Talk of the Nation

Schedule

88.5-3

Monday - Thursday

2:00 pm

When Americans want to be a part of the national conversation, they turn to Talk of the Nation, NPR's midday news-talk show.

Journalist Neal Conan leads a productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape. From politics and public service to education, religion, music and health care, Talk of the Nation offers call-in listeners the opportunity to join enlightening discussions with decision-makers, authors, academicians, and artists from around the world.

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Friday, March 15, 2013

Can Just One Concussion Change the Brain?

Suffering a single concussion may cause lasting brain damage, researchers report in the journal Radiology. Steven Flanagan, co-director of the Concussion Center at NYU Langone Medical Center, discusses the findings, and why diagnosing a concussion is so difficult.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Letters: Social Mobility, Romantic Comedies

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including social mobility, romantic comedies, and Japan's recovery from the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.

How Our Dictionary Searches Define Readers

After Vice President Joe Biden used the term "malarkey" in the vice presidential debate, searches for the word in online dictionaries surged. Now that dictionaries are readily available with a mouse click or finger tap, dictionary publishers can track the correlation between word searches and current events.

North Korea's Threats Grow More Ominous

North Korea scrapped the 1953 armistice agreement that ended the Korean War, escalating fears of a preemptive nuclear attack on the U.S. Tuft University Korean studies professor Sung-Yoon Lee discusses this precarious moment for North Korea, its neighbors and the international community.

Budget Battles And 2016 Bids: Recapping The Week In Politics

From the ongoing budget battle to Sen. Carl Levin's retirement announcement, NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin recaps the week in politics. NPR's Phillip Reeves provides an update from Rome as cardinals elected a new pope.

'Cannibal Cop' Case: The Line Between Fantasy And Crime

Jurors in a New York federal court found a former New York City police officer guilty of plotting to kidnap and cook his wife and other women. The defense argued that Gilberto Valle never acted on his fantasies, and described the verdict as a case of thought prosecution.

Cardinals Elect Argentina's Jorge Mario Bergoglio As New Pope

Cardinals at the Vatican chose Argentine cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new pope. He will take the papal name Francis and is the first pope from South America. NPR's Neal Conan talks with guests about the significance of the event around the world.

Monday, March 11, 2013

The 'Nasty Effect': How Comments Color Comprehension

At its best, the Web is a place for unlimited exchange of ideas. The uncivil discourse that unfolds in comments sections can be poisonous. A study in the Journal of Computer Mediated Communication suggests that rude comments on news stories can change the way we understand reporting.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hugo Chavez: The Legacy Of A Polarizing Leader

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died Tuesday after struggling with cancer for nearly two years. The polarizing leader will be remembered both as a champion of the poor, and as a leader who consolidated power in his office. New Yorker staff writer Jon Lee Anderson talks about what life was like during his nearly 14 years in power.

After Chavez, What's Next For Venezuela

Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez died Tuesday in Caracas, leaving many unanswered questions about the future of the country. Julia Sweig, director for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, talks about the impact "Chavismo" had on Venezuela and the world.

The Political Fallout Of Sequestration

Both parties are pointing fingers and laying blame for sequestration, a series of automatic government spending cuts went into effect last week. Political Junkie Ken Rudin and Rob Levinson, senior analyst with Bloomberg Government, discuss the political fallout from the across-the-board cuts.

Answering The Call: The Lives Of 911 Dispatchers

A woman at a California retirement home died in February after a staff nurse refused to perform CPR, despite the pleas of a 911 dispatcher. The nurse claims she was following workplace policy. Dispatchers are often in the position of many questions were raised about the role of dispatchers in medical emergencies.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Asylum Suitcases, Found And Photographed

A photographer peers into the past — and into old suitcases from an abandoned asylum.

Op-Ed: There's An App For Everything, And That's A Problem

Technology companies are constantly developing new apps and tools to make our lives easier. In an op-ed for The New York Times Evgeny Morozov, author of To Save Everything, Click Here, argues that Silicon Valley's quest for perfectionism is problematic.

State Of Emergency: Cities In Financial Crisis

With at least $14 billion in long-term liabilities and $327 million in debt, Detroit has declared a financial emergency. Several cities have tried this approach before, and the results have been mixed.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

Not My Job: Three Headless Chicken Questions For Alice Cooper

Food

'Picture Cook': Drawings Are The Key Ingredients In These Recipes

Politics

Why The IRS Scandal Is Built To Last

Technology

Book News: Amazon May Be Called Before Parliament Over Taxes

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Talk of the Nation

Friday, March 15, 2013

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Monday, March 11, 2013

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Monday, March 4, 2013

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