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Doris Kearns Goodwin On Lincoln And His 'Team Of Rivals'

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This interview was originally broadcast on Nov. 8, 2005.

When Tony Kushner and Steven Spielberg were working on the film Lincoln, they had many conversations with historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Her book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, is about Lincoln's relationship with his cabinet. Both her book and the film showcase Lincoln's remarkable political skills.

1:47 pm

Thu November 15, 2012

The New British Empire: Pop-Culture Powerhouses

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The HBO documentary Crossfire Hurricane, about The Rolling Stones, prompts critic John Powers to reflect on the band's five decades of fame.

Credit Francois Duhamel / Sony Pictures

In his three Bond films, actor Daniel Craig has created a portrait of a darker, damaged 007 — evidence of the enduring character's mutability, according to Powers.

By John Powers

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It seems that every time you turn around, you find another anniversary of some big cultural or historical event. I'm weary of the media's habit of playing all these things up, so I'm abashed to admit I'm about to do just that.

But you see, in the same three-day period I recently saw the new James Bond picture, Skyfall, and Crossfire Hurricane, a new HBO documentary about The Rolling Stones. And because the Bond movies and the Stones both turn 50 this year, I began thinking about how they might fit together.

1:38 pm

Thu November 15, 2012

Four More BP Employees Will Be Charged In Oil Spill

By Carrie Johnson

Originally published on Thu November 15, 2012 4:12 pm

Two sources tell NPR that four more BP employees will be charged in relation to the BP oil spill, which dumped more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

The individuals facing manslaughter charges are former BP well managers Donald Vidrine and Robert Kaluza. Another high ranking official, David Rainey, the former head of Gulf of Mexico exploration, will be charged with downplaying the spill to lawmakers. One more lower ranking BP employee will face insider trading charges.

1:25 pm

Thu November 15, 2012

'What Did My Son Do To Die Like This': A Father Mourns His 11-Month-Old Son

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Credit Majed Hamdan / AP

Jihad Masharawi weeps while he holds the body of his 11-month old son Ahmad, at Shifa hospital following an Israeli air strike on their family house, in Gaza City on Wednesday.

Credit Mohammed Salem / Reuters /Landov

Jihad Masharawi, a Palestinian employee of BBC Arabic in Gaza, mourns over the body of his 11-month-old son.

By editor

Originally published on Tue March 12, 2013 11:39 am

The picture at the top of this post is quickly coming to represent the human suffering behind the fighting in Gaza.

The Washington Post used it on its front page this morning and it's moved quickly and widely through Twitter.

1:22 pm

Thu November 15, 2012

BP Settlement Of Little Comfort To Some, A 'Down Payment' To Others

Credit Win McNamee / Getty Images

June 2010: A boom floats in the water as contract workers from BP use skimmers to clean oil from a marsh near Venice, La.

By Debbie Elliott

Originally published on Thu November 15, 2012 5:36 pm

There's mixed reaction this afternoon to the news that BP has agreed to a deal with federal authorities to pay $4.5 billion in criminal and civil penalties related to the 2010 Gulf Oil spill.

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1:49 pm

Thu November 15, 2012