Fresh Air

Jean Smart / Remembering Newport Jazz & Folk Festival Founder George Wein Sep 17, 2021

Jean Smart is nominated for two Emmys — one for her lead role in 'Hacks' and one for her supporting role in 'Mare of Easttown.' We're revisiting her May 2021 interview.
Pioneering music impresario George Wein created the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 and the Newport Folk Festival in 1959. He died Sept. 13. He spoke with Terry Gross in 2003.

The Battle To Keep Local Journalism Alive Sep 16, 2021

In the past 15 years, one in four newspapers has shuttered in the U.S. We talk with Art Cullen, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, editor, and co-owner of 'The Storm Lake Times' in the meatpacking town of Storm Lake, Iowa. He and his family are the subject of a new documentary, called 'Storm Lake,' about the challenges the industry is facing as news moves to free digital platforms and ad revenues dwindle. The film is opening in select theaters and be on PBS Nov. 15.

Colson Whitehead On His Crime Novel 'Harlem Shuffle' Sep 15, 2021

Whitehead's new novel 'Harlem Shuffle,' is about a furniture store owner in Harlem whose sideline is fencing stolen goods. Whitehead won a Pulitzer Prize for his novel 'The Underground Railroad,' about a 15-year-old enslaved girl who escapes a brutal Georgia plantation. The novel was adapted into a TV series that is now nominated for several Emmys. Whitehead won another Pulitzer for his next novel 'The Nickel Boys,' based on the story of the Dozier School for Boys, a segregated reform school notorious for its brutal punishment. We talk about heists, how New York City has changed, and writing in the pandemic
Justin Chang reviews the film 'Blue Bayou.'

The Weird World Of Animal Crimes Sep 14, 2021

Science writer Mary Roach ('Stiff', 'Gulp') explores scenarios where animals are the ones committing "crimes" — and how society deals with it. We talk about bear attacks, drunk elephants, and monkey thieves. Her new book is 'Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law.'
Also, Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album from saxophonist Joel Frahm.

Banjo Player Béla Fleck Sep 13, 2021

Béla Fleck is perhaps the most famous banjo player in the world. He's taken that instrument out of its folk and bluegrass traditions to play pretty much any kind of music: from jazz and pop to classical and reggae. But bluegrass has always been where he comes from — and he's returned to it for his new album, 'My Bluegrass Heart.' He's dedicated it to two musical heroes that died in the last year: Chick Corea and Tony Rice. Fleck joins Sam Briger to play his banjo, and talk about returning to his roots; his trip to Africa, the continent of the banjo's origin; and meeting his father for the first time in his 40s.
Ken Tucker reviews, 'Dreaming of You,' a collection of songs by actor Karen Black, best known for 'Easy Rider' and 'Five Easy Pieces.' Black died in 2013.

Best Of: Michael K. Williams / Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Sep 11, 2021

Michael K. Williams was best known for playing Omar on 'The Wire' and Chalky White on 'Boardwalk Empire.' He died Sept. 6 of a suspected drug overdose. In 2008, Williams told Terry Gross the story behind the scar on his face and his background in dance. In 2016, he reflected on his lucky breaks and what it was like to leave Omar behind. "When 'The Wire' and the character of Omar ended, I had zero tools, personally speaking, in how to deal with letting that go. ... I didn't equip myself with the tools of how to wash that off my psyche."
Maureen Corrigan reviews Sally Rooney's new novel, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You.'
Also, we hear from U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo. She's the first Native American appointed to the position. She has a new memoir, 'Poet Warrior,' that's in part about her family's history. She's a member of the Muskogee (Creek) Nation.

The Rise And Fall Of Osama Bin Laden Sep 10, 2021

As the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks approaches, a new biography traces Osama bin Laden's path from a shy, religious teenager to the leader of a global jihadist group dedicated to mass murder. Journalist Peter Bergen, who met the al-Qaida leader in 1997, says that a series of events kept pushing bin Laden "further and further down the path of radicalization." We also talk about conditions in Afghanistan after the U.S. troop withdrawal, and the chances that terrorist organizations will flourish there as al-Qaida did in the '90s. Bergen's new book is 'The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden.'
Also, Justin Chang reviews the new Paul Schrader film 'The Card Counter,' starring Oscar Isaac and Tiffany Haddish.

