Tell Me More on WRVO-1: NPR News

On Wednesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry invoked stories of Paul to inspire Liberty University students to speak out against Washington politicians. Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann is also open about her religion. The Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody and Religion Dispatches' Sarah Posner discuss when it's fair game to ask candidates tough questions about faith.

She's been an icon for the anti-feminist movement in the U.S. She's also a lawyer and mother of six. Phyllis Schlafly shares some of her favorite songs.

This week, House Speaker Boehner acknowledged some common ground between his jobs plan and the president's plan, but said Obama's program doesn't quite add up. Also, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the latest poverty figures, and Tyler Perry was reported as the highest paid man in Hollywood. The Barbershop guys weigh in.

Thousands of Central Americans have tried reaching the U.S. border in hopes of better lives. They've faced remarkable dangers when crossing Mexico on the way. Actor Gael Garcia Bernal traveled to Southern Mexico to capture stories of migrants who are targeted by kidnappers and gangs. These stories are compiled in "The Invisibles," his collection of short documentaries.

Since last Thursday, top designers have been showcasing their Spring 2012 collections in N.Y. Pulitzer Prize-winning style writer Robin Givhan has been on the scene, seeing vibrant colors and bold prints dominating the runway. In the audience, American Vogue chief Anna Wintour was sitting with rapper Nicki Minaj. Givhan also talks about the smashing success of Missoni's limited edition Target line.

Puerto Rican hip-hop duo Calle 13 broke records by getting 10 nominations. A flamenco singer was nominated for Best Tango. And earlier this year, the group in charge of the English language Grammys eliminated 31 categories, including Latin Jazz. Host Michel Martin speaks with Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras, the hosts of NPR Music's Alt-Latino podcast.

John Edgar Wideman is the 2011 Lifetime Achievement winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards, which recognizes works that have made important contributions to understanding racism and appreciating diversity. Wideman has written 13 novels, six collections of short stories and two memoirs. He talks about his life, works and the award he receives today.

Fifty-one percent of millionaire Baby Boomers do not think it's important to leave money to their children. They feel they should be able to enjoy their hard-earned cash. That's according to a survey conducted by the investment firm U.S Trust. Tell Me More explores the pros and cons of saving your money for yourself.

Leila Lopes is the first woman from Angola and fourth black woman to become Miss Universe. Latina Magazine is celebrating its 15th anniversary as Latino Heritage Month kicks off today. And South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is under scrutiny for her remarks about a female reporter. The Beauty Shop ladies weigh in.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan just returned from a three-day bus tour of schools in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and other cities that are struggling economically. He speaks with host Michel Martin about his tour and how investing in schools relates to President Obama's jobs plan.

After a series of robberies, University of Akron administrators emailed students on how to react if approached by police. The tips: identify yourself as a student, don't run and don't get angry. Some critics say the email displays racial bias because it was sent only to black male students.

A recent parenting conversation about boys friendships featured moms and researcher Niobe Way, who finds that boys crave and value deep friendships with each other, but American ideas of masculinity make these bonds tougher to keep as boys grow older. Now two fathers and a young male weigh in on the research and discuss their own friendships.

President Obama formally sends his $447 billion jobs package to Capitol Hill today. Tell Me More asked listeners to share their suggestions for job growth and received over a thousand responses. Host Michel Martin discusses some of those ideas with NPR's Senior Business Editor Marilyn Geewax and Wall Street Journal Reporter Sudeep Reddy.

Kevin Caroll and Debi Waeber were high school sweethearts who became separated by the Vietnam War and an unplanned pregnancy. Decades later, neither had an inkling that their paths would cross again. Host Michel Martin speaks with them about their story, which is featured in this week's Washington Post Magazine.

Tim Okamura's exhibit "Bronx Brooklyn Queens" explores the complexity and beauty of the soulful New York City woman while imagining her rise to royalty. The collection uses graffiti-infused urban motifs. It runs for one month in N.Y. Okamura discusses inspirations for his work, and how his family's experience in Japanese internment camps has shaped him into the artist he is today.

President Obama presented his jobs plan to Congress Thursday evening. It proposes tax cuts to businesses that hire new employees, reforms to the unemployment insurance system and investments in schools and infrastructure. Host Michel Martin discusses the plan with National Urban League President Marc Morial and small business owner Andy Shallal.

President Obama unveiled a new jobs plan to Congress Thursday. U.S. officials are looking into what they call a "credible" potential terrorist threat, coinciding with the Sept. 11 anniversary. And Texas Gov. Rick Perry made his debate debut during the GOP debate Wednesday. The Barbershop guys weigh in with host Michel Martin.

After the terrorist attacks, the Bush administration set up a legal framework for national security such as surveillance tactics and treatment of terror suspects. Eric Holder became the U.S. Attorney General in 2009, and wanted to close Guantanamo Bay and try terror suspects in civilian courts rather than military courts. Holder speaks with host Michel Martin.

Host Michel Martin continues her conversation with Eric Holder. They discuss how the terrorist attacks have changed America and informed the way he does his job as the nation's top lawyer. He says Sept. 11 continues to be "chilling" and remains on his mind even when he goes to sleep.

In 2001, Alberto Gonzales was serving as White House Counsel to then President George W. Bush. He later stepped into the role of attorney general. He became a controversial figure for defending The Patriot Act and policies on questioning and detaining terror suspects. Gonzales looks back on Sept. 11 and its aftermath with host Michel Martin.

Host Michel Martin continues her conversation with the former attorney general. He discusses the Bush Administration's decision to use military tribunals — rather than civil courts — to try terror suspects, and how he overcame his initial skepticism about the phrase "war on terror." Gonzales also shares his views of how America has changed since Sept. 11.

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week kicks off today in New York. But 10 years ago, attendees of the annual event found their lives turned upside down by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. On that day, designer Liz Lange was holding her first runway show when news of the attacks interrupted the production. Lange speaks with host Michel Martin about how the industry was affected by the attacks and how it has evolved since then.

Explaining Sept. 11 to young students can be a formidable challenge for teachers. Unis Middle School in Dearborn, Mich. has taken a unique approach through The Living Textbook Project. The program lets students play the role of journalists and report the attacks through different perspectives. Host Michel Martin speaks with April Kincaid, a teacher at Unis who works on the program, and Nour Eidy, one of Kincaid's students.

The NFL season starts tonight with a game between the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints. DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, shares some of his favorite songs, including those from Jay Z, Rihanna and Kanye West.

Following 9/11, many Americans began wondering which rights they were willing to sacrifice to ensure that those terrorist events would never reoccur. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with human rights attorney Banafsheh Akhlaghi, who has spent the last decade working on 3200 cases dealing with post-9/11 issues. NPR National Security Correspondent Tom Gjelten also joins the conversation.

As part of Tell Me More's occasional series "In Your Ear," Emmy Award-winning CNN anchor Don Lemon shares some of the music that helps him through a busy day in the newsroom.

Navigating the social graces of our ever-changing society can be tricky, and perhaps trickier for gays and lesbians. Many wonder how to respond to offensive jokes or how to address a letter to a married gay couple. Steven Petrow gives answers in his new book Steven Petrow's Complete Gay and Lesbian Manners. He speaks with guest host Jacki Lyden.

The Putumayo World Music record label is responsible for nearly 200 commercial releases around the globe. Guest host Jacki Lyden speaks with the company's founder and CEO Dan Storper about their two latest albums — Latin Beat and African Beat — and how the company fulfills its mission of delivering exceptional world music to a broad audience.