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Weekend Edition Saturday (Interviews)

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  • Host: Scott Simon, Christopher Jamele, Matthew McLean
  • From civil wars in Bosnia and El Salvador, to hospital rooms, police stations, and America's backyards, National Public Radio®'s Peabody Award-winning correspondent Scott Simon brings a well-traveled perspective to his role as host. He interviews artists and celebrities, while discussing the impact of news that's making headlines.
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New Cubs Owner Feels Fans' Pain, Promises Relief

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
There's an old joke: How do you become a millionaire? Have $1 billion mdash; then buy the Chicago Cubs. Well, Tom Ricketts did buy the storied franchise and its famous ballpark, Wrigley Field, spending almost $900 million. And it's a team that hasn't won a World Series for more than a century.

World Series Game Three Opens On A Draw

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
How do you know it's Halloween in Philadelphia? Everyone's got on the same costume: Phillies gear! Game three of the World Series happens Saturday night in Philly and Howard Bryant is there covering the game. Host Scott Simon talks with Bryant about the Yankees and the Phillies.

A Terrifying Tour Of 'American Fantastic'

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Author Peter Straub knows a bit about terror. As the editor of the new two-volume set American Fantastic: Tales, Terror and the Uncanny, he spent two years researching the best mdash; and scariest mdash; American stories, dating from the age of Edgar Allan Poe to the present.

DeCarava's Photos Improvised The Music Of Life

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
In the 1950s, photography was hardly considered art. If you wanted to be taken seriously as a photographer, you snapped mountains and models mdash; not your neighbors. It also helped to be white. But Roy DeCarava, who died this week at the age of 89, turned all of that on its head.

Chef Chang's Momofuku: A Romance With Ramen

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
A hip New York chef makes food inspired by his love for fresh, simple ingredients and classic Asian dishes. David Chang has four restaurants in his Momofuku empire and has just published a cookbook.

Halloween Warning: That's Not A Polar Bear Costume

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
It's polar bear season in the town of Churchill, Manitoba. Officials usually warn kids to stay inside after dark in case a migrating bear comes too close to town. But on Halloween night, the town bands together in a polar bear patrol to keep the streets safe for trick-or-treaters.

Racial Achievement Gap Still Plagues Schools

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Black and Latino students consistently have lower test scores and attendance rates than their white counterparts. Placing struggling students in remedial classes has been a standard way to deal with the issue, but this method is coming under fire.

Iraq Reconstruction Program Needs Its Own Rebuild

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
The U.S. government established the CERP fund mdash; Commander's Emergency Response Program mdash; to win hearts and minds in Iraq by building schools, roads and water purification facilities that the country needs. Today, almost two years later, the program is still marred by allegations of corruption and waste. Stuart Bowen, the special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction, is leading the battle to clean up CERP. He joins host Scott Simon to talk about the progress he's made and where...

Week In Review With Daniel Schorr

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
This week there was growth in the GDP but not in consumer confidence. The House version of a health care bill headed to a vote, and violence continued throughout the Middle East. Host Scott Simon reviews the week in the news with NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr.

First Listen: Cecilia Bartoli, 'Sacrificium'

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Inspired by the emotionally charged and virtuosic music of the Baroque era, the adventurous mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli's new CD is devoted to the dazzling music associated with the age of the castrati. Hear the album in its entirety for the week leading up to its Oct. 27 release.

Emma And Elena, Exposing The Sex Trade

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Through a striking art installation, actress Emma Thompson chronicles a naive 18-year-old from a small Eastern Europe republic who was caught up in London's sex trade. Her name is Elena, and her story makes its debut in New York on Nov. 10.

Your Letters: Abortion; 'Superfreakonomics'

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Host Scott Simon shares a few listener letters about abortion in the health care debate, and the theories behind the book Superfreakonomics.

In Oklahoma, He's The (Weather) Man

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Gary England has been at News 9 in Oklahoma City for over 35 years. He is the commercial weather man credited with issuing the first televised Doppler weather radar bulletin for a tornado, and has created what can only be called a meteorology empire in a state that sees lots of severe weather. He even had a bit part in the movie Twister.

Behind Oklahoma's Meth Lab Boom

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
The number of methamphetamine lab seizures has increased for the first time in six years. It's been a particular problem in Oklahoma where a new, simpler way to cook meth combined with efforts by a Mexican drug cartel have fueled the spread of the drug. Gail Banzet of member station KOSU reports.

Iraqis Fear New Enemy: H1N1 Virus

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
Fewer than 500 cases of H1N1 have been reported in Iraq, but it's not uncommon to see schoolchildren walking home wearing surgical masks. Fear of the virus has caused a rash of school closures, and is even preventing some Iraqis from making this year's pilgrimage to Mecca.

Helmets Have Become The NFL's WMDs

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
The helmets that are supposed to protect football players actually encourage them to block with their heads, which pummels and rattles their brains.

Just How Many Jobs Is The Stimulus Responsible For?

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
The Associated Press reports the number of jobs created or saved by the stimulus bill has been vastly inflated by the Obama Administration. Obama's senior adviser David Axelrod told host Scott Simon the AP was extrapolating from a small piece of information, and that the administration believes it will achieve its goal of creating several million jobs. NPR news analyst Juan Williams talks with Simon about how this issue might play out.

Axelrod On H1N1 Vaccines: 'We Overpromised'

Sat, Oct 31 Listen
The president's senior adviser, David Axelrod, says the administration based its predictions about how many doses of the H1N1 vaccine would be available by mid-October on bad information.

Tom Russell's 'Blood And Candle Smoke'

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Host Scott Simon talks to singer-songwriter Tom Russell about his latest album, Blood and Candle Smoke.

For NFL, L.A. Considers Trading Environment For Jobs

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Lawmakers in California are so interested in getting an NFL team back in Los Angeles, they've just passed a bill that would exempt a new stadium project from any environmental regulations. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill this week at the site of the future stadium. Many residents are angry at the environmental bypass, but the city stands to gain some thousands of jobs. Rob Schmitz of member station KQED has the story.

Baseball Warms Up For World Series Play

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
The temperatures are dropping, but baseball is heating up. The Philadelphia Phillies are waiting to see if they'll face the Yankees or the Angels in the World Series starting next Wednesday. Also starting next week: the NBA regular season. Host Scott Simon talks baseball playoffs and bad football teams with NPR's Tom Goldman.

Soupy Sales Remembered For More Than Pies

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Entertainer Soupy Sales died this week at age 83. He became a star of early children's television, when the goal was to entertain, not teach anything mdash; unless it was how to throw a pie in your face. Burt Dubrow, television producer and friend of Sales, joins host Scott Simon to share a few memories.

Mystery Endures: Remains Found Not Those Of Artist

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Everett Ruess, a legendary Utah explorer, writer and artist, has been missing for 75 years. Earlier this year, it seemed the cold case had been solved when human remains found in the Utah desert apparently tested positive as his. But doubts lingered, and now the mystery of the missing artist lives again.

Mexico Looks To U.S. To Fuel Economic Recovery

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
The massive economic downturn in Mexico, with the slowest recovery in Latin America, has opened a debate about close ties to the U.S. market. The codependent relationship means that as Mexico struggles to get back on its feet, it also hurts the U.S. economy.

Crackdown Big Victory In Mexico's Drug War

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Mexico's attorney general gave a speech this week addressing the battle against drug cartels that continue to wreak havoc across the nation. The speech comes one day after the U.S. Justice Department announced a major crackdown on U.S. operations of Mexico's La Familia drug cartel. Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's Jason Beaubien in Mexico City.

Demonstrating What 350 Means To Climate Change

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
On Saturday activists are staging more than 4,000 demonstrations around the world in an attempt to bring attention to global climate change. They're uniting around the number 350, which they say holds the key to halting global warming. Host Scott Simon speaks to NPR Science Correspondent Richard Harris about what this number means for the environment and whether or not it's possible for activists to meet their goals.

Week In Review With Daniel Schorr

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
This week, Afghanistan prepared for a run-off election, Iran postponed a decision on what to do with its nuclear material, and the United States clamped down on executive pay. Host Scott Simon reviews the week in the news with NPR Senior News Analyst Dan Schorr.

At Great Lakes, Tom Hanks Gets Back To His Roots

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
The star of The Da Vinci Code and Toy Story visits the Cleveland theater where he got his professional start to speak with host Scott Simon about his early years in theater mdash; and the ups and downs of working in the movies.

Twitter Bard BadBanana On Social Media Hot Topics

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
The only way the new jobless claims report could be more disturbing is if Bob Dylan sang it on his new Christmas album. That's a tweet from BadBanana, otherwise known as Tim Siedell, who catches us up with what people are thinking, talking and laughing about on social media networks.

What Makes Oklahoma City Recession-Proof?

Sat, Oct 24 Listen
Forbes.com has touted Oklahoma City as recession-proof. Other headlines from this year read Oklahoma City Wins in Jobless Figures, Economists Say State Could Dodge Downturn, Economic Climate Leaves Clear Skies Ahead for Oklahoma. NPR's Scott Simon travels to Oklahoma City to discover why this town is considered to have such a stable economy.

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