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Alzo Slade
From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, wait, don't tell me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Alzo Slade, and I be making this place a judgment full zone. Here's your host at the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building in Chicago, Illinois, Tom Papa.
Tom Papa
Thanks, Alzo. Thanks, everybody. I'm Tom Papa. And for Peter Sagal, who took the week off to fulfill one of his lifelong dreams, smoking cigarettes in the woods in Canada. Later on, we'll be joined by Vicky Peterson, legendary rock guitarist from the Bangles. But first, it's your turn to call in and play our games. The number is 1-888-WAIT, WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. Now let's welcome our first listener contestant. Hi. You're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me.
Caller/Guest
Hi, Tom. This is Luke from Memphis, Tennessee.
Tom Papa
Hi, Luke. What do you do down there?
Caller/Guest
Well, I guess my official title is Principle of Digital Communication and Experience Solutions for a major sweets and snacks company.
Tom Papa
Oh, that's a very long title. Yes. Okay. Now, Luke, let's introduce you to our panel. First up, a comedian you can see on Saturday, July 18, at Zany's in Chicago and July 23 through the 25th in Houston, Texas. It's Dulce Sloan.
Dulce Sloan
Hello.
Unknown Announcer/Commercial Voice
Hello.
Tom Papa
Next, you can see him at the Punchline In Irving, Texas, July 30th through August 1st. And Flappers Comedy Club in Burbank, August 6th. It's Alonzo Bowden.
Alonzo Bowden
Hello, Luke.
Tom Papa
And a comedian who hosts the public radio trivia game show Go Fact Yourself. And the animal mythology podcast Framed by Fables, it's Helen Hong.
Unknown Announcer/Commercial Voice
Hey.
Tom Papa
Hello. So welcome to the show. Luke. You're going to play who's Alzo? This time, Alzo Slade is going to read you three quotes from this week's news. If you can correctly identify or explain two of them, you'll win our prize. Any voice from our show, you choose on your voicemail. Are you ready?
Caller/Guest
Absolutely.
Tom Papa
All right. Good luck. Your first quote is an expert on the Today show describing cyclospora, an illness spreading around the US this week.
Alzo Slade
The main symptom rhymes with dia Maria.
Tom Papa
The current outbreak of cyclospora is Caused by eating what?
Unknown Announcer/Commercial Voice
Lettuce?
Tom Papa
Yes. Bagged salad and produce. Yes. There's an explosive diarrhea outbreak. And heads up. This is one explosion. You do not look cool walking away from in slow mo. Epidemiologists warn that the microbe spreads through raw lettuce and berries. One victim blamed the salad he had four days earlier. If you can remember a salad you had four days ago, you are already a mess.
Alonzo Bowden
All I gotta say is the last big outbreak was Covid. And if you think you didn't want someone with COVID over your house.
Dulce Sloan
Oh, what's the bubble for?
Alonzo Bowden
This we don't want. There'll be no visitors now. You can't. And, you know, the thing is, the guy whose job it was to keep an eye on this, you know, he was fired as part of the Doge thing. He's the only guy sitting at home just laughing like, yeah, I wasn't necessary. They didn't need me. Yeah, okay.
Helen Hong
You know, this outbreak has really given me an appreciation for the word explosive. Like, it's just so evocative, isn't it? It really.
Tom Papa
It kind of makes you want to get it. And just so you know, the explosions start seven days after you eat the produce. So, yes, America, you already have it.
Dulce Sloan
But if it's seven days after, how you know it was that salad?
Tom Papa
Well, you don't welcome to it, I think. Enjoy your. Enjoy your time at the pool. Once you all right here?
Alonzo Bowden
Once you've reached the level of explosive, I don't think where it came from is your big concern.
Tom Papa
All right, Luke, your next quote about a very prominent couple sleeping in separate bedrooms.
Alzo Slade
He's determined to have the better bedroom.
Tom Papa
That's from the new book, Regime Change about what couple fighting over who has the better room.
Caller/Guest
Can I have a hint?
Tom Papa
Yes, you can. The bedrooms are in the White House.
Helen Hong
That is a great hint.
Tom Papa
Hold on, let's see if he gets it. Yes, Trump and Melania. The president and Melania have said separate bedrooms. We all figured this. The only surprising fact is that they're in the same building.
Dulce Sloan
Which bedrooms are they like? It's. What's the competition? Because wouldn't he be in the presidential suite? He's the president, right?
Tom Papa
Yeah, but there's someone more powerful. Melania got the bigger, fancier presidential bedroom with all the nice furniture, while Trump sleeps in what is basically the living room next door. Imagine having to sleep in separate rooms because you're so in love. It distracts you from running the country. Trump is reportedly obsessed with trying to make his Bedroom better than Melania's. So much so that he has started stealing stuff from other parts of the White House to make his bedroom fancier. This is true. He's taking furniture, lamps, artwork, and carrying it into the room himself. Imagine being a White House staffer working an all nighter and you see Trump in his pajamas sneaking by, holding a bust of fdr.
Alonzo Bowden
I don't think anyone knew she slept at the White House.
Dulce Sloan
Yeah, I'm surprised she's there, don't you?
Alonzo Bowden
The first term she lived in New York, right?
Tom Papa
Yeah, that's right.
Dulce Sloan
Yeah.
Tom Papa
In Florida.
