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The Calexico and then he Chicago This American Life I'm Ira Glass and this is a special pledge drive edition of our show which means that it's a really good job is reporting you some of our favorite stories all this hour to you know remind you why you. Should support this public radio station and let's just jump right in Ok this 1st story is when we 1st aired that years ago but when I meet people so many people tell me that this is their favorite story that we have ever aired on the program it's a story about a squirrel and some cops the person who tells it is a police officer in a suburban community on the East Coast there was nothing nothing going on Saturday night in this village really quiet super cold and the squall came over for unknown animal in the house and it was about was on my post was about 5 minutes away so I Myself and another car were assigned the call and we show up there and luckily for me it was another guy who was pretty new so we walked up to the door with all our stuff on you know the nylon coat the vast the belt the whole the whole 9 yards and the door opens and the guy who is behind the door he's about 30 I was 23 at the time he's about 30 he looks like a broker or a lawyer just really well put together nice guy wearing glasses he's wearing these like silk pajamas with a monogram got my attention Wow And he's going. Listen really sort of body a normal and handle a sort of stuff on my own but my wife really insist that I call and so we asked what the problem is he says well we were having kind of a romantic evening down in the living room and we heard the scratching up stairs so I ran upstairs to see what it was that turns out it's coming from the attic there's something up there and it's just running around knocking a few small things over I can't tell what it is could be a squirrel or raccoon I really don't know so the other cop that I was with said well you know we really don't handle that it's not so much a police function it's. You know but we do have numbers of these private contractors will come in and they'll put a you main trap down and they'll remove the animal for you and it's really not such a big deal but it's really not a thing. So right as he was in the middle of saying that and getting us off the hook the guy swings the door back and there's his wife who was just beautiful she was pitiful she was probably about 26 or 27 but just really beautiful like perfect skin long blond hair gray t. Brilliant blue eyes a really nice smile just like beautiful and and friendly you know if she had said you know this broken glass I just would have said Ok broken glass it is that's fine but she had she seemed really nice so I was going to be like Galahad So I just threw my arm back into this guy's chest into my partner's chest I said Mark we can handle this. It'll be Ok. And she just was just you know thank you so much and she was really sweet and I was like struck dead so we walk inside and she goes on with the pot of coffee on and we go upstairs we follow the man of the house upstairs and where underneath one of those trapdoors that goes into the attic with the staircase that folds out right and we do hear an animal up there scratching away just kind of scuttling around the floor and stuff like something out there and it's making pretty good speed up going from one end of the roof to the other so I reached up and I took the trapdoor down we unfolded the ladder and I had this big heavy flashlight you know like your cop flashlight for the cells the metal case the whole thing and shine it up through the hole in there and it's pretty black I can see the rafters but really nothing else around there. And I started the ladder now the the guy who own the house is standing almost directly underneath me just to the side of the ladder looking straight up at me and my part of the at the base of the lot right behind me so just before I stuck my head to this like black hole I just kind of paused like I crunch my body up underneath because I'm realizing gee you know I don't know where this thing is the 2nd we pulled on the trap door all noise upstairs just ceased so I was kind of nervous and I was like well you know I look like an idiot just crashed upon the top of the ladder so I took the flashlight I just popped my head up turn the light on again and about 6 inches from the front of my face was this squirrel at eye level with me kind of reared back on its legs and I swear from where I was standing it looked like Godzilla it just scared out of me I thought it's a squirrel it's going to be hiding somewhere it's gonna be terrified of me was 6 inches away from me and it really startled me so I kind of jumped back and the flashlight slipped out of my hands as heavy and it falls directly onto the nose of the guy who's looking straight up at me and I don't think it broke it but it did some damage and his nose his hands up to his face blood started pouring out between his hands this is the homeowner as the homeowner I lose my balance and fall backwards directly on to my partner and I just pancake I'm like we're both on our backs he's on his back I'm on his stomach on my back scuttling around like a like a bee like get up in a fairly narrow hallway it's a mess the squirrel while where floundering around in the hallway. Jumps down the stairs blank point lands on to me and takes off down the. Aisle and dignified It was terrible. So we're wondering where is the where is the squirrel and right at that 2nd. The