Talk of the Nation

NPR's Neal Conan reads from listener comments about previous shows including living with cancer, mainstreaming special education kids, and advice for new graduates. And "Zuul the Terrordog" sings along to the Talk of the Nation theme.

Transcript

NEAL CONAN, HOST:

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and a number of Greek incumbents in parliament became the latest victims of growing frustration among voters across Europe over the ongoing debt crisis and widespread austerity measures. President-elect Francois Hollande has promised France a "fresh start."

The White House played down Vice President Joe Biden's comments that he is "absolutely comfortable" with gay couples who marry having the same rights and liberties as heterosexual couples. Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart says President Obama should follow the vice president's lead.

Teresa MacBain was pastor of a United Methodist church. In March, she made a confession: She is now an atheist. MacBain, NPR religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Jerry DeWitt, executive director of Recovering from Religion talk about how losing faith changes lives and communities.