Mark Memmott

Credit Doby Photography / NPR

Mark Memmott is one of the hosts of NPR's "The Two-Way" news blog.

"The Two-Way," which Memmott helped to launched when he came to NPR in 2009, focuses on breaking news, analysis, and the most compelling stories being reported by NPR News and other news media.

Before joining NPR, Memmott worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor at USA Today. He focused on a range of coverage from politics, foreign affairs, economics, and the media. He's reported from places across the Unites States and the world, including half a dozen trips to Afghanistan in 2002-2003.

During his time at USA Today, Memmott, helped launch and lead three USAToday.com news blogs: "On Deadline;" "The Oval;" and "On Politics," the site's 2008 presidential campaign blog.

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The Two-Way
12:50 pm
Tue June 5, 2012

Disney To Put Limits On Food Ads In Bid To Nudge Kids To Eat Healthier

Credit Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP/Getty Images
Mickey thinks kids should eat better.

Originally published on Tue June 5, 2012 7:53 pm

With an endorsement from first lady Michelle Obama for its effort, Walt Disney Co. confirmed this morning that it is going to apply new standards to food ads aimed at children and their families during programming for kids. The entertainment giant says it will try "to inspire kids to lead healthier lifestyles."

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The Two-Way
10:54 am
Tue June 5, 2012

This Video May Creep You Out: Artist Turns Dearly Departed Cat Into Helicopter

Credit Ade Johnson / AFP/Getty Images
Orville, the flying helicopter cat made by artist Bert Jansen. The cat is part of an art fair in Amsterdam.

Originally published on Wed June 6, 2012 2:20 pm

The Two-Way
10:30 am
Tue June 5, 2012

Fete Fit For A Queen: Diamond Jubilee Nears Finish

Credit Sean Gallup / Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II, as she rode toward Buckingham Palace earlier today. The Duchess of Cornwall (Camilla) rode beside her. Also in the carriage: the Prince of Wales (Charles).

Originally published on Tue June 5, 2012 2:51 pm

The Two-Way
9:34 am
Tue June 5, 2012

Syria Bars 17 Western Diplomats, Including U.S. Ambassador

Calling them "persona non grata," Syria today told 17 diplomats — including the U.S. ambassador — that they are no longer welcome in the country.

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The Two-Way
8:46 am
Tue June 5, 2012

As Sandusky Trial Begins, A 'Two-Minute Guide' To The Case

Credit Patrick Smith / Getty Images
Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky as he arrived at a courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa., this morning.

Jury selection starts today in the trial of former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, who faces allegations that he sexually abused at least 10 boys over 15 years, sometimes on the school's campus. Sandusky has pleaded innocent.

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The Two-Way
8:17 am
Tue June 5, 2012

Connecticut Family Of Six, Houston Sisters Among Dead In Nigerian Crash

Credit Emmanuel Arewa / AFP/Getty Images
Monday, before a storm blew through, rescuers and firefighters searched through the crash site in Lagos.

"A torrential downpour and strong winds prevented emergency crews from returning Tuesday morning to a devastated neighborhood where a commercial airliner crashed, killing all 153 people aboard the plane and an undetermined number of people on the ground," The Associated Press reports from Lagos.

The wire service adds that:

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The Two-Way
7:43 am
Tue June 5, 2012

Decision Day Arrives In Wisconsin

Credit Scott Olson / Getty Images
Getting out the vote: In Janesville, Wis., on Monday, Democrat Wanda Sonnentag was calling voters.
  • Don Gonyea, reporting on 'Morning Edition'

Polls open at 7 a.m. local time (8 a.m. ET) in Wisconsin, where the bitter battle over whether to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker is finally coming to a conclusion.

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The Two-Way
7:08 am
Tue June 5, 2012

Reports: Drone Strike Targeted Al-Qaida's 'Leading Propagandist'

Credit AFP/Getty Images
Abu Yahya al-Libi in an October 2011 video obtained by the watchdog group IntelCenter.

Originally published on Tue June 5, 2012 1:59 pm

The man described as al-Qaida's "leading propagandist" and the No. 2 leader in that terrorist organization was killed by a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan on Monday, NPR, CNN and The Associated Press say they've been told by "a U.S. official."

That word came around 1:40 p.m. ET.

Our original post. Reports: Drone Strike Targeted Al-Qaida's 'Leading Propagandist'

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The Two-Way
1:58 pm
Mon June 4, 2012

'Cricket Comes First,' India's Tendulkar Says After Joining Parliament

Originally published on Mon June 4, 2012 2:19 pm

Since we've followed cricket superstar Sachin Tendulkar's heroics on the pitch, we should note that he's now a member of India's upper house of parliament.

