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Robert Siegel Robert Siegel was a senior host of NPR's award-winning evening newsmagazine All Things Considered.
Robert Siegel 2010
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Robert Siegel

Afghanistan

Afghan Elders Will Decide Future Of U.S. Troops After 2014

Some 3,000 Afghan elders will assemble on Thursday in Kabul to consider a new security agreement with the U.S. The document will spell out the rules for American forces in Afghanistan troops after their combat mission ends in December 2014. U.S. officials say between 6,000 and 9,000 US troops would remain to train Afghan security forces and conduct counter-terror missions against al-Qaeda and other anti-government forces. That counter-terror mission remains a sticking point, though most other issues — like potential criminal liability of Americans in Afghanistan — have been resolved.

Afghan Elders Will Decide Future Of U.S. Troops After 2014

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Business

JPMorgan, Feds Finalize Record $13 Billion Mortgage Settlement

A long-awaited deal between JP Morgan Chase and the Justice Department was finalized Tuesday. The bank — one of Wall Street's largest — agreed to pay a total of $13 billion to resolve a number of legal issues stemming from mortgage securities sold in the run-up to the financial crisis.

JPMorgan, Feds Finalize Record $13 Billion Mortgage Settlement

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Technology

Bitcoin Goes To Washington As Senators Parse Currency's Legality

The digital currency Bitcoin is becoming more prevalent, both for benign purchases and as a way for criminals to conduct illicit transactions. Bitcoins have been used on underground websites to facilitate sales of narcotics and child pornography. But even those most concerned about criminal activity agree that the emerging digital currency has arrived and can have beneficial uses.

Bitcoin Goes To Washington As Senators Parse Currency's Legality

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Asia

Damaged Fuel Rods Removed At Fukushima Nuclear Plant

Workers at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant successfully removed some radioactive fuel from one of the damaged reactors on Monday. It's an important first step, but there's a long way to go before the situation at the plant can be said to be completely under control

Damaged Fuel Rods Removed At Fukushima Nuclear Plant

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Media

Why The Dearth Of Black Commediennes In 'SNL' Cast?

Scandal star Kerry Washington's turn hosting NBC's Saturday Night Live this Saturday has revived criticism of the show's lack of black female cast members. The issue was raised earlier this year when SNL announced five new cast members — four male, all white. The show's lack of black women — only three have ever been cast in 38 years — forces the show's black males to dress as black women, which echoes historic, demeaning issues for black male comics. It also keeps SNL from featuring black female characters and keeps black women from entering the farm team of America's comedy elite who launch their careers there.

Why The Dearth Of Black Commediennes In 'SNL' Cast?

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Asia

Pakistani Taliban Leader Believed Dead In U.S. Drone Strike

The leader of the Pakistani Taliban is reported to have been killed by a U.S. drone strike. Hakimullah Mehsud's group is believed responsible for attacks across Pakistan. He is also implicated in the attack that killed seven CIA employees at a CIA base in Afghanistan in late 2009. Mehsud has been reported to have been killed before, but sources are confident this time.

Pakistani Taliban Leader Believed Dead In U.S. Drone Strike

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National

Gunman Opens Fire At Los Angeles International Airport

A lone gunman opened fire Friday at Los Angeles International Airport, police say. Police fired on the alleged shooter, who is now in police custody. The attack left one TSA officer dead and at least seven people needing medical treatment (including the shooter), officials said. The shooting forced the evacuation of a terminal and more than 45 flights into and out of LAX have been cancelled.

Gunman Opens Fire At Los Angeles International Airport

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Media

Prosecutors Press Case In 'News Of The World' Phone-Tapping Trial

At the Old Bailey Courthouse in London Wednesday, the prosecution laid out the case against former journalists of the now-defunct British tabloid News of the World.

Prosecutors Press Case In 'News Of The World' Phone-Tapping Trial

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Health Care

Here's What You Need To Know About Obamacare And Your Health Plan

The latest complaints about the health law center around the question of whether you can keep your current health plan if you like it. There actually are rules associated with the law that try to protect that right. Here's a primer on those rules.

Here's What You Need To Know About Obamacare And Your Health Plan

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National

Penn State To Pay Nearly $60 Million To Sandusky Abuse Victims

Officials at Pennsylvania State University say the school will pay almost $60 million to 26 men over their claims that former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky sexually abused them.

Penn State To Pay Nearly $60 Million To Sandusky Abuse Victims

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Remembrances

Former NPR Host And CBS Correspondent Lee Thornton Dies

Robert Siegel remembers a former colleague, Lee Thornton, who died of cancer Wednesday. She co-hosted the weekend edition of NPR's All Things Considered in the mid-80s and a White House correspondent for CBS News before that. After NPR, Thornton served as the interim Associate Provost for Equity and Diversity at the University of Maryland.

Former NPR Host And CBS Correspondent Lee Thornton Dies

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Television

Lots Of New TV Shows Air This Fall But Not Many Are Original

Robert Siegel talks with Eric Deggans, outgoing TV and media critic for The Tampa Bay Times and incoming TV critic for NPR, about the fall television season. Deggans says a lot of the shows may be new, but they're not entirely original.

Lots Of New TV Shows Air This Fall But Not Many Are Original

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Africa

Investigation Continues After Nairobi Mall Siege

Now that the siege at the Nairobi mall has ended, investigators are trying to determine the identity of the attackers, just exactly how many people died in the four-day standoff and how it could have happened.

Investigation Continues After Nairobi Mall Siege

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Business

BlackBerry Agrees To Sell Itself For $4.7 Billion

Facing a business death spiral, BlackBerry has made a tentative deal to sell the company to a major shareholder for $4.7 billion. Under the proposed transaction, a group led by Fairfax Financial Holdings would take BlackBerry private. The announcement comes only three days after BlackBerry announced disastrous financial results.

BlackBerry Agrees To Sell Itself For $4.7 Billion

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Middle East

In Widening Crackdown, Egyptian Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood

An Egyptian court ruling on Monday banned the Muslim Brotherhood and ordered the government to seize all the assets of the Islamist group. This is the latest move in a widening crackdown on the group that ruled Egypt just a few months ago.

In Widening Crackdown, Egyptian Court Bans Muslim Brotherhood

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