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Author Interviews

12:17 pm

Sat October 13, 2012

How Lincoln's Fiercest Rival Became His Close Ally

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Credit Henry Guttmann / Getty Images

President Lincoln appointed William Henry Seward secretary of state in 1861. He served until 1869.

Credit Courtesy of Simon & Schuster

Walter Stahr began writing his first book, John Jay, while working as a lawyer in Hong Kong.

By editor

Originally published on Sun October 14, 2012 8:07 am

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The race for the Republican nomination of 1860 was one of the great political contests of American history. It was Abraham Lincoln versus Salmon Chase, versus William Seward.

Author Walter Stahr spoke with Weekends All Things Considered host Guy Raz about his new biography, Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man. He describes how a man who was Lincoln's fiercest and most critical opponent eventually became his most loyal and trusted adviser.

Interview Highlights

On Seward losing the election

8:05 am

Sat October 13, 2012

Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash Plays Not My Job

By editor

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Sesame Street's Elmo and master puppeteer Kevin Clash play our game called "Shut up! Shut up! I'm Going to Cut Your Mike!" Three stories about Bill O'Reilly taken from an article in GQ.

Fresh Air Weekend

6:03 am

Sat October 13, 2012

Fresh Air Weekend: Tig Notaro, Louis C.K., Nate Silver

Credit tignation.com

Comedian Tig Notaro dealt with a cancer diagnosis the best way she knew how — with humor.

By editor

Originally published on Mon October 15, 2012 11:22 am

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Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors, and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

5:44 am

Sat October 13, 2012

The Pirate Prince Of Sealand, Remembered

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Credit Evening Standard / Getty Images

British pirate radio broadcaster Paddy Roy Bates with his wife, Joan, and daughter, Penny, in 1966.

Credit AP

The sovereign principality of Sealand is an artillery platform built during World War II about seven miles off the coast of Essex, England. Paddy Roy Bates founded Sealand in 1967, proclaiming it an independent state.

By Scott Simon

Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 9:58 am

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Paddy Roy Bates, the self-proclaimed prince of Sealand, was almost 80 when I met him in the summer of 2000. He was silvery and straight-backed — very much the model of a modern major, which he was in the British Army during World War II, when he survived frostbite, malaria, snakebites and a German bomb that shattered his jaw so badly a surgeon told him no woman would ever love him. So he married a former beauty queen named Joan and made her the princess of Sealand.

Let me explain.

Hana Baba is a reporter and Co-Host of Crosscurrents, a daily radio newsmagazine that broadcasts on KALW Public Radio in the San Francisco Bay Area.

On a national level, Hana does freelance writing and reporting on ethnic communities, poverty, health, culture, religion, and the arts. Her radio work has appeared on various NPR programs, and PRI's The World. Her articles have appeared on New America Media and the Sudan Tribune. A Sudanese-American, Hana also reports from and about Sudan and Sudanese, and is fluent in Arabic.

Hana has moderated panel discussions on local media and journalism, broadcast on radio and television. She also is a bilingual English/Arabic voice-over talent, and is the voice of the audio tour of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's permanent exhibit.

The Salt

4:01 am

Sat October 13, 2012

When It Comes To Falafel, The Flavors Of Home Can Vary

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Credit Rashad Baba / Courtesy Nawal Elbager

The reporter's mother, Nawal Elbager, of Khartoum, Sudan, shows off her falafel.

Credit Cindy Carpien / NPR

This Eqyptian-style falafel is made with fava beans, not garbanzo beans.

Credit Cindy Carpien / NPR

Leila Sfeir mixes her Lebanese-style falafel, which includes lots of green herbs.

By Hana Baba

Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 2:38 pm

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Falafel — those crispy, filling fried balls of mashed beans, herbs and spices — is found in cafes and homes all over the Middle East and parts of Africa. It's like a common language shared among sometimes fractious nations.

But until recently, I always thought falafel was made one way — garbanzo beans, onion, garlic, parsley, cilantro and cumin. (That's how my Sudanese mother taught me.) But it turns out there are many recipes out there, each with a flavor distinct to its region.

3:17 am

Sat October 13, 2012

Border Incidents Ratchet Up Turkey-Syria Tensions

By editor

Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

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Weekend Edition host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Peter Kenyon and NPR's Kelly McEvers about the latest news in Turkey and Syria, where fighting from Syria's internal conflict has spilled across the border the two nations share.

Presidential Race

3:17 am

Sat October 13, 2012

Candidates Return To The Trail After VP Debate

By Ari Shapiro

Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

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Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

This is WEEKEND EDITION from NPR News. I'm Scott Simon. It's a time-honored tradition in presidential campaigns to debate after the debate. Both sides are still squabbling now over who won this week's vice presidential faceoff. And on the campaign trail yesterday, the running mates themselves were out spinning for their side. NPR's Ari Shapiro has this round-up of the day on the trail.

3:17 am

Sat October 13, 2012

Hoop Dreams Land Basketball Player An 'Iran Job'

By editor

Originally published on Sat October 13, 2012 7:15 am

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Transcript

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Kevin Sheppard was an outstanding point guard at Jacksonville University and he hoped to play professional basketball - maybe in places like Miami, Boston or Los Angeles. Instead, he wound up playing in places like Brazil, China and Israel. Then, came an offer from the heart of the Axis of Evil.

(SOUNDBITE OF MOVIE, "THE IRAN JOB")

KEVIN SHEPPARD: I had no idea they played basketball in Iran. But it was actually very popular in Iran.

3:17 am

Sat October 13, 2012

New French President Sees Popularity Crash

Credit Bertrand Langlois / AFP/Getty Images

Just a few months ago, supporters rallied in the streets for the election of Francois Hollande. Now, some of the same people are protesting against the French president. Leftist parties and unions organized this anti-austerity protest in September.

By Eleanor Beardsley

Originally published on Mon October 15, 2012 2:47 pm

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Just five months after electing President Francois Hollande, many French are now despairing that he cannot deliver on the vision they voted for. What's worse, some wonder if Hollande has a plan at all.

The new president's ratings have plummeted, and his once-lauded "steady approach" is now perceived as dithering.

Protesters shouting "Resistance!" in the streets of Paris this month included people who voted for him and now feel betrayed. They were demonstrating against the European fiscal treaty, approved this week by the Socialist-dominated French parliament.

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