Scott Simon
NPR journalist and host of Weekend Edition Saturday
NPR journalist and host of Weekend Edition Saturday
Every podcast episode featuring Scott Simon that Attunex has found: 401 interviews and appearances across 21 shows between 2011 and 2026. Most often on NPR's Book of the Day (280), NPR Weekend Edition Saturday (50) and Up First from NPR (50). Often in conversation with Ayesha Rascoe, Michel Martin and Steve Inskeep. Follow Scott in Attunex to get new appearances automatically, each with an on-device transcript and summary.
Follow Scott Simon in AttunexUpdated 2026-10-13.
What would you do if you caught a baseball during the MLB playoffs? Give it to a kid nearby or keep it? This very scenario played out this week, with a fan deciding to keep the ball.
Moscow and Washington tout a diesel deal to ease sanctions and reopen fuel flows, but few details leave questions on price impacts and U.S. policy, sparking anger from Ukraine and allies.
ICE agents shot a man from the Dominican Republic in his car this week in New York City, while the man's 5 year-old was in the backseat. A judge has blocked the federal government from deporting him.
The U.S. has announced sanctions against the International Criminal Court, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowing to dismantle the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal.
The Saint-Exupery high school outside Paris is where the first protest took place last month about French education conditions. Students there tell NPR what they're hoping for and have achieved.
The first hurricane of the Atlantic hurricane season strikes the Florida panhandle and brings drenching rain over the southeast.
It's likely you've already chewed and swallowed some tasty morsel today. But when did that ability emerge? New evidence points to at least the middle Jurassic, back when dinosaurs still reigned.
NPR's Scott Simon and sports reporter Michele Steele talk about the MLB playoffs and the late Chicago Bears coach, Mike Ditka.
Bipartisan blowback on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plans to livestream a military execution, plus a scandal involving Kimberly Guilfoyle, the US Ambassador to Greece.
Philadelphia recently held its first-ever Parallel Parking Association Championship. Hundreds of people came out to see drivers compete for speed, accuracy and even flair.
David Robinson is the latest tech industry employee to quit over AI safety concerns. He tells NPR's Scott Simon the "culture is broken" at OpenAI.
Ohio is a critical battleground in next month's midterms elections. NPR's Scott Simon traveled to the state's 9th Congressional District to hear from voters about their priorities.
British musician Essy Sparrow talks about writing her song, "Weddings and Funerals" after receiving a wedding invitation from a former friend.
Lois Lowry returns to a dystopian future for the first time in a decade with: "Building 903." The new book depicts a world without art, music, or books, serving as a direct response to, "The Giver."
Chip Thomas, a retired physician on the Navajo Reservation, is well known for his large photograhpic murals. Now, he's been recognized with a MacArthur "genius" grant.
Author John Berendt has updated his Esquire series. published in book from, "Class Act: A Gentleman's Guide to Dressing Well." He gives NPR's Scott Simon some pointers.
In 1984, the president of American University of Beirut was shot to death on campus. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Kim Ghattas about her new book about the unsolved case, "The Best Kind of American."
John and Helen Koh are a middle-class couple living in South Korea with. But when a financial crisis hits, they leave Seoul for Southern California and are faced with a new financial reality. There,…
This was emphasized to people watching a Senate hearing this week, where confusion over two basketball teams was on display.
NPR's Scott Simon speaks to fellow host, Scott Detrow, and NPR editor, Daniel Burke about their new book, "American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City."
The U.S. economy added fewer jobs than expected last month and unemployment ticked up to 4.2%. NPR's Scott Simon talks to Betsey Stevenson, an economist at the University of Michigan.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to address a loophole in state law that makes it difficult to prosecute cases when a sexual assault victim willingly consumes drugs or alcohol.
We look at how some concerning economic indicators as well as the ongoing war in Iran might affect the midterm elections.
Scandals could be shaping several races in the midterm elections, particularly in places where even small margins can change the outcome.
A youth-led movement demands the resignation of India's election commissioner after 130 million people were struck off voter rolls, and weeks after forcing the education minister to stand down.
