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.

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Thursday, March 8, 2012

'Da Vinci's Ghost,' Manifest In The Vitruvian Man

Most people are familiar with Leonardo Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man: A nude man, with his arms and legs stretched out, inside a square within a circle. Toby Lester tells the story behind the drawing in Da Vinci's Ghost: Genius, Obsession, and How Leonardo Created the World in His Own Image.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Super Tuesday's Split Decision

Mitt Romney eked out a victory in Ohio's Super Tuesday primary. It was the closest of ten races, and the most closely watched. Rick Santorum came in second. Newt Gingrich took his home state of Georgia, Romney won six in all, and Santorum kept his campaign alive by winning three.

Prisons Develop Programs For Aging Population

Overcrowded prisons already coping with budget pressures face a new challenge: The growing needs of an aging inmate population. With limited state budgets, prison setups, and facilities, prison officials are trying new ways to provide care and, in some cases, opting to release inmates early.

Letters: Genetic Testing And Practicing Patience

Talk of the Nation listeners wrote to the show to share their insights on previous show topics, including genetic testing, affirmative action, the source and practice of patience, and interracial marriage.

Scams And Malicious Apps Invade Smartphones

The viruses, spam and malware that have plagued desktop computers for years now increasingly threaten mobile smartphones, as well. More text messages now deliver scams and a growing number of malicious apps install spyware, target personal information and attempt to charge users hidden fees.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Weighing A Policy Of Containment For Iran

President Obama recently said, "Iran's leaders should understand that I do not have a policy of containment; I have a policy to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon." Some say containment represents a viable option against Iran, but others argue that Cold War strategies do not apply to Iran.

Pets And Owners Form A Mutually Beneficial Bond

A growing field of medical research aims to pinpoint exactly why pets can make us happier and healthier. Some studies show that animal interaction can increase a person's level of oxytocin, a hormone associated with love and trust. And the animals also benefit from positive human interaction.

Parents Struggle With Being Cared For By Kids

Adult children caring for elderly parents may feel guilty, isolated and resentful. But some parents being cared for do too. Dr. Lillian Rubin knows that struggle well, as she has found herself at odds with her well-meaning daughter over what her daughter wants for her, and what she actually needs.

Varied Takes On The Power Of The Word 'Slut'

Syndicated radio host Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown student a "prostitute" and a "slut" after she testified before a Senate committee and called for federal health care coverage to include the cost of contraception. Limbaugh apologized, but it has prompted a re-examination of the term, "slut."

Monday, March 5, 2012

Women's Rights In The Age Of The Arab Spring

Popular movements during the Arab Spring paved the way for democratic elections in Egypt and Tunisia. In Egypt, Islamists are assuming powerful roles. Many women's rights activists fear that a shift toward democratically-elected Islamist rulers will limit personal and political freedom for women.

Op-Ed: The Catholic Church Is Not For Women

After the recent controversy over birth control, health coverage and the Catholic Church, writer Soraya Chemaly declared: "I'm No Longer a Catholic. Why Are You?" in a piece for The Huffington Post. Chemaly explains what made her walk away from the church.

Our Brains, Betrayed By Political Flip-Flops

The human brain craves predictability, according to neuroscientists, and when politicians appear to flip-flop, our brains don't like it. Often, we feel betrayed. NPR science correspondents Jon Hamilton, Alix Spiegel and Shankar Vedantam talk about why we're hard-wired to appreciate consistency.

Teller Talks: Magicians Use Science To Trick You

On stage, Teller, half of the magician team of Penn & Teller, rarely says a word. But now he's talking, explaining how magicians harness scientific research on deception to trick audiences into falling for their illusions. And their work, in turn, makes them interesting to brain researchers.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Partnerships Help Drugmakers Get Closer To Patients

Proteus Biomedical has developed chip-in-a-pill technology that transmits patient data directly to a smartphone. Novartis has partnered with Proteus to investigate applications of this technology. C&EN senior editor Rick Mullin discusses how the nontraditional partnership is part of a larger trend.

'Galileo' Lives In A New Production

F. Murray Abraham stars in a new off-Broadway production of Bertolt Brecht's classic "Galileo." Brian Kulick, artistic director of the Classic Stage Company and the director of the play, discusses Galileo, (the scientist and the play) and tells why he thinks the themes in the work are still relevant today.

Pages

Arts & Culture

NPR

'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media

Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

Food

NPR

How Genomics Solved The Mystery Of Ireland's Great Famine

Although scientists have known that a funguslike organism caused the potato blight that triggered the Great Famine in Ireland in the 1840s, they didn't know which strain was the culprit. But they do now, thanks to the genes in some 19th century potato samples.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media

Food

How Genomics Solved The Mystery Of Ireland's Great Famine

Politics

'I Have Not Done Anything Wrong,' Says Key IRS Official

Technology

Apple CEO Defends Tax Practices At Senate Hearing

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