woman who lived there you hear his scream so my partner goes well you know we found this well it's wherever she goes yeah so we go running downstairs and. The squirrel had come into the living room where they had been having their like romantic evening they had a fire going they had pillows arranged around one corner of the couch next to the fire and they had champagne flutes out and a nice house really nice I mean it just smelled brand new carpeting new rugs new paint. They had been there for that long. So the squirrel went all the down the staircase took off into the living room and ran underneath the couch for cover. So we run downstairs this guy is bleeding all over the place on his carpets his wife looks and says you know what if you've done what you've done to my husband I start going out with an axe then I just stop in mid-sentence what's the point we've only been there about 2 minutes. So the squirrel is underneath the couch and. My partner's going you know let's get out of here this is just you know it's not going well so I am not you know I'm not beat and yet I always have so so the squirrel the is under the couch which is in the middle of the room so I have this bright idea why don't we move the furniture away from one of the corners and we'll put the couch in the corner and the school will probably move along with the couch because it's the only cover available to it and once we get into the corner will only have to open side to the couch to worry about so we did that that is so tactical Yes Yeah I was very proud of myself at that instant but you know. I asked her for a box and she says sure we've got boxes we just move them we have nothing but boxes she runs out to the garage and she comes back with a box and the box is long enough and it fits across the entire short side of the couch where you would be our must be so I start sweeping underneath the couch with my nightstick trying to move the squirrel toward the box figuring will capture it and just get rid of it and we'll be out of here and they'll be no more you know mayhem so it's actually working very well in this world moving down along you can hear it it's chittering and I'm trying to hard at you know if you're kind of I'm nervous about the thing it might bite me I don't want to hurt it really you know it's just an animal right so I'm moving it along everything's going very well and then with about 8 inches to go I took one more swipe and the thing just bolted out from underneath the couch it was lined with like tassels I could really seem to catch a bolt out from underneath the catch and ran directly into the fireplace which is about 3 feet away it was the fireplace was directly ahead of it and it ran into the fire my and caught on fire and ran directly back out and directly back on to the catch. Is it only was I r Yeah the tail the bushy fur the whole bit I mean wasn't like flaming or anything but there was you know was smoking and there was some there was some a little bit of fire coming off the tail so it runs back on the couch and the couch catches on fire in seconds I mean in seconds it had must have had dust under there something else but it just it caught on fire immediately. And my partner and I just don't even talk we just grab the catch heave it upside down and now there's plenty of oxygen after the fire really get going and it starts up and we're patting it out and it's sort of getting away from us so we grab the only thing that's really available and those are these really nice. Silk pillows and we have one in each hand the both of us and we're just when milling away at this fire on the cat and we put it out but it's smoking terribly and. It was just it was a disaster which is outside down at the bottom of it is burnt the house is filling with smoke from the Catch the squirrel went to the couch and its death throes just latched on to the bottom of the couch it's like this smoking pizza gristle underneath the couch latched on there with its claws and we're pounding smearing it all over the place and the smoke alarms are firing away the guy's standing in his you know with handkerchief and paper towels up around his nose which is still bleeding his pajamas are a mess the covered with blood the front of him and we finally get the fire out and we're both completely red sweating because we're dressed like 0 degree weather and it's hot there by the fire. Were mortified the house full of smoke. The wife. Just looks around and just starts to cry she goes What what have you done what have you done to my house you could see you dislike clicking things off on her fingers Ok the dead squirrel ruined need a new couch the walls are covered with so that the fire alarms going off my husband's disfigured and then she really kind of just lost it and he was just looking at us and shaking his head like he couldn't believe that these 2 idiots showed up and did this to his house over nothing really. And he just goes you know you're really you really haven't done anything wrong there's I can't point to any one thing that you did that I have a reason to get angry about you really haven't done anything wrong I mean we did call you but I'm just I just I can't thank you for this. Call for a squirrel and it looks like $34000.00 worth of damage in a broken nose. And this is all within about 5 minutes. Because then it happened to you now 13 years later. There's always a new mistake to be made I don't think I will I don't think I would make that particular mistake. I mean you make plenty of mistakes you