NPR News

Michele Norris talks with Wesley Morris, the film critic for the Boston Globe. They discuss the Fast & Furious franchise — and about how it promotes progressive multi-cultural ideals. The fifth installment of the franchise "Fast Five" is in theaters this Friday.

We've been putting videos of the devastatingly destructive force of the tornadoes that ripped through parts of the South in a post we began earlier today.

Citing Woodie Guthrie, John Prine and Paul Simon as big influences, Scott Miller's choice to pursue a career as a musician was never a tough decision. His father played big-band trumpet and the young Miller was enamored with rock 'n' roll.

April of 2011 is threatening to break the record for the most tornadoes on record over the course of a month. The record was set in May of 2003, when 543 tornadoes were reported. That's according to the Weather Channel, which also says April has likely already broken another record:

President Obama is getting serious about cutting defense spending. That's the main signal being sent with his new choices to lead his national security team, analysts say.

With America's wars losing intensity and the deficit emerging as Washington's top concern, Obama recently announced that he'd like to see $400 billion in cuts to defense spending over the next 12 years. That is on top of the $78 billion in potential cuts already outlined by outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Obama has chosen CIA Director Leon Panetta to replace Gates as defense secretary.