From Our Listeners Republican National Convention Update August 31, 2004 • NPR's Neal Conan discusses the latest convention news with NPR's Ken Rudin and Comedy Central's Lewis Black.
Opinion World Vietnamese Baffled by War's Echo in U.S. Election August 31, 2004 • While Sen. John Kerry's war record remains a divisive issue in this country, many foreign observers wonder what all the fuss is about -- even in Vietnam. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports.
Law Guardsman on Trial for Trying to Aid Al Qaeda August 31, 2004 • A court-martial begins for Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, a National Guardsman accused of attempting to pass U.S. secrets to al Qaeda. Prosecutors have videotape evidence and a star witness. The defense says the accused is mentally unstable and a victim of entrapment. Austin Jenkins reports.
News Bush Suggests U.S. Can't Win War on Terror August 31, 2004 • In a TV interview, President Bush suggests for the first time that America can't definitively win the war on terror, but says the effort will make terrorism less acceptable around the world. Bush campaigns in Michigan and New Hampshire, two states where he trails Sen. John Kerry in recent polls. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea.
Terri Schiavo Law Tested in State's High Court August 31, 2004 • The Florida Supreme Court hears arguments over the constitutionality of a law meant to keep a brain-damaged woman alive. The law, known as Terri's Law, was passed last fall by the Florida legislature. Terri Schiavo has been at the heart of a legal battle over whether her husband has the right to remove the feeding tube that keeps her alive. NPR's Debbie Elliott reports.
News Swing States Loom Large at Convention August 31, 2004 • Every state delegation matters at the national convention, but some seem to matter more than others. The most important delegates are those from a handful of states where the race for president is closest, the states where everyone expects the outcome to be decided. NPR's Robert Siegel reports.
U.S. Expands Deportation Trips Beyond Border August 31, 2004 • The U.S. Border Patrol hopes that a program of "deep deportation" will cut down on repeat offenders trying to enter the United States illegally. The program pays for flying immigrants to their homes hundreds of miles away from the border. NPR's Carrie Kahn reports.
From Our Listeners The Regional Face of Poverty August 31, 2004 • For the third year in a row, the number of Americans living in poverty has increased. That's the national picture painted by the U.S. Census. But life at the poverty line looks very different in New York than it does in Dothan, Ala. Join NPR's Neal Conan for a discussion on the regional realities of poverty.
Iowa Town Finds Success in Serenity August 31, 2004 • While other towns in the region struggle, the small community of Fairfield, Iowa, has flourished through serenity. A school for Transcendental Meditation, established 30 years ago by a former guru for the Beatles, has turned the town into a thriving cultural center. Hear NPR's Greg Allen.
New SAT Numbers Reflect Gap in Education August 31, 2004 • A record number of college-bound high school graduates took the SAT last year. The College Board said average scores for math and reading either dropped very slightly or were the same as 2002. The board said the scores also again highlighted unequal access to quality education for blacks and Latinos, with whites and Asians more likely to have access to rigorous college prep courses. NPR's Claudio Sanchez reports.
Taking Stock of Convention Protesters in New York August 31, 2004 • The Republican convention has drawn protesters from around the country to New York. From protesting drummers to Minnesota folk musicians and political organizers, the GOP has plenty of people to talk to. NPR's Margot Adler reports.
Covering the Conservative Movement Fresh Air August 31, 2004 • Journalist David Kirkpatrick reports on the conservative movement's issues and leaders for The New York Times.
Jesse Kalisher: Good Karma in a Tropical Paradise August 31, 2004 • Storyteller and photographer Jesse Kalisher talks about the good karma he discovered doing volunteer work in a Central American paradise -- a tropical island off the coast of Belize.
Bowman Poem: GOP's TV Competition August 31, 2004 • Writer James Bowman, resident scholar at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is providing poems about the Republican Convention each day this week. Tuesday, he notes that try as they might, the GOP has tough competition from popular television programs.
Bush Revises Remarks, Vows to 'Win' Terror War August 31, 2004 • President Bush clarifies his stance on the fight against terrorism, saying the United States will emerge victorious. The president's remarks Tuesday clashed with his statements on NBC's Today show Monday, when he said he was not sure America could win a definitive victory in the war on terror. Hear NPR's Don Gonyea and NPR's Melissa Block.