Talk Of The World: The Economy

We're still working on the exact details of NPR's next Talk of the World. The focus will be a subject that affects all of us: the economy. Tell us what's changed in the country where you live. How has the recession affected your community?

And we need you to be our reporters around the globe. File your dispatches now by email (link) (click on Talk of the Nation). Tell us which country you live in, and what's changed.

Then tune in for a global conversation about the economy and your life. It's LIVE on Thursday March 26, 2009, 2:00pm ET, 19:00 GMT.

Scott Cameron

2:53 PM ET | 03-12-2009 | permalink

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March 12th Show

Yesterday, the FBI said that young Somali Americans are being recruited into terrorist organizations overseas. A nationwide investigation revealed details of how they operate, who they recruit, and the danger they pose to the United States. In our first hour, we'll be joned by NPR's Dina Temple Raston who uncovered the story. Raston will explain how this news is affecting Somali communities across the country. And we'll hear from the head of a Somali youth center in Minneapolis. Then, we'll talk with author Christopher Moore about his new book, Fool, an amusing and wildly profane rewrite of Shakespeare's King Lear in which the king's jester is recast as the raunchy protagonist.

In the middle of President Obama's first one hundred days, many people are content to sit back and observe whether or not the president fulfills all of his campaign promises. But Tavis Smiley says rather than passively watch, we need to remain engaged in politics and critically evaluate the leadership in this country. Smiley will join us in our second hour and talk about his new book, Accountable: Making America as Good as its Promise. Then, we'll talk about the end of an era... or E.R. (era. E.R. cute.) Early next month, NBC will air the two-hour finale of the medical drama, and in today's The Daily Beast blog, Dr. Mehmet Oz wrote "the show captured the ups and downs of of touching another person's life when we filter out the b.s." If you are an emergency room nurse, doctor or resident, do you agree? Dr. Oz will tell us what he has learned from the show E.R. We want to hear from you, too.

Gwen Outen

12:46 PM ET | 03-12-2009 | permalink

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March 11th Show

It's Wednesday, and time for the Political Junkie. This week, NPR's Ken Rudin will take us through the political news of the week, including President Obama's education plan and the overturned executive order that will ban federally funded research on embryonic stem cells. Ken will also be joined by Jon Delano, political analyst for KDKA-TV, who will talk about the reaction in Pennsylvania to Republican Senator Arlen Specter's support of President Obama's economic stimulus. Specter's support has divided Republicans in his home state. AND -- drum roll, please -- we finally have a reward for you smarties out there who answer the trivia question correctly. We're giving away the official "NO PRIZE" t-shirt for you to flaunt in front of your family and friends!! I think they oughtta call it the official "KNOW PRIZE" because you knew the answer. Get it? Know. No? Okay, I'll move on...

In our second hour, author Myron Uhlberg will talk about his new book, Hands of My Father, and recall his experience growing up with the ability to hear, but the child of deaf parents. We'll ask him what he learned about the world through interpreting for his parents and the inner language involved with touch and silence. And we want to hear your stories. Were you a child that interpreted for your parents for language or a disability? What was that experience like for you? Then, at the end of the hour, we'll talk to the founders of Twitter about how "tweets"* have become the next big thing in technology.

*Short texts posted by users giving updates on what's happening and what they are doing.

Gwen Outen

12:53 PM ET | 03-11-2009 | permalink

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March 10th Show

While many companies are laying off their employees in the current economic downturn, other companies are, instead, reducing the number of hours employees can work and cutting back on salaries to decrease labor costs while hanging on to the labor force. Guests in our first hour talk about different alternatives to layoffs in cutting down company costs. Then, we'll talk to Dawn Turner Trice who writes the "Exploring Race" column for The Chicago Tribune about how President Obama and other politicians use "coded" language and mannerisms to connect with different ethnic groups.

After six seasons on Showtime, The L Word aired its final episode last Sunday. The L Word was the first series to feature an all-lesbian cast of characters. Guests in our second hour talk about the impact the show has had in the gay community and whether or not the representation of gays, lesbians and transexuals on television has changed people's attitudes toward them. Then at the end of the hour, Ralph Keyes, author of "I Love it When You Talk Retro", talks about where long-forgotten catch-phrases in popular culture originated from, and why we may be nearing the end of "retro talk" in our conversations.

Gwen Outen

1:00 PM ET | 03-10-2009 | permalink

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March 9th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk with Tom Ricks, special military correspondent for The Washington Post, and go inside Baghdad with NPR foreign correspondent Lourdes Garcia-Navarro and an Iraqi NPR producer and translator. They will each explain the extensive research and reporting that goes into providing an accurate big-picture of the war in Iraq, and we'll ask them what they think Americans need to know about what's going on there. We're still working on our opinion page segment for the end of the hour. We're hoping to talk about Watchmen. It hit number one at the box office over the weekend. Were you one of the millions who saw it? We may want to talk to you at the end of our first hour. Stay tuned.

Last Thursday, the state of Washington legalized assisted suicide, with several guidelines. However, last month, members of a group called "Final Exit" were arrested in Georgia and Maryland for providing assistance to as many as three-hundred people who wanted to take their own lives. In our second hour, we'll hear more about the "Final Exit" group, and talk with Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania about where the line should be drawn when it comes to assisted suicides. And we want to hear from you. Have you had direct experience with assisted suicide, as a spouse or a child, as a doctor or a caretaker? Who, do you think, should be able to seek out assisted suicide? At the end of the hour, we'll talk with writer Kathleen Rooney. For six years, she has been practicing the art of nude modeling. Rooney will talk about her new book, "Live Nude Girl: My Life as an Object", the philosophical and personal concerns of posing for artwork, and the distinction between nudity and nakedness.

Gwen Outen

12:40 PM ET | 03- 9-2009 | permalink

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March 5th Show

The experience of starting over can feel anywhere from devastating to cathartic. It could be the result of moving to another country, salvaging the remains of a burned down home or ending a marriage. In our first hour, Amy Dickinson, who writes the syndicated "Ask Amy" column for the Chicago Tribune, will talk about pressing the "reset" button and starting over in our lives. Then, we'll talk about the case of Jordan Brown, an eleven year old in Pennsylvania who is believed to have murdered his father's girlfriend last month. Officials in Pennsylvania are trying to figure out how to prosecute him, and where to hold him. Should the boy be tried as an adult or a juvenile? Should he sit in a cell next to rapists and murderers? At the end of the hour, law professor Anita Allen will discuss how we should deal with kids who have committed murder.

Slumdog Millionaire won big at the Oscars this year, but the film has been criticized for being filled with cliches and stereotypes about India, and for its graphic images of the horrors of life in the slums. In our second hour, we'll hear opposing views about whether or not depictions of poverty in movies, books and the recent emergence of "slum tours" educate audiences about life in the slums, or exploit those who are experiencing it. Then, in our second installment in our series "How bad can it get", William Easterly, economist and co-director of The Development Research Institute at New York University, will talk about what needs to change in the economy in order for it to get better.

Gwen Outen

12:53 PM ET | 03- 5-2009 | permalink

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March 4th Show

Ron Elving, NPR's senior Washington editor, will make a guest appearance as our political junkie this week. There's lots to talk about, including former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's plans to write a book exposing the dark side of politics. We'll also focus on the latest dust-up in the battle for leadership of the Republican Party, and listen to an excerpt of a speech given by Rush Limbaugh at last weekend's Conservative Political Action Conference. At the end of the hour, Dana Milbank, national political columnist for the Washington Post, will talk about the Senate Judiciary Committee's hearing this morning to discuss the organization of a "truth commission" to investigate the use of torture, illegal wiretapping, and other alleged abuses of power during the Bush administration.

By now, you've probably heard about the recent shooting of a chimpanzee that attacked a friend of its owner. The tragic incident has since raised questions about domesticating exotic animals. In our second hour, we're going to talk with Jane Goodall, the pioneering chimpanzee researcher, about whether or not primates and other exotic animals, such as cougars or snakes, can be responsibly kept as pets. If you are the owner of an exotic animal, we want to hear from you. What has your experience been like? Then at the end of the hour, we'll talk about the details of a new Home Affordability program that would allow millions of Americans to restructure or refinance their mortgages and help keep many from losing their homes.

Gwen Outen

12:45 PM ET | 03- 4-2009 | permalink

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March 3rd Show

Last January, pilot Chesley Sullenberger landed a powerless US Airways flight safely onto the Hudson River after a flock of birds disabled both engines. Incredibly, everyone onboard survived. So what makes a great airline pilot? In our first hour, we'll talk with pilots (we hope many of you will call in) to find out what it takes to be a great pilot. What safety challenges do pilots face while they are logging in thousands of hours in the air? And would commercial pilots flying today know how to do what Captain Sullenberger did? At the end of the hour, we'll talk about the future of the stock market and whether or not investing in stocks is still one of the best ways to save for retirement.

Egg and sperm donors normally remain anonymous-- but since 2000, a web site called the Donor Sibling Registry has allowed donors, parents, and donor-conceived people to connect-- as long as they mutually consent and pay a small fee to join. In our second hour, we'll talk to the founder of Donor Sibling Registry about the process of searching for donor siblings and fathers. And we'll also hear from a therapist for donor families about her experience finding her son's half-sister through the registry. Then, "How bad will the economy get?" Today, we kick off a series where we ask that tough question to different economists who may have an answer. Our first guest will be Jeffrey Sachs, director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and author of "Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet." Sachs will explain what he believes needs to change in order for things to get better in our economy.

Gwen Outen

12:48 PM ET | 03- 3-2009 | permalink

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March 2nd Show

We all made it in through the falling snow this morning (including Neal Conan!!!) and here's what's happening on the show today:

Some may argue that a recession is a good time for innovators. In fact, when the country pulls out of this recession, the industry that will be providing jobs to Americans will be an industry that we may not have heard of yet. It's more than likely someone is laying the foundation for it right now. Guests in our first hour will talk about how the recession is positively (and negatively) impacting innovations. Are you tinkering away in your garage or office cubicle right now? How is your innovation shaping up? Then, on our opinion page this week, we'll talk with two authors. David Blakenhorn is the president of the Institute for American Values . He wrote The Future of Marriage. Jonathan Rauch is a guest scholar at the Brookings Institution and the author of Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights and Good for America. Blakenhorn opposes gay marriage. Rauch supports it. And somehow they were able to arrive at a compromise. They proposed a way forward for marriage equality in a New York Times op-ed, entitled "A Reconciliation on Gay Marriage." We'll talk to them at the end of our first hour. And we want to hear from you. Wherever you fall on the issue of gay marriage, can you live with a compromise?

This week, the Obama administration is expected to begin the process of rescinding job protections for health care workers who refuse to provide services they find objectionable. The rule is known as "provider conscience regulation," and it prohibits recipients of federal money from discriminating against health care workers who refuse to perform or assist in
filling contraceptive prescriptions or provide abortions because of their "religious beliefs or moral convictions." In our second hour, we'll hear both sides of the issue, and whether or not a compromise can be reached in the health care industry. Then, at the end of the end, we'll talk about the snow that has blanketed the greater parts of the East Coast. As troublesome as our morning commute may have been, millions of school kids are still in the throes of celebrating the freedom of the "snow day." And if you think back far enough, you can remember that time when snow closed your school and set you free. We want to hear what you remember about that day. Tell us your favorite snowed-in story. We'll live vicariously through you!!!

Gwen Outen

12:16 PM ET | 03- 2-2009 | permalink

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Snowed In

Do you remember a favorite snow day? Mine happened when I was very small, not yet even school-age. Growing up, my best friend lived across the cul-de-sac (I know, how Mayberry, right? Best part? She's still my BFF.). One winter, in the early 80s, it snowed so heavily that it was impossible for us to get to one another's houses, so our moms (desperate to get their daughters OUT of the HOUSE no doubt) shoveled toward one another and met in the middle, creating a snow tunnel so that we could play together. I still remember the taste of hot chocolate mixed from powder, the warmth from my mug with the bear in the bottom resuscitating my frozen fingers. But most of all, I remember walking through that tunnel of snow, dense white nothingness on both sides of me, my home behind me, and my best friend ahead.

We're, once again, going to ask you to remember your favorite snow day for today's show. You can write in early if you'd like, through the comments section below.

Sarah Handel

11:42 AM ET | 03- 2-2009 | permalink

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February 26th Show

In the host's chair today will be NPR White House correspondent and Obama campaign trail traveler Don Gonyea!!! And here's what's happening on our last show in February:

Today, we'll continue our Talk of the World series, in which we ask our listeners in the U.S. to put down the phone and listen to people around the world talk about issues that touch us all. This time, we're going to talk about how the issue of race affects people across the globe. The presidential campaign and the election of President Barack Obama meant more and more discussions about race in the United States. But what do conversations about race sound like in other parts of the world? And how is diversity viewed there? For our entire first hour, we'll hear from listeners and experts stationed in Italy, France, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.

In our second hour, we're back on this side of the world, to have a discussion about the Obama presidency, one month in. Already Americans have strong opinions of how his administration is doing. We'll recap all that has happened since the president's inauguration, and we want to hear from you. Tell us one thing that Obama has done that either impressed you or disappointed you.

After that, we'll find out who is the TOP chef on the Bravo reality show Top Chef. The finale aired last night, and Carla Hall was one of the top three finalists--and arguably a stand out this season. She'll be with us at the end of the hour to talk about her experience on the reality show, give some advice on how we can get the most out of our food, and reveal whether she was crowned "Top Chef." **SPOILER ALERT**

Neal Conan will be back on Monday. Enjoy the show!

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 02-26-2009 | permalink

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Top Chef Is Tops

Tonight's the night: The Top Chef finale. If your office or lunch bunch resembles mine at all, it's been the buzz for nearly a week now. It's down to three contestants (forgive me, but I just can't say "cheftestants") -- (over)confident Stefan, seafood-man Hosea, and Carla Hall. Carla looked like a bit of an underdog in the beginning of the season, but ever since Jacques Pepin proclaimed her peas "scrumptious," she seems like the one to beat. Win or lose, she's on our show tomorrow, so get ready to pepper her with all your Top Chef questions!

Sarah Handel

3:23 PM ET | 02-25-2009 | permalink

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A Question of Color: How The World Talks About Race

We talked a lot about race throughout the U.S. presidential election. Now, we're expanding the conversation to include our global listeners. In tomorrow's first hour, we become Talk of the World and we're asking Americans to put the phone down to let our international callers tell us about how they talk about race in their countries.

We'll hear from NPR's senior European correspondent, Sylvia Poggioli; French historian and author Pap Ndiaye and British political activist, Karen Chouhan. In January, Poggioli reported a three-part series on the discussions prompted in Germany, Italy and France by President Obama's election. Ndiaye is author of The Black Condition; he says that many whites in France feel their national identity is threatened by talk of race. Across the English Channel, Chouhan says the discourse on race in Britain leads to stigmatization and that the government policies of assimilation don't value diversity. Both Ndiaye and Chouhan have been involved with working to promote racial dialog in their respective countries.

If you are part of our international audience, tell us how you talk about race where you live.

Dalia Martinez

3:12 PM ET | 02-25-2009 | permalink

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February 25th Show

In this week's political junkie, NPR's Ken Rudin will talk about President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress last night, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent tour of Asia, and the nominee for Commerce Secretary in the Obama administration. (Hopefully, the third time's a charm.) We'll also speak to Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) about the anticipated Senate approval of a voting rights bill that would give Washington, D.C. a full seat in the House of Representatives. At the end of the hour, we'll talk a little more about last night's presidential address with Chuck Raasch, national political correspondent for the Gannett News Service. When the country is in an economic slump, the president and his speechwriters are faced with the dilemma of how to explain the economic situation to the American people. Do you use a negative tone to describe it? Or is it better to use upbeat language to hide the bad news? Raasch calls it "language in a time of crisis," and he'll talk about how effective President Obama's rhetoric has been so far.

The buzz that has surrounded the Oscar winning film Slumdog Millionaire has turned a brighter spotlight on the Indian film industry, often referred to as "Bollywood." In our second hour, Aseem Chhabra, a columnist for The Mumbai Mirror and a freelance entertainment writer, talks about the Bollywood film industry's growing popularity, and we'll find out the top must-see Bollywood films that you should add to your movie list. Then, we'll explain a recent proposal that asks Congress to re-think the way the Supreme Court works, including a call for a limit on the amount of time justices spend on the bench. Duke University professor Paul Carrington will talk about organizing the proposal and why he also thinks justices shouldn't be able to pick which cases they hear.

Gwen Outen

12:06 PM ET | 02-25-2009 | permalink

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February 24th Show

Here's a quick peek at today:

Last week, a Muslim woman living in upstate New York was beheaded by her husband. The facts behind the case suggest the violent act follows a history of domestic abuse. That is a topic few talk about. And the problem is not limited to any one community. In our frist hour, we want to hear from you and from our guests about how to talk about domestic violence. Then, Ron Elving, NPR's senior Washington editor, will look ahead to President Obama's first address to Congress scheduled for this evening. The economy is expected to dominate the speech, but the President also says he will lay-out a broader agenda of what he hopes to accomplish in the next year. So you be his speechwriter. What do you think he should talk about tonight? At the end of the hour, we'll go to Mardi Gras. In New Orleans, the Zulu Krewe will take to the streets along with many other clubs for a final lavish parade. We'll celebrate the Zulu Krewe's 100th birthday.

In our second hour today, we'll talk to author David Grann, about his new book, The Lost City of Z, our human passion to explore, and hear the story of one explorer's obsession with finding a magical city deep inside the Amazon rain forest. Then, Larry Wilmore, who you probably know as the "Senior Black Correspondent" on The Daily Show, will talk about his new book, a series of politically incorrect vignettes about black people, called I'd Rather We Got Casinos: And Other Black Thoughts. Then, your letters - including your thoughts about the controversial New York Post cartoon published last week and your six word Valentine's Day memoirs.

Gwen Outen

1:03 PM ET | 02-24-2009 | permalink

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February 23rd Show

For the next few days, you Science Friday fans will be hearing a familiar voice. Joe Palca will be filling in for Lynn Neary... who was filling in for Neal Conan. Ah, it's complicated. Let me just fill you in on what's happening today.

The Obama Administration plans to close down the prison at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba due in part to concerns about the treatment of prisoners there. In our first hour, Rajiv Chandrasekaran, former Baghdad bureau chief for the Washington Post, and Debra Burlingame, co-founder of 9/11 Families for a Safe and Strong America, will explore how detainees are treated at Guantanamo, and what may happen to them once they leave the prison. We're working on our opinion page segment as I type this, so stayed tuned.

Juicycampus.com, a popular college gossip/rumor mill website, closed up shop. So what is the future of the internet when it comes to privacy vs. free speech? In our second hour, we'll discuss whether or not there should be complete, total, unencumbered free speech on the Internet... or if there should be some restrictions? At the end of the hour, we'll talk with author Vikas Swarup about his surprising reaction to the movie Slumdog Millionaire snagging the Oscar for Best Picture in last night's Academy Awards ceremony. The movie is based on Swarup's book "Q&A."

Gwen Outen

12:48 PM ET | 02-23-2009 | permalink

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February 18th Show

Here's a quick peek at the show today:

In this week's Political Junkie, NPR's Ken Rudin will talk about the newly signed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the ongoing fight for the Senate seat in Minnesota between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman. And speaking of Senate seats, Bruce Dold, editorial page editor for the Chicago Tribune, will join Ken to talk about this morning's Tribune editorial calling for Illinois Senator Roland Burris to resign. At the end of the hour, we'll talk mortgages with Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody's Economy.com, and learn about the specifics of President Obama's newly devised foreclosure plan and how it will affect homeowners and your taxpayer dollars.

In the current economic climate, some cities in the United States are rising while others are dying in surprising ways. Author Richard Florida will join us in our second hour to explain the geography of the recession. Florida's article "How the Crash Will Reshape America", appears in the March issue of The Atlantic. How is the city changing where you live? Then at the end of the hour, Dahlia Lithwick, senior editor and correspondent for Slate magazine, will talk about whether or not to file criminal charges when teens use cell phones to forward naked photos of themselves. Lithwick's article is entitled, "Textual Misconduct."

