On Friday, President Barack Obama defended the right of Muslims to build an Islamic mosque and cultural center near Ground Zero. Separately, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said last week that North Korea's recent series of attacks directed at South Korea were indications that Kim Jong-il's son, Kim Jong-un, may be trying to earn his stripes with the North Korean military.

In this week's Washington Report, WNYC's Kerry Nolan talks to David Sanger, Chief Washington Correspondent for The New York Times, about why President Obama got in the middle of this controversial debate in New York, and what Secretary Gates meant by his comments that the North Korean succession might explain its recent aggression.