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Host Bob Edwards talks with author Gore Vidal about his new novel, The Golden Age. In the final volume of a series of historic novels, Vidal writes about the 1940's, a decade that saw the end of World War Two and the dawn of American dominance in everything from business to ballet. Vidal says it was during this time that marked the death of the American republic, as the U-S transformed into a global empire. (6:38) {Stations: "The Golden Age" by Gore Vidal is published by Doubleday ISBN: 0-385-50075-0}

Noah talks with LAPD detective Gil Escontrias about the rash of spandex robberies. Detective Escontrias says armed gangs have been stealing the yarn and bolts of the synthetic fabric from textile mills. Last year, over $2 million dollars worth was stolen in Los Angeles. He says the yarn is worth 6 times that of other fibers, so it's easy to find buyers who don't care where it came from. He notes that underpaid textile employees are targeted by thieves looking for access to the material.

Host Renee Montagne talks to author, Michele Serros about her new book, How to Be a Chicana Role Model. The book tells the story of a Chicana writer who's trying to find a way to embrace two very different cultures--without losing her identity in the process. (6:53) Stations: How to Be a Chicana Role Model by Michele Serros is published by Riverhead Books; ISBN: 15732

Linda Wertheimer talks with NPR's Don Gonyea, who is traveling with the president today, one day after Mr. Bush gave his budget address to a joint session of Congress. The president got good reviews on his oratory, but Democrats claim that the plan favors the rich. Mr. Bush, in visits around the country to sell his plan, insisted that the Democrats were playing "class warfare," and that the current state of the economy warrants his $1.6 trillion tax cut.

NPR's David Welna reports on the Democratic tax-cut proposal. Led by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, Democrats are pushing for a $300 rebate to every taxpayer (and a $600 rebate to every couple), using about $60 billion from the budget surplus. They are also proposing an immediate cut in the lowest tax rate. Their proposal would be separate from President Bush's signature $1.6 trillion tax-cut plan, and Republicans fear that such a proposal would take the momentum away from Mr. Bush's program.

In the past eight months, a video of a young guitarist playing a modern version of Johann Pachelbel's Canon in D Major has become a sensation on the Internet. The video has been viewed on YouTube.com more than 7.6 million times -- but nobody knew the identity of the guitarist. Recently, that changed.

There was a standing ovation at baseball's Miller Park in Milwaukee this weekend, as a new athlete took the field for the first time. Standing about eight feet tall -- including his sombrero -- "El Picante" was the star of the show during the Brewers' 6th-inning entertainment: the sausage races.

After 25 years as the host of ABC's Nightline, news anchor Ted Koppel is retiring. Nightline started out in March 1980 as extended news coverage of the hostage crisis in Iran. Koppel has won 37 Emmys and 6 Peabody Awards, as well as many other honors.

A gas station in Rancho Cordova was charging only 69 cents a gallon. The price was supposed to be $6.99. The mistake cost the station $16,000 and the manager his job.

Azaria is also currently starring in the Broadway production of Spamalot the musical version of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. He along with Tim Curry has been nominated for a Tony. He also stars in the Showtime series Huff, about an urban psychiatrist with troubles of his own. Azaria does the voices of Apu the convenience store owner and Moe the bartender, among others, on The Simpsons. This interview was originally broadcast on Dec. 6, 2004.