WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show Podcast

THE POLITICS HOUR: Maryland rolls the dice on a new plan to expand casino gambling. D.C. petitioners pushing a measure to limit corporate influence on political campaigns come up short. And the presidential campaigns ramp up their game in Virginia. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

THE OLYMPICS AND GENDER RIGHTS: The 2012 Olympic Games are making athletic history, with records being smashed by some of the world's greatest athletes. But the true legacy of the London games may be carved outside of the arena — it's the first Olympics where every country competing has fielded at least one female competitor. We explore the power of the Olympics as a venue for social change, particularly when it comes to matters of gender and women's rights. (51 min.)

VIRTUAL PRISON VISITS: Prison systems around the country have embraced video visitation as a low-cost, high security way to connect inmates with their family and friends. But prisoner rights advocates were alarmed when the DC Department of Corrections recently shifted to video as an alternative to traditional visitation and eliminated all in-person visits. We explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of video visitation. (35 min.) SOCIAL MEDIA AT WORK: IS A FACEBOOK "LIKE" PROTECTED SPEECH?: Facebook users post more than 50 million "likes" per day. Now federal courts are trying to figure out whether all those clicks are a form of constitutionally protected speech. Six former employees of a Virginia sheriff's office say they were fired for "liking" their boss' political rival. We explore the ubiquitous thumbs-up icon from a First Amendment perspective, and the broader debate over social media at work. (15 min.)

USDA AND THE FUTURE OF FOOD POLICY: Late last month, a sustainability newsletter for Department of Agriculture employees recommended reducing one's carbon footprint by adopting Meatless Mondays. Almost immediately, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association called on the USDA to withdraw the endorsement of Meatless Mondays, and the USDA complied within a few days. We find out why some say this dustup provides an interesting lens for looking into the future of food policy in the United States. (39 min.) YOUR TURN: Pepco tells shareholders it will ask for a rate hike in coming months. Plus, a new traffic study claiming that congestion is decreasing near Walter Reed National Military Medical Center raises eyebrows. It's your turn to offer your take on local news and the stories in the headlines. (12 min.)

ENDANGERED: ANIMALS AND ZOOS FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL: Nearly 1,000 animals are officially endangered, and finding the resources to save them all is a difficult, if not impossible, goal. Conservationists realize that to save some species they must make decisions that may harm others. We talk with the head of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute about the future of zoos and their links to conservation. (52 min.)

THE UNREST IN SYRIA - WHAT HAPPENS NEXT: The movement to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has stretched on now for more than a year and a half. But the pace of events has quickened in recent weeks — violence is consuming major cities, the country's prime minister defected to Jordan and Kofi Annan quit his position as United Nations special envoy to Syria. We chat with a local activist who is part of the opposition movement pushing for regime change about what happens next and the role he sees for the United States in Syria's future. (20 min.) A TREATY TO MAKE BOOKS MORE ACCESSIBLE: Ninety percent of the world's blind and visually impaired people live in developing countries, where there is little access to published work in braille and other accessible formats. Since 2008, the World Intellectual Property Office has been discussing a treaty that would require countries to allow copyrighted works to be converted into accessible formats without additional permission from the copyright holder. But publishers worry about the precedent such a treaty would set, concerns that led the U.S. and the European Union to block the latest round of negotiations. (29 min.)

THE COMPUTER GUYS & GAL: Let the games begin! Olympic athletes embrace social media. Fans perfect the art of ignoring Twitter spoilers in advance of evening rebroadcasts. Meanwhile, the video game industry confronts an ongoing problem in competitive gaming: sexist language and harassment. The Computer Guys and Gal are back to explore the latest news from the technology world. (52 min.)

