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Commentator Hallie Deaktor finds evidence on the subway that aliens are among us. Her suspicion is reconfirmed by another strange being on the street. She says she's ready to join them. After recent news of evidence there might once have been microbial life on Mars, she's not sure of anything anymore.

NPR's Madeleine Brand examines the controversy over the Republican ad that criticizes Vice President Gore's prescription drug plan and which critics charge contains a "subliminal" message. The split-second appearance on the screen of the word "RATS," in large capital letters, then becomes part of the word "bureaucrats." The ad lambastes bureaucracy. Brand looks at the effectiveness of so-called "subliminal" advertising -- in selling candidates as well as other products.

A new government review of the federal death penalty shows serious racial and geographical disparities among those on death row for federal offenses. Death penalty experts disagree on whether the review will influence the federal courts, which hear the appeals of those inmates. NPR's Tovia Smith reports.

NPR's Jack Speer reports the Federal Trade Commission has given the auto industry a green light on its plan to set up a massive online marketplace for buying auto parts. DaimlerChrysler, Ford, GM, and Nissan as well as more than a dozen parts suppliers are involved. The FTC had been concerned that such an alliance among competitors could lead to collusion and price signaling, but approved the plan in a unanimous vote.

Linda talks with Scott McGraw, a physical anthropologist, about the extinction of a monkey called Miss Waldron's Red Colobus, whose native habitat is West Africa. The last documented sighting of the red colobus was 20 years ago. McGraw says the monkey was hunted and eaten which is one reason for its decline. Also, there is so little of the West African rain forest left, that there's not enough habitat to support the red colobus. McGraw is an assistant professor of anthropology at Ohio State University. He specializes in West African monkeys.

NPR's Peter Overby reports on the relationship between the auto industry and the government. Much has changed from the early 1950's, when auto companies could be antagonistic in their dealings with Washington over safety issues. Today, they're operating a more flexible way of lobbying.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports on the controversy surrounding a GOP commercial that subtly flashes the word "RATS" across the screen. Republican Presidential candidate George W. Bush noted that the word appears only fleetingly - for a tiny fraction of a second. Played at full speed, it's barely noticeable, particularly if the viewer isn't looking for the word.

NPR's Howard Berkes reports from Sydney, Australia that some members of the International Olympic Committee feel that the games have become too big. In Olympic circle it's referred to as gigantism. Within the last ten years the number of nations participating in the Olympics has doubled.

NPR's Mike Shuster reports that Iraq appears to be violating a United Nations program that allows it to sell oil and buy food and medicine for needy citizens. There's evidence that Iraq is re-exporting some of the food and medicine to other countries. Iraq refuses to allow UN inspectors to evaluate living conditions 10 years after the UN imposed economic sanctions. And it refuses to allow UN weapons inspectors into the country.

NPR's Pam Fessler reports that President Clinton and Congressional leaders met yesterday at the White House for one of their first serious talks on this year's budget. The meeting produced little substantive progress.