Talk of the Nation
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Desktop Diaries: Daniel Kahneman
Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman is the latest subject in our Desktop Diaries series, although he has no desk. Kahneman, professor emeritus at Princeton University, won the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002 for his research with the late Amos Tversky on our sometimes irrational intuitions and how they affect decision-making.
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Insects May Be The Taste Of The Next Generation, Report...
A report from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization says insects offer a huge potential for improving the world's food security. Peter Menzel, co-author of Man Eating Bugs, describes some insect-based cuisine and the western aversion to creepy-crawly snacks.
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Researchers Report Cloning Advance For Producing Stem...
Scientists reported this week in the journal Cell that they had used somatic cell nuclear transfer techniques to create a source of embryonic stem cells from the skin cells of a patient. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children's Hospital, and Josephine Johnston of the Hastings Center discuss the research.
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Resetting the Theory of Time
Generations of physicists have claimed that time is an illusion. But not all agree. In his book Time Reborn: From the Crisis in Physics to the Future of the Universe, theoretical physicist Lee Smolin argues that time exists--and he says time is key to understanding the evolution of the universe.
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Looking Ahead With The Wonders Of Krulwich
In the latest installment of our "Looking Ahead" series, NPR science correspondent and Radiolab co-host Robert Krulwich talks about reporting on big ideas in imaginative ways, the old days at NPR and what he's wondering about today.
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Ex-Ambassador To Iraq Weighs In On Talking To 'Monsters'
As the death toll in Syria climbs and critics blast the Obama administration for not taking more decisive action, former ambassador Christopher Hill points instead to a failure of diplomacy in an op-ed in the New York Times. Hill talks about what the U.S. faces in facilitating talks between the regime and Syrian rebels.
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Managing The $30 Million 'One Fund' To Aid Boston Victims
Days after the marathon bombing, officials established the One Fund for Boston to assist victims and their families. Attorney Ken Feinberg, who managed similar funds after Sept. 11 and Virginia Tech and is managing this fund, says there's no easy way to decide who gets how much of the $30 million that's been donated.
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Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For...
As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy.
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The White House Under Fire And The Democratic Party's...
As questions linger about the official response to the Benghazi attack, the White House faces new challenges related to probes by the IRS and the Justice Department. Political Junkie Ken Rudin discusses the week in politics and the future of the Democratic Party with former DNC chair Howard Dean.
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Treadmill Desks And The Benefits Of 'Walking Alive'
New Yorker staff writer Susan Orlean has spent years trying to find the right desk chair. She considered a pricy museum-worthy chair, a kneeling chair and a yoga ball before ditching the seat altogether for a treadmill desk — and discovering the health benefits of moving at work.
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Guatemalan Dictator's Genocide Conviction A First
Last week's guilty verdict makes former dictator Gen. Efrain Rios Montt the first head of state to be convicted of genocide by a national court in the country where the crimes took place. American University law professor Diane Orentlicher examines the significance of Montt's conviction.
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The Promise And Limitations Of Telemedicine
Telemedicine is nothing new, but advancements in technology have made it even more widely available. Neurologists can now treat Parkinson's patients from miles away, therapists can reach service members overseas, and general practitioners can work in rural areas without actually going there at all.
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Letters: New Orleans, Buzz Aldrin
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including postcards from New Orleans and our talk with astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
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Understanding Tax-Exempt Status
The IRS is under fire for singling out conservative organizations applying for charitable status for extra scrutiny. Associated Press reporter Stephen Ohlemacher, who broke the story, explains tax-exempt status and what kinds of organizations do and do not qualify.
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Bangladesh Reveals Uphill Battle For Fair Trade Clothes
Retailers are under pressure after a building collapse killed more than 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh. But global demand for inexpensive clothing shows no sign of abating. The New York Times' Steven Greenhouse and Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, unravel the prospects for improved safety in the garment industry.
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Exploring An Ever-Expanding Universe
Saul Perlmutter shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery that the universe was expanding at an accelerating rate. Perlmutter explains how supernovae and other astronomical artifacts are used to measure the expansion rate, and explains what physicists are learning about "dark energy" — the mysterious entity thought to be driving the acceleration.
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Hello....Is There Anybody Out There?
The SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) Institute's Jill Tarter has spent decades searching for the signals that would tell us we aren't alone in the cosmos. Tarter discusses the hunt, and what the presence of intelligent life elsewhere might tell us about our own future on Earth.
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Syrian Conflict Raises Thorny Issues Beyond The Mideast
The conflict in Syria has had repercussions far beyond its borders, with refugees streaming into neighboring states and countries around the world choosing sides. NPR commentator Ted Koppel weighs in on what the ongoing upheaval in Syria could mean for the rest of the world.
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Iowa's Open Senate Seat And Rumbles About 2016
Iowa is home of the first electoral test for anyone seeking the White House. As 2016 contenders begin to test the waters, NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin talks with Iowa Democratic Party chair Tyler Olson and Iowa Republican Party chair A.J. Spiker about the election ahead.
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The Role Of Trials In The Process Of Catharsis
The surviving Boston bombing suspect faces charges that could bring the death penalty. For many in Boston, a trial could be an important part of the grieving process. It could be years until he could face a jury. The marathon will have been run again but public outrage will remain.
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The History And Politics Of Humanitarian Intervention
Some are calling on President Barack Obama to intervene in Syria's civil war. Gary Bass, Princeton University professor and author of Freedom's Battle: The Origins of Humanitarian Intervention, talks about the political risks of humanitarian intervention.
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The Cleveland Case And Missing Persons Investigations
Three women who disappeared almost a decade ago in Cleveland were found Monday night not far from where they had each been taken. They were discovered by a neighbor who heard screaming. Too often, cases like this unsolved indefinitely with no known crime scene, no witnesses, and no leads.
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Could Syria's Civil War Become A Large Regional Crisis?
Two Israeli airstrikes outside of Damascus in one weekend signal escalating tensions between Syria and its neighbors. The Syrian government has said the attacks "open the door to all possibilities," giving rise to concerns that the conflict could spill over the border.
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Unearthing History: How Technology Is Transforming...
For centuries, explorers tried to find la Ciudad Blanca, a fabled city in the rain forests of Central America. Dense jungle impeded efforts to uncover it. Douglas Preston tells the story of a team who used light detection technology to survey the iconic ruins from the air.
