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Retiring Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) reflects on his career. NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin recaps the week in politics — from the final election results in the House to the fiscal cliff — and discusses the advantages and pitfalls of second term presidencies.

Robert Siegel speaks with Maen Rashid Areikat, the chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) delegation in Washington, who is, in effect, the Palestinian ambassador to the United States. Ariekat says Israel and the United States wanted Egypt to be directly involved with the talks to bring about a cease fire over Gaza. He rejects suggestions that the PLO and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been marginalized by Hamas and the events in Gaza. Areikat says the PLO is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and that Abbas will press ahead with a bid for recognition as a "non-member state" at the United Nations.

The epidemic of post-traumatic stress disorder has pushed the VA to explore new and sometimes unorthodox treatments. In one VA facility in Menlo Park, Calif., veterans of current and past wars gather to meditate and break down the shields that combat forced them to hold.

Starting in the 1920s, Hawkins made an afterthought of an instrument into one of the sounds we most identify with jazz. He also straddled the era of big band swing and later developments like bebop. Here are five songs that illustrate his genius.

Lincoln biographer Ronald White critiques the accuracy of Stephen Spielberg's new film about the Great Emancipator. White says that while not every detail of the film is true, "the delicate balance or blend between history and dramatic art comes off quite well."

As you prepare to feast upon cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and your choice of entree this Thanksgiving, there's also an operatic feast to be had. Classical commentator Miles Hoffman joins NPR's Renee Montagne to take us through a five-course meal.

Union-backed organizations plan to picket selected stores across the country, about 1,000 in all. Journalist Charles Fishman tells Linda Wertheimer the groups protesting want to make Wal-Mart a better company and a better place to work. Fishman is the author of the book, The Wal-Mart Effect.

Airlines are always crowded during the Thanksgiving holiday. But if you've had the feeling they're becoming more crowded all the time, it's not just your imagination. On average, more than 80 percent of airline seats have been filled and plenty of flights have been packed to capacity.

With elections set for January, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu changed the political landscape last month by announcing his Likud Party would run along with a right-wing party. Moderates say centrists should put aside their differences and unite to take back the political majority.

Brandon McClain is a 17-year-old high school student who lives in one of the areas in New York City hit hardest by Superstorm Sandy. His neighborhood was without power for a long time after the storm and it seemed like help was slow in coming. So he decided to do a video documentary of his experiences.