Scott Simon's weekly weigh-in; Congressional game theory; all the 'cool' cockroaches.

Plus, it's harder than ever to be an Afghan journalist under the Taliban.

View this email online October 17, 2021 by Jill Hudson This week, we look at images from the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest, the big business of Latino pop music and political brinksmanship in Congress. Plus, NPR's Scott Simon has a few recommendations and a report on Chicago's "garbage juice." Scott’s Weekly Weigh-in kozmoat98/Getty Images Nice to be with you here! I look forward to being in your inbox every weekend to share a few thoughts on ... well, anything: news, books and films, favorite discoveries, recollections, stories, a food tip now and then. I'll even thrown in a few cute animal videos, which, I confess, I sometimes watch to get through the day.  This week we interviewed Canadian mystery novelist Louise Penny about her new book, State of Terror. It is co-authored with a promising newcomer to the field named Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is delightful to hear the warm friendship of the authors that began in their grief over a departed friend.  Joe Posnanski’s The Baseball 100 is a big, fat, 880-page candy-box of a book you can keep on your lap while watching the MLB playoffs during all that spitting and dirt-scuffling between pitches. It isn’t a ranking of the best, but some of the most remarkable players in baseball history.  I know a lot of people hear us during their weekend trips to a farmer’s market, our theme music wafting over the rutabagas. Rick Bayless, the famed Chicago chef and author, told me about one of his favorite recipes. Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for details.    Jamie Costa, an actor who has appeared in a few bit parts and video games, this week posted a video that amounts to an open audition to portray the late Robin Williams in a feature film. It’s startling to watch. All he needs now is a script, director, and millions of dollars.  Jared and Kristi Owens of Lubbock, Texas, found an especially appealing stowaway in their luggage. This week, I wrote about some of the problems of the backup of the global supply chain that are sometimes hard to understand. However, reports of The Goo appearing in alleys of Chicago helped me visualize (but, happily, not smell it). Read my essay here.   Scott Simon Scott Simon is one of NPR's most renowned news anchors. He is the host of Weekend Edition Saturday and one of the hosts of the morning news podcast Up First. Be sure to listen to him every Saturday on your local NPR station, and follow him on Twitter. Newsletter continues after sponsor message Podcasts of the Week Blake Cale for NPR In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Latino artists like Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira ruled the pop charts. But who was that so-called "Latin Explosion" actually for, and what were the business considerations behind it? (It's Been A Minute With Sam Sanders) For months, lawmakers have been negotiating two big spending bills with no end in sight. Game theory could explain the hidden strategies behind the congressional chaos. (The Indicator From Planet Money) Strength training is a great way to exercise efficiently, but it can be intimidating if you don't know what you're doing. Here are a few tips to help you get started. (Life Kit) Cockroaches get a bad rap, but one expert says they're under-rated. (Short Wave) Stories you may have missed Bulent Kilic/AFP via Getty Images Under the Taliban, it's harder than ever to be an Afghan journalist. Many have stopped working, fearing retribution amid uncertainty about Taliban rules. "I do not want to fall into the hands of the Taliban," one says. "I don't want to be cut up into pieces."  The winning images of the 2021 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition are here, and they're fantastic. The two-year wait is almost over — HBO's Succession is finally back. TV critic Eric Deggans says it's well worth the wait. Listen here.    Chef Rick Bayless' autumn squash mash One splendid takeaway from Scott Simon's recent talk with the James Beard award-winning chef is a quickie recipe for a veggie side dish: “At home, I split the delicata squash lengthwise, scrape out the seeds, salt the flesh, wrap each half in plastic and microwave all 4 pieces for about 6 minutes, until tender,” Bayless said. “I start with 2 or 3 tablespoons of butter or olive oil in the skillet, add chopped red onion and apple and cook everything over medium heat until beautifully soft and golden. And since I like spice, 1 or 2 finely chopped canned chipotles make a perfect showing here. Season your apple “hash” with salt and plenty of black pepper. Stuff that mixture into the warm delicata halves, top with crumbled goat cheese (anything from feta to Parmesan will work here) and scatter on a few herb leaves. Cilantro is excellent, but so is parsley, basil and sage—so use what you have.” Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy