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This weekend, Cuban President Raul Castro will preside over the island's Communist Party conference. The meeting comes a week after Cuban dissident Wilmar Villar died following a hunger strike. Host Scott Simon talks with reporter Nick Miroff about the ongoing economic restructuring in Cuba and the new ways the country has been dealing with dissidents.

Last week we spoke with Christian Bale who stars in the new film, The Flowers of War. Also, Gwen Thompkin's personal appreciation of Etta James moved many listeners to tears, laughter and reflection. Host Scott Simon reads listener reaction to last week's program.

The women's finals in the Australian Open are already over. In baseball, power-hitter Prince Fielder has returned to his childhood team, the Detroit Tigers, for which his father played. Host Scott Simon talks sports with Howard Bryant of ESPN the Magazine and ESPN.com.

Even a century since his birth, American "splatter artist" Jackson Pollock still provokes heated debate about the very definition of art. Was a man who placed a canvas on the floor and dripped paint straight from the can actually creating a work of art?

The Italian dessert wine has gone from relative obscurity to the toast of the town. Moscato is the fastest growing varietal wine in the country. Hip-hop artists sing about it. Jugs of Barefoot moscato are sold at BJ's Wholesale Club. It's on the menu at Olive Garden. What's up with that?

Call it the Burning Man of the Midwest: a temporary city, built around artistic expression. On a frozen lake outside of Minneapolis, the ice shanties are filled with art and dance parties.

With two days left before the pivotal Florida GOP primary, the front-runners have taken over the airwaves. A steady stream of political ads is filled with insinuations and accusations. Host Rachel Martin speaks with Angie Holan of PolitiFact, which fact-checked some of the ads.

This past week, the social media network Twitter announced it would begin removing messages from its service within specific countries if asked to do so by one of those countries. The move sparked complaints of censorship from some of its users. Host Rachel Martin has more.

Florida's Republican primary is Tuesday. If Mitt Romney wins, it's a potentially decisive state for the former Massachusetts governor's bid for the nomination. But a victory by Newt Gingrich would all but guarantee a long battle ahead. NPR's Don Gonyea reports on the mounting attacks.

The former House speaker is trying to cut into the resurgent front-runner's lead before Tuesday's primary in the Sunshine State. Newt Gingrich accused the former Massachusetts governor of "carpet-bombing" his record. Mitt Romney meanwhile shifted his focus back to President Obama's record.