Gwen Outen

12:08 PM ET | 02-18-2009 | permalink

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February 17th Show

Here's what's coming up on the show today:

In this rocky economy, layoffs, foreclosures, and dwindling savings accounts have affected many households, and families are looking to each other for survival. But where do you draw the line with in-laws, siblings, parents and adult children whose wallets are empty? In our first hour, Amy Dickinson, also known as "Ask Amy," a syndicated columnist for the Chicago Tribune, will talk about where responsibility ends with your relatives on a recession. Then, this just in about Facebook: the social networking site has changed its terms of service. Facebook can now retain your user content Information (and pictures) even if you terminate your account. But before you just say "NO" to Facebook, listen to the end of our first hour. Farhad Manjoo, a technology columnist at Slate.com, will tell us the benefits of joining Facebook. His article for Slate is entitled, You Have No Friends: Everyone else is on Facebook. Why aren't you?

Most people have a fixed idea of the afterlife. But when author David Eagleman thinks about the afterlife, the possibilities are endless. Eagleman talks about his new book, Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives, a collection of 40 different scenarios that describe the hereafter. In our second hour, tell us what you believe. Do you have a fixed view of the afterlife? Or does this idea of multiple afterlives appeal to you? At the end of the hour, we'll talk about how the
policy banning media coverage of military funerals could change under President Obama.

Gwen Outen

11:55 AM ET | 02-17-2009 | permalink

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February 16th Show

Happy President's Day. Lynn Neary is our guest host on the show for the next two weeks. And here's a very quick peek at our show today:

The NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) turns 100, and some have questioned its relevancy in moden times. In our first hour, we'll look at the NAACP's history and the direction the organization is now headed. Then at the end of the hour, we'll ask you to celebrate President's Day with your vote for your favorite president.

In our second hour, we'll continue our series, "Your life in a recession" with a look at your leisure time in a recession. Which book, movie, or TV show is helping you get through these tough economic times? Then, an historian will take a fresh take on Martha Washington. Turns out she may have been the Carrie Bradshaw fashionista of her day!

Gwen Outen

12:03 PM ET | 02-16-2009 | permalink

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February 12th Show

Here's a quick peek at today:

In our first hour, we'll talk with two reporters about the drug wars happening in Mexico. The death toll is rising and the violence has spilled over into the United States. Is the U.S. planning to get involved in the conflict? Then, we'll talk to NPR's Steve Inskeep, who has just returned from a reporting trip to Iran. We'll ask him what it was like reporting from the region on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution.

You may think there's just one president in this town, but there's another one we're going to introduce you to. Vivian Schiller became President and CEO of National Pubic Radio in January, at a time when NPR is facing one of its biggest economic challenges. We will introduce you to her in our second hour and ask what she's learned in her first six weeks on the job. Then, we'll talk to Chicago Tribune columnist (and now Talk of the Nation regular) Dawn Turner Trice about the relevance of Black History Month. Is Black History Month still needed? Tell us what you think.

Gwen Outen

12:30 PM ET | 02-12-2009 | permalink

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February 11th Show

It's Wednesday and time... for another trivia question! Okay, that... and political news. Congress and the White House are moving closer to a final deal on the stimulus package. Ken Rudin will talk about that could mean, and more, including President Obama's prime time news conference last Monday night. We'll also talk with Rep. John Dingell (D-MI). As of today, Rep. Dingell is the longest-serving Representative ever. Following that, in honor of "Love Day" coming up this Saturday, we'll hear your stories of love and heartbreak... in six words. This one isn't mine (really, it isn't) but I remember reading one memoir that said, "Fell in love. Married someone else." Deep, right? You can say a lot in six words. At the end of the first hour, share your six word tales of love.

The legacy of Abraham Lincoln was mentioned quite often during Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Lincoln has long been thought of as a great emancipator of blacks in slavery. But in a new documentary, scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tells how he learned that Lincoln may have hated slavery, but he also told racist jokes, and wanted to resolve America's racial dilemma, by sending blacks back to Africa. Gates will talk about more about his documentary Looking for Lincoln which begins airing tonight on PBS. (check your local listings.) And, last week, the President announced that he will continue the Bush administration's faith-based initiatives through a new Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, will join us at the end of the hour to talk about the new council and whether hiring practices will be different on President Obama's watch.

Gwen Outen

11:57 AM ET | 02-11-2009 | permalink

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February 9th Show

Happy Monday! Here's what's happening on the show today:

Tomorrow, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is scheduled to announce a new banking rescue plan that proposes to inject hundreds of billions more into financial institutions. Today in our first hour, we want to hear from you. At a moment when billions of taxpayer dollars go to major banks and fewer and fewer Americans receive loans or credit, what do you want from your bank? Then on our opinon page, New York Times reporter Allen Salkin will give a math lesson on how poor $500,000 per year really makes you. Mr. Salkin, I'd like to give that one a shot.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by author and sociologist Dalton Conley. According to Conley, we have entered a brand new terrain where the line between work and leisure has blurred thanks to advent of the BlackBerry and other techology. Our existence has been reshaped further by changes in our economy and our family structure. Conley will explain it all and break down the title of his new book, Elsewhere, USA: How We Got from the Company Man, Family Dinners, and the Affluent Society to the Home Office, BlackBerry Moms, and Economic Anxiety. Then, a day before voting in Israel, Steve Clemons, political blogger for thewashingtonnote.com argues "Give us Netanyahu. Please".

Gwen Outen

11:54 AM ET | 02- 9-2009 | permalink

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February 4th Show

It's Wednesday, and time for Ken Rudin and the Political Junkie... And there is SO much to talk about. Tax issues take down Tom Daschle and Nancy Killefer in one fell swoop, impeached Rod Blagojevich continues to feel misunderstood, and the Republican National Committee elects Michael Steele as their fearless leader. Thomas Rath, former Attorney General of New Hampshire, will talk about the Democratic governor of New Hampshire's recent appointment of a Republican to fill the state's senate seat. Following political news, we'll talk to Gregg Nations, the co-producer and script coordinator of the hit TV series Lost, about the intricacies of following script continuity, twisting plot lines and time travel to always keep you wondering "What's Next?"

When I was a member of a band, telling people I had a gig coming up sort of made me feel cool... Mainly because "gig" was that laid-back-sounding word used exclusively by musicians and creative "cats" to describe their next "hit". Nowadays, "gig" still sounds cool, but it's not so exclusive. Guest Tina Brown claims that we are in the age of a "Gig Economy" and that anyone trying to pay the rent is hustling to the next gig. Brown, founder and editor-in-chief of The Daily Beast, and Sara Horowitz, the executive director of the Freelancers Union, will talk about the growing number of Americans who are being pushed to change the way they work -- and the new lingo being used to describe it. Have you turned to freelancing or part-time work recently? How is it working out for you? Tell us in our second hour. Then, we'll talk with Lt. Col. John Nagl (Ret.), senior fellow at The Center for a New American Security. Nagl was part of a team that wrote the book on military tactics in Iraq. Those strategies have been credited for bringing some stability to region. We'll ask him how lessons learned from those strategies could help stabilize Afghanistan.

Gwen Outen

12:15 PM ET | 02- 4-2009 | permalink

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February 3rd Show

Culture wars. A confrontation of ideas. Right vs. Wrong. Conservatives vs. Liberals. The "haves" vs. the "have-nots". It is safe to say we are smack dab in the middle of our own culture war, and in it's midst, President Obama has vowed to bring bipartisanship to the negotiation table, fostering relationships with Republican leaders. Is that possible? Guests with opposing points of view discuss the landscape of how the culture war is changing, not only in The White House, but in the country. Then, to bong or not to bong? That is the question. Okay, not really. But we will talk about whether or not Olympic gold medal winner Michael Phelps should be criticized for taking a bong hit last weekend. USA Today columnist Christine Brennan says absolutely, he should. And today marks "The Day the Music Died." Fifty years ago, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and a disc jockey, who called himself the Big Bopper, were killed in a plane crash. At the end of the first hour, we'll remember the "Big Bopper," JP Richardson.

The pink slips just keep coming. As more and more layoffs are announced, employees who remain usually deal with pangs of survivor's guilt. In our second hour, we'll take a look at what happens to workers who didn't get laid off, and whether there really is a good and a bad way to let someone go. Then, we'll talk to NPR's Intelligence and National Security Correspondent Tom Gjelten about reports that senior U.S. officials claim that air strikes have "decimated" al-Qaeda's leadership in Pakistan. Could this be a signal that al-Qaeda is close to defeat? Also in our second hour, we'll read from your email and blog comments.

Gwen Outen

12:14 PM ET | 02- 3-2009 | permalink

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February 2nd Show

It's February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow (that dude ALWAYS sees his shadow. Drat!) and the show must go on. Here's what's happening today:

For years, the African-American community has stressed the importance of good role models, particularly for young Black men. Well, it could be said you can't get much better than Barack Obama. The fact that he was raised by a single mom and overcame adversity to become the President of the United States seems to speak directly to Black men. But does the story resonate as strongly for them if you add that he graduated from Columbia and Harvard? Or that he became a Senator? In our first hour, we'll look at how Barack Obama's story fits in with the actors, musicians and athletes who have risen to role-model status within the African-American community. And on the opinion page at the end of the hour, we'll talk about the overwhelming reaction regarding the octuplets born last week in California.

In our second hour, we'll take you inside the Vidocq Society. The members are Philadelphia-based criminology experts who meet up once a month and try to figure-out unsolved crimes, particularly homicides. We'll talk to two of the founding members of the organization about how the Vidocq Society got started, how members of the group are selected, and the step-by-step process that goes into investigating a cold case. Then at the end of the hour, we'll talk about the 3-D commercials that debuted during last night's Superbowl game. Did you watch them? Do you see a future in 3-D advertisements jumping out at you?

Gwen Outen

12:25 PM ET | 02- 2-2009 | permalink

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January 29th Show

In our first hour, you be the experts. We've been talking about the economy and your life on a recession. But what are we missing? What DON'T we know about how you are coping in this recession? How are you adapting to a recent job loss? Call in, email, or blog us your comments. Remember, you are our guests. The platform is yours. At the end of the hour, we'll hear audio from Governor Rod Blagojevich speaking in his own defense at his impeachment trial at the Senate earlier today.

Okay, so my favorite football team did not make the Super Bowl this year. But it doesn't matter. There's just something about the lead-up hype and the fanfare football music and the trail mix recipes and commercial sneak peeks that gets you so pumped for Super Bowl Sunday! And now there is more to get excited about! In our second hour, former sports columnist Allen St. John will talk about his new book, "The Billion Dollar Game: Behind the Scenes of the Greatest Day In American Sport" and his year-long journey documenting every nook and cranny that goes into preparing for the big game. What do you want to know about the Super Bowl? Here's your chance to ask. Then, are you a snow wimp, or a snow warrior? President Obama has put the people in D.C. in the wimp category because schools in the area closed with less than an inch of snow on the ground. And he just got here!!! So we close schools at the SUGGESTION of snow. What of it??!?!?!

Gwen Outen

12:28 PM ET | 01-29-2009 | permalink

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January 28th Show

Neal Conan is back! And so is Ken Rudin. There's lots to talk about with the Political Junkie this week, including the growing economic stimulus package, cabinet confirmations in the Obama administration, and the swearing in of New York's new junior senator. And Ken will have a double whammy trivia question for you, so get ready. We'll also talk with Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) about his proposed constitutional amendment to end gubernatorial appointments to senate vacancies. At the end of the hour, we'll hear two reactions on Obama's choice to give his first television interview as president to the Arabic satellite news channel Al Arabiya.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon decided it will not award the Purple Heart medal to war veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, calling it a "secondary effect caused by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event". Some agree with the Pentagon's decision, while others feel mental health care needs to improve to reduce the stigma attached to post-traumatic stress disorder. In our second hour, we'll hear from two sides of the debate. And we want to hear from you. If you are a veteran or in uniform, should PTSD sufferers be considered for the Purple Heart? After that discussion, Farhad Manjoo, a technology columnist for Slate.com, will talk about Microsoft's Photosynth software that transforms digital photographs into a 3-D experience.

Gwen Outen

12:01 PM ET | 01-28-2009 | permalink

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January 27th Show

Last summer in Louisville, Kentucky, 15-year-old Max Gilpin passed out during football practice. He never regained consciousness and three days later, he died.
Witnesses at that practice reportedly said the coaching staff denied water to Gilpin and his teammates, and overheard the coaches say they would run the players until someone quit. Gilpin's parents filed a civil suit against the coaches and a grand jury in Jefferson County indicted head coach David Jason Stinson for reckless homicide. Yesterday, Stinson pleaded not guilty for Gilpin's death. In our first hour, we'll hear about the details in the case and debate whether or not Max Gilpin's death was a tragic accident or a punishable crime. Tell us what you think. Should the head coach be charged? At the end of the hour, we'll talk with fantasy writer Neil Gaiman about winning the top prize in children's literature, the John Newbery Medal , for his children's novel "The Graveyard Book."

Scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. has traced the lineage of notable American-Americans using DNA testing. His latest book, "In Search of our Roots," traces the roots of nineteen prominent African-Americans--from Oprah Winfrey to Maya Angelou to Chris Rock. In our second hour, Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will talk about searching for our genealogical roots. Tell us your story. Have you researched your family history? Were you surprised by what you found? Following that, we'll talk about cashing in on Barack Obama-inspired merchandising. "Yes, Pecan" ice cream anyone?

Gwen Outen

12:04 PM ET | 01-27-2009 | permalink

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Terrorist Rehab

Here's something we keep talking around, but haven't quite pinned down the talk show on: terrorist rehabilitation. There have been some interesting articles on the process of rehabilitating religious extremists, and its efficacy. Slate's got a quick explainer on how it works in Saudi Arabia, excerpted below.

Detainees ... are sent to a former desert resort outside Riyadh. There they swim in a pool, play soccer and volleyball, use Playstation, do art therapy, and learn to practice a more moderate form of Islam. They also take classes taught by clerics and social scientists. Coursework covers 10 subjects, from religious concepts like jihad (religious struggle) and takfir (calling someone an unbeliever) and walaah (loyalty) to psychological courses in self-esteem. The clerics impart the laws of Wahhabism--the dominant form of Islam in Saudi Arabia--which prohibit jihad unless there is an official fatwa. At the end of six weeks, students take an exam. If they pass, they may be approved for release. (That is, if they have already served out their original jail sentence.) If not, they have to take the class again.

Fascinating, but we haven't quite figured out a role for callers in the conversation. Stay tuned...

Sarah Handel

11:32 AM ET | 01-27-2009 | permalink

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January 26th Show

Neal Conan is out today, but you'll still hear a familiar voice. Lynn Neary has done a quick- change and will don the Talk of the Nation host cap today. Here's what we've got planned for today's show:

Since the recession began over a year ago, millions of people have lost their jobs... and their health insurance. Tough financial times also face those who still have health insurance, forcing many to cut back on their medical treatments and health care. In our first hour, we'll continue our series on your life in a recession with your healthcare in a recession. Are you cutting back on your healthcare? What are you doing to reduce your costs? Then on our opinion page, Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist, will discuss his column entitled, "Is black the 'new black'" and why he believes "it is more than a little early to declare blackness to be an advantage" in light of Barack Obama's presidency.

Last week, President Obama signed an executive order banning torture and calling for the closure of Guantanamo Bay prison within the next year. And one of the most pressing questions surrounding Obama's order is: Where will the detainees go? GITMO inmates may not be accepted, or safe, in their native countries. Few in the U.S. are rolling out the welcome mat. What are your views about the possibility of Guantanamo detainees being moved into your state? We'll talk about that in our second hour. Then, John Allen, senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, will discuss the controvery surrounding Pope Benedict XVI's decision to reinstate four traditionalist bishops, including one who has denied the full extent of the Holocaust.

Gwen Outen

12:04 PM ET | 01-26-2009 | permalink

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January 22nd Show

Today, Talk of the Nation becomes Talk of the World. For our entire first hour, we'll ask listeners around the world how they believe American power should be established internationally. Which specific places do you feel the U.S. needs to act as policeman? And in what region would partnership serve as a better option?

When I was a little kid, I had visions of becoming a veterinarian. I poured through books about animals and insects, learning all about their habits, quirks, and instincts. It was probably discovering that the sight of blood makes me queasy that led me to write that I dreamed of being a vet than actually becoming one. But one thing I didn't notice until looking at our second hour today is that of all the literature that describes every animal in the kingdom, WE are probably the most complex of them all. Hannah Holmes noticed that, too. We'll talk to her about the quirks, the habits, and the true nature of the homo-sapien... and her new book, "The Well Dressed Ape: A Natural History of Myself." After that, Linda Holmes, NPR's Monkey See blogger, runs down the just-announced nominations for the 2009 Oscar awards. Who made the list? And who didn't?

Thanks for listening.

Gwen Outen

12:35 PM ET | 01-22-2009 | permalink

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January 21st Show

Here's a really quick peek:

Today, on the Political Junkie, NPR's Ken Rudin will look at the job ahead for newly sworn-in President Barack Obama. And Constitutional law expert Jonathan Turley will talk about the constitutionality of a misread oath. And now that there has been a changing of the guard (and political parties), Los Angeles Times columnist Jonah Goldberg will explain why he believes conservatives may find "real benefits to being out in the wilderness." We'll end the hour with your letters about how you listened to -- and heard -- yesterday's Inauguration Day events.

In the midst of a severe financial crisis in the country, guests will talk about the lessons of the New Deal, a series of programs initiated by Franklin D. Roosevelt, which Obama and his advisers say has inspired their proposed recovery package. Our ender topic is coming up. Stay tuned.

Gwen Outen

12:34 PM ET | 01-21-2009 | permalink

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January 19th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk with Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop, about delivering the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama's kickoff inaugural event at the Lincoln Memorial yesterday. And about the controversy that erupted when he was consecrated as a bishop. Then we will hear audio of the entire "I Have a Dream Speech" as we mark the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In our second hour, we'll talk about the future of affirmative action under the Obama administration. We'll speak with Dahlia Lithwick, whose Newsweek article "A Complicated Record on Race" outlines Obama's record on affirmative action. We'll also hear opposing viewpoints on the issue. Shanta Driver is chairwoman of By Any Means Necessary, a coalition that defends affirmative action. And John McWhorter is an author and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute who is against affirmative action. Following that discussion, we want to hear how you are observing Martin Luther King Day and this national day of service.

Gwen Outen

12:29 PM ET | 01-19-2009 | permalink

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January 15th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about the future of the pro-life movement. With a pro-choice president taking office next week and a pro-choice majority in the U.S. Senate, many pro-life supporters have to conclude that an outright ban on abortion won't happen in the immediate future. Some pro-lifers say it's time to find common ground with pro-choice groups. But others argue that there can be no compromise with what they regard as murder.

Can there be a common ground on abortion?

Following that discussion, we want to know: Is your relationship suffering under the weight of the recession? Whether your lover has just been hit by unemployment, or you and your spouse are living in a cash-strapped household, Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson will offer some tips on how to keep your relationship from buckling.

If you live in London, Barcelona, or here in D.C., you may have come across an advertisement that reads, "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness' sake." Those two sentences have sparked a widespread discussion about faith, and particularly atheism. In our second hour, we're going to talk about the ads we've been seeing here. Our guests include the director of communications at the American Humanist Association, and a D.C. resident who ran an ad campaign that promotes belief in God.

At the end of the hour, the chief executive officer for Physicians for Human Rights will talk about investigating the health crisis in Zimbabwe. The death toll from a cholera outbreak in the region has risen beyond 2,000.

Gwen Outen

11:56 AM ET | 01-15-2009 | permalink

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January 14th Show

Coming up today, Ken Rudin, our beloved Political Junkie, will talk about the first of the confirmation hearings for President-elect Obama's cabinet picks, and President Bush's farewell session with the press corps. And of course he'll have this week's trivia question. Then, Reginald Washington, a specialist in African American genealogy, will shed light on how the White House was built using slave labor.

In our second hour, we'll talk to people who have lost everything. We'll hear about people who are victims of natural disasters. And in this sluggish economy, thousands lost everything when the stock market plummeted. And more recently, investors lost their life savings in the Bernard Madoff scam. What is it like to suddenly lose everything and completely start over? We want to hear your stories. Following that, New Yorker writer Jill Lepore will explain the new rules and battles over breast feeding, and why some women are opting out of nursing their newborns.