California voters will decide whether the state will charge a one-time tax on billionaires. The idea that has split Democrats and labor unions.
NPR's Scott Simon and sportswriter Howard Bryant discuss the WNBA and MLB playoffs.
Cuban-Americans largely supported President Trump in the 2024 elections. We take a look at how among some Cubans, the policies they voted for are negatively affecting them.
Farmers and businesses face a looming federal ban on hemp-derived THC products. It is set to go into effect at the by year-end, threatening to upend a multibillion-dollar market for low-dose drinks.
Brooklyn Dogers fans were crushed 75 years ago today: hearts pulverized by the New York Giants. NPR's Scott Simon talks with George Hirsch who witnessed "The Shot Heard 'Round the World" in the flesh.
Community colleges are often charged with training students for the jobs that already exist in their communities. But what if the jobs that need filling are at a data center?
NPR's Scott Simon talks with D.L. Hughley about his new memoir, "Charlie's Boy," and all the people from his childhood in South Central Los Angeles who shaped his life and his comedy.
Lambert started out as a scrappy country singer with a me-against-the-world attitude. How did she end up making lush disco songs and writing one of the biggest pop hits of the year?
The famed Chicago-based artist's career is taking a new direction with the purchase of Pickard China, the sole remaining maker of fine china in the United States.
Former foster youth with disabilities tell their stories — of how they got through foster care
Ben Macintyre is a master of espionage stories that are true. His latest project is based on a case study taught in MI6, the British foreign intelligence service. Redwood follows a KGB spy who offers…
President Donald Trump mused openly before the United Nations about whether he should annihilate Iran. It's a stark contrast to how his predecessors have spoken about wielding US military power.
The White House has barred CNN from traveling on Air Force One this weekend. It's another chapter in President Trump's fight with the press, and it appears there will be no TV pool coverage today.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a Republican attempt at redistricting congressional seats in Missouri - possibly giving Democrats a boost in their effort to win the House in the midterm elections.
Northeast states saw rising tides and widespread power outages on Saturday as the storm ripped through the region. Forecasters expect significant winds and rain throughout the weekend.
ICE is looking at "mobile detention facilities" for immigrant detainees as it quietly expands its detention system. Also, the latest on the ICE shooting of a Venezuelan man in Texas.
Bond yields rose this week pushing mortgage rates above 7 percent. That's another big challenge for the already limping US housing market.
On the second day of his four-day visit to France, Pope Leo celebrates Mass in Paris at the Place de la Concorde. He's being greeted like a rock star in this traditionally Catholic yet staunchly…
You never know what you'll unearth in a thrift store. NPR's Scott Simon speaks to Olivia Haysman-Walker about the discovery of a rare first edition of a classic American novel in a London bookstore.
Some GOP candidates are stepping back from unpopular Trump administration policies. Meanwhile, a U.S.-China summit at the White House and tensions with the press corps.
At the World Sauna Congress in Oslo, NPR's Will Stone covers how scientists and enthusiasts are exploring heat exposure as a growing global trend to boost wellbeing and fight social isolation.
NPR's Scott Simon and sports reporter Michele Steele talk about the possible divine intervention on behalf of Chicago baseball.
Republicans made gains with Latino voters last cycle. But concerns about the economy and frustration over the administration's immigration enforcement efforts are eroding that support.
Australian musician Julia Jacklin talks about her latest album, "The Gem."
NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Josef Kubota Wladyka, whose new film, "Ha-Chan, Shake Your Booty!" is set in the Tokyo ballroom dance scene.
Flash floods in Nepal that buried a dozen hydropower plants in the mud, alongside dozens of people, have spotlighted the perils of building in the Himalayas.
NPR's Scott Simon talks with journalist Robert Kolker about his new book, "The Vanishing Family." It's about a family with a high risk of frontotemporal dementia due to a genetic mutation.