make plenty mistakes that's that's that's just part of that job and you know you just try not to make the same one twice but there's such variety that if you're going to make hundreds you to make thousands in the 5th. And I say like what I love about that story is just out for fun and yes on our radio show This American Life and on this radio station we take pride in bringing you serious journalism that is as original and as rigorously reported as you can find anywhere and here on our program there are stories that we are so hard core on and spend months on tracking down difficult to find interviewees and talking them into going on the record and record documents and boy requests and uncover things that nobody has reported on before we do that but also we want the show to be an entertainment like we take pride in the fact that it is entertaining we want being gaging and emotional and fun we want to be all those things if you like that mix if you like stories like this one that is one of the things you get here on this radio station and on our show and I say you are the person I'm talking to during the pledge I have when when I and others on the station say support the station like we're not talking about some theoretical other person I think a lot of people think that oh they're not talking to me no I am totally talking to you not somebody who's richer or more conscientious or somebody with more free time right this 2nd I'm at how can somebody as I'm talking to you if you like this story the station needs money in the most logical person for them to get it from other people who enjoy what it's making and that's you and if you can help out please here's how to put. Please do it because yes I was talking to you you can do it by calling 180576 k. P.b.s. Or going online at k. P.b.s. Dot org I'm k p b s news directors who's in Marmion I'm here today with Melissa May We're in the midst of our December year and campaign where our goal is to raise $400000.00 we use the money we raise to pay for regular news updates from the K.G.B.'s newsroom that's my team funds program such as Morning Edition and All Things Considered and it will give us the resources to be your eyes and ears in the San Diego community you can give 120 dollars 240 dollars 1200 dollars or any amount that works for you or better yet sign up for a sustaining membership with an ongoing contribution of 10 dollars 20 dollars or $100.00 a month but do your part now keep P.B.'s dot org or 180-576-5727 that's 180576 k. P.b.s. And just to reiterate we have a goal of 400000 dollars by Wednesday and we need all the support from listeners like you so show your support right now it just takes 2 minutes to give online a k. P.b.s. Dot org or call 180-576-5727 support k p b s with a $120.00 gift all at once or just $10.00 a month and we're going to thank you with This American Life tote this bag is made of recycled 10 ounce cotton canvas it's completely natural traditionally designed and totally on remarkable and it has this is the tote bag they keep talking about on public radio written on the side get this clever tow back as your thank you gift when you call us at 180-576-5727 or get online and check it out at key p.b.s. Dot org Well I just feel like I need to get one now that I want to have a little club. So support for k. P.b.s. Comes in lots of different forms greenbacks and pocket change money orders credit cards stocks bonds employer matching gifts and. Even used cars. There are many ways to give to k. 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The money that we need to pay for the programs that you are listening to every day today we're asking you to join them by making a contribution of your own Ira is talking to you and so my gift of 10 or $20.00 a month will not only pay for the hundreds of hours that you listen to throughout the year it will ensure that our local news and programs are available for the next person to discover so call now and make your contribution 180-576-5727 or give online a key p.b.s. Dot org Support k p b s with a 5 dollar month contribution or give $60.00 all at once and you can select the k. P.b.s. As your thank you gift this stainless steel includes a carrying pouch featuring the k p b s logo in black a cleaning brush and both a straight straw and a bent straw the K.B.'s logo is even imprinted on the straws get this environmentally friendly thank you gift by calling 180576577 or give online at k p b s dot org This American Life is a different kind of show each week we tune in and we follow the whims in the interests of host Ira Glass He leads us down a trail he guides us through a series of radio stories loosely connected by a theme themes like unconditional love the kindness of strangers go ask your father sometimes there are 3 or 4 stories sometimes just one but each show is. Captivating each show her stories that hold our attention each show uses radio and radio journalism in new ways it's distinctive it's playful and it's only on public radio public radio is supported by those who listen and appreciate the difference so call us now with your pledge dial K.B.'s That's 180576 k. P.b.s. Contributing to k p b s doesn't take more than a few minutes so if you thought about doing so then don't put it off any longer the number again is 180-576-5727 or go to k. P.b.s. Dot org Then once you've called or gone online it you'll feel great knowing that you've supported your local Public Media station and thanks for your support. Of This American Life. Congressional hearings of