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'Clinton' Documentary Turns Lens On Former President

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Host Audie Cornish talks with writer and director Barak Goodman about his latest project, Clinton, part of the American Experience: Presidents series. The first of two installments airs Monday night on PBS.

NPR Story

3:00 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

'Hugo' Author Explores His Inspiration Up Close

By Andrea Bernstein

When Brian O. Selznick wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabaret — a graphic novel about an orphan in 1930s Paris — he imagined the secret spaces of a Paris train station. For inspiration, he visited Grand Central Terminal in New York City. But the scenes in the book — hidden tunnels, secret rooms, the giant clock tower — were all drawn from Selznick's imagination and later turned into the movie Hugo by Martin Scorcese, which is nominated for 12 Academy Awards.

3:00 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Eurozone Ministers Close To Greek Bailout Deal

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Host Audie Cornish talks with Eric Westervelt about the decision on whether to grant Greece another bailout, this time worth $171 billion.

Europe

2:58 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Portugal Plays By The Rules, But Economy Slumps

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Credit Sylvia Poggioli / NPR

A once-bustling vegetable market in Lisbon is now beyond the reach of many Portuguese — a sign of their country's economic problems.

Credit Patricia De Melo Moreira / AFP/Getty Images

Workers wave flags and march in front of a Jose Saramago and Pilar del Rio graffiti tribute, in a recent protest against government austerity measures.

By Sylvia Poggioli

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The eurozone crisis has focused attention on debt-burdened Greece spiraling into decline. Meanwhile, Portugal is seen as the international creditors' poster-child for obediently slashing spending and welfare benefits.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese national debt continues to grow, and the country is mired in recession and soaring unemployment.

The Portuguese national character has long been identified with Fado music. Raquel Freire, an activist with the local Occupy movement, says the melancholy style helps explain decades of resignation.

1:54 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

One Marine's Journey To 'Hell And Back Again'

Credit Courtesy Danfung Dennis

Hell And Back Again focuses on Sgt. Nathan Harris' life at home and on the battlefield.

By editor

Photojournalist Danfung Dennis has captured the brutalities of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for major publications, including The New York Times, Time magazine, The Guardian and The Washington Post.

Inspired by these experiences, Dennis embedded with the U.S. Marines Echo Company in Afghanistan and created the documentary Hell And Back Again.

1:54 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Ojibwe Writer Seeks Out The Beauty Of 'Rez Life'

Credit Jean-Luc Bertini

Novelist David Treuer is the son of an Ojibwe trial judge.

By editor

Stories about life on Native American reservations often focus on the hardships — alcoholism, drugs, violence and poverty. In Rez Life: An Indian's Journey Through Reservation Life, Ojibwe writer David Treuer strives to capture stories about the beauty of life on Indian reservations.

1:00 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Op-Ed: Criminalizing Lies Is Dangerous, Unnecessary

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The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday will review the case of Xavier Alvarez — one of the first people to be convicted under the Stolen Valor Act. In a The Washington Post op-ed, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, argues that stolen valor should not be criminalized.

Middle East

1:00 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Sorting Out Iran's Regional Ambitions

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While Western officials believe Iran is seeking to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon, Iran's leaders contend it is for peaceful purposes only. NPR's Mike Shuster discusses Iran's regional, diplomatic and nuclear goals.

The Two-Way

12:18 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

Holiday News Roundup: Mardi Gras, Greece And John Glenn

Credit NASA / AP

An image captured on Feb. 20, 1962, by NASA shows astronaut John Glenn during his space flight in the Friendship 7 Mercury spacecraft, weightless and traveling at 17,500 mph. The image was made by an automatic sequence motion picture camera.

By Bill Chappell

The Two-Way is formally off-duty for the Presidents' Day holiday. But not only does the news not take a holiday — often, holidays are the news. Here's a quick roundup of some of today's important and most-discussed stories:

Syria is reinforcing its military in what seems to be a bid to control Homs. (AP)

12:01 pm

Mon February 20, 2012

'New Yorker' Cartoonist Imagines Washington At 7

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Credit Courtesy The New Yorker

Barry Blitt's controversial "Politics of Fear" ran on the cover of The New Yorker in July 2008. "It was obviously taking a chance," Blitt says.

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Through his many New Yorker covers, Barry Blitt has become one of the pre-eminent satirical cartoonists of America's recent presidents. He is probably best known for his controversial 2008 cover of Michelle and Barack Obama, dressed as a Muslim and a militant with an AK-47, fist-bumping in the Oval Office.

11:07 am

Mon February 20, 2012

Baseball's Spring Training Begins; Opening Day Is April 4

By Bill Chappell

Major League Baseball's spring training has begun, as catchers and pitchers have made their way to Florida and Arizona to prepare for the 2012 season. Games in the Grapefruit League and Cactus League won't begin until early March, when all players will report to camp.

8:53 am

Mon February 20, 2012

Stephen Colbert Set To Return Tonight, After A Delay In Taping

Credit Fernando Leon / Getty Images

Stephen Colbert, seen here in a file photo from November 2011, postponed production of his Colbert Report due to concerns about his mother's health, according to reports. The show will resume taping Monday, according to Comedy Central.