What if the question you’re avoiding is the one you most need to answer? We often think courage means doing something difficult or frightening. But Scott Simon says the place people struggle most…
Emily St. John Mandel’s new novel opens in the first spring after the collapse of the United States – and her protagonist, Ari, is on her way to a party. Exit Party is set in a new world emerging out…
Conclave author Robert Harris has returned to Rome with a fictional memoir of Agrippa , a military genius and trusted ally of the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. In the memoir, the general doesn’t…
The flagship podcast of the Brain Iron Multinational Media Empire returns to your podcast feeds with an attempt to understand the future of the Republican party after the “midterm convention,” the…
It’s 1989 in Romania and the country is living under a totalitarian regime. In the new novel Astronaut! , an 8-year-old girl craves bright colors among otherwise gray surroundings as she comes of age…
While on a cruise, a former college swimmer finds himself in the water, adrift alone, swimming for his life. But he isn’t sure how he got there. In Man Overboard! , 33-year-old Patrick “Kick”…
Author Daniyal Mueenuddin hit the ground running with his debut novel, This is Where the Serpent Lives . Set in modern Pakistan, the story spans generations and explores class, corruption, and crime…
Etna is a dog living in a fictional, coastal country on a farm with his mom and siblings. Then, one day, he’s scooped up by a mysterious woman who enlists him for war. The new novel Etna is narrated…
I Made You Up Inside My Head is Marta Pérez-Carbonell’s debut novel. In the book, three strangers have a surprise encounter on an overnight train. A woman named Alicia meets Terence and Mick. One of…
In two new novels, city folk are thrown into life in the country. The Great Wherever is a multigenerational story told through ghosts. A woman living in Washington, D.C. learns she’s inherited her…
Hunter Biden says he has nothing left to hide. He’s been all over the internet in recent months, including appearances with some of his harshest critics, such as ultra-conservative podcasters Candace…
Hunter Biden says he has nothing left to hide. He’s been all over the internet in recent months, including appearances with some of his harshest critics, such as ultra-conservative podcasters Candace…
Why are we obsessed with the ancient world, even the most ordinary parts of it? Mary Beard tackles that question in her new book Talking Classics: The Shock of the Old . Her personal interest in…
As we continue to celebrate the 250th birthday of the U.S., we’re revisiting author interviews on important books about American history. In today’s episode, author and journalist Rick Atkinson…
President Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore turns dark. Despite the heat, Americans are finding ways to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary. Two former Trump allies want to start a new political…
Bill felt we all needed a break from Politics and so this Fourth of July edition of the Bill Press Pod features NPR’s Scott Simon, discussing Simon’s book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have…
Over 50 years, Judy Blume wrote an incomparable set of books for young readers, including Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret , Deenie , Tiger Eyes , Tales Of A Fourth Grade Nothing and Blubber .…
Three days after twin earthquakes hit Venezuela, rescue teams race against time, President Trump's interest in overhauling elections is not shared by all of his Republican colleagues on Capitol Hill,…
Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah renew their ceasefire while Iran and the U.S. try to push ahead with negotiating a broader deal. We'll also look at how the preliminary agreement is being viewed…
Journalist, Radio Hall of Famer, and CBS News Sunday Morning contributor Scott Simon joins the show to discuss his book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known. Simon shares heartfelt and…
The stalemate in Iran continues to vex the president, the merger of Paramount and Warner Brothers Discovery gets an all-clear from Washington, and the Knicks and Spurs fight for the NBA title. See…
What happened to those who remained in Ireland after the Great Famine of 1865? It’s a question that fascinated Maggie O’Farrell, author of Hamnet, as she began her newest novel Land. Drawing on…
Today on the show: Fictional and nonfictional takes on extraterrestrial life. Steven Rowley’s new novel Take Me With You is about a man whose husband is abducted by aliens. The author says the…
Sportswriter Joe Posnanski and TV writer Michael Schur say their new book is for everyone who has risked their emotional health over a sports team. Big Fan took the co-authors across the United…