Gwen Outen

12:27 PM ET | 01-14-2009 | permalink

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January 13th Show

Take a peek at what we're working on today:

In our first hour today, we'll be joined by Ted Koppel, NPR News Analyst and former anchor of ABC's Nightline, and David Sanger, chief Washington correspondent for The New York Times. Sanger has just written a book entitled, The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power. Each of them will discuss what the new administration's top foreign policy priority should be. Following that, we'll talk about the buzz surrounding the debut of the all-electric car. Sounds good on paper, but will we really want to drive it?

One week from today, Barack Obama will be sworn in as 44th president of the United States. Millions will pack the streets of Washington D.C. Hundreds will pack the Inaugural Balls. And dozens of streets will be blocked for miles. And did I mention the planned airtight security? We'll look ahead to January 20th with a reporter on Inauguration watch, a historian of the Senate, and one of the Little Rock Nine who has been invited to Obama's inauguration. Got a question about Inauguation day? Call in our blog us in our second hour. (And no, you can't sleep in the NPR building.) Then Jackie Northam, NPR's foreign desk correspondent, will discuss reports that President-elect Barack Obama may issue an executive order to close the prison camp at Cuba's Guantanamo Bay as soon as he takes office. What will it take to close Gitmo?

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 01-13-2009 | permalink

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January 12th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk with Charles Fried, a Harvard Law School professor, and Jonathan Turley, professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, about how the incoming administration should deal with the legacy of President Bush's war on terror. They each represent opposing sides in the debate. Fried's views appeared among two others in the op-ed section of Sunday's New York Times. We'll talk with each of them about what is to be gained in prosecuting a previous presidential administration, and the pitfalls of a possible prosecution. Then on our opinion page, Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby will talk about a new campaign in the fight against obesity: mandatory calorie counts on restaurant menus. His op-ed is entitled, "Want a warning label with those fries"?

In our second hour, we'll continue our series on your life in a recession with a look at your STATE in a recession. Reporters in California, North Carolina and Detroit talk about how the recession is affecting people in those areas. And we want to hear from you. How is the economy hitting the state where you live, and how does that affect you? Then, we'll talk with The Mumbai Mirror columnist Aseem Chhabra about the movie Slumdog Millionaire, last night's big winner at the Golden Globe Awards.

Gwen Outen

12:03 PM ET | 01-12-2009 | permalink

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January 8th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about the future of the web with Clay Shirky. Shirky keeps his eye on social and economic trends on the web and will explain what social networking, crowdsourcing and tweeting could all mean for the future of the web. Shirky's latest book is entitled, "Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing without Organization". Then, we'll talk to a staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle about rioting in Oakland, California over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man by a BART police officer.

Leon Panetta has recently been selected as President-elect Obama's choice as CIA director, and some say Panetta may not have the credentials to meet the challenges of entering the agency at such a difficult time. In our second hour, intelligence experts look at Leon Panetta's appointment and the challenges facing the agency. Following that, travel writer Rick Steves will share his experience as a tourist in Iran.

Gwen Outen

12:34 PM ET | 01- 8-2009 | permalink

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January 7th Show

In our first political junkie segment in the new year, Ken Rudin runs down the political news of the week, including Bill Richardson withdrawing his nomination as Commerce secretary, Obama's pick to head the CIA, Roland Burris-- in or out of the US Senate seat from Illinois, Al Franken declared the victor in the Minnesota recount... and it still ain't over. And of course Ken will have a trivia question for you. Then, Harry Shearer, best known as the voice for Mr. Burns and Ned Flanders on The Simpsons, will talk about catching politicians on silent video moments before they go before a live broadcast.

In our second hour, we'll break down the ethics of political favors. "You vote for my issue, I'll back yours." That type of thing. We'll talk with EbonyJet.com writer Eric Easter about how some favors cross the line. His article for the website is entitled, "Are We All Corrupt?" And we want to hear from you. Have you ever asked, or been asked for a favor that you thought crossed into a grey area? Then, we'll discuss a New York Times report that includes details given by India's dossier of how the terror attack on Mumbai was planned, mounted, and directed from inside Pakistan.

Gwen Outen

11:58 AM ET | 01- 7-2009 | permalink

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January 6th Show

Hello everyone! Gwen's hard at work on our second hour show -- more on that in a moment -- so here's what you can expect on Talk of the Nation today.

In our first hour, Israel. The U.S. government has long had a policy of supporting Israel to the tune of about three billion dollars a year in military aid. Those are dollars on top of considerable political and diplomatic support. So, we'll have Stephen Walt and Aaron David Miller on to opine on what sort of influence that translates into, and how the U.S. should use it. We'll follow that discussion with something altogether different: Who owns that recipe? I read recently about a dispute between a food blogger and America's Test Kitchen over a recipe the blogger revamped then posted on her website. America's Test Kitchen asked her to take it down, prompting our conversation on the ethics and legality of printing and sharing recipes. When do you get to call a recipe your own? Strike that! Turns out the dispute may not have gone down how we thought. Still an interesting issue, but we're working on something else instead. Stay tuned!

In our second hour, sit back and just listen. We're celebrating the 70th birthday of Blue Note Records, with three fantastic guests -- Bruce Lundvall, Blue Note's current president; jazz historian and archivist Michael Cuscuna; and Blue Note musician Bill Charlap. They'll regale us with stories and insight, and we'll also hear plenty of the label's amazing releases. Enjoy!

Sarah Handel

11:42 AM ET | 01- 6-2009 | permalink

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January 5th Show

Here's a quick look at today's show:

President-elect Barack Obama meets with congressional leaders later today to discuss a $775 billion economic recovery plan that aims to create 3 million jobs while providing tax relief. In our first hour, we'll talk with two economists, to hear what they think the stimulus plan should include. Then, on our opinion page Clarence Page, syndicated columnist for The Chicago Tribune, will explain why he feels Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich is playing to white guilt in choosing Roland Burris to fill the Senate seat left vacant by Obama.

In 2006, Norah Vincent spent the year disguised as a man. The deception triggered a brutal bout of depression and she checked herself into a mental institution. In our second hour, Vincent will talk about committing herself into three separate mental institutions, each with different ways of treating patients. She documented her experiences in her latest book, entitled Voluntary Madness: My Year Lost and Found in the Loony Bin. Following that, Scott Shane, a reporter for The New York Times, will talk about his profile of Bruce Ivins, a suspect in the 2001 anthrax mailings. In his article, Shane describes Ivins as an "amateur juggler with mental illness, alcoholism and secret obsessions with hints of violence."

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 01- 5-2009 | permalink

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New Year, Empty Office

Hello what few readers may be around today! Blogging will be extremely light for the next two days. Gwen and I are the only regular bloggers around right now, and even I will be off tomorrow, which will leave no one to edit Gwen. So here's a preview of the next two days, and check us out on Twitter for slightly more content today, but probably not tomorrow. Ok here we go.

Today's first hour is our annual obit show. We use it as a chance to have guests on to talk about the lesser-known but no-less-important people who passed away this year. If there's someone you'd like to remember -- someone you knew, or someone you admired -- please call in for a chance to do so on air, or leave your remembrance on the TOTN page once the segment shows up. I'll try to remember to update this entry once there's a link. In our second hour, the year in culture. What was the best music you heard, video game you played? Plus, we'll have Brian Raftery on his book Don't Stop Believin': How Karaoke Conquered the World and Changed My Life.

Tomorrow's still largely up in the air, but as of now we plan to bring you a roundup on the blog world. Things have changed a lot since blogs got big, and there are some new standard-bearers and some "deep cuts" you might find entertaining. Finally, in the second hour tomorrow, Henry Alford joins us to talk about his 2008 book, How to Live: A Search for Wisdom from Old People (While They Are Still on This Earth). Does he find it? You'll have to tune in to find out! Happy New Year!

Sarah Handel

8:56 AM ET | 12-31-2008 | permalink

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The Dec. 30 Show

Here's a quick peek at today:

In our first hour, we'll look at how history will view the Bush administration. We'll talk with two guests: Bob Woodward, associate editor of The Washington Post and author of, most recently, The War Within; and Barton Gellman, investigative reporter for The Washington Post and author of Angler: The Cheney Vice Presidency. And we want to hear from you. Tell us one thing you think the Bush Administration will be remembered for.

Following that, Mark Bowden, a national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine, explains why he feels President Bush should ask the Iraqi government to pardon journalist Muntadhir Al-Zaidi, for throwing his shoes at him.

Then: your letters (including your nominations for most influential people of 2008).

In our second hour, author William Davies King will talk about his new book Collections of Nothing and his collections, which include almost 18,000 food labels, 7,000 dictionary illustrations, and 500 bottle caps. We'll ask him why he has a passion for collecting so many of the things most of us throw away.

Then, we'll talk to Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice about the controversial song, "Barack the Magic Negro," and the debate surrounding the term "magic negro." Is the term used to describe an African-American who is able to blur the cultural barriers between blacks and whites? Or does it describe an "exception" in black culture?

Gwen Outen

12:37 PM ET | 12-30-2008 | permalink

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December 29th Show

Israeli warplanes bombed Hamas targets in Gaza for the third straight day. This happened in retaliation against Hamas, who fired rockets at civilians in southern Israel after a six-month truce. In our first hour, we speak with three experts about the violence in Gaza, and what they think the Obama administration will need to do to foster peace in the region. Then on our opinion page, Sophia Nelson, a former Republican congressional staffer and an African-American, will talk about the mixed feelings she had on election night. On one hand, she was proud of Barack Obama's historic win, but on the other, she was disappointed by the lack of minority support for her own party.

The Talk of the Nation staff recently stumbled on a story about a couple who is suing United Airlines for serving the husband too many drinks during a trans-Pacific flight. The man was later arrested for beating his wife as they walked through U.S. customs. The couple want United Airlines to pick up the $100,000 tab for his bail, among other fees, claiming that United Airlines is responsible for the husband's violent outburst. The lawsuit raises an interesting question: Who IS responsible if someone has had too much to drink? We'll tackle that question from different angles in our second hour. Then, a New Republic correspondent on exposing what was a soon-to-be-published Holocaust memoir as a hoax.

Gwen Outen

11:43 AM ET | 12-29-2008 | permalink

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Christmas Show!

Merry Christmas to everyone who's feeling it! We certainly full of holiday cheer around here, and we've got a show to reflect that. In our first hour, dysfunctional family films with our favorite film expert, Murray Horwitz. We can't be with ours while we're putting the show on the air, and maybe you want a little break from yours. Following that, we've got a pretty incredible story: James Wagner had the best holiday reunion ever when, well, here. Let's let him tell it.

The greatest Christmas present I have ever received came two days early and with a rough beard. It was my father, weary and unshaven, after five days as a hostage.

Incredible. So at the end of the first hour, we'll be asking for stories from you about your best holiday reunion ever.

In our second hour, more holiday fun: Christmas songs. From traditional, to classic, to quirky, we'll have them all. Mr. "Feliz Navidad" himself, Jose Feliciano, will join us to chat about his beloved tune, and Bill Adler has a sleighful of unusual tunes you might want to add to your annual rotation. Finally, we have a surprise for our fabulous guest host Ari Shapiro. He gave us a list of dream interviews, and we booked one of his top choices. Mitch Hurwitz, creator of Arrested Development, will join us. Happy Hanukkah, Ari!!!

Sarah Handel

11:20 AM ET | 12-25-2008 | permalink

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December 24th Show

Merry Almost Christmas! Here's what's coming up on the show today:

We'll take a look back at the week in politics including Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's no-holds-barred news conference, and the long and no doubt frustrating ballot recount for the Minnesota senate seat in Minnesota. Then we'll REALLY take a look back at the year in politics. Political Junkie Ken Rudin will talk about your most memorable moments in politics for 2008. Okay, we know there are so many options to choose from, so we'll make it easier. President-elect Barack Obama can't be on your list. He had a lot of moments, for sure. But this time we want to hear about some others. Following that, Ken will grace us with his twist on Twas the Night Before Christmas. Do you have a version of your own? Set the current time to a rhyme. (Try to make it a little better than the one I just did, please.)

In our second hour, author Michael Pollan will heroically defend our food. In his new book In the Defense of Food, Pollan argues that over the past twenty years, food has slowly vanished off our supermarket shelves only to be replaced by food imitations. But he offers a way back to basic nutrition. So tell us: What fake food do you indulge in? I'm guilty of the occasional protein bar. I just ate one, and I thought I was doing well, until my boss just informed me mid-crunch that I'm not eating real food. I'm sure Michael Pollan would agree. Then, we'll talk with baseball broadcaster Jon Miller about a newly discovered recording of Red Barber's ninth inning play-by-play of an electrifying moment that occured in a game that was actually played forty one years earlier. We'll explain at the end of the second hour.

Gwen Outen

12:26 PM ET | 12-24-2008 | permalink

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December 23rd Show

In our first hour today, we'll continue our "Your Life on a Recession" series with a look at managing your credit card debt. Two credit experts will talk about what you can do right now about falling into debt amid credit card interest rate increases. Then, guess who's coming to the inauguration! People are planning to travel from near and far, by boat (not a joke) and on bicycle (still not joking) just to be in Washington D.C. on January 20th somewhere in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol where President-elect Barack Obama will be sworn in. Our guest Ryan Bowen will talk about biking it... and yes, it's a PEDAL bike... from Los Angeles to D.C.

In our second hour, author Anne Roiphe will talk about her new memoir Epilogue: A Memoir and her bereavment process after becoming a widow after thirty-nine years of marriage. And we want to hear your story. If you are a widow or widower, tell us about your experience. Then at the end of the hour, we'll shift gears and talk to Dahlia Lithwick about how Jews and non-Christians manage the avalanche of Christmas television specials and all the trimmings unscathed. If you need additional advice, you may find some helpful tips for you and your children in Lithwick's article for Slate titled, "Oy, Hark: A Jewish Parent's Guide To Christmas Specials."

Gwen Outen

12:01 PM ET | 12-23-2008 | permalink

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December 22nd Show

I briefly hit the mall over the weekend. Judging from the amount of cars in the parking lots, the lines I stood in and number of times I was bumped around, it looked like the holiday shopping season wasn't hurting at all. But one look at the discounts-- some stores offered as much as 70 percent off-- let you know that retailers are feeling a bit desperate this year. In our first hour, we'll talk to Ylan Mui, Washington Post retail reporter, about what ways retailers are enticing customers to pull out their wallets. Then on our opinion page this week, former CIA officer Reuel Marc Gerecht will explain why we should not expect President-elect Barack Obama to follow through on his promises to ban tactics like waterboarding and the use of extraordinary rendition. Gerecht's op-ed titled "Out of Sight" appeared in the December 14th edition of the New York Times.

In our second hour, two Time magazine contributors talk about their 100 Most Influential People of 2008 list. We'll also talk with NPR's Robert Krulwich about who he nominated. And we want to hear your picks. Who in your field has transformed our world in 2008, for better or worse? Okay, BESIDES Barack Obama. Then, we'll talk about the plane crash that happened in Denver over the weekend. A fire chief who was on the scene said it was a miracle no one died. But at the end of the hour, we'll talk with Amanda Ripley, author of The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes who claims that, statistically speaking, plane crashes are survivable.

Gwen Outen

12:04 PM ET | 12-22-2008 | permalink

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December 18th Show

In the case of President-elect Barack Obama, the term "African American" applies to him in the most literal sense, but his racial identity has caused much controversy. Obama has said that, given his looks, people treat him as a black man and that he sees himself as African American. But some argue that it is time for Obama to acknowledge his biracial heritage. In our first hour, we'll talk about the politics of biracial identity. Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice and New York Law School professor Annette Gordon-Reed will talk about the ways blacks' identity has changed throughout history. At the end of the hour, "Ask Amy" syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson will give advice on proper etiquette when your relatives (and friends of your relatives) sleep-over during the holidays.

There are countless television Christmas specials bombarding our living rooms right now. Some we look forward to watching with much nostalgia... and others we can't click off fast enough. In our second hour, we'll talk about your favorites (and not so favorites) with Phil Roman, the original animator of the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, and Dan Snierson, senior writer for Entertainment Weekly. Call in or email us your picks! At the end of the hour, Steven Waldman, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Belief.net, talks about Barack Obama's decision to have pastor Rick Warren deliver the invocation at his inauguration.

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 12-18-2008 | permalink

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December 17th Show

Here's a quick look:

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich tries to sell a senate seat, but keep his own... and Caroline Kennedy has her eye on the senate seat once held by Hillary Clinton. Hold on to YOUR seat. Ken Rudin will talk about this and other news in politcs on our Political Junkie segment in our first hour. Then, we'll talk about falling interest rates with Los Angeles Times financial writer Tom Petruno, and what it means to you.

In our second hour, we'll talk with Drew Sloan, a former Army Captain, and Colonel Charles Hoge, a Walter Reed doctor and director of the Division of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, about how the military prepares troops for war. Tactics include exposing the mind to war-like scenarios, running drills that simulate wounded and dead comrades, and training the mind to face fear. We'll find out from them if combat training prepares soldiers for what they actually face in war. And at the end of the hour, Kemba Smith will talk about her op-ed that appeared in USA Today and how her personal experience has led her to believe that clemency is "the only path to justice."

Gwen Outen

12:17 PM ET | 12-17-2008 | permalink

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December 16th Show

In our first hour today, we'll continue our series Your Life on a Recession and talk with two career experts-- one is the author of 150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs and the other is the author of Getting from College to Career about which industries have been hit hardest by the economic downturn, and the steps you can take now to find work. We are working on a topic for the end of that hour, so stay tuned.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by Carrie Fisher... quite possibly STILL best known as Princess Leia in the original Stars Wars trilogy. I love her for her wry sense of humor. One of the funniest quotes I've heard her say when she talked about the billions of dollars from merchandising for Star Wars and the Princess Leia doll: "I signed my likeness away. Every time I look in the mirror, I have to send Lucas a couple of bucks." Her sharp wit has also made her a succesful screenwriter and novelist. Her new memoir is entitled, Wishful Drinking, an honest and funny look into her Hollywood childhood, substance abuse, Star Wars stardom and manic depression. She has taken her life on the road with a Wishful Drinking one-woman show and today she will make a stop on our show. Then, we'll switch gears and talk about the man who blew the whistle on the Bush administration's illegal wiretaps.

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 12-16-2008 | permalink

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December 15th Show

if you've ever wanted to look inside the the Service Employess International Union and find out about the future of the labor movement, here's your chance. In our first hour, Andy Stern, international president of the SEIU, will answer your questions, including what labor unions expect from President-elect Barack Obama's new adminstration and the SEIU's connection to the Blagojovich scandal in Illinois. Following that discussion will be this week's opinion page.

This week's Newsweek cover story is entitled "The Religious Case for Gay Marriage" written by Lisa Miller, the magazine's religion editor. In the article, Miller writes, "....while the Bible and Jesus say many important things about love and family, neither explicitly defines marriage as between one man and one woman..." She goes on to say that "....Scripture gives us no good reason why gays and lesbians should not be (civilly and religiously) married--and a number of excellent reasons why they should." Needless to say, the cover story has generated A LOT of feedback. Miller will join us in our first hour to talk about challenging the religious case for gay marriage, and we'll hear from one of her critics-- the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. And tell us what you think? In your view, does Scripture make a case for or against gay marriage? And I'm sure you've heard about the Iraqi television reporter who threw his shoes at President Bush during a news conference. Apparently shoe-throwing is considered a traditional insult in Arab culture. At the end of the hour, we'll look at how insults differ around the world with Washington Post national reporter Shankar Vedantam.

Gwen Outen

11:39 AM ET | 12-15-2008 | permalink

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December 11th Show

Here's a look at today's show:

The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai have fanned the flame on long simmering tensions between India and Pakistan. India maintains that Pakistan is linked to the attacks, and in the latest positive steps taken by Pakistan to avoid a stand off with India, Pakistani authorities have detained the founder of a militant group suspected in the attacks. For our full hour, Ted Koppel, NPR news analyst and former Anchor of ABC News "Nightline" and Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani journalist and author, each will talk about the long-time mutual distrust between India and Pakistan and Richard Haas, Former director of policy planning for the State Department, will tell us how the United States might handle the challenges.