SIKH COMMUNITY REACTS TO SHOOTING: A gunman killed six at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin yesterday, stunning the Sikh community in the U.S. and around the world. Law enforcement there is looking into the possibility that this was a hate crime. We talk with a leader in the Washington Sikh community who is among those reaching out to both devotees and to non-Sikhs, planning a nationwide candlelight vigil and hoping to educate people about a faith that is often misunderstood. (20 min.) STOP-AND-GO: CUBA'S CHANGING ECONOMY: Nearly two years ago, Cuba's government announced reforms to bolster private enterprise and slash public payrolls. The results have been dramatic — the number of Cubans employed in private businesses has skyrocketed 145 percent since October 2010. But steep import tariffs, new taxes and mixed signals from the government have contributed to widespread confusion about the direction of the island nation's economy and political system. Kojo explores economic developments on the island, and what they mean for U.S.-Cuba relations. (29 min.)

RESPECTING THE HEAT IN HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS : Growing concern over heat-related illness on the playing field is prompting a new focus on keeping student athletes safe. Around the region, coaches and athletic trainers are following new guidelines that phase in practices and limit the amount of gear players can wear in the early days of the season. As athletes start fall workouts this weekend, Kojo explores how to keep high school players from overheating. (52 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: Maryland lawmakers pack their bags for Annapolis ahead of a special session on gambling. Virginians scramble to select nominees for special elections in early September. And Congress rejects legislation that would have put limits on abortions performed in the District. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

THE DISTRICT'S POLITICAL CRISIS: WHAT COMES NEXT?: It's been a rough year for D.C.'s political leaders: Two members of the D.C. Council resigned after pleading guilty to felonies. A federal investigation is exploring whether Mayor Vincent Gray's campaign committed widespread fraud to get him elected in 2010. And a new Washington Post poll finds that a majority of D.C. residents believe Gray should resign. It's "Your Turn" to offer your take on the political crisis in District politics. (23 min.) THE PENTAGON'S "HOLLYWOOD LIAISON": Hollywood has a long and complicated relationship with the Pentagon, from blockbusters like "Top Gun" and "Battleship" all the way back to the silent World War I era film "Wings." The Defense Department frequently cooperates with motion picture studios, granting access to military equipment, locations and personnel. We chat with the Pentagon's Hollywood liaison about what both sides get out of the relationship and how the military decides when and why they want to cooperate with different projects. (26 min.)

THE EVOLUTION OF AIDS ACTIVISM: The world's leading AIDS researchers and activists come to Washington next week for the first International AIDS Conference held in the United States in 22 years. With deaths from AIDS down but HIV infection rates still high, we explore how the political, social and medical issues have changed in the three decades since the disease was discovered. (52 min.)

DROUGHT: THE LOCAL IMPACT: As the worst drought in 50 years continues to bake the Midwest, the East Coast is bracing for impact. Though rainfall is slightly below normal in our region, damaging storms and long days of record temperatures have wreaked havoc on crops. Kojo explores the drought's regional impact on food, and looks at the weather patterns that are creating these damaging conditions. (19 min.) KURT ANDERSEN: "TRUE BELIEVERS": How does the 21st century so far compare with the 1960s? What values are still recognizable? And what couldn't be more different? Join Kojo to explore these questions and answers — all of which form the backdrop to a new novel by a very popular public radio personality. (31 min.)

SPORTS NUTRITION: Food is a cornerstone for athletic success. Most topflight athletes adhere to sophisticated diets, designed to maximize their performance and increase their recovery times. And as thousands of hungry athletes converge in London for the Summer Olympics, organizers are spending countless hours coordinating the complex needs of athletes from all corners of the earth. Kojo explores food as fuel, and finds out how nutrition can be a strategic element for athletic success. (52 min.)

"READING RAINBOW" RETURNS: LEVAR BURTON: Actor LeVar Burton is well-known for his roles in "Roots" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." But to some of his most devoted fans he is, first and foremost, the host of "Reading Rainbow." The long-running children's television show went off the air in 2009, but was recently reborn as an iPad app. We talk with Burton about his acting career and his passion for encouraging kids to become lifelong readers. (52 min.)