Fresh Air

Former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe

McCabe served as acting director of the FBI after President Trump fired James Comey in the spring of 2017. McCabe felt that there was enough circumstantial evidence to open criminal and counterintelligence investigations into the president's ties to Russia and possible obstruction of justice. "These were extraordinary steps. They were ones that we took only after great consideration and review," he says. In March of 2018, McCabe was fired 26 hours before he was set to retire. He talks with Terry Gross about these events and how the president poses a threat to national security. His book is 'The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump.'

Best Of: Wildlife 'Dynasties' / The Neuroscience Of Addiction

The new BBC documentary series 'Dynasties' follows five groups of animals for up to two years, revealing their social relationships: kinship, affection, and sometimes deadly power struggles. The show's executive producer Michael Gunton talks about filming lions, tigers, painted wolves, emperor penguins, and chimpanzees. Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews new albums by guitarists Steve Gunn and Michael Chapman.Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now, as a neuroscientist, she's working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is 'Never Enough.' Grisel talks about how various drugs affect the brain, and her own experience with addiction.

Inside The Social Structures Of Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Penguins & Chimps

'Dynasties,' a new BBC documentary series narrated by David Attenborough, is about the complex social structures of five different groups of animals. The show's executive producer Michael Gunton talks about the power struggles among animals that played out over years of filming. "One of the essential elements of the series is that you feel close to the animals," Gunton says.

The Neuroscience Of Addiction

Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now, as a neuroscientist, she's working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is 'Never Enough.' Grisel talks about how various drugs affect the brain, and her own experience with addiction. Grisel has been clean and sober for 30 years. Also, rock critic Ken Tucker reviews two new albums by guitarists Steve Gunn and Michael Chapman.

Best Of: Daughter Of A Numbers Runner / Random House Copy Chief

Before states ran legal lotteries there was the underground street version — the numbers. When writer Bridgett M. Davis was growing up in Detroit in the '60s, her mother was a successful bookie in the African-American community. She says the numbers helped fund both an underground economy and legitimate businesses at a time when opportunities for African-Americans were limited. Davis' memoir is 'The World According to Fannie Davis.'Critic John Powers reviews the films 'Everybody Knows' and 'Cold War.' Benjamin Dreyer is the copy chief for Random House. He talks with Terry Gross about Oxford commas, his problem with "very," and gender neutral pronouns. His new book is 'Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style.'

NYT's Michael Schmidt On Mueller, Trump And Russia

Schmidt was one of the 'Times' reporters who reported in January that the FBI had opened a counterintelligence investigation in 2017 into whether Trump was secretly working on behalf of Russia against American interests. "I knew that it was significant," he says, yet, "It's hard to be surprised." Schmidt talks about working with anonymous sources, Trump's use of confusion as a possible tactic, and what to expect from Mueller's final report. Also, critic Ken Tucker shares hip-hop singles by 21 Savage, Lizzo and Lil Peep.

Random House Copy Chief / Inside The 1954 'Star Is Born'

Dreyer is the copy chief for Random House. He talks with Terry Gross about collaborating with authors, passive voice, and gender neutral pronouns. His new book is 'Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style.' But, he says, "the last thing that I want to do is pass myself off as some sort of ferocious gatekeeper." Judy Garland's daughter Lorna Luft talks about what her mother went through while making the 1954 film 'A Star is Born.' The movie was produced by Sid Luft, who was Lorna's father and Garland's husband at the time. Luft spoke with guest interviewer Sonari Glinton.

Best Of: Film Composer Nicholas Britell / Novelist Sigrid Nunez

Film composer Nicholas Britell says when he's writing a score, he wants the audience to lose themselves in the film. "Music can have so much power, but you have to be careful with that power." Britell's score for 'If Beale Street Could Talk' is nominated for an Academy Award. He also did the score for 'Vice.' Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a recording of Oscar Peterson's 1969 album 'Motions & Emotions.'Sigrid Nunez's National Book Award-winning novel, 'The Friend,' is narrated by a woman grieving the suicide of her longtime friend and former writing professor, whom she slept with once. Nunez talks about how the subjects of the book relate to her own life.

