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Long, Risky Road For Smuggled Immigrants
Earlier this month, nine people believed to be illegal immigrants were killed when their van rolled over near the Mexican border. There were a total of 19 people on board when it crashed, and law enforcement officers believe the immigrants were being smuggled across the border illegally. Though specific statistics are hard to confirm, it is believed that a large percentage of immigrants crossing the border into the United States have done so with the help of what's commonly known as a coyote, a smuggler or smuggling group. Guest Host John Donvan speaks with NPR's Ted Robbins and writer Luis Alberto Urrea about this hidden world of immigrant smuggling — the people and money involved — and how it's affecting the lives of Americans and the immigrants themselves.

'The 10 Most Harmful Novels'
Crawford Kilian has a piece of advice for aspiring writers: do not read Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged," Hemingway's "For Whom the Bell Tolls," Jack Kerouac's "On the Road" and seven other well-known novels. In a piece for the British Columbian daily The Tyee, Kilian lists ten modern classics that are most harmful to aspiring writers, not because they're necessarily bad books, but because he writes, "their readable styles look so easy, that they might seduce a young writer into imitating them." Crawford Kilian joins guest host John Donvan to talk about the ten novels that he warns "can be more hazard than inspiration."

'Ninety Days: A Memoir Of Recovery'
In his 2010 book, Portrait Of An Addict As A Young Man, Bill Clegg described his addiction to crack and his dramatic spiral of self-destruction that left him nearly broke, homeless, out of work and suicidal. His latest book picks up where that story left off. Ninety Days focuses on Clegg's struggles through recovery, as he departs a residential treatment facility for his adopted home of New York City. His first goal: stay sober for ninety days. Clegg talks to host John Donvan about his book Ninety Days: A Memoir Of Recovery, his harrowing journey and the friends, family and fellow addicts who gave him a second chance.

Guy Davis: 'Ambassador Of The Blues'
Guy Davis has been dubbed "The Ambassador of the Blues." The son of Ruby Dee and the late Ossie Davis, he initially followed in his famous parents' footsteps. Davis discovered the blues in college and now travels the world performing in places untouched by the blues, from Greenland to the Galapagos Islands. On a new album, Davis tells the story of Fishy Waters: a hobo traveling through the Deep South in the 1930s, singing the blues and sharing stories about the people he meets along the way. Guest host John Donvan talks with Davis about his new album, The Adventures of Guy Davis: In Bed With The Blues, and his mission to spread the word about the blues.

In this photo taken Thursday April 5, 2012 and provided by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, Google co-founder Sergey Brin wears Google's Project Glass prototype publicly for the first time while attending the Dining in the Dark charity function in San Francisco. We'll talk about 'Google Glasses' in our second hour.

Corbett Lee/AP

The Political Junkie
With the Republican presidential nomination all but locked up, Mitt Romney continues to reach out to conservative voters and a new poll shows his efforts may be paying off. After a long, challenging primary campaign, the CNN poll shows Romney's popularity is starting to rebound. Guest Political Junkie Matt Bai of The New York Times and host Neal Conan talk about the state of the Democratic and Republican bases and what voters on each side of the political spectrum are looking for in their candidates in the months ahead. The two also talk with Andy Stern, former president of the Service Employees International Union, and recap the week in politics, including the spark that reignited the "mommy wars," President Obama's taxes and the politics of the "Buffet Rule."

Drugs, Cuba and Scandal At Summit
President Barack Obama traveled to Cartagena, Colombia last week for the sixth Summit of the Americas. News from the summit was largely overshadowed by the Secret Service prostitution scandal, but a number of substantial policy issues arose as well. The President secured a free trade deal with Colombia and faced questions about U.S. drug policy in Latin America. Tensions also flared over Cuba's absence from the summit, and continued U.S. efforts to isolate the country. Syndicated Miami Herald columnist Andres Oppenhemier believes the first step to bringing Cuba back into the diplomatic community is to invite them to future summits as an observer. Host Neal Conan talks with Oppenheimer, about the summit, Cuba and the challenges of encouraging democracy in the region.

'Byrds' Frontman Roger McGuinn
Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame singer and guitarist Roger McGuinn, best known as the front man for The Byrds, is considered a pioneer of folk rock. The band blended traditional folk songs with a rock beat and scored major hits in the 1960's including "Turn, Turn, Turn" and "Mr. Tambourine Man." The Byrds disbanded in 1973, and McGuinn pursued a solo career, performing acoustically and return to his folk roots. In 1995, he created the Folk Den Project, an online series to store traditional folk songs that he records once a month. Neal Conan talks with McGuinn about The Byrds and his solo career and about his work preserving folk music.

