Accessibility links
Steve Inskeep Steve Inskeep is a host of NPR's Morning Edition and Up First.
Steve Inskeep, photographed for NPR, 13 May 2019, in Washington DC.
Stories By

Steve Inskeep

Diversions

California Cop Wannabe Busted in Germany

It's no surprise to drive down the highway and spot the California Highway Patrol. At least it's no surprise in California. But police stopped a man dressed as a California cop in Germany. He said he was selling the car and wanted to impress the buyer. Police took away his unlicensed revolver. And because wearing a fake uniform in public is prohibited in Germany, the cops also took him on a shopping trip to buy civilian clothes.

California Cop Wannabe Busted in Germany

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6533323/6533324" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Diversions

World's Biggest Joint Abandoned

A group in Amsterdam has abandoned its plan to roll and smoke the world's biggest joint. They were afraid their project would be illegal even in Amsterdam. Dutch authorities allow the personal use of marijuana, but the limit is set at five grams. Organizers of the giant joint wanted to get around the restriction by getting 100 people to each contribute their supply. But now they say the "small print" of the law means their giant joint is "not possible."

World's Biggest Joint Abandoned

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6533317/6533318" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Keeping it Primitive with The Black Keys

The Akron, Ohio, duo prefers its music sloppy and primitive. They record in a basement, and use strategic pauses to make their two-instrument band sound bigger. Guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney talk with Steve Inskeep before their set at Washington, D.C.'s 9:30 Club.

Keeping it Primitive with The Black Keys

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6533258/6533259" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Books

A Western Twist on Middle East Literary Traditions

Two comic writers are breaking tensions with their unique interpretations of the Middle East. In American Bill Willingham's new graphic novel, 1001 Nights of Snowfall, he creates an American version of the Middle Eastern classic Book of 1001 Nights -- starring Snow White. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti writer Naif al-Mutawa has a new comic series about the attributes of Allah. But his main characters are western-style superheroes. Steve Inskeep reports.

A Western Twist on Middle East Literary Traditions

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6533237/6533238" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Shiite Ministers Threaten to Boycott Parliament

Baghdad is under indefinite curfew after explosions kill more than 200 people in Sadr City, the capital's Shiite stronghold. Followers of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are blaming occupation forces for fomenting the violence in Iraq and threaten to boycott parliament unless Iraq's prime minister cancels a meeting with President Bush next week.

Shiite Ministers Threaten to Boycott Parliament

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6533222/6533223" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Katrina & Beyond

Outside New Orleans, Thanksgiving and Reconstruction

Donald and Colleen Bordelon stayed in their home in Saint Bernard Parish, outside New Orleans, through the flooding of Hurricane Katrina. Today, they're among the few residents on their street to remain. Donald Bordelon says they used to be seven houses from their corner. They're now three houses from the corner as more houses in the area are torn down.

Outside New Orleans, Thanksgiving and Reconstruction

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6529455/6529456" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Indonesians Protest U.S. President's Visit

President Bush visits Indonesia, a Muslim nation where many people have greeted his visit with street protests. Bush said the open protests were a sign of a healthy society.

Indonesians Protest U.S. President's Visit

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6512626/6512627" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Technology

Ten Ways to Ruin your Hard Drive

The data recovery company called On-Track puts out a list each year of horrible data disasters. Oozing bananas, leaking shampoo bottles and misused WD-40 all made the list of this year's data disasters.

Ten Ways to Ruin your Hard Drive

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6512623/6512624" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

General Warns Senators Against Pulling U.S. Troops from Iraq

In an armed service committee hearing Wednesday, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East warned Congress not to set a timetable for withdrawing troops from Iraq. Gen. John Abizaid was grilled by senators, including John McCain.

General Warns Senators Against Pulling U.S. Troops from Iraq

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6495804/6495805" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

World

Powerful Quake Triggers Japanese Tsunami Warning

An earthquake with a magnitude of at least 7.7, and possibly as high as 8.1, was recorded in the Pacific Ocean off of Japan. Officials issued a tsunami warning after the quake, advising Pacific-coast residents on the islands of Hokkaido and Honshu to move to higher ground. When the tsunami came ashore, it measured only 16 inches in height.

Powerful Quake Triggers Japanese Tsunami Warning

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6490355/6490356" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Health Care

FDA Orders Caution Over the Use of Tamiflu

The FDA has ordered new cautionary language for the flu drug Tamiflu, telling doctors and patients to be on the lookout for abnormal behavior in people taking the drug. More than 100 recent cases of delirium, hallucinations and other unusual psychiatric behavior have been reported in Japanese patients.

FDA Orders Caution Over the Use of Tamiflu

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6484627/6484628" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Politics

The Democrats' 100-Hour House Agenda

The Democrats who captured the House this week have said they have an agenda for their first 100 hours in power. They intend to pass bills addressing terrorism, a minimum-wage increase, and lower drug prices.

The Democrats' 100-Hour House Agenda

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/6466919/6466920" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript