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Don Gonyea Don Gonyea is a NPR National Political Correspondent based in Washington, D.C., and travels throughout the United States covering elections and the country's political climate. His reports can be heard on all NPR programs and at NPR.org.
Don Gonyea 2010
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Don Gonyea

Education

Bush Science Push Fails to Transform Critics

President Bush's call for more science funding comes amid criticism of his administration's approach to scientific research. Scientists say the White House puts ideology first. The president's chief science adviser calls the complaints "irrelevant."

Bush Science Push Fails to Transform Critics

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Music

Jessi Colter Finds Her Way 'Out of the Ashes'

Out of the Ashes is Jessi Colter's first CD in 20 years. Since her last recording she cared for husband Waylon Jennings as he struggled with substance abuse and diabetes, which claimed his life in 2002.

Jessi Colter Finds Her Way 'Out of the Ashes'

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World

Iraqi Officials Consider Extension of Curfew

Baghdad awakes Sunday to a third consecutive day under curfew. Iraqi authorities are trying to contain violence after Wednesday's attack on a sacred Shiite shrine. The curfew is meant to end Monday morning, but Iraqi officials say they may extend it for another day.

Iraqi Officials Consider Extension of Curfew

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Politics

Cheney Endures 'Long Week' in Spotlight

During a week when he dealt with the aftermath of an accidental shooting during a Texas hunting trip, Vice President Dick Cheney also hinted that he has an unprecedented vice-presidential role in the control of classified information.

Cheney Endures 'Long Week' in Spotlight

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National

White House Tries to Deflect Interest in Hunting Accident

The White House has faced questions and criticism in its handling of the hunting accident involving Vice President Dick Cheney. The victim in the mishap, lawyer Harry Whittington, suffered a minor heart attack Tuesday. Cheney's office subsequently issued its first statement on the matter.

White House Tries to Deflect Interest in Hunting Accident

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National

VP's Shooting Victim Suffers Minor Heart Attack

The man accidentally shot by Vice President Dick Cheney during a weekend quail hunt has suffered a minor heart attack. Harry Whittington has been moved into intensive care -- Madeleine Brand talks to NPR White House reporter Don Gonyea about Whittington’s condition.

VP's Shooting Victim Suffers Minor Heart Attack

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Politics

Leak Report, Katrina Hearing Put Bush on Defensive

President Bush speaks to House Republicans at a retreat in Maryland on issues dividing Congress and the White House. Among them are reports that senior officials authorized former Cheney aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby to leak classified data to boost the case for war in Iraq.

Leak Report, Katrina Hearing Put Bush on Defensive

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National

Bush Details Failed 2002 Al Qaeda Attack

President Bush reveals what he said were new details of a failed al Qaeda plot in 2002 to crash a plane into the tallest building on the West Coast. The president also said that global cooperation has significantly weakened the terrorist network since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Bush Details Failed 2002 Al Qaeda Attack

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National

Bush Details Foiled Terrorist Plot to Strike L.A.

In a speech on Thursday, President Bush bolstered his assertion his administration is aggressively pursuing the so-called "war on terror" by detailing a foiled terrorist plot to strike a skyscraper in downtown Los Angeles in 2002.

Bush Details Foiled Terrorist Plot to Strike L.A.

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Bush: Al Qaeda Planned 2002 Los Angeles Attack

President Bush says that in early 2002 the United States and its allies foiled an al Qaeda plot to hijack a commercial airplane using shoe bombs and fly it into the Library Tower in Los Angeles.

Bush: Al Qaeda Planned 2002 Los Angeles Attack

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The Muhammad Cartoon Controversy

Bush Urges Muslim Leaders to Calm Cartoon Furor

President Bush asks Muslim leaders around the world to help stop the violence that has erupted in several countries over cartoons depicting Muhammad. At the same time, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggests that Syria and Iran are using the cartoons to further inflame tensions.

Bush Urges Muslim Leaders to Calm Cartoon Furor

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Politics

Budget Boosts Defense Spending, Cuts Medicare

The White House releases its budget for the 2007 fiscal year. The plan totals $2.77 trillion -- with sizeable increases in defense and homeland security spending. But it also reduces funding to more than 140 social programs, including Medicare -- and assumes some tax cuts will be made permanent.

Budget Boosts Defense Spending, Cuts Medicare

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Bush Promotes Competitiveness Initiative

President Bush spoke Thursday in Maplewood, Minn., to promote his newly unveiled American Competitiveness Initiative. The president wants Congress to authorize tax credits for business research, increased money for federal science programs and improved math and science education in American high schools.

Bush Promotes Competitiveness Initiative

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National

President Defends Terrorism Policies in Speech

In his State of the Union address Tuesday night, President Bush set forth goals including more science and math teachers, more tax cuts and less dependence on oil from the Middle East. The president called on lawmakers to set aside divisiveness, but he also took the fight directly to his critics -- especially on his policies in Iraq.

President Defends Terrorism Policies in Speech

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Politics

Energy, Health Care Central to Upcoming Presidential Address

President Bush delivers his fifth State of the Union address Tuesday night. The president is expected to talk about ways to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, and control rising health care costs. Other key topics will include the war in Iraq, Iran's nuclear program and last week's Palestinian elections.

Energy, Health Care Central to Upcoming Presidential Address

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