Dulce Sloan
Why is she even in there? Maybe it's just to piss him off.
Tom Papa
Oh, my wife and I started sleeping in separate bedrooms. Like, we don't start off that way. Like, she snores a lot, so I don't blame it on her.
Dulce Sloan
Right.
Tom Papa
I'm an angel.
Dulce Sloan
Right, Right.
Tom Papa
I'm so. I'm like a little puppy. Just.
Alzo Slade
Are the separate beds in the same room? Like Leave it to Beaver?
Tom Papa
No. And we start off in the same bed like there's going to be no problem. And then around 3 o' clock in the morning, one of us kicks the other one in the shins and leaves in a rage.
Alonzo Bowden
Tom, what I love is after this show airs and you're sleeping out back with the dog, thinking, you know, I thought the snoring bit was funny.
Tom Papa
And I'm sneaking in, sneaking in down the hallway, stealing stuff from my new room. All right, Luke, here's your last quote.
Alzo Slade
Is this the next pumpkin spice?
Tom Papa
That's the New York Times reporting that. What is the next it flavor?
Caller/Guest
I'm gonna have to ask for another hint.
Tom Papa
Well, I'll give it to you gladly. Just pick up the peels so you don't slip.
Helen Hong
Banana.
Tom Papa
Yes, banana. Look around. Banana flavor is in everything right now. The trend is red hot while also turning brown.
Alonzo Bowden
I think you got dulce with that one.
Tom Papa
There are banana M&MS. Starbucks banana cold foam Dunkin banana lattes. Plus there's fancy banana protein puddings that have all the coolest people asking, wait, am I just eating baby food?
Dulce Sloan
Can I say on behalf of everybody, girl? Ugh. Because here's the thing. Banana is like right.
Alonzo Bowden
Uh huh.
Dulce Sloan
So like grape flavor don't taste like grape. Grape tastes like purple.
Tom Papa
Go on.
Dulce Sloan
Banana flavor don't taste like the actual fruit. Banana taste like yellow.
Tom Papa
Yeah.
Dulce Sloan
So we not dealing with real fruit situations right here. This real blue raspberry campaign.
Helen Hong
You think pumpkin spice was real?
Dulce Sloan
Hey, hey, hey. I'm black. I don't know nothing. Bout no pumpkin.
Helen Hong
I will say I feel like it's audacious of banana to not even need spice.
Tom Papa
Ooh, right?
Helen Hong
Like banana was like, you know what? I can handle this solo.
Alonzo Bowden
But banana been around. Banana's been around so much longer than pumpkin, you know what I mean? Banana's like, I got this. I don't need help.
Tom Papa
I'm back.
Alonzo Bowden
I don't need no help.
Alzo Slade
Just so y' all know, Alonzo is sponsored by Chiquita.
Alonzo Bowden
That's right, baby. I'm getting paid. I'm getting that big banana money.
Tom Papa
Alzo, how did Luke do?
Alzo Slade
Luke did great. Three out of three. Congratulations.
Tom Papa
Nice job, Luke.
Alonzo Bowden
Awesome.
Caller/Guest
Thanks, Tom. Thanks for funding my smart meetings.
Tom Papa
Bye. Thanks, buddy. Right now, panel, time for you to answer some questions about this week's news. Oh, no. Alonzo. Yes, it's pretty hot this summer, but there's a big trend of people saying now is the time to stop. Doing what?
Alonzo Bowden
Air conditioning?
Alzo Slade
No.
Tom Papa
Would you like a hint?
Alonzo Bowden
Yeah, I think so.
Tom Papa
My secret is, I'm sure this is.
Alonzo Bowden
Oh, my God.
Tom Papa
To a large degree, yeah. Also, the people,
Alonzo Bowden
the people who want privacy when using their phones in public have given up deodorant.
Tom Papa
That's right. Wearing deodorant.
Alonzo Bowden
What better way to be alone on a phone call?
Tom Papa
Americans are giving up deodorant and probably the worst week of the year to do that. Most deodorant skippers say they don't need it because they shower a lot, which is true, as long as that means you shower every 15 minutes.
Alzo Slade
There have been days where I've forgotten deodorant.
Tom Papa
Not on purpose.
Alzo Slade
And I'm just like. My high fives are real low, like down to the waist, you know?
Tom Papa
Is there a difference between not going with deodorant and going with deodorant that is just made natural, you know?
Helen Hong
Yeah, like those. Aren't there crystal rocks that you're supposed to rub in your pits?
Tom Papa
Right. It doesn't have aluminum in it. And they're just.
Dulce Sloan
Yeah, there are some people who don't need the aluminum.
Alzo Slade
Uh huh.
Dulce Sloan
And there are some people who should be wrapped in Reynolds wrap. I'm gonna wash away all of my
Tom Papa
sins Stole all over my girl Take
Dulce Sloan
me to the village Take me down Take me down to the shore Coming
Tom Papa
up, how to liven up that funeral in our bluff the listener game. Call 1-88-8, wait wait to play. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, Wait, don't tell.