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Bedside Manner: Conversations With Patients About Death
Doctors often struggle with conversations about death — navigating the murky waters of when and how to convey the risks of procedures and prospects for life expectancy. When doctors are less than forthcoming, out of sensitivity or haste, difficult situations become even more complex.
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Living Inside the Box
David Boyle and Michele Bertomen wanted to build their own house on a 20 by 40 foot lot they purchased in Brooklyn. Bertomen, an architect, drew up plans and the bid was over $300,000. Inspired by Bertomen's students at New York Institute of Technology, the couple built their house from five shipping containers, which cost a few thousand dollars a piece.
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Ancient Earth May Have Smelled Like Rotten Eggs
Reporting in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers write of finding fossils of bacteria-like organisms that lived nearly two billion years ago. Paleobiologist Martin Brasier of the University of Oxford explains that these ancient creatures belched hydrogen sulfide, the stench of rotten eggs, after meals--suggesting the early Earth may have been a smelly place.
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'Poems To Learn By Heart': The Merits Of Memorizing Verse
Caroline Kennedy isn't just an advocate for reading poetry. In her latest book, Poems to Learn by Heart, Kennedy stresses the importance of memorizing poetry and presents a collection of poems that she believes kids and adults alike should internalize.
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The Quiet Strength Of Introverts In The Workplace
Extroverted job candidates may have an easier time impressing prospective employers. A study finds that once extroverts are in the workplace, their overall team performance can disappoint. USA Today "On the Job" columnist Anita Bruzzese discusses how bosses can harness the strengths of introverts.
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To Avoid Or To Embrace? How Actors Navigate Stereotypes
Stereotyping in films and TV is as old as Hollywood itself. For some, portraying a stereotypical character — the ditzy blonde or angry black man — is a foot in the door to the acting world. For others, it is a path that can be limiting and repetitive.
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'Sign Painters': A Close-Up Focus On An Endangered Art
Before the age of computers and vinyl printers, sign painters worked by hand to illustrate storefronts, billboards and banners. Sign Painters, a new book and documentary by Faythe Levine and Sam Macon, captures the work of artists around the country who are keeping the art alive.
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Diplomacy, Sanctions And A Nearing Red Line With Iran
Sanctions have hurt the Iranian economy, but have so far failed to convince Tehran to abandon nuclear ambitions. A report from the Iran Project argues that it's time to re-examine the balance of sanctions and diplomacy. Others argue it's time to consider military options.
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Op-Ed: Did Boston Law Enforcement Drop The Ball?
The Boston Police Department and cooperating law enforcement entities were praised for working together to track down suspects in the marathon bombings. Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi asks whether police could have done more in the months, weeks, and even hours before the explosions.
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Utah's Fossil Finds Describe an Ancient World
Once upon a time, giants roamed the planet — many of them in what is now Utah. A panel of paleontology experts describes some of the state's ancient treasures, from massive long-necked sauropods to the Utahraptor, a predator that would put those in Jurassic Park to shame.
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Studying Earth To Learn About Mars
Southern Utah's landscape looks a lot like images from the Mars rovers. Marjorie Chan explains how Utah geology might help explain data sent back from Mars missions. Charles Killian describes how people are simulating what it might be like to one day live and work on Mars.
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Tweeting Crime: Law Enforcement Adapts To Social Media
The Boston Police Department tweeted photos of bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and later announced his capture via social media. As the number of Twitter users grows, police forces face new opportunities and challenges in using social media for communicating with the public.
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Getting The Gig: The Life Of A Career Poet
Like many poets, Charles Simic has a day job, teaching in the English Department at the University of New Hampshire. The Pulitzer Prize winner and former poet laureate has traveled the road for over 50 years — giving hundreds of readings at schools, book stores, jazz clubs and abandoned malls.
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When Conscience Conflicts With Constituents
Last week, the Senate voted against a proposal for background checks on gun buyers. Several senators from states with strong pro-gun constituencies cast votes supporting the checks despite voter polls. On divisive issues, politicians may often face a choice between personal and public opinion.
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Letters: Marathon Spectators, Governing During Crisis
NPR's Jennifer Ludden reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including the effects spectators have on marathon runners, the ways political leaders govern during crises and how ethnicity and identity intersect.
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How Chemical Weapons Could Change Strategy For Syria
British, French and Israeli officials say they have evidence that the Syrian government repeatedly used chemical weapons against civilians. Though the U.S. hasn't confirmed the allegations, the Obama administration previously said that the use of chemical weapons could provoke a stronger response.
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Volunteer Firefighters: Facing The Flames And The Mundane
A week after a massive explosion at the West Chemical and Fertilizer Company in West, Texas 14 bodies have been recovered from the area. A number of those killed were volunteer firefighters responding to the scene. Volunteer firefighters represent nearly 70 percent of the country's fire service.
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Making The Most Of MOOCs: The Ins And Outs Of E-Learning
Don't ever email the professor. Never friend the teacher on Facebook. Those are some of the rules A.J. Jacobs learned when he joined the ranks of millions enrolled in massive open online courses, MOOCs. Harvard, MIT and Stanford are among universities offering virtual classes free of charge.
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A Week After Marathon Bombing, The Mood In Boston
News of the bombings at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013 made headlines around the world. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy talks about the significance of the events for himself and fellow Bostonians one week after the attack.
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43 Years Of Earth Day: What's Changed Since 1970
Now in its 43rd year, Earth Day has become an international day dedicated to promoting environmental awareness and action. Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, explains what's changed, as concern about climate change and green energy have come to the forefront of the movement.
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What's Next In The Boston Marathon Investigation
After a swift investigation, law enforcement identified the suspects as brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. As investigators piece together a timeline and motive, many questions are still unanswered. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston explains where the investigation goes from here.
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Big Op-Ed: Shifting Opinions On Surveillance Cameras
Investigators in the Boston Marathon bombings were able to identify the suspects using footage from surveillance cameras. Some believe that this shows the need for surveillance cameras in public spaces, while others believe that such cameras encroach on our civil liberties.
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Boston: The Conversation In Arab-American And Muslim...
After the bombings in Boston, law professor Khaled Beydoun was gripped by the fear that the culprit would be found to be an Arab or Muslim American. Since Sept. 11, 2001, he says this anxiety has become quite familiar in Arab and Muslim communities, and that has transformed the grieving process.
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Governing During Threats To National Security
Hours after the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday, the president reminded the country of its resilient nature and assured the public that those responsible will be brought to justice. Wednesday, the toxic substance ricin was detected in mail addressed to the White House.