So ironically, newspapers are making news... and it isn't pretty. The Tribune Co., parent of the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and other dailies, filed for bankruptcy. This is one of the toughest financial situations the industry has had to face, and some analysts are predicting the end of any number of major newspapers within the next few years. So let's fast forward to... say... 2012. Our guests in the second hour will make a few predictions about the future of news and where we'll be getting it over the next few years. And we'll ask you to travel a back in time to the days when your local newspaper defined your hometown. Wax nostalgic about what the smell and feel of a freshly printed newspaper meant to you. Following that, we'll talk with Boston Globe columnist James Carroll for advice on how to survive the dark days and nights of the winter solstice.

Gwen Outen

12:27 PM ET | 12-11-2008 | permalink

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Decemeber 10th Show

Here's a quick peek at what's happening today:

There is so much to talk about with the Political Junkie. Governor Rod Blagojovich, Caroline Kennedy, the nanny, Candidate Number five. If you don't know what I'm talking about, Ken Rudin will explain it all in our first hour. Then we'll continue along the political vein at the end of the hour with politcal jounalist David Corn who will explain why he feels that from the looks of president-elect Obama's top appoinment picks, "this wasn't quite the change we pictured."

In our second hour, we'll talk with Steven Greenhouse, author of The Big Squeeze: Tough Times for the American Worker about more layoffs happening across the country. The latest job cuts are happening at Yahoo, Sony and even the NFL. If you have recently been laid off from your place of employment, please call us or send your blog comments. We want to hear your story. Then, Los Angeles Times columnist Gregory Rodriguez will lament the disappearing tried-and-true places to hang out. The cafes, bars and diners that we go to for comfort and renewed perspective from the outside world. And they are vanishing just when we need them most.

Gwen Outen

12:30 PM ET | 12-10-2008 | permalink

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December 9th Show

On the show today, we'll talk with author Martin Lindstrom about his new book Buyology: Turth and Lies about Why We Buy. Lindstrom is a marketing and branding expert and, according to him, there is science and hardwiring behind our behavioral patterns as consumers and why we buy what we buy. Lindstrom will be our guest in our first hour. Call or write and tell us what brands you can't live without and why, and we'll find out the REAL reason why some products may grab our attention (and our dollars) over others. Then we'll talk about bad news and hard times in Chicago-- the Tribune Company backruptcy, a sit-in at a recently shut-down Chicago factory, and the arrest of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. At the end of the hour we'll read from your email and blog comments on our past shows including the prosecution of Lori Drew in the cyberbullying case, and a Dow Jones expert will tell us what the Dow Jones index actually tell us.

In our second hour, Jack McCoy will be in the studio!! Okay sorry. Sam Waterston, the actor who plays New York District Attorney Jack McCoy on Law & Order, will be in the studio!! So all you fans of the show, get your questions ready. I'm sure you have 19 seasons worth of them. And by the way, if you're used to watching Law & Order at 10pm, get ready to reset your clocks because it looks like the execs at NBC may be handing over that time slot to Jay Leno and a brand new nightly prime-time talk show. We'll talk about the big news with Bill Carter, the New York Times writer who broke the story. How risky is the move? And could this signal the end of the prime-time drama?

Gwen Outen

11:12 AM ET | 12- 9-2008 | permalink

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December 3rd Show

It's a mega-political junkie day, full hour size. We'll start off the hour with a look at the week-in-politics with our resident political junkie Ken Rudin. (and of course he'll try to stump you with this week's trivia question.) Then he'll be joined by former Arkansas Governor and former Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee with a look at the future of the GOP. Huckabee has written a new book entitled Do the Right Thing.

Last Sunday, NPR correspondent Ivan Watson and his transIator Ali Hamdani were working on a story in West Baghdad. As they walked back toward their vehicle, a bomb attached to their car exploded. Watson and Hamdani narrowly escaped. In our second hour, Watson and Hamdani will talk about the terrifying experience and the everyday challenges of reporting in Iraq. At the end of the hour, three guests-- the daughter of Nazi camp commandant Amon Goeth, a Holocaust survivor who was imprisoned by Goeth, and the director who tells their story in a P.O.V. PBS documentary entitled Inheritance --- discuss how Nazi horrors affect newer generations.

Gwen Outen

12:24 PM ET | 12- 3-2008 | permalink

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December 2nd Show

In today's first hour, we'll talk more about the attacks in Mumbai, India with a focus on the targets of the assaults. The gunmen struck at several sites, including a train station, two luxury hotels and a Jewish center. We'll talk with a security analyst with the RAND corporation, as well as an author and former Time magazine reporter about the message the attackers were sending by targeting those specific locations in the city. Following that, we'll speak with Navanethem Pillay, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, about a new human rights report that details the major problem of mistreatment and torture of detainees in Iraq.

So when it comes to texting, I think I'm still stuck on LOL and BRB*. That's about the extent of my texting vocabulary. I'm so old school. Texting is its own language, but is it corrupting the language we already know? Linguist and author of Txting: The Gr8 Db8 explains why texting should not be cause for panic. He'll join us in our second hour. So what's your relationship with texting? Are you resisting learning the new lingo? Or are you more like YYSSW?** Then, we'll talk with former White House adviser David Gergen about president-elect Barack Obama's decision to keep Robert Gates as Defense secretary. It means Gates will be transitioning from a Republican administration into a Democratic one. What challenges will Gates now face? And how common are re-appointments?

*Laugh out Loud and Be Right Back
**Yeah, yeah, sure, sure, whatever

Gwen Outen

12:06 PM ET | 12- 2-2008 | permalink

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December 1st Show

December already. Here's what we're working on today:

In our first hour, we'll talk about president-elect Barack Obama's just-announced appointments for his National Security Team. David Sanger, reporter for The New York Times, and Ret. Major General Mike Davidson, former assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for National Guard Matters, will discuss what Obama's picks could tell us about the global priorities of an Obama adminstration.

Then, on our opinion page this week, we'll commemorate World Aids Day with Robert Gallo. Gallo is a professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He helped lead the co-discovery of the HIV retrovirus as the cause of AIDS. In his op-ed, entitled Fighting AIDS at Home, Gallo opines that President Bush's global health initiative to reduce HIV infection and mortality rates in Africa should also be implemented to fight the rate of infection in America's inner cities. His op-ed appeared in the November 16th edition of The Washington Post.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by director Ron Howard for a conversation about his new movie Frost/Nixon, based on the Tony Award-winning play by the same name, written by Peter Morgan, who will also join us today. Frost/Nixon documents Sir David Frost's historic interview with former president Richard Nixon in which Nixon lets the cat of the bag about his involvement in the Watergate scandal. The film makes its U.S. debut on December 5th.

Finally, author Asra Nomani will discuss the socioeconomic conditions of Muslims in India and why she believes "Muslims are India's new untouchables."

Gwen Outen

12:20 PM ET | 12- 1-2008 | permalink

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November 27th Show

Gobble Gobble Everyone!! Here's what's happening on the show today:

So my sister informed me yesterday that my Christmas gift this year will be a lesson from her and our mother on how to cook a Christmas dinner. Now, granted, I am in dire need of such a lesson. And it is better to give than to receive, so in essence I will be giving them a full course meal that day. But I couldn't help but think, "Dang, times are hard out here. Is that ALL I'm getting for Christmas?" Amy Dickinson, syndicated columnist behind the Chicago Tribune's "Ask Amy" column will be our guest in the first hour to talk about the ways the current economy is forcing us to bend the rules this Christmas season (re-gifting anyone?) and how to tell someone, "Sorry, you won't be getting anything this year." Hmm, maybe suggest giving a lesson on basting a turkey instead!! Following that, a reporter in a hotel in India will give us an update on the series of terror attacks in India's financial hub of Mumbai. Then, NPR's Gwen Thompkins will join us from Goma, Congo to talk about what it's like to report from the region and how she plans to spend her Thanksgiving holiday.

Today is a day to give thanks, and a lot of you are returning to your home state to meet with family and friends. So in our second hour we want to ask you what you are thankful for about your home state... or why you're thankful that you left! We'll talk to the co-editor of a new book entitled State by State: A Panoramic Portrait of America, and two contributors to the book will explain what they love about their home states of Ohio and North Carolina. At the end of the hour, you will be the guest. Tell us who is NOT at your Thanksgiving table this year, and why.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!!!

Gwen Outen

12:12 PM ET | 11-27-2008 | permalink

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November 26th Show

Here's a quick look at today's show:

It's time for the Political Junkie. Ken Rudin is somewhere between here and the Jersey turnpike... far from Studio 3A. But it turns out there are many political junkies out there. In our first hour, our guest junkie Matt Bai, writer for The New York Times Magazine, will flesh out this week's news in politics. And Lanny Davis, former special counsel to President Clinton, will discuss president-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet and White House picks. At the end of the hour, (speaking of the Jersey turnpike) we want to hear about your favorite rest stops along America's highways. Call, email or blog your nominations. What makes that stop so... restful?

We're definitely on a driving theme today. Ever wonder why you get so angry behind the wheel, say, if someone cuts you off, or (where's my horn!!!!) comes to a dead stop in front of you at the mouth of the merge lane? UGH!! Or why we gun it in a 35 mph zone, but patiently stop all alone at a red light at four in the morning. Author Tom Vanderbilt has written a fascinating book called Traffic where he examines what our driving (and hostility) says about us. He even looks at why traffic jams form and then, "poof", disappear for no apparent reason. I've always wondered about that one. Then, we'll go from driving to biting. Eric Nuzum, NPR's pop culture critic and resident vampire expert, will give his review of the new movie "Twilight" and explains why vampires are all the rage!!

Gwen Outen

12:35 PM ET | 11-26-2008 | permalink

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November 20th Show

Michelle Obama will soon be the First Lady of the United States. While her resume is just as impressive as her husband's, the media seems to be more focused on what she's wearing... and Michelle Obama has said she plans to be "mom-in-chief" when she gets to the White House. In our first hour, we want to discuss how YOU see Michelle Obama. We'll be joined by Michel Martin, host of NPR's Tell Me More, and Salon.com writer Rebecca Traister who wrote an article for Salon entitled, "The Momification of Michelle Obama." After that, we'll look at where to draw the "blame game" line when it comes to the ban on gay marriage in California. Who passed Prop 8?

In our second hour, we'll talk with Pultizer Prize winning reporter Steve Fainaru about the role security contractors play in Iraq. Fainaru has traveled to Iraq eleven times since the start of the war with a focus on private secuity contractors. He documented this facet of the military in his new book, Big Boy Rules: America's Mercenaries Fighting In Iraq. Then, we'll talk about the parallel comparisons of the current financial crisis with the major economic downturn that began in 1929. We want to hear from those of you who actually lived through the Great Depression. What was it like, and what did you learn?

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 11-20-2008 | permalink

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November 19th Show

Sen. Ted Stevens is out, Sen. Joe Lieberman is in, and Senate races in Minnesota and Georgia are still undecided. There's a lot going on in politics, and our own Political Junkie Ken Rudin will help us sort it all out in our first hour. Also, could Sen. Hillary Clinton be our next Secretary of State? Maybe. Maybe not. But you've gotta admit the vetting process is an interesting one. We'll talk about Hillary Clinton's chances, and if she even wants the job... or would be good at it. After that (and this week's trivia question), we'll discuss the talk that's been surrounding President-elect Barack Obama's Blackberry use. Obama's advisors say he's addicted to it, but using it could pose a security risk... which means he may be forced to let it go come January. But guest Jonathan Alter of Newsweek says: Obama! Keep the Blackberry! Alter will explain why Obama needs to stay plugged in at the end of the hour. Have you ever suffered from Blackberry withdrawal?

If there are any friends or family members of mine who are reading this post, please be advised: You will not be getting any Christmas presents from me this year. Seriously. No, I mean it. I may get creative this year, though. If it's something that I made or something that I baked, I may catch the Christmas spirit, wrap it up, and give it to someone. But you've got to admit... it will take some creativity to get through the holidays in the middle of this financial crisis. In our second hour, Ylan Mui, retail reporter for The Washington Post, will tell us what stores and malls are doing to separate us from our cash. Following that, we'll talk with Derek Reveron of the Naval War College about the pirate hijacking of a Saudi supertanker off the coast of Africa that happened earlier this week. And a National Geographic staff writer will tell us what he learned about pirates after he spent time with them in Southeast Asia.

Gwen Outen

11:32 AM ET | 11-19-2008 | permalink

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November 18th Show

"Keep your friends close... and your enemies closer." It's an easy thing to say (especially if you say it in your iciest Michael Corleone voice) but is it an easy - or wise - thing to DO? President-elect Barack Obama is seriously considering it... modeling the gutsy move after President Abraham Lincoln who courageously gave several posts in his cabinet to his politcal enemies. In our first hour today, we'll look at the consequences of rubbing elbows and making nice with your "frenemies." Have you had to do it at work or in your personal life? Do you regret it, or did you make it work to your advantage? At the end of the hour, we'll talk about Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban who has been charged with insider trading by the SEC. Have we learned nothing from Martha Stewart?

In our second hour, we'll talk about the effects of ADHD on young girls. Although a majority of ADHD studies have concentrated on boys, some recent research found that just as many girls struggle with the disorder but tend to be overlooked. We'll talk with a researcher on girls with ADHD about why they are under-diagnosed. And we want to hear from you, particularly women and girls with ADHD, and the parents of girls struggling with the disorder. Call us or send in your blog and email comments. At the end of the hour, we'll talk about Sen. Joe Lieberman and his political future. Senate Democrats have allowed Lieberman to hold his post as chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee in a vote on Capitol Hill this morning. What does this mean for Congress... and for the Democratic Party?

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 11-18-2008 | permalink

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November 17th Show

Neal Conan is out this week, but the show will be in good hands. This week, our host will be Alison Stewart, a familiar voice to those who listened to The Bryant Park Project on NPR. (I remember her from the "Choose or Lose" campaign on MTV.) Thanks for hanging with us this week, Alison. We're happy to have you. Okay, folks. Here's what's happening on today's show:

By now you've heard General Motors is in really bad financial shape, and this week Congress will consider whether or not to pass a bill to bail them out. Enter the debate. Should the government bail them out, or should they let GM file for bankruptcy? What do you think? What's the best option? Bankruptcy or bailout? Call in, send us an email or comment on our blog. We'll have our weekly opinion page at the end of our first hour. Stay tuned.

In 2002, a box of ancient bones was discovered that archaeologists said could prove the existence of Jesus... and his brother James! Several months after the discovery came ANOTHER discovery... it was all a fake. Journalist Nina Burley will tell us the story (literally) in our second hour. Burley is the author of Unholy Business: A True tale of Faith, Greed, and Forgery in the Holy Land. How important are religious artifacts are to your faith? At the end of the hour, The New Yorker editor-in-chief David Remnick will talk about race, the "Joshua generation" and President-elect Barack Obama's campaign.

Gwen Outen

11:27 AM ET | 11-17-2008 | permalink

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November 13th Show

For almost 20 minutes yesterday, we talked about the flu (and how Google keeps track of it). It seems just talking about the flu on a national program is enough for some people to actually catch it... particularly if you are the host. I'm hoping that Neal Conan doesn't actually have the flu, but whatever it is, it's kept him home today. The good news is Andrea Seabrook will be sitting in the host's chair, sniffle-free!! (Feel better soon, Neal.) Here's what's happening on the show today:

It's been a week since it was announced that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States, and while some are still celebrating, a burning question seems to have risen to the surface: What does Obama's win mean for race relations in America? In our first hour today, two African-American journalists share their thoughts about how Obama's win could change long held beliefs about race in America and what expectations people now have about each other across color lines. After that, Governor Howard Dean will explain why he will not be seeking another term as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Home values contine to decline in this country, and many people have been forced to sell their homes for less than the purchasing price. And even if you're not looking to sell (or buy), the dropping value can affect your wallet. In our second hour, Dean Foust, Atlanta bureau chief for BusinessWeek magazine and Robert Shiller, professor of economics and finance at Yale, will map out the value of homes across the country, and give us a sense of how long home prices might continue to fall. And we want to hear from you. What's happening to the value of your home and how are you dealing with it? At the end of the hour, Moore. Roger Moore. Now is your chance to find out what it's really like making those James Bond movies. Moore has a new memoir out now entitled, My Word is My Bond. Catchy.

Gwen Outen

11:40 AM ET | 11-13-2008 | permalink

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November 12th Show

It's Wednesday. We're not at the Newseum, but we are with Ken Rudin!!! On today's Political Junkie we'll talk about the still undecided races in Alaska, California, Ohio and Virginia, John McCain's plans to campaign for Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), and what Gov. Sarah Palin has been saying in the network and cable TV spotlight lately. And of course Ken will have this week's trivia question. Then, we'll find out how in the world Google can estimate flu outbreaks days before the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

In his new book, Make it Plain: A Life of Speaking, Vernon Jordan, Jr. outlines how storytelling, preaching and speechmaking have shaped the oral traditions of African Americans. The author and former chairman of President Clinton's transition team will join us in our second hour to discuss how African Americans have fought through social injustices and carved a way through history with the power of words. Then, NPR Ombudsman Alicia Shepard will answer your questions about our reporting during the presidential campaign. Do you think NPR's coverage was biased?

Gwen Outen

12:17 PM ET | 11-12-2008 | permalink

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November 11th Show

Coming off Senator McCain's defeat last week and the unpopularity of President Bush as he prepares to leave office, Republicans are struggling to define the future of the party. In our first hour, we'll talk about the future of the GOP and ask Republicans where the party goes from here. Then, we'll talk to Joanna Pearlstein of Wired magazine about the 15th anniversary of their "Return to Sender" contest. (What's the strangest thing you've ever sent or received in the mail?) At the end of the hour, we'll read from your emails and blog comments.

A legal battle is underway between a Washington D.C. hospital and the parents of twelve-year- old Motl Brody who has been in a coma since June. Motl's doctors say he has no brain function and is therefore deceased and should be taken off life support. Motl's parents, who are Orthodox Jews, say that according to their beliefs, a person is dead only when their heart and lungs stop working. Where is the line drawn between science and religion? And how does your faith define death? In our second hour, we particularly want to hear from those of you who have been in a similar situation. What factors went into your decision about life and death? Then, on a much lighter note, at the end of the hour we'll talk to Time magazine's Ana Marie Cox about what we WON'T miss about Campaign '08.

Gwen Outen

11:48 AM ET | 11-11-2008 | permalink

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Pitching POOP

Today's morning meeting was not my finest hour. First pitch? POOP. Bear with me here. Wired magazine is turning fifteen this year, and for the last nine, they've run a contest called Return to Sender. The challenge is simple: mail the weirdest thing you can to Wired, without using a box or an envelope. Each issue featured a winner, and the most prolific contestant, Barry Wood of Vero Beach, FL, entered a dozen times, winning twice for a mailbox and a conch shell. Check out a gallery of submissions here. So where does the POOP come in? Don't worry, it's not where you think. Turns out Wood had long been running a similar contest among his friends, "encouraging [them] to flummox the Postal Service by sending unusual items he called "permissible objects of postability," or POOP." It's a natural for our air, and today we're hoping to ask the question, "What's the weirdest thing you've ever successfully mailed sans packing materials?" But the scatalogical snickers don't end there... I followed that pitch up with one I received from Harper's Magazine, about an upcoming article by a writer who took a class that promised to teach him how to control dice to win at craps.

I swear, I couldn't make this stuff up.

Sarah Handel

11:22 AM ET | 11-11-2008 | permalink

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November 10th Show

Campaign '08 may be over, but for two journalists at Newsweek, the reporting may have just begun. David Briscoe covered the Obama campain for the magazine. Katie Connolly covered McCain's. They are part of a team of reporters who were granted year-long access to both campaigns on the condition that none of their findings appear until after Election Day. Briscoe and Connolly will be our guests in the first hour to answer any burning questions you still have about the two campaigns. Then on our opinion page this week, NPR "News and Notes" contributor Jasmyne Cannick talks about the blacklash among African Americans who voted against gay marriage in California. Her op-ed, entitled "No-on-8's White Bias," appeared in Saturday's Los Angeles Times.

