Talk of the Nation

Topics from the Most Recent Show

• The Big Issues Of The 2010 Elections
  There's still another major round of primaries left in 2010, but the true political junkies have their eyes locked on November's midterm elections. And the top issues seem clear: the economy, tax cuts, Afghanistan, health care, gay marriage and immigration.
• Ricks' Picks: Best Books About War In Iraq
  For more than seven years, Americans learned about the war from news reports. But between headlines, many also turned to books to understand the strategy and the lessons of the conflict. As "Operation New Dawn" begins, Thomas Ricks picks the best and the worst books about the Iraq war.
• Keeping Trapped Chilean Miners Sane
  The 33 miners trapped underground in Chile likely face months of isolation. Rescuers called in experts from NASA for advice on how to keep the men safe and mentally sound until their rescue. They are also looking to other isolating experiences for lessons, such as ships stuck in ice and long-term hostage situations.
• Mosquito Targets Teens With Audio Repellent
  Local business owners have found a solution to the problem of loitering teenagers -- an audio repellent called The Mosquito. The device emits a high-pitched sound that drives teens crazy but can't be heard by most adults over 25. Inventor Howard Stapleton explains how it works.
• What's Different About These Mideast Peace Talks
  Publicly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have said they welcome the latest round of the peace process. NPR's diplomatic correspondent Michele Keleman outlines the stakes and the expectations for the meetings.
• Letters: Atypical College Students, Egg Recall
  <em>Talk of the Nation</em> listeners shared their stories of attending college as nontraditional students, both on campus and as students at online universities. Also, in an update on the egg recall story, the salmonella outbreak should have no effect on flu vaccines.
• Helping Seniors Grow Old At Home, Safely
  While many equate aging with living in a nursing facility, the vast majority of seniors grow old at home. New services and technologies help make that possible. But with a large and growing demographic to accommodate, families and communities will be challenged to meet the needs of an aging population.
• Paretsky's PI Uncovers Murder In Chicago
  Sara Paretsky's latest novel, <em>Body Work,</em> takes her heroine into the world of cutting-edge performance art, PTSD and the mob. It's the 14th installment of Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski crime thriller series, which she started writing more than 20 years ago.
• Gettysburg, Ground Zero: Secular Sacred Spaces
  Many consider ground zero a sacred place -- as well as the battlefield at Gettysburg, the Lincoln Memorial and the site of the Oklahoma City bombing, among many others. These places often have nothing to do with religion, so it can be difficult define which uses of the spaces are appropriate.
• Gulf Residents Hope for Quick Compensation
  Gulf coast residents affected by the BP oil spill must convince one man that they deserve compensation: Kenneth Feinberg. The administrator of the BP Oil Spill Victim Compensation Fund says he can't solve everyone's problems, but has promised timely answers to all who file claims.
• Teacher Performance Data Stirs Evaluation Debate
  Everyone agrees teacher performance is crucial to student achievement, but there is no consensus on how best to evaluate educators. The <em>Los Angeles Times</em> has fanned the heated debate by publishing the names of 6,000 L.A. teachers, along with data showing their students' test performance.
• Op-Ed: Iraq Needs A Long-Term U.S. Presence
  August 2010 marks the end of combat operations in Iraq -- and a shift for U.S. troops from a combat mission to one of support. But Retired Marine Col. Gary Anderson says that stability in Iraq will require an ongoing American military presence, similar to the U.S. force in Korea, to contain Iran's influence.
• More Patients Find Doctor Is Not In
  As baby boomers age and more Americans obtain health insurance, many health experts predict a primary care doctor shortage. NPR's Julie Rovner discusses her series, 'Primary Care Under Pressure,' and the New America Foundation's Dr. Kavita Patel explores some potential solutions.
• Sci-Fi High Tech Comes To Life
  The future as imagined in science fiction sometimes becomes a reality. Michael and Denise Okuda, graphic designers for <em>Star Trek</em>, and John Underkoffler, science adviser on <em>Minority Report </em>, talk about envisioning the future.
• Gulf Spill Reveals New Oil-Eating Bacteria
  Researchers reporting in the journal <em>Science</em> say they have discovered a new species of oil-eating bacteria living half a mile down in the Gulf of Mexico. Study author Terry Hazen discusses the finding and what these bacteria might mean for future oil spills.