How Will You Use 'Google Glasses'?
Imagine putting on glasses that identify who you're talking with at any moment, direct you to the restaurant down the street and show you the lunch special and reviews, and turn your neighborhood into a virtual shopping mall or a medieval kingdom. Google plans to make at least some of it a reality later this year with the launch of what are known as augmented reality glasses. The prototype looks like a pair of high-end sunglasses, but has lenses that connect to a wearable computer and reportedly stream information in real-time about locations and people. It's the stuff of science fiction. In his 2006 thriller, Rainbow's End, author Vernor Vinge imagined a near future when people use high-tech contact lenses to interface with computers in their clothes. Host Neal Conan will talk with Vernor Vinge about Google's glasses and how me might use increasingly mobile computers in the future.

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In today's first hour, Sam Anderson joins us to talk about his piece from the New York Times Magazine on the "great stupid games" we play.

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Secret Service
After alleged misbehavior that involved prostitution, the U.S. Secret Service revoked top security clearances of 11 agents who have been put on administrative leave and remain under investigation. The agents were part of the advance team that traveled to Colombia before President Barack Obama arrived to attend the Summit of the Americas. Host Neal Conan talks about the training and standards typically upheld by the Secret Service with Jeffrey Robinson, co-author (with Joseph Petro) of Standing Next to History: An Agent's Life Inside the Secret Service, and Ronald Kessler, chief Washington correspondent of Newsmax.com and author of In the President's Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect.

Stupid Games We Play
Angry birds — a mobile phone game in which players use a slingshot to propel birds at tiny little green pigs — has been a runaway hit since its 2009 release, with more than 700 million downloads, a TV show and a feature film in the works. And Angry Birds isn't the only mobile phone game that has become a phenomenon. In a piece for the New York Times Magazine, Sam Anderson looks at our fascination with — and addiction to — what he calls, stupid games. In it, he says they hold us "in a place between conscious problem solving and pure intoxication ... the cognitive signature of all the great stupid games." Host Neal Conan talks with Sam Anderson about the secret genius of stupid games and the mobile "gamification" of America.

Domestic Drones
Congress recently passed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012, which — along with funding the Federal Aviation Administration's budget through 2015 — encourages the acceleration of unmanned aircraft programs in U.S. airspace. Drones have taken on a large role in military operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. The new legislation could make the technology more prevalent in several arenas, from local police departments to farmers monitoring crops. Host Neal Conan talks with John Villasenor, nonresident senior fellow in the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution, about what drones are, how they're being used in the U.S. now and the possibilities that lie ahead. Catherine Crump, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, discusses the free speech and privacy concerns associated with the technology.

French Election
The economy, foreign policy, and immigration: these aren't just the big topics in the U.S. elections, they're also the top issues facing the presidential candidates in the upcoming French elections. The first round of the French presidential elections take place on Sunday, which will shrink the roster of presidential hopefuls from the current ten down to two candidates. Socialist candidate Francois Hollande and current president Nicolas Sarkozy are expected to face-off in the final round of French elections, which take place on May 6. Though the issues the candidates are addressing are similar to the ones in America, the election system differs greatly, from campaign financing to debate format. NPR's Neal Conan speaks with Ted Koppel about the upcoming election — the issues, the players, the politics — and how it compares with elections in the United States.

This Sept. 13, 2011, photo shows a house for rent and for sale sign in front of a home in Portland, Ore. In our second hour, NPR's Chris Arnold gives an update on the state of housing markets across the nation.

Rick Bowmer/AP

Iran
Last Friday, Iran held talks with six other nations in Istanbul to discuss Iran's nuclear enrichment program. The talks were the first step in what many hope will be peaceful negotiations between world powers and Iran on the development of their nuclear capacity. Attendants say the talks went well and another round is scheduled for May 23rd. The meetings are an attempt to address the issue of Iran's nuclear program diplomatically, along with continued economic sanctions. But neither the United States nor Israel has ruled out the possibility of military action should the negotiations prove ineffective, leaving many to wonder what, if any, resolution is likely. Host Neal Conan speaks with NPR correspondent Mike Shuster about the talks and what's to follow in the coming months. And Patrick Clawson, director of the Iran Security Initiative at the Washington Institute and Ronen Bergman, an Israeli political analyst, explain what the talks mean for relations between Iran, the United States, and Israel.

