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Host Bob Edwards talks with William Schulz, Executive Director of Amnesty International. He says the United States is a leading exporter of devices of torture, and calls for an end to the export of thumbscrews, serrated handcuffs, stun belts, and other instruments.

In the last part of Morning Edition's February series on what makes a city great, NPR's Susan Stamberg hears how a rich cultural mix, great shopping, and exotic food made people head to London and Amsterdam in droves -- in the 1600's. She speaks with author and historian Simon Schama about the color -- and the dreck, drugs and drink -- of these great cities three centuries ago.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on what's at stake for President Bush tonight as he prepares to make his case for his tax-cut proposals to a joint session of Congress -- as well as the American people. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, lawmakers are already battling over the president's plan.

Linda Wertheimer talks with Congressman Christoper Cox (R-47th) from California about why he supports a bigger tax cut than President Bush's proposal.

More people look to the Web for information about religion than for auctions or online banking. Commentator Steve Waldman thinks that this is because the Internet offers anonymity.

Robert Siegel talks to MIT professor Marvin Minksy about Dr. Claude Shannon, a mathematician who wrote about communications theory. Shannon died Saturday. Shannon's theories led to "packet" switching, which makes the Internet possible. Minsky says Shannon ranks on a level with Einstein. The two worked together years ago. Shannon did his work at AT&T Labs in the 1940s and '50s.

In the second part of our Changing Face of America series on homeschooling, NPR's Robert Smith tackles the issue of socialization. There's a persistent worry among parents who are considering homeschooling that their children will suffer for lack of the social interaction that happens in schools. There's not much evidence to support that fear. Most homeschoolers interact with peers often -- as members of academic groups and extracurricular sports teams, for example. In fact, some research points to a better quality of interaction for children educated at home who are comfortable with friendships with children older and younger than themselves, as well as adults.

Commentator Matthew Rothschilde says the battle over the estate tax is just a money grab for the wealthiest Americans. He says repealing it will create an "aristocracy of wealth." Rothschilde is editor of the Progressive Magazine in Madison, Wis.

NPR's Nina Totenberg reports on today's Supreme Court decision upholding the Clean Air Act. The justices unanimously rejected industry arguments that standards must be tempered by the cost of compliance. The law only requires the government to consider public health in setting air-quality standards.

NPR's Don Gonyea reports on how the administration readies for tomorrow night's speech by President Bush before a joint session of Congress on his budget. Mr. Bush is trying to win approval of his tax-cut program. But for most Americans, this will be their first real opportunity to see the president in action since the inauguration.