Alzo Slade
Hey, folks, it's Alzo Slade. A quick message before we get back to the show. This weekend marks one year since Congress voted to eliminate federal funding for public media. That funding, more than a billion dollars, is gone. But wait, wait is still here, poking fun at the news and ourselves and bringing some levity to your week. Financial support from you, the public makes our work and the work of the NPR network possible. If you're already an NPR supporter, thank you. If not, you can join the community of people who power public media@plus.npr.org this
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message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Carvana makes car buying easy 100% online prices down to the penny, delivered to your door. Why make car buying hard when it could be easy? Visit Carvana.com today. Terms may apply. This message comes from BetterHelp. People talk about mental health more openly now, but asking for help can still feel hard. BetterHelp's 2026 State of Stigma report surveyed 2,000Americans and found that 85% believe getting support is wise, yet 74% say society discourages people from doing so. Don't let stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com NPR support for this podcast
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and the following message come from Strawberry Me. Be honest. Are you happy with your job? Are you stuck in a job you've outgrown or never wanted in the first place? Are your reasons for staying really just excuses for not leaving? Let a career coach from Strawberry Me help you get unstuck, discover the benefits of having a dedicated career coach in your Corner and get 50% off your first coaching session at Strawberry Me, NPR this message comes from Bombas. Bombas compression socks help keep legs fresh on travel days, work days, leg days and more. That's all day relief with everyday style. Go to bombus.com NPR.
Alzo Slade
From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait, Wait, Don't TELL me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Alonzo Boden, Helen Hong and Dulce Sloan. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Tom Papa.
Tom Papa
Thanks, Alzo.
Dulce Sloan
Bow, bow, bam, bam, bam.
Tom Papa
Thanks, Alzo. Right now it's time for the Wait, Wait, don't tell me bluff the listener game. Call 1-888-wait- wait to play our game on air. Hi. You're on wait, wait, don't tell me. Hi, this is Brendan calling from Exeter, New Hampshire. Oh, nice. Nice to meet you, Brendan. What do you do there in New Hampshire? I run a hardware and craft store and in my free time, I fly drones and Take care of my three cats. Oh. Where do you fly your drones? Up the river.
Dulce Sloan
What?
Tom Papa
I love how we still have modern technology, but it still sounds very New Hampshire. It's like I've got a high tech drone going up the river. Well, it's nice to have you with us, Brendan. You're going to play our game in which you must try and tell truth from fiction. What's the topic, Alzo?
Alzo Slade
Let's put the fun in funeral.
Tom Papa
Some things should never change about funerals. Nobody wants to go to open casket where they're like, we thought we'd just show you the legs this time, but sometimes change is good. And this week we heard about something new in the funeral biz. Our panelists are going to tell you about it. Pick the one who's telling the truth and you'll win. The wait waiter of your choice on your voicemail. Are you ready to play? I'm ready to play. All right, first up, it's Alonzo Bowden.
Alonzo Bowden
Remember when Uncle Frank was wrong? Nope. Because he had clean memories. When life ends, Clean Memory service removes all bad decisions from the Internet. Compromising Club pictures, Browser history. That OnlyFans account that you used just that one time. It all goes when you go. Lexi Gardell, who works for Clean Memories explains, even people who are pretty normal in real life have some pretty crazy Internet presences. You think grandma didn't get freaky in her DMs? With clean memories, you'll keep thinking that there are different packages, starting with Good Guy, which cleans browser history of adult and gambling websites. Next is that's Not Me, which removes any compromising pictures from social media dating sites. In the cloud, there's I didn't say that. Which cleans up posts made did you really think those unhinged opinions on who played Disney Princesses is out there? Not anymore. Top of the line is the angel package, which is a CIA level cleansing of your digital past. You'll be harder to find than Jason Bourne.
Tom Papa
That's a new service called Clean Memories that cleans up your Internet presence after you died. From Alonzo Bowden. Your next story of a celebration of life comes from Helen Hobbs.
Helen Hong
Have you ever wanted to meet someone just like you, even after you're dead? A new service is offering to pair up two recently deceased strangers with similar interests for Buy one, Get one Free Funeral services. If you think Uncle Jim is the only one who loved his kids and his bowling league, think again. Bogo Forever LLC will search for another recently deceased person who also love their kids and their Bowling league. Bogo Forever, LLC tries especially hard to pair people with the same first names as well as interests. According to one employee, you wouldn't believe how many women named Ruth love to knit. The services are a big hit with families. According to one recent client, we had twice the amount of food at the wake. And now grandma can be buried next to someone who also loved wwe.
Tom Papa
That was Bogo Forever, a service that pairs your loved one with a similar loved one for a combo funeral. From Helen Hong. And your last story of an innovation in internment comes from Dulce Sloan.
Dulce Sloan
Are you known as the drama queen of your family who wants to have one last hurrah after you've passed? Or are you the peacekeeper who wants to stir up some trouble but doesn't want to face the consequences? Then Dark Secret is the service for you. For just $500, they'll send a mysterious weeping woman to your funeral in hopes of creating a level of high drama and curiosity that is only seen in an Agatha Christie novel. Hecule Poirot himself couldn't solve this mystery. A black car will drop off your tragic figure. Draped in professional morning clothes and only sharing a heartbroken smile. She answers no questions, offers no explanation, and leaves discreetly in that same black car. But a nosy aunt or a greedy child is always an issue at a funeral. While Dark Secrets provides a weeping woman performing the highest theatrical display of mourning, your family could still be acting like a Tyler Perry movie.
Tom Papa
Okay, Brendan, so you've got clean memories, a service that cleans up your freaky Internet stuff after you died. From Alonzo Bowden. From Helen Hong, we have Bogo Forever, a buy one, get one free funeral service for like minded dead people. And from Dulce Sloan, Dark Secrets, a company that will send a mysterious woman to your funeral. Which one is real? I'm gonna have to go with Dulce and the mysterious woman. That sounds like something that I've heard of before. All right. And to find out the corre answer, let's hear from someone who likes the idea of the real story. To get paid to show up and say nothing is probably the best job an actor could get. This is Kalen Carter, an actor in Chicago talking about the mysterious funeral ladies service. Congratulations, Brendon. You got it right.
Alonzo Bowden
Awesome.
Tom Papa
Thank you very much. And you earned a point for Dulce. And you've won our prize, the voice of your choice on your voicemail. Thank you. Thank you for having me. All right, thank you for playing with us today. Say goodbye, everybody.
Dulce Sloan
Goodbye, everybody.
Tom Papa
And now, the game we call not my job. Our guest, Vicki Peterson is one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time and one of the founding members of the Bangles. Their song Walk like an Egyptian was both a number one hit and the only song I can actually do the dance to. You can see her this summer on tour with her husband, John Cowsell. Vicki Peterson, thank you so much for joining us on Wait Wait, Don't Tell. Thank you so much for having me.
Alzo Slade
This is.
Tom Papa
This is very exciting. Thank you so much for being this very exciting.
Caller/Guest
You have no idea.
Tom Papa
You look very cool. You've got cool guitars up on the walls. Does there have to be a guitar behind you everywhere you go?
Caller/Guest
Of course, yes.
Alzo Slade
You know, it's like the folks that have the bookshelf behind them on their zoom calls to show how intelligent they are. This is the musician equivalent of that.
Caller/Guest
Absolutely.
Tom Papa
So, Vicky, you've played with two of the most iconic all female bands. The Bangles, of course, and the Go Go's. The Bangles originally had a different band name.
Caller/Guest
We had several. We started off in LA as the Bangs. We were the colors, the Supersonic Bangs. And then we just shortened it. We added Bangles.
Alonzo Bowden
Yeah.
Tom Papa
What were some of the dumb things that people would say about an all female rock band? That was kicking ass.
Caller/Guest
Oh, please. Yeah. Well, what's it like being an all girl band? What's it like being an all girl.
Tom Papa
All girl?
Caller/Guest
Well, haven't had much experience with the others, so. Yeah, that's tough. Yeah, it was, you know. Is it hard? Like everything's hard.
Tom Papa
Yeah. And what was the. So you did the Bangles but then you also were in the Go Go's for a short time?
Caller/Guest
Well, yeah, I mean, we were friends with the Go Gos and my friend Charlotte, Cathy was pregnant with my ex boyfriend's baby, I like to put it.
Helen Hong
What?
Alonzo Bowden
Yeah.
Helen Hong
Oh, God, talk about that.
Dulce Sloan
I know you wrote that song.
Caller/Guest
I mean, they were married. It's legit. They were married at the time.
Helen Hong
Was this when the band was called the Bangs
Caller/Guest
Post Bang? No, but, but. So Charlotte couldn't tour that tour and she called me up and asked me if I would step in for her, which was just a blast. I had so much fun. It was great to be a side chick, as Jane Wheedlin called me. Vic. Vic side chick. They're just. They were really fun. It was a great experience.
Alzo Slade
I have a question. I just recently watched the Walk like an Egyptian video. How did you all get that many New Yorkers to walk in the middle of the street doing that dance New
Caller/Guest
Yorkers do walk in the middle of the street. I don't know if you know that.
Tom Papa
Yeah.
Helen Hong
Do you get any Egyptians that come up and be like, really?
Alzo Slade
Really?
Tom Papa
Your other great song, Manic Monday, was written by Prince. Did you interact with Prince a lot?
Dulce Sloan
Oh, yeah.
Caller/Guest
I mean, as much as one can.
Tom Papa
What was that like? Did he approach you?
Caller/Guest
He did. It was so. He is very enigmatic, as you know. I'm sure he did. He saw our video for Hero Takes a Fall, which was off of our first album, and he. He approached us with a cassette tape that had two songs on it, one of which was Manic Monday.
Alzo Slade
Wow.
Caller/Guest
And he would just show up at shows. Sometimes I would just look over in the wings and, you know, and our road manager would go, prince and Mary wants to play.
Helen Hong
What?
Alonzo Bowden
Geez.
Helen Hong
He would crash your shows?
Caller/Guest
Yes.
Tom Papa
That had to be amazing. So you got to play alongside Prince live. What was that?
Caller/Guest
A number of times.
Tom Papa
What was that like?
Caller/Guest
Otherworldly.
Alonzo Bowden
Yeah.
Caller/Guest
You know, and especially the first time he just came out and we were playing. He just wanted to sing on. On Manic Monday with us. He grabbed a tambourine and sang. And I think we did a couple of old Rock and Billy songs or something with him. And I was just literally, here's. Here's my Les Paul, please.
Tom Papa
That's amazing. So you played in the band with your sister, and your husband comes from a family band as well, called the Cow Sills, whose family fought more.
Caller/Guest
Oh, definitely the Cows Hills.
Tom Papa
Now the Cowsils, for people that don't know, was the band that inspired the Partridge Family. Right.
