Iraq

The spate of violence continues in Iraq, with more clashes between Iraqi security forces and Shiite militias. In one of many such raids this week, three Americans were seriously wounded by a rocket attack on the heavily-fortified Green Zone in Baghdad. We speak with Washington Post reporter Sudarsan Raghavan in Baghdad.

Mortgages

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How hard is it to secure a mortgage? As foreclosures continue and money becomes harder to find?

Mortgage Industry

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Several months into the mortgage market crisis, we look at the new shape the industry is taking. Traditional banks and Credit Unions are once again taking the lead in mortgages, and they are returning to the lending practices of a generation ago. We speak with Vikas Bajaj, business reporter for The New York Times.

Presidential Dreams

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Canadian writer Sheila Heti recently started the website “I Dream of Hillary, I Dream of Barack,” where hundreds of people have now submitted dreams they’ve had of the U.S. presidential candidates. We speak to Dr. Prudence Gourguechon, president-elect of the American Psychoanalytic Association, about what these dreams might tell us about the collective unconscious of the American public this election year.

Scott Simon

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Chicago is the setting for the new novel written by NPR’s Scott Simon. It’s called, “Windy City.” It’s a political comedy and its characters come from the chambers of the Chicago City Council. The story starts with the death of the mayor, poisoned by a nicotine laced pizza, and carries on as various members of the city council jockey to succeed him.