National

For World Superpowers, The Negotiating Table Often Had A Net

7:44pm January 20, 2014

Melissa Block talks with Nicholas Griffin about his book, Ping-Pong Diplomacy, which explores the importance of the tabletop game in Chinese political history and foreign policy.

Queue Listen Now

Henry Ford Hospital treats Detroit residents. About 1 in 3 residents of that city is uninsured, and the hospital CEO hopes Medicaid expansion will increase the number of people with health insurance.

In Michigan, Businessmen And Politicians Agree On Medicaid

1:45pm January 20, 2014

by Eric Whitney

Michigan is one of only a handful of Republican-led states that is expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It did it by forging a plan that worked for Republicans, Democrats and business interests, as well as doctors and hospitals.

Queue Listen Now

President Obama has alluded to his pen and his phone as two tools that help him act without waiting for congressional approval.

Wielding A Pen And A Phone, Obama Goes It Alone

8:04am January 20, 2014

by Tamara Keith

President Obama has a couple tools at his disposal that let him bypass congressional approval — and he's using them to advance his economic agenda. The administration says the president is still willing to work with Congress, but some on Capitol Hill are taking issue with the executive tactic.

Queue Listen Now

National

To Attract Foreign Tourists, Brand USA Turns To ... Rosanne Cash

6:36pm January 18, 2014

The U.S. has been stepping up efforts to encourage international tourism, which represents about 3 percent of the country's gross domestic product. The country's reputation abroad has suffered due to revelations about spying by the National Security Agency. But Brand USA, which is running a new ad campaign, hopes to encourage international tourists to visit the U.S. Host Arun Rath speaks with Michael Scaturro, who wrote about the new campaign for The Atlantic.

Queue Listen Now

National

Ford's New Truck, GM's New CEO Star At Detroit Auto Show

11:35am January 18, 2014

The North American International Auto Show — the fancy name for the Detroit car show — opens to the public Saturday. NPR's Sonari Glinton gives NPR's Lynn Neary a sneak preview from the Motor City.

Queue Listen Now

Donors Pitch In To Protect Detroit's Art And Pensions

11:35am January 18, 2014

Under a deal mediated by a federal bankruptcy judge, a group of local and national foundations this week pledged more than $330 million to help Detroit's pension fund and protect the city's valuable art collection. Bio-chemical entrepreneur Paul Schaap is one of the donors; he speaks with NPR's Lynn Neary about the effort.

Queue Listen Now

In The Long Wait For Aid From Washington, Job Hunters Despair

6:20pm January 17, 2014

by Tovia Smith

After failing to agree upon an extension for federal jobless benefits to the long-term unemployed, Congress is vowing to keep trying. The help can't come soon enough for many of the 1.4 million unemployed who saw their checks suddenly cut off last month.

Queue Listen Now

A woman hangs a National Industrial Recovery Act poster in the window of a restaurant.

The Birth Of The Minimum Wage In America

4:46pm January 17, 2014

by David Kestenbaum

For decades, the Supreme Court ruled that laws regulating things like wages and working conditions were unconstitutional. That changed during the Great Depression, when one of the justices switched sides, paving the way for the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Queue Listen Now

Lunch at the West Salem School District in Wisconsin.

Cash Or Credit? How Kids Pay For School Lunch Matters For Health

1:39pm January 17, 2014

by Shankar Vedantam

A study in the journal Obesity found that students who used credit or debit cards in the school cafeteria chose fewer fruits and vegetables and more desserts than kids paying with cash. But the researchers say schools should work with the bias instead of trying to fight it.

Queue Listen Now

National

Obama Highlights Challenges Of Balancing Security, Liberty

1:39pm January 17, 2014

Coverage of President Obama's speech about proposed changes for the National Security Agency continues with more of his comments, plus analysis.

Queue Listen Now