National Politics

The U.S. district judge's decision allows the cuts to take effect immediately.

Al-Qaida can survive without Osama bin Laden, its slain leader. But how dangerous a threat will the terrorist group be without him? Even as al-Qaida prepares retaliatory attacks — and, doubtless, a propaganda campaign that will seek to elevate bin Laden into martyrdom — the group's fear factor, which dogged the West and thrilled some in the Muslim world, may diminish.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations in San Diego says bin Laden never represented Islam.

San Diego's military and other federal employees could lose pay. The county has the largest number of federal employees in the the country.

Employers across the country are lining up to receive federal money for retiree health care costs. But the City of San Diego is not among them.

San Diego National Wildlife Refuge On List

It could be a busy week in Washington, D.C. as lawmakers try to work out a spending plan to prevent a possible government shutdown. We speak to NPR White House Correspondent about the budget negotiations, the president's reelection announcement, and the nationwide unemployment rate.

As part of a $61 billion package of cuts, House Republicans passed a proposal to eliminate $430 million in funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray joins us to talk about why he voted in favor of eliminating funding for the CPB. And, KPBS General Manager Tom Karlo talks about why he thinks federal funds should continue be used to help pay for public broadcasting.

San Diego Congressman Darrell Issa has built a staff with close ties to organizations that could benefit from the investigations conducted by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, according to the Watchdog Institute. We speak to Watchdog Institute Executive Director Lorie Hearn about the ties Issa's staff has to billionaires Charles and David Koch, who made their fortunes in the oil and chemical business and are funders of a numerous conservative causes.

San Diego Congressman Duncan D. Hunter introduced legislation this week that would slow down the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. We'll find out what kind of support Hunter is getting from his colleagues in the House and how the bill could impede the implementation of the repeal.