This election cycle, one factor stands above all others in driving the dynamics of the race for the Republican presidential nomination: televised debates.

Amid all the rancor, there is some common ground among Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and President Obama: worker retraining. It's an issue with broad political appeal, particularly in Florida where the job situation remains bleak.

Melissa Block speaks with John Vucetich, a wildlife ecologist from Michigan Technological University who is leading the wolf-moose winter study at Isle Royale National Park. The park is located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. The study is in its fifth decade.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced cuts in the Pentagon budget on Thursday. Robert Siegel talks to NPR's Tom Bowman for more.

The Obama administration released more details Thursday about the energy plan he previewed at the State of the Union this week. He announced an oil-and-gas-lease sale on nearly 38 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico — and proposals for new incentives to increase the use of natural gas in heavy trucks and buses.

Melissa Block talks with NPR's Mara Liasson about Thursday night's Republican debate in Jacksonville, Fla.