Talk of the Nation

Monday- Friday, 1:00- 3:00pm
Neal Conan

Monday through Thursday, host Neal Conan invites callers to discuss areas of topical interest, including politics and public service, education, religion, music, and healthcare. Talk of the Nation goes behind the headlines with decision-makers, authors, thinkers, artists, and listeners around the world, who become part of the conversation by calling 1-800-989-TALK.

Each Friday, journalist Ira Flatow is joined by listeners and studio guests to explore science-related topics -- from subatomic particles and the human genome to the Internet and earthquakes. Flatow offers in-depth discussion with scientists and others from all walks of life, giving listeners the chance to hear from the people whose work influences their daily lives.

Genre: 
Composer ID: 
5187f364e1c8ae55ab3b89e9|5187f359e1c8ae55ab3b89d9

Pages

Opinion
1:24 pm
Tue April 24, 2012

The NRA And 'Stand Your Ground' Laws

Originally published on Tue April 24, 2012 3:01 pm

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

Read more
Education
1:18 pm
Tue April 24, 2012

Un- and Under-Employment Awaits Many College Grads

Originally published on Tue April 24, 2012 3:01 pm

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. In a few weeks, long lines of college seniors will cross the stage, turn a tassel and walk into one of the worst job markets in a decade. According to an analysis by the Associated Press, about half of college graduates under the age of 25 were either jobless or underemployed last year, taking jobs as cashiers or barristas to pay the bills.

Read more
NPR Story
1:33 pm
Mon April 23, 2012

Op-Ed: Obama And Romney, Quit 'Hispandering'

Credit Rob Boudon / Flickr
Columnist Esther Cepeda says it is "a sign of respect" when candidates reach out to Hispanics by speaking Spanish, but there ought to be substance behind the effort.

Originally published on Tue April 24, 2012 11:19 am

Esther Cepeda recently learned a new word: "Hispandering." And, she writes in an op-ed for The Washington Post writers group, "it perfectly captures the spirit of the moment" in presidential politics.

Read more
World
1:24 pm
Mon April 23, 2012

Egyptian Elections Complicated By Controversy

Originally published on Fri April 27, 2012 9:04 am

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. In a few weeks, Egyptians vote in a presidential election that many hoped would mark a full transition from military rule. Then the Egyptian Election Commission disqualified 10 candidates, including the two leading Islamists and the former intelligence chief.

Read more
Religion
1:05 pm
Mon April 23, 2012

Vatican Reprimand Of U.S. Nuns Divides Faithful

Originally published on Mon April 23, 2012 1:39 pm

The Vatican reprimanded America's largest organization of Catholic nuns, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. The Holy See charged the LCWR with promoting programs with "radical feminist themes" that are incompatible with doctrine on issues ranging from homosexuality to women's ordination.

Your Health
1:05 pm
Mon April 23, 2012

Gerson: Dieting's A Bore We're Ill-Prepared For

Originally published on Mon April 23, 2012 1:43 pm

Regular readers of Michael Gerson's column in the Washington Post know he usually tackles timely issues in politics, religion, foreign policy and global health and development. Recently, he dealt with what may be an even more challenging — and personal — issue: the difficulties of dieting.

NPR Story
12:14 pm
Fri April 20, 2012

Exploring The Deepest, Darkest Spots On Earth

Originally published on Fri April 20, 2012 1:50 pm

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

This is SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. We're here in California, broadcasting from the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. And just outside the Golden Gate, of course, is the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest body of water on Earth, and its trenches are also the deepest. You could put Mount Everest into some of them, and the top would not even peek out.

Read more
NPR Story
12:14 pm
Fri April 20, 2012

How Movie Makers Use Science To Make Magic

Originally published on Fri April 20, 2012 1:58 pm

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

This is SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. We're here in California, broadcasting from the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. And while you might think Silicon Valley or biotech when you think of Northern California, this part of the state is also home to some of the biggest names in the movie business.

Read more
NPR Story
12:14 pm
Fri April 20, 2012

Untangling The Hairy Physics Of Rapunzel

Originally published on Fri April 20, 2012 1:59 pm

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

Joining us now is our multimedia editor Flora Lichtman who is - welcome to SCIENCE FRIDAY, of course.

FLORA LICHTMAN, BYLINE: Thanks.

FLATOW: We'll have a backend. We have our Video Pick of the Week today, sort of an oldie goldie, right?

Read more
NPR Story
12:14 pm
Fri April 20, 2012

Designing A Bridge For Earthquake Country

Originally published on Fri April 20, 2012 1:56 pm

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

This is SCIENCE FRIDAY. I'm Ira Flatow. Where is the safest place to be during an earthquake? Yeah. Here, in San Francisco, everybody is shaking their head.

(SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER)

Read more

Pages

Podcasts

  • Wednesday, June 19, 2013 12:36pm
    Author Lemony Snicket is known for his dry wit and matter-of-fact take on the mysterious and macabre. He is best known for tales of dastardly villains, clever orphans, and low-ranking members of secret organizations. In his latest children's book, he takes on the dark itself.
  • Wednesday, June 19, 2013 12:00pm
    A New York Federal District Court judge ruled that Fox Searchlight Pictures broke the law by not paying two interns for work on the film Black Swan. As a result, private employers may be considering revising their internship programs, or scrapping them altogether.
  • Wednesday, June 19, 2013 12:00pm
    NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including research into rare diseases and the joys and myths of having an only child.
  • Wednesday, June 19, 2013 12:00pm
    Ken Rudin recaps the week in politics. Boston Globe political reporter Jim O'Sullivan previews the special election between Mass. Senate candidates Edward Markey and Gabriel Gomez on June 25. NPR senior Washington editor Ron Elving looks to the future of Congress.
  • Tuesday, June 18, 2013 12:00pm
    Twelve years after the war began, Afghanistan's president announced Tuesday that Afghan forces officially assumed control of security for the country. U.S. and NATO troops will remain until the 2014 deadline, but the Afghan military is now expected to fight without NATO support.