SCOTUS & The Future Of Roe V. Wade Sep 09, 2021

Ian Millhiser covers the Supreme Court for Vox. He says the Court's decision to uphold the recent Texas abortion law was a generational victory for abortion opponents: "They've spent many decades working for this moment."
Maureen Corrigan reviews Sally Rooney's new novel, 'Beautiful World, Where Are You.'

Remembering Michael K. Williams Sep 08, 2021

Williams was best known for playing Omar on 'The Wire' and Chalky White on 'Boardwalk Empire.' In 2008, Williams told Terry Gross the story behind the scar on his face and his background in dance. In 2016, he reflected on his lucky breaks and what it was like to leave Omar behind. "When 'The Wire' and the character of Omar ended, I had zero tools, personally speaking, in how to deal with letting that go. ... I didn't equip myself with the tools of how to wash that off my psyche." Williams died Sept. 6 of a suspected drug overdose.
Also, critic David Bianculli reviews the new reboot of Doogie Howser, M.D.

Poet Laureate Joy Harjo / Historian Tiya Miles Sep 07, 2021

The nation's first Native American poet laureate has a new memoir in which she tells her own story — as well as the story of her sixth-generation grandfather, who was forced from his land in the Trail of Tears. It's called 'Poet Warrior.' "If my work does nothing else, when I get to the end of my life, I want Native peoples to be seen as human beings," she says.
Historian Tiya Miles tells the story of an enslaved woman who, upon hearing that her child was being sold off, hastily packed her a cotton sack with a few personal items. That cotton bag remained in the child's possession and was passed on from one generation to the next, and at one point in the early 1900s, was inscribed with the family's tale. Eventually it ended up at the National Museum of African American History. Miles joins contributor Arun Venugopal to talk about what this story tell us about slavery. Her book is 'All That She Carried.'

Mavis Staples / Gladys Knight Sep 06, 2021

We conclude our Summer of Soul series with Mavis Staples and Gladys Knight, two performers featured in Questlove's documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. As a teenager, Mavis Staples performed with her family in the Staple Singers, led by her father, "Pops" Staples. By the late '50s, the Staple Singers was one of the most popular gospel groups in the country. In the early '70s, they crossed over to the top of the pop charts.
Gladys Knight's Motown hits with the Pips included "I heard it Through the Grapevine," "Neither One of Us," and "The End of Our Road." She had one of her biggest hits after leaving Motown: "Midnight Train to Georgia."

Best Of: Sandra Oh / Aretha Franklin Sep 04, 2021

Sandra Oh stars in the new comedy series 'The Chair,' as the newly appointed chair of the English department at a prestigious college-- the first woman and first person of color to hold the position. Oh co-starred in Grey's Anatomy and is currently shooting the fourth and final season of the spy thriller series 'Killing Eve.'
Also, we'll listen to our 1999 interview with Aretha Franklin. She's portrayed by Jennifer Hudson in the new biopic 'Respect.'
And Justin Chang reviews 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.' It's the first Marvel movie to feature an Asian superhero.

Abbey Lincoln / Max Roach Sep 03, 2021

We're continuing our "Summer of Soul" series with archival interviews with singer Abbey Lincoln and drummer Max Roach. Both were featured in the Questlove documentary about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Abbey Lincoln started out as a seductive nightclub singer in the 1950s, but after meeting Max Roach, she started performing in a style influenced by modern jazz and the civil rights movement. She evolved into an introspective singer who wrote achingly beautiful songs about love and life. Max Roach was one of the inventors of modern jazz drumming. He helped formulate the language of bebop. In the early 1960s, he recorded some of the first jazz music inspired by the Civil Rights Movement.
Also, John Powers reviews the PBS Masterpiece series 'Guilt.'

