Anna Sale

Updated 5:30pm EST

Arwa Gunja here on the evening shift.

In the 73^rd minute, off a corner kick, Spain’s Carles Puyol put a ball into Germany’s net off a header. Spain now moves on to the finals in the World Cup playing against the Netherlands. The circle of World Cup winners tends to be an exclusive club - only seven countries have ever won. But this year there will surely be a new member, as neither Spain nor the Netherland have ever taken home the world championship title before. Sunday's final will be an exciting match, and tomorrow, we’ll get reactions from Spain after their semi-final victory today.

And in other sports news, Lebron James will host an hour-long ESPN special tomorrow night where he will finally announce his team of choice. Fans from cities across the country have been waiting for this moment with bated breathe. It’s a rarity in sports for an athlete to take center stage in produced, hour-long televisded event outside the arena of an actual game. And unlike a press conference, James will have full control of the event. It’s kind of like American Idol meets basketball, without the Simon and Randy factors. We'll hear more about the media spectacle tomorrow on the show.

On the international front, Iran announced new guidelines for men’s haircuts. A government official appeared alongside hundreds of barbers and hairdressers to unveil a catalog describing what hair dos will be acceptable for men. The crackdown seems intended to police “un-Islamic” dress and fight Western influences. But at the same time, none of the men featured in the catalog are wearing long beards, a cornerstone in Islamic orthodoxy. This comes at a time when Iran is facing a cultural collission between a younger generation that is seeking greater freedoms and a religious government continuing to push Sharia law.  Azadeh Moavani, the author of Lipstick Jihad, joins the program tomorrow morning to talk about the cultural and political dynamics at play.

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

We had a great conversation this morning that gave all of us pause in the control room. As the Senate returns this week to vote on unemployment extension, we heard from two people who have received their last unemployment check. Instead of the stark, binary political debate about the extension, their stories let us into the very emotional calculations and internal debate around asking for and taking help. We also heard from a lot of you, and we will continue this conversation tomorrow. We are reaching out to economists who can explain why the program was designed with an expiration date, and we'll ask whether that makes sense in this job market. Economist Paul Krugman already offered his assessment in a column in The New York Times this week. Tell us what you think.

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

We are watching two developing stories in the newsroom today. One of them, Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation hearings, looks to be winding down without much more news. The other, Hurricane Alex, looks to be turning into more of a story, and a threat to coastal communities in Mexico and south Texas. We'll have thhe latest on both tomorrow morning.

We are also making calls to sources in Washington and border communities as President Obama tries to revive the debate about comprehensive immigration reform in Washington. Ahead of his speech at American University tomorrow morning, we will look at how Arizona's new immigration law has changed the terms of the debate in Washington. He's reentering the debate at a complicated moment. On the one hand, his Justice Department is eyeing a challenge to the law and boycotts in protest have rocked Arizona's economy. At the same time, polls have shown public support for the Arizona's approach and other states are considering following suit. What do you think? Are you expecting Obama to add missing nuance to the debate, as he did in his campaign speech on race, or is the battle too pitched for to remake the conversation?

Speaking of state law and debates about civil rights, this caught our eye. The NAACP of California has endorsed a November ballot measure to legal marijuana, and they're framing the cause as a civil rights issue. "This is not a war on the drug lords, this is a war against young men and women of color," the state president told the San Francisco Chronicle. We're just looking into this, but it seems like there's a lot to unpack here. 

Finally, summer is road trip season, and we'll hear about a particularly memorable adventure tomorrow. Back in 1996, David Lipsky spent five days on the road with writer David Foster Wallace, who committed suicide two years ago this September. We talk to Lipsky about his book, "Although Of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace." We also hear from Wallace's sister, Amy Wallace-Havens on her brother's legacy. We also want to hear from you: Who would you like to take a road trip with and why? Where would you go? What would you talk about?

UPDATED 7:00 p.m.

Alex Goldmark here on the evening shift. We're adding a few stories to tomorrow's mix. The biggest is the developing story of 11 alleged Russian secret agents arrested on Sunday. The Justice Department announced they have been charged with conspiring to act as unlawful agents of the Russian Federation; nine are also charged with money laundering. One of the accused is a long time columnist for El Diario so we're reaching out to reporters who know her, as well as Russian diplomats for comment. We'll round out the details and have the full context for you by showtime. 

