Opinion

Politics & Government

Week In Politics: Israel, Russia And The Race For DNC Chair

4:51pm December 30, 2016

NPR'S Robert Siegel speaks with our regular political commentator David Brooks of The New York Times, and Jamelle Bouie, chief political correspondent for Slate magazine, about U.S.-Russia ties, Israel and contenders for the DNC chair.

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Sports

The Case Against The College Football Playoff

3:07pm December 28, 2016

by John U. Bacon

Commentator John U. Bacon has a theory about why the NCAA introduced a college football playoff — and it has nothing to do with crowning a national champion.

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Week In Politics: U.N. Condemns Israeli Settlements, Trump On Nuclear Weapons

4:49pm December 23, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with David Brooks of The New York Times and E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution about the U.S. abstention from the U.N. Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlements and Trump's recent statements on nuclear weapons.

2016 was the year when the phrase "the new normal" became tied to politics.

'Normal': The Word Of The Year (In A Year That Was Anything But)

1:47pm December 22, 2016

by Geoff Nunberg

Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the fact that people are talking a lot about "the new normal" is a sign that we're living in strange and unsettling times.

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Three great kids books for english language learners.

Great Books To Inspire English Language Learners

5:00am December 17, 2016

by Mayra Linares

Way too many students who are English language learners are reading below grade level. Here are five culturally relevant books that might spark their curiosity.

Week In Politics: Russian Hacking Of Democrats, Pro-Life Movement

6:37pm December 16, 2016

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to political commentators E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution, and Fred Barnes, executive editor of The Weekly Standard. They discuss President Obama's response to Russian hacking of Democrats, the electoral college and the pro-life movement.

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National

How We Engage In 'Discipline Theater' In Policing And Parenting

5:18pm December 11, 2016

by Michel Martin

NPR's Michel Martin offers a commentary about recent police shootings and how they relate to the idea of "discipline theater," of going against your better judgment to impress others.

Week In Politics: Trump's Cabinet Picks, Election Hacking Review

6:33pm December 09, 2016

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks to regular political commentators David Brooks of The New York Times, and E.J. Dionne of The Washington Post and Brookings Institution about Donald Trump's picks for his incoming cabinet, as well as the news that President Obama has ordered a full review of hacking efforts during the election.

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Don't Stop Arguing, Complaining And Fighting For 'Identity Politics'

3:33pm December 08, 2016

by Tasneem Raja

No one seems to have a satisfying definition of "identity politics," but clearly we've been paying too much attention to race, gender and sexual orientation, right? Not so fast.

Week In Politics: Trump Begins 'Thank You' Tour In Indiana

4:12pm December 02, 2016

NPR's Audie Cornish speaks with political commentators David Brooks of The New York Times and Jamelle Bouie, chief political correspondent for Slate, about the beginning of President-elect Donald Trump's "thank you" tour, new controversy over Trump's tweets about voter fraud and his latest cabinet appointments.