All Things Considered

Transcript

GUY RAZ, host: After 168 years of being read aloud at British breakfast tables, the News of the World published its final edition today. Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch shut down the tabloid to try and contain a growing phone tapping scandal. The paper's accused of illegally hacking into the cell phones of thousands of sports stars and newsmakers, including a young murder victim.

Vicki Barker reports from London on the paper's final day.

President Obama is meeting with Capitol Hill leaders again Sunday to talk about the deal they are trying to strike on the debt ceiling and deficit reduction. The weekend talks are the latest symbol of seriousness in the long-running struggle that is nearing a deadline of potential default on federal debt. NPR's Ari Shapiro gives host Guy Raz the latest.

Well, it's complicated.

More than so many other kinds of music, jazz takes its tradition seriously. There's about 100 years' worth, and most of it has been passed down in sound: by playing with, listening to and studying with the masters. So it makes sense that jazz musicians feel such visceral connections to their ancestors, whether spiritual, intellectual, educational, inspirational, aspirational or even just marketable.

A decade into her career as an R&B artist, it's hard to believe Ledisi actually got her start in opera. Beginning at age eight and continuing through her studies at UC Berkeley, the singer and songwriter spent years honing her operatic voice before switching to R&B and soul. However, she tells Weekend All Things Considered host Guy Raz that the two worlds aren't so different — especially when it comes to the skills the singers cultivate.

Rupert Murdoch's tabloid News of the World closes its doors Sunday after more than a century and a half in business. That follows the revelation that reporters there tapped the phones of crime victims, dead soldiers and even the royal family to get scoops for their paper. Host Guy Raz speaks with James Fallows of The Atlantic about this story and others from the past week.