On Sundays, Weekend Edition combines the news with colorful arts and human-interest features, appealing to the curious and eclectic. With a nod to traditional Sunday habits, the program offers a fix for diehard crossword addicts-word games and brainteasers with The Puzzlemaster, a.k.a. Will Shortz, puzzle editor of The New York Times. With Hansen on the sidelines, a caller plays the latest word game on the air while listeners compete silently at home. The NPR mailbag is proof that the competition to go head-to-head with Shortz is rather vigorous.
Another trademark of Sunday's program is "Voices in the News," a montage of sound bites from the past week, poignant in its simplicity. Hansen also engages listeners in her discussions with regular contributors, who cover a wide range of national and international issues.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a pardon of the breach of trust, bribery and fraud charges he's been facing for the past several years.
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NPR's Lauren Frayer speaks to immigration attorney Mariam Masumi about President Trump's vowed crackdowns on Afghans and other immigrants following the shooting of 2 National Guard members in DC.
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Many Indigenous families rely on SNAP benefits, and they struggled during the government shutdown. We hear from tribal members on how they tried to fill the gaps, and why they still worry.
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After losing founder member Dave "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, De La Soul returns with Cabin in the Sky, an album shaped by grief, joy, and the group's timeless creativity.
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Luigi Mangione faces state and federal charges in the killing nearly a year ago of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. He will be in court this week as the cases against him advance.
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NPR's Lauren Frayer speaks to Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacie about her new film on the Palestinian uprising against the British army in 1936. It's called "Palestine 36."
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An Afghan national who once worked with the CIA is suspected in the shooting of two National Guard members. NPR's Lauren Frayer speaks with journalist Steve Coll about the CIA's role in Afghanistan.
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President Trump says he's closing Venezuela's airspace and further limiting immigration to the U.S. Lawmakers are facing a deadline over extending the subsidies for Obamacare.
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Hurricane Melissa left Jamaica reeling and as scientists tie its unprecedented power to climate change, people are wondering what comes next.
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Earlier this month, Audible released the first in its series of Harry Potter audiobooks, a full-cast recording. What's the listening experience like compared to traditional audiobooks?