Daily Schedule

Mike Pesca fills in for Leonard Lopate. On today’s show: Fawaz Gerges explains why he thinks the increase in homegrown terrorism in the West is a sign that al-Qaeda’s influence is on the decline. Then, master caricaturist Drew Friedman tells us about his tribute to the Borscht Belt, Even More Old Jewish Comedians. Playwright Itamar Moses and actor Karl Miller discuss the new drama “Completeness.” Plus, this week’s Please Explain is all about common sense—it's pretty common, but it's not always sensible!

BBC World Service delivers breaking news and information programming around the world, in English and 42 other language services, on radio, TV and digital.

These days, competing versions of Las Vegas occupy the public imagination. One is of Sin City, the City of Lights, home to The Strip, and to glitter and entertainment. The other is as a dramatic victim of the recent economic recession, a city where entire neighborhoods have been foreclosed, where the jobless rate shot up to double digits, where massive casino and hotel construction was suspended, leaving hulking ghosts to remind residents of the boom times. SOTRU explores stories of people making Las Vegas home between these two sides of the city, those working to cultivate community in a place that has a reputation for being impersonal. 

NPR’s Scott Simon reports on the world’s top news, features and entertainment to your Saturday morning. 

The NPR news quiz where the panelists are funny, the limericks are lyrical and you get to shout answers at your radio. Hosted by Peter Sagal.

This week, our American Icons series continues with a look at Nirvana’s Nevermind — was it rock and roll’s last great hurrah? Kurt Andersen talks with Albert Brooks about his surprising role in the new movie Drive, and his new futuristic novel. Plus, Kurt talks with Matt Damon about the ...

Acclaimed musician and songwriter Chris Thile welcomes a wide range of well-known and up-and-coming talent to share the stage and create a beautiful listening experience on his variety show, Live from Here.

ThisAmericanLife: Themed, offbeat, (mostly) true stories that shed new light on the extraordinary side of everyday life. Host Ira Glass and a regular cast of personalities, including David Sedaris, Sarah Vowell and Mike Birbiglia, bring the best of nonfiction storytelling to the radio. 

Hear small ensemble works using the rhythmic devices of Minimalism by Russia’s Ensemble 4’33”, cellist Jody Redhage and Fire in July, the David Crowell Ensemble, William Susman, and others.