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Trillions of microbes live on and in the human body, tucked into very different ecosystems. Some like the dark, warm confines of the mouth. Others prefer the desert-dry skin of the forearm. The biggest and most active collection of microbes hangs out in the gut.

When Congress left on its August break five weeks ago, members knew they had a string of fiscal deadlines coming up upon their return — from the budget bill funding the government to a debt ceiling increase. The Syria debate has overshadowed all of that.

The White House is pursuing a major effort to persuade members of Congress to support a military strike in Syria. Estimates show the number of House members publicly against a strike near an outright majority. Renee Montagne talks to Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma who is opposed to military action.

Also: What "immigrant fiction" means; Wild author Cheryl Strayed on finding her half-sister; the best books coming out this week.

Millions of Syrians have poured into refugee camps, where food, water and health services are scarce. As the U.S. prepares for possible military action, aid agencies are preparing for thousands more people to flee and worsen the humanitarian crisis.

If the U.S. does not take action, Syrian President Bashar Assad will use chemical weapons "again and again," U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power says. But Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., sees "no direct security threat" to the U.S. or its allies. The debate is building to votes in Congress.

Monroe Isadore had been asked to move out of an Arkansas home and into an apartment, his roommate says. The roommate, Pauline Lewis, says the centenarian was very angry.

Russia's foreign minister says he has told his Syrian counterpart that one way to head off a U.S. strike could be to hand over control of those weapons to international watchdogs. The Assad regime has reportedly welcomed the suggestion. The White House says any turnover has to be verifiable.

Many people saw the Arab Spring as a sign of hope for youth in the area. But unemployment numbers there reflect the opposite. Host Michel Martin speaks with The Wall Street Journal economics reporter Sudeep Reddy and Shadi Hamid, director of research at the Brookings Doha Center, about the economic realities of the post-Arab Spring world.

Researchers argue that through social media and on-the-ground research, a detailed portrait of the Syrian rebels has emerged. This goes against the conventional wisdom, which holds that little is known about the rebel factions.