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Author Interviews

'A Wedding In Haiti': Making Good On A Promise



By NPR Staff
When Julia Alvarez told a lonely Haitian boy that she would attend his wedding someday, she didn't expect that she would be held to her word. Her new memoir tells the story of her journey to a remote village in Haiti to make good on her promise.
Arts & Living

When Dick Cavett Shared Carnegie Hall With Groucho



By NPR Staff
Forty years ago Sunday, history was made when talk show legend Dick Cavett introduced Groucho Marx at Carnegie Hall. The night marked Groucho's debut at the famed New York venue and became the record, An Evening with Groucho Marx.
Author Interviews

Caro's 'Passage of Power': LBJ's Political Genius



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By NPR Staff
Robert Caro's fourth book on the life of Lyndon B. Johnson documents the master statesman's most tumultuous years — from his dismal vice presidency to his ascent to the presidency and triumphant shepherding of the 1964 Civil Rights Act through Congress.
Pop Culture

Blasts From The Past: The Art Of Video Games


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By NPR Staff
Author Interviews

'Hot Dog' Meets 'Bun': Famous Food Discoveries



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By NPR Staff
Josh Chetwynd's new book, How the Hot Dog Found Its Bun, chronicles the quirky history of kitchen favorites.
Author Interviews

'Steinbeck In Vietnam': A Great Writer's Last Reports



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By NPR Staff
The last piece of published writing from one of America's greatest writers was a series of letters he sent back from the front lines of war at the age of 64. John Steinbeck's dispatches shocked readers and family so much that they've never been reprinted — until now.
Movies

Jason Segel: Creating Comedy With The Tone Of Life



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By NPR Staff
Weekend Edition's Rachel Martin talks with actor and writer Jason Segel about his new film The Five-Year Engagement and the evolution of Jason's affable onscreen persona.
Author Interviews

Carole King, From Co-Sine To Chart Topper



By NPR Staff
Singer-songwriter Carole King started young: She was just 15 when she founded a doo-wop group with her high school classmates. The act never took off, but King eventually became one of the biggest-selling artists of all time. She tells the story of her career so far in a new memoir, A Natural Woman.
Movies

James Cameron: Diving Deep, Dredging Up Titanic



By NPR Staff
Filmmaker James Cameron has just returned from a successful submersible expedition to the deepest spot in the ocean — and he's also gearing up for the 3-D rerelease of his 1997 epic, Titanic.
Food

4,258 Miles Of Meat: Chef, Dad On A Quest For BBQ



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By NPR Staff
Chef Molly Baz was working at a Michelin-starred restaurant when she decided to give that up to go on a road trip through barbecue country. She and her dad set out to learn everything they could about variations in classic American barbecue. They came back with a couple favorites — and in serious need of raw vegetables.
Politics

Will The Real Ronald Reagan Please Stand Up



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By NPR Staff
Republican presidential candidates are vying for the mantle of Reagan conservatism. But some observers say today's Republican Party is dramatically different than the one Ronald Reagan took charge of in the 1980s. So what exactly is a Reagan conservative, and if he were alive, could Reagan get the GOP nod?
U.S. News

Is It Time For You To Go On An 'Information Diet'?



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By NPR Staff
"If we want to make media better then we've got to start consuming better media," says open-source-Internet activist Clay Johnson. His new book, The Information Diet, makes the case for more "conscious consumption" of news and information.
Music News

Will The Show Go On At New York City Opera?



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By NPR Staff
The struggling company says it's surviving "one day at a time." But after failed mediation with its unions and a lockout in place, the clock is running out.
Politics

Door-To-Door In N.H., Mormon Youth Get 1 Question: 'Huntsman Or Romney'?