In our second hour, we'll pay tribute to Smithsonian Folkways . Many may consider the recordings the soundscape of our world. We'll talk to Richard Carlin, author of Worlds of Sound: The Story of Smithsonian Folkways, and Folkways recording artist Mike Seeger about the story of Folkways records. Then on a heavier note, we'll talk to New York Times correspondent Mark Mazetti about reports of secret raids on Al-Qaida in several countries. And at the end of the hour, we'll remember the life of Miriam Makeba. The singer, who was widely known as "Mama Africa," died yesterday at the age of 76.

Gwen Outen

12:25 PM ET | 11-10-2008 | permalink

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November 6th Show

Today, we broadcast live from the Newseum, and we literally talk to the world. For two hours we'll hear the reactions of people around the world to news that Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States...and what they believe that could mean for their country. In our first hour, we'll talk to Archbishop Desmond Tutu in South Africa, Israeli politician Natan Sharansky, and also to Palestinian Hanan Ashrawi, legislator and Chairperson of the Executive Committee for The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy , about how they believe President-elect Obama will engage with their countries.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by former Mexican President Vicente Fox, Nobel Prize winner Mohammed El Baradai, and Nobel Laureate and environmental activist Wangari Maatha. They each will discuss their views about the role they expect the United States to play with the economic crisis, the environment, nuclear proliferation and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan under Barack Obama's leadership. We won't be taking any domestic calls on this program. We will only accept calls from our audience who will be listening abroad. But we do invite you to sit back and enjoy hearing the views and the reactions of people all over the globe to this historic moment in our history.

Gwen Outen

12:52 PM ET | 11- 6-2008 | permalink

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November 5th Show

History was made last night. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) has been elected president of the United States. On today's election special, the day after the election, we'll talk with Ken Rudin, NPR's political editor, Andrew Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, and to you. What does Obama's victory mean to you? And what expectations do you have for his term?

In our second hour, we'll talk with four eminent historians about how our history has shifted with Obama's victory. Our guests will be Bernice Johnson-Reagon, cultural historian, civil rights activist and founding member of the a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock; author Robert Kagan, senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Victor Davis Hanson, senior fellow at The Hoover Institution at Stanford University; and author Annette Gordon-Reed, professor of law at New York Law School.

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 11- 5-2008 | permalink

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November 4th Show

It's here. Election Day is finally here! You can feel the buzz in the air. How are you feeling today? What's going on where you are? Really, we want to know. In our first hour of special election coverage, we want to talk to you about what is going through your mind and your experiences with voting today. Have you run into any problems? Also, NPR's senior Washington editor Ron Elving will tell us what to expect from television networks as the votes are being tallied tonight. Then, we'll move from day into night. Peter Sagal, the host of NPR's "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me" will talk about how to plan the ultimate election night party, and syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson will discuss proper etiquette once you arrive at said party. (No taunting the losing team, folks.)

The men and women serving in the armed forces have a lot at stake in this presidential election Most importantly--Iraq and Afghanistan. In our second hour, we'll hear from military personnel and their families about what they believe the next president needs to know about the military, their jobs and their lives. Then, we'll talk with Los Angeles Times Supreme Court reporter David Savage about today's Supreme Court hearing to decide whether the FCC should ban "fleeting expletives" on live television.

Gwen Outen

12:25 PM ET | 11- 4-2008 | permalink

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October 30th Show

Discussions about race have become more prominent during this presidential election, from the media to our dinner tables. Now that we're in the home stretch of the campaign, in our first hour today we want to take a look at what has been said about race during this election, what we have learned, and whether or not we have made any progress. What has this election taught you about race? Later, we will discuss the recent arrest of two men who were allegedly plotting to assassinate Barack Obama. The men have been identified as skinheads. Mark Potok, director of the intelligence project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, will talk about the case and how dangerous white supremacists groups really are.

I don't worry that stepping on a crack will break my mother's back. And I've walked under a ladder and still experienced good fortune. But if I'm strolling with a friend, I refuse to split the pole. A minor superstition, but one that I claim wholeheartedly. What's your personal superstition? Perhaps it's a good luck charm. (John McCain has lucky shoes) Or a ritual you believe must be performed to bring you good luck. (Barack Obama will likely be shooting hoops on Election Day.) In our second hour, we'll talk about why people have superstitions and the psychology behind them. Then, Lawrence Eagleburger, former United States Secretary of State, will explain why he supports John McCain on foreign policy.

Gwen Outen

12:25 PM ET | 10-30-2008 | permalink

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October 29th Show

Well, I've already given you a taste of what to expect from today's Political Junkie segment -- yes, some new ads, and certainly a last Junkie look at the campaign. We've got a number of special treats today, too -- not just one trivia question, but two! So get ready for that, and resist the urge to Google furiously. Special treat the second? Dan Schorr joins us. Need I say more? Probably not, but I will anyway -- his book's out in paperback, which we're using as an excuse to get his take on election '08. Few, if any, political analysts have the long view Dan's got, so listen up.

In our second hour, yet another treat: One of America's most prominent novelists, John Updike. He's got a new book out, The Widows of Eastwick, a follow-up to his best seller The Witches of Eastwick. The ladies are back: Older, single, and less powerful. Sounds like a downer, but Barrie assures me it's quite enjoyable, and she would know. Stay tuned for her take here on the blog around 2pm. Finally, we hear from Obama supporter Sarah Sewall, former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Assistance in the Clinton administration, on how her candidate's going to get foreign policy right.

Sarah Handel

11:00 AM ET | 10-29-2008 | permalink

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October 28th Show

We're exactly one week from Election Day, and today is your chance to come up with your White House dream team. In your fantasy world, who do you think President Obama or President McCain should assemble on his cabinet? Send us your suggestions. Remember, this is your fantasy, so make it good. Then, we want to hear from those of you do not plan to vote next Tuesday. Tell us why. And if you know someone who is planning not to vote, what are you saying to them?

False rumors that Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is a Muslim have echoed consistently throughout the presidential campaign season, and it appears both presidential campaigns have avoided overt association with Muslim and Arab Americans. So how is this election playing out for them? In our second hour, we want to hear reactions from Muslim and Arab Americans. How do you feel about the presidential campaigns? At the end of the hour, John McWhorter, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, makes the case for Barack Obama.

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 10-28-2008 | permalink

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October 27th Show

In our first hour today, we'll look at both sides of ballot measures on gay marriage in California ,and abortion in South Dakota. Then, on our opinion page, Jonathan Rauch will explain why he believes that for liberals concerned with climate change and health care, the best thing MAY be to vote for John McCain.

In the midst of the current financial storm and with stock markets falling, we want to know: Where are you investing your money now? In our first our, we'll talk with Joseph Borg, director of the Alabama Securities Commission, and Jennifer Levitz, reporter for the Wall Street Journal about what people do when stock markets tank. At the end of the hour, we kick off a week-long series of conversations with four poeple who will make the case for the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates on foreign and domestic policy. Today, we'll talk about John McCain and the conservative base with Michael Gerson, former deputy assistant to the President, and former principal speech writer for George W. Bush.

Gwen Outen

12:19 PM ET | 10-27-2008 | permalink

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October 23rd Show

Election Day is less than two weeks away and reports show that voters have turned out in record numbers in states that allow early voting. But concerns of voter fraud looms as Election Day draws nearer, and both presidential parties have warned that the other side plans to steal the election. In our first hour, we want to hear from you, particularly those of you who have participated in early voting in your state. What did you see? What will be your biggest concern come Election Day? Do you trust this election? Then, we'll talk to you about your "hemline index." What indicator tells you the economy is really, really bad?

In our second hour, we'll talk about your plans to re-plan your retirement. Stock prices have fallen and retirement funds have lost money, and for some it may mean having to reconsider their plans for retirement. We'll talk to one woman who had to change her retirement plans after she and her spouse lost thousands of dollars in their portfolio. And the director of financial security at AARP will explain how the financial crisis is changing retirement plans. Our ender topic for the hour is coming soon, so stay tuned.

Gwen Outen

12:29 PM ET | 10-23-2008 | permalink

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October 22nd Show

We're at the Newseum today, and less than two weeks away from Election Day. In the first hour, NPR's political editor (and political junkie) Ken Rudin will talk about Barack Obama's money surge and recent endorsement from Colin Powell, some unusual state-by-state campaigning by both presidential candidates, and the trial of Ted Stevens. And of course, he'll have a trivia question for you. Later, Green Party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney will take your questions about her campaign and the Green Party platform.

In his latest book, Roy Blount, Jr. explores the idosyncracies of the English language. It's... er... a little hard to explain, so I'll let the title of his new book speak for itself. Here goes: Alphabet Juice: The Energies, Gists, and Spirits of Letters, Words, and Combinations Thereof; Their Roots, Bones, Innards, Piths, Pips, and Secret Parts, ... With Examples of Their Usage Foul and Savory. Got it? Don't worry. Roy Blount, Jr. will explain it all in the second hour. And at the end of the hour, we'll combine movies with journalism with Murray Horwitz. Think summer movie festival... in the fall. So tell us, what's your favorite movie about journalism? (Broadcast News is my personal favorite.)

Enjoy.

Gwen Outen

12:37 PM ET | 10-22-2008 | permalink

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October 21st Show

In our first hour today, we will detail the case of Troy Davis, a man who was convicted and now faces execution for the killing of a police officer in Savannah, Georgia in 1989. Davis has maintained that he is not guilty and most of the prosecution's witnesses have recanted their original testimony, or changed their story. Last week, the Supreme Court cleared the way for Davis' execution. We will talk about this case, and take a closer look at the death penalty process from both sides. How fair is it? Later, we want to hear from people who travel overseas. While you traveled abroad, did you get grilled on U.S. politics? At the end of the hour, we'll read from your emails and blog comments.

In our second hour, we'll talk with Hanna Rosin, a contributing editor to The Atlantic Monthly. Rosin recently wrote an article that details the complicated realities of families with children who are transgender and struggling with sexual identity. We'll also be joined by one of the mothers featured in the article. Are you a parent whose child has struggled with their sexual identity? Please tell us your story. Then, our series, This American Moment, continues with former Secretary of State Madeline Albright.

Gwen Outen

12:03 PM ET | 10-21-2008 | permalink

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October 20th Show

Happy Monday! Neal Conan is back in Washington in the host's chair. Here's what's happening on the show today:

In our first hour, we'll talk with two economists who are featured in an article in next month's Harper's Magazine entitled "How to Save Capitalism." Joseph Stiglitz is the winner of the Nobel Prize in economics and Eric Janszen is a former venture capitalist. Both guests will define capitalism and explain whether or not the system needs fixing. And we want to hear from you. Have you benifitted from capitalism? Or has the system failed you? Later on our weekly Opinion Page segment, Mickey Edwards, former Republican congressman from Oklahoma and member of the Republican leadership, will talk about what General Colin Powell's recent endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama could mean for the Republican Party.

We'll celebrate the beloved B movie in our second hour. Oh, you know you love them. We can hear you humming the entire soundtrack of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So if you love B movies, make your voice heard. We want to know what's on your B-List? Guest David Sterrit will tell us what's on his. He is the co-author of The B-List: The National Society of Film Critics on the Low-Budget Beauties, Genre-Bending Mavericks, and Cult Classics We Love. Then, author James McPherson will discuss his new book Tried by War that explains how Abraham Lincoln's leadership role as Commander in Chief evolved during the Civil War.

Gwen Outen

12:07 PM ET | 10-20-2008 | permalink

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October 14th Show

We are exactly three weeks from election day, and both presidential candidates have turned up the heat on their opponents... and their attacks. But has it gotten too ugly? And not just from the candidates, but from their supporters? In our first hour, we'll talk about where we should draw the line in politics. Then, we'll talk about the fires that continue to scorch parts of southern California. At the end of the hour, we'll read from your email and blog comments on past show topics.

The shrinking economy has caused more and more people to face unemployment, bankruptcy foreclosures... and the daunting task of devising a Plan B. In the midst of an uncertain financial future, what are your contingency plans? Our guests in the second hour will discuss the challenges small business owners are facing and the ways people are hunkering down until the economy gets back on track. After that, we'll talk about the power behind the undecided voter. Undecided voters are crucial to this presidential election. Are you one? We want to hear from you. What are you STILL waiting to hear that will help you decide?

Gwen Outen

12:05 PM ET | 10-14-2008 | permalink

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October 13th Show

Neal Conan is back at our NPR headquarters in Washington (for the time being) and in our first hour, he'll talk to Ted Koppel about a new documentary entitled The Last Lynching that airs tonight on the Discovery Channel. In it, Koppel focuses on three Americans whose lives were deeply affected by acts of hatred and racism, and investigates the last recorded lynching incident that surprisingly took place in 1981. And we also hope to answer this question: Now that an African American may be our next president, how much progress have we really made? Then, on our opinion page, New York Times columnist William Kristol explains why he believes John McCain should fire his campaign.

To celebrate this Columbus Day holiday, we'll be joined by author and historian David Boyle in our second hour. In his new book entitled Toward the Setting Sun: Columbus, Cabot, Vespucci, and the Race for America , Boyle explores the relationship between the three men and their joint venture in crossing the Atlantic. At the end of the hour, Victor Cha, director of Asian studies at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Pacific Council, will discuss the Bush administration's recent move to de-list North Korea from the list of states that sponsor terrorism.

Gwen Outen

12:06 PM ET | 10-13-2008 | permalink

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October 2nd Show

Neal Conan is in St. Louis, Lynn Neary is in the host's chair, and here's a quick look at what's happening on today's show:

Our economy relies on short-term capital funding -- it's how many businesses make payroll, for instance -- and if the current financial crisis causes the credit market to dry up, businesses may find themselves without any means to keep money flowing. In our first hour, we'll leave Wall Street, and walk down Main Street, to focus on what the credit crisis could mean for small businesses and business owners. Then, we'll talk to David Muse, the director of an all-male production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juiet, and actor James Davis who portrays Juliet.

Have you ever wondered how fireworks know just when to explode? What makes an airbag deploy so fast? Or how something goes from an assembly line to "voila" the final product. Marshall Brain has, too. He's the founder of HowStuffWorks.com and the host of National Geographic's "Factory Floor with Marshall Brain." He'll also be a guest on our show in our second hour. Now is your chance to ask him a question about how ordinary stuff gets made. At the end of the hour, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with author and activist Eboo Patel.

Gwen Outen

12:10 PM ET | 10- 2-2008 | permalink

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October 1st Show

We're back at the Newseum today with NPR's political junkie Ken Rudin. There's so much to talk about on the political front in our first hour: tonight's Senate vote on the new and hopefully improved $700 billion bailout, tomorrow's vice-presidential debate between Republican Sarah Palin and Democrat Joe Biden, and a Democratic pollster and a Republican strategist each weigh-in on which color the swing states are turning-- red or blue. Later in the hour, Katharine Seelye, political reporter for The New York Times will explain the debating experience and styles of Sarah Palin and Joe Biden and what we can expect in tomorrow night's debate.

We are almost exactly one month away from Election Day. Both presidential candidates are campaigning hard to get votes, but in our second hour, we're going to focus on what they need to do to convince Latinos, the largest minority group in the United States, to vote for them. We'll talk to some experts on the Latino vote, and we want to hear from voters in the Latino community. What are the campaigns doing to win your vote, and is it working? Then, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with author and Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan.

Gwen Outen

12:08 PM ET | 10- 1-2008 | permalink

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September 30th Show

You've probably heard by now that the $700 billion bailout bill was rejected in the House yesterday. While politicians blame each other over the failure of the bailout, some are saying if the bill had passed, it would have signaled the end of the "free market" structure in the United States. In our first hour, we'll talk with an economist, a supporter of free markets and a critic about what the bailout failure could mean for government regulation and free market economics. Then, we'll talk about the hurricane-induced gasoline shortage that has affected the southeastern region of the United States. And we'll read some of your comments on our past show topics.

When filmmaker Joanna Rudnick tested positive for the breast cancer gene, she faced an excruciating decision: either remove her breasts and ovaries, ending the chance of her ever becoming pregnant, or risk developing cancer. Rudnick documents her deeply emotional journey through treatments and life-and-death decision-making in her new film In The Family. In our second hour, Rudnick will join us, along with a doctor who will explain the mutations of the BRCA (breast cancer) gene. Following that, we'll go back inside the political sphere with author and blogger Bill Bishop. He will explain why, when it comes to politics, voters only hear what they want to hear, and seem to ignore the rest.

Gwen Outen

11:30 AM ET | 09-30-2008 | permalink

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September 29th Show

If you've been following the news, you know all about the 700-billion dollar bailout plan for Wall Street. You may even understand what got us into this financial crisis. If not, in our first hour, we'll bring you up to speed a little bit, talk to economists about the Bush-Paulson bailout bill and what could happen once this or any bill gets signed. Then, we'll talk to syndiated columnist Kathleen Parker about why she thinks Sarah Palin should throw in the towel before this Thursday's vice-presidential debate.

Dozens of pastors brought politics to the pulpits yesterday by endorsing a presidential candidate and urging their congregants to vote the same way. Their endorsements deliberately challenge the Internal Revenue Service, which prohibits tax-exempt organizations from engaging in partisan politics. In our second hour, we'll talk with pastors on both sides of the issue. And we'd like to hear what you think. Is it the role of your spiritual leader to endorse a candidate and urge you vote for him, too? Following that, Ted Koppel will talk about what the candidates said (and didn't say) in the foreign policy portion of last week's presidential debate.

Gwen Outen

11:19 AM ET | 09-29-2008 | permalink

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September 23rd Show

Greed. It's one of the deadly sins, and, to some, it's also one of the reasons we're neck-deep in a financial crisis. It is safe to say lenders, investment banks and corporations were major players in blowing -- and bursting -- the economic bubble. But could they have done it without us? When we reached out and took what seemed like free money, were we being greedy? Or simply grabbing an opportunity while it was there? Tell us what you think. Is the financial crisis a result of greed? At the end of the hour, NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will join us to explain how the United States and NATO should respond to Russia's decision to invade Georgia.

For as many times as we enter our personal information online, there are probably as many hackers ready to steal it and take our identity along with it. In our second hour, a security strategist tells us how hackers break into online accounts, and we'll get tips on how we can reduce our vulnerability to an online attack. At the end of the hour, we'll talk about the checkered reputation of Lee Atwater with Stefan Forbes, the director of a new documentary called Boogie Man: The Lee Atwater Story.

Gwen Outen

11:43 AM ET | 09-23-2008 | permalink

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September 18th Show

What happens to a family when a teenage child gets pregnant? In today's first hour, syndicated Chicago Tribune columnist Amy Dickinson will join us to talk about how families' lives are changed when a teenager becomes pregnant, and will give some advice on how parents can offer their support. At the end of the hour, we'll continue our series "This American Moment" and talk with Ralph Reed, Republican political strategist and former executive director of the Christian Coalition, about what this moment in political history means for him.

Author Peter Gosselin will be the guest in our second hour. His new book, High Wire, examines the financial lives of American families in our volatile economic environment and how people of all income levels are feeling less secure about taking financial risks without a safety net. Tell us your story. Have you lost everything to the economic crunch? What happened, and how are you coping with it? Then, New York Times travel reporter Michelle Higgins explains why flight attendants must embody the skills of "teacher, pastor, counselor and mediator." Higgins writes about her stint as an American Airlines flight attendant in an article called "The Curriculum Is Emergencies" (and the bigger article: "Flying the Unfriendly Skies").

Gwen Outen

11:38 AM ET | 09-18-2008 | permalink

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September 17th Show

We're at the Newseum today, with our Political Junkie Ken Rudin. In our first hour, we'll talk about the presidential candidates' reactions to economic news from Wall Street and the scandal surrounding Congressman Charles Rangel, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. And we'll examine new political ads, and the candidates' fundraising numbers. We'll also talk to a Democratic pollster and a Republican strategist about what tactics the candidates need to use to win this election. And if you've dreaming about the electoral map at night and hitting the 'refresh' button on random political websites by day, you could be suffering from campaign fatigue. But when does it become an obsession? At the end of the first hour, Meghan Daum of The Los Angeles Times will offer a 12-step program to help you through what may be a growing addiction to politics.

