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Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his first state of the union speech. NPR's Michele Kelemen reports.

Jacki talks to writer Jim Knipfel about his memoir, Quitting the Nairobi Trio, (JP Tarcher 2000). The book is a darkly comic story about Knipfel's time spent in a Minneapolis psychiatric ward.

Host Bob Edwards talks to Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, on this, the 35th anniversary of the Medicare program. They discuss how Medicare has changed over the last three decades and what challenges are ahead for the system. Secretary Shalala makes the case for the Clinton administration's proposal that prescription drugs be covered by Medicare. About 39 million Americans receive Medicare benefits.

Noah talks with Betsy Broder, Assistant Director of the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. She oversees the Identity Theft program, and talks about what steps people can take to protect themselves against this type of crime. (4:00) More information on the web at http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft. The FTC's ID Theft Hotline is 1-877-ID-THEFT.

Noah talks with sportswriter Stefan Fatsis about the US Olympic Track and Field trials in Sacramento, California. There will be eight days of competition over the next ten days. Track is gaining popularity as the Summer Games approach, and nearly 20-thousand spectators are expected for the trials. Stefan talks about some of the athletes that we'll be hearing about in the competitions.

Noah talks with Frankie Andreau, a bike racer on the US Postal Service Team in the Tour de France, about his role in the race. Team work is crucial in the Tour de France and bikers are assigned different roles, like sprinters, climbers and overall workers, who support one or two leaders. Lance Armstrong is the leader on Andreau's team. The rest of the team is always working to conserve Armstrong's energy. Andreau is considered a worker, who may sprint to the front to protect Armstrong from the wind or who may drop back to get something Armstrong needs.

Songwriter Bill Parsons is not comforted by the news that gas prices are starting to drop. He joins Eric Weinberg and Barry Gordemer in singing about their worst nightmare: the high price of a gallon of gas.

'Have you seen my wallet? I can't find her anywhere.' In the second part of a series on life in Paris, commentator David Sedaris struggles to master the gender of French nouns, and in the process, learns some interesting things about the French language.

NPR's Andy Bowers reports on the battle for control of the Reform Party, founded by Ross Perot. Yesterday opponents of Pat Buchanan walked out of a closed meeting, leaving backers of Buchanan inside and the party's future in question.

NPR's Michele Kelemen reports from Moscow on yesterday's bomb blast that killed seven people and injured several others. Two suspects were arrested today in connection with the explosion that ripped through an underground walkway in Pushkin Square.

Host Howard Berkes talks to Paul Eisenstein, publisher of The CarConnection.Com about the recall of twenty million tires. Bridgestone/Firestone, the company that makes the tires is expected to make a formal announcement today.

Julia Barton of member station WHYY reports that protesters arrested outside last week's Republican National Convention remain in jail days later, and refuse to give their names to police. The protesters say people could be singled out if they did give real names, but police contend protesters are remaining in jail by choice.