Saturday mornings are made for Weekend Edition Saturday, the program wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.
Drawing on his experience in covering 10 wars and stories in all 50 states and seven continents, Simon brings a humorous, sophisticated and often moving perspective to each show. He is as comfortable having a conversation with a major world leader as he is talking with a Hollywood celebrity or the guy next door.
Weekend Edition Saturday has a unique and entertaining roster of other regular contributors. Marin Alsop, conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, talks about music. Daniel Pinkwater, one of the biggest names in children's literature, talks about and reads stories with Simon. Financial journalist Joe Nocera follows the economy. Howard Bryant of EPSN.com and NPR's Tom Goldman chime in on sports. Keith Devlin, of Stanford University, unravels the mystery of math, and Will Grozier, a London cabbie, talks about good books that have just been released, and what well-read people leave in the back of his taxi. Simon contributes his own award-winning essays, which are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant.
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President Biden says he could hold back more weapons if Israel launches a full assault on Rafah, details from the criminal trial of former President Trump, and we have to talk about the brain worm.
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Former President Donald Trump's rally speeches are like his rally playlists: heavy on the greatest hits, but with plenty of space left for new tracks that riff on what's popular with his supporters.
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The White House says it will withhold military aid if Israel conducts a major ground operation in Rafah. Red lines are often set for enemies, but how do they work with one of America's closest allies?
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What is so dangerous about the song, "Glory to Hong Kong"? NPR's Scott Simon explains that the Chinese government is cracking down on any singing, quoting, or use of the song.
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Michelle T. King's new book is about a pioneering cook who brought Chinese food to the world, Fu Pei-mei. NPR's Scott Simon talks with King about her and about the book, "Chop Fry Watch Learn."
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NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Ukrainian journalist Illia Ponomarenko about his memoir of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, "I Will Show You How It Was: The Story of Wartime Kyiv."
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Eden Golan, Israel's representative for this year's Eurovision contest is not having an easy time because of the war in Gaza. She will compete in the finals on Saturday.
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An extreme geomagnetic storm reached Earth yesterday, with the northern lights dancing across the skies in places they're normally not seen. It's the most powerful solar storm in decades.
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A group of House Democrats sent a letter to President Biden urging him to take action on the US southern border. NPR's Scott Simon talks with one of the signatories, Rep. Mike Levin of California.
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NPR's Scott Simon asks DJ and musician Samantha Poulter, who performs as Logic1000, about her new album of house music. It's titled "Mother."