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Presidential speeches are usually meant to inspire — and sometimes challenge — Americans. Host Michel Martin continues her State of the Union conversation with a group of diverse people: Oakland Lewis, who is looking for work, Gaby Pacheco, an immigrant rights activist, and Trei Dudley, a college student.

Verdi's perplexingly beautiful opera combines grim characters and a murky story with some of the most glorious music the composer ever wrote.

Marilyn Monroe died 50 years ago Sunday at the age of 36. Host Linda Wertheimer speaks with film expert Murray Horwitz about Monroe's film legacy and her comedic skills.

Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker is heading to Washington. On Thursday, he'll be sworn in as a U.S. Senator, becoming one of just two African-Americans in the upper house. Host Michel Martin talks to former Senator Carol Moseley Braun and Emory University professor Andra Gillespsie about Booker's election and what it signals for the future demographics of Congress.

In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern chose the young senator as his running mate. Just 18 days later, Eagleton was forced to drop out. The incident forever changed the way presidential candidates pick their No. 2s.

Dr. Dog's songs combine sophisticated falsettos and well-placed harmonies that build to crescendos reminiscent of The Beach Boys. In a session from KUT's Studio 1A, the band performs selections from Fate and talks about what it means to get the right sound.

Celebrated for his robust technique and rich tone, American pianist and composer Earl Wild died Saturday at age 94, after an eight-decade career. He performed for six American presidents and was the first pianist to give a solo recital on American television.

The Supreme Court case against President Obama's health care law may come down to one big legal question: Can the government require every American to buy health insurance? Many Americans say no, but a former White House spokesman says that's because they don't fully understand the law. And an individual mandate was even once proposed by Republicans.

Jacki talks with Robert Jay Lifton about the rhetoric of using nuclear weapons. Lifton is a visiting professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

In Greenland, the search is on for big deposits of oil and gas. Driven by high commodity prices, international companies are also looking for other riches, including diamonds and gold. And this is raising some environmental, social and economic issues.

Fallon is thankful for slow walkers, people named Lloyd and the word "moist." The comedian and host of Late Night collects more than 100 nuggets of gratitude in his book called Thank You Notes. He talks with Terry Gross about giving thanks and doing impressions.

President Obama held a town hall-style meeting in Strasbourg, France, Friday with 3,000 mostly high school and college students. He answered questions ranging from plans for the economic meltdown to when the Obama family will get their dog.