Talk Of The Nation

A Look Ahead To The Future Of Afghanistan

editor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:07:00 +0000

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.

Breaking Bad News To Kids: How Media Has Tweaked The Process

editor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:05:00 +0000

Parents have always had to break hard news to kids, from family hardships to national tragedies. Now there are more ways for children to learn about news faster — through 24 hour news and social media. So, what's changed in how parents broach these subjects? How can media help, or hurt?

Obama's Former Legal Adviser Urges U.S. To 'Disciple Drones'

editor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Transcript

JOHN DONVAN, HOST:

Last month, Harold Koh, who is a lawyer who worked for President Obama, gave a speech where he criticized the way the president is running the drone war against terrorist targets overseas, which is an interesting thing because Koh himself provided much of the legal underpinning that the president relies on to keep the use of drones within the boundaries of national and international law.

When A Language Dies, What Happens To Culture?

editor — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:49:00 +0000

Nearly half of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world are expected to vanish in the next 100 years. One of them is Athabaskan, a language of the Siletz tribe in the Pacific Northwest. Bud Lane, vice chairman of Siletz tribal council, explains the importance of language diversity.

After SCOTUS DNA Ruling, What Changes For Police?

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:54:00 +0000

The Supreme Court ruled in June that police can routinely take DNA samples from people who are arrested for comparison against a national database. The decision raises major questions about how law enforcement and criminal justice processes will change.

'Cows' To The Rescue! Soil's Secrets For Saving The Earth

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:45:00 +0000

In her book Cows Save The Planet, journalist Judith Schwartz argues that the key to addressing carbon issues and climate change lies beneath our feet. Schwartz says that proper management of soil could solve a long list of environmental problems.

"The thing to realize is that while we think about this as a sky thing — that it's all about all the fossil fuels that we're burning and all that spewing into the atmosphere — it's actually also a ground thing," she tells NPR's Neal Conan.

Schwartz explains how livestock can help restore the land and get the carbon cycle back in balance.

Is Big Change Ahead In Iran? A Biography Of The President Elect

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan.

In Tehran today, the first news conference of Iran's president-elect ended abruptly when a man in the audience jumped up to protest the absence of the man many believe was elected president four years ago, Mir-Hossein Mousavi has been held under house arrest since 2011.

Looking Ahead With NPR's Margot Adler

editor — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:45:00 +0000

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. For the past several weeks, we've taken the opportunity to reconnect with some of our favorite guests and colleagues in a series of conversations looking ahead.

Rolling Out Bamboo Bicycles

editor — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 20:13:00 +0000

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

Up next, Flora Lichtman is here with us for our Video Pick of the Week. Hi, Flora.

FLORA LICHTMAN, BYLINE: Hi, Ira.

You went with something Seattlely(ph). How would I describe it - Seattle-like this week for this week's video.

That's right. When in Mayor McSchwinn's city, you have to go with the bikes. Lightening it up for pick of the week, but - as usual.

(LAUGHTER)

LICHTMAN: Oh, yes.

Looking Back, and Up, at a Seattle Icon

editor — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:03:00 +0000

Transcript

IRA FLATOW, HOST:

We are broadcasting today from the Pacific Science Center in Seattle. And just steps away from this building, right outside is something that should be familiar to anyone who's ever received a postcard from Seattle or taken home a pen or a glass or anything tchotchke of any kind. And it's the Space Needle, built in connection with the 1962 World's Fair. It is an iconic part of the Seattle skyline.

KNUTE BERGER: And joining me now to talk about the history of the Space Needle and its engineering, its design is Knute Berger.