course have been big during this presidency. I don't know maybe they always are but there's a moment in a story a few weeks ago and they came in the sense of what it was like in the room and maybe what it's like now and Congress always it was a thing like I kind of knew but I didn't really know what it felt like what it was like to experience one of our producers Zoe Chace did this story she was reporting on a hearing and there's not a big famous hearing like t.v. Cameras were not at this hearing it was hearing of the House Judiciary Committee and it was earlier this year is a couple months ago and the Democrats or newly running that committee you know they're in the majority in the house and then kind of pushed through anything they want in the House and in this particular hearing that again didn't get real news coverage they were discussing whether to authorize a subpoena for the former acting attorney general who's actually scheduled to testify but they didn't know if in fact he was going to common answer all the questions and subpoena would force them to do that and of course Ok we all know how the Democrats and Republicans fight over every single thing all the time but I have to say in this context it was really amazing to hear it play out in this setting where they were like fighting down to the atomic level with each other like nothing is too small for them to fight about and we come into play the 1st part of the hearing where they're sniping at each other ever like this and that was just pick up in the middle again remember what this hearing is about the hearing is about whether they should authorize a subpoena to compel the former acting attorney general to answer their questions yours or chase. There's arguing back and forth about whether waving a subpoena around is too rude for someone coming in voluntarily and what's the president here's nab or sparring with Jim Jordan a Republican from Ohio who loves a fight a defender of the president the issue is if he refuses to answer with Jimmy questions that is why we want this how do you know that until we come tomorrow and he said he's calling or I'm speaking we don't know that he hasn't told us what he will do we ask him he refuses to say he was the chairman that's actually not accurate he has told you what he's going to do he said he's going to be setting at that table tomorrow I can tell them about entering questions finally after arguing against the subpoena for a while and with Republicans change tack and offer an amendment to it thank you Mr Chairman I have an image of this every minute of the desk the court reads the amendment beginning on page one after acting attorney general Matthew Gee what a career and the 4 to secure his appearance answer the following and the attorney general progress and sign here we go if you're getting a subpoena Anyway get one for a ride Rosenstein ride Rosenstein I'm a deputy attorney general in arguments lots of Republicans can't stand him and think he's out to get the president so their men men is basically you Democrats want the guy you don't trust at the Justice Department to testify well then we want the guy we don't trust to come in at the same time. The argument that follows is so small size but they all throw in so hard which is normal here just stay with it for a 2nd the Democrats' response is led by David Cicely need for more Iowans come to think of him is Nablas pin chatter Thank you Mr Chairman I would argue that this amendment goes beyond the scope of the resolution before us the Democrats knew this amendment was coming now Adler's team already set up Sicily me with what he needs to knock it down his addition to this resolution is not germane. Expands the scope of this for the individual charge of the oversight of the Department of Justice and therefore I ask that you rule it out of order of the chairman to remain as a legal term and once it's released in here it's like a swarm of bees and a Republican member begs argues back was under the rules of any parliamentary body this group determines What's germane this group determines which command we're going to vote on Jermaine isn't just as another Republican from East Texas he jumps and like not only is Rod Rosenstein Jermaine It is extremely germane you can buy Jermaine or Jermaine as it gets so let's wait for in any event the Democrats have the votes to do it they want now the rules the amendment not germane the Republicans appeal Democrats immediately table the appeal swatted down in other words they finally vote on the resolution to authorize the actual subpoena and it is authorized obviously by a party line vote of Democrats this entire show the whole hour of debate was a fed accompli from the beginning. So. We're going to say there's just something about the unrelenting missive that like both sides and how they are and for that story to make that story we spend weeks watching the politicians and their staffs behind the scenes and reporting talking to them off the record and I'm not even playing you any of that part of the story but that is in her full story at. All of that was an attempt to get inside to get inside this place that most of us never get that close to and share what goes on and what's motivating people how they think about what they're doing with the kind of like close up intimacy that just comes with radio that's a part of what the radio medium does so well I like working on these stories at my job because I like hearing stories like this like I think we should exist I'm glad they exist