Weekend Edition Saturday

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88.5-1

Saturday

8:00 am

88.3

Saturday

8:00 am

From civil wars in Bosnia and El Salvador, to hospital rooms, police stations, and America's backyards, National Public Radio's Peabody Award-winning correspondent Scott Simon brings a well-traveled perspective to his role as host of Weekend Edition Saturday.

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

JPMorgan In Talks To Avoid Criminal Charges

The financial giant is also facing civil charges and fines that could cost it $11 billion. JPMorgan is negotiating with the Justice Department over the company's handling of mortgage-backed securities leading up to the housing crisis. Host Scott Simon talks with New York Times columnist Joe Nocera about the significance of the talks.

Showdown Over The Shutdown

Congress needs to approve a budget by midnight Monday — at which point the U.S. government is set to shut down. Weekend Edition Sunday host Scott Simon talks with Ramesh Ponnuru of The National Review about the GOP and looming potential government shutdown.

Pirate Treasure May Lie In Waters Off Cape Cod

Explorer Barry Clifford has spent decades exploring the wreck of the pirate ship Whydah off the coast of Cape Cod. This summer, he and his team learned there may be far more treasure waiting. Clifford joins host Scott Simon to describe what they found.

U.N. Security Council Approves Syria Chemical Arms Deal

The United Nations Security Council has broken its two-and-a-half-year deadlock over Syria, approving a resolution on the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. The U.S. and Russia are now trying to move beyond that and will try to get the warring sides around the negotiating table in Geneva.

BP Oil Spill Trial To Begin Second Phase

The months-long federal trial is examining how much fault should be placed on BP and its contractors for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. The accident killed 11 rig workers and released almost 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Host Scott Simon speaks with NPR's Debbie Elliott to preview the civil trial.

Chvrches Talks Technology (And 'Ghostbusters')

The synth-pop trio from Glasgow, Scotland, is one of this year's success stories. Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty share some insight on the making of their debut album, The Bones of What You Believe.

The Fragile, Invisible Connections Of The Natural World

From the TED Radio Hour, writer and environmentalist George Monbiot tells the story of what happened when wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone National Park after a 70-year absence.

Al-Shabab Shifts Focus From Territory To Terrorism

The Somalia-based terrorist organization claimed responsibility for the Nairobi mall attack. Until recently, the group has been focused on local issues. After military setbacks and a leadership change, its priorities now seem aligned with the global jihadi agenda.

Obama-Rouhani Phone Conversation Is A 30-Year First

President Obama spoke via phone Friday with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, the first time leaders of the two countries have directly communicated since 1979. Host Scott Simon talks with Iran analyst Karim Sadjadpour about what it means for U.S.-Iran relations going forward.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Have Obama's Troubles Weakened Him For Fall's Fiscal Fights?

Observers say the president's recent fumbles on Syria and other issues have emboldened Republicans. But President Obama's supporters say he has the upper hand when it comes to showdowns over a possible government shutdown and default on the nation's debt.

Trader Joe's Ex-President To Turn Expired Food Into Cheap Meals

In the United States, 40 percent of the food produced annually goes to waste. Doug Rauch, former president of Trader Joe's, wants to do something about it. He's opening a restaurant that will transform produce past its sell date into healthful take-out food.

A Road Trip Sparks An Unlikely Friendship In 'Norvelt To Nowhere'

Young Jack hits the road with his cranky, elderly teacher Miss Volker (and a couple of cranky, elderly cars) in From Norvelt to Nowhere, the new young adult novel from Jack Gantos. The sequel to 2011's Newbery-winning Dead End in Norvelt is set in 1962, in the shadow of the Cuban missile crisis.

No Schmear Job: A Brief History Of Bagels And Lox

The origin of the bagel "is somewhat mysterious," says a writer who recently explored the topic. What is unquestionable is that bagel met and married lox in New York. But as in so many modern unions, both partners came to the marriage with plenty of baggage.

Leonard Bernstein's Unconventional 'Anxiety'

For conductor Marin Alsop, Bernstein's idiosyncratic Second Symphony — inspired by W.H. Auden's poem The Age of Anxiety — is a musical quest to answer life's big questions with time out to throw a hip-swinging party.

Being Head Chef In A Theatrical Test Kitchen

Lou Volpe ran the theater program at Harry S. Truman High in Levittown, Pa., for four decades, presenting famous, edgy shows before they become classics in high school theater, and has sent scores of students out into lives in professional theater. Host Scott Simon speaks with Michael Sokolove, author of Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town and the Magic of Theater, and another former student, Antonio Addeo, an aspiring Broadway actor.

Pages

Arts & Culture

WAMU 88.5

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, October 7

You can explore one calligrapher's modern take on Korean handwriting, or see two shows that require a little help from the audience.

Food

NPR

Labor-Starved Pear Farmers Buckle Under Bumper Crop

The Pacific Northwest grows the majority of the nation's pears, and this year's harvest is predicted to be the third-largest in history. But farmers are facing a shortfall that's been plaguing many agricultural industries: not enough workers to pick the fruit.

Politics

NPR

No End In Sight: Shutdown Showdown Enters Week Two

Hundreds of thousands of Defense Department civilian employees will go back to work on Monday, but many government operations remain suspended.

Technology

NPR

Wanted: A New Generation Of High-Tech Aviation Workers

Millions of U.S. factory jobs have been lost in the past decade. Now, in North Carolina, high school students are being encouraged to think about taking manufacturing jobs. But this isn't the furniture-making or textile labor of generations past — it's a new kind of highly technical work in aviation.

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Weekend Edition Saturday

Arts & Culture

Art Beat With Lauren Landau, October 7

Food

Labor-Starved Pear Farmers Buckle Under Bumper Crop

Politics

No End In Sight: Shutdown Showdown Enters Week Two

Technology

Wanted: A New Generation Of High-Tech Aviation Workers

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