B.B. King / Hugh Masekela Sep 02, 2021

We're revisiting archival interviews with some of the musicians featured in the documentary 'Summer of Soul.' The film is about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival, a series of free concerts which reflected changes in Black culture and politics. Today we'll hear our 1996 interviews with B.B. King, perhaps the most famous blues singer and guitarist of his generation, and our 1988 interview with Hugh Masekela, the South African trumpeter who was described in the 'New York Times' as a symbol of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement, even as he spent three decades in exile.

Questlove Revives "Black Woodstock" With 'Summer Of Soul' Sep 01, 2021

Today we begin our series Summer of Soul, featuring interviews from our archive with some of the performers showcased in the documentary 'Summer of Soul,' about the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The festival was a series of six concerts that reflected changes in Black music, culture and politics. Over the next few days, we'll hear interviews from our archive with B.B. King, Hugh Masekela, Gladys Knight, Mavis Staples, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln. We start with Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, who directed the documentary. Questlove founded the band The Roots, the house band of 'The Tonight Show' and is known for his encyclopedic knowledge of hip-hop, funk, soul and R&B.
Justin Chang reviews 'Shang-Chi,' Marvel's first superhero film starring an Asian lead.

Celebrating Aretha Franklin, Queen Of Soul Aug 31, 2021

To mark the debut of the biopic 'RESPECT,' we listen back to archival interviews with Aretha, as well as with Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler, and songwriter Dan Penn, who co-wrote "Do Right Woman." We'll hear about Aretha's upbringing in the church, the iconic "sock-it-to-me's" in Respect, and recording at Muscle Shoals.

Sandra Oh Aug 30, 2021

Oh stars as chair of the English department at a prestigious university in the Netflix series 'The Chair.' The 'Grey's Anatomy' co-star joined us to talk about her upbringing in Canada, breaking barriers for Asian women in Hollywood, and the sexual tension between her 'Killing Eve' character and the psychopath Villanelle.
TV critic David Bianculli shares his first impressions of the Hulu comedy 'Only Murders in the Building,' starring Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez as amateur sleuths.

Best Of: 'Schmigadoon!' Co-Creator / How Dopamine Works Aug 28, 2021

Cinco Paul loves musicals — unlike his long-time writing partner, Ken Daurio, with whom he created the new Apple TV+ satire, 'Schmigadoon!' Their series centers on a couple who become trapped in a musical town. We talk with Paul about what inspired the series.
Film critic Justin Chang reviews 'CODA.'
Psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke's new book, 'Dopamine Nation,' explores the brain's connection between pleasure and pain. It also helps explain addictions — not just to drugs and alcohol, but also to food, sex and smart phones.

Remembering Chuck Close, Joe Galloway, Charlie Watts Aug 27, 2021

We remember an artist, a journalist and a musician, each of whom made significant contributions to their respective fields: Known for his giant hyper-realist paintings of faces, Chuck Close was one of the leading artists of his generation. After a stroke left him partially paralyzed, he was able to keep painting. Former war correspondent Joe Galloway was the only civilian to be awarded the Medal of Valor in the Vietnam War. And Charlie Watts, the drummer for the Rolling Stones, who helped define rock 'n' roll.

CNN's Clarissa Ward On The Taliban & Afghan Women Aug 26, 2021

Clarissa Ward, CNN's chief international correspondent, spent 3 weeks in Afghanistan, first with the Afghan military in Kandahar, just before it fell; then in Ghazni province, in territory that was taken over by the Taliban, and in Kabul, where the Taliban were celebrating their victory. After reporting on the chaos and danger at the airport, as thousands of people tried to escape on U.S. military flights, she got on an Air Force C-17 to Doha, Qatar, along with hundreds of evacuees. We'll talk about what she learned and what she experienced.

The Neuroscience Of Pleasure, Pain And Addiction Aug 25, 2021

Psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke's new book, 'Dopamine Nation,' explores the brain's connection between pleasure and pain. It also helps explain addictions — not just to drugs and alcohol, but also to food, sex and smart phones. "Living in this modern age is very challenging," Lembke says. "We're now having to cope with: How do I live in a world in which everything is provided? And if I consume too much of it — which my reflexes compel me to do — I'm going to be even more unhappy."
Maureen Corrigan reviews Yoon Choi's collection of stories 'Skinship.'