Tuesday May 26 : P&T Knitwear was pleased to welcome Emmy winner, NPR’s Scott Simon to celebrate and discuss his new book Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known ; a profusion of exuberant…
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth talks Pacific security, the government reviews E. Jean Carroll's civil cases against President Trump, Costco and Walmart are selling more gasoline. See pcm.adswizz.com…
Writing is hard. So is writing about writing. And, sometimes, reading about writing. But today, we have two books that attempt to break down the literary creative process into manageable pieces.…
Washington ratcheted up the pressure on Havana this week. A federal judge in Tennessee dismissed criminal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Electricity costs are rising as the U.S. enters warmer…
In Ilona Bannister’s Five, five strangers wait on a train platform. One will die in the next five minutes but only one person knows: the reader. In Anthony Horowitz’s A Deadly Episode, his real 2018…
From the beloved host of NPR’s Weekend Edition Saturday , moving tales of the marvelous animals who have crossed his path. Scott Simon’s household does not make much distinction between humans and…
Cuba experienced blackouts and protests this week, and the CIA director made a visit to Havana. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., faces primary voters today. Trump administration travel restrictions are…
In a new mystery novel, a group of struggling writers lands on a private island belonging to bestselling author Arthur Fletch. But Fletch is dead and the authors, who come from a number of genres,…
We meet the unnamed narrator of Mark Helprin's new novel Elegy In Blue when he’s 82-years-old. He was a man of wealth and standing but has wound up alone in a subsidized studio apartment in Brooklyn.…
President Trump's continued criticism of NATO allies is bringing relations within the alliance to historic lows. The controversial immigration center in the Florida Everglades may be closing. New…
(May 8, 2026) The longtime "Weekend Edition Saturday" host wrote a book that chronicles his life story through adopted pets, including a cat that escaped the British Embassy.
On today's show, we consider whether students and faculty at the University of Arkansas are using Artificial Intelligence responsibly. Plus, we talk with NPR’s Scott Simon, who has covered wars,…
Spirit Airlines ceased operation overnight, as jet fuel prices are pinching airlines. A panel of federal judges in Louisiana has ended telemedicine access to the abortion pill mifepristone for the…
Two new novels center vital, but unusual connections across age. In The Take , an aspiring writer named Maggie agrees to an outlandish deal with Ingrid, an established Hollywood producer. Author…
Scott Simon visits Troy Public Radio to discuss his book Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, a collection of essays about the animals that have impacted his life, from family pets like the…
In Maria Semple’s new novel, Adora Hazzard works as a moral trainer to the tweens of a wealthy family on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. She’s a content, divorced stoic philosopher in her late 50s…
A deadlock between the U.S. and Iran continues over the U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have caught the attention of regulators as people profit…
Iran says it is clamping back down on the Strait of Hormuz, putting the ceasefire at risk. President Trump appeared at a rally at an Arizona megachurch. Businesses are preparing for Monday's launch…
In November of 2019, a young man leaped into the Thames River from a London apartment building and died. After 19-year-old Zac Brettler’s death, his parents learned their son had adopted a false…
Delegations from the US and Iran are in Pakistan to negotiate an end to the six-week-old war. Voters in Hungary weigh in ahead of tomorrow’s national election where polls signal trouble for Prime…
Writer Rachel Knox says there was a point at which she wanted to escape Florida. She moved away to New York, but eventually returned. Her new essay collection Anywhere Else works through her…
A U.S. fighter jet went down in Iran and there's been a shakeup of Army leadership. The retirement of a privacy officer at the Department of Justice shines a light on the Trump Administration's…
Larry Bird – one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA – once gave up his college basketball career to return to his hometown, French Lick, Indiana. But soon after, an assistant coach…
Yann Martel’s new novel Son of Nobody contains two narratives: a lost epic about the Trojan War and a personal tragedy that plays out in the book’s footnotes. The two protagonists are Psoas, a common…
PBS Newshour co-anchor Geoff Bennett is out with a new book that presents portraits of Black artists who shaped comedy. Black Out Loud is a history that starts with vaudeville and runs through the…
