Talk of the Nation

With automatic budget cuts set to take effect Mar. 1, politicians are jockeying to control the message about sequestration and what it will mean for their constituents. Meanwhile, the cuts may create economic choke points that could affect industries from agriculture to air travel.

In July 2010, the oil spill caused by the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion fouled beaches and wetlands, killed wildlife, and ruined seafood businesses. Nearly three years later, as the civil trial against BP begins, those who live and work in the area continue to feel the disaster's effects.

Secretary of State John Kerry announced plans to provide $60 million in aid to Syrian rebels. With the country engulfed in civil war, an important battle is underway in the northwest, where rebels may soon control all of Idlib province. NPR's Kelly McEvers reports on her trip to the region.

Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer sparked controversy when she announced an end to company's telecommuting program. A leaked internal memo emphasized that "physically being together" will be important to communication and collaboration within the company. This has raised questions about the benefits of working from home.

After vocal GOP opposition to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, three prominent Republican governors recently signed-on to one key element of the law. NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin and NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner explain on the shifting politics of health care.

American classical pianist Van Cliburn died Feb. 27, 2013 at the age of 78. Cliburn rose to fame in 1958, when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the age of 23. NPR's Neal Conan remembers Cliburn with a song.

Some of the nation's largest cities hold mayoral elections in 2013, including New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit. NPR's Political Junkie Ken Rudin, Governing magazine staff writer Ryan Holeywell and former Sacramento mayor Anne Rudin discuss what makes a good municipal leader.

Italy's recent elections left the country in political gridlock. Italian columnist Beppe Severgnini breaks down the election results and austerity measures, and shares what Italians are talking about in a country that some are calling "ungovernable."

The death of Trayvon Martin spurred new conversations about race in America. It was also a turning point for The Race Project, where NPR's Michele Norris collects six-word reflections on race, culture and identity. Norris discusses the poignant conversations she's had since Martin's death.

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments on previous show topics, including violence in Chicago, the possibilities of 3-D printing, and religious exemptions.

Dozens of Republicans signed an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of gay marriage, just weeks before the Court is expected to hear arguments on a case challenging the legality of the Defense of Marriage Act. Some say this represents a significant shift within the Republican Party.

Syria is one of the most important backers of the powerful Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. If the Assad regime falls, Hezbollah will face an uncertain future. New Yorker staff writer Dexter Filkins discusses what shifts in Syria could mean for the future of the Middle East.

A year after teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Fla., remembrances are being held around the country. We may never know the exact details of the events that led to his shooting, but his death shifted conversations on racial profiling and law enforcement.

In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed a plan to boost federal minimum wage from 7.25 an hour, to 9 dollars. Columnist Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under President Bill Clinton, argues that plan is "a no-brainer."

South African Olympian Oscar Pistorius is accused of murdering his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, in their Pretoria home. The trial has set off a media frenzy and the coverage varies widely around the globe and in sports publications.