Judging The Health Care Law
3:16 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

How Did The Health Care Mandate Get Here?

Credit Carolyn Kaster / AP
Protesters chant and hold a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in front of Supreme Court in Washington as the court concluded three days of hearing arguments on the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week over key aspects of President Obama's health care law, including the expansion of Medicaid and whether the court even had the right to hear the case. But the core of the challenge mounted against the Affordable Care Act hinges upon its individual mandate, which requires almost every American to have or buy health insurance.

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Arts & Life
1:00 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Three-Minute Fiction: Round 8 Submissions Closed

Transcript

(SOUNDBITE OF CLOCK TICKING)

GUY RAZ, HOST:

More than 6,000 stories came in this round of Three-Minute Fiction - 6000. Amazing. The challenge this time, the story had to begin with the sentence: She closed the book, placed it on the table and finally decided to walk through the door. It's going to take us several weeks to read through those stories and find a winner, but for now, here are a few samples of what some of you did with that sentence.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

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Around the Nation
1:00 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Tribe Sues To Keep Reservation Free Of Booze

The sale or possession of liquor is strictly forbidden by the tribal government of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But there is a tiny town just over the border in Nebraska that does sell alcohol, in massive quantities, and mostly to tribal residents.

And now a longstanding battle over beer sales has spilled into federal court.

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Politics
1:00 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

In 1993, Republicans Proposed A Mandate First

Originally published on Sat March 31, 2012 3:43 pm

Transcript

GUY RAZ, HOST:

It's WEEKENDS on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Guy Raz.

Before the break, we mentioned the individual mandate in health care. Now, not so long ago, most Democrats hated the idea, and most of its support came from Republicans. And it started with President Bill Clinton's attempt to reform the health care system back in 1993. He came to Capitol Hill to address Congress.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON: This health care system of ours is badly broken, and it is time to fix it.

(SOUNDBITE OF APPLAUSE)

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The Two-Way
12:56 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Mega Millions: The Numbers Are In, Now We Wait To See The Winners

Credit Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
A sign displays the $640 Mega Millions jackpot at Liquorland on in Covina, California.

Originally published on Fri March 30, 2012 9:01 pm

The lucky numbers tonight:

46, 23, 38, 4, 2 and the mega ball is 23.

We're guessing millions of Americans are shaking their heads right now and saying, "Well it was worth the dreams."

Update at 8:48 a.m. ET, March 31. Winning Tickets From Kansas And Illinois, Too:

That $640 million will be split between winning ticket-holders in Kansas, Illinois and Maryland, the AP is reporting.

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U.S.
12:55 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Will A Movement Emerge From Florida Teen's Death?

Originally published on Sat March 31, 2012 4:24 am

In the wake of the shooting death of Florida teen Trayvon Martin, his parents have led a national call for the arrest of gunman George Zimmerman.

Meanwhile, their lawyers have hired a marketing firm. Trayvon's mother is trying to trademark two popular slogans that contain his name. And the family is establishing a nonprofit to handle donations from supporters.

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Planet Money
12:54 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Take The Money And Run For Office

Credit Lam Thuy Vo / NPR

Originally published on Fri March 30, 2012 6:38 pm

This is an abridged version of a story airing this weekend on This American Life. The story is part of our series on money in politics.

We imagine lobbyists stalking the halls of Congress, trying to influence lawmakers with cash. But often, it's the other way around: Members of Congress stalk lobbyists, looking for contributions.

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Around the Nation
12:53 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Trayvon Martin Case: Attorney Choice Sparks Division

Originally published on Fri March 30, 2012 8:34 am

Activists are holding a rally in Sanford, Fla., on Saturday, in honor of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen who was shot to death in Sanford in late February.

The admitted shooter is neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, a Latino. Zimmerman has been accused of racial profiling; he says he was defending himself.

Just as the case itself is polarizing, so too is the state attorney who has been appointed to head the investigation. Prosecutor Angela Corey's tough-on-crime reputation comforts some, but worries others.

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The Record
12:53 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

Crossover Appeal: The Pop Conference In New York

Credit Michael Weintrob
"Let's be real. We're all geeks in this room." ?uestlove, of The Roots, addresses the EMP Pop Conference on Sunday. At this moment, the drummer, producer and DJ was demonstrating the delighted confusion he tries to instigate on the dancefloor, which is why he spent years searching for the Spanish-language version of Kool and the Gang's "Celebration."

Originally published on Sat March 31, 2012 12:00 pm

Writing about music doesn't require a partner. Like making music or listening to it, you can do it by yourself, but something cool happens when you do it with someone else. Thinking about music with hundreds of super-psyched, knowledgeable self-identified music obsessives? That's what happened last weekend in New York at the 11th annual EMP Pop Conference.

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Music Interviews
12:22 pm
Sat March 31, 2012

The Passionate, Turbulent Life Of James Brown

James Brown used to tell people that even being stillborn as a child couldn't stop him. He rose to the highest heights in the music industry and stayed there longer than most. But in the end he succumbed to atrocious financial planning, a drug habit and a violent temper.

RJ Smith, author of the new biography The One: The Life and Music of James Brown, tells NPR's Guy Raz that Brown believed he was indestructible.

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