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Separating Social Media's Fact From Fiction Amid Crisis
In the moments following the twin explosions at the Boston Marathon, many of the initial reports disseminated through social media proved to be false. Jeremy Stahl, social media editor for Slate.com, shares his rules for social media responsibly in the midst of tragic, breaking news.
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What We Know About 'The Act Of Terrorism' In Boston
Less than 24 hours after two explosions rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon and there are still more questions than answers about what happened. Three people were killed and more than 170 were injured. The FBI is investigating the event as an act of terrorism.
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The Kindness Of Strangers After The Tragedy In Boston
In the hours after the Boston Marathon bombings, social media was alight with offers of assistance — from restaurants inviting guests to pay what they could, to Bostonians offering couches and inflatable mattresses to anyone who needed a place to stay.
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Explosions Rock Finish Line At Boston Marathon
Two apparent explosions have rocked the finish line at the Boston Marathon, about three hours after the winners crossed the finish line. The explosions occurred as thousands of runners finished running 26.2 mile course at the 117th Boston Marathon. NPR's Tovia Smith provides an update.
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Taxes Without Returns: Pipe Dream Or Possibility?
A system known as "return-free filing" would allow filers to receive a pre-filled tax return prepared by the government and make any necessary tweaks. According to a ProPublica-NPR report, this approach, which exists in some countries, has taxpayer advocates at odds with tax preparation companies.
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Op-Ed: What Exhumation Means For A Legacy
Chilean poet Pablo Neruda was exhumed in early April, with the goal of discovering whether the poet's death was from prostate cancer or poison. In a The New York Times op-ed, Amherst College professor Ilan Stavans argues that Neruda's legacy is more important than the way he died.
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The Teenaged "Troublemaker" Fighting For Science
Zack Kopplin has been fighting to have the "Louisiana Science Education Act" overturned since it was first passed in 2008, and he was in high school. Critics of the SLEA say it's used to introduce creationism and other non-scientific theories into public school science class. Kopplin, now at Rice University discusses his continuing campaign against the act.
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Down The Gullet: A Guided Tour Of Your Guts
In Gulp. Adventures on the Alimentary Canal, science writer Mary Roach takes a journey through the gut, from the secret healing powers of saliva to the taxonomy of poop. Along the trip, she serves up odd medical anecdotes, such as the story of William Beaumont, an eccentric surgeon who once ate chicken from another man's stomach.
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Monitoring the Monarchs
Last month monarch butterflies began an annual northward journey from their overwintering habitat in Mexico. Monarch expert Lincoln Brower discusses the dwindling monarch populations, and explains how habitat loss in Mexico and a decline in milkweed plant numbers in the U.S. may be harming the familiar orange and black fliers.
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Poring Over the Science of Coffee
Brewing coffee is a neverending science project, according to barista Sam Penix, owner of Everyman Espresso in New York City. Grind-size, brew method, coffee beans (which are really seeds), water temperature can all affect the flavors that end up in your cup. Harold McGee, author of On Food and Cooking, explains some of the chemistry of coffee.
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Looking To Nature For Antibiotic Inspirations
Bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacterial cells, employ an arsenal of chemical weapons. Microbiologist Vincent Fischetti of Rockefeller University describes using tricks learned from the phage in developing new antibiotics that may be effective even where others fail.
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Red Meat's Heart Risk Goes Beyond The Fat
Reporting in Nature Medicine, researchers write that a chemical in red meat, L-carnitine, may up the risk of heart disease in people and mice--but only in frequent red-meat eaters. Study author Stanley Hazen of the Cleveland Clinic explains how diet changes the gut's bacterial flora, and how that can affect heart health.
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'American Utopias': Disney World, Burning Man And...
In his new show American Utopias, award-winning monologist Mike Daisey ties together three unlikely places: Disney World, Zuccotti Park, the home base of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the annual event Burning Man. He talks the production and his search for his own utopia.
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What's At Stake In Elections In Venezuela And Pakistan
Presidential elections are on the horizon for Venezuela and Pakistan, and with them could come big changes. Venezuelans vote Sunday, their second time at the polls in the last year, and Pakistan's general election will be held on May 11.
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The Prickly Process Of Changing Your Name
Names are something that we carry with us all our lives. But we seldom think about what goes into choosing the right one. In a piece for Slate.com, Silas Hansen writes about his decision to change his birth name — Lindsay — as he told his family and friends that he was transgender.
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Congress Nears Agreements On Guns And Immigration
A bipartisan group of senators announced an agreement Wednesday on gun legislation. If passed by Congress, the agreement would require all buyers, even those at gun shows, to pass a check by a federally licensed dealer. The Senate's bipartisan Gang of Eight is also nearing a deal on immigration.
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How The Latest Budget Could Affect You
President Obama unveiled his fifth annual budget proposal to Congress Wednesday, offering a mix of tax increases and spending cuts. The newest changes include cuts to Medicare and Social Security benefits. Across the country, some are only beginning to feel the affects of sequestration.
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A Look Inside White Supremacist Prison Gangs
Members of white supremacist prison gangs are among the suspects in the killings of law enforcement officials in Texas and Colorado, putting a spotlight on the organization and other prison gangs. The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas is known for organizing crimes from inside prison walls.
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North Korea's Threats: Predicable Pattern Or Provocation?
The North Korean government officially suspended operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, withdrawing all of its more than 50,000 workers. Many see the complex as the last remaining symbol of North and South Korean unity and fear that tensions may be nearing a dangerous tipping point.
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Op-Ed: The Nonexistent Line Between Justice And Revenge
Law professor Thane Rosenbaum says it's time for Americans to be honest about the role revenge plays in our lives. "The distinction between justice and vengeance is false," he writes in The Chronicle of Higher Education. "A call for justice is always a cry for revenge."
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'Drunk Tank Pink' Finds Clues To Behavior
In his new book Drunk Tank Pink Adam Alter, an assistant professor of psychology and marketing at NYU, explains how subtle cues, such as the sound of someone's name or the color of a room, can influence behaviors and thoughts. Alter discusses the book, and his research on the psychology of decision-making.
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President Obama Calls For A 'BRAIN Initiative'
This week President Obama announced his BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, which the White House describes as "a bold new research effort to revolutionize our understanding of the human mind." National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins describes the new research plan.
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Building Synthetic Tissues from Water Droplets?
Reporting in Science, Gabriel Villar and colleagues have turned tiny water droplets into cooperating networks that can pass electrical signals and do mechanical work. Villar says that in theory, water droplet networks could be used as artificial tissues.