Caller/Guest
There's more of them. That is very true. Very true. And, yeah, and I was a huge Cowsils fan when I was a kid. So this is like one of those beautiful stories, because when I was nine and got that first electric guitar, I knew that I was going to marry John Kelso.
Tom Papa
Really?
Alonzo Bowden
Oh.
Tom Papa
And how did you let him know that?
Caller/Guest
I kept it a secret for a very long time.
Tom Papa
When you're touring with your husband and someone screws up on stage in the middle of a concert, what happens? Are you kind to each other or can you let each other have it?
Caller/Guest
Oh, I have a look, apparently.
Tom Papa
Oh, yeah, apparently I have a look.
Caller/Guest
But it's usually laughter. It's usually. We usually just dissolve into laughter.
Tom Papa
Do you ever say something when you hear your song played out in the Wild?
Caller/Guest
Oh, one of the first times, we had just done a podcast. We got back in the car and I turned on the radio, and they were playing one of Our songs, they were playing a thousand times. And of course, I thought it was my phone. And I was like, oh, I didn't realize I had it playing. And I said, no, it's the radio. And I'm telling you, it was as exciting as the first time I heard Manic Monday coming from somebody's car.
Alzo Slade
Wow.
Caller/Guest
We just. We were like teenagers. We lost it, both of us.
Tom Papa
That's so exciting. Well, this is so special for us. Thank you so much for being here.
Announcer
Thank you.
Tom Papa
All right, Vicki, we've asked you here to play a game we're calling Lie
Alzo Slade
down like an Egyptian.
Tom Papa
The Bengals had a big hit with Walk like an Egyptian, so we thought we'd ask you about Egyptians that lie down mummies. Get two out of three questions about mummies. Right? And you'll win our prize for one of our listeners, the voice of their choice on their voicemail. Alzo. Who is Vicki Peterson playing for?
Alzo Slade
Ally Freeman of Richmond, Virginia.
Caller/Guest
Okay, Ali.
Tom Papa
Oh, my God.
Caller/Guest
Can I call my best friend? She's an historian.
Tom Papa
Nope, it's too late. All right, Vicki, here's your first question. The mummification process was quite complex and involved a technology we still use today. What is it? A, the spin dryer, B, those silica packets inside food or medicine containers that say do not eat, or C, the tape dispenser.
Caller/Guest
I'm gonna guess there was a substance like silica in Egypt.
Tom Papa
You're right. B, nice job. Mummifiers put little packets filled with a mineral inside the body to absorb moisture. So mummies are, in a way, the original beef jerky. Here's your next question. The most famous mummy of all is probably King Tutankhamun. But he wasn't a perfect specimen. Why? A, shortly after he was discovered, his penis broke off and someone stole it. B, his right foot wasn't mummified and actually was in pretty good shape. Or C, though the markings in the tomb describe the solid gold cat statue buried with him, turns out it was only gold plated.
Helen Hong
Come on, it's gotta be the penis one.
Tom Papa
All right, let's say A, you're right. A, if there is a curse of the pharaohs, stealing a mummy's penis is how you get it. All right, here's your last question. A study published in 2025 found a surprising thing about unearthed mummies. What? A, if you soak them in warm water, they turn back into people. B, they are magnetic, like a refrigerator door, or C, they smell fantastic.
Caller/Guest
Define fantastic.
Helen Hong
Really good crowds chiming in for C. Smelling fantastic.
Caller/Guest
Okay, I'LL go with that. I could say that there'd be herbs and things that we're buried along with maybe.
Tom Papa
Right, Right. Right. Well, you are.
Unknown Announcer/Commercial Voice
No, it's not.
Tom Papa
It's not C. You're right. You're right. It's C.
Alzo Slade
Tom, you had to save her from herself.
Tom Papa
Save me from herself, Woody. Spicy and sweet were the leading descriptions from what sounded more like a wine tasting than a mummy sniffing exercise. Alzo, how you did? How did Vicki do on our quiz?
Alzo Slade
She did great. Three out of three. Congratulations, Vicki.
Alonzo Bowden
Nice.
Tom Papa
Vicki Peterson is on tour with her husband, John Cauzill. Their album is Long after the Fire. Vicki Peterson, thank you so much for joining us on Wait, Wait, Don't Come. Thank you so much. In just a minute, Your workout just got a lot more delicious in our Listener Limerick challenge game. Call 1-88-WAIT wait to join us on air. We'll be back in a minute with more of Wait, Wait, don't tell me. From npr.
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This message comes from NPR sponsor Carvana. Carvana makes car buying easy, 100% online prices down to the penny, delivered to your door. Why make car buying hard when it could be easy? Visit Carvana.com today. Terms may apply. This message comes from audible. Manifestos are a call to action, an artful scream. They capture people's anger and try to do something with it. Dan Tabursky's Manifesto is a podcast that attempts to take the manifesto back from mass shooters and nihilists and return it to its rightful place with regular folks with just the right amount of crazy. Listen to Dan Tabursky's Manifesto wherever you get your podcasts or binge the entire series right now, only with audible.
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This message comes from Bombus. Comfy footwear is the last thing you want to worry about this summer. Bombus sandals and slides are perfect for beach days, barbecues and everything in between. Go to bombus.com NPR.