We'll also get a follow up on a story we covered last month about ex-Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge, who was accused of torturing suspects into confessing. He has just been convicted of perjury in covering up the torture. Here's our previous interview on the topic with one of the suspects tortured into confessing.

New York, NY —

This weekend, the New York gay pride parade celebrates its 40th anniversary. Before the throngs of crowds and corporate sponsors like Zipcar and Skyy Vodka, the march started with a question: What would happen if gay people stopped hiding and came out in the streets?

Those ...

UPDATED 6:30 p.m.

Arwa Gunja here on the evening shift.

This week we learned that General Stanley McChrystal is the kind of man who gives his chief-of-staff the middle finger and insults his bosses without hesitation. But how much of the four-star general's behavior is just a part of a military culture and how much crosses the line? Tomorrow, we’re asking this question to two men familiar with combat culture. First Lieutenant Mike Scotti, who documented his time in Iraq in the film, “Severe Clear,” and former Army Capt. Matt Gallagher join the program to give us an insider's take on McChrystal's actions. What do you think? Did Obama do the right thing by accepting his resignation or should McChrystal have kept his job? Send your comments by calling us at 877-8-MYTAKE or leaving us a message here on our website.

With all the news today about the replacement of McChrystal, some developments in the Gulf of Mexico have been overshadowed.  BP suffered another setback today when the company was forced to remove the containment cap due to a discharge of liquid and gases. The cap had been partially successful in containing the flow of oil. Then, in a separate incident, there are reports on the deaths of two cleanup workers. Tomorrow we have on Darryl Willis, vice president of resources for BP, to clarify how BP will go about fixing its negative image.

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

A lot of you have told us what you would say to BP CEO Tony Hayward if you were alone with him. We've been watching his testimony on Capitol Hill today to see what members of Congress do with their opportunity. While the spotlight is on Washington, we're also continuing to reach out to people along the Gulf Coast. As the scale of this disaster sinks in, the sense of helplessness and anxiety is growing with it. We're looking at what assistance is available for residents' emotional health as they look toward this new, uncertain future.

We'll also look at the politics and science of a new drug to increase women's sexual desires. Ever since Viagra hit the market, there have been attempts to develop a companion for women. Tomorrow, the FDA will meet with a German drug giant on a new pill that they say could be the cure for "female sexual dysfunction." We'll look at the history behind this meeting and the debate it's sparked about the definition of a normal and healthy sex life for women. 

And, we'll put a little pep in your step to kick off the weekend. We begin our new summer music series tomorrow. We've asked an eclectic bunch of celebrities, fans, and friends to join us and break down what makes a GREAT summer song. You'll hear from Saturday Night Live's Fred Armisen, who got his start in entertainment as the drummer for a band called Trenchmouth. Pat Benatar will tell us why lounge singer Louis Prima means summer to her. Tomorrow, MTV VJ Sway gives us his picks.

UPDATE 5:30 p.m.

Alex Goldmark here picking up the night shift duties today. Not much to update from Anna's post (except the South African goalie getting a red card on the soccer front). In addition to what she laid out, we'll also have look back at 50 years of To Kill a Mockingbird with the actress who played Scout in the film version of the book. 

Elsewhere in the news, San Francisco passed a new law requiring stores that sell cell phones to post information on how much radiation the devices emit. We're finding out some answers to the basic health and science questions behind this kind of consumer protection law and we'll have that for you in the show tomorrow as well. 

Anna Sale, here, on the day shift.

President Obama addresses the nation tonight from the Oval Office. We're reaching back to some of the gulf residents we've talked to over the last two months, some of whom have met with Obama in the Gulf region over the last two days. We want to know how they rate Obama's speech. We're also watching Capitol Hill today, where executives from five oil companies are testifying. We also want to hear from you. Tell us what you hope to hear, and later tonight, share your reactions after tonight's speech. We'll be streaming the president's speech on our website. 

