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Americans make many sacrifices when they join the armed forces, including some free speech rights. Soldiers who publicly criticize the military risk consequences for violating rules meant to maintain morale and discipline. NPR's Adam Hochberg reports.

Shoppers across the country throng stores in search of bargains at the traditional start to the holiday shopping season, as retailers hope for a strong end to the year. Analysts predict shoppers will spend slightly more than last year between now and the end of next month. NPR's Jackie Northam reports.

Iraq's Shiite population seeks new political power after years of oppression. There are more Shia living in Iraq than Sunnis or Kurds. But there are fissures between Islamic and secular Shia, and it is unclear whether cleric Muqtada al-Sadr will participate in the elections. NPR's Emily Harris reports.

The National Guard has not met its recruitment goal for the fiscal year that ends Thursday, a failure it blames on current lengthy deployments. The Pentagon is seeking ways to reduce the strain on the National Guard and other forces. NPR's Eric Westervelt reports.

Last-minute bills often contain surprises, and Congress' 3,200-page spending bill is no exception. The bill is intended to fund most of the federal government's operations, but is also festooned with special features few had noticed. NPR's David Welna reports.

The new video games coming out this Christmas are seen by many as more violent than ever before, with increasing emphasis on sexual themes. And some politicians are concerned about children being exposed to what they see as inappropriate content. NPR's David Welna reports.

Opening the 109th Congress, the House reelects Dennis Hastert as speaker, and majority Republicans opt not to push certain ethics rule changes that Democrats had claimed would weaken the ethics committee's work. NPR's Andrea Seabrook reports.

Alexis Sinduhije, a Burundian journalist, will receive an International Press Freedom Award this week from the Committee to Protect Journalists. Sinduhije is the founder of Radio Publique Africaine, a radio station that has brought together Hutu and Tusti reporters. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and Sinduhije.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge resigns, saying his only regret is that he could not make some security improvements sooner. Rumors of Ridge's resignation, the seventh in President Bush's Cabinet since the election, had circulated since the summer. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

President Bush names Treasury deputy secretary Samuel Bodman as his new secretary of energy. Bodman, a chemical engineer and former business executive, was previously deputy secretary of the Commerce Department in Bush's first term. NPR's Brian Naylor reports.