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By NPR Staff
Two Mormon missionaries in New Hampshire are often asked about their political loyalties while they proselytize. But the young men try to keep church separate from Granite State.
U.S. News

Celebrity Endorsements: What Happens When Reality TV And Politics Collide



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By NPR Staff
With primary season fully underway, Republican presidential hopefuls are competing not only for voters but also high-profile endorsements. A parade of celebrity supporters has added some levity, and oddball moments, to the campaign trail.
Author Interviews

Stephen Hawking: Exploring An 'Unfettered Mind'



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By NPR Staff
Stephen Hawking is known as much for his scientific contributions to theoretical cosmology and quantum gravity, as he is for his willingness to make science accessible for the general public. His work is the topic of a new biography by science writer Kitty Ferguson.
U.S. News

Iowa's Cold Doesn't Stop Campaigns From Heating Up Ahead Of Caucuses



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By NPR Staff
Six GOP candidates — most with family members in tow — shook voters' hands and made their final arguments on the eve of the Iowa caucuses.
Education

An Amazing Trickeration?: Banished Words For 2012



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By NPR Staff
At Lake Superior State University, college officials have been releasing a list of banished words since 1976. Words that you're not allowed to say this year include "baby bump" and "occupy." It's a list destined to receive some "blowback."
Home Page Top Stories

The News Tip: Takeaways From 2011



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By NPR Staff
2011 was a year of intense and compelling news stories: from the Arab Spring, to the nuclear disaster in Japan and the killing of Osama bin Laden. This year, media consumers did not shirk from the magnitude of the events. Instead, they embraced them.
Home Page Top Stories

Peace Game Puts 'Weight Of The World' On Students



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By NPR Staff
Teacher John Hunter invented the World Peace Game to get his elementary students to think about major world issues. He also wanted to teach them compassion and kindness. At least two of his former students are on the path he helped to pave.
Music News

X-Rays Re-Create 307 Year-Old Violin



By NPR Staff
It all started with a gunshot and a love for an original Stradivari Betts violin.
Politics

Postmaster: Postal Service In Dire Financial Straits



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By NPR Staff
U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe appealed to Congress to help him reform the Postal Service, but he rejected the bills that have passed House and Senate committees. He says they don't address the big picture at the Post Office.
Music News

How Opera Helped Create The Modern Media World



By NPR Staff
The Metropolitan Opera just opened a show that uses cutting-edge 3D projection technology. Historian Mark Schubin says that's just one of the opera world's many tech-savvy innovations, some of which helped give rise to modern radio and TV.
Music News

How Opera Helped Create The Modern Media World



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By NPR Staff
The Metropolitan Opera just opened a show that uses cutting-edge 3D projection technology. Historian Mark Schubin says that's just one of the opera world's many tech-savvy innovations, some of which helped give rise to modern radio and TV.
Television

'60 Minutes' Andy Rooney Dies



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By NPR Staff
A distinctive voice and character in television news has died, according to CBS. Andy Rooney, who was 92, was a signature essayist for CBS News for decades — and part of the WGBH family as the father of our host Emily Rooney.
Food

Food For Thought: Chefs Pick Their Last Meal On Earth



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By NPR Staff
If you had to pick one last thing to eat, what would it be? Here's how a few chefs responded.
U.S. News

Finding Common Ground Between Two Movements



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By NPR Staff
Members of Occupy Wall Street and the Tea Party may disagree on many issues, but there's one thing that unites both groups: distrust in concentrated power. Harvard professor Lawrence Lessig says there's good reason both the left and the right agree that there is too much power in too few hands — whether it's in the government or corporations.
Your Money

Income Disparity And The 'Price Of Civilization'



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By NPR Staff
The Occupy Wall Street movement has been criticized for lacking focus — but its main slogan seems to be resonating. That slogan, "We are the 99 percent," highlights the issue of income disparity. It's something economist Jeffrey Sachs has been tracking for a long time.
Health

Eating Healthy: Whose Choice Should It Be?



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By NPR Staff
Restaurants are introducing calorie counts on menus and smaller portions to help consumers make healthier choices. But some consumers think that limits choice, and food experts say we need to change the culture, not the menu.
Author Interviews

Harry Belafonte: Out Of Struggle, A Beautiful Voice



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By NPR Staff
The singer's new memoir reveals a man who has packed enough life for 10 people into his 84 years.
Business

When A Country Defaults, Who Comes Knocking?



