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NPR's Mary Ann Akers reports on what has become the most controversial party scheduled before next month's Democratic National Convention -- a fundraiser for a Hispanic vote political action committee to be held at the Playboy Mansion. Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, a California Democrat, defends the event as a way of obtaining money for her cause. The money will go to her PAC, not the Democratic National Committee. Vice President Al Gore insists he will not attend. But some Democrats are still grumbling at what the fundraiser may say about their party.

Host Bob Edwards talks to NPR's Ted Clark about the latest developments at the Middle East Summit at Camp David. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is reportedly preparing to leave Camp David.

Commentator Andrew Lam remarks on the substance of e-mail conversation. He says a friend of his complains that although she hears from him more by e-mail now, she misses him more and knows him less than when he wrote letters. Their conversation is shallower. There's a high price for digital communication; language is streamlined and intimacy lost.

Robert talks with Robert Reischauer, President of the Urban Institute in Washington D.C., about the way the government makes its surplus projections. He says it's tricky to agree on a certain number assumption to be used in making calculations. One assumption is based on changing demographics, and the other is based on projections for the economy.

At union halls around the country, Texas workers are talking about conditions in the Lone Star State and their relationship with GOP Gov. George Bush. The roadshow is sponsored by AFL-CIO leaders, who promise an all out campaign for Bush's Democratic rival, Al Gore. Persuading rank-and-file voters to oppose Bush is but challenge one. Next they must convince workers to vote for Gore. NPR's Don Gonyea reports.

Commentator Elissa Ely talks about the barber that comes to the hospital where she works. The patients look forward to his visits. The barber connects with one particular patient in a way that Elissa -- a psychiatrist -- was never able.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore about his campaign for the White House. Gore says most people's interest in the Presidential campaign won't really intensify until after Labor Day. And, he says, people know him as Vice President but not as a person. He explains the fundamental differences between his positions on some of the major issues and those of Republican candidate George W. Bush.

Commentator Mary Swander bought an abandoned Amish schoolhouse and turned it into a home. When the students returned for a reunion, she found it served as common ground between them.

NPR's Jim Zarroli reports on earnings for the latest quarter by two major computer companies, Microsoft and Intel. Microsoft's announced earnings indicated solid growth, but analysts say they're unexceptional.

Inflation remained in check last month as consumer prices rose at the same pace as in five of the past six months. As NPR's Jack Speer reports, core prices rose just two-tenths of a percent last month, when food and energy prices are NOT taken into account. Even though gas prices escalated sharply in June, many economists see inflation remaining tame and believe the Federal Reserve is successfully engineering a "soft landing" for the booming economy.