News & Politics
Weekend America on News & Politics
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The Dow's Drop, Wiretapping, and Aging Endearments
Our panel of non-experts weigh in on this week's news events in a parlor game to gauge what kind of week America had. Joining us on this week's panel are: Robert Ferrigno, author of "Sins of the Assassin"; Stacey Grenrock-Woods, sex advice columnist for Esquire Magazine and author of a new memoir, "I, California"; and Tak Toyoshima, creator and artist of the syndicated comic strip "Secret Asian Man."
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Political Dreams
Sometimes you don't have to be a political junkie for the presidential candidates to seep into your subconscious. Each time you turn on the TV or read the news, there they are. For some people, these sounds and visions have made their way into their dreams. But what does it all mean?
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G7 Economic Meeting
Finance ministers of G7 nations are meeting with President Bush this weekend in Washington, D.C. They're trying to come up with a strong and coordinated response to the economic crisis. What difference can and should the meeting make? We check in with Chris Farrell, chief economics correspondent for American Public Media.
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Coming Out
This weekend is National Coming Out Day. But coming out can still be dangerous and risky. Pape Mbaye is a well-known, openly gay Senegalese entertainer. In February, a magazine published photos of him attending an underground gay marriage that started an onslaught of threats and attacks. With the help of human rights organizations, Pape has attained refugee status in the United States. He's been living in New York for a month.
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Google Goggles
Ever had the clever idea late at night - after you've had a few - to email your crush, or your ex? Google wants to save you from yourself. Gmail debuted something called "Gmail Goggles" this week. If you're emailing late on a Friday or Saturday night, it flings a quick math test up on your screen to see if you're really fit to send that email. If you flunk, your message doesn't go anywhere. Will an "email breathalyzer" work?
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The First Sound Bite
We seem to have gotten used to the idea that political campaigns are just strings of sound bites for months on end. And it seems like it's always been that way. But, of course, it hasn't. We don't imagine George Washington giving 10-second prefab answers to reporters. So when did political sound bites actually start showing up? Well, many historians say it happened exactly 100 years ago.
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Debate Advice
Did you watch the debate last week? Millions of you did. If not, you have only one more chance. Wednesday night in New York is the third and final contest between John McCain and Barack Obama. That means this weekend, the Obama and McCain camps are trying to get their candidates ready to make one last push. Even though they didn't ask for it, we decided to get some advice for the candidates, so we brought in two of the top high school debaters in the area.
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Organizing for Election Day
There are 24 days until the election, and all eyes are on the so-called "battleground" states. Are you feeling left out? Well, most of us are. The majority of Americans do not live in swing states. But chances are, you've got one nearby. And what neighbor isn't at least tempted to lean over the fence with a little friendly advice? Volunteers working for both tickets are crossing state lines to build support for their candidates and tilt the scale by Election Day.
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Open Letter to a Thief
Just two months ago, someone broke into Weekend America producer Angela Kim's apartment while she was away. Everything was taken, including her computer and two backup hard drives. Along with many possessions, six years of digital memories are suddenly gone. Angela wonders how she can regain what was lost.
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Conversations with America: Dr. Hugh Hill
Here at Weekend America we've asked writers and thinkers what they believe should be on voters' minds as they cast their ballots this election year. Our essay today comes from emergency room physician Hugh Hill. Dr. Hill has worked in emergency rooms for 28 years, dealing with the insured and uninsured alike. The patients he sees on a daily basis have shaped his view of the politics of health care in the United States.
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This Weekend in 1968: Night of the Living Dead
In movie theaters across the country 40 years ago, terror took a new form: The flesh-eating zombie. "Night of the Living Dead" unearthed an army of ghouls to scare children and adults off their seats. The filmmakers who created the film say the tumultuous events of 1968 have made people read much more into "Night of the Living Dead" than the horror they wanted to create.
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Letters: Black Hebrews and Google Bets
It's time to open the Weekend America mailbag and hear your responses to recent shows. This week we hear listener reactions to a difficult childhood as a Black Hebrew in Israel; how we settled bets in the days before Google; and we wonder why nobody admits that listening to the radio is part of weekend fun.
