History

Howard Blum is a former investigative reporter for The New York Times who's now a contributing editor at Vanity Fair.

Books
Arts

During World War I, Germany Unleashed 'Terrorist Cell In America'

12:06pm February 26, 2014

In Dark Invasion, Howard Blum explores the campaign of sabotage that Germany inflicted on an unsuspecting U.S. As ships and factories blew up, "no one really suspected a spy network," he says.

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Where Are The Heroes To Save Pittsburgh's African-American Center?

7:18pm February 22, 2014

by Larkin Page-Jacobs

The August Wilson Center opened in 2009 as a hub for African-American culture. Now it's up for sale, unable to pay its bills, and some wonder why the Center has been allowed to fail.

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Wiggle (don't jab) the knife in from the hinge of the shell.Turn it like a key. Once you have leverage, MJ says you can pop off the top shell. Make sure the cup-side of the shell is on the bottom.

For The Love Of Oysters: How A Kiss From The Sea Evokes Passion

7:58pm February 14, 2014

by Allison Aubrey

Scientists have made some attempts to link mollusks to increased libido. There's even evidence that consuming heavy doses of an amino acid found in oysters can increase sperm count – in rabbits. But do any of these findings actually prove that oysters can — ahem — amp up arousal? Not so much.

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Wacky Moments In Winter Olympic History

12:05pm February 08, 2014

The problems with decrepit hotel rooms and stray dogs in Sochi, Russia, are stealing the headlines, but they are hardly the first Olympics to stumble. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Esquire Magazine's AJ Jacobs about some of the more inglorious moments in Winter Olympics history.

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A portrait of Fred Korematsu presented at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Honoring A Japanese-American Who Fought Against Internment Camps

9:39am January 31, 2014

by NPR Staff

On Thursday, Illinois and three other states are honoring Fred Korematsu, the late civil rights activist. Korematsu, a Japanese-American, was arrested for not relocating to an internment camp following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He challenged the arrest and his case was heard by the Supreme Court.

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'Pope And Mussolini' Tells The 'Secret History' Of Fascism And The Church

1:45pm January 27, 2014

It's commonly thought that the Catholic Church fought heroically against the fascists in Italy. But in The Pope and Mussolini, historian David Kertzer says the church actually lent organizational strength and moral legitimacy to Mussolini's regime.

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Small Museum Shows Off Weird Objects

7:29am January 24, 2014

by Margot Adler

In this encore report, we hear about a small museum in an elevator shaft in lower Manhattan. It's only six feet square, and only about three or four people can enter it at a time. The exhibits document the weird and wonderful of modern life, including prison contraband made from bread. (This piece originally aired on Jan. 2, 2014 on All Things Considered).

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National

Poll Findings: On Cuban-Americans And The Elusive 'American Dream'

9:11am January 22, 2014

by Greg Allen

Among Latinos, no group may have achieved the American dream as fully as Cuban-Americans. Since arriving here, as a community, they've prospered. But our recent poll suggests that for many Cuban-Americans, the dream is becoming elusive.

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Demonstrators march down Constitution Avenue during the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963.

Books
Arts

The Politics Of Passing 1964's Civil Rights Act

6:35pm January 20, 2014

The act, among other things, ended the era of legal segregation in public accommodations, like restaurants and hotels. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its passage. Author Todd Purdum joins Fresh Air to talk about the legislative and political battles that surrounded it.

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Church Struggles With Protecting Emancipation Proclamation Draft

6:36pm January 18, 2014

by Heather Taylor

Important papers that document our nation's history, like the Constitution or the Bill of Rights, can be found at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. But another important historical document, handwritten and signed by President Abraham Lincoln, is on public display seven days a week at the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in the nation's capital.

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