Journalist and author Bob Woodward will be our guest for the entire second hour. He has just released a book entitled The War Within: A Secret White House History that takes an inside look at the Bush administration's military and political strategy for the war in Iraq and the decisions that were made during the war.

Gwen Outen

12:18 PM ET | 09-17-2008 | permalink

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September 16th Show

Here's a quick look at what's coming up on the show today:

Pollsters are saying that women hold the key to this presidential election and it looks like Republican John McCain got a boost with that vote since picking Sarah Palin as his running mate. In our first hour, we'll talk with three women, each with a different perspective, about the 'politics of Palin.' And we want to hear from you... and from women listeners in particular. What does Sarah Palin's candidacy mean to you? And after our big picture look at the news on Wall Street on our show yesterday, at the end of the first hour our own econonaut Adam Davidson will answer your questions about what the current financial crisis could mean for your money.

Sammy Davis, Jr. earned more than fifty million dollars as an actor, singer, dancer, comedian and member of the Rat Pack. But he died broke and owing the IRS seven million dollars. Biographer Matt Birkbeck will join us in our second hour to talk about Davis' life, how he lost everything he worked for, and attempts by those close to Davis to restore his legacy. Birkbeck's book is called Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, Madness, and the Mob. Following that, we'll read some of your email and blog comments on past shows. Then, the founder of postyourtest.com and the Director of the Center for Academic Integrity at Clemson University debate whether or not test sharing websites are simply another form of cheating.

Gwen Outen

12:17 PM ET | 09-16-2008 | permalink

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September 11th Show

Today, marks the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. We'll have a conversation about the 2002 graduating class of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and how their lives changed on September 11th. In our first hour, we'll talk author Bill Murphy, Jr. about the lives of some of West Point's class of 2002. Later in that hour, author and journalist Ariel Levy will join us to talk about Cindy McCain. The public knows her as the wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. But who IS Cindy McCain? In an article for The New Yorker entitled "The Lonesome Trail", Levy writes about Cindy McCain's upbringing, how she learned how to fly, and her nontraditional campaign.

In our second hour, we'll talk about Iraqi culture with Wall Street Journal reporter Melik Kaylan who recently returned from Iraq. We'll also be joined by Karim Wasfi, the conductor of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra who will talk about the challenges and triumphs his orchestra has experienced in Iraq, and why they played on despite the bombings and chaos. At the end of the hour, we want to hear from you. On the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, what does this day mean to you? Do you remember where you were when the planes hit the World Trade Center and the Pentagon? Seven years later, is this day significant for you? Call in or send us your email or blog comments.

Gwen Outen

12:10 PM ET | 09-11-2008 | permalink

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September 10th Show

Here's a quick look at what's coming up on the show today:

We're back in the Newseum and Ken Rudin is back from the presidential conventions and there is still so much to talk about. Sarah Palin, swing states, Sarah Palin, more attack ads, Sarah Palin, Kilpatrick's resignation... and did I mention Sarah Palin? In our first hour, Ken Rudin will talk about all that and much more and he'll have a brand new trivia question for you. Plus, two political reporters, Mark Naymik of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Mike Mishak of the Las Vegas Sun will explain what each presidential candidate will need to do to win in their states.

Author Linda Robinson specializes in military and national security issues and conducted extensive interviews with General David Petraeus that are documented in her new book, Tell Me How This Ends: General David Petraeus and the Search for a Way Out of Iraq. Robinson joins us to talk about General Petraeus, Iraq, and Afghanistan in our second hour. And as our "This American Moment" continues, author Junot Diaz talks about what this moment in American politics means to him.

Enjoy folks!

Gwen Outen

12:12 PM ET | 09-10-2008 | permalink

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September 9th Show

In our first hour today, we're going to discuss the government take over of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that has been the buzz of the nation, but we're going to broaden that conversation out a bit. What exactly does this bail out mean to US taxpayers? And now that it has been stated that there is no option but to nationalize the mortgage companies, what does that mean for overseas investors? Our econonaut Adam Davidson will help answer those questions, and also whether or not other companies, for instance the airline industry, are simply too big to fail. At the end of the hour, an attorney will explain the nuances of copyright infringement laws in light of a recent court ban on the publication of a Harry Potter encyclopedia.... and for our weekly letters segment.

Author Stanley Fish is our guest in the second hour. In his new book, Fish argues that universities should be under no obligation to promote good moral character and professors need to leave world-changing agendas out of the classroom. His new book is entitled Save the World On Your Own Time. Do you agree? Then, we'll talk with Justin Davidson, a classical music critic, about whether you can teach your kids taste.

Gwen Outen

12:20 PM ET | 09- 9-2008 | permalink

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September 8th Show

Today we'll continue our "America in the World" series in our first hour, and talk again with our Talk of the Nation news analyst Ted Koppel. We'll also be joined by Randy Scheunemann, the director of foreign policy and national security for the McCain/Palin campaign.

Both Koppel and Scheuemann will take a look what America's place in the world might look like under a McCain administration, and how their foreign policy in Iraq could differ from that of the current administration. And on the opinion page at the end of the hour, Boston Globe columnist Derrick Jackson talks about his article, "The Value of the Male Schoolteacher".

Last week, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Hannah caused death and major destruction in Haiti and Cuba. Now meterologists are keeping a close watch on Hurricane Ike, which has caused more damage and flooding in Haiti and across central Cuba and the Turks and Caicos. In our second hour, we'll speak with reporters in Havana, Cuba, and Haiti, about the current conditions in those regions, and we'll check in with our own foreign correspondent Jason Beaubien, to hear about ongoing aid operations from the United States to Haiti. Stay tuned for the ender topic for hour two.

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 09- 8-2008 | permalink

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September 4th Show

In our first hour, we will ask the question: Are we any closer to finding Osama bin Laden? We've asked Ahmed Rashid, a Pakistani author and journalist, and Peter Bergen, a journalist who has written extensively on Al-Qaida and Osama Bin Laden, about whether or not capturing Osama bin Laden is still a priority in U.S. foreign policy. Then, in our seventh installment of our "This American Moment" series, we'll go to the Republican National Convention and speak with John Fund of the Wall Street Journal about what this moment in American politics means to him.

In his new memoir, author David Lovelace talks candidly about seeing the effects bipolar disorder had on his family, and then learning to live with it himself. Lovelace will describe his journey and talk about his book entitled Scattershot: A Memoir of My Bipolar Family. We'll also speak with author Terri Cheney about her book Manic that describes how she has coped with bipolar disorder. Then at the end of the second hour, we want you to be our guest. Tonight is the final night of the Republican National convention and the big night for Republican presidential nominee John McCain. What are you hoping to hear tonight? Call us, or send in your email and blog comments. What will you be listening for in McCain's speech?

Continue reading "September 4th Show" »

Gwen Outen

12:20 PM ET | 09- 4-2008 | permalink

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September 3rd Show

It's Newseum time, it's Political Junkie time, and it's Republican convention time. There's lots to talk about with Ken Rudin (who is in St. Paul). We'll talk about Sarah Palin's big debut tonight at the GOP convention (we'll talk more about Sarah Palin in our second hour today), and the speeches given there last night by former presidential hopeful Fred Thompson and former Democrat Joe Lieberman. And of course, this week's trivia question. Then, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with a conversation with John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and find out what this moment in American history means to him.

Everyone is talking about Sarah Palin and they are talking about her so much, we decided this morning to move a pre-planned show to another day and focus our second hour's main topic on Palin. Since McCain's announcement that Palin would be his running mate, the media has had a field day covering the pregnancy of Palin's teenage daughter and the questionable thoroughness of the vetting process. But is it all too much? Is the press being too hard on her? Has the press crossed the line? And if there is no line... should there be one? We'll talk to our own media correspondent David Folkenflik and also to a senior writer at The Weekly Standard who says the media pile-on is unfair. Then, we'll talk about reporting on a hurricane from inside the eye of the storm. What's it like talking into a microphone or looking into a camera with a face-full of rain and a wind-blown poncho becoming a mini-parachute? And we want to hear from you. Is there that one "live on the scene" place in your area where your local weather anchors always report storms from?

Gwen Outen

12:09 PM ET | 09- 3-2008 | permalink

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September 2nd Show

Around here, we can't stop talking about McCain's VP pick, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska. When news broke Friday of his selection, the gears started grinding and I feel like I'm playing catch-up, learning about her political career (bridge to nowhere, maverick), her beliefs (abstinence, intelligent design), and her biography (busy mom, fisherwoman, NRA member). I think it's safe to say most of us were caught off-guard, so today we're bringing it to you -- what we know so far, and how conservatives feel about the pick. If you're a conservative, what do you think? Following that, our next installment of "This American Moment." I think Susan Lund's combing the RNC for the right guest right now, so stay tuned.

In our second hour, the incomparable Wynton Marsalis joins us to talk about his new book, Moving to Higher Ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life. I could listen to him talk about anything, and I'm especially looking forward to hearing about the lessons behind our American art form. Finally, we'll do a Hurricane Gustav update, and follow up in the hardest hit areas.

Sarah Handel

12:08 PM ET | 09- 2-2008 | permalink

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September 1st Show

The latest reports from those following the path of Hurricane Gustav say the hurricane has made landfall southwest of New Orleans. The levees there are holding but the system is still vulnerable in some spots. For our first hour today, we'll check in with people still in New Orleans about what is going on there and a weather blogger will explain the science behind hurricanes and the path Hurricane Gustav will take later on. We'll close with a quick update on how the hurricane -- and the news of Gov. Sarah Palin's teenage daughter's pregnancy -- are playing at the RNC in St. Paul.

In our second hour, we'll talk about the art of winning -- and losing -- through the eyes of a little league coach, plus a sports writer will explain why winning should not be the only goal. At the end of the hour, we'll talk more about Hurricane Gustav with Chris Bynum, staff writer for the New Orleans Times Picayune and with Scott Cowen, the president of Tulane University.

Gwen Outen

12:11 PM ET | 09- 1-2008 | permalink

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August 28th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about the artistry of the con artist. Why do we fall for them? This topic is largely pegged to the recent mystery of a German man who convinced everyone that he was a Rockefeller. Turns out, his name is actually Christian Gerhartsreiter and he is wanted for questioning in a disappearance and possible murder that occurred in 1985. How is it possible for con artists to swindle us for so long? We'll talk with a reporter who has been covering the "Rockefeller" investigation for The Boston Globe, and an assistant professor of behavioral science who will explain why we fall for cons. Tell us your story. Have you ever conned anyone? Or have you ever fallen for one? After that discussion, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with former President Jimmy Carter. He is at the Democratic Convention and will describe for us how he felt after it was determined Illinois Sen. Barack Obama would be the Democratic nominee for President.

In our second hour, we'll be joined by author Patrick Tracey. In his new book, Stalking Irish Madness: Searching for the Roots of My Family's Schizophrenia, Tracey talks about coming from a long line of family members who suffered from schizophrenia. He'll talk to us about how his life has been largely influenced by schizophrenia, and how tracing his family lineage of the mental illness led him all the way to Ireland. At the end of the hour, we'll discuss the current federal investigations into possible plots to assassinate Sen. Barack Obama, and what's being done to protect him.

Gwen Outen

12:22 PM ET | 08-28-2008 | permalink

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August 27th Show

We're live in the Newseum and it's DNC, DNC DNC. Did I mention DNC? Okay, Ken Rudin will talk about more than just the Democratic convention, but Denver will be our main focus in this week's Political Junkie. At the end of the hour, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series. Author and Vanity Fair contributing editor Christopher Hitchens talks about what this presidential campaign means for him.

For our full second hour we will speak with four women about what Senator Hillary Clinton's run for president means for women's rights and feminism. We'll be joined by News and Notes host Farai Chideya, who is at the Democratic convention, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and author Suan Faludi, comedienne Lizz Winstead, and author and co-founder of Third Wave Foundation Amy Richards.

Gwen Outen

12:29 PM ET | 08-27-2008 | permalink

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August 26th Show

Neal Conan is out, Lynn Neary is in (just for today) and here's what's coming up on the show:

There is a website called Hospital Compare established by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as part of the Department of Health and Human Services. And the site now compares hospital death rates around the country and shows how individual hospitals stack up against the national average, and each other. In our first hour, we'll talk about the information available on the site, and what you need to know about your hospital. Then, we'll continue our "This American Moment" series with Jorge Ramos, national anchor for Univision. Ramos will discuss the significance this presidential campaign has for Latino voters, and their role in this election.

In our second hour, we'll talk about the relationship between our friends who go cruising on two wheels and those who put the pedal to the medal in four wheel drive. Can't they just get along? If you've been out on the roads lately, you've no doubt seen more cyclists... and more road rage. But some cities are coming up with ways to re-shape their roads to encourage a truce in the war of wheels. We'll hear from both sides of the issue. At the end of the hour, Gail Sheehy will talk about her piece that appeared on vanityfair.com where she talks about what Hillary Clinton's campaign reveals about her. Sheehy opines that some of the elements in Clinton's campaign that brought her so close to victory are the same ones that prevented her from winning. Sheehy's article is entitled "Hillaryland at War".

Continue reading "August 26th Show" »

Gwen Outen

12:09 PM ET | 08-26-2008 | permalink

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August 25th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk again with our Talk of the Nation news analyst Ted Koppel for a look at how foreign policy affects the United States. Koppel will be joined by Greg Craig, a senior adviser to Sen. Barack Obama, who will shed light on what an Obama administration would look like in the face of international politics. As president, what would Obama's top priority in foreign policy be? At the end of the first hour, we'll begin a series we're calling "This American Moment" where we ask different thinkers to tell us what is at stake in this campaign season and what this election means to them. Today, we'll talk with Lani Guinier about what this moment in American history means to her. In 1993, President Clinton nominated Guinier to be assistant attorney general for civil rights. She is currently the Bennett Boskey Professor of Law, at Harvard University and is widely regarded as an expert on race, gender, class and voting rights. We'd also like to hear from you. Call or submit your comments about what this American moment means to you.

In our second hour, we'll discuss the rise in popularity of college gossip websites -- namely Juicy Campus. Portfolio magazine reporter Jeff Bercovici will describe what gossip websites are and how bad the gossip can really get. And Andrew Mann will talk about how and why he started a series of college message boards called College ACB. At the end of the hour, Dahleen Glanton, a national correspondent for the Chicago Tribune, will discuss Michelle Obama... her upbringing, her life outside of politics and how her experiences growing up as an African-American woman have shaped her life.

Gwen Outen

12:22 PM ET | 08-25-2008 | permalink

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August 21st Show

As my boss Carline Watson would say, "Ok people," here's what we have on the show for you today. In the first hour, part two in our "Who Is..." series. Sen. John McCain's getting the treatment today, and we have a lineup of guests who'll reveal a bit more about the senator as a person, as opposed to a politician. It's about his personality, his character, and his beliefs, not his policies. We'll follow that conversation with your nominations for favorite femmes fatales with film guru Murray Horwitz, the third installment of our summer movie series.

In our second hour, the role of money in choosing a college. A new Sallie Mae and Gallup study shows that families frequently don't factor in the cost of a college when making a selection, and don't often consider how the degree sought will help pay off the debt post-graduation. How did you make the decision about where to attend, and did you factor in cost? Parents, how big of a factor is it in selecting a school with your child? Finally, around here we're all "Waiting on Barack...." Waiting, that is, on the text message he'll be sending to anyone who registered with his website, announcing his selection of a running mate. Producer Dalia Martinez quipped, "It's like waiting for a baby to be born," and new dad Scott Cameron concurred. Are you, too, waiting on a text from Sen. Barack Obama?

Sarah Handel

12:19 PM ET | 08-21-2008 | permalink

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August 20th Show

It's Wednesday, which means a) we're live at the Newseum and b) it's time for the Political Junkie. NPR's Ken Rudin will talk about Barack Obama's and John McCain's interview with pastor Rick Warrren at his Saddleback Church last week, new attack ads and the elusive veep spot. And of course he'll have a trivia question for you. At the end of the hour, Mark Jurkowitz, associate director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism, talks about how the media covers the economy and why the news hasn't always kept up with the public's concerns.

In his new book, Why We Hate Us: American Discontent In The New Millennium, Dick Meyer argues that Americans for the most part are dissatisfied with their own society. But he offers a solution: a return to some traditions that predate the '60s. Dick Meyer will offer his critique of modern society in our second hour. At the end of the hour, we'll discuss the psychology of coming in second place. Tom Gilovich, a psychology professor at Cornell University, will talk about a new study he conducted that explains why winning a bronze medal may score higher on the happiness scale than winning silver for an Olympic athlete. Tell us your story. Have you ever come in second in that all-important competition?

Gwen Outen

12:33 PM ET | 08-20-2008 | permalink

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August 19th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about Barack Obama, but we're saving the usual political rhetoric for another day. Today we want to know: Who IS Barack Obama? We'll hear stories about Obama from different stages in his life with one of Obama's Harvard Law School classmates and an Illinois State senator who worked with Obama in the state legislature. What questions do you have about Obama... not about his politics, but about his personality and his character? (We will air a similar show on John McCain in our first hour this Thursday.) Then, our resident econonaut Adam Davidson will explain the term "producer price index" and what the latest economic numbers mean to you.

Over the weekend, about one hundred anti-torture activists staged a rally outside the annual American Psychological Association convention in Boston. Inside the convention hall, APA members debated a resolution that will restrict the participation of psychologists in interrogations at Guantanamo Bay. Should the APA pass a resolution on restricting the role of psychologists in interrogations? In our second hour, we'll hear from two psychologists on opposite sides of the issue. Following that, we'll talk about WASP culture and their search for identity with Jaime Johnson, one of the heirs of the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune and director of the 2003 HBO documentary, "Born Rich." Johnson blogs about the blessing and burden of being WASPy on vanityfair.com. At the end of the hour, we'll read your comments about off-shore drilling, the controversy surrounding the reporting of John Edwards' affair, and your picks for favorite nuke flicks.

Gwen Outen

12:09 PM ET | 08-19-2008 | permalink

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August 18th Show

It's a new week. Here's what's happening today:

We begin a series today where we will talk with Ted Koppel about events around the world, and how they affect our lives. And we start with what is going on in Pakistan, Russia and Georgia, and Iran. Koppel is the Managing Editor at Discovery and a Senior News Analyst here at NPR. Much of the news on the international front is interconnected, but it's sometimes hard to understand why, and what international relations mean for the United States. Today Koppel will be joined by former Deputy secretary of state Strobe Talbott with a look at what is going on in international news and what those developments mean for America. At the end of the hour, we remember the life of our friend and journalist Leroy Sievers. He was frequently a guest on our program to talk about his battle with cancer and the community that formed around his "My Cancer" blog. Ted Koppel will stay with us to talk about working with Sievers when Koppel was the anchor of ABC's Nightline.

Novelist Paul Theroux's journey across Europe and Asia inspired a book, The Great Railway Bazaar and American travel literature over thirty years ago. Now, his new book, Ghost Train to the Eastern Star chronicles his retraced steps to those same locales. Theroux will be our guest in the second hour. At the end of the hour, we'll touch on the Olympic lip-syncing controversy. Peking University graduate student Masha Ma will recall her experience of being rejected from a pen-pal program because she was told her image wasn't good enough to represent her school.

Gwen Outen

11:37 AM ET | 08-18-2008 | permalink

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August 14th Show

Here's a quick look at what's coming up today:

In our first hour, we'll look into the ethics of criminal investigations. Most recently, the FBI has been accused of using aggressive tactics in the anthrax investigation. We want to hear from you, particularly those with direct experience in investigations. How far should investigators go? And should hardball tactics remain legal? At the end of the hour, we'll continue our summer movie series with your picks for favorite NUKE flicks. And yes, Godzilla counts. He LOVES nuclear energy.

In our second hour, we'll talk about the very real fear of fear itself... and of spiders and dogs and flying and the great outdoors and the tight indoors. Sometimes those fears can turn into serious phobias. We'll speak with a woman who suffers from dog phobia, and a clinical psychologist explains how to face our fears and phobias. At the end of the hour, filmmaker Rory Kennedy talks about her mini-film that chronicles the career of long-time White House Press Corp member Helen Thomas.

