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The Washington, D.C., band These United States writes novelistic songs packed with dense narratives and loose, ragged-edged folk, rock and Americana. While Jesse Elliott is the main creative foundation, the group is known to rotate in any number of musicians it picks up. The band discusses and performs songs from its new album, Crimes.

In May 1945, a plane carrying 24 men and women crashed into a hidden valley in New Guinea. There were only three survivors. Journalist Mitchell Zuckoff tells the remarkable story of their rescue in Lost In Shangri-La.

The politics of Afghanistan are critical to the politics of America this week, as President Obama ponders the future of the U.S. mission there amid uncertainty about that country's elections. In Washington, Congress is poised to take the year-long debate on health care to the floor of the House — and several states will be holding elections for governor, mayor and other offices. Guest host Jacki Lyden talks with NPR's senior Washington editor, Ron Elving.

A region that was the scene of major combat a year ago has been quiet for the past two months, Marines say — thanks in part to a group of local Afghans who act as a sort of an armed neighborhood watch. They identify Taliban fighters and have found caches of IEDs.

A region that was the scene of major combat a year ago has been quiet for the past two months, Marines say — thanks in part to a group of local Afghans who act as a sort of an armed neighborhood watch. They identify Taliban fighters and have found caches of IEDs.

Christopher Butler, a producer at Nickelodeon, witnessed the crashing of US Airways Flight 1549 that was en route to Charlotte, N.C., from LaGuardia Airport. He said he was sitting at his desk when a co-worker alerted him to what was happening.

As the Senate enters the second week of its latest debate on the Iraq war, Republican Sens. Richard Lugar and John Warner introduce an amendment that would require the Bush administration to find an exit strategy for Iraq and present its plan to Congress by mid-October.

Blues fans have long looked to the Mississippi Delta or Chicago for a taste of authentic Americana, but a new compilation draws attention to another region: Appalachia. Classic Appalachian Blues, from Smithsonian Folkways, features acoustic fingerstyle blues assembled by music professor Barry Lee Pearson and archivist Jeff Place.

SCOTT SIMON SPEAKS WITH MARVIN OTT, A FORMER SENIOR ANALYST AT THE C.I.A. WHO NOW TEACHES NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY AT THE NATIONAL WAR COLLEGE HERE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., ABOUT ALLEGATIONS THAT THE C.I.A. MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF AN AMERICAN IN GUATEMALA.

This week saw two big music releases: a new album from pop baritone Josh Groban and the new download from mash-up genius Girl Talk. Music critic Tom Moon offers his thoughts on two very different albums.