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Tracking A Rise In ADHD Diagnosis
Surveys show a marked rise in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, among the nation's youth. William Graf, a professor of pediatrics and neurology at Yale School of Medicine, discusses the surge in ADHD diagnosis and its potential implications.
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'Simple And Straighforward': Remembering Film Critic...
Roger Ebert, an icon of film criticism and a one-time filmmaker himself, died Thursday at the age of 70. At the end of his life, Ebert cut back on his work as he faced a series of bouts with cancer. Film buff Murray Horwitz remembers Ebert and talks about the courage he showed in his final days.
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Tackling Terrible Traffic: How Cities Try To Ease...
Los Angeles, Calif. is the first major city to computerize all of its traffic signals. According to the city, the average speed has gone from 15 miles per hour to 17.3. This is just one example of the innovative ways cities try to address congestion issues.
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Starting At The Beginning: The Promise Of Prequels
The box office hit Oz The Great and Powerful, is set 20 years before the The Wizard of Oz. The film's success shows that, no matter how old the story, viewers have an appetite for prequels. TOTN's favorite film buff Murray Horwitz explains what sets these films apart.
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The Least Bad Options For Guantanamo Bay
At the Guantanamo Bay detention center, 166 prisoners remain detained. U.S. officials say nearly a fourth of the captives are on hunger strike, though lawyers for the prisoners say the strike is more widespread. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has re-declared his desire to close the facility.
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Op-Ed: Rutgers Waited Too Long To Fire Abusive Coach
Rutgers University fired basketball coach Mike Rice Wednesday after a video showing Rice physically and verbally abusing players became public. Lionel Tiger, professor emeritus at Rutgers University, argues that Rice should have been fired when the school first learned of the tapes months ago.
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Second Chances In American Politics
Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford won the GOP nomination for the state's first district congressional seat Tuesday. Sanford's return to politics comes four years after revelations of his extramarital affair in 2009. Sanford isn't the only disgraced politician to make a comeback.
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Why Farmers Plan To Plant So Much Corn This Year
U.S. farmers anticipate planting the most corn since 1936, a total of 97.3 million acres. Farmers are hoping to rebuild their corn supplies after last year's drought. Chad Hart, economics professor at Iowa State University, explains why farmers intend to plant high amount of corn this season.
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Letters: Gun Violence, 'New Mind Of The South'
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including the epidemiology of gun violence, what it means to be a 'Southerner' and going off the map.
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An Overlooked School Shooting And The Korean-American...
On Apr. 2, 2012, six people were killed and three wounded at Oikos University in Oakland, Calif. The shooter was a Korean-American former student, One L. Goh. Writer Jay Kang, who visited Goh in prison, explains how this tragedy has been discussed in the Korean-American community.
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What Changes As Women Rise Through Law Enforcement's...
President Barack Obama named Julia Pierson as the head of the Secret Service, the first female director in the agency's history. At least one woman is said to be on the shortlist for FBI director. Women are also climbing the ranks on local police forces as well.
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The Buzz On Bees: Why Many Colonies Are Collapsing
Bees have been dying off in increasing numbers over the past few years. Experts say that habitat loss and disease are the biggest culprits, and some believe that pesticides are to blame. NPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains the possible causes and what is being done to stop this trend.
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A Focus On Adults: Living With Chronic ADHD
With rates of childhood attention deficit hyperactivity disorder at alarming highs, a study confirms that, for many, the condition persists into adulthood. A study by the Boston Children's Hospital and the Mayo Clinic finds that the chronic form of ADHD can lead to depression and substance abuse.
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Op-Ed: The Iraq War's Lessons For Syria
Washington Post deputy editorial page editor Jackson Diehl says that the Iraq War taught him a lot about how we should deal with the civil war in Syria. In an op-ed he argues that without U.S. intervention, Syria could produce "a much worse humanitarian disaster" than Iraq.
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Catching Up With The World's Youngest Female Cannonball
Elliana Grace Hentoff-Killian grew up in the circus. She mastered her first circus act at six, when she learned the Spanish web — an aerial act performed on a rope. Now, at 20, she is currently the world's youngest female human cannonball and is touring with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey.
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Italian Law, Extradition And Amanda Knox
The Italian Supreme Court ordered that Amanda Knox be retried for the 2007 murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher. This decision overturned her acquittal from 2011. If she's found guilty this time around, she could face extradition.
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The Politics Of Guns And The Influence Of Advertising
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a $12 million ad campaign in 13 states this week to persuade senators to support gun control legislation. The ads promote universal background checks as a prerequisite for gun ownership.
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Op-Ed: It's Time To Beef Up The U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Navy estimates that by 2035 the Arctic Ocean may be ice-free for a month each year. In an op-ed for Foreign Policy, James Holmes, U.S. Naval War College, argues that in preparation for the increased activity in the Northwest Passage, the U.S. needs a Coast Guard that can fight.
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The Epidemiology Of Gun Violence: Race, Region And Policy
A Washington Post analysis of statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds a correlation between gun deaths, and race and geographic location. African Americans are much more likely to be victims of gun-related homicide, whereas whites are more likely to commit suicide.
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Same Sex marriage Recap
In hour one, race, gun deaths and gun policy. In hour two, a recap of the Supreme Court arguments on Proposition 8.
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Personal Stories And Shifting Opinions On Same-Sex...
The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the constitutionality of California's ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, and will hear a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act Wednesday. The cases come at a time when public opinion about same-sex marriage has shifted remarkably.
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Op-Ed: The Battles Ahead Over Driverless Cars
Google's driverless cars have traveled more than 300,000 miles in real world conditions without any accidents. Advances in this technology raise questions about the future of U.S. transportation industries. In the Washington Times, Joshua Jacobs, Conservative Future Project, says a fight lies ahead.
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Birds Evolve Shorter Wings To Escape Traffic Crush
Cars and trucks kill some 80 million birds a year on U.S. roads, a source of death that may now be a powerful force of natural selection. Charles Brown, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Tulsa, says cliff swallows caught for research have shorter wings than their kin killed on roads--possibly because shorter wings bestow better maneuverability in traffic.
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Grand Central: An Engine Of Scientific Innovation
In his book Grand Central: How A Train Station Transformed America, New York Times urban affairs correspondent Sam Roberts writes of the scientific innovations pioneered at New York City's Grand Central Terminal, such as electric commuter trains and standardized time.
