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The failure of the congressional supercommittee to reach a deal on reducing federal government deficits is being called another example of dysfunction and gridlock in Washington. New attention is now focused back on the plan put forth last year by President Obama's bipartisan deficit reduction commission, a blueprint that a number of Democrats and Republicans endorsed. Host Scott Simon talks with former Sen. Alan Simpson, former co-chair of that deficit reduction commission, about the failed negotiations of the supercommittee.

Francis Ford Coppola shares stories from his early film making career and from some of his most famous movies, including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Also, Jason Segel and Nick Stoller talk about their new Muppet movie and Ed Ward reviews hillbilly boogie's earliest days.

People opt for bigger food portions when they're feeling powerless, according to new research. And when they're told that tiny portions are prestigious, they go small. That may be one reason why super-sized portions are so alluring, and why waistlines are bulging.

If, like many Americans, you’re worried about the future of Medicare, you’ll want to listen closely to this conversation about the program and the…

Although Herman Cain said earlier this week that America would soon "meet my wife publicly in an exclusive interview," no television appearances have been scheduled for Gloria Cain, who has been largely absent from the campaign trail.

For the book A History of the World in 100 Objects, the director of the British Museum chose 100 objects from his institution's collection of thousands to tell a surprisingly comprehensive history of the world.

David Rowell's debut novel puts public and personal timelines alongside each other as he recounts June 8, 1968. That's the day a train made a slow, momentous journey from New York to Washington, D.C., to deliver the body of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy for burial beside his slain brother.

The Labor Department said Friday that unemployment ticked down last month from 9.1 percent to 9 percent. Overall, job growth was modest, a continuation of a trend that's been with us all year. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's business correspondent Yuki Noguchi.

President Obama comes back to Washington Saturday from the G-20 summit in France. NPR's Scott Horsley examines what the president achieved at the meeting, considering an agenda heavily overshadowed by the European debt crisis.

College football's two top-ranked teams, Alabama and Louisiana State University, play for the No. 1 spot Saturday night. Howard Bryant of ESPN talks with host Scott Simon about the game, the end of baseball season and the stalled beginning of the NBA season.