NPR

The past month or so I've been listening to weekly installments of the Chicago Public Radio show "This American Life". I have to say, it's been a refreshing way to start the week (they air on Mondays), and the shows are always entertaining and engaging.
This week the story is about a 19 year old Iraqi who worked as a PR agent-slash-diplomat for Sadam before the war, and then became a news correspondent once the war began. Listening to the interview and his story, it gives you a very vivid sense of what was going on in the country in the days leading up to "the insurgency".
The week before was a show about summer camp and all the quirks and in-jokes that go along with the people who attend annually. They didn't limit it to summer camp for kids though, in addition they interviewed a guy about his mandatory service with the Israeli army growing up. It was actually a funny story about a stage performance they put on, but it went into the subject of group mentality and wanting to fit in. As a kid, I didn't go to the same camp year after year, but I had many chances to go to camp, build bonfires, learn the songs, go star gazing... the whole nine yards.
I'd certainly recommend NPR to anyone now, particularly This American Life, although I also started listening to their newscast on Environment, which is also intriguing. It always goes into depth and gives you a full story instead of the snippets you get on regular news. Ultimately, it makes you think, which is what is really missing from CNN or other sources. Particularly if you have an mp3 player, like an iPod, definitely check out the NPR shows available for Podcast. The best companion for any commute to work... aside from a cup of coffee, that is.