it's exciting to me when he gets inside a Christ like that if you feel the same way if you want people out there trying to bring you into these rooms over the radio where there's a way that you can play a part in making it happen an important way Actually here's how you part. You pledge by giving us a call at 180576 k. P.b.s. Or going on line at k. P.b.s. Dot org Ira takes you places that is our goal at k. P.b.s. And that's listeners like you that helped pay for that last segment that you just heard I am keeping b.s. News director Suzanne Marmion and this is the k. P.b.s. December year and fundraising campaign because how public radio works is that money contributed from our listeners helps to pay for n.p.r. And k. P.b.s. Programs that you value as a nonprofit public radio station we rely on your contribution to pay for This American Life and everything else you hear on the station the easiest way you can give it is by making a one time contribution of $120.00 or $240.00 or $1200.00 on a get into the producer's club but you can always become a sustaining member with an ongoing contribution of 10 dollars 20 dollars or $100.00 a month what's important is that you do your part now at k. P.b.s. Dot org or by calling us at 180576 k. P.b.s. And now joining me is Melissa may our goal again is 400000 dollars by Wednesday so be the next person to give you your part now p.b.s. Dot org or call 180576577 that's 180576 k. P.b.s. If you give $10.00 a month or $120.00 all at once Ok p.b.s. 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Brings you the best coverage of national and world events that we can each and every day i Reporters share that trait they are direct So with that in mind here are the major points for this public radio fundraiser saying Geez Public Radio and find it valuable we're asking you to do your part by making a contribution it only takes a few minutes and when you're done you'll have done your part to keep public radio strong the number again is 180-576-5727 or log on to k p b s that org smack and I from our class us in your pledge drive edition of our show so we did an episode about libraries a few months ago and you know what I learned from airing that episode library and into the radio librarians went nuts for it they wait forever for weeks afterwards on Twitter they were still sharing it with each other more than any show I can ever remember doing those people are really into sharing information that's what I got from it and the stories seem to get to them the most was the one about the play you it's about a woman returning to her own childhood library Stephanie who was the reporter. Lydia said Worth walks into her childhood library in the view it's this huge stone building with Roman columns built over 100 years ago and as soon as we pass to the front door Lydia stops dead energy x. Looks up at the large echoey rotund. And gets quiet Do you remember how you felt walking into the library in New York and. It was my favorite part of each day and I always had a plan Ari's came with a plan of what I wanted to do this was her favorite place growing up my things she only lives half an hour away now but she hasn't been a patron here in nearly 2 decades back when she was 6 Lydia her mom and her 6 siblings used to spend a lot of time here like a lot of time they spent all day almost every day here for about half a year while they were homeless. We walked past the World War One exhibit into an airy space filled with nonfiction books and people working on computers this was with a challenge to write used to be pretty sure we go around the crafting zone into a quiet area by a big or to ceiling window that looks out on the street this was a very warm spot because of the window I would remember it being like a very cozy and warm there's some cushion he chairs here those are now back then they sit on the floor while a brother would take his nap here this was a quieter spot where a sitting right now. And I remember my eldest sister holding my my little brother who's 2 at the time and he was sleeping and she would quietly read a book out loud to me this used to be next to a big shelf where they kept all the Box Car children books. They were free to run around unassisted without parents having over them to do whatever they wanted if you think about it libraries are kind of one of the only public spaces where kids have freedom like that and so it would be a ran through the stacks and crawled around on the play rug or just stared out of this big window her favorite you were her baby brother used to sleep with the god out there on the entrances below us right now and I would watch people come in and out because we'd be here for like hours at a time and I would watch people come in and then wait for them to come back out like see like me but say I. Lydia came from a stable family but when they moved from Denver to Butte they had a tough time finding a place they could afford so they crash with friends and family moving every month or 2. Little remembers all 9 of them crammed together in someone's basement Cian or 5 sisters all slept together on a big shaped couch blow up mattresses in the middle and every morning Lydia's mom would pack up all the kids and take them to the library I think that's why they took us here is to give the family were staying with privacy but also to give us our own measures of privacy so big you could we could spread out and have our own spots so I had spots here and you can't have a spot in a you know furnished basement shared with 