All Things Considered

Topics from the Most Recent Show

• Is The Bible More Violent Than The Quran?
  Scholar Philip Jenkins argues that scriptures in the Quran are less brutal than those in the Bible. In his new book, <em>Jesus Wars,</em> Jenkins points out that violence in the Quran is mostly defensive, but in the Bible, it is often a method of genocide.
• Pakistan Indicts Americans On Terrorism Charges
  Pakistan indicted five American Muslims on Wednesday on terrorism charges. The young men from the Washington, D.C., area say they were on their way to Afghanistan on a humanitarian mission when they were arrested in Pakistan.
• Elif Shafak's New Book Reviewed
  Turkish novelist Elif Shafak's new novel, <em>The Forty Rules of Love</em>, takes us into the life of a middle-aged Jewish woman from central Massachusetts, who as a reader for a literary agent, has just picked up a copy of a novel by a modern Sufi mystic.
• Abortion Still A Sticking Point In Health Care
  Abortion still drives some anti-abortion rights Democrats away from the health care bill. The dispute isn't just about abortion, it's also about what the bills actually say about abortion. Timothy Jost, law professor at Washington and Lee University, offers his insight.
• Letters: Doctors, Graves
  Listeners respond to the story on the reaction of cardiologists about the changes in government payments for Medicare and about the remembrance of actor Peter Graves.
• Teachers Skeptical Of Obama's Education Plan
  President Obama is proposing a massive rewrite of the No Child Left Behind policy. But many teachers are skeptical. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, says the president's plan gives teachers full responsibility but no authority.
• Condo Flipping May Be Making A Comeback
  An investor recently bought 19 condominiums in a Miami building that was in foreclosure for $1.25 million. Twenty minutes later, the condos were sold, in bulk, for $1.45 million. Peter Zalewski, principal of condovultures.com, has at least five recent examples of similar profits.
• Martin Indyk On Netanyahu-U.S. Flap
  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is in the midst of a spat with Washington over housing in East Jerusalem, is no stranger to tough negotiations with the U.S. Martin Indyk, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, says that for indirect talks between Israel and the Palestinians to go forward, Netanyahu must comply with Washington's demand: No more provocative acts in East Jerusalem.
• Hostility Against Federal Workers Troubles Officials
  A House panel this week examines the safety of government workers in the wake of the latest attacks on government buildings. The agency responsible for protecting federal offices says it has worked to improve training, but other factors &mdash; including an angry political climate &mdash; concern authorities.
• Catholic Hospitals, Bishops Split On Health Care Bill
  The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops says the health care bill could allow public funding of abortions. But the association that represents Catholic hospitals says that the benefits outweigh any concerns about possible abortion loopholes.
• Pro-Health Care Groups Take Case To Capitol Hill
  With the fate of the health care bill still uncertain, Capitol Hill is swarming with advocates on both sides of the issue. Protesters have been knocking down the doors of lawmakers who are undecided, and bill supporters are pushing their message just as hard.
• Kucinich To Vote 'Yes' On Health Care
  Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) said Wednesday he will support the health care overhaul bill two days after he was personally lobbied by President Obama. Kucinich said he will vote for the legislation though he still has doubts about it.
• Democrats Lobby Ohio Democrat On Health Care
  House Democrats appear to be in the final days of some tough lobbying for 216 votes to pass a revised health care bill. Among those they are lobbying hardest is John Boccieri, a freshman Ohio Democrat elected to a seat held by Republicans for more than half a century.
• Democrats Stress Immediate Effects Of Health Bill
  Republicans have threatened to make the controversial health care overhaul a central issue in every congressional race next fall. So from President Obama on down, Democrats have begun telling voters not just what the overhaul will do for them but what it will do for them right away.
• Veteran Who Lost His Legs Takes Bronze In Biathlon
  At the Paralympics in Vancouver, Andy Soule became the first U.S. athlete ever to win an Olympic or Paralympic medal in biathlon. Soule, who lost his legs when his Humvee was hit by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan in 2005, says his training as a soldier helped him become a Paralympian.