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

The impact of the oil spill in the Gulf continues to dominate the news. President Obama starts his week in the Gulf Coast and will address the nation from the Oval Office tomorrow night. We talked this morning to the mayor of a town along the Mobile Bay, and we'll be checking back all week with residents to hear what effects they're seeing. Tomorrow, we'll look at new technological tools that have sprung up to help us understand the scope of the spill. There are new imaging technologies being developed that involve cheap digital cameras and kites. There's a new app called Oil Reporter that creates graphic illustrations of the spill's effects based on the input of users all along the coast. There's also the tool at ifitwasmyhome.com that overlays the spill's size over your community, giving you a sense of just how far it stretches. We'll look at where these tools came from, and how well they're working. And, of course, there's old-fashioned word of mouth to get a sense of its scale. That's why we're asking you: Has the spill affected you or your hometown? Share your story.

UPDATED 6:10p.m.

Arwa Gunja here on the night shift.

Tomorrow, we’re going to try to answer some looming questions over the big stories of the day.

First, to the Natalee Holloway case. The AP reported this week that Joran van der Sloot, the prime suspect in Holloway’s disappearance, was paid $15,000 by the FBI in a sting operation. Van der Sloot used the money to flee from Aruba to Peru where he is suspected of killing another young woman. So the question is, why did the FBI give van der Sloot money instead of arresting him when they had the chance? Tomorrow, Craig Dotlo, a former FBI agent will join the program to help explain the organization’s actions and the inner workings of the FBI when it comes to cases like this.

Next to the oil spill. There seems to be a lot of outrage, but not a lot of action, and many Americans, especially those along the Gulf Coast, want to know why there isn’t more of a push on Capitol Hill to stop offshore drilling. What are environmental groups doing? How about politicians and business leaders? Ted Nordhaus is the chairman of The Breakthrough Institute, and he’ll explain why environment groups aren’t being more vocal about ending offshore drilling. And Louise Story, finance and Wall Street reporter for our partner The New York Times, says a group of prominent business leaders actually have been outspoken and are urging Congress to triple its budget for investments in alternative energies.

And as always we want to hear from you. The World Cup officially kicks off this weekend. Tell us how you’ll be watching, what teams you’re rooting for and your predictions over the next month. Call our comment line at 877-8-MYTAKE or leave us a message here on our website.

UPDATED: 6:00 p.m. 

Alex Goldmark picking up the night duties today. 

As we wait for the results of tonight's primaries in 12 states like the good political junkies that we are, some other stories are also on our radar. We're kicking off our World Cup coverage tomorrow with a preview of what to watch, and how. 

If you are looking to get patriotic, but don't want to do it cheering for Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan, then we've got a chance for you to redesign the national anthem. Our friends at Studio 360 are giving the elements of the 4th of July a fresh look, so we'll check in on what their thinking and what their listeners are suggesting. 

And finally we'll round out the getting ready for summer radio with tips on making a standout-impress-your-guests-and-honor-your-country BBQ sauce. Really, it gets way more complex than you think, and how you make a sauce can say a lot about you and where you are from. 

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

It's a big political day tomorrow, as voters go to the polls in a dozen states to make their primary picks for the midterm elections. Our Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich laid out some of the major themes this morning — the prominence of women candidates, progressive anger and organizing in Arkansas — but there's still a lot more to watch. We're reaching out to voters in Arkansas and Nevada to see what's driving the anger against incumbent Senator Blanche Lincoln and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. We're also taking a look at the politics of Silicon Valley, as former tech executives Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina take the GOP stage.

UPDATED 7:20 p.m.

Alex Goldmark here on the night shift. 

In addition to what Anna got in motion earlier today (see below), we're planning on a few other stories. 

We're looking into how the permitting process works for oil rigs. Is environmental track record taken into consideration when the permits are passed out? We're finding out, and we'll let you know tomorrow morning. 

The sports fans around the office are eager to see how the spoiled perfect game might pave the way for instant replay in major league baseball. We'll find out about that, and also, why in the world are there so many perfect games all of a sudden? 

Also, is there such a thing as a fair trade iPad? Or any tech gadget considering that they tend to be mass produced in the third world? 

On a lighter note, we'll also review a few movies for you. How's that for a potpourri powerhouse? 

UPDATED 7:30 p.m.

Alex Goldmark here on the night shift, shifting the show around as the sun sets. 

In addition to our planned coverage of the flotilla fall out (see below) around Gaza and Israel, we're also following up on statements from the White House today about possible criminal charges against BP. Would the threat of jail time be a better incentive to prevent catastrophe, or is that placing an unfair burden on individuals within a corporation? And how would it work anyway. So we should have the answers by the morning. 