'Bully'
The documentary Bully caught national attention when the Motion Picture Association of America issued it an R rating for harsh language, effectively barring its target audience from seeing the film. The director and producers initially refused to re-edit the film, and first showed it with no rating. Then, they relented, and earned a PG-13 rating from the MPAA. Host Neal Conan talks with Harvey Weinstein, the co-chairman of The Weinstein Company, which distributes Bully.

Housing Market Update
In recent months, there have been conflicting statistics on the state of the U.S. housing market, though many signs point to persistent weakness. Home prices continue to fall in most big cities, while rents are on the rise. Banks offer low interest rates, but many potential buyers have trouble qualifying for loans with the new mortgage rules. Home builders' confidence in the market has waned, and investors are starting to buy up foreclosed homes and turn them into rentals. Some analysts see the market healing and turning around. Yet others argue the next wave of foreclosures are just around the corner. Neal Conan talks with Chris Arnold about who's buying, who's selling, and how housing markets are faring across the nation.

Opinion Page
This morning, the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned North Korea's failed rocket launch from last week and demanded that North Korea halt any further launches. Such condemnations have been a common refrain, heard after its first nuclear test in 2006, and again after its second test in 2009. But in an op-ed in Foreign Affairs, Jennifer Lind says that, "North Korea's violations aren't meaningfully punished, words are mostly just words, and China does little." According to Lind, North Korea's "madman" image, combined with the specter of its economic collapse and the almost certain humanitarian crisis it would usher in, make the U.S. and South Korea reluctant to intervene. On this week's Opinion Page, host Neal Conan speaks with Jennifer Lind about her piece, "Why North Korea Gets Away With It: Pyongyang's Skillful Deterrence."

State Attorney Angela Corey holds a news conference to announce second degree murder charges to be brought against defendant George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin shooting April 11, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida. In our first hour, a prosecutor and defense attorney each explain what both sides in the case need to prove in court.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

The Case Against George Zimmerman
George Zimmerman spent the night in a Florida jail, on charges of second degree murder. More than six weeks after the self-appointed neighborhood watch captain admittedly shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, the special prosecutor in the case announced the criminal charges in a news conference Wednesday night. Zimmerman maintains that he acted in self-defense, and many legal experts say prosecutors face a number of legal challenges in the courtroom. They must prove that Zimmerman intentionally killed Martin, who was unarmed, must show that Zimmerman's actions are not protected under Florida's "stand your ground law" and convince a judge in a preliminary hearing to proceed with the case. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with a prosecutor and defense attorney about what both sides in the case need to prove in court.

Are Cities Meaner?
After losing five bikes to thieves in New York City, Casey Neistat decided to conduct a social experiment. He set up a camera and pretended to steal his own bike several times around the city. He watched dozens of pedestrians walk past as he sawed through his bike lock on various streets with a hacksaw and power tools. In a recent piece for Salon.com, writer Will Doig cites this as just one example in his argument that cities are meaner places to live, though that's not because the people there lack in morals or values. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with Doig about the social research that explains why many urbanities do not assist or intervene.

When Couples Disagree About When To Retire
As more baby boomers prepare to retire, they're increasingly facing a complicated negotiation with their spouse: He wants to retire, but she doesn't. Or vice versa. By one estimate that appeared in the Wall Street Journal, "only about half of couples retire within two years of each other." And that can cause conflict. Many boomers live in dual-income families, and while each partner may have very specific ideas about when to retire — couples often avoid discussions about retirement altogether. Many men are older and hope to retire sooner, but their wives don't want them lying about the house all day. While many women are just reaching their professional peaks and have no interest in slowing down. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks with freelance writer Kathleen Hughes and retirement coach Dorian Mintzer about how couples negotiate the timing of retirement.

'Look At My Scars'
"Do I freak you out?" It's a question that haunts Mary Elizabeth Williams and others who she describes as "physically different, in ways both small and large." Williams' surgery to remove cancer more than a year ago left a five centimeter bald spot on the back of her head. In a piece at Salon.com titled, "Look at my Scars," she writes that "the things that make us stand out .... can remind us of the most dramatic, heroic moments of our lives, and of every small indignity and cruelty that has happened since." Williams joins guest host Jennifer Ludden to talk about here piece.

In this Friday, Jan. 6, 2012 photo, Tai Sung, a master tax advisor for H&R Block, center, consults with clients about their taxes at his office in Rockville, Md. In our second hour, listeners talk about the lessons they've learned over years of filing.

