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NPR's David Welna traveled home with Kentucky Congressman Ken Lucas, the state's only Democratic representative in Washington, D.C. and reports on Lucas' meetings with his constituents. The visits came just days before President Bush was to address a joint session of Congress on his new budget proposals. Lucas, whose district voted for Bush, is one of the most conservative members of his own party, and is one of the Democrats whom the president is hoping to win over. The two-term House member says that he and his district are in sync on most of issues.

Obama, an Illinois state senator, is considered the party's rising star. He is currently running against Republican Alan Keyes for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Obama's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention brought him to the attention of many Americans. He talks about the race and his memoir, Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.

His films include Welcome to Sarajevo, 24 Hour Party People and Wonderland. His new film, In This World, follows the arduous 4,000-mile journey of two Afghan refugees from Pakistan to Britain. The film was shot in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. The two actors were "discovered" in Peshawar, Pakistan. Fifteen-year-old actor Jamal Udin Torabi has since applied for asylum in Britain. The interview continues into the second half of the show.

The U.S. military launches its biggest military operation since the end of the war, sending more than 4,000 soldiers to a region in central Iraq where coordinated attacks on American troops have increased in recent weeks. U.S. forces conduct house-to-house searches and detain hundreds of Iraqis believed to be Baath Party loyalists. Hear NPR's Ivan Watson.

Conducting airstrikes and artillery assaults, U.S. forces clash with Iraqi troops in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. U.S. military planners had expected remnants of the Iraqi army and Baath party may mount a last stand there, but reports suggest that many soldiers have fled and that defenses in the city are seriously weakened. Hear Michael Ware of Time magazine.

Democratic Sen. John Kerry and his new vice presidential choice, Sen. John Edwards, kick off a cross-country barnstorming tour that will take them to at least seven states before Sunday. Democrats have rallied around the selection of Edwards, a party favorite. Republicans are already seeking to portray Edwards as too inexperienced for the No. 2 job. Hear NPR's Scott Horsley.

Ghazi al-Yawer, the Sunni head of the Iraqi Governing Council, is named Iraq's interim president, ending a deadlock over the composition of the interim government. The Iraqi Governing Council immediately dissolves, handing its responsibilities over to the interim government ahead of the June 30 transfer of sovereignty. Meanwhile, an explosion rips through the Kurdish party headquarters in Baghdad, killing several people. Hear NPR's Emily Harris.

Howard Dean says Wisconsin's Feb. 17 primary is critical for his campaign, although earlier this week he said he will not drop out if he loses in the state. Wisconsin's open primary system allows voters to cross party lines to participate, but it's unclear whether that will help rivals of frontrunner Sen. John Kerry. Hear NPR's Bob Edwards and Craig Gilbert of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

When it comes to political pundits and strategists, it's hard to find someone better known than James Carville. He helped President Clinton win. Now he's got advice for democrats to help his party "rule" the next 40 years.

Business in the front, party in the back is one way to describe the mullet — a hairdo popular in the 80s. Who is the next champion? That's up to you. Voting at mulletchamp.com ends Friday.