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Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota was recovering from brain surgery Thursday at George Washington University Hospital. As official Washington extended good wishes for his recovery, it also puzzled over the effect that his illness may have on control of the Senate.

Rich, frothy and laden with booze, eggnog — whether you love it or hate it — is an inevitable part of the yuletide tradition. Culinary wizard Alton Brown whips up a homemade batch of the holiday cocktail.

Earlier this week, NPR's Daniel Zwerdling presented two reports looking at the difficulties some soldiers face getting treatment for mental health issues in the military. He discusses his reports, and Dr. William Winkenwerder, head of the military health system, talks about military efforts to try to take care of the mental health of soldiers.

Stephen Wilkes photographed a side of Ellis Island that no one sees. Ellis Island: Ghosts of Freedom documents weather-beaten remnants of the immigration hub's abandoned buildings.

Voters of Texas 23 have cast their ballots. The Democrats can add another point to their column. On Saturday, corrupt Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was handily reelected by the people of New Orleans. Plus, lots to talk about in the run-up to the 2008 presidential election with NPR's political editor, Ken Rudin.

Despite deep differences over how to proceed in Iraq, the Senate gives its unanimous approval for Robert Gates to take over the reins at the Pentagon from Donald Rumsfeld. President Bush's second Secretary of Defense is taking office at a time of uncertainty over what will happen next in the war.

Iraqi officials give their reaction to the Iraq Study group report that was released Wednesday. Other advisors to the Iraq Study Group also join us for more discussion of U.S. policies in Iraq.

As Shanghai undergoes a radical facelift, tens of thousands of residents are forcibly displaced from their homes each year. Many say real-estate developers are conspiring with officials to seize property for little or no compensation.

Robert Siegel talks with Carl Levin of Michigan, ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, about the Iraq Study Group's grim assessment of Iraq. At a news conference, Levin said, "The report represents another blow at the policy of 'stay the course' that this administration has followed."

Nathan Crooks, editor of The Santiago Times, tells Steve Inskeep that the reaction in Chile has been mixed to the death of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. He died Sunday at the age of 91.