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Daniel speaks with NPR's David Welna, who's in Port au Prince, Haiti. Haitians voted today in local and parliamentary elections designed to makeup for a tainted vote in June. Welna says voter turnout was very low, largely because opposition parties boycotted the balloting.

Recently, columnist Meg Greenfield proposed that we use the "Bob Newhart Test" when considering government proposals. Newhart's famous comedy routine, when he pretends to be listeing to someone explain what a cigarette is, points out the ludicrousness of the idea of putting a buringing leaf in your mouth... we asked Bob Newhart to apply the "Bob Newhart Test" so a government program, and he chose the defense budget.

Daniel talks to Israeli superstar Danny Sanderson, a comedian and singer who recently toured the East coast, packing auditoriums with Israeli audiences. His CDs have been best sellers in Israel for nearly two decades and his on-stage stand-up routines have the hebrew-speaking audience rolling in the aisles.

NPR's John Nielsen reports that Republicans are trying to divine the meaning of yesterday's political straw poll in Ames, Iowa, involving Republican candidates for President. Bob Dole and Phil Gramm tied for the number one spot...an outcome Gramm is calling a stunning victory.

Michael visits the exhibit "Edward Hopper and the American Imagination" at the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. Hopper's art has influenced many American arts in the 20th century, especially film.

Micahel talks with NPR's Anne Garrels about the vote of confidence by the Russian Parliament for President Boris Yeltsin today. The last time Yeltsin faced the Russian Parliament like this, tanks ended up on the streets of Moscow. This time the vote was over Yeltsin's handling of the Chechen crisis.

NPR's John Greenberg reports on a spat between democrats and republicans over a little-known provision of the nation's gun laws. At issue: whether convicted felons may legally own firearms.

Danny gets an update on Bosnia developments from NPR reporters Andy Bowers (in Zagreb) and Michael Goldfarb (in London). They talk about the Serb assault on Zepa and about a meeting of US, French and British military chiefs in London.

Host Daniel Zwerdling talks with Lyman Kellstedt, professor of political science at Wheaton College, and Diane Winston, from the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton University, about President Clinton's recent remarks about religion, and about how an increasingly religious electorate may affect the outcome of future political contests.

The famous blues singer Bessie Smith had a torturous and wonderful life... one of passion mixed with tragedy complimented by tremendous talent. Danny talks with actress and singer Bernardine Mitchell who is currently performing in the musical 'Bessie's Blues' in Washington D.C. The play weaves together the lives of Smith and Mitchell - illustrating the challenges and hurdles both have faced in their lives.

NPR's Trevor Rowe reports that five humanitarian organizations have banded together to provide women in refugee camps with assistance addressing their sexual needs: birth control, protection against AIDS, and sexual abuse.

Michael talks with Martin Walker, Washington bureau chief of the British newspaper The Guardian, about America's image in Europe. Europe wants to be led, says Walker, and America is dropping the ball.

LINGUAL COPS - NPR's Vickey Que reports on Philadelphia's effort to curb Asian gang violence by using police officers who speak Asian languages.

NPR's Jim Zarolli reports on the U.S. media operations of Rupert Murdoch. Australian-born Murdoch runs Fox TV, and this week the Federal Communications Commission said Murdoch's News Corporation would not have to give up any of the eight t.v. stations that make up the core of Fox TV, even though that violates foreign-ownership rules. Murdoch supporters say his US operations have brought competition to the airwaves. His opponents say he's brought shlock.

NPR's John Greenberg reports that beginning tomorrow, a Congressional subcommittee will open hearings on cutting the amount of money the federal government spends on subsidized housing.

BOOM - Songwriter Jimmy Keyes died this past week. He wrote and performed the classic rhythm and blues song SH-BOOM in the 1950's, when he was with a group called The Chords. The song was one of the first r and b standards to cross over into the main commercial market.

LAWS - Danny discusses the future of Congressional efforts to revamp the nation's environment laws with Bob Benenson of Congressional Quarterly and Stephen Klineberg, Professor of Sociology at Rice University. Yesterday, 51 House Republicans broke ranks with the leadership to join democrats and kill proposals that would have curbed the Environmental Protection Agency's power to enforce the clean air and water acts.

Ever since the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum opened, hundreds of thousands of people from around the world have visited the extraordinary collection of exhibits. But museum organizers noticed that missing among the visitors were D.C. public school kids. And so they developed a program that would bring local young people to the museum where they could not only learn about the holocaust but eventually get a job at the museum. Daniel visits with some of these high school students during one of their 10 week courses and discovers how the program has not only changed the way these teenagers view history, but how it has affected their parents as well.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that 25 years ago, cigarette advertising on television was banned. He looks back at the ban and the impact it had on the nation's smoking habit.

When storyteller Carmen Deedee left Cuba as a little girl many years ago, she had a difficult time adjusting to her new life in a small town in Georgia. But her transition was made easier when she discovered that some of the things she treasured in her country she could also find in her new one.

35 years ago - the then 6 year old Ruby Bridges went to her first day of public school - only to be met by a mob of whites who didn't want a little black girl coming to their school. But, despite rigorous protests, Louisiana schools were under court order to integrate and so Ruby Bridges, escorted by federal marshalls, continued first grade at the Frantz School in New Orleans all by herself. The only other person Ruby saw througout most of her first year was her teacher - Barbara Henry. Daniel talks with Ruby Bridges-Hall and Barbara Henry about their recollections of those historic, precedent setting times.

Mark O'Brien was stricken by polio as a young boy and is currently one of the few remaining Americans living inside an iron lung. It is from this restricted position that O'Brien has enjoyed the pleasures of baseball by following the games exclusively on radio, not television. "How I Survived Childhood" is one of several poems O'Brien has written about his favorite sport.

This weekend marks the first annual Patsy Cline Festival in Winchester, Virginia. Jacki talks with biographer Ellis Nassour about the delayed recognition for Patsy--she wasn't always well thought of in Winchester. And we'll hear portions of two Patsy Cline chestnuts.

Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel was among the people attending Rabin's funeral last Monday. He wrote us his reflections on the event and on the tragedy behind it.

Daniel and NPR's Tom Gjelten discuss the latest in the Bosnian peace negotiations taking place outside Dayton, Ohio. Tom takes us inside the talks, and gives us a feeling for the mood as arch enemies are essentially living in close proximity in an effort to find peace. Personal relations are icy, but the sides are working 7 days a week.