President Obama's Upcoming Speech On The Middle East

Food prices are rising, but the impact is not being felt equally around the world, says environmentalist Lester Brown.

Brown, the founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute, argues that food has quickly become the hidden driver of world politics in a piece published in the May/June issue of Foreign Policy.

As summer approaches, parents are debating whether the vacation is for play or more learning. In this weekly parenting segment, host Michel Martin hears from Joan Almon, Alliance for Childhood executive director; Elena Silva, Education Sector senior policy director; Connie Schultz, mother and The Cleveland Plain Dealer columnist; and Dani Tucker, Tell Me More's regular parenting contributor.

The U.S. manufacturing industry has added over 140 thousand jobs since January, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. Does this signal a lasting comeback or a fleeting moment of hope? Host Michel Martin speaks with Bloomberg Businessweek economics editor Peter Coy about whether there is a manufacturing "renaissance" in the U.S., and what that could mean for the economy.

President Obama will deliver a major speech this week on U.S. policy in the Arab world. With revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, protests in Yemen, Bahrain and Syria, and U.S. involvement in the conflict in Libya, the speech comes during dramatic change in the region. Host Michel Martin discusses the speech and implications with Rami Khouri, editor-at-large of the Daily Star in Beirut, and Hisham Melham, Washington bureau chief for Al-Arabiya.

Conductor Marin Alsop discusses how open kids are to new sounds — especially compared to adults — and what an important role humor plays.

We'd love to hear more of your thoughts about connecting kids with classical music — please share your ideas and experiences in the comments section below.

I've always been intensely curious about reaching out to children, to find the best method to expose them to classical music.

Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican from Wisconsin most identified with the controversial GOP proposal to revamp Medicare, has decided against running for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Herb Kohl, according to news reports Tuesday morning.

It's also being reported that Tommy Thompson, 69, the Republican former Wisconsin governor and George W. Bush Administration cabinet member plans to run for the seat.

Had enough of Eurovision? Hats off to Lena for giving Deutschland her best.

Now here's your chance to get a dose of something radically different.

How about some some "parlour punk?" Sister Chain and Brother John will be playing at Ex'n Pop Potsdamer Strasse 157, Berlin 10783 on May 21^st.

There's no sugar-coating it: the Commerce Department says during April, builders got started on fewer homes in the U.S. Housing starts, as they're called, were down 10.6% from March's report, and they're 23.9% lower than what they were a year ago at the same time.

Jerry Lewis says he'll croon his song, "You'll Never Walk Alone" for the last time this year as host of the Muscular Dystrophy Association's annual telethon. He released a statement saying this Labor Day Weekend Telethon will be his last. Lewis will continue to serve as the organization's national chairman.