March 27th: What's On Today's Show

By NPR Staff

Published March 27, 2012 at 9:48 AM MDT

Trayvon Martin's parent's Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton, center, are joined by an unidentified woman during the Million Hoodie March in Union Square Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in New York. Our first hour today explores how the conversation about race has changed since the death of Trayvon Martin.

A Changed Conversation About Race?
A month ago, yesterday, a neighborhood watch volunteer shot and killed an unarmed African American teenager in Sanford Florida. That sparked conversations, many of which focused on race. Conversations about a controversial self-defense law, about the police decision to not press charges against the shooter, and about why a young black man in a hoodie was apparently seen as a threat. Marches and protests and vigils across the country painted Trayvon Martin as another martyr on a long list of martyrs. Some hear recent reports of his troubles in high school as an effort to smear the victim. Others hear reports that he confronted and beat his shooter, as evidence that this wasn't about race at all. Host Neal Conan talks with guests about how this story changed their conversations among neighbors, coworkers, and friends and family.

Court Asks: Can You Be Forced To Buy Health Insurance?
The Supreme Court this morning began day two of arguments over President Obama's Affordable Care Act. The nine Justices take up the law's most controversial element in two hours of arguments on the constitutionality of the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to buy health insurance or pay a penalty. Host Neal Conan speaks with Supreme Court correspondent David Savage about the high stakes arguments before the Court today. He also speaks with Sarah Kliff, health policy reporter for the Washington Post, about the individual mandate and how the Court's decision could effect the future of the Affordable Care Act. NPR's Mara Liasson joins the conversation to talk about the many political implications of any Court decision as we head further into the 2012 presidential election season.

Season Ends For Legendary Coach Pat Summitt
Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers and the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, watched her team knocked out of the tournament last night, losing to Baylor 77-58. The defeat marked the end of a dramatic, sometimes difficult season. Last May, Summitt was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, and many wonder if this was her last season as head coach. Washington Post sports columnist Sally Jenkins wrote a profile of Summitt last summer, and she talks to host Neal Conan about Summitt's legacy and the questions about whether or not she'll return next season.