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Calvin Trillin, author most recently of Obliviously On He Sailed: The Bush Administration in Rhyme, has been contributing poems this week based on events at the Democratic National Convention. His new effort is about the advice presidential candidate John Kerry may be receiving on how to approach his acceptance speech this evening.

Accepting the Democratic nomination, John Kerry vows to "restore trust and credibility" to the White House, promising to never mislead America into war. Kerry pledges to work for prosperity and security, saying "America can do better."

Sen. John Kerry's campaign makes last-minute stops in several states before his arrival at the Democratic National Convention later in the week. The presumptive Democratic presidential candidate is attempting to shore up support in swing states throughout the Midwest. Hear NPR's Andrea Seabrook.

President Bush begins a four-state campaign tour Friday with a stop in Missouri, ending the traditional silence usually observed when an opponent holds a political convention. The president's statements indicate he's going on the offensive against Sen. John Kerry. Hear NPR's Robert Siegel and NPR's Don Gonyea.

President Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry clash over the war on terror and the war in Iraq as they campaign in Iowa. The president says the two efforts are one war, while Sen. Kerry says they are separate. NPR's Scott Horsley reports.

Still in a statistical dead heat in polls, President Bush and Sen. John Kerry tour several battleground states on the last day before the election. Each candidate urged supporters to vote Tuesday. NPR's Don Gonyea and NPR's Scott Horsley report.

Michele Norris talks with John Campbell, a first sergeant with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, and his wife Paula, about Campbell's imminent deployment to Iraq. This will be Campbell's second tour of duty in Iraq, but this time things are different, as Paula is pregnant with twins that are due in April.

The Vatican describes Pope John Paul II's condition as "very grave" after suffering heart failure during treatment for a urinary tract infection. Church officials deny reports the pontiff is in a coma and say he is "conscious, lucid and serene." He remains at his Vatican residence.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with NPR's John Burnett, traveling with the Marines' 1st Division Headquarters Battalion. The battalion is responsible for the massive supply of food, water, fuel and ammunition to forward troops. Siegel also talks with the battalion's chaplain, Alan Cameron, about ministering to troops in the field.

Anti-Americanism is on the rise in Baghdad -- even as a pro-American politician pleads with Iraqis to be patient at the pace of reconstruction. Tension runs high in Mosul where many remain pro-Saddam. And in Kut, Shia Muslims urge Americans not to overstay. Hear reports from NPR's John Burnett, NPR's Ivan Watson and NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Time spent behind bars in Mexico can be hard time indeed. Massive overcrowding, corruption and unbearably hot conditions are common. But during a visit to interview American inmates at a prison in Nuevo Laredo, three miles from the U.S. border, NPR's John Burnett discovered visiting families, snack stands -- even pets behind the walls.

The Bush administration sends Gen. John Abizaid and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to reassure Congress of progress in Iraq. Their appearance at Capitol Hill comes amidst increasing anxiety by lawmakers over the growing cost of the U.S. occupation in Iraq. NPR's David Welna reports.

Stephen Koff of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer talks to Melissa Block about Rep. John Boehner, the new House majority leader. Koff calls him "an insider's insider," but says Boehner's past relationships with lobbyists may make it tough for him to enforce sweeping lobbying reform.

Nominations for Academy Awards are announced in Los Angeles. Brokeback Mountain and Munich were among the best picture nominees, while the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line was shut out. Critic Kenneth Turan discusses the nominations with John Ydstie.

John Bolton, President Bush's nominee to be ambassador to the United Nations, pledges to build a more robust world body. He is expected to face tough questioning during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing Monday. Democrats hope to block the nomination of the blunt U.N. critic.

Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had questions and criticism Monday for John Bolton, President Bush's nominee as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Democrats fault Bolton for his past vocal criticism of the international body.

Plans for the Senate Foreign Relations committee to vote on the embattled nomination of John Bolton for ambassador to the United Nations fell apart Tuesday. Republican Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio broke ranks with his party, asking for more time to probe allegations of misdeeds by Bolton.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist calls for a vote on the nomination of John Bolton to become the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., but the issue may not reach the floor. The Republicans may not be able to get the 60 votes needed to cut off discussion of the nomination.

As the Republican National Convention opens, featured speakers Sen. John McCain and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani laud President Bush's leadership in the war on terrorism. Both draw links between that effort and the Iraq war.

On the third night of the GOP convention, Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat, assail Sen. John Kerry, calling him weak on national security and accusing him of changing his stance on Iraq.