Weekend Edition Sunday is NPR's Sunday morning news magazine, carried by 794 public radio stations nationwide. Every week, the show features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the crisis in Ukraine.
Weekend Edition Sunday debuted on January 18, 1987, with host Susan Stamberg. Two years later, Liane Hansen took over the host chair, a position she held for 22 years. Recent hosts include Audie Cornish (2011–2012), Rachel Martin (2012–2016) and Lulu Garcia-Navarro (2017–2021.)
In 2022, Ayesha Rascoe was named the host of Weekend Edition Sunday, and she will transition to that role March 27. Rascoe is currently a White House correspondent for NPR. She is covering her third presidential administration. Her White House coverage has included a number of high profile foreign trips, including President Trump's 2019 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam, and President Obama's final NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland in 2016. As a part of the White House team, she's also a regular on the NPR Politics Podcast.
Prior to joining NPR, Rascoe covered the White House for Reuters, chronicling Obama's final year in office and the early days of the Trump administration. Rascoe began her reporting career at Reuters, covering energy and environmental policy news, such as the 2010 BP oil spill and the U.S. response to the Fukushima nuclear crisis in 2011. She also spent a year covering energy legal issues and court cases. She graduated from Howard University in 2007 with a B.A. in journalism.
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For 100 years, Hollywood has relied on Central Casting. It's the real company behind movie extras—and where stars like Gary Cooper, Hattie McDaniel, and Brad Pitt got their start.
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Snow isn't always white; algae can make it look green, red, or orange, and scientists are trying to understand how and why these colorful patches appear.
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NPR's Daniel Estrin speaks with the stalwart independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, who wrote and directed "Father Mother Sister Brother."
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Love is in the air, and in the pages! NPR's Books We Love suggests "Heartbreak Hotel," "First Time Caller," "Time Loops and Meet Cutes," "Heart The Lover," "Can't Get Enough," and "Courtroom Drama."
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As a new year begins, a hike up Africa's highest peak is a reminder that slowing down is sometimes the key to success.
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Faith leaders Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Nihal Khan, and Ari Saks tell us how they've been guiding their congregations this year and what their hopes are for 2026.
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From tough-on-crime politics to uneasy ties with Washington, Latin America's year-end story is one of a decisive rightward turn, insecurity at home and a more complicated relationship with the US.
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We look at a study on how death metal singers produce their otherworldly vocals, and therapeutic applications that researchers are investigating.
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From the advent of AI actress Tilly Norwood to major music labels making deals with AI companies, 2025 has been a watershed year for AI and culture.
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One legacy of the former Soviet Union is the New Year's feast. Ukrainians are reclaiming Christmas and old recipes.