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Texting terms of endearment seems to shore up relationships. Affectionate affirmations help mitigate hurts and frustrations, a study finds. But men who get flooded with texts from their significant other tend to say the relationship is unsatisfactory. Women tend to say the more texts the merrier.

Now that Fright Night is the most popular holiday, it has nowhere to go but down.

On Halloween — and the occasion of The Exorcist's 40th anniversary — NPR's Robert Siegel talks to the film's director, William Friedkin, about the making and the legacy of the famed horror film.

Starting Friday, a family of four will receive $36 less each month in benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Former Newark Mayor Cory Booker was sworn in Thursday, making him only the fourth African-American elected by popular vote to the United States Senate, and only the second in the chamber currently. This is in contrast to the 41 blacks who represent House districts.

Once among the richest men on the planet, Eike Batista's wealth has evaporated. From a net worth of $34.5 billion last year, the Brazilian businessman is now worth less than 1 percent of that. Many observers see Batista's fall as a parable for the nation's economic woes.

Robert Siegel talks to William R. Polk about how a drought in Syria several years ago forced farmers and families into the cities and contributed to the tensions that led to a government crackdown that led to the uprising. He's the author of Violent Politics: Insurgency and Terrorism, Understanding Iraq and Understanding Iran and has written a piece on Syria.

Saudi Arabia, a long time U.S. ally, has been openly critical of U.S. policy in the Middle East and has sent unmistakable signals of its displeasure. The rift appears to be specifically over Syria, but the tensions have been building since the Arab Spring began.

Senate Republicans have once again blocked President Obama's nominees. Despite a deal in July to let several of the president's picks go through, the rancor has returned with a fresh batch of appointments. Two nominations failed within less than an hour on Thursday, and Democrats may once again threaten to change Senate rules so Republicans can't easily derail another nomination.

Some hard-liners in Iran are planning a "Grand Day of Death to America" on Monday — the anniversary of the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in 1979. Revolutionary Guards commanders promise the slogan will "echo across the nation."