Stories of the Week | PBS NewsHour Podcast | PBS

Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan was found guilty of premeditated murder in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting spree against unarmed soldiers that killed 13 and wounded more than 30 others. He now faces the death penalty. Judy Woodruff speaks with Karen Brooks who has been covering the court martial for Reuters.

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and National Review editor Rich Lowry join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's top political news, including pressures for the U.S. to intervene in Syria, plus the president's plan for cutting college cost and tension over ideology and identity within the Republican party.

A military jury handed Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales the toughest sentence they could issue for his murder rampage that killed 16 Afghan civilians last year. Bales will serve life in prison without parole. Margaret Warner talks to Adam Ashton, who has been covering the trial for the News Tribute in Tacoma, Wash.

Bradley Manning's request to be able live as a woman raises questions about transgender issues in the military. The U.S. soldier is sentenced to 35 years in prison. Will he be able to receive hormone therapy treatments behind bars? Ray Suarez speaks with Allyson Robinson, a private U.S. military consultant and LGBT advocate.

In other news Friday, supporters of Egypt's former President Morsi held rallies in Cairo, avoiding areas barricaded by authorities. Turnout was low; hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood have been arrested. Also, a 22-year-old photojournalist was gang raped while on assignment on Mumbai, sparking a silent protest vigil.

President Barack Obama called an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria "a big event of grave concern," but also sounded notes of caution about the U.S. taking immediate military action against the Syrian regime. Margaret Warner reports on the continuing violence in Syria and a new milestone in the refugee crisis.

Despite public dissatisfaction, doing nothing seems to have "become a profitable endeavor" for Congress, says author Robert Draper. Ray Suarez talks to veteran political journalists Draper and Mark Leibovich on how Washington insiders contribute to government gridlock and the new "celebritized culture" in American politics.

Newly released audio recordings offer a look inside the Nixon presidency as the Watergate scandal was unfolding. In one excerpt, President Richard Nixon has just announced the resignation of his two top aides. Judy Woodruff talks to veteran journalist Marvin Kalb and Ken Hughes of the University of Virginia's Miller Center.

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control says 300,000 Americans contract Lyme disease each year, 10 times the amount previously believed by health officials. To examine the significance of this finding Jeffrey Brown speaks with Beth Daley, who has been investigating the disease and its impact for the Boston Globe.

Property seizure is a profitable practice for local law enforcement agencies, long used to deprive mobsters and drug kingpins. But the police can also take personal goods away from citizens who haven't been proven guilty of a crime. Ray Suarez talks to Sarah Stillman who investigated civil forfeiture for The New Yorker.

Charlie Musselwhite and Ben Harper may have a generation between them, but their love of blues brought them together. With Musselwhite on the harmonica and Harper on guitar and vocals, the two musicians have collaborated on an album, "Get Up!" Jeffrey Brown sits down with the artists for a taste of their 'all purpose blues.'

Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks talk to Judy Woodruff about the week's top political news, including how the U.S. should be responding to continuing clashes in Egypt, their take on the new N.C. Voter ID law and late political columnist Jack Germond's greatest legacy.

Thousands of species of plant and wildlife call Ecuador's Yasuni National Park home, but it is believed that beneath the lush floor lies $7.2 billion of oil. Drilling could threaten the rain forest's biodiversity and indigenous populations. Some scientists argue a balance could be found. Hari Sreenivasan reports.

Since its launch in 2009, the Kepler space telescope has discovered more than 3,500 possible planets, but it will soon go dark forever. NASA has confirmed the spacecraft is beyond repair. As astronomers begin to look at Kepler's legacy, Judy Woodruff speaks with space and science writer Michael Lemonick.

A new report from the Washington Post revealed the National Security Agency has violated privacy rules 'thousands of times' each year since 2008. In a follow up, chief judge Reggie Walton told the Post the FISA court isn't able to verify when the NSA oversteps its authority. Margaret Warner speaks with Carol Leonnig of the Post.