Search results for

Majorities in both houses of Congress are up for grabs in this month's midterm elections but Americans still aren't excited about voting. What's wrong? Host Scott Simon talks with Thomas Patterson, author of The Vanishing Voter: Public Involvement in an Age of Uncertainty.

Host Scott Simon talks to professional whistler Robert Stemmons, who demonstrates his art, and expounds on the many benefits of whistling.

Host Scott Simon talks with Weekend Edition Sports commentator Ron Rapoport about the fact that for the first time he and Ron correctly predicted the winner of a major sporting event, the Angels winning the World Series.

Host Scott Simon reflects on the 911 operator who cut of a call from one of two men now accused of sniper-style shootings in the Washington, D.C.-area and the Deep South.

Guitarist Lonnie Donegan inspired John Lennon and Pete Townshend with his "skiffle" sound. He wrote such memorable hits as "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (on the Bedpost Overnight)," and "Rock Island Line." Lonnie Donegan died yesterday at the age of 71. Robert Siegel has this remembrance.

Host Scott Simon talks with British writer Phillip Knightley about the double-agent Kim Philby. Knightley met the spy in Moscow and wrote the new introduction to Philby's autobiography, My Silent War, which has just been re-issued by The Modern Library.

NPR's Ina Jaffe reports the most appealing candidate in California is better known for his action packed movies than his political views. Although Arnold Schwarzenegger is not currently running for office, he is sponsoring an initiative for the November 5th ballot that could make after-school programs available to many students in the state. Some say Schwarzenegger is training for a chance to be governor in four years.

U.N. Security Council members await the latest revised draft resolution on Iraq from the United States. Meanwhile, President Bush is warning that Iraq could "provide an arsenal" to terrorist groups. NPR's Tom Gjelten reports.

NPR's Don Gonyea travels with President Bush, who is making his rounds across the country stirring up support for Republican candidates in this year's tight congressional races. But as Bush follows a long itinerary that he hopes will pack Congress with GOP members sympathetic to his agenda, some critics say the president's energy could have been used in tending to national issues.

Steven Dudley reports that President Uribe of Colombia is hoping to protect citizens against rebels and paramilitary groups by adopting methods that the groups have used against the government for years. Uribe is recruiting residents as informants to assist in the battle against domestic terrorism. Human rights groups oppose his strategy, fearing that innocent people may be wrongly accused.