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Host Scott Simon catches up on the week in sports with Howard Bryant of ESPN: A surprise contender out of Chicago is taking on a well-funded operation with a mighty offensive attack and an NBA firing that surprised exactly no one.

Gangsters in Karachi are a little different from the American variety. They often control armed groups linked to political parties. Uzair Baloch is known as the don of Karachi's Lyari slum. But ask him if he's a gangster, and he'll laugh. He says he's a politician and a social worker.

The framers of the Constitution didn't spell out all the responsibilities of the speaker of the House. In practice, one of those duties has been engaging in one-on-one negotiations with a president on important policy issues. But John Boehner says no more — even with new fiscal fights looming.

Three one-act plays recently performed in Beirut are based on the actual words of Syrians. The show was performed in a bunkerlike space to replicate the conditions artists making such work endure. The actress could not be named. A TV series also takes on Syrian politics — Top Goon is an ensemble of finger puppets who lampoon President Bashar Assad. The filmmakers are also anonymous. To be caught with one of these puppets might be worse than being caught with a stinger missile.

Now the White House chief of staff, Lew finessed the 2011 deal that set up the automatic spending cuts and tax hikes set for the new year — and did it in a way that put President Obama in the catbird seat for the current talks. Now he's a possible pick to be the next Treasury secretary.

Scouting began this week, and in the spirit of evaluation, Weekend Edition guest host Don Gonyea takes an abbreviated Wunderlic test. Plus, NPR sports correspondent Tom Goldman chats with the infamous Pete Rose about being erased from this year's set of baseball cards.

Despite the prominence of Asian artists in several aspects of hip-hop, they're still not the most visible performers in the genre. Dumbfoundead wants to be an exception.

Keeping tabs on the arm of government that constantly invokes national security to justify its opaqueness can be a frustrating experience for members of Congress.

The infamous Boston mobster Whitey Bulger is on trial after decades of alleged crimes, including 19 murders. Weekend Edition Saturday Host Scott Simon talks with Dick Lehr, co-author of "Whitey: The Life of America's Most Notorious Mobster," about the trial.

ESPN sports commentator Howard Bryant talks to Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon about the week's top sports stories, including the NBA conference finals, the NHL, and Serena Williams' dominance at the French Open tennis championships.