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.

Find more information about Talk of the Nation.

Friday, April 5, 2013

'Drunk Tank Pink' Finds Clues To Behavior

In his new book Drunk Tank Pink Adam Alter, an assistant professor of psychology and marketing at NYU, explains how subtle cues, such as the sound of someone's name or the color of a room, can influence behaviors and thoughts. Alter discusses the book, and his research on the psychology of decision-making.

Tracking A Rise In ADHD Diagnosis

Surveys show a marked rise in the diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, among the nation's youth. William Graf, a professor of pediatrics and neurology at Yale School of Medicine, discusses the surge in ADHD diagnosis and its potential implications.

Searching For The Roots of 'Right' And 'Wrong'

In The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the Primates, primatologist Frans de Waal explores traits like empathy and fairness in our closest relatives, bonobos and chimpanzees, and argues that human morality is not the product of rational thought or religion, but evolved long ago.

Bees Emerging After A Hard Winter

After a winter that many beekeepers have described as particularly hard on their hives, Eric Mussen, extension apiculturist at the University of California, discusses the plight of the modern honeybee and the threats the tiny pollinators face from disease and pesticides.

Amyloid Proteins Help Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

Reporting in Science Translational Medicine, researchers write that amyloid-forming proteins, traditionally thought of as enemies to the nervous system, may actually be protective 'guardians' instead. Study author Lawrence Steinman, a neurologist at Stanford University, explains how amyloid injections helped paralyzed mice with a multiple-sclerosis-like disease walk again.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Op-Ed: Rutgers Waited Too Long To Fire Abusive Coach

Rutgers University fired basketball coach Mike Rice Wednesday after a video showing Rice physically and verbally abusing players became public. Lionel Tiger, professor emeritus at Rutgers University, argues that Rice should have been fired when the school first learned of the tapes months ago.

Starting At The Beginning: The Promise Of Prequels

The box office hit Oz The Great and Powerful, is set 20 years before the The Wizard of Oz. The film's success shows that, no matter how old the story, viewers have an appetite for prequels. TOTN's favorite film buff Murray Horwitz explains what sets these films apart.

The Least Bad Options For Guantanamo Bay

At the Guantanamo Bay detention center, 166 prisoners remain detained. U.S. officials say nearly a fourth of the captives are on hunger strike, though lawyers for the prisoners say the strike is more widespread. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama has re-declared his desire to close the facility.

Tackling Terrible Traffic: How Cities Try To Ease Commutes

Los Angeles, Calif. is the first major city to computerize all of its traffic signals. According to the city, the average speed has gone from 15 miles per hour to 17.3. This is just one example of the innovative ways cities try to address congestion issues.

'Simple And Straighforward': Remembering Film Critic Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert, an icon of film criticism and a one-time filmmaker himself, died Thursday at the age of 70. At the end of his life, Ebert cut back on his work as he faced a series of bouts with cancer. Film buff Murray Horwitz remembers Ebert and talks about the courage he showed in his final days.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Second Chances In American Politics

Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford won the GOP nomination for the state's first district congressional seat Tuesday. Sanford's return to politics comes four years after revelations of his extramarital affair in 2009. Sanford isn't the only disgraced politician to make a comeback.

Isolation V. Loneliness: The Difference And Why It Matters

Researchers from University College London followed thousands of people over the age of 52 for seven to eight years to assess the effect of loneliness and isolation. Isolation, not loneliness, may actually shorten people's lives regardless of health or income.

The Remarkable Biodiversity Of Belly Buttons

Scientists at the Belly Button Biodiversity Project wanted to engage the public. They started to culture the bacteria in people's navels as a way to remind them about the life living on their bodies. In the process, they discovered diverse organisms, some of them completely new to science.

Why Farmers Plan To Plant So Much Corn This Year

U.S. farmers anticipate planting the most corn since 1936, a total of 97.3 million acres. Farmers are hoping to rebuild their corn supplies after last year's drought. Chad Hart, economics professor at Iowa State University, explains why farmers intend to plant high amount of corn this season.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

The Buzz On Bees: Why Many Colonies Are Collapsing

Bees have been dying off in increasing numbers over the past few years. Experts say that habitat loss and disease are the biggest culprits, and some believe that pesticides are to blame. NPR science correspondent Dan Charles explains the possible causes and what is being done to stop this trend.

Pages

Arts & Culture

NPR

Book News: Kim Jong Un Reportedly Gave 'Mein Kampf' As Gifts

Also: The folly of marathon readings; Tom Wolfe has a new book; VICE apologizes for tasteless photo spread.

Food

WAMU 88.5

After Four Years Of Fighting, D.C. Council Approves New Rules For Food Trucks

The new rules create a long-awaited regulatory framework for what has become a popular and industry made up of over 150 food trucks.

Politics

NPR

IRS Staffer: 'What I Did Was Not Targeting'

More interview transcripts from the IRS investigation are released but there's still no evidence of a direct connection to the White House.

Technology

NPR

U.S. Automakers Are On A Roll, But Hiring Is Slow And Steady

Profits for the nation's carmakers are on the rise, but after years of doing more with less, higher profits are unlikely to translate into significant numbers of new jobs. There are eight fewer plants and hundreds of thousands fewer workers in the industry than before the Great Recession.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

Book News: Kim Jong Un Reportedly Gave 'Mein Kampf' As Gifts

Food

After Four Years Of Fighting, D.C. Council Approves New Rules For Food Trucks

Politics

IRS Staffer: 'What I Did Was Not Targeting'

Technology

U.S. Automakers Are On A Roll, But Hiring Is Slow And Steady

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