Weekend Edition^® Sunday

with Audie Cornish

About the Program

Weekend Edition Sunday with Audie Cornish on Sunday mornings brings news and analysis, and features puzzle master Will Shortz.

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Latest Show

Revisiting U.S. Commitment To The Middle East
Two years ago on May 19, President Obama called for a new chapter in American diplomacy, promising to make it a top priority to support democracy and human rights in a changing Middle East. Some experts say that the U.S. has failed to live up to that commitment in places like Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. The conflict in Syria has also opened a darker chapter in the Arab uprisings. (05/19/2013)

How Possessive: The Apostrophe's Place In Space
Martha Brockenbrough, the founder of National Grammar Day and the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, tells host Rachel Martin about what she has referred to as an "apostrophe catastrophe." The U.S. Board on Geographic Names has a policy against possessive apostrophes in the names of places. The reason, The Wall Street Journal reports, is that the apostrophe quote implies private ownership of a public space. (05/19/2013)

Sports: Rallying For Wrestling
Host Rachel Martin speaks with NPR's Mike Pesca about wrestling. The Iran and U.S. teams were supposed to face off in Los Angeles, and the sport is battling to stay in the Olympics. (05/19/2013)

Detective On Closing Case After Committing Decades To It
In this week's Sunday Conversation, host Rachel Martin speaks with Detective Sgt. Joe Matthews, who worked for decades on the Adam Walsh murder investigation in Florida. She will speak to him about how the case changed overtime, how it affected him personally and professionally, and how it feels to close a case that he worked on for so long. (05/19/2013)

Turmoil Of '63 Shut Down Proms; Former Students Dance Again
Several high schools had to cancel their proms in 1963, during a time of tumultuous civil rights protests across the South, and in Birmingham, Ala., particularly. Fifty years later, some of those African-American students finally got the chance to dance the night away. Gigi Douban reports. (05/19/2013)

Iranian Candidate Hopes To Take International Viewpoint Home
This week, the final roster for candidates in Iran's presidential election will be announced by the country's religious Guardian Council. Host Rachel Martin talks with Iranian-American Rutgers professor Hooshang Amirahmadi about his candidacy. (05/19/2013)

The Durability Of Levis, Woven Into America's Fabric
Host Rachel Martin talks with Levis archivist Lynn Downey about the brand's 140th anniversary this month. (05/19/2013)

Political Takeaways: Headaches For The White House
Controversies dominated this past week's political headlines, leaving the Obama White House on the defensive, trying to contain any lasting damage. Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Mara Liasson. (05/19/2013)

How The Syria Debate Is Playing Out In The Middle East
Host Rachel Martin talks with Ramez Maluf, professor of journalism at Lebanese American University in Beirut, about different views in Arab media on the Syrian conflict. (05/19/2013)

Stories Of Hope Amid America's 'Unwinding'
When the factory she worked at closed down, Tammy Thomas reinvented herself as a community organizer; and when Dean Price's truck stop business went belly up, he became a champion of biofuel. In a new book, George Packer examines how ordinary people are adapting to a new America. (05/19/2013)

Can Losing Weight In Your 'Second Life' Help In Your First?
A new study from the University of Kansas Medical Center shows that the online game Second Life helped some people lose weight â�� and keep it off â�� in real life. (05/19/2013)

One Couple, Nearly 20 Years, All 'Before Midnight'
We've already met Jesse and Celine, twice. In the 1995 film Before Sunset, they had a romantic encounter in Vienna. Nine years later, they found each other in Paris. In this third film, their relationship has progressed another nine years. The romance hasn't left, says director Richard Linklater, it's simply changed. (05/19/2013)

Laura Mvula: A Soulful Voice That Once Answered Phones
Less than two years ago, she was a receptionist honing her phone-answering skills at a music organization in Birmingham, England. Now, she's got a record deal and critical acclaim, and she's touring the U.S. (05/19/2013)

Marques Toliver: An R&B Crooner With Strings Attached
Toliver's music is anchored by the violin, on which he is classically trained. He says he discovered the instrument in fifth grade â�� and that in a way, it chose him. (05/19/2013)

Afghans With Disabilities Fight For The Right To Rights
Their country isn't an easy place for anyone to make a living, but it's a downright hostile environment for those with disabilities. Support has mostly come from nonprofits, but activists are pressing the government to take action. (05/19/2013)