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, February 3, 2012

Listening In On The Brain To Decode Speech

Reporting in PLoS Biology, researchers write that they were able to correlate words a person was hearing to specific electrical activity in the brain. Study co-author neuroscientist Robert Knight discusses future applications of this research and concerns that it amounts to mental wiretapping.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

The Future Of America's Manufacturing Jobs

More and more factory work in the United States is being done by machines, and the industry increasingly relies on highly skilled workers. NPR's Adam Davidson explores the shifts in the manufacturing industry, and Tim Aeppel of the Wall Street Journal discusses the implications for the U.S. economy.

Celebrating The Legacy Of Langston Hughes

The works of Langston Hughes reflect the lives and struggles of African Americans, and celebrate the richness of the culture. February 1, 2012 marked the 110th anniversary of the late poet, musician and playwright's birth.

Mike Pesca's Guide To Super Bowl XLVI

The New York Giants face the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday. In 2008, the underdog Giants beat the Patriots 17-14. NPRs Mike Pesca preview's the nation's biggest sporting event and talks about what to expect from the 2012 rematch.

Anthony Mackie Makes His Mark In Hollywood

Actor Anthony Mackie is best known for playing uptight Army Sgt. JT Sanborn in the Academy Award-winning movie The Hurt Locker. Mackie is also no stranger to off-Broadway plays and independent films. The Julliard graduate stars in Man on a Ledge, and has several other productions scheduled for release in 2012.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A Look Ahead To The Maine And Nevada Caucuses

Mitt Romney bounced back from his second place South Carolina finish and won the Florida GOP primary Tuesday. NPR's Ken Rudin discusses those results. Maine Public Broadcasting's Jay Field and the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Steve Sebelius preview the caucuses that begin Saturday in those states.

Report Suggests 'End Of The Segregated Century'

The Manhattan Institute reports that U.S. metropolitan areas are now more integrated than any time since 1910. The migration of African Americans to the South, gentrification and immigration have all contributed to the shift. Yet some argue the decline of segregation does not mean racial inequality is obsolete.

Wash. Governor Discusses Legalizing Gay Marriage

Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire announced her support of same sex marriage in January 2012, reversing her previous stance. The state Senate is expected to pass a bill Wednesday that would make Washington the seventh state, along with the District of Columbia, to legalize gay marriage.

Remembering 'Soul Train' Creator Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius, the host and creator of Soul Train, died Wednesday at the age of 75 of an apparent suicide. Adolfo Quinones, also known as Shabba Doo, was one of the program's original dancers. He remembers Cornelius as the emancipator of street dance.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Surprising Depression Treatments Show Promise

Traditional antidepressants like Prozac are widely used to treat depression by boosting serotonin levels, which researchers have long believed are at the root of depression. Research shows that other drugs, including ketamine — also known by its street name, Special K — may be more effective.

Letters: Runaways, Multigenerational Households

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show segments, including responses to a conversation about the growing number of multigenerational households and the experiences of homeless runaways and young squatters.

The Legacy Of Civil Rights Leader Fred Korematsu

Several American cities celebrated Fred Korematsu Day Monday. Korematsu fought the executive order that incarcerated thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II. His case went to the Supreme Court, and in 1988, thousands of surviving internees and heirs began receiving reparations.

Op-Ed: Get Out Of Your Political Comfort Zone

Online news, blogs and social media tools have made it easier to weed out sources that don't reflect one's own political views. In an election season, consumers may be more tempted to stay within their media "echo chambers." If that's your habit, columnist Danny Heitman urges you to reconsider.

Think You Can Pitch? Creatives Break Down Their Art

When creative thinkers develop a concept, they must convince others their idea is worth backing. Pitching skills are needed in the newsroom, and in the worlds of entertainment, fundraising and invention. But what makes a pitch successful?

Monday, January 30, 2012

As Homeowners Struggle, Freddie Mac Benefits

An investigation by ProPublica and NPR finds that Freddie Mac has invested billions of dollars in bets against struggling homeowners. Public records show that Freddie Mac, in a potential conflict of interest, sought to make gains when homeowners failed to qualify for refinancing.

Pages

Arts & Culture

NPR

A Read Down Memory Lane: Lessons From Your Former Self

Writings from childhood — cards, stories and other notes — can hide for decades, like time capsules tucked away in boxes, old bedrooms, attics and journals. Writer Jim Sollisch talks about how old thank you notes from his youth foreshadowed his adult life.

Food

NPR

Inside A Tart Cherry Revival: 'Somebody Needs To Do This!'

The revival is partly based on the humble sour fruit's growing reputation as a superfood. And in Michigan, a scientist is on a quest to introduce a whole new world of hardier, tastier tart cherries by breeding American trees with ancestral varieties from Eastern Europe.

Politics

NPR

Srinivasan's Confirmation First For D.C. Circuit In 7 Years

The partisan war over judicial nominees has accelerated in recent years. It took nearly a year to win Senate confirmation for Sri Srinivasan to the important federal appeals court for the District of Columbia, though he had no formal opposition.

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

A Read Down Memory Lane: Lessons From Your Former Self

Food

Inside A Tart Cherry Revival: 'Somebody Needs To Do This!'

Politics

Srinivasan's Confirmation First For D.C. Circuit In 7 Years

Technology

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

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