Talk of the Nation

Apple, Tech Giants And An Industrial-Age Tax Code

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000

Apple CEO Timothy Cook made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, testifying after congressional investigators revealed that Apple avoided billions in taxes. Reporter Charles Duhigg of The New York Times and guest host Jennifer Ludden talk about how, as Duhigg writes, "technology giants have taken advantage of tax codes written for an industrial age."

When Tornadoes Are A Way Of Life

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000

Monday's tornado tore through parts of Oklahoma City at 200 miles per hour and killed at least 24 people. Many more are missing orinjured. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to KOSU reporter Michael Cross and to meteorologist Paul Douglas about why it's so hard to track tornadoes.

Would Lowering The Drunk Driving Threshold Help?

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:47:00 +0000

The National Transportation Safety Board has recommended reducing the legal limit for blood alcohol content for drivers from .08 to .05. Critics say it won't significantly help prevent drunken driving. Guest LZ Granderson argues that without more checkpoints, a lower threshold would do nothing.

Tiny Living: The Rise Of Small Spaces

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:14:00 +0000

As the populations in big cities increase and more people choose to live alone, a new trend of living in very small spaces has emerged. But the tiny living movement is not without controversy as growth of these multi-unit buildings puts pressure on established neighborhoods.

The Future Of The Workers' Movement

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:10:00 +0000

As membership in private-sector labor unions has continued to nosedive, traditional labor groups have been forced to reevaluate — just as non-union worker groups have emerged. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to writer Josh Eidelson about what he calls 'alt-labor.'

Life In Argentina's 'Little School' Prison Camp

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 18:04:00 +0000

During Argentina's so-called Dirty War, thousands were abducted and taken to secret prisons like a place known as "the little school," where many were tortured and killed. Guest host Jennifer Ludden talks to a former prisoner, Alicia Partnoy, about her disappearance and her time there.

Ex-Ambassador To Iraq Weighs In On Talking To 'Monsters'

editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:01:00 +0000

As the death toll in Syria climbs and critics blast the Obama administration for not taking more decisive action, former ambassador Christopher Hill points instead to a failure of diplomacy in an op-ed in the New York Times. Hill talks about what the U.S. faces in facilitating talks between the regime and Syrian rebels.

Managing The $30 Million 'One Fund' To Aid Boston Victims

editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:59:00 +0000

Days after the marathon bombing, officials established the One Fund for Boston to assist victims and their families. Attorney Ken Feinberg, who managed similar funds after Sept. 11 and Virginia Tech and is managing this fund, says there's no easy way to decide who gets how much of the $30 million that's been donated.

Will Strong Summer Travel Be A Turning Point For Airlines?

editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:59:00 +0000

As the summer travel season approaches, air travel provides a barometer for the health of the U.S. economy — and airlines report they're having a good year. After years of financial troubles, industry representatives hope U.S. travelers are more willing to fly. NPR senior business editor Marilyn Geewax explains what summer travel tells us about the health of the economy.

Analyzing The Language Of Suicide Notes To Help Save Lives

editor — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:10:00 +0000

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

Every 14 minutes, someone in this country commits suicide, and research on ways to reduce that grim statistic appears to be on a plateau. In other words, psychologists don't have much in the way of new ideas - at least right now - except maybe for what's described as ground-breaking work on the notes that those who kill themselves sometimes leave behind. A team of researchers at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital used computers to break down the language in these messages of despair in the hope that they can better identify those at risk. Dr.