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Culture

Mexican children's comic Chabelo dies at 88

Xavier "Chabelo" Lopez sticks out his tongue during a telethon event in 2015. Lopez, a Mexican children's comic better known by his stage name "Chabelo," died at the age of 88, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote Saturday. Saul Lopez/AP hide caption

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Saul Lopez/AP

Obituaries

Mexican children's comic Chabelo dies at 88

Xavier López, a Mexican children's comic better known by his stage name "Chabelo," hosted the Sunday variety show En Familia con Chabelo for an astonishing 48 years from 1967 to 2015.

David Axelrod on President Poundstone and the political importance of turkey legs
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

David Axelrod on President Poundstone and the political importance of turkey legs

On this week's episode, we head to Tucson to talk politics with David Axelrod, the former consultant who helped get President Obama elected.

David Axelrod on President Poundstone and the political importance of turkey legs

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'Wait Wait' for March 25, 2023: Live from Tucson!
Scott Olson/Getty Images

Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!

'Wait Wait' for March 25, 2023: Live from Tucson!

This week, we make our triumphant return to Tucson, and political consultant David Axelrod makes his return to our show. He helped get Obama elected, but what does Axelrod know about Axl Rose?

'Wait Wait' for March 25, 2023: Live from Tucson!

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New film explores how 'the father of video art' pioneered an art form

Nam June Paik, a Korean-born artist who blazed a trail in the fine art world by using video as a medium, is the subject of the new documentary Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV. Above, the artist in 1982. Elliott Erwitt/© Elliott Erwitt / Magnum Photos hide caption

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Elliott Erwitt/© Elliott Erwitt / Magnum Photos

Review

Movie Reviews

New film explores how 'the father of video art' pioneered an art form

Nam June Paik: Moon Is the Oldest TV premiered at Sundance in January. It traces the life and legacy of visionary artist Nam June Paik.

A music school uniting Syrian and Turkish cultures survives the massive earthquake

Ibrahim Muslimani, 30, speaks to a class about a piece of music blending different eras and languages at the Nefes Foundation for Arts and Culture, which he founded in 2016, in Gaziantep, Turkey, on Nov. 22, 2022. Nicole Tung for NPR hide caption

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Nicole Tung for NPR

World

A music school uniting Syrian and Turkish cultures survives the massive earthquake

A handful of students return to a school in Gaziantep, Turkey, that seeks to help revive old Syrian and Turkish music and integrate refugees.

Afroman put home footage of a police raid in music videos. Now the cops are suing him

Afroman, pictured performing in 2018, made music videos featuring home video footage of a police raid of his house last year. Now some of the officers are suing him, and he plans to countersue. Johnny Louis/Getty Images hide caption

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Johnny Louis/Getty Images

Music News

Afroman put home footage of a police raid in music videos. Now the cops are suing him

A police search of the rapper's Ohio home didn't lead to charges, but spawned music videos, merchandise, theft accusations and an invasion of privacy lawsuit. Afroman tells NPR he plans to countersue.

Television

'Fresh Air' marks the final season of 'Succession,' with Cox, Culkin and Macfadyen

Fresh Air

Brian Cox plays family patriarch Logan Roy on the HBO series, Kieran Culkin is his youngest, most immature son, and Matthew Macfayden is the put-upon son-in-law. Originally broadcast in 2021 and 2022.

'Fresh Air' marks the final season of 'Succession,' with Cox, Culkin and Macfadyen

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Depeche Mode co-founder David Gahan wants us to remember: 'Memento Mori'

David Gahan of Depeche Mode. Anton Corbijn/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Anton Corbijn/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Depeche Mode co-founder David Gahan wants us to remember: 'Memento Mori'

Depeche Mode return with its first album since the death of founding member Andy Fletcher. It focuses a lot, unsurprisingly, on the subject of life.

Depeche Mode co-founder David Gahan wants us to remember: 'Memento Mori'

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The happiest country in the world wants to fly you in for a free masterclass

Lake Saimaa in Puumala, Finland, which is near the resort where 10 lucky participants will stay for a happiness masterclass in June. Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Alessandro Rampazzo/AFP via Getty Images

World

The happiest country in the world wants to fly you in for a free masterclass

Finland has held the title of world's happiest country for six years running. It wants to teach people how to unlock their "inner Finn" during a four-day masterclass at a lakeside resort in June.

'John Wick: Chapter 4' wonders, 'When does this all end?'

Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 4. Murray Close/Lionsgate hide caption

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Murray Close/Lionsgate

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'John Wick: Chapter 4' wonders, 'When does this all end?'

In previous John Wick films, Keanu Reeves played a retired hitman out of revenge. In the latest entry, John Wick: Chapter 4, his reasons are a little more simple — he just wants to be left alone. Wick's quest for freedom takes him all across the world, as encounters would-be assassins, busy traffic, and a sadistic French aristocrat.

'John Wick: Chapter 4' wonders, 'When does this all end?'

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In defense of fan fiction, and ignoring the 'pretensions of polish'

An ode to the joy of fan fiction. askmenow/Getty Images hide caption

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Main Character of the Day

In defense of fan fiction, and ignoring the 'pretensions of polish'

Fan fiction may not command the same respect as other literary pursuits, but it's a rich mode of expression, says one author who mounts a passionate case for the style.

In defense of fan fiction, and ignoring the 'pretensions of polish'

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Why a horror film starring Winnie the Pooh has run into trouble in Hong Kong

Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey was initially approved by Chinese officials to screen at more than 30 cinemas in Hong Kong and Macau on Thursday. But days ahead of the screening, the film's distribution company was told it was no longer allowed to show the slasher film starring a murderous Winnie the Pooh. Chen Cici/AP hide caption

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Chen Cici/AP

Movies

Why a horror film starring Winnie the Pooh has run into trouble in Hong Kong

The film featuring a murderous Pooh bear has been pulled from theaters in Hong Kong and Macau without explanation. Some say it's a result of China's censorship of memes related to leader Xi Jinping.

Jonathan Majors on his meteoric rise through Hollywood

Jonathan Majors. Nickolai Hammar/NPR hide caption

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Nickolai Hammar/NPR

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Jonathan Majors on his meteoric rise through Hollywood

Actor Jonathan Majors is having a moment right now: he recently starred in Creed III and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Friend of the show and host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday Ayesha Rascoe recently sat down with Majors for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about his path to acting, how he picks his roles, and how he defines masculinity.

Jonathan Majors on his meteoric rise through Hollywood

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The prosecutor drops charges against 'Rick and Morty' co-creator Justin Roiland

All felony domestic violence charges against Justin Roiland, co-creator of Rick and Morty as well as Solar Opposites, were dropped by prosecutors. Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb hide caption

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Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for IMDb

Law

The prosecutor drops charges against 'Rick and Morty' co-creator Justin Roiland

The district attorney's office told NPR charges were dropped against Roiland "as a result of having insufficient evidence" to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.

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