8 other people her parents did such a good job pretending that they were just on a fun adventure that Lydia didn't register any of this is painful or difficult like she didn't even really understand that their family was going through anything until she was having a conversation at work about a year ago talking about homeless people coming to the library it came rushing back to her wait a minute that was me she honestly had never thought about it for almost 2 decades and Obsidian in this immediate like. Almost Crying like a tear it up and I was like How did I never realize this before and how did you never talk about this and I was like That's because it wasn't traumatic it was we've refined we were happy we were fed and clothed and taken care of so it was there was nothing wrong because I remembered that time so fondly that I was like those the year we lived in the library was the best time ever. I just remember the feeling that it gave me. Of belonging and. It really emotional thinking about it because I really. I I credit Mrs s. For most of it misses us it was the children's librarian Lydia's favorite spot the library was by her desk it was like a crown desk of halfway around desk and so I would make a beeline over here and make my demands now. Every morning all 7 kids would run in and spread out over her library but every day Mrs s. Would greet them warmly she'd stroll the socks with Lydia helping her find something to read their conversations about books and about life Lydia remembers this one day in particular when Mrs s. Came up to her with a recommendation I remember her putting aside the book called Dancing Princesses for me. I remember her bringing it to me and saying that like this came back and I thought of you right away when I saw it because you have sisters so this I got this for you. It was the 1st book that felt perfect for her the youngest princess in the book was the heroine and she was also the youngest sister in her family she was sure Mrs s. Was telling her that she was special. Lydia wanted to find Mrs us for a few years because she had such great memories of her but who exactly was shady lady had no idea what the s. Stood for like what her real last name was she visited the library once to ask and they said they weren't sure it had been decades but there was a Mrs Stevenson who had worked here a long time only problem was she can talk to her that day because she was on vacation so Lydia just went home then about a year ago when all the memories of her being homeless came flooding back she wrote a long email to say thank you and sent it to Mrs Stephenson but she never got a response but I thought it's probably not the right Mrs that or maybe she doesn't remember me but the staff only carry it so I'll just tell you I called ahead and yes Mrs Stevenson was Mrs us and yes she totally remember that. So we went to see her and the staff only area it was the 1st time lady had seen her since she was a little kid Mrs s. Was sitting in a big warm office decorated with paintings of cows and pink monsters and when she saw Lydia she rushed out with her arms wide open and grabbed her into a huge hug. Just taller than I did Amber I remember your family because we were here all the talk you know that I remember you know you try to think of the last person you've met who use the word golly with all sincerity I can see why Mrs s. Made her feel cared for. President that is very badly Rob I don't know what happened to my reading that I think it's beautiful but. It is of course a copy of The 12 Dancing Princesses. One Mary. That's that's so funny because I thought it was special for me. Then lady asks Mrs s. Did she read her letter turns out Mrs s. Never got it we figured probably got caught by her spam filter and so Lydia starts to explain everything about that moment recently where she realized she'd been homeless with his with my home for that year and I. I felt like I belonged I belong to I was safe here and I believe that was partially due to your influence from me. I give in I Give your parents all that credit I know I do but I we just. Your mom and dad really do give them so much credit but I. The memories from that time all of you you know you treating me so well and I felt so important here I felt like you thought that I was just the greatest and I. Mean so much that's all that's the sound of a hug every day life for the like it is who do you remember knowing about the family situation when they were in I didn't know the exact of the family situation we just knew we just knew they were here every day it was obvious starts nodding a few Sify to one Mrs a saying she knows exactly what she's talking about because Lydia works with those kids every day herself she's a librarian a children's librarian and you became a librarian because of you I think it's awesome you don't realize how much influence you have on anybody just by doing your job you keep saying you're just doing your job and I feel like I need to say that that you did not have to be that and like you could have done your job without be that eternally and that's something that I think about a lot because there are situations with children I know are coming from difficult places or your children who are there all all day and they just need a lot for me know and there are there are days when I don't want to be the most kind person on the planet because I'm tired or the child has been challenging you know there are always those days but. What you were that. Yes the girl who lived at the library