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He discusses Gangs of New York, his new film set in pre-Civil War New York City about the street warfare between immigrant groups. It was inspired by the book The Gangs of New York published in 1927 by journalist Herbert Asbury.

He writes about the Five Points neighborhood in Lower Manhattan which is the setting of Martin Scorsese's new film. Anbinder's book is Five Points: The 19th-Century New York City Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum. Anbinder is an associate professor of history at George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Control of the Senate Judiciary Committee officially switches from Democrats to Republicans, with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) taking over as chairman. Hatch says the panel will move quickly to consider President Bush's judicial nominees, including controversial candidates recently renominated by the president. NPR's David Welna reports.

Tom Ridge is sworn in as the first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Ridge begins his job amid complaints that homeland security remains underfunded, and that the government has done too little to secure the nation since Sept. 11. NPR's Pam Fessler reports.

On the weekend following the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, NPR's Brenda Wilson reports on how the Bush administration's policies regarding aid to international family planning have complicated the abortion issue overseas.

In case you haven't heard, it's really cold in the Northeast. As temperatures plunge, the need for homeless shelters goes up. In Massachusetts this increase in demand coincides with budget cuts imposed because of a state fiscal crisis. Monica Brady-Myerov of member station WBUR reports.

Last month, Morning Edition invited listeners to share stories about "good deeds" they had witnessed or heard about. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on some of the many responses that came in. And npr.org offers a few stories that did not make it on the air.

NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Red Cashion, former NFL referee about the difficulties encountered in refereeing pro football and how changes in the system might affect the game on the field.

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on the life of cartoonist Bill Mauldin, who died this week at the age of 81.

NPR's Scott Simon talks once again with Esquire magazine editor A.J. Jacobs, who is reading the Encyclopaedia Britannica in an effort to become the world's smartest person. He's up to the letter "H" and has discovered that the single-best way to become a subject of the immense reference work is to be beheaded.