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, December 9, 2011

Rats Show Empathy, By Freeing Trapped Companions

Reporting in Science, researchers write of an experiment in which rats worked to open the cages of trapped rats, but not empty or dummy-filled cages. Author Peggy Mason discusses empathy in non-primates, and the value rats place on freeing a companion--about equal to that of a stash of chocolate chips.

Inbreeding To Blame For Bedbug Renaissance

Presenting at a meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, researchers said bedbugs can survive many generations of inbreeding, allowing one pregnant female to cause a building-wide infestation. Biologist Rajeev Vaidyanathan discusses that study, and another on pesticide resistance.

Debating Genetically Modified Salmon

Biotech company AquaBounty has not yet received FDA approval for its fast-growing, genetically-modified salmon. Biotechnologist Alison Van Eenennaam and environmental scientist Anne Kapuscinski discuss the food safety and environmental concerns associated with transgenic fish.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Two Shot And Killed Near Virginia Tech Campus

The campus of Virginia Tech in Roanoke, Va. was on lockdown Thursday after a gunman killed a police officer during a traffic stop, and one other person. Campus officials instructed everyone to stay in a secure place indoors and barred visitors while police continued their search for the shooter. Virginia Tech established a number of security and emergency response measures after the 2007 mass shooting that killed 33 people. Mallory Noe-Payne, intern with NPR member station WVTF in Roanoke provides an update.

Stability May Mean Tradeoffs For Some EU Members

As the Euro crisis continues, Germany and France have proposed giving European Union leaders more power to demand fiscal discipline from member states. The crisis has raised difficult questions about national sovereignty for many E.U. member states.

Climate Talks Near Close, No Breakthroughs Expected

Delegates from nearly 200 countries gathered for a U.N. climate conference in South Africa have been frustrated by a lack of consensus on how to reduce carbon emissions. Many participants are pointing to major emitters like the U.S. and China for the lack of progress.

Recession Roadtrip: Telling Tales Of 'Hard Times'

NPR's Debbie Elliott and Richard Gonzales spent a month on the road across the nation, reporting stories of economic struggle for the NPR series "Hard Times." They heard stories of people and places grappling with economic hardship, and also found a few bright spots along the way.

After 7 Seasons, Kyra Sedgwick Closes 'The Closer'

After more than 100 episodes, TNT's The Closer is coming to a close. Brenda Leigh Johnson leads the major crimes department of the Los Angeles Police Department on the hit show. Played by Kyra Sedgwick, Johnson uses charm and guile to coax confessions from killers.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

War And Violence On The Decline In Modern Times

Despite news of terrorist bombings, U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and crackdowns in Syria, two recent books argue the world has never seen so little war and violence. Steven Pinker, author of The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Joshua Goldstein, author of Winning the War on War, discuss.

Gingrich Enjoys Lead With Iowa On The Horizon

Newt Gingrich has risen to the top of the polls at a pivotal moment. With less than one month until the Iowa Caucuses, he has a double-digit lead in the state. Political junkie Ken Rudin and columnist Michael Gerson talk about how the field of GOP candidates is faring in the final stretch.

Conservative Wins Make Liberal Egyptians Wary

Roughly one-third of Egyptians voted in the country's first round of parliamentary elections, and Islamist parties scored big victories. That's given some liberal Egyptians and observers pause. Ed Husain, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, talks about Egypt's Islamist parties.

The 'Codebreaker' Who Made Midway Victory Possible

A turning point in WWII came in June of 1942, when the U.S. surprised and defeated the Japanese in the Battle of Midway. That victory was possible, in large part, because of the work of a little-known naval codebreaker named Joe Rochefort. Elliot Carlson tells his story in Joe Rochefort's War.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Court Rules Bone Marrow Donors Can Be Paid

A federal appeals court ruled that most bone marrow donors can be paid. The decision has sparked debate among advocates who believe compensation will create incentives for people to donate bone marrow, and the Justice Department, which argues compensation may compromise patient safety.

Manjoo: Making Facebook Private Is 'Oxymoronic'

Facebook has developed new privacy features and agreed to 20 years of independent audits of its privacy practices. Google and Twitter previously settled similar cases with the Federal Trade Commission. Farhad Manjoo argues that Facebook, or any social network, can never be truly private.

Snail Mail May Arrive More Slowly. Will It Matter?

The U.S. Postal Service has announced it will move forward with plans to close some 250 processing centers and lay off workers. The cuts may help save $3 billion a year by 2015, and could add a day to the delivery time of many shipments. The USPS is also reviewing post offices for possible closures.

Pages

Arts & Culture

NPR

Dan Brown: 'Inferno' Is 'The Book That I Would Want To Read'

Dan Brown, author of the blockbuster The Da Vinci Code, is back with his first novel in four years. Inferno follows academic hero Robert Langdon on a chase through Italy as he attempts to avert a biological catastrophe.

Food

NPR

'Picture Cook': Drawings Are The Key Ingredients In These Recipes

Designer Katie Shelly's upcoming cookbook offers 50 illustrated recipe "blueprints" for basic meals — from simple snacks to more hefty dishes like eggplant Parmesan. She hopes they'll inspire any level of cook to improvise in the kitchen.

Politics

NPR

Tesla Rides High, But Faces Formidable Foe: Car Dealers

The Model S from electric car manufacturer Tesla has been named Motor Trend Car of the Year. But the company's business model is under attack by a formidable foe: the National Automobile Dealers Association, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington.

Technology

NPR

Book News: Amazon May Be Called Before Parliament Over Taxes

Also: AARP and The Nation join a growing list of ebook publishers; Hilary Mantel on Jane Austen; Anne Applebaum on Sheryl Sandberg.

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Talk of the Nation

Arts & Culture

Dan Brown: 'Inferno' Is 'The Book That I Would Want To Read'

Food

'Picture Cook': Drawings Are The Key Ingredients In These Recipes

Politics

Tesla Rides High, But Faces Formidable Foe: Car Dealers

Technology

Book News: Amazon May Be Called Before Parliament Over Taxes

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