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December 20, 2006 - When representative-elect Keith Ellison (D-MN) became the first Muslim elected to Congress last November, it was celebrated by many as a step forward for inclusion. But not by all: CNN's Glenn Beck, for example, famously insisted that Ellison "prove ... that you are not working with our enemies."

December 20, 2006 - Decades ago, college was only for the elite. It took progressive federal policy to expand access to higher education.

December 19, 2006 - A hopeful update to our story last week about Ali and Shahla Afshari, the Iranian couple that were abruptly fired in West Virginia two years ago

December 19, 2006 - Speaking of boneheaded moves by federal authorities who are supposed to protect public health, the U.S.

December 19, 2006 - According to a recent CNN poll, opposition to President Bush's handling of the Iraq war now stands at 70% -- the highest level ever. Two-thirds of the public oppose the war itself, and only 11% favor sending more troops.

December 18, 2006 - A coalition of public health and environmental groups filed suit last week against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for failing to toughen the national standard for particulate matter pollution to a level that could prevent thousands of premature deaths every year.

December 18, 2006 - It's not only the federal government that's let down the people of New Orleans.