Commentary

Former Democratic Rep. Lindy Claiborne Boggs attends the Distinguished Service Award ceremony at the Capitol in May 2006 in Washington, D.C.

Politics & Government

Ex-Rep. Lindy Boggs: Advocate For Women, Dedicated To Family

1:01pm July 27, 2013

by Linda Wertheimer

The former congresswoman from New Orleans and U.S. ambassador to the Vatican died Saturday morning. She was 97. NPR's Linda Wertheimer traces her life and accomplishments, along with her personal legacy.

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Books
Arts

Popes, Politics And Power: The Story Of The Borgia Family

6:16pm July 23, 2013

by Lizzie Skurnick

The Borgias are more than just a TV show. Reviewer Lizzie Skurnick says Blood & Beauty by Sarah Dunant shows readers the authentic people behind the pomp and circumstance.

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Reporters swarm around former New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer as he attempts to collect signatures for his run for New York City comptroller.

Politics & Government

Retire The Phrase, 'This Wouldn't Be A Scandal In Europe'

1:22pm July 13, 2013

by Scott Simon

Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon argues that it's time to retire the phrase "this wouldn't be a scandal in Europe" when referring to American politicians embroiled in sex scandals. From former President Bill Clinton to former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, such scandals no longer seem to end careers.

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A Syrian woman is evacuated after being wounded in shelling by regime forces in the Shaar neighborhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, on Oct. 13, 2012.

World News

War Correspondent's Unflinching 'Diary Of A Bad Year'

11:50pm July 01, 2013

by Kelly McEvers

NPR's Kelly McEvers found herself crying unpredictably during the Arab Spring, when friends were being kidnapped and worse. Why do otherwise intelligent people risk their lives to report on conflicts? In a new hourlong radio documentary, she turns the mic on herself to search for an answer.

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Jim Nayder, host of the The Annoying Music Show and Magnificent Obession, died this week. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon, left, remembers his good friend.

Music & Culture

'Annoying Music' Host Leaves 'Magnificent Obsession' Behind

4:46pm June 30, 2013

by Scott Simon

Jim Nayder, host of Chicago Public Radio's The Annoying Music Show and Magnificent Obsession, died this week. Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon remembers his good friend.

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Books
Arts

In 'Sisterland,' Familial Fissures And A Pair Of Psychic Twins

5:34am June 27, 2013

by Sloane Crosley

Curtis Sittenfeld's Sisterland, about a pair of adult psychic twins in St. Louis, is more about sibling rivalry than the supernatural. Reviewer Sloane Crosley says Sittenfeld handles the psychic realm with a light and logical touch that keeps the book artfully within the bounds of believability.

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Arts

Calling It 'Metadata' Doesn't Make Surveillance Less Intrusive

2:47pm June 21, 2013

by Geoff Nunberg

Whether it's logs of phone calls or GPS data, commentator Geoff Nunberg says it still says a lot about who you are: "Tell me where you've been and who you've been talking to, and I'll tell you about your politics, your health, your sexual orientation, your finances," he says.

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TV, Movie Streaming Services Want To Grow With Kids

9:40am June 19, 2013

Twenty percent of Netflix's streaming is made up of content for kids. Amazon just ordered a bunch of pilots of kids' shows. TV critic Eric Deggans says subscription streaming services are going to lean on parents' desire for control of what their kids watch as they build their audiences.

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Sports

History Sometimes Rewards Those Who Are Sidelined

5:26am June 15, 2013

by Scott Simon

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith will be on the sidelines of the Super Bowl this weekend, after suffering a concussion midway through the season. Now he's counseling teammate Colin Kaepernick, the quarterback who replaced him. "The good ones stay ready," he says.

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Books
Arts

The Courage To Cross An Ocean, Explored In 'TransAtlantic'

6:36pm June 09, 2013

by Rosecrans Baldwin

Colum McCann's novel TransAtlantic weaves together disparate historical figures and times. Reviewer Rosecrans Baldwin says that while some sections are uneven, the book rolls over you like a wave, crashing and building upon itself.

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