Hour 1
In this week's news round-up, we'll look at the fallout from General McChrystal's dismissal and what his replacement, General Petraeus, will bring to the war in Afghanistan. Will the strategy change or remain the same? We'll also look at the increasing unrest in Iraq with the March election results still undecided. And, back at home, we'll get the latest on the BP oil spill and its political ramifications. What do these crises say about Obama's role as a leader? New poll numbers show that American's confidence in the President is slipping and pessimism about the country's future is growing. We get analysis from Trudy Rubin, Foreign Affairs columnist for "The Philadelphia Inquirer" and James Kitfield, foreign affairs and national security correspondent for "The National Journal."

Filed under: military, politics, world |

Hour 2
Rebroadcast:
Fans of detective shows like CSI or the modern mystery novel know that a suspect’s guilt or innocence is often determined by a miniscule piece of forensic evidence. But this wasn’t always the case, as science journalist Deborah Blum explains in her new book, "The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York." Blum tells the story of two pioneering scientists, New York’s first chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler, who together revolutionized forensic medicine, put countless murderers behind bars, and improved public safety. This hour, we’ll hear some tales of murder and medical detection from the early years of forensic science.

Filed under: author, crime, criminal justice, health, science |