Need To Know
Financial literacy

Christine Todd Whitman on shrinking state budgets
Need to Know host Scott Simon talks to former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman about the difficult choices states are facing in this tough economic climate.
Need to Know host Scott Simon talks to former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman about the difficult choices states are facing in this tough economic climate.

Jennifer Granholm on creating a green economy
Jennifer Granholm discusses rebuilding state economies.
Jennifer Granholm discusses rebuilding state economies.

In Perspective: Tricia Rose
Tricia Rose on inequality and wealth distribution.
Tricia Rose on inequality and wealth distribution.

Is the Texas school board rewriting history?
Need to Know examines controversial changes to Texas school textbooks.
Need to Know examines controversial changes to Texas school textbooks.

Healthfully Ever After
Need to Know presents the latest research on the health benefits of a good marriage.
Need to Know presents the latest research on the health benefits of a good marriage.

Crisis Mapping
Alison Stewart reports on technology that uses cell phones to locate disaster victims.
Alison Stewart reports on technology that uses cell phones to locate disaster victims.

Paul Goldberger on the 9/11 memorial
Paul Goldberger discusses the 9/11 memorial.
Paul Goldberger discusses the 9/11 memorial.

Neither a borrower, nor a lender
A family allegedly taken in by a predatory lender.
A family allegedly taken in by a predatory lender.

Searching for answers
In this extended interview, 19-year-old Gladys Dominguez shares her emotional journey to find information about her father, Alfonso Martinez Sanchez, who was lost crossing Arizona state’s border desert while trying to re-enter the United States.
In this extended interview, 19-year-old Gladys Dominguez shares her emotional journey to find information about her father, Alfonso Martinez Sanchez, who was lost crossing Arizona state’s border desert while trying to re-enter the United States.

End-of-Life Counseling and Health Care Reform
As the Health Care Reform Act is attacked in courts and Congress, Need to Know discusses the quiet removal of one controversial provision, funding for End-of-Life Counseling (so-called "Death Panels").
As the Health Care Reform Act is attacked in courts and Congress, Need to Know discusses the quiet removal of one controversial provision, funding for End-of-Life Counseling (so-called "Death Panels").

Japan's Nuclear Crisis
Michael Levi, a nuclear expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the nuclear crisis in Japan and what it means for nuclear energy in the United States.
Michael Levi, a nuclear expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses the nuclear crisis in Japan and what it means for nuclear energy in the United States.

Climate Change at the Doorstep
Sea level rise in Norfolk, Virginia.
Sea level rise in Norfolk, Virginia.

In Youngstown, OH, It Takes a Village to Shrink a City
In Youngstown, OH, it takes a village to shrink a city. Even with the city's ever-diminishing population, hundreds of residents have volunteered to assist in the city's revitalization plan.
In Youngstown, OH, it takes a village to shrink a city. Even with the city's ever-diminishing population, hundreds of residents have volunteered to assist in the city's revitalization plan.

New Yorker Cartoonist Roz Chast
Famed New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast gives us her unique take on the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper in an animated cartoon.
Famed New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast gives us her unique take on the fable of the Ant and the Grasshopper in an animated cartoon.

Trailer: VII Magazine, Child soldiers
Lieutenant Joseph Omony tells his story of being recruited as a child soldier along with his friends in this slideshow of VII photographer Marcus Bleasdale's sobering portraits.
Lieutenant Joseph Omony tells his story of being recruited as a child soldier along with his friends in this slideshow of VII photographer Marcus Bleasdale's sobering portraits.

Grand Isle, One Year After the Spill
On the one year anniversary of the BP gulf spill, we'll return to the community of Grand Isle, Louisiana to visit with the families and business owners who m we profiled during the spill. At the time, their businesses were practically shuttered by the spill, and they were
On the one year anniversary of the BP gulf spill, we'll return to the community of Grand Isle, Louisiana to visit with the families and business owners who m we profiled during the spill. At the time, their businesses were practically shuttered by the spill, and they were

How to Fix American Education
Part of Need to Know's "Fixing America" series.
Part of Need to Know's "Fixing America" series.

In Youngstown, OH, Saying Goodbye to an Abandoned House
When houses are torn down in Youngstown, OH, few are sorry to see them go.
When houses are torn down in Youngstown, OH, few are sorry to see them go.