Jacquelyn Martin/AP

The Political Junkie
Rick Santorum ended his presidential campaign yesterday in his home state of Pennsylvania. It clears the way for Mitt Romney to capture the nomination, though many conservatives have yet to rally around the former Massachusetts governor. The Romney campaign now shifts into the general campaign, with a focus on President Obama, while looking for ways to maintain momentum until he officially seals the nomination. Political Junkie Ken Rudin and host Neal Conan will speak with a former Republican presidential campaign strategist about how to keep your candidate's name in the news during this lull period. The two will also recap the week in politics, from weaker than expected jobs numbers to the resurgence of the tax debate.

The Fate Of The Penny
It's time to kill the penny. That's what Daniel Akst argues in a recent op-ed on Newsday.com. "Pennies," he writes, "are a pain in the neck, only more so because they're worthless." While the penny isn't quite worthless, it does cost more than two cents to create each one. The Canadian government last month decided to stop making pennies altogether. Prices will soon by rounded to the nearest five cents. Host Neal Conan talks with Akst about why he believes it's time to kill the U.S. penny, and his argument that it symbolizes a greater inability to make even the most minimal changes.

What's Your Tax Time Nightmare?
We know we should do them earlier. The mid-April deadline comes around every year. Still, with six days left before taxes are due, many people continue to put off filing. The boxes of receipts, stacks of W-2s and 1099s are daunting enough. Add in row after row of fill-in boxes on the 1040 form, and it's no wonder so many people procrastinate. Host Neal Conan talks with a psychologist and a tax expert, as well as with callers, about why so many people wait until the last minute to do their taxes, and the lessons they've learned over years of filing.

What's In Our Food
The uproar over what critics call "pink slime" in some ground beef refocused attention on what's in the food we eat. And it's not just burgers. Look at the ingredients on most packaged foods and chances are you'll see at least one item you don't recognize. Many food experts, though, caution that just because you don't know an ingredient, doesn't mean you shouldn't eat it. Host Neal Conan talks to Robert Gravani, professor of food science at Cornell University, about what's in the food we eat and how we balance nutrition, taste, convenience and safety.

In today's second hour, a look at teachers and online privacy. Should teachers be held to a higher standard?

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Syria: What's Next?
Today marks the deadline for an agreement between the United Nations and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw military troops from cities and enforce a cease fire. The six-point peace plan brokered by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan, however, appears on the verge of collapse before ever implementing its first step. The White House announced today that there are "no signs yet" that President Assad has pulled back troops and stopped attacks on civilians that have continued for the past year. Yesterday, the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the violence had spilled across the border when Syrian forces fired shots into a refugee camp on Turkish territory, escalating the conflict between the two countries to a "new stage" according to the Turkish government. Host Neal Conan speaks with Rami Khouri about what's to come for Syria and its neighbors. He also speaks with Nadim Houry, of Human Rights Watch, about the reports of human rights violations in Syria and how the international community should respond.

Our Fascination With The Titanic Lives On
One hundred years ago, today, the Titanic set sail from Southampton, in England to New York City. The rest of the story has been the subject of countless books, shows, films and other stories: About the thousands of people on board, the dramatic events of the final few hours and about the legend of the "unsinkable" ship that struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank in the frigid Atlantic hours later. Host Neal Conan speaks with Bob Ballard, the explorer who discovered the Titanic wreckage, about why, a century on, we're still captivated by the Titanic.

Can Teachers Be Fired For Facebook Posts?
Several teachers around the nation have been disciplined, and even fired, in recent years after posting comments and photos online. A Philadelphia high school teacher was suspended in February after posting on her blog that students acted like "rude, disengaged, lazy whiners." A Georgia teacher was forced to resign in 2009 after a complaint over a Facebook photo that showed her drinking alcohol. In a piece in the Los Angeles Times, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley argues that these are legal private activities and that teachers shouldn't be subjected to the "transparent conditions of celebrities without any of the benefits." Host Neal Conan talks with Turley and with Elizabeth Meyer, education professor at California Polytechnic State University, who believes that teachers should be held to a higher standard in their online lives.

Ozzie Guillen Suspension
The Miami Marlins suspended manager Ozzie Guillen today for five games after he apparently told Time magazine that he loves Cuba's Fidel Castro and respects the retired leader for holding power so long. At a news conference in Miami, Guillen apologized and said his remarks were misinterpreted by the reporter. Miami's Cuban population erupted after the comments, and protesters have gathered outside Marlins Park calling for Guillen to be fired, calling him names and telling him to leave the country. Local politicians have called for his resignation. Neal Conan talks with Sergio Bustos of The Miami Herald about how Guillen's comments are playing out around various communities and whether or not his apology will ever satisfy those calling for his ouster.

