Talk of the Nation

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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.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Musher Dallas Seavey Bested Family In Iditarod Win

Dallas Seavey won 2012's Iditarod, beating his father and grandfather in the process. The grueling dog sled race took off from Willow, Alaska on March 4th, Seavey's 25th birthday. Nine days, four hours and 29 minutes later, he crossed the finish line in Nome as the youngest musher to win the race.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Women Once Again In Crossfire Of Culture Wars

In recent months, a swarm of controversies have erupted over issues of women's health — from the split in the Catholic church over employer coverage of contraceptives to the proposed ultrasound laws in Virginia and Texas to the uproar over funding for Planned Parenthood.

Cooking Everything? Bittman Gets Back To 'Basics'

In his new book, How to Cook Everything: The Basics, Mark Bittman explains with careful instructions and 1,000 colorful photos how to stock your pantry, how to dice vegetables, which knives you should buy — and to really get back to basics — how to boil water.

How Do You Define A Hate Crime?

Former Rutgers student Dharun Ravi could face 10 years in prison and deportation to his native India after being convicted of bias intimidation. Ravi used a webcam to spy on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, having an intimate encounter with another man. Clementi killed himself several days later.

Op-Ed: Shooting Of Black Teen Reveals 'Blindness'

Three weeks after 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, no arrests have been made in what critics are calling a case of racial profiling. Columnist Leonard Pitts says the incident exposes society's "blindness" to African-Americans.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Teenager Launches LEGO Shuttle Into Space

Estimated altitude for this flight was about 115,000 feet, says Raul Oaida, 18-years-old. Raul launched the shuttle, along with a video camera and a GPS tracker, by way of a large helium balloon. Flight time was about three hours--the shuttle landing about 150 miles south of where it took off.

Mount Everest Still Holds Mysteries For Scientists

On his upcoming trip to Mount Everest, mountaineer Conrad Anker will team up with geologist Dave Lageson to remeasure the peak's exact altitude--a stat scientists still dispute. Physiologist Bryan Taylor will also be in Nepal to monitor how Anker's blood, brain and muscles respond to the thin Himalayan air.

Sizing Up America's High-Tech Talent

Business and political leaders have repeatedly warned that America's scientists and engineers are in short supply. However, some economists say the numbers indicate the opposite — a glut of high-tech workers. A panel of experts debate whether America's schools produce the scientific workforce needed to compete globally.

Adam Riess: One Cosmic Puzzle Solved, Many To Go

Astrophysicist Adam Riess shared the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2011 for his work on distant supernovae, which demonstrated that the universe was not only expanding--but that its expansion was accelerating. Now he's hunting for clues that might explain why, and one of the prime suspects is a mysterious force known as dark energy.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Parsing The Potential For Diplomacy In Iran

In a recent New York Times op-ed, long-time diplomat Dennis Ross argued that since Iran is "reeling from sanctions, the proper environment now exists for diplomacy to work." But Wednesday, President Obama said "the window for solving this issue diplomatically is shrinking."

Former Inmate Offers Advice For Blagojevich

Gov. Rod Blagojevich is serving a 14-year prison sentence in a Colorado prison. Former Missouri state senator Jeff Smith served a year in federal prison on obstruction of justice charges. He offers sober advice to Blagojevich on what to expect, and what and what not to do behind bars.

Peace, Without Talks, For Israel and Palestine

Robert Malley and Aaron David Miller believe the topic of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was largely absent from public talks between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu because there's not much incentive to negotiate, but steps could be taken toward peace even without a breakthrough.

Optimism Driving The Economy, But Can It Last?

Millions of Americans are still out of work. Many homeowners are underwater or facing foreclosure. But the Labor Department reports that that February marked the best three months of hiring in two years. And housing is slowly picking up.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Medical Students Cross Fingers For Match Day

For many fourth-year medical students, the future arrives, sealed in an envelope, during the third week of March. On what's known as Match Day, med students find out where they'll spend their residencies. It's a nerve-wracking wait for many that's played out on med school campuses since 1952.

A Renewed Push To End Violence In Syria

President Bashar Assad and his opposition continue to crack down on rebels in Syria. U.N. envoy Kofi Annan met with Assad to try to broker a cease fire, but failed. The U.N. Security Council is drafting another resolution to support the Arab League request to have Assad step down from power.

Pages

Arts & Culture

NPR

HBCU President Asks Dr. Dre, Why Not Us?

Hip-hop mogul Dr. Dre and music producer Jimmy Iovine recently donated $70 million to the University of Southern California. Many people are applauding their generosity, but some aren't so happy. Host Michel Martin speaks with Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, about why he thinks an HBCU should have gotten the money.

Food

NPR

Canned Peaches Are As Nutritious As Fresh. Really?

What's more, when it comes to some nutrients, like vitamin C, canned peaches pack an even bigger punch than fresh, researchers say. The reasons have to do with how the canning process alters the fruit's cell walls. So eat 'em up!

Politics

NPR

CBC Chair Marcia Fudge Wants Caucus To Be Heard On The Hill

Ohio Representative Marcia Fudge is still relatively new on the block. But she's established herself as the new head of the Congressional Black Congress. In the role, she's already been very vocal about whether the President is doing enough for people of color. Host Michel Martin talks with Congresswomen Fudge about her ideas for America.

Technology

NPR

3-D Printer Makes Life-Saving Splint For Baby Boy's Airway

A 3-D printer is being credited with helping to save an Ohio baby's life, after doctors "printed" a tube to support a weak airway that caused him to stop breathing. The innovative procedure has allowed Kaiba Gionfriddo, of Youngstown, Ohio, to stay off a ventilator for more than a year.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

HBCU President Asks Dr. Dre, Why Not Us?

Food

Canned Peaches Are As Nutritious As Fresh. Really?

Politics

CBC Chair Marcia Fudge Wants Caucus To Be Heard On The Hill

Technology

3-D Printer Makes Life-Saving Splint For Baby Boy's Airway

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