Home Sick: Living With Chinese Drywall
Alleged ill effects from Chinese drywall.
Alleged ill effects from Chinese drywall.

Simon Johnson on Europe's debt crisis
How debt will shape our future.
How debt will shape our future.

Louise Story: Wall Street Execs Escape Prosecution
The participants in the financial crisis.
The participants in the financial crisis.

Charmaine Yoest on Abortion
Charmaine Yoest, head of Americans United for Life, talks about how the strategy of the anti-abortion rights movement has changed in recent years, and what the movement has achieved by focusing on changing law at the state level.
Charmaine Yoest, head of Americans United for Life, talks about how the strategy of the anti-abortion rights movement has changed in recent years, and what the movement has achieved by focusing on changing law at the state level.

No Silver Bullet
The effort to combat IEDs in war.
The effort to combat IEDs in war.

The war at home
Need to Know profiles three military families to see how they cope with loved ones in war.
Need to Know profiles three military families to see how they cope with loved ones in war.

Phil Kidd: In Defense of Youngstown
The lessons Youngstown, OH, has learned and how the city can survive.
The lessons Youngstown, OH, has learned and how the city can survive.

Carrot Mobs: The Anti-Boycott
Getting companies to do good.
Getting companies to do good.

Restoring the Rockaways
An urban garden destroyed by Superstorm Sandy gets a second chance.
An urban garden destroyed by Superstorm Sandy gets a second chance.

Certifiably employable
The National STEM Consortium improves scientific, technical and mathematical skills.
The National STEM Consortium improves scientific, technical and mathematical skills.

Poll Positioning: Voter I.D. Laws
With nearly a dozen states rewriting their voting laws, Need to Know examines the potential impact on voter turnout in Ohio.
With nearly a dozen states rewriting their voting laws, Need to Know examines the potential impact on voter turnout in Ohio.

Frank Wisner on the State of American Diplomacy
Does talking really get results? With the death of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and this week's review of the Afghanistan war, Need to Know takes a look at the state of President Obama's foreign policy strategy with former diplomat
Does talking really get results? With the death of Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, United States Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and this week's review of the Afghanistan war, Need to Know takes a look at the state of President Obama's foreign policy strategy with former diplomat

All Over the Map
While the media and political junkies are following the candidates every move and statement, the real action is happening out of the public eye, where congressional districts are being redrawn, and some of the most familiar members of Congress risk losing their seats before a vote is cast. But the
While the media and political junkies are following the candidates every move and statement, the real action is happening out of the public eye, where congressional districts are being redrawn, and some of the most familiar members of Congress risk losing their seats before a vote is cast. But the

Detainee abuse
In a joint investigation with The Nation Institute Investigative Fund and reporter Joshua Phillips, Need to Know reveals a little-known U.S. military task force charged with investigating abuse of detainees in Iraq.
In a joint investigation with The Nation Institute Investigative Fund and reporter Joshua Phillips, Need to Know reveals a little-known U.S. military task force charged with investigating abuse of detainees in Iraq.

The Watch List - The Medication of Foster Children
Anti-psychotics in the foster care system.
Anti-psychotics in the foster care system.

Benjamin Skinner on the world of modern-day slavery.
Benjamin Skinner on modern day slavery.
Benjamin Skinner on modern day slavery.

Atul Gawande on End-of-Life Counseling
The so-called "death panels."
The so-called "death panels."

Independence Day for South Sudan
The world's newest nation.
The world's newest nation.

Adult autism
Two families struggle to care for their autistic adult sons.
Two families struggle to care for their autistic adult sons.

Standing room only
The overpopulation fright of the 1960s.
The overpopulation fright of the 1960s.

Ken Herman on Rick Perry's presidential ambitions
Ken Herman discusses Rick Perry's ambitions.
Ken Herman discusses Rick Perry's ambitions.

Climate Change Comes for Us All
Interview with author Mark Hertsgaard.
Interview with author Mark Hertsgaard.

Phillip Longman and Julia Whitty on population control
Reporters Phillip Longman and Julia Whitty discuss the challenges of population control.
Reporters Phillip Longman and Julia Whitty discuss the challenges of population control.

Interview with Education Secretary Arne Duncan
Revising No Child Left Behind.
Revising No Child Left Behind.

Echoes of a shooting
20 years before Sandy Hook, a student went on a shooting rampage in Massachusetts.
20 years before Sandy Hook, a student went on a shooting rampage in Massachusetts.