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For Babies, It's Better To Like What I Like
Babies as young as nine months appear to approve of people who like what they like — and approve of being mean to those who don't share their tastes. Kiley Hamlin, lead author of a study in the journal Psychological Science, discusses the importance of similarity to young children.
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The Foster Care System: What Parents Wish We Knew
News coverage of the foster care system is often in response to stories about the children — their struggles and sometimes their triumphs. Much of the public perception of foster parents is based on stereotypes and misconceptions.
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The Abnormally Normal Science Of Sinkholes
When a Florida man vanished into a massive sinkhole that opened underneath his home in February, the case garnered national attention. Sinkholes were put in the spotlight. Geologists say that sinkholes have been occurring on a daily basis for years without much notice.
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With Limited Resources, High Poverty, Turning Schools...
How much can you change a school in one academic year? That's the premise of the PBS documentary 180 Days: A Year Inside An American High School. The documentary follows the day-to-day struggles facing Washington Metropolitan High School — an alternative school in Washington, DC.
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Images Of The Dead And The Change They Provoke
Disturbing images of the dead and dying have long been used as tools to provoke change. After the tragedy in Newtown, Ct., some are urging the release of the crime photos, hoping that images of the massacre might lead to stronger gun control.
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Looking Back At CPAC 2013 And To The Agenda Going Forward
The Conservative Political Action Conference convened March 14-16, to assess the future of the conservative movement and determine how to advance their agenda. Political Junkie Ken Rudin discusses how conservatives will move forward with Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union.
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Remembering Iraq: How Personal Stories Square With Press
NPR's Neal Conan talks with Iraq veterans about how the media coverage and the national conversation around the 10th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq resonates with their personal experiences.
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Steubenville Rape Case Widens - Talk of the Nation
In hour one, Political Junkie with Ken Rudin. In hour two, the widening circle of accountability in the Steubenville rape case.
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A Ballet Memorial To A Son Killed At War
Amy Wolfe's son, Colin, was killed in a roadside bomb attack in Iraq in August 2006. Seven years later, Wolfe is paying tribute to her son in an unusual way: A ballet. Wolfe, artistic director of the Manassas Ballet, talks about her production and shares memories of her son.
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Letters: The Decline Of Coal, 'Nasty Effect'
NPR's Lynn Neary reads from listener comments on past show topics, including vocabulary events in the news, the decline of "king coal," and how nasty comments on the web change our perception of online news stories.
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The Ripple Effects Of Cyprus' Financial Crisis
Cyprus lawmakers rejected a $13 billion bailout package that included controversial taxes on bank deposits. The proposed tax would have helped to pay for the bailout of crumbling banks. NPR's Marilyn Geewax explains how the events in Cyprus could affect the global economy and what may happen next.
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The Art Of Negotiating Intractable Conflicts
The tensions between Israelis and Palestinians are one of many long-standing conflicts often described as intractable. Conflict negotiation experts employ various strategies to tackle big problems, ranging from divorce and property management to ethnic, religious and international conflict.
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Public Defenders
In hour one, Amy Wolfe talks about the ballet she choreographed in memory of her son who was killed in Iraq. In hour two, public defenders — 50 years after Gideon v. Wainwright ruling
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A Decade Later, What Was Accomplished In Iraq
In March 2003, U.S. troops crossed from Kuwait into Iraq with the goal of toppling dictator Saddam Hussein. Within weeks, the Hussein regime had fallen. The occupation that followed left U.S. combat forces in the country until December 2011. The legacy of the war is still widely debated.
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After Iraq
A decade after the invasion, what was accomplished in Iraq. In hour two, the current state of the news media, plus the Opinion Page.
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Can Just One Concussion Change the Brain?
Suffering a single concussion may cause lasting brain damage, researchers report in the journal Radiology. Steven Flanagan, co-director of the Concussion Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses the findings, and why diagnosing a concussion is so difficult.
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Letters: Social Mobility, Romantic Comedies
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including social mobility, romantic comedies, and Japan's recovery from the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
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'Cannibal Cop' Case: The Line Between Fantasy And Crime
Jurors in a New York federal court found a former New York City police officer guilty of plotting to kidnap and cook his wife and other women. The defense argued that Gilberto Valle never acted on his fantasies, and described the verdict as a case of thought prosecution.
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How Dictionary Searches Define Readers
After Vice President Joe Biden used the term "malarkey" in a 2012 debate, searches for the word in online dictionaries surged. Now that dictionaries are readily available with a mouse click or finger tap, dictionary publishers can track the correlation between word searches and current events.
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Bob Garfield on Talk of the Nation
In the first hour, the legal line between thought and crime. In the second hour, Bob Garfield on his book Can't Buy Me Like, plus an update on North Korea.
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Cardinals Elect Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio As New...
Cardinals at the Vatican chose Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope. He will take the papal name Francis and is the first pope from South America. NPR's Neal Conan talks with guests about the significance of the event around the world.
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Budget Battles And 2016 Bids: Recapping The Week In...
From the ongoing budget battle to Sen. Carl Levin's retirement announcement, NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin recaps the week in politics. NPR's Phillip Reeves provides an update from Rome as cardinals elected a new pope.
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Former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer
On Political Junkie with Ken Rudin, former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer joins the conversation to talk about second chances in American politics
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Backstage At The Bolshoi Ballet
The Bolshoi Ballet dancer suspected in the acid attack on the theater's artistic director could keep his job if a court acquits him, according to the Bolshoi's director. New Yorker editor David Remnick provides a glimpse into the hypercompetitive world of the famed Russian ballet.
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As Natural Gas Creeps In, King Coal's Reign Fades
Coal accounts for much of the world's energy supply, but the United States has seen a decline in coal production. The natural gas industry is booming in the U.S. and many in coal country fear for the future of their industry and their livelihood.
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Coal Industry Reform and Medical Marijuana
In our first hour, changes in the coal industry, plus the New Yorker's David Remnick on the scandal at the Bolshoi Ballet. In the second hour, physicians debate prescribing medical marijuana.
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Op-Ed: We Need More Aaron Swartz-Style Hacktivism
When Internet activist Aaron Swartz committed suicide, he faced federal charges for illegally downloading and releasing articles from JSTOR, the digital library of academic journals. Northwestern University professor Peter Ludlow says Swartz was right to fight for public access to scholarship.
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Japan's Broken Coast Struggles To Recover
Two years after a massive earthquake hit the East Coast of Japan — causing a tsunami and a meltdown at the Fukushima power plant — 300,000 people still live in temporary housing. Many believe they will they will never be able to return to their villages.
