Accessibility links
Linda Wertheimer As NPR's senior national correspondent, Linda Wertheimer travels the country and the globe for NPR News, bringing her unique insights and wealth of experience to bear on the day's top news stories.
Linda Wertheimer
Stories By

Linda Wertheimer

Opinion

William And Kate: The Royal Wedding

Will The Royal Marriage Be A Fairy Tale, Too?

The Royal Wedding went off with all of the British storybook touches — tiaras, boy sopranos, and maids-of-honor named Pippa. But recent history suggests that the Royal Marriage could be more difficult to navigate.

Will The Royal Marriage Be A Fairy Tale, Too?

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135867012/135867016" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Africa

In Misrata, Rebels Call For NATO Strikes

Most of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's forces have pulled out of the western port city of Misrata, but rockets continue to hammer the city and rebel leaders now suggest the decision to leave Misrata might be a trick. They have called on NATO to increase its airstrikes against Gadhafi's weaponry.

In Misrata, Rebels Call For NATO Strikes

Listen · 3:06
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135686885/135686881" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

On This Day In History ... : Masterpiece Classic's Upstairs Downstairs sequel picks up six years after the original series left off, with a new family — and a nearly new cast of servants — moving into the house at 165 Eaton Pl., London. Jane Hilton/BBC/Masterpiece hide caption

toggle caption
Jane Hilton/BBC/Masterpiece

Television

'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

In the 1970s, the BBC's Upstairs Downstairs became one of the most popular British television series to date. The show took a leisurely look at a Britain in which class distinctions were firmly embedded and everybody knew their place. Now, Upstairs Downstairs is back with an only slightly updated take.

'Upstairs Downstairs' Takes A New Step Back In Time

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135207548/135232001" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Asia

Some Progress Reported In Japan's Nuclear Crisis

It's been three weeks since Japan's earthquake and tsunami started problems at a nuclear power plant. Since then, there have been a lot of alarming headlines about core meltdowns and radioactive contamination. But news reports are also suggesting that workers at the plant are getting control of the overheated reactors.

NPR's Jon Hamilton Discusses The Progress Reported At Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi Plant

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/135033541/135033534" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Analysis

How Long Will The U.S. Stay Engaged In Libya?

The situation in Libya has become so problematic for the Obama administration that the president will address the nation Monday night to explain his policy. He set the groundwork Sunday by sending out the secretaries of State and Defense to the Sunday talk shows.

How Long Will The U.S. Stay Engaged In Libya?

Listen · 4:36
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134916940/134916952" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Conflict In Libya

NATO TO Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya

That operation in Libya is not yet a week old, and the U.S. is starting to edge off center stage. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced a change in command Thursday: NATO will take command of the no-fly zone over Libya.

NATO TO Enforce No-Fly Zone Over Libya

Listen · 4:18
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134845083/134845158" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Africa

UN Security Council Votes To Protect Libyan Civilians

The United Nations Security Council on Thurday authorized a no-fly zone and other measures to protect Libyan civilians who have been standing against the Gaddafi regime. Air strikes by Western and Arab nations against Libya could begin as soon as Friday.

UN Security Council Votes To Protect Libyan Civilians

Listen · 4:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134646315/134633836" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Rebuilding Japan

Japan's Crippled Nuclear Plant In 'Serious Trouble'

Japan's nuclear crisis has triggered international alarm and partly overshadowed the human tragedy caused by Friday's earthquake and tsunami. NPR's Christopher Joyce says four of the nuclear power plant's six reactors are in "serious, serious trouble."

Japan's Crippled Nuclear Plant In 'Serious Trouble'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134585483/134585469" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Rebuilding Japan

Radiation Spews From Crippled Nuclear Power Plant

Damaged nuclear reactors in Japan have emitted a substantial amount of radiation over the last 12 hours. Four of the six reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant have had major problems, including one that wasn't even in operation at the time of last week's earthquake and tsunami.

Radiation Spews From Crippled Nuclear Power Plant

Listen · 5:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134556552/134556519" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Africa

Libyan Rebel Envoy Meets With Clinton In Paris

The Libyan rebels who are trying to drive Moammar Gadhafi from power had the ear of the United States Monday night. Mahmoud Jabril, a special envoy from the opposition, sat down in Paris with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The rebel positions appear more vulnerable by the day, as Gadhafi's forces push farther into territory held by the opposition in the east of Libya.

Libyan Rebel Envoy Meets With Clinton In Paris

Listen · 3:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134556536/134556513" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Analysis

White House Forced To Deal With Crisis After Crisis

President Obama and his staff have been preoccupied with the political turmoil in the Arab world. Now there's the terrible tragedy in Japan, a leading U.S. ally and trading partner. And at home, the budget crisis has still not been resolved.

White House Forced To Deal With Crisis After Crisis

Listen · 4:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134525448/134525477" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Sports

Brackets Revealed For Men's NCAA Tournament

The field for the NCAA men's basketball tournament is set. Duke, Ohio State, Kansas and Pittsburgh have the No. 1 seeds. The Big East has an unprecedented 11 teams in the tournament.

Brackets Revealed For Men's NCAA Tournament

Listen · 3:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134525440/134525475" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Opinion

Japan Quake Shakes Loose Memories Of U.S. Disasters

Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami bring back images closer to home, from the floods caused by Hurricane Katrina to the devastation of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in Northern California.

Japan Quake Shakes Loose Memories Of U.S. Disasters

Listen · 2:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134485450/134484936" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Science Nerds Meet Foodies In 'Modernist Cuisine'

A photo excerpted from Modernist Cuisine shows the cross-section of a grill, illustrating inner-workings of the cooking process. The Cooking Lab hide caption

toggle caption
The Cooking Lab

Radio Pictures

Science Nerds Meet Foodies In 'Modernist Cuisine'

The 40-pound, six-volume, $625 and 2,438-page cookbook celebrates the science of cooking. But at that price — and with such exactingly detailed "recipes" — who's gonna buy it?

Science Nerds Meet Foodies In 'Modernist Cuisine'

Listen · 9:44
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/134456683/134484941" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript