Weekend Edition Saturday
When Alcohol Takes The Wheel: What's Your Limit?
This week, the National Transportation Safety Board recommended lowering the legal limit of blood alcohol content for drivers to .05 or even lower. Currently, it's illegal to drive in all states with a BAC of .08 or higher. Host Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Anthony Liguori of Wake Forest School of Medicine about alcohol's impact on driving ability.
Sports: Playoffs, Hard Hits, Soccer Kicks
Host Scott Simon talks to ESPN's Howard Bryant about the NBA playoffs, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper's collision with a wall, and David Beckham's retirement from soccer.
What A Week: White House Rattled By Controversy
NPR's Ari Shapiro joins host Scott Simon to talk about the Obama administration's week. The president was buffeted by revelations that the IRS had targeted Tea Party groups seeking tax-exempt status and that the Justice Department had subpoenaed reporter phone records. On top of that, Republicans continue to allege that the White House engaged in a cover-up of talking points about the attack in Benghazi, Libya.
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Media Covers Itself In Privacy Debacles
Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's David Folkenflik about the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of Associated Press reporters and editors, and Bloomberg's secret monitoring of its sources' and customers' activities.
Local Story Shows 'Plain Dealer' Prowess, But Future's Murky
NPR's Scott Simon talks to Connie Schultz, former columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Starting this summer, the paper's owners will be reducing home delivery to three days a week and making huge cuts in the newsroom staff.
After Health Issues, Influential Conductor Back At Met Opera
Host Scott Simon speaks with New York Times classical music critic Anthony Tommasini about conductor James Levine's return to the Metropolitan Opera after a series of health problems kept him away for two years.
Prime Challenge Sends Mathematicians On Infinite Search
University of New Hampshire professor Yitang Zhang announced this week that he has come close to solving a centuries-old problem: proving the twin prime conjecture. Host Scott Simon gets an explanation from Weekend Edition Math Guy Keith Devlin of Stanford University.
Highly Charged IRS Case Pulls In Political Agendas
NPR's Peter Overby reports on the Congressional testimony of IRS officials in response to the scandal over special scrutiny of tea party groups. Underneath all the politics, there's a policy question that hasn't been addressed.
In Zimbabwe, Will Next Election Be More Peaceful?
Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton about Zimbabwe's upcoming presidential election and efforts to alleviate its international isolation.
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Immigration Bill Chugs Along, But Some See Deal-Breakers
The bipartisan immigration overhaul proposed by the Senate's Gang of Eight has been the target of scores of amendments. So far, the bill has largely held its own, but its prospects for getting through Congress are uncertain.
'That's That': A Memoir Of Loving And Leaving Northern Ireland
Colin Broderick's new memoir, That's That, chronicles his childhood in Northern Ireland during the modern-day "Troubles." Broderick says growing up in what was essentially a war zone seemed normal to him at the time.
Ana Popovic Shreds The Belgrade Blues
The Serbian guitarist fell in love with American blues music as a kid — well before she could understand the words.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield's Most Excellent Adventure
Hadfield just spent 146 days up in the International Space Station, during which he performed rock concerts and shared his dazzling photographs with nearly a million Twitter followers.
Afghan Mineral Treasures Stay Buried, Hostages To Uncertainty
Afghanistan is believed to be home to world-class mineral deposits, valued at up to $3 trillion and offering hope for the country's economic future. But in the current environment of uncertainty, investors are nervous and it could be many years before Afghanistan strikes pay dirt.
Working Women On Television: A Mixed Bag At Best
Research shows that prime-time television isn't a bad place to find portrayals of working women. Working moms and working women over 40 are another story.
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Pakistanis 'Defy Violence' To Vote In Landmark Election
Though the campaign was marred by violence and there were more attacks on Saturday, voters turned out in large numbers.
Schools? How About A Science Laureate At The Super Bowl?
There's a move in Congress to name a science laureate. Astronomer Mike Brown hopes that person would do much more than visit schools to encourage kids to consider careers in science. He'd like to see a laureate reach out to the public in all sorts of ways.
Mom's X-Ray Vision Also Sees The Best In Us
Mothers know us better — sometimes better than we know ourselves. As any child will tell you, they really do have eyes in the back of their heads. When times are tough, they also have our back.
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Ala. Juke Joint Shuttered After More Than 50 Years
Longtime blues joint Gip's Place, in Bessemer, Ala., has been forced to close its doors. Weekend Edition profiled the place two years ago. Host Scott Simon takes note of the closing.
Kerry's Agenda: Priorities Emerge With Travel
Secretary of State John Kerry has been in office for less than three months and as he travels the globe, his priorities are becoming clearer. He's trying to find a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis, revive Israeli Palestinian talks and convince China to use its influence with North Korea to resolve that issue diplomatically.
