Talk of the Nation (News)
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- Host: Neal Conan
- 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 healthcare, Neal Conan 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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Scholar Advises Obama To Talk To The Taliban
Wed, Dec 9
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Research scholar and Yale World Fellow Azeem Ibrahim argues that to win the war, the U.S. must engage with the Taliban. Neal Conan talks with Ibrahim about why working with the Taliban is not as counter-intuitive as it may seem.
Progressives Not Sold On Afghanistan Plan
Wed, Dec 9
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President Obama plans to send more than 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan, as soon as possible. Anti-war activists decry the surge. Also, Democrat Martha Coakley will face off against Republican Scott Brown for the vacant Mass. seat in the Senate.
The Strange Mystique Of The Number 'Seven'
Wed, Dec 9
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Seven has long played a fascinating role in the sciences, psychology, mathematics and religion, and has uncanny usefulness as an organizing number. In Seven, Jacqueline Leo explores the cultural significance of the number.
Eboo Patel Addresses Faith-Based Tensions
Wed, Dec 9
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It is Eboo Patel's job, as a member of the president's Faith Advisory Council, to promote understanding between Muslims and people of other religions. After the shooting at Ft. Hood and the ban of new minarets in Switzerland, his job has become much more complicated.
Where We Are In The Fight Against Cancer
Tue, Dec 8
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The Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer was released Monday. Death rates are down, and the rate of new cancer diagnoses dropped. However, experts warn that it may be partly because people aren't getting screened.
Letters: Carl Kasell, Cook Books And Jury Duty
Tue, Dec 8
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Listener memories of NPR newscaster Carl Kasell keep coming in, as do recollections of favorite cook books. Also, jury duty evader Peter Mehlman returns to reveal what he discovered about the trial for which he narrowly missed being a jury member.
Talking Race: Disney's Princess Tiana
Tue, Dec 8
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For the first time in Disney's history, there is a black princess, Tiana. Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice talks about the surprising reaction among some black women to Disney's remake of The Princess And The Frog.
Mooney's Memories: 'Black Is The New White'
Tue, Dec 8
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Paul Mooney has spent decades behind the scenes as a writer for shows such as Saturday Night Live, In Living Color and Chappelle's Show. Now he takes the spotlight in his memoir about his life in comedy, Black Is The New White.
The SkyMall Catalog, An Astonishing Institution
Tue, Dec 8
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"Don't tell me," Los Angeles Times columnist Meghan Daum writes, "that flipping through the SkyMall catalog isn't one of the few pleasures left in commercial air travel." Tell us about your favorite SkyMall items. Daum will share hers, as well the publication's history.
Unemployment And African-American Men
Mon, Dec 7
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While times are tough for many Americans, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows increasing disparities between black and white unemployment. More than a third of young black men are unemployed, and a college education doesn't necessarily make candidates less vulnerable.
Op-Ed: Swiss Ban On Minarets Intolerant
Mon, Dec 7
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Egyptian-born writer Mona Eltahawy urges Europeans to use the vote as an impetus to address long-simmering questions about how they treats immigrants. She also argues that Muslims must examine the bigoted policies of many of their own countries.
From NPR News In Washington: A Carl Kasell Tribute
Mon, Dec 7
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After delivering the news for NPR for three decades, Kasell will give his final newscast on Dec. 30. The veteran newscaster will still appear each week as official judge and scorekeeper on Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! Neal Conan hosts a conversation with Kasell and some of Kasell's colleagues from his 50-year radio career.
Can Science Make Psychotherapy More Effective?
Fri, Dec 4
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More rigorous scientific training in clinical psychology graduate programs would turn out more competent clinicians, researchers write in Psychological Science in the Public Interest. But not all psychologists agree.
Bird Feeders Speed Up Evolution, May Split Species
Fri, Dec 4
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Reporting in Current Biology, researchers write of a warbler that has quickly evolved an unorthodox migration path to England to take advantage of backyard bird feeders. Study author Martin Schaefer explains how the clever migrants could become a distinct warbler species.
Paralyzing Worms With Light
Fri, Dec 4
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Feed nematode worms a particular light-sensitive chemical and after the meal, the worms become paralyzed when exposed to UV light. Remarkably, the effects can be reversed under visible light, Neil Branda and colleagues report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Cataloging Earth's Carbon Content
Fri, Dec 4
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A new project dubbed the "Deep Carbon Observatory" aims to describe the carbon under the Earth's surface. Principal investigator Robert Hazen talks about the project and its relevance to energy supplies, the environment and our understanding of how life on Earth originated.