Alzo Slade
From NPR and WBEZ Chicago, this is Wait Wait, don't tell Me, the NPR News quiz. I'm Alzo Slade. We're playing this week with Helen Holmes, Alonzo Boden and Dulce Sloan. And here again is your host at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago, Illinois, Tom Papa.
Tom Papa
Thanks, Alzo. In just a minute, even we here at Wait Wait are not safe from the global limericks pandemic. If you'd like to play our Listener Limerick Challenge, give us a call at 1-88-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. But right now, panel, some more questions for you from this Week's news, Helen. A new study looking at orangutans had discovered that the mothers of some animals arrange what for their children?
Helen Hong
Orangutan mothers arrange the bananas. No, I need a hint.
Tom Papa
Okay, here's a hint. The moms presumably negotiate with whose nest, who's providing snacks, who has allergies to what bugs.
Dulce Sloan
You would do this with your nephew. You and your sister with your nephew would talk to the other moms who coordinate play dates.
Tom Papa
Yes, Playdates.
Dulce Sloan
We did it.
Alonzo Bowden
And she'll still get a point for that.
Alzo Slade
That was rough
Helen Hong
play dates.
Tom Papa
The researchers discovered that orangutan moms organize play dates with other moms to build social skills in their children. It's a little different from how we do it at a bad human play date. Someone won't share a toy with orangutans. Someone's face gets ripped off.
Alonzo Bowden
Who's the Karen type mom in the orangutan society? The one with the bang at the other one saying, hey, your kid did this and your kid did that.
Dulce Sloan
If your son throws grubs at my son one more time, I will throw him out this jungle.
Tom Papa
It's significant that the mothers actually arrange these play dates. I mean, you don't often see that, but it's awkward when the zebra kids are over at the Lions and they're like, so what do you guys like to eat for a snack? Alonzo. This week we learned about the trendy dish that rich people in the Hamptons can't get enough of. What?
Alonzo Bowden
Poor people?
Dulce Sloan
They're delicious.
Alonzo Bowden
They finally reached the point they're just eating them. They just don't care. Now what might it be? I haven't been invited to the Hamptons lately.
Tom Papa
You can also get them with a side of fries on every kid's menu.
Alonzo Bowden
Chicken fingers.
Tom Papa
That's right. Chicken nuggets.
Alonzo Bowden
Chicken nuggets.
Tom Papa
Chicken nuggets. Or as the elite call them, chicken nougay.
Alonzo Bowden
I love it.
Tom Papa
According to the New York Times, all the fancy rich people in the Hamptons are, quote, elevating the experience of chicken nuggets by serving them at parties with caviar and micro radish greens. Said one woman, quote, it's literally like eating at McDonald's.
Alonzo Bowden
I love when these rich, high end chefs come up with scams like this, right? It's like, hey, man, you know how much money we can make on chicken nuggets if we just call them something else and then just charge 10 times as much? This is genius for them.
Dulce Sloan
I would have been more impressed if it was dino nuggets or the star shaped ones that they have at Carl's Jr.
Alonzo Bowden
Wait till they come across cocktail weenies. Next summer is going to be a fortune.
Tom Papa
Style experts are chalking the trend up to nostalgia. You know, the simplicity of those days before you married into money. Coming up, it's lightning. Fill in the blank. But first it's the game where you have to to listen for the rhyme. If you'd like to play on air, call or leave a message at 1-888-WAIT-WAIT. That's 1-888-924-8924. We're right here most weeks at the Studebaker Theater in downtown Chicago. And come see us on the road. We'll be in Sonoma County, California on July 30 and in Huber Heights, Ohio, just outside of Dayton on September 3rd. For tickets and information to all our live events, go to nprpresents.org hi, you're on. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Hi, this is Katie calling from Dallas, Texas. Oh, nice. Nice to meet you Katie. Can you tell me what you do for fun? Yes, I am a big crossword puzzle and jigsaw puzzle fan. I am hoping to compare compete in the jigsaw puzzle Championships one day. Whoa. In those championships, how many pieces do they is the average? It depends on what tier you're in, but between I think 500 and 1,000. Wow, you sound like NPR. That's why we love you. Well, it's nice to have you with us, Katie. Welcome. Welcome to the show. Alzo Slade is going to read you three news related limericks with the last word or phrase missing from each. If you can fill in that last word or phrase correctly on two limericks, you are a winner. Here's your first limerick.
Alzo Slade
This toy is not just for kids. The ads say so and the putty smell does really slay, bro. Plus the sensory squish is my fidgety wish. So I've bought an adult can of Play D'oh.
Tom Papa
That's right, Play D'oh. We now have adult Play D'oh. No, you sickos. Not that kind of adult. The I'm whimsical kind of adult. Which to be fair, is even worse than the perverts. The kits allow you to create realistic looking intricate floral arrangements. Can you imagine being the parent of a five year old and being like no, no, no, this is daddy's Play doh.
Helen Hong
It is kind of dangerous when you put the word adult in front of anything.
Dulce Sloan
Yeah, like adult education.
Helen Hong
Like as soon.
Tom Papa
All right, here's your next limerick
Alzo Slade
with Some cocoa beans taped to my locket. My workouts take off like a rocket. That dark Hershey's smell works like Pavlo's bright bell. I get amped when I'm sniffing some chocolate.
