Talk of the Nation

Topics from the Most Recent Show

• Democratic Congressman John Murtha Dies At 77
  Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday of complications from surgery at the age of 77. Murtha was a retired Marine Corps Officer, a Vietnam veteran, one of the most outspoken critics of the U.S. war in Iraq and a strong defender of Congressional deal-making. NPR?s Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving remembers Murtha and his legacy.
• The Future Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
  President Obama has promised to repeal the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy — the law that prohibits gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. The nation's top defense officials now agree it's time to retire the 16-year-old law. Two former military officers weigh in from both sides of the debate.
• Super Bowl Ads: More Male Anxiety Than Usual?
  Mary Elizabeth Williams of Salon.com reviews the best and the worst of Sunday night's Super Bowl ads. As per usual, there were car and beer spots aplenty. But Williams argues that the commercials weren't particularly memorable or clever ? and says 2010's ads were filled with a whole lot of male anxiety.
• Imagining 'The Next Hundred Million' Americans
  The U.S. population is expected to reach 400 million by mid-century. In his book, <em>The Next Hundred Million: America in 2050,</em> Joel Kotkin argues that future will be green, diverse and suburban. Kotkin explains how the nation's changing demographics will transform American life and communities.
• Do Blizzards Put A Freeze On Ethics?
  From saving hard-shoveled parking spots with traffic cones to hoarding milk, the record snowfall across the Mid-Atlantic has pushed many residents into survival mode. NPR's Neal Conan talks with callers about the dog-eat-dog ethics of navigating a blizzard.
• Experts: 'Gene Doping' To Be Next Sports Scandal
  Cheating athletes used to rely on steroids to pump up performance. Then they discovered erythropoietin and human growth hormone. What's next? Gene doping, or genetic manipulation, according to Dr Theodore Friedmann, chair of the World Anti-Doping Agency's Gene Doping Expert Group.
• President Obama's Science Spending
  The president's proposed budget was unveiled this week. How did science make out? This hour Ira Flatow and guests look at the budgets of the major U.S. scientific institutions. How are research, alternative energy development and space travel affected? And will Congress sign on?
• Fossilized Feathers Hint At Dinosaur Color
  Dinosaurs are often portrayed as a drab green or grey, but some may have been much brighter. Reporting in <em>Science</em>, Jakob Vinther and colleagues analyzed the fossilized feathers of 150-million-year-old dinosaur <em>Anchiornis huxleyi</em> and found its plumage was surprisingly flashy.
• Is Depression Overdiagnosed In America?
  Roughly 27 million Americans took prescription antidepressants in 2005, making them the most commonly prescribed class of medications in America. Ira Flatow and guests discuss depression, from how it's diagnosed and treated to how antidepressants stack up against psychotherapy and placebos.
• How To Bounce Back From A PR Disaster
  Toyota is already reeling from a massive safety recall, and now the Transportation Department is investigating possible faulty brakes in Toyota's 2010 Prius. Crisis management expert Eric Dezenhall explains how companies can minimize damage and rebuild consumer trust after a public relations nightmare.
• History, Environment, Politics Make Haiti Poor
  With all eyes on Haiti, many have speculated about why the nation is the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. Author Jared Diamond, author of <em>Guns, Germs and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies,</em> says there's no simple answer &mdash; it's is a complex mix of history and environment, plus social and political policy.
• Wives Increasingly Earning More Than Husbands
  Men are increasingly likely to marry women who make more than they do, according to a new study on the changing economics of marriage. Columnist Amy Dickinson and clinical psychologist Joshua Coleman discuss what that role reversal means for some couples.
• Understanding The Sweeping New Credit Card Rules
  New rules for credit card companies take effect in February. Personal finance columnist Michelle Singletary explains the new rules and what they mean &mdash; and don't mean &mdash; for consumers. Also, giving up extras for 21 days: can it help you spend smarter?
• CIA Chief Warns Terror Attack Is Likely
  CIA Director Leon Panetta says he expects al-Qaida to attempt an attack on the U.S. in the next six months. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly and Georgetown University's Daniel Byman explain why intelligence officials are so certain, and what intelligence officials are doing to prevent another terrorist attack.
• The Race Is On For Obama's Senate Seat
  Illinois voters have chosen Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk to face off in November for the seat formerly held by Barack Obama. NPR's Political Editor Ken Rudin and Rick Pearson of the <em>Chicago Tribune</em> review the results of Tuesday's primary. Also, sportswriter Don Steinberg compares Superbowl games with presidential administrations.