All Things Considered

A potential default on U.S. treasury bonds isn't as unprecedented as politicians would have you think. In 1979, the U.S. failed to make timely payments to its bondholders — and the results weren't pretty. Robert Siegel speaks with Ball State University finance professor Terry Zivney, who co-authored a journal article called "The Day the United States Defaulted on Treasury Bills," about the results of that last default.

We’re still 16 months way from the 2012 election. But this is the prime time for challengers to begin their campaigns - which is exactly what three Democrats have done recently for state congressional seats.

A Greeley-based program that helps steer low-income kids toward higher education is getting a financial boost from the U.S. Department of Education.

According to the Colorado Children’s Campaign – child poverty has risen so sharply that 20% of the state’s children don’t know if they will get regular meals.

The U.S. is withholding $800 million in military assistance to Pakistan. NPR's Jackie Northam and host Guy Raz discuss the latest example of the strain between the two allies in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing.