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President Obama welcomed the nation's students back to school Tuesday with a televised speech urging hard work and high hopes. Some critics of the president had warned the speech would be an advertisement for the White House agenda, but the actual remarks contained little cause for controversy.

Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico is part of the bipartisan "Gang of Six" reaching for a compromise on the health care overhaul. But you've probably never heard of him. That's because he's a process guy who shuns microphones and works behind the scenes to make deals. NPR's Andrea Seabrook has this profile of Bingaman's role in health care.

The top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan warns in a report that the U.S. could lose in Afghanistan without more troops. Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, says the report also says that focusing on force requirements misses the point entirely.

The nation's top military officer says more U.S. troops will likely be needed to win the war in Afghanistan. Adm. Mike Mullen's comments before the Senate Armed Services committee came as Democratic Sen. Carl Levin of Michigan underscored his opposition to additional forces, and Sen. John McCain, the committee's ranking Republican, shot back that any delay in sending troop reinforcements would have catastrophic consequences.

President Obama said Tuesday the U.S. was determined to act on climate change, but did not offer any specific proposals on how the country would do so. His comments came at the opening of the U.N. climate summit.

A judge ordered a Colorado man arrested as part of a terrorism investigation to be held pending a detention hearing Thursday. Afghanistan-born Najibullah Zazi has admitted to receiving training from al-Qaida, and has been charged with making a false statement to the government.

It's been a historic week with President Obama nominating Judge Sonya Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Supreme Court nominee and if confirmed, would be only the third woman to serve on the nation's highest court.

GM's decision to file bankruptcy is expected to help the troubled automaker reorganize and emerge stronger, albeit smaller. Ray Young, GM's Chief Financial Officer, talks with Steve Inskeep about the bankruptcy proceedings and future of GM.

Ahmed Gailani, the first Guantanamo detainee to stand trial in federal court, arrived in New York Tuesday to stand trial for the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. His case is part of a much broader national debate over how to handle the roughly 240 detainees being held at the camp.

Many of the Iranians disputing the election in Tehran are young, and they're frustrated with Ahmadinejad's regime. Guy Raz talks with one of them: Amir Soulemani, an English teacher who was shocked by the results. He says he may leave Iran if Ahmadinejad sticks around for another term as president.