Saturday mornings are made for Weekend Edition Saturday, the program wraps up the week's news and offers a mix of analysis and features on a wide range of topics, including arts, sports, entertainment, and human interest stories. The two-hour program is hosted by NPR's Peabody Award-winning Scott Simon.
Drawing on his experience in covering 10 wars and stories in all 50 states and seven continents, Simon brings a humorous, sophisticated and often moving perspective to each show. He is as comfortable having a conversation with a major world leader as he is talking with a Hollywood celebrity or the guy next door.
Weekend Edition Saturday has a unique and entertaining roster of other regular contributors. Marin Alsop, conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, talks about music. Daniel Pinkwater, one of the biggest names in children's literature, talks about and reads stories with Simon. Financial journalist Joe Nocera follows the economy. Howard Bryant of EPSN.com and NPR's Tom Goldman chime in on sports. Keith Devlin, of Stanford University, unravels the mystery of math, and Will Grozier, a London cabbie, talks about good books that have just been released, and what well-read people leave in the back of his taxi. Simon contributes his own award-winning essays, which are sometimes humorous, sometimes poignant.
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NPR's Scott Simon speaks to historian William Dalrymple about his latest book, "The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World."
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NPR's Scott Simon speaks with theater producer Jeffrey Seller about his new book, "Theater Kid: A Broadway Memoir."
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Formula 1 racing has a ban on cursing, with fines starting at about $46,000. NPR's Scott Simon explains why drivers are darn unhappy with that. -
Latinos, many from outside the U.S. mainland, have risen in prominence in horseracing, from the grooms to some of the winningest jockeys. -
The White House is proposing average cuts of 35% to agencies — except for the Pentagon and Homeland Security. Actual spending cuts though are up to Congress. -
Politicians, lawyers and journalists who left behind autocratic systems in Europe, Asia and Latin America see the Trump administration employing similar methods. -
NPR's Scott Simon talks to film historian Jason Bailey about his book, "Gandolfini: Jim, Tony and the Life of a Legend." It details how different he was from the gangster he portrayed on "The Sopranos."
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Jorge Mario Bergoglio became the first Latin American pope when he was elected 12 years ago. People on his home continent are mourning his death and paying their respects.
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Jazz fest starts this weekend in New Orleans and one of its headliners is rapper Lil' Wayne who made it to the main stage with the Roots.
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NPR's Scott Simon talks to Michele Steele of ESPN about the soccer fandom of Pope Francis, the NFL draft and hockey's Stanley Cup playoffs.
