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Host Scott Simon talks with John Podesta about the transition from the first Obama administration to the next. Podesta served as co-chair of President Obama's 2008 transition team. Podesta, who currently chairs the Center for American Progress, says first terms always emphasize big building blocks of legislation, whereas second terms focus on implementing good management.

The White House and FBI have confirmed al-Qaida attempted to target a plane bound for the United States. All indications are the plan was conceived by al-Qaida's arm in Yemen. But officials say the plot was foiled before it was any threat to the public.

A group of women are determined to stop their hotheaded men from starting a religious war in Where Do We Go Now?, a bittersweet comedy from Lebanese director Nadine Labaki. The film has broken box office records in the Middle East.

In politics, money talks. And money from gay and lesbian donors is talking louder than ever in this election cycle. That's partly a result of President Obama endorsing same-sex marriage, and partly because Republicans are starting to see contributions as well — a huge change from a few decades ago.

President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are hitting the campaign trail hard this week. On Tuesday, the president was campaigning in Iowa — the state that helped to launch his White House bid in 2008. He told supporters in Iowa he wants a second term in order to finish what he started.

Teams in the NBA playoff have begun their quest to be the champion. The headline story of the weekend: Chicago superstar Derrick Rose is out with a torn knee ligament.

While Herman Cain was wrapping up a rough week in Washington, five of his fellow GOP presidential contenders were in Iowa Friday night for the state GOP's Ronald Reagan Dinner. Cain and Mitt Romney skipped the Iowa event, and in fact, they've spent little time courting Iowa voters, though that hasn't hurt their standing in the polls. Host Scott Simon talks local politics with Kathie Obradovich, political columnist for the Des Moines Register.

The Stanley Cup finals are set, the NBA playoffs feature a thrilling matchup between Texas and Oklahoma, and the French Open, uh, opens. Host Scott Simon catches up on the week in sports with NPR's Tom Goldman.

California is the top dairy-producing state in the nation. And its dairy farmers are split over the impact of the latest farm bill's impact on the government's antiquated milk price support system.

The case involves a famous political family and has rocked the Communist Party establishment. A verdict will be announced later against Gu Kailai who is accused of murdering a British businessman.