Dan Savage Launches 'Savage U'
For years, columnist Dan Savage has made a career offering frank advice on relationships and sex. From his nationally-syndicated column, "Savage Love," to his "It Gets Better Campaign" targeted at LGBT youth, Savage is known for encouraging people to be honest and open about often complicated and sometimes taboo subjects. Now he's taking his act on the road in a new show called "Savage U," in which he travels to college campuses across the country giving students advice on sex and relationships. Host Neal Conan speaks with Savage about his new show and why he's decided to target his advice to America's college students.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first neighborhood watch program. In our first hour, guests explain the do's and don'ts of neighborhood watches.

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What's The Point Of A Neighborhood Watch?
The Trayvon Martin shooting focused new attention on neighborhood watches. George Zimmerman served as a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain and says he shot Martin in self defense. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the first neighborhood watch program and there is some evidence to suggest that neighborhood watch programs can be effective in reducing crime, if done right. Host Neal Conan talks with Curtis Sliwa, founder of the Guardian Angels, and with a criminologist about the do's and don'ts of neighborhood watches.

Op-Ed: Stop Enabling Homelessness
A federal judge last year issued a preliminary injunction banning Los Angeles police from confiscating and destroying the belongings of homeless people on Skid Row. In an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, Carol Schatz argues that the ruling effectively allows anyone in the area around skid row to turn public sidewalks into personal storage spaces for mattresses, overflowing plastic bags and shopping carts. She says the law, intended to protect the homeless, puts them in greater danger. Some who would have otherwise sought shelter, she wrote, aren't doing so. On this week's Opinion Page, host Neal Conan speaks with Schatz about her piece, "Enabling Homelessness on L.A.'s Skid Row."

New York's Beloved, Despised 'Damn Yankees'
The New York Yankees may be the most polarizing team in sports. "In the matter of the Yankees, there is no neutral ground, no Switzerland," Rob Fleder writes in the introduction to a new collection of essays titled, Damn Yankees: Twenty-Four Major League Writers on the World's Most Loved (and Hated) Team. And, he says, it often has little to do with sports. In the new book, writers share their personal stories, from one New Yorkers' deep connection to the team, even through the worst seasons, to the finer points of Derek Jeter's swing. Neal Conan talks with journalist Charlie Pierce and writer Dan Okrent about the personal stories they contributed to the new book, and why so many people have such strong feelings about the New York Yankees.

Another Step On The Road To Change In Myanmar
This month's elections in Myanmar, also known as Burma, handed Aung San Suu Kyi's party an overwhelming victory. Imprisoned in 1990, Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace prize and many other awards as an opposition leader from the National League for Democracy. Her release from house arrest in 2010 and victory in the latest election have sparked new hope among many people in Myanmar. And the pace of change in recent months has been striking. The United States has also eased some sanctions, but many questions remain about the future Southeast Asian country. Host Neal Conan talks to former NPR foreign correspondent Michael Sullivan about the past, present and future of Myanmar.

In our second hour, guests talk about how the bad behavior of some bicyclists could present a road block on how cities adapt to them.

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Weight Loss Surgery And Diabetes
For years, bariatric surgery, specifically gastric bypass and banding operations, have been the subject of praise and controversy for the treatment of obesity. Two studies published earlier this week in the New England Journal of Medicine show that bariatric surgery may reduce the risk of, or reverse entirely, the effects of type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese patients with high blood sugar levels. The studies raise serious questions about whether or not these operations should be used more often to treat type 2 diabetes and other diseases attributable to obesity. Host Neal Conan speaks with NPR science correspondent Rob Stein about the studies and what the data means. He also talks with Dr. Philip Schauer, a bariatric surgeon and researcher at the Cleveland Clinic, about the pros and cons of bariatric surgery and whether or not it may be an effective treatment for patients living with type 2 diabetes.

Mali Update
The West African nation of Mali is in political crisis after a coup d'etat in March that toppled the president and drove him into hiding. An Islamic rebel group has taken control of the north of Mali. Rebel soldiers are running the country where turmoil seems to deepen each day as neighboring countries impose sanctions and humanitarian groups are forced to deal with a rapidly changing situation. Host Neal Conan talks to NPR Foreign Correspondent Ofeibea Quist-Arcton who's on the ground in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, where long lines at gas stations and groceries worry Malians.

