Stories of the Week | PBS NewsHour Podcast | PBS

Despite the political hit Republicans took from the shutdown, former RNC chair Ed Gillespie is optimistic his party can make headway on issues like immigration reform and entitlements, and win back the majority if they can reduce friction in their coalition. Gwen Ifill talks to Gillespie about the outlook for the next election.

While their elementary school-aged kids are being taught the basics of reading and math, some parents are learning how to prioritize their prospects for higher education. The NewsHour's April Brown reports on the "Parent College" program that is working to improve graduation rates for underprivileged students in Los Angeles.

In June, the Obama administration called for new pollution standards for power plants, and the new EPA administrator, Gina McCarthy, has followed through with a proposal for new rules. Ray Suarez reports on pushback from the coal industry, while Judy Woodruff talks to McCarthy about pollution and energy priorities.

The Pacific Northwest is known for its seafood, but when algae blooms in coastal waters, it can release toxins that poison shellfish and the people who eat them. Katie Campbell of KCTS in Seattle reports on the growing prevalence and toxicity of that algae, and how scientists are studying a possible link to climate change.

Detroit schools are turning their students into published poets with a little guidance from professional writers and a program called InsideOut. Jeffrey Brown reflects with U.S. Poet Laureate Natasha Trethewey about visiting the Motor City middle-schoolers and the "sense of power" she witnessed as they found their voices.

A new report shows the cost of college is rising at a slower rate, but that does little good in easing the struggle for affordable higher education, with fewer funds available for student aid and household incomes at a plateau. What options do students face? Ray Suarez talks to Jeff Selingo of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The Obama administration has said it is making efforts to improve the health care website, but tech experts warn the problems are far from fixed. For more on what contributed to the flawed launch and the challenges ahead, Hari Sreenivasan speaks with John Engates of RackSpace and Bill Curtis of CAST Software.

Has the age of antibiotics come to an end? New strains of bacteria are on the rise, landing normally healthy people in the hospital with life-threatening, drug-resistant infections. Ray Suarez talks to David Hoffman, the journalist who led the investigation for Frontline's "Hunting the Nightmare Bacteria."

JP Morgan Chase is close to striking a reported $13 billion settlement with the government over the sale of troubled mortgage securities. Gwen Ifill talks to Dennis Kelleher of Better Markets and Bert Ely, a banking consultant, for reaction on the penalty and how the government is seeking accountability for the 2008 crisis.

Fundamental disagreement is an expected occurrence in Congress, but lately crises have come in increasing frequency. Jeffrey Brown speaks with Eric Liu of Citizen University, Steven Hayward of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Beverly Gage of Yale University for a closer look at polarized American politics.

New guns that won't fire for anyone who hasn't been authorized are on their way to the market. Proponents of these "smart" firearms say they can prevent accidental deaths, but gun rights activists say additional safety feature aren't necessary. Ray Suarez reports on the new technology in the gun debate.

New guns that won't fire for anyone who hasn't been authorized are on their way to the market. Proponents of these "smart" firearms say they can prevent accidental deaths, but gun rights activists say additional safety feature aren't necessary. Ray Suarez reports on the new technology in the gun debate.

While Congress engaged in a budget showdown, workers' pay was delayed, tourism money lost and small business loans put on hold. Judy Woodruff talks to Sylvia Burwell of the Office of Management and Budget, plus Beth Ann Bovino of Standard & Poor's and Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics offer insight on broader potential impact.

While Congress engaged in a budget showdown, workers' pay was delayed, tourism money lost and small business loans put on hold. Judy Woodruff talks to Sylvia Burwell of the Office of Management and Budget, plus Beth Ann Bovino of Standard & Poor's and Mark Zandi of Moody's Analytics offer insight on broader potential impact.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be New Jersey's first African-American senator, having been elected to fill the U.S. Senate seat of the late Frank Lautenberg. Gwen Ifill talks to Booker about his win, his legislative priorities and how he plans to pursue "uncommon coalitions for uncommon results" with his fellow lawmakers.