Tom Papa
That's right, chocolate. According to Forbes, dark chocolate. Before a workout could add 18 extra reps. Finally, combining my two interests, pumping iron for massive gains and having a little treat. It turns out you don't even have to eat the chocolate for the benefits. Sniffing it also works great. Finally, time to rip poppers at the gym with my boys.
Dulce Sloan
You think it's like a carrot in
Tom Papa
front of a horse situation where you're just running, trying to get the chocolate. All right, here's your last limerick.
Alzo Slade
With inflation high, fashion can't pay, so we're putting found scraps on display. We use little pig's tricks, skipping past bricks and sticks. We're making our clothes out of hay.
Tom Papa
Yes.
Alzo Slade
There you go.
Tom Papa
Hay. Chanel's latest Runway collection featured a hat and jacket covered in loose strands of hay. For that, please give me a brain, Mr. Wizard.
Alonzo Bowden
Look, I just have to ask your father. You have daughters?
Tom Papa
Yes, sir.
Alonzo Bowden
Your daughter says, dad, for my birthday this year, I want the Chanel hay jacket.
Tom Papa
Right?
Alonzo Bowden
Do you question that, or you just go buy it?
Tom Papa
I say, that's ridiculous. It's so opulent and disgusting. And then I would go get it because I can't say, no. They're my daughters.
Dulce Sloan
We just sound like we have hay at home, but it's.
Tom Papa
She does have a pet rabbit, and we do have a. We have a ton of hay. I'll just rub peanut butter on her shoulders and say, roll around with your rabbit for a while, Alzo. How did Katie do?
Alzo Slade
She's a weight weight Limerick champion. Three out of three.
Caller/Guest
Yeah.
Tom Papa
Yeah. Congratulations and thank you for playing Katie.
Caller/Guest
Thank you so much.
Tom Papa
All right, good luck with your puzzles. We can't wait to see you on espn.
Helen Hong
Thank.
Caller/Guest
You.
Announcer
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Tom Papa
Now onto our final game. Lightning. Fill in the blank. Each of our players will have 60 seconds in which to answer as many fill in the blank questions as they can. Each correct answer is worth 2 points. Alzo, can you give us the scores?
Alzo Slade
Absolutely. Alonzo and Dulce are tied up at three with Helen two points.
Tom Papa
Oh.
Alonzo Bowden
What?
Dulce Sloan
No, you got it. You got it.
Tom Papa
All right, Helen, you're in third place, so you're up first. The clock will start when I begin your first question. Fill in the blank. The US and Iran continued to exchange fire over control of the Blank.
Helen Hong
Strait of Hormuz air quality.
Tom Papa
Right. Air quality across the Northeast was at dangerous levels this week due to blanks. In Canada, wildfires. Right. Sam Neill, best known for his role of Dr. Alan Grant in the Blank movies, passed away at the age of 71.
Helen Hong
Jurassic Park.
Tom Papa
Right. The American League shut out the National League 4 to nothing in baseball's Blank game.
Helen Hong
The Super Bowl.
Tom Papa
The All Star Game.
Helen Hong
Yep.
Tom Papa
Christopher Nolan's new film adaptation of the Blank. Open to glowing reviews.
Helen Hong
The Odyssey.
Tom Papa
Right. The fossil of a blank named Gus sold for a record $50 million.
Helen Hong
A T. Rex.
Tom Papa
Right. In Maryland, a man was arrested after attempting to rob a bank with a stolen blank.
Caller/Guest
Poop.
Helen Hong
Lettuce.
Tom Papa
He robbed the bank with a kitten.
Helen Hong
What?
Alonzo Bowden
Yes.
Tom Papa
The man stole a kitten from a pet store, then ran into the bank across the street, asked the bank teller, can you hold this? Gave them the kitten while he wrote a note demanding money. The cat is now available for adoption and the description on the website says she is always ready for the next adventure. Alzo, how many points for Helen?
Alzo Slade
She's all right. She got five right. For 10 more points. Total of 12. She's in the lead now.
Alonzo Bowden
Yay, Helen.
Tom Papa
Okay, Dulce, you're up.
Dulce Sloan
No, thank you.
Tom Papa
You're up next. Fill in the blank. The governor of South Carolina appointed the sister of the late Senator Blank to serve the remainder of his term.
Dulce Sloan
Lindsey Graham.
Tom Papa
Right. Complete this New York Post headline, chuck Schumer appears to blank on Senate floor sleep. Chuck Schumer appears to let loose Huge fart on Senate floor
Dulce Sloan
girl. What?
Tom Papa
12 states and the Writers Guild of America sued to block the proposed merger of Warner Brothers and Blank.
Dulce Sloan
Paramount.
Tom Papa
Right. A Los Angeles TV reporter was praised for continuing her live report even after Blank.
Dulce Sloan
Let's see. Something had to happen. A car accident, a chase, a fire.
Tom Papa
Even after a flying cockroach climbed up her neck. KTLA's Rachel Menitoff was reporting on the California heat wave when a flying cockroach at least 2 inches long landed on her shirt, climbed all the way up her neck before jumping on to her microphone and flying away. She kept her composure, threw back to the studio, and then started shaking out her clothes like crazy. We assume for the rest of the week. Alzo, how did Dulce do?
Alzo Slade
She got three right for six more points, total of nine. Helen Hong is still in the lead.
Tom Papa
All right.
Dulce Sloan
I only got three rights. That feels wrong.
