Former New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni recently revealed he has gout. It's hard for most of us to feel too sorry for people who get paid to eat free meals at posh restaurants, but food professionals will tell you: Eating asks a lot of your body.

North Korea is the most secretive country in the world: mysterious and menacing in its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Victor Cha, a former member of the National Security Council, has a new book, The Impossible State: North Korea, Past And Future. Host Scott Simon talks with Cha about this week's events on the Korean Peninsula.

In Denmark, far-right movements from various countries are gathering with the hope of launching a pan-European, anti-Islamist alliance. NPR's Philip Reeves reports.

After months of upsets and indecisive results, there were signs this week that the battle for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination may be entering its final stages. Mitt Romney has a huge lead in delegates, and some big endorsements are rolling in. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Don Gonyea in Wisconsin, which has a primary Tuesday.

Host Scott Simon notes that the Quaker on the cover of the Quaker Oats box has gotten a makeover.

Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear has a dilemma: Should he root for University of Kentucky or University of Louisville in their Final Four hoop match-up? Host Scott Simon talks with Beshear about the upcoming game.

French voters go to the polls in three weeks to cast ballots in the first round of their presidential election. Current President Nicolas Sarkozy is fighting for his life in a close race against a man who has never held national office and is virtually unknown outside of France. Eleanor Beardsley profiles socialist candidate Francois Hollande.

The NCAA men's basketball tournament is down to its Final Four teams, and they are four famous basketball programs. The women's Final Four starts Sunday night in Denver, with another quartet of traditional powerhouse. Host Scott Simon talks with NPR's Tom Goldman about the games.

The United Nations says President Bashar Assad's forces have killed more than 9,000 people during the year-long popular revolt. Now, the plight of Syria's children has captured attention. Host Scott Simon talks with Navi Pillay, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, who is one of the most prominent voices calling for their protection.

This past week at the Supreme Court, judges heard three days of arguments on President Obama's health care law. The justices asked questions to decide whether the Affordable Care Act overreaches the Constitution. NPR's Nina Totenberg and Julie Rovner review the week's events with host Scott Simon.

Saturday in Boise, Idaho, people are sitting down to play "mus," a Basque card game. They're playing as part of the lead up to a national tournament. From Boise State Public Radio, Sadie Babits reports that for many of these players, more is at stake than just winning a card game.

There are two Snow White movies scheduled for release this year, and Snow seems set to eclipse Cinderella as the fairy tale of the moment. Neda Ulaby investigates what makes this princess the one surging at this moment.

The barriers went up near the Interior Ministry in Cairo, turning vibrant neighborhoods into a maze of checkpoints. Some residents say the walls symbolize the divisions between the country's authorities and ordinary citizens.

An upcoming documentary highlights the life of the man many called New Orleans' best pianist in a hundred years.

An upcoming documentary highlights the life of the man many called New Orleans' best pianist in a hundred years.

Recently, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum has shown strong fundraising numbers. But earlier in the contest, the campaign was relying on donations to a pro-Santorum superPAC and its vocal and generous benefactor — multimillionaire Foster Friess.

Angela Corey's reputation for being tough on crime comforts some, but worries others. Activists with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference oppose her appointment, and the group's president says her persona is built in part on charging minors, especially young black men, as adults.

The term "Obamacare," originally used to disparage President Obama's health care law, is being re-appropriated. During the three days of health care hearings last week, protesters in favor of the law proudly proclaimed their love for "Obamacare." But the final verdict on the word's connotation is still out.

The situation in Syria got much more troubling this week, as thousands of people around the country went to protest against the government, government troops continued to fire on protesters, and armed rebels clashed with government troops in what's looking more and more like an insurgency. All this despite a push by the United Nations for a cease-fire.

A rally organizers have billed as the "largest secular event in world history" will be held on the National Mall today. A new generation wants others to know atheists are more than just scolds; they're seeking human understanding, too.

With a win Friday night against Indiana, the University of Kentucky Wildcats moved into the elite 8 of the NCAA basketball tournament. Kentucky has plenty of talent assembled, overseen by coach John Calipari.

