Day to Day

August. Who Needs It?

Friday, Aug. 27, 2004

Assessment: Let’s Get Rid of August
David Plotz offers a cheeky commentary on why the month of August should be eliminated, or at least shortened. Listen to the segment.

Swingers: Presidential Momentum in Maine
NPR’s Alex Chadwick talks with Julia Turner about the political mood in Maine, one of the potential “swing states” in the upcoming presidential election and a battleground state for Sen. John Kerry and President Bush. Listen to the segment.

Summary Judgment: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Suspect Zero, The Brown Bunny
Ben Williams presents a weekly roundup of what film critics are saying about this weekend’s new major studio film premieres: Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid, Suspect Zero, and The Brown Bunny. Listen to the segment.

Thursday, Aug. 26, 2004

On the Trail: Sen. Edwards Stumps for Kerry
NPR’s Alex Chadwick speaks with Chris Suellentrop about being on the road with Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. John Edwards. This week, Edwards responded to television ads slamming Sen. John Kerry’s service record in the Vietnam War. Listen to the segment.

Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004

War Stories: Updating the Rules of War
NPR’s Alex Chadwick speaks with Phillip Carter about why the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal may reflect the need to update the rules of war as outlined under the Geneva Conventions. Listen to the segment.

Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004

Five Ring Circus: Fake Volleyball Sand
Felix Gillette has the scoop on the artificial sand used in the Athens Olympic Games beach volleyball competitions. Listen to the segment.

Explainer: Swift Boats in the Vietnam War
Andy Bowers explains the role Swift boats played in the Vietnam War. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry’s conduct during his Vietnam service on a Swift boat has become a serious campaign issue. Listen to the segment.

Monday, Aug. 23, 2004

Swingers: Whither Go Oregon?
Chris Suellentrop visited Oregon and talks to NPR’s Noah Adams about which presidential candidate that state may choose in November. The discussion is part of a series that profiles this year’s swing states. Listen to the segment.

Jacob Weisberg: Kerry Under Fire
Ads criticizing Sen. John Kerry’s war record have prompted the Kerry campaign to respond with ads of its own, accusing the Bush-Cheney ticket of “recycling old tricks” it used against Sen. John McCain in the 2000 campaign. Jacob Weisberg speaks with NPR’s Alex Chadwick about the ad wars. Listen to the segment.