NASA Works To Free 'Spirit'
Fri, Dec 4
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The Mars exploration rover dubbed "Spirit" has been stuck in sand since April. NASA's project manager for the rovers, John Callas, describes attempts to free Spirit, and explains how the rover might continue to collect data from its present location if those attempts fail.
Particle Smasher Is Fired Up (Again)
Fri, Dec 4
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After being down for more than a year for repairs, the Large Hadron Collider at CERN is running again. Physicist Drew Baden explains what went wrong with the Collider, how it was fixed, and what scientists are hoping to find by smashing beams of particles into each other.
How College Campuses Handle Sexual Assaults
Thu, Dec 3
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A report from the Center for Public Integrity indicates more than 20% of college women will be victims of rape or attempted rape by the time they graduate. Guests discuss how schools can better curb assaults and protect students.
The Jacksonville Jaguars Play, But Not On TV
Thu, Dec 3
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Due to the NFL's blackout rule, Jacksonville Jaguars fans haven't been able to see their football team play on TV. Neal Conan and Florida Times Union columnist Abel Harding talk about whether the blackout rule gets fans off couches and into stadiums.
Our Insatiable Appetite For Cookbooks
Thu, Dec 3
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For many, the enjoyment of a good cookbook isn't the end result, it's the reading itself. And even if they never recreate the perfect Coq au Vin, they keep buying more books. The New Yorker's Adam Gopnik and Modern Spice author Monica Bhide disuss why we love cookbooks.
A Climate Change Reading List For Laypeople
Thu, Dec 3
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The Copenhagen conference on climate change is set to begin Monday, December 7. Both the policy and science aspects of the issue can be overwhelming. NPR science correspondent Richard Harris offers a suggested reading list to help shed some light on the climate change debate.
'Pops': Louis Armstrong, In His Own Words
Wed, Dec 2
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Jazz icon Louis Armstrong didn't just leave behind a treasure trove of musical recordings; he also documented hundreds of his private conversations on tape. Those recordings served as the basis for Terry Teachout's new biography of the legendary musician, Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong.
Drama In S.C , Mass. Primary For Senate Seat
Wed, Dec 2
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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has alienated many of his constituents, and Governor Mark Sanford may face impeachment proceedings. And in Mass., voters will head to the polls for a primary election to select candidates for Sen. Edward Kennedy's former seat.
Who's Piloting Your Plane?
Wed, Dec 2
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Regional carriers have snuck into the commercial airline business with smaller planes, lower paid pilots and dubious safety records. We'll talk with Barbara Peterson, aviation correspondent for Cond Nast Traveler, about the rise of regional airlines.
Hacker Leaks Thousands Of Climate Change Emails
Wed, Dec 2
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Some say the correspondence casts doubt on what we know about the severity of climate change. As polls show Americans are increasingly skeptical about global warming, NPR science correspondent Richard Harris tells us how the controversy might change the debate.
Have You Ever Tried To Get Out Of Jury Duty?
Tue, Dec 1
Jury duty's a civic obligation, but it can be tough to find the time to serve. Former Seinfeld writer Peter Mehlman confesses he showed up for jury duty with good intentions, but finagled his way out of serving. He then found he felt guilty about it.
A Global Picture On World AIDS Day
Tue, Dec 1
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2009 marks 28 years in the battle against HIV and AIDS. New infections are down worldwide, and more people live longer with the disease. But over 33 million people around the world are HIV-positive, and reports indicate more than half of those who need treatment cannot get it.
Our Fascination With The End Of The World
Tue, Dec 1
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As far back as 2800 B.C., the Assyrians warned that the end of the world was near. Mayans predicted the apocalypse for 2012. Jerry Walls of the Center for Philosophy of Religion at the University of Notre Dame talks about our ongoing fascination with the end of days.
Letters: Truckers And Who Should Attend College
Tue, Dec 1
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Talk of the Nation listeners behind the wheels of big rigs wrote in to share what four-wheelers car drivers don't understand about 18-wheelers. And listeners chimed in many sides of the discussion about who's best served by a college education.
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