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
6:19 am
Wed April 17, 2013

Investigators Recover Pieces Of Pressure Cooker Bombs In Boston

Credit Nicolaus Czarnecki / Barcroft Media /Landov
A marathon runner, wrapped in a blanket to stay warm after the race, watched Monday as authorities investigated the bombings that shook the finish line area at the Boston Marathon. At least three people were killed and dozens were wounded.

Originally published on Wed April 17, 2013 6:59 am

The day after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, investigators began to unravel some of the details of what happened, and we began to learn about the lives of the three people who were killed.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said that they believed the devices used in the attack may have been pressure-cooker bombs stuffed with BBs and nails. Investigators said the bombs may have been left inside nylon bags or backpacks.

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The Two-Way
9:42 am
Tue April 16, 2013

Strong Earthquake Shakes Iran, Deaths Reported

Originally published on Tue April 16, 2013 12:39 pm

There's been a strong earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.8, in southeastern Iran near the border with Pakistan, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

The temblor was centered about 53 miles east southeast of the small city of Khash. According to USGS, it was about 9.4 miles deep.

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The Two-Way
1:10 pm
Mon April 15, 2013

Will Gun Bill Pass Or Fail? Conflicting Signals Yet Again

Credit Molly Riley / UPI /Landov
Left to right: Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) as they unveiled their plan on background checks of gun purchasers.

Originally published on Mon April 15, 2013 10:53 am

Here's a fresh headline that may be welcome to those who oppose the bipartisan plan to extend background checks of gun purchasers to sales made at gun shows and over the Internet:

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The Two-Way
8:36 am
Fri April 12, 2013

Kerry Warns North Korea, But Holds Out Hope For Diplomacy

Credit Jacky Chen / Reuters /Landov
A North Korean soldier on the bank of the Yalu River, near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, along the Chinese border.

Originally published on Sat April 13, 2013 1:00 pm

Walking a line meant to show both resolve and willingness to trust in diplomacy, Secretary of State John Kerry warned North Korea on Friday not to engage in more warmongering — but also said the U.S. is willing to talk with that communist state if it's serious about discussing denuclearization.

"No one is going to talk for the sake of talking," Kerry said, but the U.S. does want to see a peaceful resolution of the latest crisis on the Korean peninsula.

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The Two-Way
11:54 am
Thu April 11, 2013

Gun Bill Clears First Hurdle In Senate

Originally published on Thu April 11, 2013 12:45 pm

The first national gun control legislation since the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., is going to be debated on the floor of the Senate and appears headed for a vote sometime next week.

Supporters in the Senate on Thursday morning rounded up more than the 60 votes necessary to clear a procedural hurdle that could have held up consideration of the Democratic-crafted package. The vote was 68-31 in favor of blocking a bid by some Republicans to filibuster the legislation.

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The Two-Way
9:34 am
Wed April 10, 2013

'Very High' Chance North Korea Will Soon Test Fire Missile

Credit Toru Yamanaka / AFP/Getty Images
Japan is on full alert ahead of an expected mid-range missile launch by North Korea, its defense minister said as the U.N. warned of a potentially 'uncontrollable' situation. A Japanese soldier walks past a missile launcher deployed in Tokyo.

Originally published on Wed April 10, 2013 11:23 am

North Korea's next provocative move — the test firing of a medium-range ballistic missile — could happen at any moment, according to South Korean officials.

Bloomberg Businessweek reports that "the possibility of a ballistic missile launch is 'very high' and 'may materialize anytime from now,' South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se told lawmakers in Seoul today."

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The Two-Way
7:20 am
Tue April 9, 2013

3 Things To Know About Louisville's Basketball Championship

Credit Mark Cornelison / MCT /Landov
The Louisville Cardinals celebrated after beating Michigan 82-76 in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Originally published on Tue April 9, 2013 9:00 am

  • On 'Morning Edition': David Greene and Mike Pesca talk about Louisville's win

By beating Michigan 82-76 Monday night in Atlanta, Louisville won this year's Division I men's basketball championship.

In winning:

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The Two-Way
9:35 am
Mon April 8, 2013

Blocked Or Breaking Through? Mixed Signals On Gun Bills

Credit Joshua Lott / Reuters /Landov
This AR-15 style weapon was on display in March at the 7th annual Border Security Expo in Phoenix, Ariz. It's among the type of weapons that advocates of new gun laws want to see banned.

Originally published on Mon April 8, 2013 8:05 am

If this is President Obama's "make-or-break week on guns," as Politico declares, then it starts with considerable confusion about where things stand regarding the likelihood of passing new gun control laws.

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The Two-Way
8:17 am
Mon April 8, 2013

Former British Prime Minister Thatcher Dies

Originally published on Mon April 8, 2013 12:12 pm

Margaret Thatcher, who as British prime minister in the 1980s became known as the "Iron Lady" for her tough economic policies, her partnership with President Reagan in standing up to communism and the short war with Argentina over the Falklands, has died.

Her spokesman, Lord Bell, tells the British Press Association that Baroness Thatcher died Monday following a stroke. She was 87.

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The Two-Way
10:05 am
Fri April 5, 2013

'Look — My Tibia!' Kevin Ware Cracks 'Top 10' Jokes

Credit Timothy D. Easley / AP
Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware talking with reporters Wednesday, as coach Rick Pitino looked on.

Originally published on Fri April 5, 2013 9:57 am

You have to give Louisville basketball player Kevin Ware credit. He's a really good sport.

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