By Don Sena, Managing Editor, MSN.com homepage

MSN and MSNBC have a deep commitment to bringing you every angle of politics, government and the nation’s leaders. The content comes in many forms, including objective news coverage, expert analysis, interactive features, video, and explanations of complex governmental issues. We also provide message boards, polls, citizen journalism features and other forms of user-generated content, to use an industry term, so you can express your opinions and thoughts.

But sometimes the best service we can provide is easy access to the politicians themselves, allowing you to draw your own conclusions based on comments and addresses from the nation’s leaders. Every Saturday, President Barack Obama speaks directly to citizens in the “Presidential Weekly Address.” And the GOP responds in kind with the weekly Republican address, generally offering different speakers each week such as RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC).

You can find both addresses every Saturday in the Video Highlights area on the MSN homepage; both run in this prominent location and are given equal time. These weekly offerings allow you to get information directly from each party and speaker; recent topics have included the economic mess, the budget and the nation’s food supply.

Some say these addresses are mere PR stunts from both parties offering nothing more than platitudes, sans any rigorous analysis of the facts. But the media offers plenty of talking heads and no shortage of pundits telling you what to think on all subjects. So why not also hear these viewpoints directly from the parties?

No need to navigate through the “political Web” to find these addresses; the MSN homepage will continue to feature them every Saturday. And we'll let you decide how to react.

By Heidi A. Schuessler, User Education Producer, MSN.com

National Cleaning Week is March 22 to 28, but unless you're Martha Stewart, spring cleaning is probably not something you're going to celebrate. At the very least, the first day of spring is always a good time to take stock: How cluttered have your house, your life, your computer become over the last year?

MSN has tips to cover all kinds of spring cleaning. Let's start with the obvious: your home. MSN Lifestyle has prepared a wealth of content on cleaning and organizing — bookmark that special section! There are articles about getting out tough spots and preventing mildew, as well as 20 easy ways to kick-start your spring cleaning.

My cleaning battles usually revolve around clutter; what gets saved and what gets tossed? I found these 25 strategies for decluttering really helpful — as well as these tips to simplify record-keeping (which could also come in handy at tax time next year).

And it's not just paper: Clutter in my kitchen starts in the pantry, so this handy list reveals the shelf life for common foods like spices, oils and flour. (Flour keeps for only a year? Who knew?) Because the kitchen is the most popular room in our house, it needs constant attention. Martha Stewart to the rescue! She offers some advice on how to stay on top of kitchen messes.

Keep it 'green'

MSN Video has an interesting clip from the "Today" show that talks about how to choose green cleaning products. If you buy regular (i.e., toxic) cleaning products, you can find a local spot to dispose of the packaging safely by searching the recycling directory on MSN Green.

Beyond the house

Here are a few more articles about how to clean out the other areas of your life.

• Spring cleaning for the soul: The baggage you carry from past relationships could be preventing you from having new ones. Time to make room for romance!
• Do a clean sweep of your computer: Is your desktop full of old or unused programs? Our partners at Microsoft.com offer these strategies for reducing your virtual clutter. (While you're at it, take time to delete all those old e-mails as well.)
• If you need a break from dusting, check out your spring cleaning style according to your zodiac sign. Maybe you have a penchant for organization written in the stars.

Happy spring, and happy cleaning!