Talk of the Nation

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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, December 22, 2011

New FAA Rules For Pilots Seek To Beat Fatigue

The Federal Aviation Administration announced new rules Wednesday designed to reduce potentially dangerous pilot fatigue. Bart Jansen of USA Today discusses the changes and why the FAA felt compelled to adopt them, and sleep medicine expert Charles Czeisler explains how the body responds to fatigue.

At Year's End, Reflecting On Cycles In Modern Life

The New Year inspires many people to start fresh. Some vow to exercise more or quit smoking, others clean house or meditate. And we do it again and again, year after year. Astrophysicist Adam Frank explains the role that cycles — natural and arbitrary — play in our lives, and how technology has altered those cycles over time.

Flick's Favorite Memories From 'A Christmas Story'

Watching the 1983 film A Christmas Story is a holiday tradition for many families. The film follows a boy named Ralphie and his adventures with his parents, friends and neighborhood bullies — all while he pines for a BB gun for Christmas. Scott Schwartz, who played Flick, and film buff Murray Horwitz discuss why the film has become a holiday classic.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Turkish Advisor Responds To Conflict With Syria

Violence in Syria between the government and the opposition continues to mount and expectations for a peaceful resolution are low. Turkey was once closely allied with the Syrian president, but now calls for him to step down. Ibrahim Kalin, chief advisor to Turkey's prime minister, explains his country's position on Syria and its role in the Middle East.

Why Your Job Search Shouldn't Take A Holiday

Many job seekers assume they won't make much progress in their search over the holidays. Not so, says Lauren Weber of The Wall Street Journal. Weber explains why job hunters may want to consider keeping their search alive through the holiday season.

The Politics Of The Keystone XL Pipeline Debate

House members on Tuesday rejected a Senate plan for extending the payroll tax cut. To attract House conservatives, the Senate had included a controversial provision forcing President Barack Obama to decide on the fate of a planned oil pipeline within 60 days.

Brutal Incidents Shine Light On Band Hazing Culture

The death of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion, Jr. continues to reverberate at schools nationwide. His death exposed a hazing culture unfamiliar to many, but band directors and school administrators have been dealing with the problem for many years.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Revisiting The First 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'

Before the 2011 film version of John Le Carre's spy novel, British director John Irvin directed the original 1979 series for the BBC. It starred George Smiley as the master spy, recalled from forced retirement to root out a mole in the British intelligence service's top ranks.

Autism Rates Have Spiked, But Why?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly one percent of U.S. children have some form of autism, 20 times higher than the rate in the 1980s. Alan Zarembo of The Los Angeles Times and clinical psychologist Catherine Lord discuss what's behind the growing number of diagnoses.

Finding Bright Spots In A Difficult 2011

2011 has been a tough year in many ways: the economy is still struggling, Europe's dealing with a huge debt crisis and Japan is still recovering from a devastating tsunami. But from Chrysler to coconut water, there are people, products and ideas that have done well in 2011.

Letters: Video Games And The High Cost Of College

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including realizing how much college actually costs, recovering from a traumatic injury and the season's big video games.

Jake Shimabukuro Gives Ukelele A Chance To Shine

Once known as a kitschy toy, the ukulele is now a hit with even the hippest musicians. Young people all over the world now comb through YouTube on the hunt for instructional videos to learn to play the four-stringed instrument. And to ukulele fans, Jake Shimabukuro is the big kahuna.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Dorfman on Havel: One Playwright Remembers Another

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel died Sunday. The dissident playwright who led the 1989 Velvet Revolution against the communist regime is remembered for artfully weaving theater and politics. Fellow dissident playwright Ariel Dorfman shares how Havel inspired him and how he will be remembered.

'The Art Of Fielding': Baseball Meets Literature

Chad Harbach's debut novel The Art of Fielding is as much about literary fiction as it is about baseball. The book follows a talented college shortstop destined for big-league stardom — until a routine throw goes wrong and his life starts to fall apart.

What Lessons Should Americans Draw From Iraq War?

The American public, military and the intelligence community were all affected by the Iraq war. Tom Ricks of the Center for a New American Security, retired Marine Col. Gary Anderson and Army veteran Andrew Exum discuss how Americans will remember the war, and what we should learn from it.

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Arts & Culture

NPR

Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0

London duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have made names for themselves with their wild, experimental food installations. From pineapple islands and banana vapors to re-creations of famous architectural monuments, their work playfully pushes the boundary of how we experience food.

Food

NPR

Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0

London duo Sam Bompas and Harry Parr have made names for themselves with their wild, experimental food installations. From pineapple islands and banana vapors to re-creations of famous architectural monuments, their work playfully pushes the boundary of how we experience food.

Politics

NPR

Obama Forgets To Salute; Sparks Debate On Presidential Tradition

The presidential salute actually breaks with military decorum and was started by Ronald Reagan in 1981.

Technology

NPR

Google Reportedly Faces FTC Antitrust Probe Over Display Ads

The Federal Trade Commission is in the early stages of opening an antitrust probe into how Google runs its online display advertising business, according to a report by Bloomberg News, citing sources who want to remain anonymous because the FTC has not announced the probe.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0

Food

Meet London's Master Architects In Jell-0

Politics

Obama Forgets To Salute; Sparks Debate On Presidential Tradition

Technology

Google Reportedly Faces FTC Antitrust Probe Over Display Ads

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