Bicyclists' Behavior
More urban neighborhoods are adding bike lanes to accommodate cyclists. In many cities, bike lanes are embraced with open arms as an inexpensive way to facilitate urban transportation. But not everyone is happy. Some people bristle at the thought of losing parking spaces for bikers, and bike lanes are seen as a sign of gentrification. And cyclists' behavior — from riding the wrong way in traffic to blowing through red lights — isn't helping the cause. So argues Bill Strickland. He's the editor-at-large for Bicycling Magazine and edited the piece "We Met the Enemy." Strickland talks with host Neal Conan and transportation journalist Tom Vanderbilt about how biker behavior factors as an obstacle to more bike lanes.

Extreme Weather And Climate Change
The monstrous tornadoes that tore through north Texas this week caused millions of dollars in damage, and the National Weather Service is expected to rate the them later today. The U.S. tornado season started early this year and has been blamed for 57 deaths so far in 2012 in the Midwest and South, raising concerns this year could be a repeat of 2011 — the deadliest year in nearly a century for tornadoes. Host Neal Conan talks with Kevin Trenberth, Distinguished Senior Scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research about the link between climate change and extreme weather.

Lauren Goss of Knoxville, Tennessee, uses a self check-in machine to issue her boarding pass in front of an Independence Air ticketing counter at Dulles International Airport May 2, 2005 in Centreville, Virgina. In our second hour, Marketplace special correspondent David Brancaccio talks about his series, Robots Ate My Job, and how technology is becoming a bigger part of our lives.

Alex Wong/Getty Images

The Political Junkie
Mitt Romney swept three primaries on Tuesday: Washington, D.C., Maryland, and the crucial state of Wisconsin. Wisconsin will be in play in the general election, but the real political fight is taking place at the state level. Governor Scott Walker faces a recall election in June, and a major part of the state senate is being recalled, too. Wisconsin Public Radio's Shawn Johnson joins host Neal Conan and Political Junkie Ken Rudin to explain what's happening in the normally moderate, politically-civil Badger State. Ken and Neal will also recap the week in politics, from President Barack Obama's stinging attack of the Republican budget, to Sarah Palin's new hosting gig on morning tv.

Son Off To War
The role of the United States military is a big topic in American politics and can often be a main talking point for politicians seeking office. But in a recent op-ed in The Los Angeles Times, David Freed writes that "politicians can talk all they want about how gut-wrenching it is for them to write letters of condolences ... but they really have no idea what it's like to have a child or spouse in battle" Freed suggests that the the politicians who vote or make orders to send service members into battle don't understand the full extent of what it means to have a loved one serve. Host Neal Conan speaks with David Freed about this disconnect and what he thinks politicians should understand about having family members in combat.

'Robots Ate My Job'
Marketplace special correspondent David Brancaccio wanted to see if it was possible drive across the country without interacting with a human being — just machines. Along the way, he discovered how technological advances affect the daily lives of Americans. Some people, like blue-collar workers in Indiana, experienced job growth because robots allowed them to do more advanced work. Others weren't so lucky, like grocery store clerks in California, who were replaced by self-checkout machines. Neal Conan talks with Brancaccio about his series, "Robots Ate My Job" and Andrew McAfee of MIT's Center for Digital Business about how technology is changing the future of jobs in America.

Falklands
Thirty years ago Argentina invaded the British-controlled Falkland Islands and began a 74-day occupation. Now, Argentine and British leaders are sparring over the territory. Prime Minister David Cameron has said he remains committed to British sovereignty, but Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner called the U.K.'s stance "absurd." Tuesday, protesters attacked the British Embassy in Buenos Aires, and the most powerful warship in the Royal Navy is en route to the South Atlantic on what a spokesman called a "routine deployment."

Sybrina Fulton (C) and Tracy Martin (L), parents of Trayvon Martin, listen while their friend and lawyer Benjamin Crump speaks to the press after a forum of Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill March 27, 2012 in Washington, DC. In the second hour, we'll talk about how the news media is covering the Trayvon Martin case.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The Balance Of Power In Retail
Shopping apps and retailers' websites have given consumers the power to compare prices, read product reviews and shop on the go, leaving many brick-and-mortar stores to function as little more than showrooms. The smart shopper can now walk into a shop and ask a seller to match the lowest price online, armed with proof. And if the buyer's not satisfied, online retailers are ready to ship, often for free. Host Neal Conan talks with Stephanie Clifford, business reporter for The New York Times, and Paco Underhill, author of Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping about how retail stores are responding to the shift in power to the consumer.