We're also going to hear from the Mayor of Mexico City, a potential presidential candidate, about how he would stop the drug violence and what he sees in store for immigration reform from south of the border. 

And finally, for you city dwellers, we'll have recipes for healthy eating from the corner store. Find out how to stay fit and slim on the road, at gas station depots or just when you find Whole Foods is too expensive. 

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

First, in case you missed it, be sure to listen to these remembrances from veterans and active duty service members on this Memorial Day. It's a nice reminder about the meaning behind this holiday.

We woke up to news this morning of violence in the Middle East. At least ten activists were killed in an Israeli raid on a supply fleet traveling from Turkey to Gaza, in violation of Israel's blockade of the region. Then came news that Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu canceled plans to meet with President Obama in Washington. We are following reaction in Israel, Gaza, and around the Middle East, and tomorrow, we will look more broadly at how this affects the United States' relationship with Israel.

Anna Sale here on the day shift.

We are continuing to watch the Gulf Coast today, monitoring when and if BP's next attempt to plug the well leak — a process called "top kill" which involves plugging the leak with fluids — will happen. Tomorrow, President Obama will hold a press conference to announce new oil development regulations and he'll travel to the Gulf Coast on Friday. We're reaching out to experts and economists today to get a sense of how this disaster affects the economics of energy development. We're asking what the balance sheets for energy development would look like if these worst case scenarios and non-market expenses were accounted for up-front. We're also asking you what you still need to know. It's been more than a month since oil started gushing out of a well in the Gulf Coast, and we've been covering it ever since. What questions do you still have about its long-term effects and the effort to contain the damage?

UPDATED 7:40 p.m.

We’re readjusting our plans for tomorrow’s show in response to a bunch of news that’s recently broken. First, BP says they will begin to implement a “top kill” approach first thing tomorrow morning. This is basically a technique where large amounts of heavy drilling mud and cement will be pumped through the ocean into the blowout preventer in hopes of capping the leak. It’s a risky approach that’s been done on land but never at 5,000 feet below water. And if it doesn’t go exactly right, it could make things worse. We’ll get an update from the ground and talk with an engineer about how exactly this technology works.

Then, just a couple of hours ago, we learned that President Obama will be sending up to 1,200 National Guard troops to the Southwest border, after demands from both Republicans and Democrats that the security along the border be tightened. Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich will join us in the morning to talk about the internal political dynamics that led to this decision.

And 100 years after Mark Twain’s death, his autobiography is set to be published this fall. Twain once wrote, “It is no use to keep private information which you can’t show off.” Soon his most private information will be made public.  We’ll talk with the general editor of the Mark Twain Project and the publications editor at The Mark Twain House about what secrets we may soon learn about the literary legend.

Finally, at the end of the week, we’re hoping to answer listeners’ questions when it comes to the oil spill. We’ve gotten a slew of inquiries from Facebook, via text messages, on our website and through our phones lines (1-877-8-MYTAKE) asking a range of questions regarding the spill and cleanup efforts. We’re going to invite on an oil expert to help us sift through your comments and give you some answers. So continue sending your questions our way.

UPDATED: 5:15 p.m. Alex Goldmark here as night editor for today. 

All of the fine work Anna laid out below is still leading our show tomorrow. Here's how we've rounded out the mix.

A macabre but fascinating case out of Minnesota makes its way to court tomorrow, years late some would say; and it raises chilling questions about freedom of speech on the internet, and culpability in assisted suicide. William F. Melchert-Dinkel allegedly posed as a sympathetic nurse online in suicide-related chat rooms and encouraged people to end their own lives. At least two did. Is he liable? Did he "aid a suicide," a crime in Minnesota? Is there a way to stop this kind of act without limiting free speech? We'll hear from a legal thinker and a crusading grandmother who set out to stop Dinkel. 

As words continue to heat up around the Korean peninsula in the wake of the sinking of a South Korean warship, we'll bring some context to the escalations. This current case reminded us of the USS Pueblo Affair so we'll have a little historical discussion on that naval brouhaha. 

And in addition to our Gulf oil spill topics listed below, we'll hear from someone who is training to clean oil off of animals. 

Barack Obama decided on the night he won the presidency to make comprehensive health care legislation his first priority. Not all of his aides agreed. "I begged him not to do this," his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, later told Jonathan Alter for his book, "The Promise: President Obama, Year One."