By Bill Chappell

Originally published on Mon February 20, 2012 11:17 am

The Colbert Report is set to resume production Monday, after a hiatus last week brought on by concerns over the health of Stephen Colbert's mother, according to reports. Lorna Colbert, 91, lives in Charleston, S.C., where the Comedy Central star grew up.

8:00 am

Mon February 20, 2012

George Washington's Ice Cream Recipe: First, Cut Ice From River

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Credit John Rose

Actress portraying Martha Washington

Credit John Rose / NPR

These large iron pots from the Mount Vernon kitchen were probably used to cook large cuts of meat like ham, beef and fowl. The metal hooks were used to pull the giant pots out of the fire.

Credit John Rose / NPR

Like other 18th-century housewives, Martha Washington would have used a still to extract essences of mint or rose petals. The essences flavored cakes and puddings.

Credit John Rose / NPR

This plate heater was filled with hot water to warm dinnerware.

Credit John Rose / NPR

One of Martha Washington's favorite desserts was ice cream, but she could make it only if the Potomac River had frozen enough to provide ice. The ice would have to be stored until spring, when the cows gave milk. Once made, the ice cream would be kept cold in this dish by putting ice on top.

Credit John Rose / NPR

After the labor of preparation, the ice cream would be served in small dishes resembling teacups with handles to keep the delicacy from melting from hands around the dish.

Credit John Rose / NPR

A plate warmer with an open back would be set in front of the fireplace at Mount Vernon and filled with plates for the evening's guests.

Credit John Rose / NPR

A French cocotte, purchased by George Washington from the French Minister in 1790, would be used to serve warm sauces and ragouts.

Credit John Rose / NPR

This ledger displays the meticulous documentation of every product at Mount Vernon, including ham, geese, ducks, butter and oysters.

Credit John Rose / NPR

Brewing coffee meant toasting the beans in front of the fire. George Washington clearly loved his joe, ordering hundreds of pounds of beans.

Credit John Rose / NPR

Fancy fruit cakes were a typical dessert served at Mount Vernon.

Credit John Rose / NPR

Martha Washington, portrayed by actor Mary Wiseman, serves modern-day guests the same dishes the First Couple enjoyed.

Credit John Rose / NPR

One of the uniforms made from fine wool, known as a livery, worn by the male slaves, along with a variety of kitchenware found in the home of George and Martha Washington as a new exhibition at Mount Vernon.

By Allison Aubrey

Originally published on Wed May 23, 2012 11:01 am

This year would not be a good year for ice cream. In fact, there would be none at all if we relied on the technique George Washington used at Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate that's perched on the banks of the Potomac River.

His source of ice was the frozen river. Given the warm winter we've had here in D.C. , there's no chance. Seems the weather is nothing like it was on Jan. 26, 1786, when Washington wrote in his journal:

"Renewed my Ice operation to day, employing as many hands as I conveniently could in getting it from the Maryland shore, carting and pounding it."

7:34 am

Mon February 20, 2012

S. Korea Conducts Drill, Flouting N. Korean Threat

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Credit Bae Jung-hyun / AP

South Korean Navy ships dock at a floating base near Yeonpyong Island, close to its contested ocean border with North Korea Monday. South Korea conducted live-fire military drills from five islands, ignoring Pyongyang's threat to attack.

Credit Anonymous / AP

South Korean citizens gather in an underground shelter on Baengnyeong Island Monday, as their country's military began live-fire artillery drills from front-line islands near its disputed sea border with North Korea.

By Michigan Radio: The Associated Press

South Korea conducted live-fire military drills near its disputed sea boundary with North Korea Monday, despite Pyongyang's threat to respond with a "merciless" attack.

North Korea did not carry out the threat as it focuses on internal stability two months after the death of longtime leader Kim Jong Il and prepares for nuclear disarmament talks with the United States later this week. But with American forces scheduled to conduct additional military exercises with ally South Korea over the next few months, tensions are expected to remain high in the region.

7:00 am

Mon February 20, 2012

Screen Time: 3 Books That Haven't Seen The Reel

Credit iStockphoto.com

By editor

Originally published on Tue June 12, 2012 9:09 am

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J.D. Salinger famously refused to sell the film rights to The Catcher in the Rye, saying it was "unactable." It's true the subtleties of such great novels can get lost in translation. But I thought I'd take a look at three of my favorite novels that have never made it to the multiplex in wide release. Each of these will transport you to another time and another place.

6:45 am

Mon February 20, 2012

Des Moines Welcomes Thousands Of Bacon Fans

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Originally published on Mon February 20, 2012 6:56 am

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RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

6:35 am

Mon February 20, 2012

Escaped Emu Runs Around Vermont Island

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A 150 lbs. emu escaped from its pen five weeks ago, and it's been spotted several times. Last week, the flightless bird was seen outside an elementary school. A maintenance worker there tried to lasso the elusive emu with an extension cord, but the big bird got free.