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Rundown 5/12

Breakthrough in Sub-prime Mortgage Relief

In a precedent-setting agreement, Goldman Sachs will provide $50 million to modify loans for over 700 homeowners. It will also pay an additional $10 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to end an investigation of the company's role in financing sub-prime mortgages in the state. We speak with Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley.

What is a Cosmic War?

Reza Aslan is a religious scholar who wrote the bestseller "No God but God." His new book is "How to win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror." In it he describes today's cosmic warriors who believe they are acting out on earth a battle that's actually being waged in heaven.

Remembering China's Earthquake

People visit the quake devastated town of Beichuan, southwestern China's Sichuan province, Tuesday, May 12 , 2009. (AP)
People visit the quake devastated town of Beichuan, southwestern China's Sichuan province, Tuesday, May 12 , 2009. (AP)

Today is the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake that left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and 5-million more homeless. State leaders laid flowers and survivors burned paper money for departed spirits as a mournful China marked the anniversary. The BBC's James Reynolds went back to Sichuan Province where hundreds of children died when their schools collapsed during the quake.

Obama at Notre Dame

Students and faculty have been divided over whether Notre Dame, a Catholic university, should give an honorary degree and the commencement speaker's slot to President Obama, an abortion rights supporter. We speak with Notre Dame law professor Richard Garnett, who thinks the university is wrong to honor President Obama right now because of early steps Obama has taken on "life issues," like stem cell research and abortion.

Extreme Sailing

Ken Read is skipper of "Il Mostro," one of seven boats taking part in the Volvo Ocean Race. He says the world wide race is like NASCAR on the open seas and talks about battling the elements while sailing around the world in 260 days.

Music from the show

  • Ahmad Jamal, "Patterns"
  • Tito Puente, "Royal T"
  • Radiohead, "How to Disappear Completely"
  • Sigur Ros, "Nybatteri"
  • Radiohead, "Myxamatosis"
  • Kar Kar Madison, "Boubacar Traore"
  • Natalie Macmaster, "Farewell to Peter"

This program aired on May 12, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

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