Reverbiage: Stories from NPR

Democrats Confident In Overcoming Abortion Rift

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:36:00 EDT

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to rule out a separate vote on abortion restrictions in health overhaul legislation as the House Rules Committee worked to set the terms for floor debate and a final vote Sunday.

Democrats Confident In Overcoming Abortion Rift

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:36:00 EDT

Latin Picks From Betto Arcos Of 'Global Village'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 13:12:00 EDT

The host of KPFK's world music show discusses some of his favorite tracks with Weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz. Among them are songs by Jorge Drexler, Omar Sosa and Lila Downs.

Huge Sandstorm Burns The Sky Over Beijing

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:47:00 EDT

The strongest sandstorm so far this year hit the country's north, delaying some flights at Beijing's airport and prompting a dust warning for South Korea's capital. China's expanding deserts now cover one-third of the country because of deforestation, urban sprawl and drought.

Mom-And-Pop Site Busts The Web's Biggest Myths

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:43:00 EDT

You'd think it would take an army to truth-squad the rapid-fire rumors of the World Wide Web. But at Snopes.com, that task falls to husband-and-wife myth debunkers David and Barbara Mikkelson.

Sharon Van Etten Sits On A Couch And Sings

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:20:00 EDT

I met up with Van Etten Friday morning and asked her to give us a quick exclusive performance. She sat on a couch at the Driskill Hotel, illuminated by a nearby lamp, and sang one of my favorite songs of 2009: "Much More Than That."

Grandaddy + Earlimart = Admiral Radley

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EDT

Day three at SXSW 2010 began with a video shoot at the historic Driskill hotel with Admiral Radley, the newly formed band featuring Jason Lytle and Aaron Burtch of Grandaddy, and Ariana Murray and Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart.

Late Night Dispatches From SXSW: Friday

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:46:00 EDT

In this third Late Night Dispatch from SXSW, the quartet is now down to a trio, but still are able to recap their favorite music of Friday night and rediscover the meaning of life in the process.

Paddy Moloney Of The Chieftains Plays Not My Job

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EDT

For Paddy Moloney, March is about St. Patrick's Day — he founded the traditional Irish band The Chieftains 48 years ago. But for us, March is about March Madness. So we've asked Moloney to answer three questions about Fighting Irishmen, and other NCAA mascots.

Letter: Lehman's Accounting Tricks Possibly Illegal

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:37:00 EDT

A Lehman Brothers whistleblower warned his bosses that accounting gimmicks the bank used before its collapse may have been illegal, his lawyer said Friday.

Pope Blasts Irish Bishops, Orders Probe

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:35:00 EDT

Pope Benedict XVI rebuked Irish bishops Saturday for "grave errors of judgment" in handling clerical sex abuse and ordered a Vatican investigation into the Irish church to wipe out the scourge.

Hoyer: 'We're Going To Have The Votes'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:25:00 EDT

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says there are representatives who have not publicly indicated that they will support this legislation, but will step forward to give it the 216 necessary votes for passage.

Immigration Calls To Beleaguered Democrats

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

A big rally demanding comprehensive immigration reform is expected Sunday, but don't expect much action from Congress on the issue. Comprehensive reform is not a winner in an election year for Democrats; they'll have to give it a nod, but they are unlikely to take it on along with health care, financial regulations and jobs.

Catholics Torn On Health Care Abortion Language

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

The Catholic bishops have lobbied hard to get Catholic members of Congress to oppose the current health care bill because of language it says could allow some federal funding of abortion. The Catholic hospital group differs on the interpretation of the abortion language and the relative importance of the rest of the bill.

Week In Review With Juan Williams

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Washington was swept up in drama this week as the health care debate finally came to a vote. Obama also signed his jobs bill, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to Russia. Host Scott Simon reviews the week's news with NPR News Analyst Juan Williams.

House Majority Leader Says Dems Have The Votes

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

President Obama has a sure vote in Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the House Majority Leader, who is trying to rally and convince any wavering Democrats. Host Scott Simon talks to Hoyer about the revised health care bill.

Obama Rallies: 'We Have Waited Long Enough'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

President Barack Obama packed the Patriot Center at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., Friday for one more health care rally. Speaking to students in a swing state, Obama hoped to put a bit of his campaign magic on the legislative drive to overhaul the nation's health care system.

