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Bloodlines
Some great reporting and storytelling on NPR this week:
- An interview with a nurseryman who is leading the return of the American elm — ““There are more Elm Streets than Main Streets in America,” he said.
- The good news about Indian mangoes coming to the U.S.
- This interview with a survivor of a killer 1955 Kansas tornado,
- Ken Harbaugh’s essay about being a dad to a young daughter,
- This chat with reporter Gwen Thompkins about Sudan, and
- A local report by Dave DeWitt about fewer African-American baseball players.
But something’s been eating at me since Monday morning, when I heard Cokie Roberts do her usual political analysis. At the end of her segment, Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep added the tidbit that Roberts is the mother of Inskeep’s co-host for the week, Rebecca Roberts (who should be listed on the NPR personalities page but isn’t). It’s natural for a daughter or son to excel at what a parent does, to follow in the footsteps of a mother or father — I was a Peace Corps Volunteer after my father, of course (I wrote about that inspiration here).
During the 2004 election, I made my feelings on presidential succession by bloodline or family connection pretty clear with this poster. I won’t be voting for Hillary Clinton for president either. And I’ll admit that, given that and my discomfort with Roberts NPR hosting, I need to spend more time exploring the competing ideas of meritocracy and aristocracy.
What do you think?
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Anton Zuiker's personal website and
I remember hearing that from Steve Inskeep, too, and it stuck in my mind for exactly the same reasons. It raises questions about how Rebecca Roberts got her job — probably unfair questions. (There’s a bio of her here, http://weta.org/theintersection/show_personalitydetail.php?p_id=2). She seems quite accomplished, and certainly experienced enough to get national air time on NPR as a host.
— Mark May 13, 06:25 AM #Mark, you’re right about Rebecca. I actually enjoyed her hosting, and liked her gentle approach to Morning Edition.
— Anton May 13, 07:34 AM #I think she is MUCH better than her mother.
— coturnix May 13, 01:02 PM #