Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Vaccines Get Political, “Smart” Drugs, and Harper Lee’s New Novel
Vaccinations have turned political, with President Obama, Chris Christie, Rand Paul, and others all weighing in; is the politicization of the conversation a good thing or a bad thing? Also, Harper Lee is publishing a new novel, 55 years after “To Kill a Mockingbird.” What’s it about, and why now?
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenPoliticians have started weighing in on the debate over vaccines. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Then, one woman’s story of how she went from anti-vaccine to pro. In other health-related news, the New York Attorney General has cracked down on bunk herbal supplements sold at chain retailers, but that’s not stopping Silicon Valley types from trying to “hack” their biology with strange ingredients and prescriptions. Turning to literature, Harper Lee is publishing a new novel this summer, 55 years after her first and only work, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” What’s the new book about, and why now? Author Kwame Alexander, who won the Newbery Medal yesterday, talks about his young adult novel “The Crossover.” And finally, in our regular car roundup, why does Google want in on Uber’s business model, and vice versa?
Banner Photo Credit: Hannah Smith/KOMU
In this episode
6 storiesThe Politics of Vaccinations
After a measles outbreak that originated at Disneyland, President Obama says kids should be fully vaccinated. But New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, visiting a vaccine lab in England, said parents should have, “some measure of choice” about whether to vaccinate for diseases.
Read the story8 minEula Biss’ Vaccine About-Face
So the vaccine debate has gone political. But for most parents, it’s an intensely personal decision about what is best for their children. Essayist Eula Biss’ book about vaccination starts with her own personal questions about giving her child vaccines.
Read the story10 minSo-Called Smart Drugs
Herbal supplements are a huge business, even though lots of them have no proven effects. And in fact, some may be a total scam. Yesterday, the New York State attorney general cracked down on supplements sold at Target and other stores that were fake, and in many cases contaminated with non-listed ingredients.
Read the story8 min“To Kill a Mockingbird” Sequel Coming This Summer
Huge news from the book world today: Harper Lee has announced she’ll publish a sequel to her classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. It’s called Go Set a Watchman, and it comes out July 14th. Lee is 88 years old.
Read the story7 minNewbery Award Winner Kwame Alexander on “The Crossover”
Poet and author Kwame Alexander won the highest award yesterday for children’s literature, the Newbery Medal. It’s for his novel The Crossover, about a pair of 12-year-old, African-American, basketball-playing twin brothers. It’s a coming-of-age story, but with a modern and serious twist.
Read the story7 minSelf-Driving Cars, Uber, Google, and Other Car News
Uber wants to get into the self-driving car business. Google wants to get into the ride-sharing business. And the government is recalling cars that have already been recalled. The auto industry is turned upside down! We hear about all that and more in our regular car news segment.
Read the story8 min
