Daily Schedule

On today’s show: we’ll talk to the former head of Iran’s largest student organization, who fled the country after being held in solitary confinement for 100 days. Filmmaker Timothy Skousen on the program at Sing Sing prison that has allowed inmates to earn a college degree. He’s joined by one of the program’s founders. Our series Strapped: A Look at Poverty in America examines the effects poverty has on health and mental health. And food writer Michael Ruhlman tells us about his new cookbook devoted to eggs.

Your morning companion from NPR and the WNYC Newsroom, with world news, local features, and weather updates.

The new New York State budget deal contains some ethics reforms that will likely mean the end of the governor’s anti-corruption commission. Susan Lerner of Common Cause New York explains which ethics reforms made it into the deal, and what was left out. Plus: Bette Midler looks back on her 1980 world tour, and talks about her work on behalf of neglected city parks; and a new report details a growing drug addiction and overdose crisis among young people in New Jersey. 

The Peabody Award-winning program features Terry Gross’ fearless and insightful interviews with big names in pop culture, politics and the arts.

A wrap-up of the day’s news, with features and interviews about the latest developments in New York City and around the world, from NPR and the WNYC newsroom.

A wrap-up of the day’s news, with features and interviews about the latest developments in New York City and around the world, from NPR and the WNYC newsroom.

In this episode: Power trio Los Lonely Boys plays a distinctive brand of what they call “Texican rock ‘n’ roll.” Hear the three Garza brothers perform songs from their new album, Revelation, in a stripped-down acoustic session in the Soundcheck studio.

Then: Chris Molanphy tells the story of Blue Swede's song "Hooked On A Feeling" and its long-winding journey to No. 1, as part of Soundcheck's series, That Was a Hit?!?:

And: Simone Dinnerstein stunned the classical music world with her hit recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations back in 2007. Since then she's played with the NY Philharmonic, made a record with songwriter Tift Merritt, and signed with a major record label. Hear the Brooklyn pianist perform works from her latest Bach-centric album in the Soundcheck studio.

Accordionist and composer Guy Klucevsek stops by for a visit, on the occasion of the reissue of “Polka From the Fringe,” 29 previously out-of-print tracks for accordion by Klucevsek and 27 other composers.  With titles like Lois V Vierk’s “Attack Cat Polka,” or Elliott Sharp’s jolt of punk in “Happy Chappie Polka,” there’s a bit of playful wackiness to the collection, yet also some loveliness – like William Duckworth’s “Polking Around” and Peter Garland’s “Club Nada Polka.”