Trayvon's Killing And Florida's Tragic Past'
The killing of Trayvon Martin is just one in a long series of racially-tinged acts of violence in Florida, argues Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson. Wilkerson, author of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration recently recounted nearly a century of racial violence in the state for CNN.com in "Trayvon's killing and Florida's tragic past." Wilkerson joins host Neal Conan to explain how Martin's killing may not have been, historically speaking, an isolated incident at all.

Media Coverage Of The Trayvon Martin Case
The death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teen who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, has dominated the airwaves and headlines for weeks. According to the Pew Research Center, the death of Trayvon Martin is the most closely-followed news story in the United States. Much of the coverage is focused not on the case itself, but the narrative constructed by the news media. Host Neal Conan talks with New York Times columnist David Carr and Ta-Nehisi Coates, senior editor at The Atlantic. Conan also talks with Amy Mitchell, deputy director of the PEW Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism.

Baseball's Biggest Home Run Hits
The mammoth home run Washington Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth smashed out of Space Coast Stadium last week had sports writers salivating and baseball lovers breaking out the tape measure to figure out just how far the ball had gone — a practice that started back in 1953 with Mickey Mantle's historic 565 foot hit. Sports writer Jane Leavy has traced the origin of the tape measure hit and notes that the term originated because the existing lexicon wasn't big enough to capture Mantle's power. Host Neal Conan talks with Leavy about the biggest hits in baseball.

In our second hour, author David Crystal talks about his new book and the challenge to come up with one hundred words that best tell the history of the English language.

Syria
The violence between Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's troops and the opposition has entered its second year and persists as a major humanitarian issue for international human rights organizations. Both the Arab League and the "Friends of Syria" held summits to focus on the question of how to best deal with the continued violence in Syria, which the UN estimates has claimed more than 9,000 lives to date. President Assad agreed to a UN peace plan that called for a cease fire between opposition and Syrian forces, but many analysts remain skeptical of whether or not his regime will honor the agreement. Some analysts wonder if there's still time to engage in peaceful negotiations with the Syrian government, while others call for armed intervention in the region. Host Neal Conan speaks with Middle East analyst Steve Heydemann, who believes it's not too late for diplomacy in Syria, and professor Anne-Marie Slaughter, who advocates for armed intervention in the region. He also speaks with former State Department official Aaron David Miller, who believes the UN peace plan will do more harm than good.

Opinion Page
Trayvon Martin's death was especially troubling for author Donna Britt. Britt's 26-year-old brother was killed by Gary, Indiana police officers decades ago, and the unusual circumstances of his death continue to haunt her. Did the two white police officers shoot her brother, Darrell, because he was black? Why was he wearing a cooking pot on his head? Did the police doctor the crime scene? On this week's Opinion Page, host Neal Conan speaks with Britt about her Washington Post piece, "In Trayvon Martin's Death, Echoes of My Brother's Shooting," and coming to terms with the way Darrell died.

The Story of English in 100 Words
Linguist David Crystal believes every word has a story to tell, even the ones as commonplace as "and." For example, there's a "b" in the word "debt" although we never pronounce it. Many of us were taught to answer the phone with a "hello." And the fictional word "muggle" has somehow worked its way into everyday conversation. In a new book, Crystal takes on the challenge of compiling a list of words he thinks best tell the way the English language developed. Neal Conan talks with Crystal about his new book, The Story of English in 100 Words.

Kelly Thomas Moment
After punching through windows of a school and an office building during a psychotic break 17 years ago, Carmelo Valone found himself chained to a hospital bed, bloody, scared and confused after a run-in with Boston Police. When Kelly Thomas, a homeless, schizophrenic man, was brutally beaten to death by police in California in 2011, it reminded Valone of his own encounter with the police, and the particular vulnerability of the mentally ill in such encounters. Host Neal Conan talks with Valone about the experience of dealing with police when you're mentally ill.

A cheerleader for the Kentucky Wildcats stands between the mascots for Kentucky and the Louisville Cardinals as they sing "My old Kentucky Home" after the game at Rupp Arena on December 17, 2005 in Lexington, Kentucky. In our second hour, die hard fans talk about long standing team rivalries in their town.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Reading Between The Lines At The Supreme Court
Final arguments wrapped up yesterday at the Supreme Court on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. It will be June before any decision from the justices, and legal analysts and pundits are parsing every question and exchange in the 6 1/2 hours of debate for a hint of how they might rule. But the oral arguments only represent part of the decision making process for the Supreme Court, and it's difficult to assess what, if any, changes will ultimately be made to the Affordable Care Act. Host Neal Conan speaks with Los Angeles Times Supreme Court correspondent David Savage about the highlights of this week's arguments. He also speaks with two people who've argued before the Supreme Court: former acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal and law professor Randy Barnett. Both will read between the lines of this week's arguments, discuss what the Justices will do between now and the ruling, and assess the likely implications of any decision.

