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The U.S. unemployment rate surged far higher and has remained higher than in other major industrial countries. It's now at 9.6 percent. The big shift came when American companies cut workers more aggressively than foreign firms in the face of the financial crisis.

The inaugural World Baseball Classic comes to an end tonight in San Diego when Japan faces Cuba. Team Cuba advanced with a 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic and Japan blasted South Korea 6-0. Sports Illustrated writer Tom Verducci talks with Robert Siegel.

The U.S. Supreme Court's 6-to-3 ruling Monday reinforced the supremacy of federal laws prohibiting marijuana use over state laws allowing it. The decision could have a broader impact on other issues involving states' rights, such as Oregon's right-to-die law.

The Irish are seething after discovering the enormous cost of bailing out their reckless banks. The cost of the bank bailout, totaling nearly $70 billion, is just a further burden for the people of Ireland, where 1 in 6 is jobless, and those still working are being hit with extra taxes amid a shrinking economy.

On their first album, the L.A. band won over fans and critics with their unique blend of African melodies and Hebrew lyrics. They've changed their approach for their latest album, Leave No Trace. Founding members Luke Top and Lewis Pesacov explain why.

Robert talks with Charles Lewis, the executive director of the Center for Public Integrity, about his book, "The Buying of the President." Lewis' book traces campaign contributions for current presidential candidates as far back as 1979 and identifies the top 10 "career donors."

NPR's Kate Seelye in Amman reports Arab leaders opened summit talks in the Jordanian capital today. The Palestinian issue tops the agenda, but there are fears that continued tensions between Iraq and Kuwait could mar efforts to present a united Arab stand at the summit.

Bill Raack of member station KWMU reports on the Supreme Court decision to allow the Ku Klux Klan to sponsor a road in Missouri's Adopt-A-Highway program. The case began in 1994 when the KKK's top state official filed an application with the state.

Four young guys in dark mop-top haircuts, slightly mod suits peer with disarming insoucience from the cover of an album produced by Capitol Records. Meet The Redwalls, who are touring the country with a CD, de nova, that evokes the sound of the early Beatles.

The most famous of all the giant meat-eating predators that walked the Earth actually started out rather small, at least as dinosaurs go. A fossil dubbed the "crowned dragon" shows it was a 90-million-year climb to the top of the food chain for T. rex.

NPR'S MaryKay Magistad reports that Secretary Warren Christopher met today with China's top leaders to forge a better relationship between the United States and China. Though there was no official statement made, progress was made on several issues, including nuclear non-proliferation.

In 2000, pianist Yundi Li took the gold medal at the Warsaw International Chopin Competition, becoming the first pianist in 15 years to be deemed worthy of the top prize. The young musician performs Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in NPR's Studio 4A.

Commentator Stuart Chiefet (chef-AY) says that with so many people using lap-top computers these days, some entrepreneours could make a fortune by simply offering hackers caught in remote spots an electrical outlet where they can plug in their machines.

Boeing's former chief financial officer pleads guilty in the growing scandal over the firm's defense contracts with the federal government. A top Air Force officer has also pled guilty in the investigation into favoritism in military acquisitions. NPR's David Schaper reports.

Two new reports extend blame for abuses at Abu Ghraib to the Pentagon's top leaders. But neither calls for the punishment of anyone more senior than brigade commanders at the prison -- infuriating critics who say Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign.

A former top aide to Vice President Dick Cheney suggests in court papers that President Bush approved a leak of classified pre-war intelligence on Iraq. Lewis Libby's claims put the president and the vice president in the awkward position of having authorized leaks.

Reuters editor Chrystia Freeland traveled the world, interviewing multimillionaires and billionaires for her new book, Plutocrats. She says there's a startling disconnect between those at the very top and the rest of us — one that has the power to transform society in unfortunate ways.

Scottish singer-songwriter Alexi Murdoch has risen to the top of the folk-pop genre by employing hushed, heartbreaking vocals in a style reminiscent of Nick Drake. In June, Murdoch independently released his first full-length album, Time Without Consequence.

Combining electronica, indie-rock, soul and funk, the group's newest record topped many critics' best-of lists for 2008. On Dear Science, the band's characteristically dark lyrics are balanced by some of the most accessible song structures of TV on the Radio's career.

Adam Carolla, who has successfully made the transition from radio to podcasting, says his popular CarCast podcast was inspired by public radio's Car Talk, only his show is funnier. Carolla has two podcasts in the iTunes Top 10.