grew up to become a librarian helping other kids like her I'll have families but I would say most of the kids that are there all the time it's because they don't want to be home or don't have this stable home and that. I just hope I hope I'm doing the same thing for my kids I so important to me are I don't think you have to hope I know you are just by watching and seeing your reactions today I know you are. You are you know. Just continue to do what you're doing it's obvious. Cried out for a long while. The 2 women swap numbers and their sons' make a date to get fried pickles and. Talk shop about disenfranchised youth and best practices story time. I visited the Plattville library where Lady has been a children's librarian for 8 years and I have to say she's really great at her job she pinball's from one side of the room to another being one kid fix her computer making sure others are safe as they walk out while it's gone black that's a great sign there we go Yes Ok we think. How you doing but. It's probably a better idea to put coats on she brought in her parents Kayla new some old x. Rays to make a fake hospital and has a fish named fish tank that the kids help take care of. We are going to while it was * not water the windows of little reading next in them and a giant bear to cuddle with name sir fluffy puffy MacPherson on April Fool's Day she set up a self checkout line just a mere at the counter get it. She also holds her monthly book club where Sheena bunch of kids talk about their readings but also build things out of stacked books and create funny videos and play games I talked to a couple of kids who said they used to hate reading but now they love it all because of Miss Levy is book club. I. Was a shadow. Shadow puppet It's you I want to make shadow puppets Ok let's do that already has one or older library who is there all the time every day what color Anna and her mind let you have herself growing up but she's had it harder her living arrangements are unstable she's often hungry Lydia worries about her when she disappears for a week one day about a year ago when I was 9 share the same impulse with Lydia Lydia had with Mrs s. And I wrote her a letter it says. Lydia is really nice she's a really nice person she's an intelligent remembered of and fast young woman sometimes when I'm at home I just want to go to the library just to see the idea. Stephanie through. You can see why librarians would really be ended at story right . Anyway a lot of what happens on this radio station of course is traditional journalism bringing you up to date news reports on what's happening in the world and analysis of what that might mean but here on This American Life from the start we try to apply the tools of journalism to stories that are so small and personal that traditional journalists would not have bothered with those stories. 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Networks and others when they looked at this guy you know like what had been written about him in the past and then this before then the recording history that we've actually done on This American Life all the way back in 2016 Back then one of our producers that we chased went to a hearing of the North Carolina State board of elections where this same man McCrae Dallas was being accused of doing things in the 2016 election there were very similar to the things that he got arrested for this year years early. Here's what tumbles Adam a crayon under the boards questioning requests he had some people working for him getting out the vote fall in tears McRae calls them the volunteers though were allegedly getting paid for each ballot they turned and that is illegal. One of the voters who signed an affidavit said that Get Out the Vote workers came by and had her family request absentee ballots but then they never received their absentee ballots in the mail like they were supposed to then when the family went to vote on Election Day They were told they'd already voted in essence McRae's getting accused of paying people to obtain absentee ballots work fill them out in cast their votes on someone else's behalf that 1st star is. McCray says he didn't do anything wrong they then point out that are the Republicans in North Carolina have been complaining about voter fraud in searching for cases of voter fraud where you know somebody deliberately impersonate somebody else cast a ballot in their name like real fraud but of elections looked at $57.00 possible cases in the 2016 election but the only one that turned out to be real the only voter fraud they actually found in North Carolina that election was perpetrated by Republicans through this man. 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Shows in Spanish French Italian English German in Chinese original content in language games plus the patented dictation game scribe Yaba dot com Why a.b.l. a Dot com You're listening to a way with words the show about language and how we use it I'm Grant Barrett and Martha Barnett even if you don't know a word of Greek You may be tempted to start learning that language after reading a book by Mary Norris called Greek to me the subtitle is adventures of the comma queen and you may remember her earlier book called Between you and me which is about her adventures as a comic queen that is wielding a copy editing pencil at the New Yorker magazine for 3 decades her book Greek to me is about her passion for both ancient Greek and modern Greek and it's a deeply personal love letter to the language in this exhibit.