Weekend Edition Sunday

How The Syria Debate Is Playing Out In The Middle East

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Host Rachel Martin talks with Ramez Maluf, professor of journalism at Lebanese American University in Beirut, about different views in Arab media on the Syrian conflict.

How Possessive: The Apostrophe's Place In Space

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Martha Brockenbrough, the founder of National Grammar Day and the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, tells host Rachel Martin about what she has referred to as an "apostrophe catastrophe." The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has a policy against possessive apostrophes in the names of places. The reason, The Wall Street Journal reports, is that the apostrophe quote implies private ownership of a public space.

Political Takeaways: Headaches For The White House

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Controversies dominated this past week's political headlines, leaving the Obama White House on the defensive, trying to contain any lasting damage. Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Mara Liasson.

Turmoil Of '63 Shut Down Proms; Former Students Dance Again

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Several high schools had to cancel their proms in 1963, during a time of tumultuous civil rights protests across the South, and in Birmingham, Ala., particularly. Fifty years later, some of those African-American students finally got the chance to dance the night away. Gigi Douban reports.

Iranian Candidate Hopes To Take International Viewpoint Home

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

This week, the final roster for candidates in Iran's presidential election will be announced by the country's religious Guardian Council. Host Rachel Martin talks with Iranian-American Rutgers professor Hooshang Amirahmadi about his candidacy.

The Durability Of Levis, Woven Into America's Fabric

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Host Rachel Martin talks with Levis archivist Lynn Downey about the brand's 140th anniversary this month.

Revisiting U.S. Commitment To The Middle East

Sun, 19 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Two years ago on May 19, President Obama called for a new chapter in American diplomacy, promising to make it a top priority to support democracy and human rights in a changing Middle East. Some experts say that the U.S. has failed to live up to that commitment in places like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The conflict in Syria has also opened a darker chapter in the Arab uprisings.

Afghans With Disabilities Fight For The Right To Rights

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400

Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action.

Siblings' Separation Haunts In 'Kite Runner' Author's Latest

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400

Khaled Hosseini's new novel, like his two earlier works, is set partly in Afghanistan — but this time, political turmoil isn't a major element of the plot. Instead, And The Mountains Echoed is a story of a family's loss that spans decades and continents.

Nonconservative Groups Say IRS Scrutinized Them, Too

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400

The IRS has admitted it flagged tax-exemption requests from groups with "Tea Party" or "Patriot" in their names starting in 2010. But some liberal groups and journalism organizations say their applications also faced long delays during the same period.

Marques Toliver: An R&B Crooner With Strings Attached

Sun, 19 May 2013 05:41:00 -0400

Toliver's music is anchored by the violin, on which he is classically trained. He says he discovered the instrument in fifth grade — and that in a way, it chose him.

Put On Your Thinking Hat

Sun, 19 May 2013 04:28:00 -0400

Every answer is a familiar two-word phrase or name in which the first word starts with H-A and the second word starts with T.

First Female Fighter Pilot: 'Attention Wasn't What I Wanted'

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

In this week's Sunday Conversation, host Rachel Martin speaks with Col. Jeannie Leavitt, the Air Force's first female fighter pilot, about gender in the Air Force. Leavitt is also the first female fighter wing commander, and she has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rhino Horns Fuel Deadly, Intercontinental Trade

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

NPR's Frank Langfitt and Gregory Warner have teamed up for a series about how myth and money are driving extraordinary slaughter of rhinos. They talk with host Rachel Martin about the issue, which has repercussions from the African continent all the way to Asia.

Back From Brink Of Death, Corpsman Tackles 'Warrior Games'

Sun, 12 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

Three years ago, Navy corpsman Angelo Anderson was shot in his arm and leg in Afghanistan and he thought he was going to die. Sunday, he's competing at the fourth-annual Warrior Games in Colorado, along with more than 200 wounded service members. Eric Whitney of Colorado Public radio has this profile of Anderson, who credits the paralympic-style competition with restoring him physically and mentally.