Known as the “Merchant of Death,” Viktor Bout illegally ferried weapons, diamonds, and even UN peacekeepers around the world. The man who wrote the book on Bout thinks it’s time to send him home, if it can free Brittney Griner.
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Events continue to unfold, causing us to look back, forward, inward, and outward. A new bill is introduced which takes us back 20 years and ahead 18 years. Professor Amar conducts an unprecedented interview - maybe we shouldn’t use that term - and you are there. A moot court from 23 years ago reappears in the present. And lessons from nearly 250 years ago will unfold in the next year - and affect us forever. Professor Amar unwraps this scroll.
It's been over 150 years since the first article was published about the molecular key to life as we know it — DNA. With help from expert Pravrutha Raman, Short Wave producer Berly McCoy explains how DNA is stored in our cells and why the iconic double helix shape isn't what you'd see if you peeked inside your cells right now. (encore)
Curious about all the other biology that defines us? Email the show at shortwave@npr.org — we're all ears ... and eyes and toes and ... a lot of things. Thanks, DNA!
The quest to find the headwaters of the Nile River was the mid-19th century's equivalent to the space race. In her new nonfiction book, River of God, Candice Millard follows the story of two bitter rivals on an adventure into uncharted places to claim that prize for England. In an interview with Scott Simon on Weekend Edition Saturday, Millard spoke about the complicated legacy of the Nile's exploration and the arrogance behind "discovering" a land that has been populated for millions of years. And don't say we didn't warn you about the part where a beetle gets in someone's ear...
Rob looks back at the house-influenced 1997 pop hit that is “Together Again.” Along the way, he highlights the sensational career of pop icon Janet Jackson, and some of her best laughs on songs.
President Etienne Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo is reassessing when MONUSCO peacekeepers should leave the country. We hear from his spokesman.
Also, with news of the killing of Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri, survivors of the 1998 bombing of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar Es Salaam express disappointment at receiving no compensation like American victims.
Plus Somalia's new cabinet includes a former Al Shabab leader.
After weeks of speculation, debate and increasingly bellicose rhetoric, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has decided to go to Taiwan. In today’s episode, NLW explains discussion around the strategy behind the decision, why the timing makes a harsh Chinese response more likely and how the markets are reacting.
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“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. The music you heard today behind our sponsors is “The Now” by Aaron Sprinkle. Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
Ravi, Cory, and Rikki start with the Forward Party’s push to crash America’s two-party system before turning to the underwhelming punishment the NFL is handing down to Deshaun Watson. Then we revisit Will Smith and the Oscars slap, dive deep on Sen. Joe Manchin’s new budget bill, take stock of the Monkeypox outbreak, and marvel at Trump’s double Eric endorsement in Missouri.
Kate Shaw, Professor of Law at Cardozo Law School, and co-host of Strict Scrutiny analyzes if the women’s rights movement needs to campaign more explicitly for adoption of the Equal Rights Amendment. Plus, Beyonce amends a lyric, and Ayman al-Zawahiri is no more.
With abortion almost completely banned in Wisconsin, some providers are making long commutes to serve patients across the Illinois border. Reset learns more about the partnership from WBEZ public health and politics reporter Kristen Schorsch and Kristen Schultz of Planned Parenthood of Illinois.