Tom Papa
So, Alzo, how many does Alonzo need to win?
Alzo Slade
5 to win.
Alonzo Bowden
Oh, pressure is on.
Tom Papa
All right, this is for the game. Fill in the blank. E. Jean Carroll finally received the $5 million she was owed after winning a civil lawsuit against Blank.
Alonzo Bowden
Trump.
Tom Papa
Right. Analysis concluded that damage to the lining of blank was likely due to errors during the installation process.
Alonzo Bowden
The reflecting pool.
Tom Papa
Right. The Washington Post fact checking department concluded the hospital photo of Blank holding that day's newspaper was genuine.
Alonzo Bowden
Mitch McConnell.
Tom Papa
Right.
Alonzo Bowden
May I add. Yeah, right.
Tom Papa
The FDA approved a new pill that significantly lowers Blank levels cholesterol. Right. A school board in Florida announced it would be instituting a new policy on grade inflation after a student called graduated with a GPA of blank 5. He had an 11.99 GPA. Actor Hal Williams, known for his roles in 227 and Sanford and Blank, died at age 91.
Alonzo Bowden
Son.
Tom Papa
Right.
Dulce Sloan
What?
Alonzo Bowden
That was a tough one.
Tom Papa
This Sunday's World cup final marks the first in history in which one team star once gave a blank to the other team's star.
Alonzo Bowden
Oh, wow. A goal bath.
Tom Papa
When Spain's Lamine Yamal was a baby, his family won a raffle for a photo shoot with then new star Lionel Messi. And this adorable photo shoot involved Messi giving Yamal a bath. Now he's all grown up and playing Messi in the final, which goes to show you anything can happen when you let a random professional soccer player wash your baby. Alzo, did Alonzo do well enough to win?
Alzo Slade
Yes, he did. He got 5 right for 10 more points, total of 13.
Tom Papa
Nice job. In just a minute, we'll ask our panelists to predict what'll be the big surprise at this week's World cup final. But first, let me tell you that. Wait, wait, don't tell me. Is a production of NPR and WBEZ Chicago in association with Urgent Haircut Productions. Doug Berman, Benevolent Overlord Philip Godecke writes our limericks. Our public address announcer is Paul Friedman. Our ops manager is Jasira Jennifer Vardack. Thanks to the staff and crew at the Studebaker Theater. BJ Lederman composed our theme. Our program is produced by Jennifer Mills, Miles Dornbas and Lillian King. Special thanks to Mohamed Elsheki. Peter Gwynn once gave a bath to a baby. Peter Sagal Emma Choi is our vibe curator. Technical direction Lorna White Our CFO is Colin Miller. Our production manager is Robert Newhouse. Our senior producer is Ian Chillag. The executive producer of Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me is Mike Danforth. Now, panel, what's going to happen at the World Cup Final?
Dulce Sloan
Dulce Sloan Argentina loses and Messi have to give Yamal another bath.
Alonzo Bowden
Alonzo Boden Donald Trump is shocked and angered to find out they give the trophy to the winning team and not to him.
Helen Hong
Helen hong that stadium has to clear out immediately to make way for Taylor Swift's vow renewal.
Alzo Slade
And if any of that happens, panel will ask you about it on Wait, Wait, don't tell me.
Tom Papa
Thank you, Alzo Slade. Thanks also to Dulce Sloan, Alonzo Bowden and Helen Hahn. And thanks to all of you for listening. I'm Tom Papa filling in for Peter Sagal, and we'll see you next week. This is npr.
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Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
NPR News Quiz – "We skip the salad bar and have a banana instead"
July 18, 2026 • Guest Host: Tom Papa
In this lighthearted episode of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, Tom Papa fills in for Peter Sagal and leads the panel – Dulcé Sloan, Alonzo Bodden, and Helen Hong – through a whirlwind of news quizzes, silly banter, and sharp-witted commentary. The topics range from explosive outbreaks stemming from the salad bar, separate bedrooms at the White House, America’s sudden infatuation with banana flavor, to rich people eating chicken nuggets with caviar in the Hamptons, and much more. Legendary Bangles guitarist Vicki Peterson joins for the 'Not My Job' segment, sharing rock tales and taking a mummy-themed quiz.
| Segment | Timestamp | |---------------------------------------------------------|------------| | Contestant games (salad/lettuce outbreak) | 02:45–05:06| | Trump & Melania’s separate bedrooms | 05:11–07:21| | Banana flavor trend | 08:00–09:47| | Deodorant-free trend | 10:33–12:08| | Bluff the Listener (Funeral twists) | 15:38–21:17| | ‘Not My Job’ with Vicki Peterson | 21:27–31:11| | Chicken nuggets in the Hamptons/limerick games | 35:14–41:51| | Lightning Fill-in-the-Blank | 43:14–49:12|
The tone throughout is classic Wait Wait: snappy, irreverent, and quick with a friendly, comedic edge. Panelists riff on each other and the week’s wackiest headlines with infectious laughter and wit, turning even the silliest news into comedic gold.
If you didn't catch this week's episode, you missed tales of exotic food trends (banana everything, caviar on chicken nuggets), vivid stories of White House pillow wars, and memorable interviews with music legends. Play along at home with panel quizzes and enjoy the banter – no salad necessary, but maybe peel a banana for nostalgia’s sake.