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The Science and Business of Weather Forecasting.
In our first hour, Japan two years after the Fukushima disaster, plus the Opinion Page. In the second hour, the science and business of weather forecasting. Find out more on Facebook around noon the day of the show.
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Getting the Springtime Buzz on Bees
With warmer weather (hopefully) just around the corner, what can we expect this spring from some of nature's most important pollinators? Plus, new research on the electric fields in flowers and the effect of caffeine on honeybees offers fascinating glimpses into bee behavior.
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Behold the Mighty Water Bear
Water bears, a.k.a. tardigrades, can withstand boiling, freezing and the vacuum of space. Biologist Bob Goldstein, of University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, studies these millimeter-long creatures to try to understand how organisms develop.
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When The Earth Swallows
Last week a Florida man was swallowed by the Earth as he slept, the victim of a sinkhole. In 1981, another Florida sinkhole ate a swimming pool and a Porsche repair shop. Randall Orndorff, a geologist for the U.S. Geological Survey, discusses this mysterious phenomenon, and whether technology exists to predict when--and where--the surface might crumble.
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Can the Anti-Aging Secret Be Found in...Red Wine?
Can red wine slow down the aging process? According to a new study published in Science, a compound found in the skin of grapes activates an anti-aging gene in mice that promotes longevity. Harvard Medical School's David Sinclair discusses the research findings.
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How To Track And Attack A Superbug
Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, held a press conference Tuesday to announce the need to "sound an alarm" on the advance of CRE, a highly drug-resistant bacteria. CRE and other superbugs are found mostly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
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Famous Filibusters Throughout History
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) held the Senate floor for more than 12 hours on Wednesday in protest of the White House drone policy. His action delayed the vote on the confirmation of John Brennan as CIA director. NPR's Ken Rudin discusses the use of the filibuster throughout history.
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The Rise of Superbugs and Social Mobility
In our first hour, the alarming increase in superbug reports and the efforts to track them. In the second hour, the changing rules of social mobility, and confessions from a former Sweet Valley High ghostwriter.
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The Political Fallout Of Sequestration
Both parties are pointing fingers and laying blame for sequestration, a series of automatic government spending cuts went into effect last week. Political Junkie Ken Rudin and Rob Levinson, senior analyst with Bloomberg Government, discuss the political fallout from the across-the-board cuts.
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Hugo Chavez: The Legacy Of A Polarizing Leader
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died Tuesday after struggling with cancer for nearly two years. The polarizing leader will be remembered both as a champion of the poor, and as a leader who consolidated power in his office. New Yorker staff writer Jon Lee Anderson talks about what life was like during his nearly 14 years in power.
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Political Junkie, Sweet Valley High Ghost Writer, 911...
In our first hour, Political Junkie with Ken Rudin. In the second hour, the lives of 911 dispatchers and confessions from a former Sweet Valley High ghostwriter. Find out more on Facebook around noon the day of the show.
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Letters: Minimum Wage, Telecommuting, Short Poems
NPR's Ari Shapiro reads listener comments from previous show topics, including raising the minimum wage, the pros and cons of telecommuting and favorite pieces of short poetry.
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A Shifting Tide For Gay Athletes In Professional Sports?
Two professional football players asked the Supreme Court to support same-sex marriage in February. This was an unusual moment for the NFL. No professional athlete in the four major leagues has come out of the closet during their career. Many say that's likely to change soon.
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What The Case Of A Mississippi Child Can Tell HIV...
For the first time, scientists believe a child infected with the HIV virus has been cured. NPR health correspondent Richard Knox explains this case and other developments in HIV research presented at the 2013 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections.
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Gay Athletes and Domestic Drones
In our first hour, gay athletes and professional sports — what's changing, what isn't and why it matters. In the second hour, the future of domestic drones
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Asylum Suitcases, Found And Photographed
A photographer peers into the past — and into old suitcases from an abandoned asylum.
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The Papal Conclave And The Future Of The Catholic Church
More than 100 Cardinals from around the world started meeting Monday at the Vatican to begin the process of choosing a new pope. This comes after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. The Cardinals are tasked with choosing the man who could reshape the future of the Catholic Church.
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Op-Ed: There's An App For Everything, And That's A...
Technology companies are constantly developing new apps and tools to make our lives easier. In an op-ed for The New York Times Evgeny Morozov, author of To Save Everything, Click Here, argues that Silicon Valley's quest for perfectionism is problematic.
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Running a Conclave, and Cities in Crisis
In our first hour, the challenges of running a conclave, plus our weekly read of the Opinion Page. In the second hour, the options for cities in financial crisis.
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Rap Nerdy To Me
MC Frontalot, aka Damian Hess, makes a living rapping about data encryption, rare diseases, video games and the nerd life. He describes Nerdcore, his name for the genre, as "the inversion of the shame of geekery... into pride." Frontalot joins Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman to chat about the intersection of nerdiness and hip-hop and shares some of his songs.
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Talking Science With The House Committee Chair
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, discusses the nation's top science priorities, including the importance of research on how to protect Earth from dangerous asteroids. But in a tight budgetary climate, who will pay?
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Mapping The Effects Of The Sequester On Science
On Friday March 1, automatic cuts known as the 'sequester' go into effect across the federal budget. Michael Lubell of the American Physical Society discusses what scientific programs will likely be affected, in fields from medical research to renewable energy development.
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A Natural Particle Accelerator, Far Above The Planet
In 1958, James Van Allen described two belts of radiation that surround Earth. Daniel Baker says that when a satellite was launched to study the belts in 2012, it saw a third belt form, which lasted for about a month before being blasted away by an interplanetary shock wave.
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Reporter's Notebook: The Agony Of Syria's Civil War
Secretary of State John Kerry announced plans to provide $60 million in aid to Syrian rebels. With the country engulfed in civil war, an important battle is underway in the northwest, where rebels may soon control all of Idlib province. NPR's Kelly McEvers reports on her trip to the region.
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On Heels Of Sequestration, The Business Of Spending Cuts
With automatic budget cuts set to take effect Mar. 1, politicians are jockeying to control the message about sequestration and what it will mean for their constituents. Meanwhile, the cuts may create economic choke points that could affect industries from agriculture to air travel.
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A Case For Conciseness: Short Poems That Speak Volumes
Is it possible to get a message across in under ten words? Some of the best poets have done it in just three. In a piece for The New Yorker's Page-Turner blog, poet and novelist Brad Leithauser makes the case for brevity. He explains why short poems can make such big impressions.