The Iran War enters its second month with no clear ceasefire talks. Gas prices and airport chaos weigh down President Trump's approval numbers. Protesters against the president gather around the…
The narrator in Black Bag is an unnamed and mostly unemployed actor until a professor offers him the starring role in an experiment. The narrator is asked to zip himself in a black bag and sit in the…
Two new murder mystery novels let readers into hidden worlds: one underground and the other among the wives of serial killers. First, Ruby Falls begins in 1928 in Chattanooga, Tennessee when a man…
More strikes against Iran, including an island crucial to the country’s oil exports. Three separate domestic attacks in the U.S. do not appear to have direct links to Iran. President Trump signs two…
In today’s episode, Elizabeth Day describes the protagonist in her new novel One of Us as the “quintessential outsider.” Martin Gilmour came from a difficult background, but won a scholarship to an…
More countries in the Middle East reported incoming fire from Iran over the week. Oil prices spike as shippers avoid the Strait of Hormuz. President Trump is attending a summit for Latin American…
In today’s episode, two authors tackle everyday experience through short-form writing. First, The Irish Goodbye is a collection of micro-memoirs by the poet Beth Ann Fennelly. In these recollections,…
Author Andrew Krivak grew up hearing stories about his grandfather, who died in a coal mine collapse in the early 1900s. These stories inspired Mule Boy , a novel about a 13-year-old who survives a…
The U.S. and Israel launch a joint attack on Iran. Iran responds with a missile attack on Israel, Bahrain, the U.A.E. and Qatar. Iran says a girls elementary school suffered a direct hit. See…
There are many ways that a home renovation project can become a nightmare for all involved. But in The Renovation, narrator Dilara’s remodeling woes aren’t strictly financial or aesthetic—they’re…
The Supreme Court says President Trump cannot use the economic emergency he declared as a rationale for his import tax regime. The U.S. military buildup in the Mideast over the past month gives Trump…
Adi is a man grieving the death of his young son and the end of his marriage. Following these losses, he comes across a strange job listing, which brings him to a remote island populated by…
About a decade ago, professor and historian Ethelene Whitmire was presenting research on the experiences of African Americans living in Denmark. At that talk, she met – by chance – a relative of Reed…
Kate loves her husband and their family, but she’s also involved in a long-standing affair with a married lover. Ellie Levenson opens her novel Room 706 with the secret lovers in their London hotel…
U.S. and Iranian envoys have held talks aimed at averting possible U.S. strikes on Iran. Debates over immigration enforcement are front and center in a Texas primary contest. Plus, it’s a busy…
Two new books focus on lesser-known chapters of Black history. First, Kings & Pawns tells the story of Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson, who were pitted against each other during the Red Scare. In…
In Angela Tomaski’s debut novel, an old English manor has just been sold and is on the brink of conversion into a hotel. The Infamous Gilberts tells the story of the crumbling building, and the…
The Justice Department has released its final tranche of the Epstein files - we'll look at what they have and haven't included. And, the U.S. in a partial government shutdown again, although this is…
At least half of the U.S. population will be hit by a powerful winter storm this weekend - we'll tell you how Oklahoma, and other states, are preparing. Plus, a look at how President Trump is using…
Author Daniyal Mueenuddin has hit the ground running with his debut novel, This is Where the Serpent Lives . Set in modern Pakistan, the story spans generations and explores class, corruption, and…
The Justice Department has launched an investigation into Minnesota's Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging that they conspired to impede the work of ICE agents. Plus, an…
In the spring of 1941, Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, braced for incoming attacks from German bombers. Over April and May, four German air raids killed thousands of Belfast residents. Lucy…
Protests continue in Minneapolis after ICE agents kill a local woman, Renee Good, with more protests planned this weekend. Plus, Iranians have been taking to the streets in cities across the country,…
Two debut novelists are out with murder mysteries set in the United Kingdom. First, Jennie Godfrey’s T he List of Suspicious Things is a coming-of-age story inspired by the Yorkshire Ripper, the…
Indian Bengali writer Amitav Ghosh has been writing about empire, the environment, and other subjects for the past 25 years. Now, he has gathered some of his essays into a new collection called Wild…
