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On August 24, 1814, the U.S. defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg allowed the British to enter Washington and burn the White House. NPR's Liane Hansen talks with historian Anthony Pitch about the infamous clash.

One of the nation's most dangerous drugs is increasingly found in the most unexpected places. In rural America, the production and use of methamphetamine -- an addictive stimulant also known as speed -- is exploding.

Gray has kept busy since her audacious 2001 debut. She's put out three albums, and she's acted in a number of films. She's also established a music school, The M. Gray Music Academy, in Hollywood, and is about to launch a line of clothes called Humps, designed for full-figured women.

Calls for campaign-finance reform may have grown louder in recent years, but the influence of money on U.S. politics is nothing new. As part of the Public Radio Collaboration project Whose Democracy Is It?, NPR's Peter Overby looks at the century-long evolution of political money. See political cartoons depicting the role of money in politics, and learn more about the series.

Beth Orton has been making her own brand of emotional, clean and poignant music for 10 years now. Her reputation has grown tremendously since her debut album, Trailer Park, was released. Her latest album is called Comfort of Strangers.

The North Mississippi Allstars formed to play "hill country blues," but the tunes on their new album, "Electric Blue Watermelon," recall the feel-good Southern rock of the Allman Brothers from the 1970s, or the anthems of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Laura Cantrell is a deejay specializing in hard-to-find recordings and a singer whose third CD is Humming by the Flowered Vine. She tells Liane Hansen about life as a performer, her role as a musical historian, and her decision to give up her day job on Wall Street.

Jazz drummer Harvey Mason has played with a constellation of musical stars over the years: Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin — even Christina Aguilara. His new CD is titled With All My Heart.

Old friends Mick Jones, former lead guitarist of The Clash, and Tony James, once of the Billy Idol-fronted Generation X, have teamed up in a band called Carbon/Silicon. They've been giving away songs for free on their Web site, but their new album, The Last Post, is an official hard-copy CD.

Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share their favorite new songs, including a raucous saxophone jam and Jim Jarmusch's take on a country classic.

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share anthemic rock, country punk and sunny psych pop from King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard. Plus a chat with Rhye's Mike Milosh on his collaboration with j. Viewz.

Modern torch songs with Cassandra Wilson; the gloomy, introspective Lisa Germano; Christopher O'Riley's piano transcripts of Radiohead; have a day with The Polyphonic Spree and more.

Members of the Danish String Quartet take a break from Beethoven and Brahms to focus on the vibrant, and sometimes wistful, folk music of their Nordic homeland.

With extra percussion, Bridgewater's quintet reworks music from Red Earth and previews To Billie With Love, a collection paying tribute to Billie Holiday.

A young tenor from New Orleans elegantly launches high Cs in a stirring but punishingly difficult Rossini aria. This is why we listen to opera!

You know when something happens in a scary movie and it makes you jump from your seat? That's known as a jump scare. Series creator Mike Flanagan created a record 21 jump scares in a single episode.

Investigation puts an end to years of doubt and confusion but has also leaves victims with no answers.

The best-selling novelist shares tips for good writing and the stories behind some of the most meaningful music in her life, from Rossini to the O'Jays.

The young proponent of traditional music brought a talented band, his astonishing imagination and a selection of what he calls "Black folk music from the future" to the Tiny Desk.

Robert Siegel reads emails from listeners about unusual Texas town names.