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The Guld Economy and Sequestration Explained
In our first hour, an update on environment and economy in the Gulf. In the second hour, senior Washington editor Ron Elving answers your questions about sequestration
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The Tough Moments Mayors Face
Some of the nation's largest cities hold mayoral elections in 2013, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit. NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin, Governing magazine staff writer Ryan Holeywell and former Sacramento mayor Anne Rudin discuss what makes a good municipal leader.
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The Changing Politics Of Health Care
After vocal GOP opposition to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, three prominent Republican governors recently signed-on to one key element of the law. NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin and NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner explain on the shifting politics of health care.
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Political Junkie and Telecommuting
In our first hour, Political Junkie with Ken Rudin. In the second hour, how employers handle telecommuters.
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The Trayvon Martin Case And The National Conversation
The death of Trayvon Martin spurred new conversations about race in America. It was also a turning point for The Race Project, where NPR's Michele Norris collects six-word reflections on race, culture and identity. Norris discusses the poignant conversations she's had since Martin's death.
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From Education To Law: The Legacy Of Trayvon Martin
A year after teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Fla., remembrances are being held around the country. We may never know the exact details of the events that led to his shooting, but his death shifted conversations on racial profiling and law enforcement.
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With Syria In Shambles, The Uncertain Future Of Hezbollah
Syria is one of the most important backers of the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. If the Assad regime falls, Hezbollah will face an uncertain future. New Yorker staff writer Dexter Filkins discusses what shifts in Syria could mean for the future of the Middle East.
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The Conservative Case For Gay Marriage
Dozens of Republicans signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of gay marriage, just weeks before the Court is expected to hear arguments on a case challenging the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act. Some say this represents a significant shift within the Republican Party.
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Letters: Chicago Violence, 3-D Printing
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including violence in Chicago, the possibilities of 3-D printing, and religious exemptions.
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Op-Ed: It's Time To Raise The Minimum Wage
In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a plan to boost federal minimum wage from 7.25 an hour, to 9 dollars. Columnist Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, argues that plan is "a no-brainer."
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Is The Voting Rights Act Relevant In 2013?
The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments on Wednesday on the relevance and constitutionality of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The court is tasked with determining whether states with a history of discrimination still need to get federal approval before changing election procedures.
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Voting Rights Act and Oscar Pistorius
In our first hour, the brewing battle over the Voting Rights Act, plus our weekly read of the Opinion Page. In the second hour, how the Oscar Pistorius trial is being coverage around the world.
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Russia Meteor Renews Focus on Asteroid Threats
A week after a meteor exploded over Russia on the same day that an asteroid swung closely past Earth, experts discuss how the potential threats posed by near-Earth objects should be addressed. Astronomers Donald Yeomans and John Tonry weigh in on how to keep the planet safe.
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How Wood Smoke is Dirtying Alaska's Air
In Fairbanks, Alaska, residents are using wood stoves to heat their homes during the frigid winter months. But, smoke created by these wood burners is contributing to some of the worst air pollution in the country. Cathy Cahill discusses air quality in the Last Frontier.
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Surprise: Cockroaches are Fastidious Groomers!
Despite inhabiting sewers and cesspools, cockroaches are quite clean — or at least their exteriors are, according to entomologist Coby Schal of North Carolina State University. That's because cockroaches are constantly grooming themselves, particularly their antennae. Publishing in PNAS, Schal and colleagues investigate why they groom.
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Is China's Military Behind Cyberattacks on U.S.?
A new report released by an American security firm alleges the Chinese military is linked to extensive cyberattacks against American corporations and government agencies. Is China engaged in cyberwarfare? How should the Obama Administration respond to cybersecurity threats?
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China's Military and Cyberattacks, Ask a Dentist
Is the Chinese military behind cyberattacks on the U.S.? Join Science Friday for a look at cybersecurity. Then, is the air pollution in Alaska worse than the smog that chokes Beijing? Plus, new details about the meteor that exploded over Russia. And "The dentist will see you now" -- words that strike fear into many of us. Join Science Friday for some toothy tips. It's "ask a dentist." Plus, the SciFri book club visits the Dian Fossey classic "Gorillas in the Mist."
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Who Gets Religious Exemptions And Why
Under revised rules of the Affordable Care Act, religious groups can be exempt from paying their employees' insurance coverage for birth control. Religious exemptions are nearly as old as the nation and have been on the rise in recent decades.
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What's Changed For Same-Sex Partners In The Military
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced the extension of some military benefits to same-sex partners of service members. While the Defense of Marriage Act is law, however, gay military partners are not entitled to all of the same benefits as their straight counterparts.
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From Guns To Chocolate: The Possibilities Of 3-D Printing
From creating human ears, to gun parts and even bars of chocolate, 3-D printing has opened seemingly limitless possibilities for the field of manufacturing. The technology's potential also raises a variety questions, including copyright and regulatory issues.
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Religious Exemption and Same-Sex Couples and the Military
There's heated debate over exempting birth control from health coverage. The issue may even reach the Supreme Court. From vaccines, to school attendance, to photo IDs; who gets a religious exemption and why? And The Defense Department is expanding benefits for same-sex military couples. By October, partners will be able to shop at the commissary, use child care and get counseling. What's changed for gay couples in the military -- and what hasn't?
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Letters: Radio Moments, Defense Spending
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including life-changing radio moments and opinions on defense spending.
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Political Junkie and the Rise of Self-Immolation
In our first hour, Political Junkie with Ken Rudin. In the second hour, what's driving the rise in self-immolation in Tibet.
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Op-Ed: It's Time To Recognize The Valor Of Cyber Warriors
Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta announced that the military will award a new medal to recognize exceptional accomplishments in areas including drone and cyber warfare. Brookings Institution senior fellow Peter Singer argues that this is an important step in recognizing the changing nature of war.
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How To 'Thrive': Short Commutes, More Happy Hours
Dan Buettner visited some of the happiest populations on Earth to figure out what makes them tick. After five years of study, he argues the real keys to happiness lie not in wealth or beauty, but in fundamental changes to the way we live. Buettner lays out his findings in his book Thrive.
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Sometimes, Food Additives Are Pretty Innocuous
The uproar over what critics call "pink slime" in some ground beef refocused attention on what's in the food we eat. Most packaged foods contain at least one item you wouldn't recognize. But many food experts caution that just because you don't know an ingredient doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it. This segment was originally broadcast on April 11, 2012.
