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This past week, Somali-born actor Barkhad Abdi received an Academy Award nomination for his role opposite Tom Hanks in the film Captain Phillips. The part was his first acting role. Abdi plays a Somali pirate who leads the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama. He spoke with NPR's Arun Rath in October about learning to relate to his character. (This story originally aired on All Things Considered on Oct. 20, 2013.)

Nick Kroll's sketch comedy TV series, Kroll Show, kicked off its second season this month. One of his signature characters is a seedy, wannabe ladies man named Bobby Bottleservice. Kroll says playing a variety of characters keeps him from being pigeon-holed by his role as Ruxin on the FX show The League.

Michigan is one of only a handful of Republican-led states that is expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. It did it by forging a plan that worked for Republicans, Democrats and business interests, as well as doctors and hospitals.

Going to the gym can be intimidating, especially for people who are obese and worry that people will judge them by their appearance. But more companies are catering to plus-sized exercisers with fitness centers that are just for them.

The conference, set for Wednesday, will bring together a delegation representing President Bashar Assad and the Western-backed, exiled political opposition. A lot of diplomatic capital has been spent to make this happen, but it's unclear whether there will be a meaningful outcome.

The act, among other things, ended the era of legal segregation in public accommodations, like restaurants and hotels. This year marks the 50th anniversary of its passage. Author Todd Purdum joins Fresh Air to talk about the legislative and political battles that surrounded it.

The relief organization says the wealthiest 85 people own the same proportion as the planet's poorest 3.5 billion people. And Oxfam says it fears that growing income inequality will lead to social unrest.

The giant bird was being used to promote The Hobbit film trilogy, which was shot in the Pacific nation. Authorities say no one was hurt when it came crashing down during a 6.3-magnitude temblor.

It's a cliché and an understatement to say Latino-Americans aren't a monolithic group. But our survey of nearly 1,500 Latinos underscores the variety of different experiences collapsed into the term "Latino."

The type of storm that's blowing up the East Coast of the U.S. on Tuesday has an explosive-sounding name. Add bombogenesis to the growing list of weather terms we're learning about this winter — a list that also includes polar vortex.