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By NPR Staff
We all know what happens when individuals stop paying their bills. It's an onslaught of angry letters, pestering phone calls and bankruptcy paperwork. But what about when an entire country can't pay the bills? Argentina's default in 2001 is a nightmare scenario for lenders warily looking at Europe's crisis.
Author Interviews

Modern Horror Defined By Edgy Realism Of The 1970s



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By NPR Staff
By the late 1960s, classic horror movies pioneered by Vincent Price and Boris Karloff had run out of steam. What took their place was something different, edgier and altogether more terrifying.
Around the Nation

A Losing Battle? The Fight To Save The Postal Service



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By NPR Staff
Today, only three percent of what the Postal Service handles is actually letters. Just in the last four years mail volume is down 20 percent, so the agency is struggling to re-invent itself.
Intelligence Squared Debate

Are Men Finished?



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By NPR Staff
Last year, women made up the majority of the U.S. workforce for the first time ever. There are more women earning college degrees than men. Are women taking over the position of power in society, or are things just balancing out after years of male domination? A panel of experts debates.
Around the Nation

Soul Singer Helps Shoeshiner 'Get On The Good Foot'


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By NPR Staff
As a young man in Virginia, Earl Reynolds once shined James Brown's shoes. And that chance meeting helped prod him into making a tough choice about his own future. For a while, Brown's advice even led to a rift between Reynolds and his father.
Around the Nation

Miami Invaded By Giant, House-Eating Snails



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By NPR Staff
A Miami neighborhood has been invaded by Giant African Land Snails, 10-inch long pests that eat everything from garbage to the walls of houses. "It's us against the snails," says the local official leading the eradication effort.
Author Interviews

American History, Seen Through A Shot Glass



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By NPR Staff
The United States as we know it was born in a bar, according to a new history of drinking in America. Author Christine Sismondo says most of the major events of the Revolution were plotted in colonial taverns, the start of a grand old American tradition
Around the Nation

Nation's Jails Struggle With Mentally Ill Prisoners



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By NPR Staff
More Americans receive mental health treatment in prisons and jails than in hospitals or treatment centers, yet the criminal justice system was never built to handle people with mental illnesses. A judge in Miami-Dade County is trying to prevent those with mental illnesses who have committed minor crimes from ending up in jail.
Television

Alton Brown Takes A Final Bite Of 'Good Eats'



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By NPR Staff
The long-running Food Network staple Good Eats has taped its final episode. The show ends with 250 fun, educational and tasty episodes to its name. The secret ingredient? Entertaining storytelling.
World News

A Beautiful View, But Still A Battle Zone



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By NPR Staff
For troops in eastern Afghanistan, the mountain view from Observation Post Mustang comes with a cost.
Fine Art

Dream Weaver: This Guy's Quilts ROCK!



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By NPR Staff
Ben Venom has turned heavy metal shredding into an art form, the kind you can cuddle up with on a cool night. He cuts up his old concert T-shirts and creates quilts that are way more Ozzy Osbourne than Ozzie and Harriet.
Author Interviews

The Inside Track On New York's High Line



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By NPR Staff
A decade ago, residents thought an old elevated rail line above the city was an eyesore and wanted it torn down. Today, it's one of Manhattan's most popular public spaces. A new book gives the inside story of how Joshua David and Robert Hammond saved the abandoned track.
Around the Nation

N.J. Chef: 'It's A Disaster In Here' After Irene



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By NPR Staff
Hurricane Irene tore a path through some big coastal tourist destinations. That means some restaurants will miss out on Labor Day, usually a big weekend. In Monmouth Beach, N.J., Sallee Tee's Grille was flooded. And its chef-manager says it may take weeks to rebuild.
Music News

Songs Of The Summer: How To Win The Season



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By NPR Staff
Ann Powers lays out three ways of thinking about the perfect summer song.
Health

When Wanting Beauty Becomes An Unhealthy Obsession



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By NPR Staff
A third of people seeking reconstructive nasal surgeries have body dysmorphic disorder, according to a new study. Those with BDD are preoccupied with an imagined physical defect or a minor defect. These concerns interfere with their daily life, and it's something others can't see. To learn how BDD affects communities of color, host Michel Martin speaks with board-certified plastic surgeon Anthony Youn.
History

Thirty Years Later, Say Hello To "Operation Farewell"


