Search results for

MICHAEL KINSLEY, former editor of "The New Republic," and co-host of CNN's "Crossfire," has been hired by Microsoft to start an on-line magazine of political dialog and cultural commentary. TERRY GROSS will also be speaking with him about the Republican primary. He has a new collection of his essays, "Big Babies," (William M

In part two of our public hospitals series, Frank Browning reports on the debate at the University of San Francisco General Hospital over what changes may be needed in medical education to meet the challenges public hospitals face from managed care. To reduce cost, they're having to shift away from expensive specialty care in the hospital to preventive general care, delivered in an outpatient setting. That's not what they're accustomed to doing, but it's what most poor people who depend on public hospitals need.

Roving correspondent Bob Garfield tells the story of Phil Frankenfeld. Since he earned his PhD seven years ago, the political scientist has been sending hundreds of letters and commentaries to journalists and academics in a fruitless attempt to land a job. In the meantime, he's been writing poems, constructing anagrams and generally trying to find volunteer work for his intellect.

NPR's Mary Kay Magistad reports that China's war games and missile tests have apparently failed to cow the Taiwanese on the eve of Taiwan's presidential election.

of three GOP presidential hopefuls: Bob Dole, Lamar Alexander and Pat Buchanan.

NPR's Joe Palca reports that a new study has shown that genetically engineered foods can produce unexpected food allergies. In the study, being published in The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that genetically engineered soybeans could provoke an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to nuts that supplied the engineered genetic material. An editorial accompanying the study says it raises questions about the adequacy of safeguards by the Food and Drug Administration.

Linda talks with Harley Shaiken, a labor specialist at the University of California at Berkeley, and David Cole, director of the Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation at the University of Michigan, about the strike at General Motors that has shut down 21 assembly plants across the country and threatens to escalate into a national ordeal. Cole talks about the industry's push to become leaner and their use of "just-in-time manufacturing." Following the lead of Japan, GM now keeps only a very small supply of critical components, like brakes, in stock. Shaiken explains how this practice gives union strikes considerable leverage because a small number of strikers can paralyze a large organization.

bulge the FDA is on the verge of approving the first anti-obesity pill in more than 20 years. But critics warn it is no magic solution, and say it can have serious side effects.

about the start of the NCAA basketball tournament.

NPR's Adam Hochberg reports that North Carolina's legisture will meet in special session to decide what to do with a billion and a half dollar surplus in state's unemployment insurance fund. Due to strong economy and low unemployment, state has accumulated surplus. Republicans want to give cut rate, or refund tax to businesses that pay it.