors are wondering what — if anything — can be done about the injuries.

Telling the story of a young girl's attempts to connect with an old man she spots living on the moon, a Christmas ad from British retailer John Lewis has sparked tears, views, and a bit of criticism.

John Slattery stepped away from Mad Men for his directorial debut, God's Pocket, a film adapted from a 1980s novel. He discusses the anxieties of directing and the passing of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Rep. John Boehner of Ohio was elected House majority leader today to replace indicted Rep. Tom DeLay. Boehner defeated fellow Republican Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri, 122-109, after lagging behind his rival in a first, inconclusive ballot. The third contender -- John Shadegg of Arizona -- withdrew after finishing last in the first round of balloting.

NPR's John McChesney reports on wildfire, an automated phone system which unlike voicemail will be able to find you anywhere in the country.

Robert Siegel and John Ydstie read some of this week's listener letters.

Lisa Simeone talks to the BBC's John McLean about the explosions that rocked Manila today.

The successful military operation against Osama bin Laden raises all sorts of questions about the legal authority the U.S. government relied on to carry out the deadly attack. Was it an assassination under U.S. or international law? Did it require approval of the highest levels of the Justice Department or a new executive order by the president? Was Pakistan's sovereignty disrespected?

Princeton religious scholar Elaine Pagels puts the New Testament's last book in historical context.

When a police inspector goes missing, his identical twin assumes his identity in an effort to solve the disappearance. Ludwig is one of the most original takes on the TV mystery genre.