The Story Of Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher Aug 24, 2021

In 2018, a decorated U.S. Navy SEAL was arrested and accused of some shocking crimes. Investigators said, while Eddie Gallagher was leading a platoon of these elite commandos in the battle to retake Mosul, Iraq from ISIS, he stabbed a defenseless prisoner to death. The accusations came from SEALs in Gallagher's own platoon, who also said he was known for taking shots at civilians from his sniper's nest, and killing at least two. We talk with 'New York Times' correspondent Dave Philipps, who covered Gallagher's trial and interviewed many of the Navy SEALs who leveled the accusations against Gallagher. His new book is 'Alpha: Eddie Gallagher and the War for the Soul of the Navy SEALs.'

'Schmigadoon!' Songwriter & Co-Creator Cinco Paul Aug 23, 2021

Cinco Paul loves musicals — unlike his long-time writing partner, Ken Daurio, with whom he created the new Apple TV+ satire, 'Schmigadoon!' Their series centers on a couple who become trapped in a musical town. Paul talks about his songwriting process and how the Marx Brothers inspired him.
Film critic Justin Chang reviews 'CODA.'

Best Of: Billie Jean King / Kenan Thompson Aug 21, 2021

Tennis legend Billie Jean King is known for winning a record 20 Wimbledon titles and defeating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes." But she's also remembered for taking on the tennis establishment and fighting for recognition and pay for women players, a high-risk undertaking that opened doors for generations of women that followed. Her new book is 'All In: An Autobiography.'
TV critic David Bianculli reviews 'Nine Perfect Strangers' on Hulu.
Kenan Thompson joined the 'SNL' cast in 2003, making him the longest-running cast member on the show. We'll talk about his sitcom 'Kenan' and some of his more memorable 'SNL' sketches.

Tony Bennett Aug 20, 2021

Tony Bennett, the singer Frank Sinatra called "the best in the business," is retiring from performing at the age of 95, after eight decades on stage and in clubs. Earlier this year it was announced he had Alzheimer's disease, diagnosed five years earlier; but he'd continued to perform. His last performance was just two weeks ago, with Lady Gaga, in sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1982, 1991, and 1998.

America's Failed Mission In Afghanistan: Intentions & Mistakes Aug 19, 2021

The stunning collapse of the government of Afghanistan following President Biden's decision to remove U.S. troops from the country has led to chaotic scenes throughout Afghanistan, including at the airport in Kabul, where many are desperate to leave. It has also left countless Afghans wondering what the future holds as the Taliban takes control of the country. "They're frightened. They don't know what awaits them. ... It's devastating. It's a country that deserved better," 'New Yorker' staff writer Steve Coll says.

Who Is Doing Your Dirty Work? Aug 18, 2021

Author Eyal Press calls them "jobs of last resort" — slaughtering animals, working in prisons, engaging in remote drone combat — society needs them, but doesn't want to talk about them.
Maureen Corrigan reviews 'Dream Girl,' a new suspense-thriller novel from Laura Lippman.

Tennis Legend Billie Jean King Aug 17, 2021

King is known for winning a record 20 Wimbledon titles and defeating Bobby Riggs in the 1973 "Battle of the Sexes." But she's also remembered for taking on the tennis establishment and fighting for recognition and pay for women players, a high-risk undertaking that opened doors for generations of women that followed. In a new memoir, King describes her battles for equity and inclusion in the game, becoming an activist for women's and LGBTQ rights, and some difficult moments in personal life, including having a closeted lesbian relationship outed in a lawsuit. Her new book is 'All In: An Autobiography.'
Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews a new film about Broadway, from 1959 through the '80s.

Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal Aug 16, 2021

In his new book, 'The State Must Provide,' Adam Harris explains how slavery, segregation and continuing racism prevented or stymied Black education. He examines some of the turning points when higher education could have been made equal and centuries of discrimination could have been remedied. He also writes about the important role Historically Black Colleges and Universities have played, and the reasons why they have been underfunded. Harris went to an HBCU, Alabama A&M University. He's now a staff writer at 'The Atlantic.'

