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If there was a consensus from Congress after President Obama's NSA speech Friday, it was that Congress itself must play a major role to play in the ultimate fix.

President Obama has enacted more than 1,500 pages of legislation that will fund every federal agency. The spending legislation was approved in the Senate and House this week by wide margins.

The president's speech Friday offered a revealing look into the nation's phone data collection program and the direction of the surveillance policy debate. But some of biggest controversies have been put off or pushed to Congress.

Venezuela is running out of newsprint and newspapers are shutting down. Media outlets say that it's another form of harassment by a government that often doesn't like what independent media reports.

After failing to agree upon an extension for federal jobless benefits to the long-term unemployed, Congress is vowing to keep trying. The help can't come soon enough for many of the 1.4 million unemployed who saw their checks suddenly cut off last month.

An appeals court ruled against the New Orleans public school system this week — a decision that could bankrupt the Orleans Parish public schools. The five-judge panel ruled that the school board wrongly terminated some 7,000 teachers and other school employees after Hurricane Katrina. For more information, Melissa Block speaks with education reporter Sarah Carr, who has written a book on the changes to the New Orleans school system after Katrina.

On Tuesday, France's president held an uncomfortable news conference, beginning with a question about his personal life. Rumor has it he's been cheating on the French first lady with a younger actress. In light of this affair, author Sarah Wendell recommends revisiting an old classic: The First Wives Club.

Federal forces are backing away from a plan to disarm the civilian militias that are defending their communities from ruthless drug traffickers. In the western state of Michoacan, it's unclear how long the fragile peace will last.

Goodwin's an expert on presidents of the past, so we'll quiz her on presidents of the future — three questions about leaders from science fiction.

The Sundance Film Festival is celebrating its 30th year this week. NPR's Lynn Neary commemorates the anniversary with Eric Kohn, the chief film critic for Indiewire, an independent film news site.