Accessibility links

U.S. News and National Top Stories NPR coverage of national news, U.S. politics, elections, business, arts, culture, health and science, and technology. Subscribe to the NPR Nation RSS feed.

National

Saturday March 31, 2007

Science Out Of The Box

Ransom Myers Predicted the Future of Fish

March 31, 2007 • Marine ecologist Ransom Myers died this past week, after a career highlighted by warnings of diminishing world fish stocks. His warnings often fell on deaf ears, but always proved right.

Ransom Myers Predicted the Future of Fish

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9264815/9264816" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Antelope Squirrels and Muskrat Love in the Spring

March 31, 2007 • Ted Williams of Audubon Magazine speaks about the antelope squirrel's survival tactics, and the courting calls of muskrats.

Antelope Squirrels and Muskrat Love in the Spring

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9264821/9264824" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

World

Robert Konrardy Rejoins His Platoon

March 31, 2007 • In 1965, when Robert Konrardy was wounded in Vietnam, he had to abandon his platoon from the First Cavalry Division. Decades later, Konrardy embarked on a personal mission to visit the new generation that makes up his platoon in Iraq.

Robert Konrardy Rejoins His Platoon

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9264812/9264813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Review

Music Reviews

A Songwriter's View from the Pew

March 31, 2007 • Susan Werner's musical path has taken her from opera to pop, jazz and classic American songs. In her latest album, The Gospel Truth, this singer-songwriter journeys to America's spiritual side.

A Songwriter's View from the Pew

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9213008/9245676" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Politics

Democratic Deficit Hawk Steers Budget Blueprint

March 31, 2007 • Rep. John Spratt of South Carolina, chairman of the House Budget Committee, led the effort to draft the recent $3 trillion budget resolution. He is a Democrat from a Republican district, a man others describe as the consummate legislator.

Democratic Deficit Hawk Steers Budget Blueprint

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9262644/9263083" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Music Interviews

Peter Bjorn and John Make It Big

March 31, 2007 • Peter Bjorn and John is a Swedish band that has broken into the American mainstream. They're most well known for their hit "Young Folks." The band discusses singing in English, and world touring.

Peter Bjorn and John Make It Big

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261673/9261674" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Albright Casts a Critical Eye on U.S. Foreign Policy

March 31, 2007 • Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright gives her views on the war in Iraq, the United States' relationship with Iran and other foreign policy issues.

Albright Casts a Critical Eye on U.S. Foreign Policy

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261622/9261625" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Presidential Candidates Wield the Fundraising Club

March 31, 2007 • Election day 2008 is over a year away. Yet presidential candidates are already holding large fundraising events, and spending money on their campaigns.

Presidential Candidates Wield the Fundraising Club

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261658/9261659" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Pop Culture

'Ask Sister' and Julie Vieira Answers

March 31, 2007 • Julie Vieira blogs about being a nun. One way she connects with her readers is by answering questions that people submit to the "Ask Sister" feature on her blog. Vieira speaks about her life on the Web.

'Ask Sister' and Julie Vieira Answers

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261643/9261644" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Pop Culture

FutureMe.org Takes Users into the Future

March 31, 2007 • At the Web site FutureMe.org, people write a note to themselves and request a time in the future to have it sent back. The letters are both funny and profound.

FutureMe.org Takes Users into the Future

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261640/9261641" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Reporter's Notebook

Karl Rove Rocks a Washington Tradition

March 31, 2007 • An annual spring ritual took place in Washington this week when the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association dinner took place. It's an event where journalists sit down with many of the same politicians they cover.

Karl Rove Rocks a Washington Tradition

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261649/9261650" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

'Bill the Beerman' Brought Cheer to Seattle

March 31, 2007 • Bill Scott, a beer vendor and sports-fan extraordinaire nicknamed "Bill the Beerman," died this past week. Ken Wilson, one of the Beerman's early fans, speaks about his passion for sports.

'Bill the Beerman' Brought Cheer to Seattle

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261637/9261638" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

Katrina & Beyond

Homeowners in New Orleans Confront Demolition

March 31, 2007 • Saturday is the deadline in New Orleans for homeowners to file for demolition help from FEMA. While many homeowners have explored rebuilding options, some now see demolition as their best choice.

Homeowners in New Orleans Confront Demolition

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261655/9261656" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

World

Aid Groups See Declining Living Conditions in Iraq

March 31, 2007 • Living conditions are deteriorating for many Iraqis, and for the aid groups trying to help Iraqis rebuild their country. Kasra Mofarah, the head of NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq, speaks about his group's concerns.

Aid Groups See Declining Living Conditions in Iraq

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261619/9261620" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

News

Spring Blossoms with Baseball's Opening Weekend

March 31, 2007 • Major League Baseball starts this weekend. Howard Bryant, author of Juicing the Game and a Washington Post writer, looks forward to new 300-game winners and Barry Bond's looming home-run record.

Spring Blossoms with Baseball's Opening Weekend

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/9261630/9261635" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Transcript

More from National