Best Of: Sondheim Collaborator James Lapine / SNL's Cecily Strong Aug 14, 2021

Lapine collaborated with Stephen Sondheim to create three musicals — 'Sunday in the Park with George,' 'Into the Woods' and 'Passion.' Lapine's new book is about the making-of 'Sunday in the Park' called 'Putting it Together.' It's based on Lapine's memories, as well as interviews with Sondheim, and members of the cast and crew.
Then, Ken Tucker reviews a new posthumously released Prince album.
Finally, Strong is nominated for an Emmy for 'Saturday Night Live.' She also stars in the new show 'Schmigadoon,' about a couple that ends up trapped in a town where life is a musical and the townspeople frequently burst into song. Her new memoir is about the depression, anxiety, and grief she experienced during the first months of the pandemic.

Remembering Longtime NPR Host Neal Conan Aug 13, 2021

Conan, who died Aug. 10, worked at NPR for 36 years, as a reporter, executive producer of 'All Things Considered' and host of 'Talk of the Nation.' He spoke with Terry Gross in 2002.
Also, Justin Chang reviews the new Aretha Franklin biopic 'Respect.'
And Ken Tucker shares his songs of the summer.

Investigating Trump's Efforts To Subvert The Election Results Aug 12, 2021

'New York Times' reporter Katie Benner discusses the latest revelations about how former President Donald Trump pressured the Justice Department to undermine the results of the 2020 election.
Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the debut album by singer Samara Joy.

Kenan Thompson On 'SNL' And 'Kenan' Aug 11, 2021

Thompson is currently nominated for two Emmys — one for starring in his sitcom 'Kenan,' and another for 'Saturday Night Live.' He's been a cast member on 'SNL' since 2003, which makes him the performer with the longest tenure in the history of the show. Thompson talks about some of his most memorable 'SNL' sketches. He also talks about playing the Bill Cosby character Fat Albert in a 2004 movie, and later feeling disappointed by Cosby. "He was a prime example of a career that I wanted to have," Thompson says. "I felt super betrayed."
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews 'Agatha Of Little Neon,' a novel about nuns that she calls "sharp and, by turns, melancholy and wry."

Trump Impeachment Key Witness Alexander Vindman Aug 10, 2021

The retired Army officer who testified about President Trump's call to the president of Ukraine, talks about the experience and the price he paid. Vindman's new memoir is 'Here, Right Matters: An American Story.'
Also, John Powers reviews the novel 'Bullet Train,' a thriller about five assassins boarding the same train.

Cecily Strong On 'SNL,' 'Schmigadoon,' And Her New Memoir Aug 09, 2021

Strong is nominated for an Emmy for 'Saturday Night Live.' She also stars in the new show 'Schmigadoon,' about a couple that ends up trapped in a town where life is a musical and the townspeople frequently burst into song. Her new memoir is about the depression, anxiety, and grief she experienced during the first months of the pandemic. "I just kept thinking, all the work I've done on myself with anxiety, I'm going to lose it all because of this," she says.
Also, Ken Tucker reviews a new posthumously released Prince album.

Best Of: Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney / Osama Bin Laden Biographer Aug 07, 2021

After winning an Oscar for co-writing the film 'Moonlight,' McCraney says he received a lot of opportunities, many of which he turned down. "Some of it had to do with waiting for the other shoe to drop," he says. He's now the creator of the TV series 'David Makes Man,' which is in its second season on OWN. The series begins with a Miami boy whose mother struggles with addiction — and has echoes of McCraney's own childhood.
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Anthony Veasna So's posthumously published short story collection 'Afterparties.'
And as the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks approaches, a new biography traces Osama bin Laden's path from a shy, religious teenager to the leader of a global jihadist group dedicated to mass murder. Journalist Peter Bergen, who met the al-Qaida leader in 1997, says that a series of events kept pushing bin Laden "further and further down the path of radicalization." Bergen's new book is 'The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden.'