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The Two-Way
12:39 pm
Mon June 4, 2012

Prince Philip Hospitalized As Precaution, Diamond Jubilee Festivities Continue

Credit Adrian Dennis / AFP/Getty Images
On Saturday, Prince Philip was at the second day of the Epsom Derby horse racing festival.

Queen Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Philip, has been taken to a London hospital to be treated for a bladder infection, the BBC and other news outlets are reporting.

The Duke of Edinburgh, 90, has been admitted as a "precautionary measure" and will likely be in the hospital for a few days, a "palace spokesman" tells the BBC.

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The Two-Way
11:54 am
Mon June 4, 2012

Latest Sign Of Slowing: Factory Orders Fell In April

The word from the Census Bureau that orders for manufactured goods fell 0.6 percent in April from March — the second straight monthly decline — is in line with other reports that signal the economy "may suffer a swoon yet not slip into a recession," Bloomberg News writes.

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The Two-Way
11:14 am
Mon June 4, 2012

Reports: Suspect Arrested In Canadian Body Parts Case

"Canadian murder suspect Luka Rocco Magnotta has been arrested in Berlin, German police tell CBC News."

The Associated Press says it's been told the same thing by a Canadian official.

As we've previously reported, Montreal Police had issued a warrant for the gay porn star.

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The Two-Way
11:00 am
Mon June 4, 2012

As Venus Transits The Face Of The Sun, Here's How To Safely Watch

Credit Saif Dahlah / AFP/Getty Images
Safety over style: In 2006, a Palestinian man and boy were careful to protect their eyes while watching a partial eclipse of the sun. The same cautions are in order for Venus' transit of the sun on Tuesday.

Originally published on Mon June 4, 2012 2:53 pm

DO NOT STARE AT THE SUN.

Is that clear enough?

As we looked this morning for good guides about how to safely watch on Tuesday as Venus passes across the face of the sun, there was no escaping the stern warnings about what NOT to do.

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The Two-Way
8:32 am
Mon June 4, 2012

Tiger Woods' Incredible Chip: You Can Do It Too (Yeah, Right)

Credit Andy Lyons / Getty Images
And then he roared: Tiger Woods celebrating after his chip-in at the 16th hole Sunday in the Memorial Tournament.

If you haven't seen it by now, check out the chip shot that Tiger Woods rolled into the cup Sunday on the 16th hole at the Memorial Tournament. It put him on the way to winning the tournament.

According to golf legend Jack Nicklaus, it was "the gutsiest and best shot I've ever seen in my life."

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The Two-Way
7:51 am
Mon June 4, 2012

George Zimmerman Back In Jail; Attorney Preparing New Bond Motion

Credit Seminole County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office / Getty Images
A handout composite provided by the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, showing George Zimmerman in new mugshot photos.

As ordered by a judge on Friday, neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman has turned himself into authorities and is back in a Sanford, Fla., jail.

Now, as the Orlando Sentinel reports, Zimmerman's attorney is preparing a request that he again be released on bond.

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The Two-Way
7:20 am
Mon June 4, 2012

Nigeria Mourns 'National Disaster;' Plane Crash Killed Scores

Credit AFP/Getty Images
A picture taken with a photo camera shows residents of the Iju district of Lagos, Nigeria, gathering at the site where a Dana Air jet crashed into a neighborhood on Sunday.

Originally published on Tue June 5, 2012 8:19 am

There's some new reporting to pass along about Sunday's crash of an airliner in Lagos, Nigeria, which killed more than 150 people on board and a still unknown number of people on the ground:

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The Two-Way
3:14 pm
Fri June 1, 2012

George Zimmerman's Bond Revoked, Must Surrender Within 48 Hours

Credit Gary Green / Orlando Sentinel-Pool/Getty Images
George Zimmerman during his bond hearing in a Seminole County, Fla., courtroom on April 20.

A Florida judge this afternoon revoked George Zimmernan's bond and ordered that the man who killed teenager Trayvon Martin surrender himself to authorities within 48 hours, the Orlando Sentinel writes.

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The Two-Way
2:34 pm
Fri June 1, 2012

'Help' Hizzoner: Tell Bloomberg What To Ban Next

Credit Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
What's he got his eye on now? New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Originally published on Fri June 1, 2012 5:59 pm

So, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) wants to ban nearly all sales of big, sugary drinks.

Goodbye Big Gulp.

This comes after his earlier campaigns to stamp out smoking and trans fats.

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The Two-Way
1:41 pm
Fri June 1, 2012

Nation's Worst Dressers Are In Anchorage, Survey Says

Credit Michael Dinneen / AP
High fashion in Anchorage. (Just kidding! It's a photo from the 2011 Iditarod.)

Which U.S. city has the worst-dressed citizens?

According to readers of Travel and Leisure magazine, it's Anchorage.

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