Sixteen months out from the 2012 election, U.S. presidential campaigns are already in hyperdrive. There have been debates, stump speeches and attack ads, and the candidates are obsessed with winning over voters.

Russia also has a presidential election next year, but it's a very different kind of democracy. Russia will choose a president sooner, in March, but right now there's no visible campaign. And it's no secret that President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will essentially decide the winner behind closed doors.

While the cost of Minnesota's government shutdown won't be fully known until the people who calculate such things get back to work, the AP has started looking at some numbers.

It reports:

Minnesota stands to lose tens of millions of dollars in the nation's only state government shutdown, as lottery tickets go un-purchased, tax cheats go un-pursued and 22,000 laid-off state workers collect unemployment and health benefits.

With the launch of NASA's last-ever shuttle mission set for Friday morning, NPR's Nell GreenfieldBoyce describes the scene at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Melissa Block speaks with Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price, a member of the Budget Committee and the Ways and Means Committee. He is also chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee. Price offers his take on the debt ceiling negotiations.

The Environmental Protection Agency sent a strong message Thursday to power plants that burn coal. It's time to clean up dirty exhausts that travel long distances, and 75 percent of Americans will breathe healthier air as a result.

The new EPA transport rule is designed to clean up the pollution that blows from power plants into other states. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says it's about fairness.

What do we know about what President Obama is discussing with top leaders from both parties in Congress Thursday and through the weekend? What is their game plan for raising the debt ceiling and bending down the deficit curve? Mara Liasson discusses the debt ceiling talks with Melissa Block.

The U.S. women were on a roll heading into Wednesday's match against Sweden in the Women's World Cup. But after a 2-1 upset loss, the Americans find their road to reclaiming the cup much harder now. The next obstacle: a quarterfinal match against a very tough Brazilian team. Sportswriter Stefan Fatsis joins Michele Norris from Berlin for a preview.

Michele Norris talks with David Krajicek about the history of the so-called perp walk — and why law enforcement uses it, particularly in New York City. They discuss why the media is drawn to these and talk about some famous perp walks in the U.S.

Life in advertising is multicultural — how does it compare to real life, and how is advertising selling the "All-American" dream? Michele Norris talks to Jimmy Smith, creative director at TBWA/Chiat/Day, and Roberto Orci , president of Acento ad agency, for more.

Same-sex marriage is coming to New York on July 24, and New York City is gearing up to be the premier gay marriage destination.

Still, no one really knows what the economic impact of same-sex marriage in New York will be. One report by the Independent Democratic Conference of the New York State Senate estimates about 66,000 gay couples will marry in the next three years, bringing in $391 million in revenue.