Catholics Torn On Health Care Abortion Language

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Week In Review With Juan Williams

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Jail Hosts Exclusive SXSW Concert

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

At the South by Southwest Music Festival this week in Austin, Texas, one of the most exclusive events was an unofficial, invitation-only concert at the Travis County Correctional Complex. Member station KUT's David Brown reports on an initiative called 'Jail Guitar Doors.'

How To Rebuild A Life In Haiti

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Two months after the earthquake, Haitians are now facing the long, hard slog of trying to rebuild their lives. NPR's Katia Riddle brings us snapshots of several people facing the question: "Where do I go from here?"

'American Idol For Nerds' Pits Inventors' Business Plans

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Georgia Tech has what some call an American Idol for Nerds. It's a competition to encourage undergraduates to invent usable items. Winners of "InVenture" get $15,000. Students must not only have a shiny invention, but also a marketing and business plan. This is the second year the college is having this competition. Susanna Capelouto of Georgia Public Broadcasting reports.

March Madness Claims First Victims

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

And then there were 32! That is, 32 teams still alive in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman has been channeling Lou Gehrig the past two days, sitting, watching game after game and considering himself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Host Scott Simon talks with Goldman about the highlights of NCAA March Madness.

Victors In Iraqi Elections Include Suspected Murderers

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

For all the talk of unity and reconciliation, many Iraqi citizens are in for a shock when the new parliament swears in. Several of the winners, including top vote-getters, are believed to have committed mass murder during Iraq's sectarian civil war. One of the names bandied about as a compromise candidate for prime minister allegedly managed a secret prison where Sunnis died by electric drill. Another is a famous death squad leader. With the results finally crystallizing, it's not at all clear that this election will heal any of Iraq's wounds.

Flooded S.D. Town Tries Life As An Island

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

As parts of South Dakota struggle with flooding due mostly to extremely heavy snowmelt, some residents are struggling to stay in their towns. Roads leading into the town of Claremont, population 500, are under water and residents are using tractors and ATVs to access their town. Jenifer Jones of South Dakota Public Broadcasting reports.

House Majority Leader Says Dems Have The Votes

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Immigration Calls To Beleaguered Democrats

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Obama Rallies: 'We Have Waited Long Enough'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

Oops, Taliban Arrests Derail Secret U.N. Talks

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EDT

The arrest of senior Afghan Taliban figures in Pakistan ended secret talks between the Taliban and the United Nations, according the former head of the U.N. mission in Kabul. U.N. representative Kai Eide, who stepped down this month, says the capture of more than a dozen Taliban members, some through joint U.S. Pakistan operations, effectively derailed the possibility of continuing dialogue about settling the war in Afghanistan. But Pakistan says there was no intention to sabotage anything.

Kathleen Turner Channels Molly Ivins' 'Kick-Ass Wit'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Kathleen Turner stars in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, a one-woman show based on the life and work of a brassy Texan columnist who helped break journalism's glass ceiling. The show runs in Philadelphia through April 18.

Prokofiev's 'Peter And The Wolf' (And Scott Simon)

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Prokofiev's symphonic story Peter and the Wolf is a classic for kids. An enterprising little boy named Peter, together with a duck, a cat and a bird, outsmarts a wolf. It has been narrated by some of the world's great vocal actors, including Sir Peter Ustinov and Sir John Gielgud. And now — NPR's Scott Simon.

New Basic Training Hardens 'Softer Generation'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 EDT

The U.S. Army is overhauling its basic training program for the first time in 30 years. Part of the shift is intended to train a new generation of soldiers whose experience with fighting is usually limited to video games.

With Health Care Bill, One Day You're In ...

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:01:00 EDT

The Cornhusker Kickback, Louisiana Purchase and other special provisions are back in the crosshairs, as the House lurches toward final votes on the health care overhaul and reconciliation bill. Some of those provisions are being killed, while others aren't as ominous as the rhetoric makes them seem. Some examples of what's in, what's out and why.

Videos From SXSW 2010: Tanlines, The Very Best, Timber Timbre and more

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:25:00 EDT

The Minneapolis band Peter Wolf Crier's has a gritty old sound, helped by an old mono tube amp. Bob Boilen recaps their live set at SXSW with videos along with a handful of other bands he discovered Thursday night at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas.

South By Southwest: 1,981 Bands In Five Days

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:07:00 EDT

Friday is the third day of the music portion of SXSW, the annual festival and conference in Austin, Texas. It feels like the 43rd. The festival's official band count is at 1,981 bands, over 500 of which hail from outside the U.S. (some from as far away as Singapore), playing in over 85 venues.