'The Hiroshima Cover-Up' Aug 06, 2021

76 years ago, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. Historian Lesley M.M. Blume's book, 'Fallout,' tells the story of John Hersey, the young journalist whose on-the-ground reporting in Hiroshima exposed the world to the devastation of nuclear weapons. "Hersey had seen everything from that point, from combat to concentration camps," Blume says. "But he later said that nothing prepared him for what he saw in Hiroshima."
Also, we remember Ron Popeil, the inventor and TV pitchman whose products included the Veg-O-Matic, Mr. Microphone, and the smokeless ashtray.

The 'Dark Money' Effort To Win Elections 'At All Costs' Aug 05, 2021

Jane Mayer's latest investigation for 'The New Yorker' is about rich and powerful conservative groups that are exploiting Trump's false claims of widespread election fraud in order to promote alterations in the way that ballots are cast and counted. "The 2020 election is long since over in most people's minds, and settled and decided," Mayer says. "But these groups are doubling down in the money they're putting into and the effort they're putting into trying to push the idea of fraud — potentially in order to challenge the 2022 midterms, and the 2024 election."
Also, Justin Chang reviews the new movie musical 'Annette' starring Adam Driver and Marion Cotillard, which he calls "strange and singular."

Inside Osama Bin Laden's Final Hideout Aug 04, 2021

As the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks approaches, a new biography traces Osama bin Laden's path from a shy, religious teenager to the leader of a global jihadist group dedicated to mass murder. Journalist Peter Bergen, who met the al-Qaida leader in 1997, says that a series of events kept pushing bin Laden "further and further down the path of radicalization." Bergen's new book is 'The Rise and Fall of Osama bin Laden.'

Behind-The-Scenes Stories Of Working With Sondheim Aug 03, 2021

James Lapine collaborated with Stephen Sondheim to create three musicals — 'Sunday in the Park with George,' 'Into the Woods,' and 'Passion.' "We're very, very different," Lapine says. "I tend to jump into the deep end of things and figure out how to swim. And Steve is very analytical and doesn't start writing until he knows exactly where he's going." Lapine has written a new book about the making-of 'Sunday in the Park' called 'Putting it Together.' It's based on Lapine's memories, as well as interviews with Sondheim, and members of the cast and crew.

Pulitzer Prize-Winner Katori Hall Aug 02, 2021

Hall is the writer and a producer of 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.' She won a Pulitzer Prize for her play 'The Hot Wing King.' She's also the creator of 'P-Valley,' a breakout show on Starz about the women working in a fictional Mississippi strip club. "Any time I get an opportunity to lay my hands on a Black woman's story, I just want to make sure that she is fully rendered," Hall tells 'Fresh Air' guest interviewer and 'Atlantic' staff writer Hannah Giorgis.
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews Anthony Veasna So's posthumously published short story collection 'Afterparties.'

Best Of: Jad Abumrad / Public Health Expert Dr. Leana Wen Jul 31, 2021

Abumrad is the creator of the hit public radio series 'RadioLab.' The new 'RadioLab' miniseries, 'The Vanishing of Harry Pace,' is about the man who co-founded a publication with WEB DuBois, founded the first Black-owned record company, helped desegregate a Chicago neighborhood — and then kind of disappeared. Abumrad also co-reported the podcast miniseries 'Dolly Parton's America.'
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel 'Wayward' by Dana Spiotta.
Finally, Dr. Wen has commented extensively on CNN and in her 'Washington Post' column about COVID-19 and the precautions we need to take. She emigrated from China as a child and relied on the public health system while she had severe asthma. She talks about her new memoir called 'Lifelines.'

Actor Courtney B. Vance / Remembering Bob Moses Jul 30, 2021

Vance is nominated for an Emmy for his guest appearance in the HBO series 'Lovecraft Country.' He played the charismatic and show-stopping attorney Johnnie Cochran in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson.' More recently, he played Aretha Franklin's father, Rev. C.L Franklin, in 'Genius: Aretha.'
Also, John Powers reviews a new edition of a 1963 novel by black reporter William Gardner Smith.
Then, we remember pioneering civil rights activist Bob Moses. He died Sunday at age 86.
Finally, Kevin Whitehead reviews two very different new albums by outstanding tenor saxophonists.

