Daily Schedule

On today’s show, we’ll find out how dark money groups, like Super PACs—which don’t have to reveal their funders—have come to dominate independent spending in House political races. And we’ll learn about the latest advances in human flight: from skydiving to BASE jumping to wingsuit flying! Damian Fowler tells the story of a devastating plane crash that pitted one family against a multibillion-dollar insurance company. Annie Polland of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, talks about the history, future, and politics of housing for the poor.

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

New York City’s universal pre-k program will hold some classes in religious institutions due to a shortage of seats in public schools. Richard Buery, the deputy mayor for strategic policy initiative, explains how the line between church and state in these classrooms won’t blur. Plus: NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton on the state of community policing; your thoughts the Democratic National Committee holding its big convention in Brooklyn in 2016; and remembering Robin Williams.

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: We’ve all heard the story about Van Halen’s famous anti-brown M&M tour rider. But, what is a tour rider, anyway? Why do bands have them? And what happens if their demands aren’t met? As part of Soundcheck's How To Be Smarter About... series, Jack “Skippy” McFadden, talent buyer for Austin City Limits Live, fills us in about what he does to keep artists happy backstage.

Then: The idea of the “genius” has existed for centuries – singlular people who stand out for their brilliance or ingenuity in a particular field. But a new book aims to broaden that scope, and take a look at not the lone genius, but at creative pairs. Author Joshua Wolf Shenk talks about his book, Powers of Two, and about history-altering musical duos.

And: The Rosebuds got its start a little over ten years ago, and along the way, the duo -- Ivan Howard and Kelly Crisp -- got married. Their 2011 album, Loud Planes Fly Low, chronicled the end of that marriage -- a breakup which, surprisingly, didn't break up the band. Since then, The Rosebuds has continued making music and just released its latest album. Hear the band perform songs from Sand + Silence in the Soundcheck studio.

Hear music for female voices, very often layers of voice on this New Sounds program. Hear the New York- and Sendai, Japan-based composer Aya Nishina’s work, “Flora”, and more.