What Would Get You On The Bus?
Almost everyone who rides the bus, has complaints: cleanliness, overcrowding, timeliness. But despite all the griping, argues Salon's Will Doig, the bus is the best answer to improving urban transit. His suggestion: Make the bus more like a train. In a piece called "It's Time to Love the Bus," Doig writes that cities can apply the amenities of a train system — prepaid boarding and dedicated lanes, for example — to the current bus system. There are low-tech solutions, as well, like allowing buses to ride on the shoulder of a highway to improve travel times. Doig joins host Neal Conan to explain why the bus may be the best and cheapest transit solution.

'Memoir Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder'
In third grade, Fletcher Wortmann became consumed with the idea that every nonwater substance on the planet would soon freeze. He spent hours laying plans for how he and his family would survive. Though he wouldn't be diagnosed until many years later, in retrospect Wortmann realized the episode marked his "first full-blown bout with OCD." In a new memoir, Wortmann reveals the overwhelming anxieties he faced, the elaborate rituals he often devised to protect himself, and how he gradually learned to cope with what some call the "doubting disorder." Wortmann joins host Neal Conan to talk about his new book, Triggered: A Memoir Of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.

What's Your Life Or Death Rivalry?
It's arguably the most heated rivalry in college basketball, and this Saturday the Louisville Cardinals will face the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four of the men's NCAA tournament. The longtime rivalry has divided families, friends and neighbors for generations. Police were called recently after a fight broke out between two men at a Kentucky dialysis center — both blame the other guy, for trash talking their team. Host Neal Conan talks with die hard fans about the life and death rivalries in their lives.

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JetBlue flight 191 from New York makes its descent after passengers tackled the pilot to the ground when he behaved erratically during the flight. In today's first hour, we'll talk with pilots about the relationship in the cockpit.

Julie Jacobson/AP

The Political Junkie
Newt Gingrich announced he's laying off staff and shifting his strategy in the campaign for the Republican nomination for president. His campaign insists he's not suspending his run, but many political observers labeled his move as a recognition that he likely won't win. Rick Santorum won Saturday's Louisiana primary and continues to pick up delegates, but many observers question whether or not he can stop Mitt Romney. Political Junkie Ken Rudin and host Neal Conan speak with veteran campaign manager Chip Saltsman about the decisions candidates face when their chances of winning appear to dim. The two will also recap the week in politics, from President Barack Obama's open mic moment, to the health care fight at the Supreme Court.

Pilots And Life In The Cockpit
Passengers tackled a JetBlue captain yesterday in mid-flight after he acted erratically and talked about a bomb on board. The co-pilot locked the captain out of the cockpit and landed the plane safely. Officials have not said what led to the captain's outburst, but the airline identified the pilot as Captain Clayton Osbon, a 12-year veteran with the company who JetBlue's president described as a "consummate professional." The incident focuses attention on what happens behind the cockpit door and the relationship between the captain, the co-pilot and the rest of the crew, especially when things go wrong. Host Neal Conan talks to former pilot John Cox, of USA Today's Ask the Captain column, about what we don't understand about life in the cockpit.

When Employers Want Your Facebook Password
For years, many employers ran credit checks and criminal histories on potential hires. As social media grew, hiring managers screened Facebook and Twitter accounts. Now, some employers are demanding that applicants hand over their Facebook password and give hiring managers full access to their personal accounts. Facebook warns the practice violates its terms of service and says it may sue employers who ask for user passwords. Two U.S. senators asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether employers are violating federal worker protection laws. Host Neal Conan talks with employers and potential employees about background checks — what hiring managers are looking for and where to draw the line.

'Hitler': A Short Biography
Adolf Hitler is arguably the most infamous figure in modern history. In a new biography, A.N. Wilson distills the key moments in his life into a mere 190 pages. His book, titled simply Hitler, traces the Nazi leader's life through the mundane and the murderous, and argues that even today many of our actions are a direct response to who Hitler was and what he represented. Host Neal Conan talks to A.N. Wilson about his latest biography and the lasting effects of Hitler's rise to power.