Continue reading "August 14th Show" »

Gwen Outen

12:31 PM ET | 08-14-2008 | permalink

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August 13th Show

It's Newseum time again... and also time to check in with Ken Rudin, NPR's political junkie. The biggest story in politics this week is John Edwards' admission that he had an affair back in 2006. We'll look at how that could affect his political career in our first hour. We'll also talk about new attack ads from Senators John McCain and Barack Obama and their stance concerning the conflict in Georgia and Russia. Later in that hour, independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will discuss why he is running for president, and his campaign strategy. At the end of the hour, James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic, will deconstruct the presidential debates. He's watched ALL 47 of the primary debates and has a pretty good opinion of how the candidates will debate.

In our second hour, we'll continue our discussion about John Edwards' affair, but take a deeper look into the actual reporting of it. The National Enquirer published a story months ago that claimed that the then presidential candidate had an extramarital affair. At the time, Edwards dismissed it as "tabloid trash". It was only after he admitted to having the affair last week that many news organizations jumped on the story. So how aggressive should the media be in breaking a story like this? We'll ask you that question in our second hour. Then, we'll talk about an exhibit now featured at the Newseum that displays the cabin of convicted "Unabomber" Ted Kaczynski. Kaczynski has written a three-page letter to the U.S. Court of Appeals protesting the exhibit. At the end of the hour we'll talk with Susan Bennett, Vice President and Deputy Director of the Newseum and to Gary Wright, one of the Unabomber's victims.

Gwen Outen

12:17 PM ET | 08-13-2008 | permalink

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August 12th Show

In our first hour today, we'll look at tensions between Russia and the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. After five days of fighting, talks of a ceasefire appear to have turned into a war of words between Russian president Dmitry Medvedev and Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili. Guests will explain how the conflict began and what the conflict could mean for the European Union and the United States. At the end of the hour, Adam Davidson, NPR's economics correspondent and Talk of the Nation's economics translator, explains how the shrinking trade deficit could affect you.

There are two things that are unique about bass-baritone opera singer Thomas Quasthoff. One of them is that he stands at just about four feet tall. The other? He is recognized as one of the most remarkable singers of our day. Quasthoff's new memoir is simply titled, "The Voice" and we'll hear from The Voice in our second hour. Our producers are still working on a topic to follow Quasthoff, and we will squeeze in your letters and blog comments at the end of the hour.

Gwen Outen

11:57 AM ET | 08-12-2008 | permalink

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August 11th Show

Gwen's furiously putting together the right mix of guests and music for our remembrance of Isaac Hayes, so allow me to fill you in on what else we've got coming up on the show today. In our first hour, all about oil -- specifically, rigs, platforms, the Gulf of Mexico, and NIMBY. If you've got a view of a platform or work on one, we want to know what it's really like. And later, on our Opinion Page, a novel that you may never get to read, called The Jewel of Medina. Random House was all set to publish the saucy story about Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, but pulled it due to information that the book may not sit well among some Muslims, and the publisher's concern that it could lead to violence from some Islamic radicals. Asra Nomani blames professor Denise Spellberg for raising the concerns that got the novel dropped, Spellberg says she's just one of many who raised concerns. We'll have an excerpt on our website, so tune in and check back for that.

In the second hour, Kris Hollington's new book, Wolves, Jackals, and Foxes: The Assassins Who Changed History. Hollington gathered tons of research, some of it newly available, on assassins and would-be assassins, and discovered commonalities across the world, from motivation to method. Finally, we remember Isaac Hayes. We'll start with Neal's first memory, then take them from our audience and those who knew him.

Sarah Handel

11:59 AM ET | 08-11-2008 | permalink

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August 7th Show

The FBI said yesterday that evidence points to scientist Bruce Ivins being solely responsible for killing five people in 2001 by sending them envelops of anthrax through the mail. Investigators called it the "worst act of bioterrorism in U.S. history." Last month, Bruce Ivins committed suicide as the government was preparing to indict him. Therefore, there will be no trial. But lingering questions remain about the case and the investigation. In our first hour, our NPR science correspondent David Kestenbaum will give us the background information about the case, and tell us what we know about Bruce Ivins. We'll also be joined by U.S. Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ). He represents the congressional district where the anthrax letters were believed to have originated. At the end of the hour, we will completely switch gears. Our movie impresario Murray Horwitz will join us to talk about your favorite wedding movies. My personal favorite is The Princess Bride. Gotta love an ending that involves white horses. But your favorite doesn't have to involve a happy ending. Just a wedding!!!

At the top of our second hour, we'll talk about the influence of political comedy. From The Daily Show to The Colbert Report to political skits on SNL. Does watching... and laughing... at political satire effect your view of politics or the politicians who are in -- or running for -- office? Following that, Robert Mintz, a former federal prosecutor in the district of New Jersey, will take us inside the legal process in the anthrax investigation.

Gwen Outen

11:59 AM ET | 08- 7-2008 | permalink

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Coming Up

Here's a quick look at what is coming up today from the Newseum:

In this week's Political Junkie, guest junkie Ron Elving, NPR's senior Washington editor, talks about each presidential candidate's take on energy policies, Hillary Clinton's campaign for Barack Obama, and new names in the veep-stakes. Later in the first hour, Elving will be joined by Michael Shober, a psychology professor at the New School for Social Research and Andy Kohut, director of the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, for a discussion about polling, race and honesty. Have you ever not given a truthful answer to a survey question about race?

If you read the news on a regular basis, you've no doubt detected that corruption shows up in practically every sector of business, here and abroad. But what exactly causes corruption? In our second hour, author Ray Fisman and Claremont Graduate University president Robert Klitgaard will talk about the culture of corruption...and possible ways to change it. And at the end of the hour, two journalists discuss the challenges they face in reporting objectively on race and politics during this presidential campaign.

Gwen Outen

12:17 PM ET | 08- 6-2008 | permalink

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August 5th Show

According to a report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, forty-percent more Americans are infected by HIV than previously estimated. The rate of new infections is extremely high for men who have sex with men and for members of African-American communities. Latinos also have a higher infection rate than whites. And more people are living with AIDS in the South than in any other area of the country. In our first hour, Brenda Wilson, NPR science desk correspondent, and Dr. Robert Johnson will talk about what factors may be contributing to the number of people infected with HIV. Following that, Daily Star editor Rami Khouri will explain the political challenges facing Lebanon and how people in the Middle East are viewing our presidential election.

In our second hour, Newsweek's Paris bureau chief and Middle East regional editor Christopher Dickey will discuss the South of the United States. Is it a'changin? Dickey recently drove through Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas to see how this presidential election (namely Obama's candidacy) has stirred up the residents of these southern states. Are they troubled by this "change" election? You can read Dickey's article in this week's Newsweek. It is entitled, "Southern Discomfort." After that, call in with your stories of your youthful days of summer when you were ushered off to sleep away camp. Our guest Timothy Noah, senior writer for Slate online magazine, believes you can tell a person's character by the level of enjoyment (or lack thereof) they experienced at summer camp. His article is entitled, "You Are How You Camped." Do you agree? At the end of the the hour, we'll read from your email and blog comments.

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 08- 5-2008 | permalink

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August 4th Show

Neal Conan is back, and here's what we'll be talking about today:

Michael Gordon, the chief military correspondent for The New York Times, has spent half of the past year reporting from Iraq. In his latest article, Gordon says that "the tug of war among the religious parties and the Shiite tribes has emerged as one of the most-significant but also least-understood aspects of Iraq's political scene." You can read his article entitled, "The Last Battle: The Fight Among Iraq's Shiites," in this week's New York Times Magazine. In our first hour, Gordon will talk about Iraq's political future and Shiite power sharing in the region. Then on our opinion page, Jennifer Finney Boylan discuss gender testing going on at Beijing's Olympic games.

Charisma. Either you have IT, or you don't. We've all met someone who seemed to have that certain... something... that lights up a room and leaves a lasting impression. Were they born with it? Perhaps, but on second thought, maybe practice makes perfect. In our second hour, two people will explain the definition of "charisma", and whether or not personal magnetism can actually be taught. Tell us about that charismatic person in your life. And if YOU'VE ever been described "larger than life," does it come naturally, or are you working hard at it? At the end of the hour, we'll talk with free-lance photo-journalist Zoriah Miller who was dis-embedded from his Marine unit after posting pictures of scattered victims of a bomb blast in Anbar province.

Gwen Outen

12:15 PM ET | 08- 4-2008 | permalink

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July 31st Show

Here's what's coming up on the last show of the week... and the month!!!

Prejudices often remain in the unconscious part of your brain, but there are tests that can reveal your hidden bigotry. In our first hour, a science writer and a psychologist will explain how racial preferences hide in our brains, and how those biases can be measured. We're still chasing an ender segment for the first hour, so stay tuned for that.

Childhood obesity is a growing problem, and many parents are turning to weight loss camps as a solution. But do those camps really work? Stephanie Klein, author of Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, will join us in our second hour to talk about her life as a chubby teenager, her summers spent at various weight-loss camps, and her struggle to be accepted by her peers. At the end of the hour, John Geer, author of In Defense of Negativity: Attack Advertising in Presidential Campaigns, will explain whether or not attack ads really do bring down presidential opponents.

Gwen Outen

12:39 PM ET | 07-31-2008 | permalink

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July 30th Show

In this week's edition of the political junkie, NPR's Ken Rudin will talk about Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) ratings following his foreign tour, Senator Ted Stevens' (R-AK) recent indictment, and John McCain's medical results. And Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr will discuss his race to the White House. Later, we'll be joined by NPR Ombudsman Lisa Shepard for a conversation about journalists and political campaigns. What are the guidelines concerning a journalist's participation in the politcal process?

In the months leading up to the Olympics, China has been reluctant to let go of control of media coverage of the games. The International Olympics Committee has taken a stance that the Olympics is a sporting event and should not mix with politics. Correspondents in our second hour will discuss the challenges of covering the Beijing Olympics. Should a line be drawn between covering sports and human rights issues in this year's games? At the end of that hour, we'll talk about the announcement made by the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority that it will stop lending out private student loans. Paul Basken, a senior reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, will talk about what this move could mean for the future of student loan programs.

Gwen Outen

12:28 PM ET | 07-30-2008 | permalink

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July 29th Show

In our first hour today, two experts on the International Criminal Court talk about the debate on whether or not war crime tribunals work. Some complain these trials are pointless, while others say that they serve justice and allow victims to come to terms with the atrocities that were committed against them and their neighbors. And later, in our letters segment, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke continues his conversation about the meeting he had with Radovan Karadzic in Belgrade in 1995. And personal finance columnist Liz Pulliam Weston explains whether credit unions or banks are safe havens for your money during these tough economic times.

Most of us have imagined how we would respond when disaster strikes, playing out in our minds what we would or wouldn't do to make it out alive. Journalist Amanda Ripley interviewed survivors from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, as well as survivors of floods, fires, stampedes, and earthquakes. In our second hour, Ripley talks about what people who survived disasters learned from the experience and her new book, The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes -- and Why. And of course we want to hear from you. Have you survived a plane crash, a fire or a flood? What went through your mind at the time and how did you escape?

Gwen Outen

12:45 PM ET | 07-29-2008 | permalink

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July 28th Show

I'm back from vacation, Neal Conan is on vacation, and Lynn Neary is our host all week. Now that you're up to date, here's what's coming up on the show today:

In our first hour: Do ask, do tell? Last week, Congress held its first hearing on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy on gays in the military since it was enacted fifteen years ago. According to The Chicago Tribune, "lawmakers focused on two questions: what effect a change in the policy would have on troop unity and whether the current policy is hurting recruitment and retention of service members who are gay." Tell us what you think. We'd particularly like to hear from members of the military. Fifteen years later, does "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" work?

In our second hour, we'll talk about the next generation of mystery novels. We'll talk with two modern-day mystery writers about how they create the perfect whodunit. What do you think is the most important aspect of a good page-turning thriller? Is it the setting? The main character? Or that "I knew it" plot twist at the end?

**Just to make our Monday a little more exciting, we're waiting until the last possible moment to solidify our enders for both hours today. Stay tuned, folks. We'll have something for you!

Gwen Outen

12:21 PM ET | 07-28-2008 | permalink

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July 24, 2008

For the last few days, Gwen and Sarah have been [patiently] training me to direct the show. Now that they're both on vacation, it's time for this little bird to leave the nest.* (Wish me luck.)

"How Bad Is It Really?" is the tentative title for the first hour. "It," you may have guessed, is the economy. We'll ask Adam Davidson, NPR's international business correspondent, to "take the temperature of the economy today." (Barrie's phrase.) And we'll ask you to tell us what indicators you use to decide whether or not the economy is good or bad.

At the end of the hour, we'll ask A.O. Scott, chief film critic for The New York Times, about superhero movies. This summer, there are tons of them. And wonders if the sun is starting to set on the genre.

In the second hour, Howard Engel, a well-known mystery novelist, will join us, to talk about his new book, The Man Who Forgot How To Read. His is a remarkable story. In 2001, a stroke rendered Engel unable to read.

And we'll hear a few excerpts from the speech Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) is expected to give today, in Berlin. Ron Elving, NPR's senior Washington editor, and Constanze Stelzenmuller, the director of the German Marshall Fund, will give us their thoughts from their respective sides of the Atlantic.

Enjoy!

*Notice how I conservatively wrote, "leave the nest," not "fly."

David Gura

11:06 AM ET | 07-24-2008 | permalink

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July 23rd Show

TOTN's always a hive of activity on Newseum Wednesdays, and here's what we're buzzing about. In our first hour, as ever, Political Junkie Ken Rudin's got all the best bits of political news for you from the last week, and a doozy of a trivia question. And Rep. Chris Shays (R-CT) joins us to talk about trips to Iraq, plus Republican strategist Vin Weber. That's a whole lotta politics, people. We'll follow that with Ambassador Richard Holbrooke -- he's delighted with the capture of Radovan Karadzic, a man he called "One of the worst men in the world, the Osama bin Laden of Europe... A major, major thug has been removed from the public scene."

In our second hour, doctored photographs. After news hit that the photo of the Iran nuclear test that was widely distributed had been altered, we all took a closer look at it. So today, a discussion about the ethics of photojournalism, and how to detect a photo has been manipulated. Finally, Starbucks announced recently that it'll close 600 stores in the U.S. this summer. We want to know how the closures are affecting the communities -- Newark, for example, saw its Starbucks as a sign of its relevance and acceptability, and now some Newarkians (?) are banding together to try to save it.

Sarah Handel

12:37 PM ET | 07-23-2008 | permalink

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July 22nd Show

Lots going on today, so let's get to it. In our first hour: prisoner exchanges. Most recently, Israel and the Lebanese group Hezbollah conducted an exchange -- the Israelis turned over five men for the remains of two of their soldiers. It seems incongruous -- five live men for two deceased -- and made us wonder about the logic and strategy behind such exchanges. Many governments insist they don't negotiate with terrorists, but in the end, deals get cut whether the public knows it or not. Then we'll take a refresher course on bank runs. Many were startled by the collapse of IndyMac, but professor and author Jane Kamensky says this is just the latest incident in a long tradition.

In our second hour: pet care. It may sound trivial, but more and more, owners are struggling about decisions over providing advanced medical care for their pets. It seems like pets used to visit the vet for simple things like spaying and shots, but now there's dentistry, chemotherapy, psychotherapy, and more. We want to know, where do you draw the line on medical care for your pet? Following that, there's been a break in the salmonella case: the most recent outbreak, once traced to tomatoes, has now been traced to jalapeno peppers in a Texas warehouse. The investigation's far from over, though, so we'll check in with "food safety czar" Dr. David Acheson of the FDA for an update.

Sarah Handel

11:03 AM ET | 07-22-2008 | permalink

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July 21st Show

Whew! It took us a while to get a show together, but now that we've finally got it, rest assured it's a good one (or four).

In the first hour, an article we couldn't stop talking about in the morning meeting: "The End of White Flight." For decades, the demographic story in American cities has been that of white flight -- white residents leaving town for the suburbs. Now, in some cities, the opposite is true. Cities may be growing, but their black populations are losing numbers. We'll find out what's behind the trend. And on the Opinion Page, another story from today's economy: twentysomething Melody Serafino is calling out her contemporaries for still living off of Mom and Dad's dime. When is it time to say no to help with the rent, to the cellular "family plan," to living at home?

In the second hour, an incredible story: Mahvish Rukhsana Kahn's My Guantanamo Diary: The Detainees and the Stories They Told Me. The American daughter of Afghan immigrants, Kahn wanted to do something for her country and that of her parents, so she went to Guantanamo to interpret for the lawyers representing Guantanamo detainees.

Finally, did you spend hours in line waiting to catch Heath Ledger's turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight? If you did, did you find the Joker more compelling than Batman himself? If so, you're not alone... So did Hank Steuver of The Washington Post. And we also want to know what you think about the possibility of a posthumous Oscar nod for Ledger.

Sarah Handel

12:49 PM ET | 07-21-2008 | permalink

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July 17th Show

Hi folks! Gwen's a bit jammed up trying to head out of town for a well-deserved vacation, so I'm filling in for her today and next week. Here's what you can look forward to on today's TOTN:

Al Gore headlines our first hour, a discussion on what this moment means to the struggle for the environment. With gas prices through the roof (that's not a scientific measure, so don't quote me, but when I filled the tank of my economical car and it cost almost $50 I may have smacked the roof of the car in frustration...), environmentalists, including Mr. Gore himself, are hoping people are finally ready to listen to their alternative energy message. We've also got some folks who are trying to present the message in a different way, namely Matt Williams and Mike Hughes, the guys behind the "We Can Solve It" ads, and Randy Olson, who's got a new documentary called Sizzle. We'll end the hour with Warren Zinn, who took an iconic photograph of a soldier who later committed suicide.

In the second hour, more tough stuff. This time, rape kits. Producer Dalia Martinez has been hard at work pulling together a show on what happens after a woman is raped and reports it to a clinic or hospital. Sadly, the examination and collection of samples can be nearly as brutal and dehumanizing as the rape itself. Finally, we'll get "Ask Amy"'s Amy Dickinson's take on the economic downturn. Lots of readers have been writing to her about family dilemmas that have arisen because of the economy, and if you've got a question for her, you won't want to miss it.

Sarah Handel

12:29 PM ET | 07-17-2008 | permalink

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July 16th Show

It's Wednesday, which means we're at the Newseum today. And we've got a great show planned for you. Here's what's coming:

NPR's Ken Rudin will join us for the Political Junkie in our first hour. This week, we'll talk about John McCain and Barack Obama's address at the NAACP annual convention, Green party presidential candidate Cynthia McKinney, and of course our trivia question. Then, we'll talk about the art of the political put-down with Chris Lamb, editor of the book I'll Be Sober in the Morning: Great Political Comebacks, Putdowns & Ripostes.

Actor Robert Redford has been fighting on behalf of the environment for over 30 years. Most recently, he has teamed up with Youth Speaks, a youth development organization that uses spoken word to create global change. Redford and two slam poet participants of Youth Speaks will join us in our second hour to talk about environmental activism. Following that, White House press secretary Dana Perino remembers Tony Snow, whom she succeeded in 2007.

Enjoy the program today!

Gwen Outen

12:06 PM ET | 07-16-2008 | permalink

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July 15th Show

If you've seen the cover of this week's New Yorker magazine that displays cartoon images of Senator Barack Obama as a Muslim, his wife in fatigues, and an American flag burning in the background, you probably aren't too surprised about the controversy surrounding it. The magazine has issued a statement saying satire is part of its business and is "meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to prejudice, the hateful, and the absurd." But is that really the way it's seen by the public? In our first hour, we want to hear from you. How do you view political satire? Next, the managing editor for Time magazine talks about his cover story on the wisdom and eight lessons of leadership of Nelson Mandela. And at the very end of the hour, Wally Amos, founder of the "Famous Amos" chocolate chip cookie, will reveal his secret ingredient. Have your measuring cups ready!!