This week Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum got their Secret Service code names: Romney is "Javelin," Santorum is "Petrus." Presidents have been getting code names back to Harry Truman, who was called "General." Ian Chillag and Mike Danforth of the podcast How To Do Everything look into how these code names are assigned.

From March Madness upsets to the scandal now called "Bountygate" and can a virtuous young man find happiness in the city that never sleeps, but swears a lot? Senior writer for ESPN.com and ESPN Magazine Howard Bryant joins host Scott Simon for a round-up of the latest NFL news and more.

After John McCain so quickly clinched the Republican presidential nomination the last time around, the party changed its rules with an eye to extending their primary season, reaping public interest for months like the Democratic primaries of 2008. Host Scott Simon talks with GOP strategist Mike Murphy about whether this extension has been a help or a hindrance.

When a young fruit-seller named Mohammed Bouazizi set himself on fire in Tunisia late 2010, the popular uprising that followed was succeeded by a string of protests in the region. Middle East analyst Mark Lynch says no one predicted this string of uprisings. But he tells host Scott Simon many people saw that the old order was crumbling.

Saturday is presidential primary day in Louisiana where 20 delegates are at stake. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul all campaigned there Friday. Romney leads in national polling, but Santorum is ahead in Louisiana.

Murder charges have been filed against Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians. Now, an investigative officer will decide whether there's enough evidence to go forward with a court martial, leaving a number of legal challenges ahead for the prosecution and for the defense.

Outrage over the death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., has spread. Thousands protested this week calling for the arrest of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who says he shot Trayvon in self-defense. NPR's Joel Rose tells host Scott Simon the latest.

Culture Kitchen, a San Francisco company, hires first-generation immigrants as cooking instructors. It tries to find talented cooks who wouldn't normally be teaching because of a language barrier or lack of formal training.

The innovative puppeteer Basil Twist is the focus of a mini-festival in Washington, D.C., this spring. Performances include the underwater Symphonie Fantastique and Arias With a Twist, featuring renowned drag artist Joey Arias. Elizabeth Blair talks with Twist about his singular creations.

The innovative puppeteer Basil Twist is the focus of a mini-festival in Washington, D.C. this spring. Performances include the underwater Symphonie Fantastique and Arias With a Twist, featuring renowned drag artist Joey Arias. Elizabeth Blair talks with Twist about his singular creations.

An artist-turned-teacher from a military family is teaching middle-schoolers to build bikes from scratch. For students who weren't thriving in a traditional classroom, the program provides a burst of insight into the value of hard work and new adventures.

When con men took off with Texas rancher J. Frank Norfleet's fortune, he turned con man himself in the hopes of stealing his money back. In The Mark Inside, Amy Reading shares one of the strangest stories in the history of the swindle.

"To be or not to be" may be the question, but there's another question that's been nagging Shakespeare scholars for a long time: What did Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet really sound like when The Bard's work was first performed more than four centuries ago?

The uninsured have a particular stake in next week's Supreme Court hearings on the federal health law. Residents of a largely conservative region in California where 1 out of every 3 people lack coverage share their attitudes toward "Obamacare."

The throngs of well-wishers stretched for miles along the highway from the airport when Pope Benedict XVI arrived Friday. The pontiff comes during a presidential campaign and amidst a brutal drug war that's terrified and desensitized much of the country.

Democrats were quick to attack House Republicans budget plan, which calls for an overhaul of the program. Leading the charge is Vice President Joe Biden, who told senior citizens in Florida not to be fooled. Republicans, though, see the proposal as necessary for the next generation.

Trayvon Martin's parents asked his Miami school not to announce his death, but Wednesday, almost a month later, the school held a moment of silence. Friday, students rallied together, walking out of class with calls for justice, planning for more acts of solidarity.

The singer-songwriter started performing ukulele covers on YouTube as a way to keep up with friends and family while away at college. Thanks to a discovery by Ben Folds and a successful Kickstarter campaign, Nunes is gaining recognition for her original music.