Walmart is the nation’s top seller of both firearms and ammunition. Reporter George Zornick tells us how the chain retailer helped make the AR-15 the most popular assault weapon in the country. Singer-songwriter and celebrated guitarist Richard Thompson talks about his latest album, “Electric.” British pop icon Lulu discusses her career, her hits like “To Sir With Love” and “Shout,” and making her U.S. debut. Plus, Jeffrey Frank looks at the complex relationship between Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon.

Morning Edition is your perfect morning companion: gentle, but straightforward, explaining the vagaries of international diplomacy, reporting weather and even recommending the best film in town.

A leaked White House memo lays out a legal defense for “targeted killings” – including drone strikes. Omar Shakir, co-author of Living Under Drones, talks about why he objects to the U.S. strikes. Then, Laura Seay, professor at Morehouse College, explains why the conflicts in Mali and Afghanistan should not be compared. Plus: Nobel prize-winning Wole Soyinka on his new book about Africa; a February series on fashion kicks off with Parsons Professor Hazel Clark; and the end of the New Jersey jughandle, and that odd left turn.

Fresh Air is one of the most popular programs on public radio, breaking the "talk show" mold, and Gross is known for her fearless and insightful interviews with prominent figures in American arts, politics, and popular culture.

Reporters scour the globe for the most direct and compelling information, from the spread of AIDS in India to the inexplicable fluctuations of the Brazilian economy.

Reporters scour the globe for the most direct and compelling information, from the spread of AIDS in India to the inexplicable fluctuations of the Brazilian economy.

From “I’m Just a Bill” to “Three Is a Magic Number,” Schoolhouse Rock taught millions of children about grammar, civics and math -- without many of them even realizing it. As the series celebrates its fortieth anniversary, we talk with Schoolhouse Rock composer Bob Dorough about writing those catchy tunes. Plus, contributor Faith Salie, the rapper Skee-Lo, and listeners talk (and sing!) about the lessons they learned from the musical cartoons.

There's an hour of Near Eastern Jazz for this New Sounds Program.  We'll listen to Iraqi jazz from Amir Elsaffar's Two Rivers Ensemble and Turkish jazz from Okay Temiz & Saffet Gundeger.  Plus, Ethiopian jazz from Mulatu Astatqe, and world jazz from Rabih Abou-Khalil (specifically, "Levant jazz" from areas including Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Jordan.)  All that, and more.