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Best Places to Thrive and Henrietta Lacks
Do you want to know the secret to happiness? Dan Buettner says, find happy friends. Dan Buettner joins host Neal Conan with the answers. And Henrietta Lacks died more than 60 years ago. Author Rebecca Skloot talks about "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks."
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Tracking A Space Rock's Streak Past Earth
Asteroid 2012 DA14 is half the size of a football field, and whizzing towards the Earth at over 17,000 miles per hour. Don't worry, it won't hit us. But on Friday, February 15th it makes its closest approach, scraping by the Earth's surface closer than many satellites. Join Ira Flatow and Flora Lichtman for special live coverage of this near encounter, with first-hand reports from astronomers around the world.
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Art Meets Geek at Toni Dove's Studio
"This is geek central," says artist Toni Dove of her New York City studio. Dove employs an infrared motion-sensing interface, voice recognition software, 3-D mechanical projection screens, video puppets and lots of other tech to bring her mixed media productions to life. Science Friday stopped by for a sneak peak of her newest piece, "Lucid Possession."
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A New View Of Newton in "Isaac's Eye"
What would Isaac Newton be like if he had been born a few centuries later? A new play "Isaac's Eye" reimagines Newton and his scientific rival Robert Hooke. Playwright Lucas Hnath and actors Haskell King and Michael Louis Serafin-Wells join Ira Flatow to talk about the play.
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Author Katherine Bouton Opens Up About Going Deaf
After going deaf at the age of 30, writer Katherine Bouton's entire life changed. In her new book, "Shouting Won't Help," Bouton shares how she came to terms with hearing loss, and why more attention needs to be paid to a condition that affects nearly 50 million Americans.
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'Zero Dark Thirty' Renews Torture Debate
The critically acclaimed film Zero Dark Thirty has reinvigorated the debate around the interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration's war on terror. Host Neal Conan discusses the film's depiction of interrogations and what U.S. and international law says about the techniques used during the Bush era.
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A Valentine's Campaign To End Violence
This Valentine's Day, people in more than 200 countries are participating in One Billion Rising, a call to rise up and dance to bring awareness to violence against women worldwide. Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of the V-Day antiviolence campaign, talks about her work to fund crisis centers and shelters for victims around the globe.
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Torture in the Movies, and Chicago's Murder Rate
In our first hour, a look at the movie Zero Dark Thirty and its depiction of torture. In the second hour, the murder rate in Chicago, a city that saw more than 40 homicides in January. Find out more on Facebook around noon the day of the show.
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Unpacking State of the Union Night Addresses
NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin discusses Tuesday night's big speeches — President Obama's State of the Union; Sen. Marco Rubio's GOP response and GOP Sen. Rand Paul's Tea Party take — with Paul Glastris, editor-in-chief of The Washington Monthly and Peter Robinson of the Hoover Institution.
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World Radio Day: Share Your Story
UNESCO declared Feb. 13 World Radio Day to recognize the crucial role radio plays in organizing and informing communities. To celebrate the day, we'd like to hear from our listeners: What's the radio moment that changed your life?
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Political Junkie
Ken Rudin joins the show to talk sequestration, a squabble over Chuck Hagel in the Senate, Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s plea deal. Also, two presidential speech writers review President Obama's State of the Union message.
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World's Eyes On China After North Korean Nuclear Test
The U.N. Security Council held an emergency meeting Tuesday to discuss North Korea's latest nuclear test. Any specific U.N. response depends largely on China, North Korea's primary trading partner. Former CIA China analyst Christopher Johnson weighs in on China's options and their potential influence on a coordinated international response.
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Looming Cuts Could Mean Big Changes For U.S. Military
Without a deal by March 1, across-the-board federal spending cuts will kick in — including deep cuts to the nation's defense budget. Michele Flournoy, former undersecretary of defense for policy, and NPR's Tom Bowman discuss what sequestration might mean for the U.S. military.
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Letters: Drawing A Gun And America's Boom Towns
NPR's Neal Conan reads from listeners' comments on previous show topics, including the experience of drawing a gun, the evolution of TV villains and America's new boom towns.
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The Defense Budget and Match Fixing in Soccer
Defense spending takes up a huge chunk of the federal budget, so whether the sequester takes effect at the beginning of March or not, the Pentagon's purse is on the line. Former Pentagon official Michele Flournoy and NPR's Tom Bowman discuss the future of funding the Department of Defense. Organized crime gets the blame for running guns, drugs and prostitution. According to an 18-month Europol review, it also gets the blame for fixing as many as 680 soccer matches around the world. The...
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Gas, Oil Booms Bring Complications To Small Towns
The discovery of oil and natural gas in Wyoming, Colorado and North Dakota has created a new generation of boomtowns. The explosive growth generated by the oil and gas drilling is often accompanied by an influx of new labor. The small towns near the fields wrestle to balance the economic advantages of the boom with the dramatic changes it brings to these tight-knit communities.
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After Pope's Surprise Resignation, A Flood Of Speculation
Pope Benedict XVI, the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, unexpectedly announced Monday that he will resign at the end of the month. With his resignation comes speculation about his tenure, potential successors and the future of the Catholic Church. Rocco Palmo, who runs the blog Whispers in the Loggia, explores the pope's legacy and what's ahead for the Catholic Church.
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Violence In Syria's Capital Escalates, Along With...
Fighting in Damascus has escalated, and the U.N. says 5,000 Syrian refugees are fleeing every day. The humanitarian crisis is growing along the borders with Turkey and Lebanon, and Israel launched its first airstrike inside Syria on Wednesday, reportedly targeting weapons destined for Hezbollah.
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Automakers Drive Towards Hydrogen Cars
Toyota and BMW have formed an alliance to work on fuel cell cars. So have Daimler, Ford, and Nissan, with hopes of having cars on the road by 2017. But why now, and what obstacles still stand in the way? Jennifer Kurtz discusses the current state of hydrogen fuel technology.
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Researchers Point To The Demise of the Dinosaurs
The idea that a comet or asteroid impact led to the downfall of the dinosaurs has been around for years. Now, Paul Renne and colleagues report in Science that they've narrowed down the timing of that collision. It's practically simultaneous with dinosaur extinction.
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Opinion Page and America's New Boom Towns
In our first hour, our weekly read of the Opinion Page. In the second hour, the ups and downs of America's new boom towns, plus the filmmaker behind the Oscar-nominated documentary The Invisible War.
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