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Weekend Edition Saturday

Saturday, 5:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. on KUOW
Scott Simon

The program Weekend Edition Saturday wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories.

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It's All Politics
2:28 am
Sat January 5, 2013

As The Capitol Turns: Little Has Changed In Congress' New Season

Credit Mark Wilson / Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner swears in the newly elected members of the 113th Congress on Thursday.
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Originally published on Sat January 5, 2013 6:59 am

This week saw both a frantic finale to the much-unloved 112th Congress and, hours later, the swearing in of the new 113th. The cast of lawmakers and their leaders is mostly unchanged. The same can be said for Capitol Hill's never-ending drama over taxes, deficits and spending.

What was arguably this week's most sensational congressional moment did not even take place in Washington. On Wednesday in Trenton, N.J., Republican Gov. Chris Christie blasted the GOP-led House for closing down the last Congress without even considering a Superstorm Sandy disaster relief bill.

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World
2:28 am
Sat January 5, 2013

London Real Estate, A Magnet For Mega-Rich From Around The Globe

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Credit Bloomberg via Getty Images
Foreign buyers are pushing the prices of prime London real estate through the roof. Neighborhoods such as West London, Kensington and Chelsea are particularly popular.
Credit istockphoto.com
The apartments at One Hyde Park have been mostly purchased by foreign-registered buyers, according to The Guardian. It said the prices ranged from 3 million to 136 million British pounds ($4.9 million to $221 million).
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By Vicki Barker

Originally published on Sat January 5, 2013 6:59 am

Looking for a London pied-a-terre? How about a four-bedroom duplex overlooking Hyde Park? It could be yours, if you're prepared to spend $25 million.

In most of the United Kingdom, property prices are slumping. But in some of London's most upscale neighborhoods, they're going crazy.

Robin Perona sweeps the sidewalk at Egerton Crescent, a gracious semicircle of white townhouses in fashionable Chelsea.

In the 1990s, they cost about $700,000 each. Today the average price is some $13 million — or 8 million British pounds.

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Music Interviews
11:03 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

Preserving The Home, And History, Of New Orleans' Piano Professor

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Credit David Redfern / Redferns
Professor Longhair performs at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, circa 1970.
Credit Jason Saul / WWNO
Professor Longhair's daughter Pat Walton Byrd poses outside Tipitina's, a New Orleans venue named after one of her father's compositions.
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Originally published on Sat January 5, 2013 11:10 am

On the tough side of Terpsichore Street in New Orleans stands a duplex — a two-story, wood-framed building with wood floors, high ceilings and a nice fireplace. But this old house is empty: no furniture, no walls, no electricity, no toilet. Iron bars hide the windows; there's a lockbox on the door. The facade is three different shades of blecch, blurgh and blah.

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Music Interviews
11:03 pm
Fri January 4, 2013

Emel Mathlouthi: Voice Of The Tunisian Revolution

Credit Ghaith Ghoufa / Courtesy of the artist
Emel Mathlouthi
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By editor

Originally published on Sat January 5, 2013 6:59 am

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Music
2:38 pm
Sat December 29, 2012

'Prayer Flags,' A Song About Waiting On Heavenly Help

Credit Courtesy of the artist
Musician Kristina Olsen says Tibetan prayer flags flying over porches near her home in Venice, Calif., became the inspiration for a song.
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By editor

Originally published on Sun December 30, 2012 2:37 pm

For some, bringing in the new year means praying for good things to come. Kristina Olsen ponders the reasons for prayer in her song, "Prayer Flags." She tells the story behind it in the latest edition of What's in a Song, a series from the Western Folklife Center.

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NPR Story
3:13 am
Sat December 29, 2012

Recalling Battles Of Congress Past

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By editor

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 2:38 pm

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LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

There is nothing new about the Congress coming to a hostile halt at a critical moment - fussing and fuming, holding dueling impromptu news conferences at the Ohio Clock - that's a nearly 200-year-old timepiece that counts the hours outside the Senate Chamber - or representatives stopping to chat in the beautiful Rayburn reception room outside the House with George Washington looking disapprovingly down from his portrait.

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NPR Story
3:13 am
Sat December 29, 2012

Looking Ahead At Immigration Reform In 2013

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By editor

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 2:38 pm

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LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

President Obama says immigration reform will be a priority for the White House early next year. The last time Congress tried to tackle the divisive issue it failed. In the meantime, states have become the center of debate following Arizona's lead in passing their own strict laws intended to curtail illegal immigration. NPR's Debbie Elliott has been following the issue. She joins us now. Good morning, Debbie.

DEBBIE ELLIOTT, BYLINE: Good morning.

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NPR Story
3:13 am
Sat December 29, 2012

Graphic Novels That Flew Under The Radar In 2012

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By editor

Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 2:38 pm

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LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

This last weekend of the year, we're looking back on some of the best books of 2012. In this encore broadcast, Glenn Weldon highlights two graphic novels from the past year, starting with one called "Drama" by Raina Telgemeier.

GLENN WELDON: "Drama" is a young adult graphic novel about a middle-school girl named Callie...

UNIDENTIFIED GIRL #1: (as Callie) What's up?

WELDON: ...who is a complete theater nerd.

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The Record
2:31 am
Sat December 29, 2012

Reflecting On EMI, An Industry Giant Felled In 2012

Credit Simon Dawson / Bloomberg via Getty Images
The London headquarters of EMI, whose sale this year brought the number of major labels from four to three.
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Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 2:38 pm

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It's All Politics
2:22 am
Sat December 29, 2012

Congressional Leaders 'Hopeful' Of Deal On Fiscal Cliff As Deadline Nears

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Credit Mandel Ngan / AFP/Getty Images
House Speaker John Boehner arrives at the White House on Friday for talks with President Obama and congressional leaders aimed at avoiding the "fiscal cliff."
Credit Evan Vucci / AP
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada leaves the White House after a closed-door meeting with the president and congressional leaders.
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Originally published on Sat December 29, 2012 2:38 pm

Even though the top four congressional leaders left their White House meeting with the president separately and silently on Friday, they cast the hourlong encounter in a positive light back at the Capitol.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi described the tone of the discussion to head off across-the-board tax hikes and spending cuts as "candid." An aide to House Speaker John Boehner put out a statement that noted that the group agreed the next step should be the Senate's — a tacit acknowledgement that Boehner is no longer the lead negotiator with President Obama.

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