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By NPR Staff
Thirty years ago this summer, French president Francois Miterrand pulled President Ronald Reagan aside at an economics conference and revealed a surprising secret: the French had a high-placed mole in the KGB. The consequences were explosive.
Books

Dealing With Hard Times The American Way: In Song



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By NPR Staff
The arc of American culture can be found in the nation's music. Author Tom Piazza shares that story in his new collection of essays, called Devil Sent the Rain: Music and Writing in Desperate America.
World News

Photo Makes Somalia's Famine Front Page News



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By NPR Staff
On Aug. 2, when most U.S. papers ran a front page photograph of congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' return to the House, The New York Times went with Tyler Hicks' photo from Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia. Hicks tells of what else he saw in Somalia and how photographing the horror may help.
Arts & Living

In Your Ear: Vernice 'Flygirl' Armour



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By NPR Staff
As part of Tell Me More's occasional series "In Your Ear," the first African-American female combat pilot shares her musical inspirations. They include Jill Scott's "Golden," Jamiroquai's "Virtual Insanity" and Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning."
World News

A Year Later, Chilean Miners Sift Through Trauma



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By NPR Staff
A year after a copper mine in Chile trapped 33 men underground for 69 days, almost all of the miners battle with post-traumatic stress. An upcoming movie about the miners' experience may offer a new chance to unify them and bring back the attention they received following the collapse.
U.S. News

A New Way Around Internet Censorship?



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By NPR Staff
New software being developed at the University of Michigan aims to defeat Internet censorship by turning the entire Internet into an anti-censorship device.
Business

Entrepreneur Bets On Happiness With Grilled Cheese



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By NPR Staff
Jonathan Kaplan, self-described "serial entrepreneur," has moved from his Flip camera venture to a chain of grilled cheese restaurants called The Melt. He sought out everyday Americans and discovered their reaction to grilled cheese was pretty much the same: They love it.
Arts & Living

Rieslings Strike Right Balance For Summer



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By NPR Staff
Award-winning sommelier Paul Grieco shares three Rieslings that are great for the next barbecue — whatever your budget — and explains why it's not true that all Rieslings are sweet and sugary.
U.S. News

The First Lady's Calories...Why Do They Count?



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By NPR Staff
The "Beauty Shop" women discuss Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony's divorce announcement, the criticism Michelle Obama received for eating a 1,700 calorie meal, and the merits of using an alleged rape victim's name in mainstream media. 
Political History

GOP's Return To The Right Goes Too Far For Some



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By NPR Staff
Productivity slips when Congress is split, but the trickle of bills passed this year suggests a new kind of logjam. What may make this period more challenging — and not just for Obama, but even for some congressional Republicans — is a group within the party that sees compromise as a four-letter word.
Arts & Living

Through The Static, The Voice Of History



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By NPR Staff
Scientists have recovered the oldest known commercial recording — an anonymous young woman reciting a nursery rhyme. The 1888 cylinder record was a prototype for a talking doll designed by Thomas Edison.
US News

Moms, Kids Hit Hard As Medicaid Faces Scalpel



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By NPR Staff
As government officials work on reducing the federal deficit, over 12 states are lowering pay for doctors, health care providers and hospitals treating the poor. To learn how the cuts started and what consequences they bear for the public, host Michel Martin speaks with NPR Health Policy Correspondent Julie Rovner and Dr. David Ellington, who practices in one of the states imposing cuts.
Science

Rethinking The Shuttle: Carrying People, And Cargo



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By NPR Staff
The shuttle's triangular shape has represented manned space flight for the past 30 years. But if it were to be built today, the shuttle would likely be entirely different. For starters, it would carry either people or cargo — but not both.
US News

Shuttle Program's Next Trip: To The Museum



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By NPR Staff
With the space shuttle down to its final mission, items from the NASA program are destined to become exhibits in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The person curating those artifacts will be Valerie Neal, who first worked with NASA in 1980.
World News

'New Hero' Of Classical Guitar Shares His Passion



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By NPR Staff
Milos Karadaglich grew up during wartime, but no conflict on the Balkans could stop him from playing the guitar. He earned a coveted spot at London's Royal Academy of Music, and his debut album made a splash on the UK charts. Host Michel Martin speaks with the Eastern-European artist about his life, music and future goals.
US News

Expert Grilling: Barbecue, Peaches And Spicy Corn



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By NPR Staff
Tired of the same old burgers and hot dogs for July 4? Barbecue master Steven Raichlen explores some other options. The menu includes cinnamon-speared peaches, Mexican grilled corn, and pulled pork sliders.
Business

When Airfares Vary Wildly, Where Are The Deals?