In our second hour, sports journalist Stefan Fatsis talks about realizing his dream of playing for the NFL when, at 43 years old, he suited up as a kicker for the Denver Broncos. Fatsis will talk about how he trained to make the team, what he learned about the NFL, and his new book, A Few Seconds of Panic: A 5-Foot-8, 170-Pound, 43-Year-Old Sportswriter Plays the NFL. Following that, author Catherine Watson explains why the rise in gas and airline prices may be cause to fall back in love with the railroad.

Gwen Outen

12:08 PM ET | 07-15-2008 | permalink

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July 14th Show

Neal Conan is back in the host's chair, and here is a quick look at what's happening on today's show:

The U.S. government has pledged to bail out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an attempt to bolster eroding confidence in the nation's largest mortgage finance companies. In our first hour we'll talk to Dean Foust, Atlanta bureau chief for Business Week, and Gretchen Morgenson, business columnist for The New York Times, about the bailout what the government's plan means for the housing market. At the end of the hour, Eric Easter, editor-in- chief of ebonyjet.com explains why Barack Obama should learn from Jesse Jackson that it's not just what you say, but where, when and to whom you say it that matters as well. Easter's op-ed is entitled "What Jesse Jackson Said."

Although authorities in Colorado have ruled out the Ramsey family as suspects in the murder of their 6-year-old daughter JonBenet, John Ramsey has been quoted as saying that "no matter what, some people will always believe that [he's] responsible for the death of his daughter..." When someone is falsely accused, how do he get his reputation back? In our second hour, we'll talk about clearing your name. Following that, we'll talk to Gina Gray, a former public affairs director at Arlington National Cemetery. Gray will explain how her efforts to restore media coverage of military funerals at the cemetery recently got her fired.

Gwen Outen

12:11 PM ET | 07-14-2008 | permalink

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July 10th Show

Last show of the week. Here's what's happening:

In our first hour, we'll talk about the love-hate relationship between Hollywood and the military. Apparently, every branch of the U.S. military has a liaison office in Hollywood, and if a filmmaker chooses to ask for access to bases, or planes, or tanks, the military can have a say-so about movie scripts that center around the war. Among our guests for that discussion will be Julian Barnes, a Pentagon correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and author of the article, "The Iraq war movie: Military hopes to shape genre". Have you seen any Iraq war movies? Did they seem believable? At the end of the hour, we will spare your hard earned summer body and talk, just TALK, about the perfect chocolate chip cookie. A food scientist will tell us how to build a better chocolate chip cookie and we'll find out from you what your baking secrets are for the King of the Cookie.

*Disclaimer: Talk of the Nation is not responsible for any trips made to your nearest bakery and any subsequent pounds put on any body parts following this broadcast.

Italy's anti-immigrant interior minister has launched a program to fingerprint its ethnic Roma Gypsy residents as a measure to crack down on street crime. Is this an indication that Europe is becoming more hostile toward immigrants? In our first hour, NPR's Senior Europe Correspondent Sylvia Poggioli will discuss anti-immigrant anxiety in Europe. Following that, Mark Levine, an author, musician and professor of Middle Eastern History, will talk about the young generation of heavy metal fans in the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Gwen Outen

12:16 PM ET | 07-10-2008 | permalink

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July 9th Show

Today we broadcast live from the Newseum, and when the show starts, you will hear the familiar voice of Ted Koppel, former host of ABC's Nightline. We're pleased to have him in the host's chair today. Here's a brief rundown of what's coming up on our program:

In about fifteen years, China will have as many cars on its highway system as America does. So what happens when China outbids us for energy? At the beginning of the first hour, we'll talk with Nicholas Lardy, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, for answers on what it will mean for the United States when the people of China make the switch from bicycles to automobiles. At the end of the hour, NPR's Ken Rudin will join us for a bite-sized political junkie and a look at the news in politics, including Barack Obama's venue change for his acceptance speech and possible running mates for Senator Obama and Senator John McCain. And of course get ready for this week's trivia question.

Journalist Leroy Sievers began writing about living with cancer shortly after he was diagnosed. For the past two years, he has been keeping a daily diary on his blog "My Cancer." Sievers will join us for our entire second hour, along with Elizabeth Edwards, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 for a personal and candid conversation about the challenges and triumphs of battling the disease.

Gwen Outen

11:45 AM ET | 07- 9-2008 | permalink

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July 8th Show

In today's first hour, guest host Guy Raz will speak with former Senator John Edwards about what went right and wrong in his campaign for president, his plan to cut poverty in half by 2018, and whether or not, if asked, he would accept the democratic party's nomination for vice president. Following that, we'll be joined by Jack Gerard, the president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council. In a few months, Gerard will serve as president of the American Petroleum Institute. Call or email us your questions or concerns about the current state of the oil and gas industry. At the end of the hour, we'll read from your emails and blog comments about black patriotism, and the physical demands involved in fighting wildfires.

If Sen. John McCain wins the presidential election, he will be 72 years old when he is sworn in next January. That will make him the oldest president in history. But does that matter? Charles Blow, a columnist for the New York Times thinks so. He'll be one of the guests in our second hour. Tell us what you think. When it comes to electing a president, how old is TOO old? At the end of the hour, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Twelve explains why he calls the times we're living in "the age of the disposable book" and believes most books will inevitably wind up in the bargain bin.

Gwen Outen

12:13 PM ET | 07- 8-2008 | permalink

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July 7th Show

NPR's Guy Raz is keeping the host's chair warm for us for most of this week. Neal Conan will be back next Monday. And here is what's happening today:

In our first hour, we'll talk about a phenomenon that our guest Bill Bishop calls "the big sort." Bishop is the author of The Big Sort: Why the Clustering of Like-Minded America Is Tearing Us Apart and he will explain how the red and blue states that divide our country also divide our country's neighborhoods. Has that been your experience? Do the people in your community share your lifestyle and political views? And on our opinion page this week, John Fund, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal, remembers the legacy and politics of the late former senator Jesse Helms.

Not too long ago, I blogged about my experience with going to doctor and declaring that a red spot on my leg indicated that I have meningitis, just like the nuns on last week's episode of E.R. Turns out my red spot was merely a rash, but my hypochondria is something that could be taken a little more seriously. Jennifer Traig knows a thing or two about hypochrondria. The good news is she doesn't actually have heart disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis or any other condition she's diagnosed herself with. Her memoir is called Well Enough Alone and Traig will be our guest in our second hour. At the end of the hour, we'll find out from Boston Globe contributor Matthew Battles why robots are so, so lovable.

Gwen Outen

12:14 PM ET | 07- 7-2008 | permalink

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July 2nd Show

We're back at the Newseum today, and in our first hour we'll get our weekly dose of the Political Junkie. Today, NPR's Ken Rudin will talk about John McCain's visit to Colombia and Mexico and Barack Obama's upcoming trip to Europe and the Middle East. And Michael Gerson, a former speechwriter for President Bush, talks about each presidential candidate's appeal to religious and evangelical voters. We'll also be joined by Michael Gerson. He is currently a columnist for The Washington Post, but also served as President George W. Bush's chief speechwriter and senior policy adviser until 2006. And of course you'll get this week's trivia question. No cheating, please. At the end of the hour, Linda Trest, a staff writer with the Gasconade County Republican in Missouri , will talk about how she broke the story of "Sergeant Bill," a man impersonating a federal drug agent and using a fake badge to arrest methamphetamine users.

As the July 4th holiday nears, we'll take a look at black patriotism in America. Loyalty to this country can present a problem for many African Americans. Although the United States has made strides to becoming a more fair nation, there still persists the legacy of slavery, segregation and racial and ethic disparities. In our entire second hour, three African Americans discuss their views on how this country's history has shaped their allegiance to the flag.

Gwen Outen

12:40 PM ET | 07- 2-2008 | permalink

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July 1st Show

Here's a quick look at what's coming up today:

Earlier this week, the U.S. Army released its account of what went wrong after the United States invaded Iraq. The seven-hundred page report is called On Point Two: Transition to the New Campaign. In our first hour, we'll talk with a military historian who worked on the project and three officers who were interviewed for it. Following that, we'll talk with Staten Island Yankee pitcher phenom Pat Venditte. He is the only ambidextrous pitcher in major league baseball and may become the first full-time switch pitcher in the pros in 120 years!

Olympic athletes aren't born. They are made. Those vying for a spot on an Olympic team must completely dedicate their lives to becoming world class athletes. But what EXACTLY does it take to reach that level? Three athletes, two who will be at this year's Olympic Games in Beijing and one who just missed the cut, talk about putting their sport first in the hope of bringing home the gold. That will be at the top of the second hour. At the end of that hour, we'll talk to director Alex Gibney about his upcoming movie "Gonzo" that explores the life and work of the late journalist and writer Hunter S. Thompson.

Gwen Outen

12:53 PM ET | 07- 1-2008 | permalink

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Monday, June 30, 2008

We're excited to inaugurate a new series, called "Issues Monday," today. Every week, we'll invite senior advisers to the two presumptive nominees to join us, to talk about one issue in particular. To start things off, we'll focus on the economy.

Douglas J. Holtz-Eakin, who used to direct the Congressional Budget Office, is the senior economic adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). Daniel Tarullo, former Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, is the senior economic adviser to Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL). In the first hour, you'll be able to ask each of them about his candidate's economic platform. The horse race goes on, but not in Studio 3A....

"The Opinion Page" usually features editorialists from magazines and newspapers. On today's show, we're going to do something different. The inimitable Dr. John will join us, from our New York bureau, to talk about his new album and his home, NOLA. It's our first "pOP-ED," as Barrie put it.

In our second hour, we're going to focus on viral videos. How does a homemade movie, posted on YouTube, become a phenomenon? Can it happen overnight? We'll talk with Jonah Peretti, who developed BuzzFeed, co-founded The Huffington Post, and started FundRace.org; Lauren Bernat, who was featured in a video, shot by her boyfriend, playing Wii Fit in her underwear (4.5 million people have seen it); and Daisy Whitney, who wrote "Real or Fake? Do We Even Care?," about viral videos.

Lastly, we'll ask Heidi Holland, journalist and one-time dinner guest of Robert Mugabe, for her thoughts on his inauguration.

Enjoy!

David Gura

12:45 PM ET | 06-30-2008 | permalink

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June 26th Show

The news coming out of Iraq seems to be positive. The number of roadside bombs declined by almost 90% over the last year, most provinces in the country have averaged less than one attack per day, and the job of the U.S. military has gone from controlling the insurgency in some places to peacekeeping. But is overall security better? And have there been related economic and political improvements? What about the most basic services for civilians? In other words -- IS Iraq better? In our first hour, the chief military correspondent for The New York Times and and the director of International Affairs and Trade at the Government Accountability Office talk about the situation in Iraq... really. At the end of the first hour, we'll talk about something that has actually happened to me. A friend of mine sent out her wedding invitations, and on it, she said something to the effect of "gifts not necessary, monetary contributions welcome." Kind of threw me until I took into account that both my friend and her fiance were in their late 30s, homeowners and basically wanting for nothing. My mom, on the other hand, had three words to say about her request: TACKY, TACKY, TACKY!!! So what do you think? Taking into account that this economy is horrendous, where on the etiquette scale should a couple asking for their guests to pay for their wedding fall? Chicago Tribune syndicated columnist Amy Dickinson will put in her two cents. (woo, bad pun! sorry about that, folks.)

In our second hour, we'll talk about a day in the life of a stand up comic. Comedians Richard Lewis and "Last Comic Standing" semi-finalist Esther Ku talk about what life is really like day in and day out on the quest to snag that big break into show business. Following that, we'll switch gears and talk about the 17 teenage girls in Gloucester, Massachusetts who allegedly got together to form a "pregnancy pact." The story has since been disputed by families of the girls and by the mayor. However, the latest nationwide statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does show that the teen birth rate rose 3-percent from 2005 to 2006. Sarah Brown, director of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, talks about intended and unintended teen pregnancy, and why it's on the rise.

Gwen Outen

12:32 PM ET | 06-26-2008 | permalink

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On the Menu: 6/24/08

Gwen is a bit swamped today, so bear with me as I try to fill her shoes. Here's (briefly) what's on tap for the show today:

In the first hour, Generaton Kill, a new mini-series by David Simon and Ed Burns (of Wire fame) that tells the story of the invasion of Iraq, through the eyes of the men of the First Marine Reconnaissance Battalion.
We'll spend a few minutes at the end of the hour reading from your letters, and revisiting the flooded areas of the Midwest.

In the second hour, we'll talk about the situation in Zimbabwe and ask: What should we do about it? Given the West's history of colonialism, how far can Western countries go to intervene?
Before we sign off today, we'll talk with Barbara Ehrenreich about her latest book, "This Land is Their Land." You can tell from the title she feels the U.S. is full of economic inequalities, we'll ask her what the answer is to the problems she sees.

Scott Cameron

12:54 PM ET | 06-24-2008 | permalink

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June 19th Show

In our first hour today, we'll talk about a new documentary film called Lioness that goes inside a unit of female soldiers called Team Lioness and details the effects the Iraq war has on women soldiers who serve in combat situations. Two soldiers from Team Lioness and one of the filmmakers explain the realities of combat in Iraq. Following that, we talk to Midwesterns about how they are coping with the flooding that continues to affect large parts of Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana.

You know the old adage, "There's someone out there for everyone." Well, according to author Richard Florida, you could add to that "...and there's a CITY out there for everyone, too." Florida's book is entitled, Who's Your City?: How the Creative Economy Is Making Where to Live the Most Important Decision of Your Life. In it, Florida says where you choose to live is even more important than choosing a career... and even a spouse. Tell us: If your city had a personality, what would it be? And does it mesh with your own? Who's YOUR city? At the end of the hour, we'll talk a little more about Tiger Woods's dramatic playoff win at the U.S. Open and how he managed to pull it off with a torn ACL and multiple stress fractures. New York Times magazine writer Chip Brown talks about how Woods sitting out the rest of the 2008 PGA Tour season could affect the game of golf.

Gwen Outen

12:20 PM ET | 06-19-2008 | permalink

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June 17th Show

Neal Conan has the day off, and Lynn Neary will take his place in the host's chair today.

In our first hour we'll talk about the last of the so-called "uncontacted tribes" of the Americas. These are people that live in dense jungle areas and are indigenous to the regions of the Amazon along the border of Peru and Brazil. Scott Wallace, a writer for National Geographic will join us, to tell us why scientists know very little about the tribes and what recently released photographs could tell us about them.

Later in the hour, the co-director and co-producer of the documentary Football Under Cover replay the 2006 women's soccer match between Germany and Iran. It was the first time both teams met and the first match ever for the Iranian women. Then we will read from your emails and blog comments about our past shows, and give you this week's email challenge. Tell us what changes you've seen in the way people and businesses are dealing with the impossible gas price increase. Has anything surprised you? We'll read your comments in our letters segment next week.

In our second hour, we want to find out what books you are reading this summer... But we're we're saving the trashy novel list for another day. Today, we want talk about the political books that have piqued your interest. In this extensive presidential campaign season, books about politics are selling well, and fast. Do they have you hooked? Which book have you recently bought or cracked open for the second or third time? At the end of the hour, we'll talk about Tiger Woods' three-peat win at the U.S. Open over the weekend. Talk about the eye of the Tiger!!

Gwen Outen

12:06 PM ET | 06-17-2008 | permalink

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June 16th Show

Later today, California will become the second state to legalize gay marriage. The road leading up to this historic day has no doubt been bumpy, and it's not all smooth sailing ahead. The civil union law is already facing challenges, and then there's the conflict between the civil liberties and the freedom of religion. NPR's religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty reported on the divide and will join us in our first hour to talk about the battle between equal rights and exercising religious beliefs. At the end of the hour, Gregg Easterbrook explains why he feels that, besides the Iraq war, negative media impressions of life in America have conditioned us to believe that the country is much worse off that it actually is. His opinion piece appeared in Friday's Wall Street Journal and is entitled, "Life is Good, So Why Do We Feel So Bad?"

We'll be joined by two authors in our second hour. Robert Kagan will be our guest at the beginning of the hour to talk about his new book, "The Return of History and the End of Dreams," where he argues that the Cold War did not mean the end of all world-wide ideological conflict and what he believes the role of the United States should be in the new world order. Following that, author Scott Huler talks about his book, "No-Man's Lands: One Man's Odyssey Through the Odyssey," where he describes the adventures of Odysseus's long journey home.

Gwen Outen

11:52 AM ET | 06-16-2008 | permalink

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June 12th Show

Last show of the week. Here's what's happening today:

This morning, the United States Supreme Court ruled (in a 5-4 decision) that the 270 terrorism suspects held as prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be allowed to seek release in federal courts and fight their continued detention. This decision comes as a major blow to the Bush administration. In today's first hour, Los Angeles Times Supreme Court reporter David Savage will detail the ruling and its possible affect on military tribunals already underway at Guantanamo. Following that discussion, the writer and director of the documentary Bigger, Stronger, Faster: The Side Effects of Being American will explain why he feels the prevalence of steroid use in our society is really not that big of a deal.

According to Timothy Pychyl, "procrastination is NOT a time management problem". But it could mean you're doing a shoddy job at managing your time. Dr. Pychyl will join us to outline the reason why we procrastinate and how to prioritize what's really important in our lives. To my credit, I will say I did not call up an old friend or clean my office before writing this blog. Perhaps it means I'm working in a procrastination-free zone. However, I do find it slightly comical and worth mentioning that we are airing this topic in our SECOND hour. At the end of that hour, we'll talk to Time magazine reporter Steven Gray about today's closing arguments in the trial of R&B singer R. Kelly.

Gwen Outen

11:50 AM ET | 06-12-2008 | permalink

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June 11th Show

We're broadcasting live from the Newseum today, and Ken Rudin is back as our own Political Junkie. This week, we'll talk about the general election, the "veep-stakes," and an a former Republican member of the House of Representatives will explain what the changing electoral map could mean for Republicans. Following that, Steve Heller, "Visuals" columnist for the New York Times Book Review, talks about the plethora of political merchandise offered by the presidential candidates and what it says about them.

Last month, Melissa Block and Robert Siegel, the hosts of All things Considered, traveled to China to prepare a week long series of of specials from the Sichuan province in China. But soon after they got there, they found themselves involved in a very different story. A devastating earthquake hit the region with a magnitude of 7.9 ( one of the highest in modern history) that killed 69,000 people and left 5 million homeless. Block, Siegel, and producer Andrea Hsu, talk about covering the tragedy in China for our full second hour today.

Gwen Outen

11:38 AM ET | 06-11-2008 | permalink

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June 10th Show

Author and terrorism expert Peter Bergen has been reporting and writing about Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda for over ten years, traveling to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. In our first hour, Bergen will join us to talk about co-writing a story for The New Republic that describes the latest twist in al-Qaeda's development. The article is entitled, "The Unraveling: Al Qaeda's Revolt Against bin Laden." Following that, Newsweek reporter Tina Peng talks about her article "Gym Sins" and lists the most obnoxious habits of fitness club members. You know the ones. The people who don't wipe the equipment down after they've saturated it with their sweat. I don't know if that made Tina Peng's list, but it's certainly on mine. What's on yours? At the end of the hour, we'll read your responses to last week's email challenge asking you to tell us what objects you would choose to spend all of eternity with when you're laid to rest. Sorry, the Pringles can is already taken.

We're really excited about our second hour today. We'll be broadcasting from studio 4A, but this is the first time we'll feature a stand up comedian in front of a live audience. And if you're familiar with Lewis Black, you know you're in for a real treat today. He's talked about the absurdities of life and politics on stage, and now he can add the meaning of life to his humorous repertoire. Black will talk about his new book, Me of Little Faith, expound on his relationship to religion and take your calls for our entire second hour.

Enjoy!

Gwen Outen

11:37 AM ET | 06-10-2008 | permalink

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June 9th Show

I don't think we can let another day go by without talking about these unbelieveable gas prices. And actually, it seems the price of oil is just the tip of the iceberg of a struggling economy. Oil and gas are up, stock prices and the dollar are down. What's going on? Tell us your concerns, ask your questions, and share how you are coping in the current economy in our first hour today. At the end of the hour, Los Angeles Times automotive critic Dan Neil explains why the best advice to follow when planning an exotic vacation to an endangered locale... is to UNPACK.

Author Ta-Nehisi Coates grew up on the city streets of West Baltimore. In our second hour, Coates will talk about his new memoir en