For the first time since 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has been allowed to expire. The reason? Political gridlock. Weekends on All Things Considered host Jacki Lyden talks to NPR's justice correspondent Carrie Johnson about what happened to the long-standing law, what it means for women and what options are on the table.

"You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" is an old and cherished maxim of our republic. In politics, that's called an earmark, aka pork. One member of Congress gets a road or a monument for his or her state in exchange for a vote on the bill in question.

Congress has lived on this since the era of stovepipe hats. The political vogue lately, however, has been to repudiate those earmarks. But with the recent gridlock in Washington, the feeling is that perhaps some of that grease might help ease things.

It's 9 p.m. on a Wednesday, and the night shift has started work at Langtrees, a popular brothel in the Western Australia city of Perth.

Like other women at Langtrees, "Ruby," 25, uses a working name out of concern for her safety. Ruby is from Spain, and tonight she expects to earn at least $1,500.

"I work in many countries — in Europe, in Dubai, I work in Brazil," Ruby says.

President Obama will on Monday name former Sen. Chuck Hagel to be his next defense secretary, an administration official confirmed to NPR.

The former Republican senator from Nebraska is a Vietnam veteran. He would succeed Leon Panetta, who is retiring.

Our original post follows:

Republican senators say former Sen. Chuck Hagel can expect a tough nominating process if President Obama names him to be the next defense secretary.

Daniel & Ben talk with author Gabe Gomez, whose latest poetry collection is entitled "The Seed Bank."  Gomez talks about winning the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize for his first book, and how it coincided with his displacement from New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.  Gomez also talks about the differences between his first collection and his latest, "The Seed Bank." In this online-only extended interview, Gomez talks about the poetry he wrote that was inspired by Katrina, and how the poems liberated him from his previously-held beliefs about poetry. www.gabegomez.com

For this week's Poem of the Week, Gabe Gomez reads "Clovis Culture" from his newest collection of poetry, "The Seed Bank."

Aired Jan. 6, 2013.

Daniel & Ben talk with author Gabe Gomez, whose latest poetry collection is entitled "The Seed Bank." 

Gomez talks about winning the Andres Montoya Poetry Prize for his first book, and how it coincided with his displacement from New Orleans after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina.  Gomez also talks about the differences between his first collection and his latest, "The Seed Bank." www.gabegomez.com

For this week's Poem of the Week, Gabe Gomez reads "Clovis Culture" from his newest collection of poetry, "The Seed Bank."

Ben & Daniel also talk about the latest movies they've seen together.

Aired Jan. 6, 2013.

Transcript

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

For more on the crisis in Syria, I'm joined by Andrew Tabler. He's the author of "In the Lion's Den: An Eyewitness Account of Washington's Battle with Syria." He's here with me in the studio.

Good morning. Thanks for coming in.

ANDREW TABLER: My pleasure.

MARTIN: So, as we just heard Kelly McEvers say the war in Syria appears to be in a stalemate. Assad appears to have has dug his heels in with this address. Where are we right now in this crisis?