News from NPR

Pages

Business
12:00 pm
Wed March 28, 2012

Employment Background Checks: How Far Is Too Far?

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. For years, employers have used credit checks and criminal histories to vet potential hires. With the growth of social media, hiring managers now turn to websites like Facebook, and some employers go so far as to ask applicants to turn over their passwords.

Facebook warns against this procedure. Two United States senators asked the Department of Justice to investigate whether these employers are violating federal law.

Read more
Shots - Health Blog
11:36 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Supreme Court Mulls Whether Health Law Can Survive Without Mandate

With the fate of the health law's insurance mandate in doubt, the last day of arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court became even more crucial to the future of the Obama administration's central legislative achievement.

Read more
The Two-Way
11:25 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Hoodie In The House Leads To Shouting In The Capitol

Credit C-SPAN.org
Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., during his hooded statement on the House floor.

On the floor of the House this morning, Rep. Bobby Rush's effort to call attention to the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin turned into a contest of wills between the Illinois Democrat and the presiding officer because Rush donned a hoodie while speaking.

Read more
World
11:00 am
Wed March 28, 2012

At Arab League Summit, High Stakes For Host Nation

Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

I'm Jacki Lyden and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away this week. Coming up, there are a number of people in the U.S. who continue to insist that President Obama is Muslim, despite his Christian faith. But that begs the question: what does it matter? So what if he were? We'll talk about it what it means to be a Muslim in America in just a bit.

Read more
Your Money
11:00 am
Wed March 28, 2012

How Much Do You Pay To Maintain Your 401(K)?

Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

And now to matters of personal finance. How much do you pay to maintain your 401(k)? The question may seem trivial, but according to the AARP, the average American has no idea how much they pay in management fees for that retirement fund or that they're even paying management fees at all.

It's estimated, though, that brokers and banks make anywhere from $30 billion to $60 billion a year in 401(k) fees. That's led to an outcry by some consumer advocates who say there needs to be more disclosure about why banks charge for this service.

Read more
Author Interviews
11:00 am
Wed March 28, 2012

A Photograph Unlocks Decades Of Family Secrets

Jasmin Darznik left Iran as a child, knowing very little about her family's past. Years later, she found a photograph of her mother as a child-bride with a groom who was not Darznik's father. That starts a long journey of discovery that she chronicles in her book The Good Daughter. Darznik discusses her book with guest host Jacki Lyden.

Music
11:00 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Author, Dancer's Playlist Keeps Her On Point

Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

And now, it's time for the feature we call In Your Ear. That's when we talk with some of our guests about the music they love. Today, we get the personal playlist of another author featured in our Women's History Month series. She's Brenda Dixon Gottschild, and we spoke with her recently about her book, "Joan Myers Brown & the Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina." And here's some of the music that keeps her on point.

BRENDA DIXON GOTTSCHILD: I am Brenda Dixon Gottschild and this is what's playing in my ear.

Read more
Religion
11:00 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Are Muslims Treated As Outsiders In Their Own Country?

Transcript

JACKI LYDEN, HOST:

I'm Jacki Lyden and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away this week. Coming up, in a season when many people hope to do a little spring cleaning on their personal finances, we'll talk about taking a peek at your 401K and just how much you might be paying in so-called maintenance fees.

First, though, as the presidential primaries kick into high gear, more candidates are talking about faith and some are bringing up Islam, in particular.

Read more
The Two-Way
10:58 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Justices Seem OK With Leaving Some Parts Of Healthcare Law Alone

Credit Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Members of the anti-abortion group Bound4Life pray outside the U.S. Supreme Court on the third day of oral arguements over the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

Update at 12:08 p.m. ET. Everyone Had A Hard Go Of It Today:

NPR's legal correspondent Nina Totenberg tells Ari Shapiro that both sides had a tough go of it today.

During the final day of arguments, Supreme Court justices seemed split on the idea of striking the entire Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, if its the "individual mandate" centerpiece was also found unconstitutional.

Read more
The Two-Way
10:08 am
Wed March 28, 2012

Lorax Statue Stolen From Dr. Seuss' Garden, Family Hopes For Its Return

Credit San Diego Police Department
The Lorax, before he was taken away.

The Grinch returned all those stolen presents.

Now the family of Dr. Seuss (Theodore Geisel) is hoping that the person or persons who took a Lorax statue from the garden of the late, great author's home also has a change of heart.

Read more

Pages