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The McDonald's Corp. announces it expects to post the first quarterly loss in its 47-year history. The world's largest restaurant chain appears to have saturated the market. There's been a management shakeup, and the chain is pulling the plug on underperforming locations. NPR's Lynn Neary talks with Standard and Poors' analyst Dennis Milton.

NPR's Annie Wu reports on the discovery of ten plays by Zora Neale Hurston, the celebrated novelist who wrote "Their Eyes Were Watching God." The African-American writer is best known for her books and short stories, which capture the dialect, traditions, and history of southern blacks in the early 20th century. Hurston's plays follow in the same vein, and include songs she documented when she worked as an Anthropologist in Florida.

Robert talks to Alan Brinkley, Professor of American History at Columbia University and author of Liberalism and It's Discontents , about the difference between the break down of the electoral college and the popular vote yesterday. Brinkley explains the reasoning behind the founding fathers establishment of the electoral college, and notes that a regional disparity in voting contributed to this year's election outcome. (5:00) Liberalism and It's Discontents by Alan Brinkley is published by Harvard University Press, 1998.

The news of the pope's death hits especially hard in Poland, where thousands of the faithful had been praying for his recovery, even in the face of John Paul's sharply declining health. NPR's Emily Harris reports from southern Poland on how the pope's personal history has become woven into the landscape.

After years of planning, discussion and controversy, the Smithsonian Institution opens a new museum on the Mall in Washington -- a national showcase of the history and culture of America's native peoples. NPR's Neal Conan and guests broadcast live from the National Museum of the American Indian.

The 9-11 Commission's recommendations for restructuring intelligence efforts would require major changes to U.S. law, and would also represent the most radical overhaul of the CIA in the history of the agency. But several CIA insiders say reform may be necessary for the greater good of the nation. NPR's Mary Louise Kelly reports.

The NBA has handed down stiff penalties for what some call the worst brawl in the league's history. Commissioner David Stern said the season-long suspension of Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest and other penalties are meant to prevent another incident like that with the Detroit Pistons Friday.

In the second part of his interview with Linda Robinson, NPR's Steve Inskeep discusses the role of U.S. military Special Forces in the global war on terror. Robinson is the author of Masters of Chaos: The Secret History of the Special Forces. Robinson says Special Forces have a tenuous relationship with Pakistani soldiers in the mountainous border region with Afghanistan where Osama bin Laden is believed to be hiding.

As Americans view volcanic activity at Mount St. Helens with awe and unease, tourists are flocking to Indonesia and the site of one of history's most spectacular volcanic blasts. Hear NPR's Michael Sullivan.

June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, when Allied troops in 1944 landed on the shores of Normandy -- the largest amphibious assault in history. D-Day made the first move towards the liberation of France. At the same time, black U.S. troops were clearing a path from India to China known as the Burma Road. NPR's Juan Williams talks with Frank Bolden, a reporter embedded with the troops in Asia, about the impact of blacks in WWII and the importance of the black press.