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By NPR Staff
Climbing oil prices have led to higher airfares this summer. But not all passengers pay the same rate. Scott Mayerowitz, who covers airlines for The Associated Press, offers some tips on how to find a good fare.
Politics

The Political Purpose Of Obama And Boehner's Golf Game



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By NPR Staff
Host Michel Martin checks-in with NPR's Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving about developing stories in politics. They discuss which Congressional members are increasingly upset about the U.S. involvement in Libya, and why. They also talk about the impasse with the debt limit, and this past weekend's golf summit between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner.

Fact Is, Students Have Never Known History



By NPR Staff
Study Reveals Ignorance Of US History, a headline reads. Think it's a story from this week? You're wrong.
Arts & Living

Tweeting 'Ulysses': Fans Put A Twist On Bloomsday



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By NPR Staff
Today is Bloomsday, the annual celebration of James Joyce's novel Ulysses. The book details an epic day in the life of Leopold Bloom, on June 16, 1904. This year, the commemorations include Twitter, where Joyce fans turned the novel into tweets.
Digital Life

Does Freedom Of The Press Extend To State Secrets?



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By NPR Staff
Does the public's right to know interfere with the government's ability to protect citizens? Four experts go head to head on the issue in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate.
Science

How To Put A New Element On The Periodic Table



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By NPR Staff
Two new elements were officially added to the periodic table this month, after being approved by an international panel. The complicated process took years; now elements 114 and 116 just need official names.
Business

401(k) Fees Can Shave Thousands From Nest Egg


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By NPR Staff
Millions of Americans use 401(k) accounts to save for retirement. But the employer-based plans often include mutual funds and other investments that have high fees and hidden expenses. New York Times columnist Ron Lieber offers some tips for workers.
Around the Nation

Gay Writer Boycotts Straight Weddings



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By NPR Staff
As many people think about weddings this June, writer Rich Benjamin is boycotting weddings of his heterosexual friends and family. This is his effort to protest the lack of marriage rights for himself and other homosexual Americans. Host Michel Martin speaks with Benjamin about his boycott and how skipping weddings has affected his friendships.
Music News

The Rap Songs Of The Arab Spring



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By NPR Staff
Musical responses to the protests in the Arab world have been flowing out of countries like Egypt and Tunisia, and much of the music is hip-hop.
Science

Don't Believe Facebook; You Only Have 150 Friends



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By NPR Staff
According to "Dunbar's Number," human beings have enough mental space to keep track of only 150 meaningful relationships. But how deep can those bonds be when friends, family members and co-workers are scattered all over the globe?
US News

Aging Card Technology Drives Rise In Credit Fraud



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By NPR Staff
According to one survey, nearly a third of American consumers reported problems in the past five years, especially with debit cards. More secure systems have been used in Europe for 20 years.
Education

Spelling Bee Pregame: Why Are Some Words So Hard?



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By NPR Staff
The 84th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee is under way, near Washington, D.C. Linguist Ben Zimmer explains what makes some words difficult to spell — and how the contestants learn to conquer them.
Around the Nation

Vermont Steps Closer To Single-Payer Health Care



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By NPR Staff
Vermont is about to accomplish something the federal government couldn't. Once Gov. Peter Shumlin signs a bill on May 26, the state will be on track to having a single-payer health care system. He says the new system will treat health care as a right — and be a huge jobs creator.
STORYCORPS

Forgiving Her Son's Killer: 'Not An Easy Thing'



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By NPR Staff
It would be easy — expected, even — for Mary Johnson and Oshea Israel to be enemies. After all, Israel killed Johnson's only son, in 1993. Israel went to prison for that — and toward the end of his sentence, he and Johnson made peace.

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