Renee Montagne http://krwg.org en Select Young Afghans Chosen As Commandoes In Training http://krwg.org/post/select-young-afghans-chosen-commandoes-training Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>All right, through much of this week, we've been hearing from young Afghans on the future of their country after NATO troops withdraw in 2014. Yesterday, our colleague Renee Montagne met with the American general who commands coalition forces in Afghanistan. They traveled to a special forces base where young Afghan men - and a few women - are being trained.<p>(SOUNDBITE OF HELICOPTER)<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, BYLINE: Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford was making what's called a battlefield circulation. Fri, 17 May 2013 09:14:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 41345 at http://krwg.org Younger Generation Poised To Lead Afghanistan's Future http://krwg.org/post/younger-generation-poised-lead-afghanistans-future Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Renee Montagne, in Kabul, Afghanistan.<p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>And I'm Steve Inskeep, in Washington, with David Greene.<p>Renee's been in Afghanistan as the United States prepares to substantially draw down its presence in that country, which puts the focus on the Afghans who will try to run the country next. Tue, 14 May 2013 08:49:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 41087 at http://krwg.org Cyprus Proposes Exempting Smaller Deposits From Tax http://krwg.org/post/cyprus-proposes-exempting-smaller-deposits-tax The government of Cyprus is trying to ease fears over a proposed tax on bank deposits. Newly proposed legislation would exempt savers with smaller accounts. It's part of a bailout plan for that Mediterranean country, negotiated with the E.U. and IMF over the weekend. Tue, 19 Mar 2013 13:38:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 37275 at http://krwg.org E.U. Bailout Tax Sparks Bank Run In Cyprus http://krwg.org/post/eu-bailout-tax-sparks-bank-run-cyprus Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne. Stock prices are dropping around the world this morning, reacting to turmoil in the Mediterranean country of Cyprus. It's a domino effect that started on Saturday, when European officials approved a bailout of that country's biggest banks. The bailout requires customers to pay a tax on their deposits, and banks have already taken steps to freeze some of their customers' money. That proposal sent people rushing to their ATMs, to get their money out. Mon, 18 Mar 2013 08:46:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 37180 at http://krwg.org Benedict XVI Leaves The Vatican, Headed To Retirement http://krwg.org/post/benedict-xvi-leaves-vatican-headed-retirement Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>We're hearing this morning that Pope Benedict has left the Vatican. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli is covering the first papal retirement in 600 years, and she joins us now from Rome. And Sylvia, describe the scene for us there.<p>SYLVIA POGGIOLI, BYLINE: Well, it was a very emotional scene as Benedict first left all his close aides and employees and officials at the Vatican and then he went to the helicopter pad and has taken off. And I can't help but say this, but we see him now on pictures of Vatican TV flying into the sunset. Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:04:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 36051 at http://krwg.org Sequester Politics In The News http://krwg.org/post/sequester-politics-news Usually when we come up to the edge of one of these deadlines there are 11th-hour negotiations, and the two parties manage to swerve away from the precipice at the last minute. What about this time? Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:13:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 35936 at http://krwg.org Pope Benedict XVI To Resign Feb. 28 http://krwg.org/post/pope-benedict-xvi-resign-feb-28 Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Good morning, I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne.<p>Surprising news this morning from the Vatican. Pope Benedict XVI has announced he is resigning at the end of this month. It is an unprecedented departure in modern times. The last time a pope stepped down, it was 1415, the Middle Ages. At 85 years old, Benedict said he was no longer up to the physical demands of the papacy. We've got NPR's Sylvia Poggioli on the line now live from Rome. Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:00:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 34875 at http://krwg.org Politics In the News http://krwg.org/post/politics-news-14 Transcript <p>DAVID GREENE, HOST: <p>This is MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. Good morning. I'm David Greene.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne.<p>President Obama is taking his campaign against gun violence to the country, beginning today with a trip to Minneapolis and a visit to that city's police department. Many police organizations favor tougher gun laws. The president leaves behind a new Congress that's getting down to business. And consuming most of lawmakers' time: the budget and the deficit.<p>Joining us, as she does most Mondays, is Cokie Roberts. Mon, 04 Feb 2013 10:38:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 34424 at http://krwg.org Latest Jobless Rate Forecast To Hold Steady http://krwg.org/post/latest-jobless-rate-forecast-hold-steady Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne. More signs today of a slow, slow economic recovery. The Labor Department reports the economy added 157,000 new jobs last month. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly, to 7.9 percent. To tell us what's behind these numbers, we're joined by NPR business correspondent Yuki Noguchi, and also our White House correspondent, Scott Horsley. Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:28:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 34286 at http://krwg.org Politics And The Economy http://krwg.org/post/politics-and-economy The government is set to make additional cuts to spending, including defense, this spring, unless lawmakers agree on an alternative plan to address the deficit. So far, there's little agreement in Washington about the optimum size or shape of government spending. Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:29:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 34208 at http://krwg.org Smaller Crowds At Capitol, But 2009's Enthusiasm Persists http://krwg.org/post/smaller-crowds-capitol-2009s-enthusiasm-persists Four years ago, the National Mall was packed with record crowds. People gathering as President Obama prepares to take the oath of office and deliver a second inaugural address share some of the same sentiments as the crowds from 2009. But the crowds — and the vendors — are less numerous. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 15:55:00 +0000 Renee Montagne and Ailsa Chang 33606 at http://krwg.org Inaugural Parade Begins At The Pentagon Moves To D.C. http://krwg.org/post/inaugural-parade-begins-pentagon-moves-dc Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION, from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne. One of the liveliest parts of today's events dates back to the very first Inauguration, and that would be the inaugural parade. After George Washington took his oath of office, he was joined by a procession made up of local militias as he made his way from Mount Vernon to New York City. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:45:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 33595 at http://krwg.org Crowds Begin Converging On Washington, D.C. http://krwg.org/post/crowds-begin-converging-washington-dc Morning Edition has a team of reporters spread out across the city, getting a feel for how things are going in different areas. Thousands of people are descending on the nation's capital to be a part of President Obama's second inauguration. Mon, 21 Jan 2013 12:18:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 33590 at http://krwg.org Obama To Pick New Pentagon, CIA Leaders http://krwg.org/post/obama-pick-new-pentagon-cia-leaders Transcript <p>STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: <p>It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.<p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And I'm Renee Montagne.<p>President Obama wants a Republican to be his next secretary of Defense, and some Republicans really don't like the choice.<p>Senator Chuck Hagel is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. He's a former Nebraska senator but some of his former colleagues in Congress are reluctant to endorse him. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:56:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 32771 at http://krwg.org Politics In The News http://krwg.org/post/politics-news-12 Transcript <p>RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: <p>And joining us now, as she does most Monday, is Cokie Roberts. Good morning.<p>COKIE ROBERTS, BYLINE: Hi, Renee. Happy New Year.<p>MONTAGNE: Happy New Year to you. So, Cokie, we seem to be getting the next year, or this new year, right back where we ended in the last Congress, and that's bickering over everything. And as we've just heard, that includes, big time, the president's cabinet appointment of a former Republican Senator Chuck Hagel. Tell us more about what's going on there, a little bit more history.<p>ROBERTS: Well, it's an interesting case. Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:59:00 +0000 Renee Montagne 32765 at http://krwg.org