Russ & Daughters opened in 1914 and is one of the last remaining “appetizing stores” in New York City. The shop – which the owners say is not a deli – is famous for its bagels and lox, among other…
As 2025 comes to a close, we're revisiting interviews with this year's nominees and winners of some of the biggest prizes in literature. Last up: A 10-year-old girl, Louisa, is later found on a beach…
As 2025 comes to a close, we're revisiting interviews with this year's nominees and winners of some of the biggest prizes in literature. Karen Russell’s novel The Antidote is set during the Dust Bowl…
As 2025 comes to a close, we're revisiting interviews with this year's nominees and winners of some of the biggest prizes in literature. First up: Raja teaches philosophy to high schoolers and shares…
NPR’s Ron Elving has been thinking about the state of U.S. politics since President Donald Trump returned to power. Also, several countries in South America elected conservative and even far right…
The Justice Department releases a vast trove of documents relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Also, Congress left Washington D.C. for its holiday break without reaching a deal on…
Two new memoirs zoom in on important moments in music history. First, Paul McCartney’s new book Wings reflects on the life of his post-Beatles band, which he formed in London in 1971. In today’s…
33 Place Brugmann opens with a list of the residents of a Brussels apartment building. The year is 1939 and Germany’s invasion of Belgium is on the horizon. Alice Austen’s debut novel winds together…
In William Boyd’s newest novel The Predicament , lead character and travel writer Gabriel Dax becomes a secret spy, scouring the globe on British orders during the Cold War. He’s looking for an…
Health care subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. Millions of Americans face price hikes but can Congress reach a deal to alleviate the pain? Historic flooding hits part of the Pacific…
A CDC advisory panel has voted to roll back Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns. If approved, it could reverse 30 years of gains in fighting the liver disease. We also look how Hollywood is responding…
Are all unreliable narrators self-aware? The answer might depend on the novel, but in Brandon Hobson’s The Devil Is a Southpaw, our primary narrator, Milton (a writer and artist) uses his prose to…
A JetBlue plane plunged uncontrollably last month prompting the parent company to issue an order to inspect all Airbus A-320 jets. It’s bad timing for holiday travel. Afghans waiting for asylum say…
Russia's long-standing requests are predominant in a peace deal for Ukraine brokered by American and Russian envoys. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., says she will resign her Congressional seat in…
Two new books examine how sex fits into suburban and small-town life, respectively. First, Erin Somers explores marriage and desire in her novel The Ten Year Affair . In today’s episode, she speaks…
You may have heard of a bog — those wet, mucky environments found mostly in the northern temperate pockets of Canada or Europe — but did you know that bogs can preserve human bodies for thousands of…
Congress returns to further negotiations on health care subsidies and an earlier-than-expected vote on the Epstein files. President Trump is threatening to sue the BBC over an edit of his speech on…
U.S. consumers have not borne the full brunt of President Trump's tariffs but that may change if they are held up, all or in part, by the Supreme Court. The Department of Homeland Security is…
Two judges rule that it’s unlawful for President Trump to suspend SNAP food benefits. With higher premiums and a government shutdown, open enrollment for health insurance is different this year.…
Some members of the House of Representatives are using down time during the shutdown to connect from their constituents back home - we'll tell you what they're hearing. We'll also preview President…
Today’s episode features new memoirs by journalists who aren’t afraid to connect deeply with their subjects. First, in Paper Girl , Beth Macy travels back to her hometown, Urbana, Ohio. In today’s…
The Weekend Edition Saturday host talks about the state of journalism, covering war-torn regions, an awkward interview with Billy Cosby and a hilarious one with Dame Edna.
Jeannie Vanasco’s memoir A Silent Treatment is about the period her mother spent living in the basement apartment of Vanasco’s home. Sometimes, Vanasco’s mother would stop communicating altogether.…
Ning is the manager of a nail salon where all of the workers wear a nametag with the same name – Susan. Pick A Color takes place over a single day at the salon and it’s the first novel by Souvankham…
The peace deal between Israel and Hamas is entering its second day - we'll have the latest on how things are going on the ground. Also, As the shutdown rolls on, the Trump administration announces…
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