Leaks Reveal Spyware Meant To Track Criminals Targeted Activists Instead Jul 29, 2021

'Washington Post' reporter Craig Timberg explains how military-grade spyware licensed to governments and police departments has infiltrated the iPhones of journalists, activists and others. "It takes a story like this to help people understand how deeply enmeshed these tiny little computers have gotten into our lives," Timberg says. "I still carry my iPhone everywhere I go ... And the reality of that is that every time I do that, I'm exposing not just myself, but everyone I deal with to the possibility of spying by governments all over the world."
Also, Justin Chang reviews 'The Green Knight' starring Dev Patel.

'Moonlight' Writer Tarell Alvin McCraney Jul 28, 2021

After winning an Oscar for co-writing the film 'Moonlight,' McCraney says he received a lot of opportunities, many of which he turned down. "Some of it had to do with waiting for the other shoe to drop," he says. He's now the creator of the TV series 'David Makes Man,' which is in its second season on OWN. The series begins with a Miami boy whose mother struggles with addiction — and has echoes of McCraney's own childhood.

Public Health Expert Dr. Leana Wen On COVID & Mandates Jul 27, 2021

Dr. Wen is an emergency physician, CNN Health Analyst and former Baltimore Health Commissioner. We talk about mask and vaccine mandates, the return to school and work, and the Delta variant. "Unfortunately, we're in a situation now where the vaccinated are having to pay the price for the actions of the unvaccinated," she says. Wen emigrated from China as a child and relied on the public health system while she had severe asthma. She has a new memoir called 'Lifelines.'
Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews the novel 'Wayward' by Dana Spiotta.

Jad Abumrad Jul 26, 2021

Abumrad is the creator of the hit public radio series RadioLab. The show started off as a series about science-related mysteries, but now it investigates all kinds of stories. The new RadioLab miniseries, 'The Vanishing of Harry Pace,' is about the man who co-founded a publication with WEB DuBois, co-wrote St. Louis Blues with WC Handy, founded the first Black-owned record company, helped desegregate a Chicago neighborhood — and then kind of disappeared. Abumrad also co-reported the podcast miniseries 'Dolly Parton's America,' which uses her life and music to examine larger issues like America's cultural divide.

Best Of: Questlove / Growing Up In A Utopian Community Jul 24, 2021

Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson talks about directing the new film 'Summer of Soul,' documenting the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. It features performances by Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and more, and reflects on the cultural and political changes of the time. We'll also talk about big changes in Questlove's life.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead remembers electric guitarists George Barnes and Mary Osborne, who were born 100 years ago.
Writer Akash Kapur reflects on growing up in a Utopian community founded in India 1968. While living in the U.S., he connected with a woman who also grew up in that community. They married and returned there, to better understand the social tumult of their childhood, and to learn more about the mysterious circumstances surrounding her parents' deaths. His book is 'Better to Have Gone.'

Hugh Grant On 'The Undoing' Jul 23, 2021

Hugh Grant has been nominated for an Emmy for his role in the HBO miniseries 'The Undoing,' in which he played an adulterous doctor suspected of murder. Grant got his start in romcoms, but lately he's been getting darker roles. "It's alarming how many pretty unpleasant narcissists I've played or been offered in the last six or seven years. But It's certainly been a blessed relief after having to be Mr. Nice Guy for so many years," he says.
Ken Tucker reviews two new albums from Australia and David Bianculli reviews the second season of 'Ted Lasso' on Apple TV+.

How GOP State Legislatures Are Remaking The U.S. Jul 22, 2021

Journalist Ron Brownstein says Republican-controlled state legislatures are taking a sharp right turn, in a conscious backlash against unified Democratic control of Congress. These states are not only passing voting rights restrictions, they're passing a torrent of other conservative bills that reflect the cultural and racial priorities of Trump's base. Brownstein is a senior editor at 'The Atlantic' and a senior political analyst at CNN. His latest book is called 'Rock Me on the Water: 1974 - The Year Los Angeles Transformed Movies, Music, Television and Politics.'
Justin Chang reviews the South Korean film 'The Woman Who Ran.'

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