New In Paperback Dec. 26 – Jan. 1

In ‘Pariah,’ High Stakes Of Being Gay Black Teens

The drama Pariah, which generated lots of buzz at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and opens in select U.S. theaters Wednesday, is about coming-of-age, falling in love, and embracing one’s identity. Pariah follows a 17-year-old African-American lesbian named Alike (pronounced “uh-LEE-kay”) as she navigates her complex relationships at school and at home. Director Dee Rees [...]

Iran Again Warns It Can Cut Off Strategic Oil Route

The chief of Iran’s navy warned Wednesday that his country can easily close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf channel where a sixth of the world’s oil flows. It was the second such warning in two days — and a Saudi official said Gulf Arab nations are ready to step in and offset [...]

Israelis Protest Strict Code Of Ultra-Orthodox Jews

According to Israel’s President Shimon Peres, a fight is underway, for “the soul of the nation and the essence of the state.” But the threat isn’t coming from outside of Israel. It’s over differing interpretations of Judaism. Recently, a bespectacled eight year-old girl was filmed by a local TV station being harassed by ultra-Orthodox, or [...]

Wavering In Iowa: Portraits Of Undecided Voters

As NPR’s Becky Lettenberger and I take to the road in Iowa this week, we are collecting the words and images of Iowa Republicans still uncertain who they will vote for in next Tuesday’s state GOP presidential caucuses. Here’s the first look at what we saw and heard Tuesday in two cities that hug the [...]

In The Hunt For Votes, Romney Heads East To 2008 Iowa Stronghold

On Wednesday morning, Mitt Romney was getting an early start to campaigning in eastern Iowa, meeting and greeting voters having breakfast or just getting a caffeine boost at Elly’s Tea and Coffee in Muscatine. The former Massachusetts governor is concentrating his efforts in the part of Iowa where he did best in 2008, when he [...]

Under Attack, Gingrich Struggles To Regain His Stride In Iowa

If you’re in Iowa this week, you’ll need to watch out for campaign buses. Several Republican candidates are on bus tours of the state — including former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. For Gingrich, it’s something of a comeback tour. After leading in the polls, he’s had setbacks in recent [...]

Staff Picks: The Best Music Books Of 2011

How does the saying go? “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” Overquoted, tossed off and attributed to the likes of Elvis Costello, Steve Martin and Frank Zappa, there might be some truth to those damning words, whose author remains unknown. After all, what makes music so powerful? It’s the music, of course, not [...]

David Carr: A Media Omnivore Discusses His Diet

This week on Fresh Air, we’re marking the year’s end by revisiting some of the most memorable conversations we’ve had in 2011. This interview was originally broadcast on October 27, 2011. David Carr has a cold. On Sunday night, the media columnist for The New York Times tweeted to his more than 335,000 followers that [...]

North Korea’s Power Transfer Moving Smoothly

Capping more than a week of public mourning, North Korea staged a dramatic state funeral for its late leader Kim Jong Il. Leading the ceremonies was Kim’s third son and apparent successor Kim Jong Un. North Korean media reports portray the younger Kim, who is reportedly in his late 20s, in full control of the [...]