The 5G Network & The Possible Threat To Cybersecurity

'New York Times' reporter David Sanger says the world's leading producer of telecom equipment, China's Huawei, will be central to the spread of a global 5G network — which could pose a major threat to U.S. national security.Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a recording of Oscar Peterson's 1969 album 'Motions & Emotions.'

'Maid' Details How It's 'Impossible' To Live On Minimum Wage

Stephanie Land's new memoir is about her struggle to make ends meet as a single mom while cleaning houses and relying on government assistance. Land, who left an abusive relationship and was homeless, talks about how she got out of poverty, went back to school and pursued writing. Also, Ken Tucker reviews Sharon Van Etten's new album 'Remind Me Tomorrow.'

Best Of: Hosts Of Prison Podcast 'Ear Hustle' / Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor started the podcast 'Ear Hustle' when Woods was a prisoner in San Quentin. Woods' sentence was recently commuted, but the two continue to tell stories of life in prison.Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews two new interpretations of Thelonious Monk's complete works.As the host of the PBS TV series 'Finding Your Roots,' Henry Louis Gates Jr. tells celebrities about their family history. Terry Gross asked Gates about his own roots.

Novelist Grapples With Suicide, Grief And Student-Teacher Relationships

Sigrid Nunez's National Book Award-winning novel, 'The Friend,' is narrated by a woman grieving the suicide of her longtime friend and former writing professor, whom she slept with once. Nunez talks about how the subjects of the book relate to her own life. Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews 'The Kid Who Would Be King,' a fantasy movie based on the legend of King Arthur.

Journalist Jason Rezaian On His 544 Days In Iranian Prison

After being accused of being a spy, 'Washington Post' Tehran Bureau Chief Jason Rezaian was held in Iran's notorious Evin Prison for two and a half years. Throughout it all, he never considered giving up on writing and reporting. He talked to Terry Gross about his imprisonment and release. His memoir is 'Prisoner.'

Best Of: Rachel Maddow On Spiro Agnew's Bribery Scandal / John C. Reilly

Richard Nixon's first vice president, Spiro Agnew, resigned in 1973 amidst charges of bribery and tax evasion. Now, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow and producer Mike Yarvitz revisit the Agnew scandal in the hit podcast 'Bag Man.' "The parallels with what was going on in the Nixon and Agnew administration 45 years ago to the efforts by the Trump administration right now ... is uncanny," Maddow says.Justin Chang reviews 'Glass,' a film by M. Night Shyamalan. By his own count, John C. Reilly has acted in almost 80 movies, including 'Boogie Nights,' 'Chicago,' 'Talladega Nights' and 'Walk Hard.' Now, he's co-starring with Steve Coogan as half of the iconic comedy duo Laurel and Hardy in 'Stan & Ollie.' Reilly talks about the extreme prosthetic makeup and bodysuit he wore for the role, physical comedy, and bonding with Joaquin Phoenix while filming 'The Sisters Brothers.'

'Kennedy Vs. Carter & The Fight That Broke The Democratic Party'

Journalist Jon Ward talks about the chaos that led Ted Kennedy to challenge Jimmy Carter for the Democratic nomination in 1980 — and the long-lasting damage it did to the party. Ward's new book is 'Camelot's End.'Also, critic John Powers reviews 'Brexit,' an HBO movie starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

John C. Reilly

By his own count, Reilly has acted in almost 80 movies, including 'Boogie Nights,' 'Chicago,' 'Talladega Nights' and 'Walk Hard.' Now, he's co-starring with Steve Coogan as half of the iconic comedy duo Laurel and Hardy in 'Stan & Ollie.' Reilly talks about the extreme prosthetic makeup and bodysuit he wore for the role, physical comedy, and bonding with Joaquin Phoenix while filming 'The Sisters Brothers.' Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews 'Ghost Wall,' a slim and eerie novel by Sarah Moss.

Best Of: Kevin Hart / Ben Stiller

Kevin Hart said he's "over" talking about the homophobic jokes that cost him the Oscars gig — but then he and Terry Gross talked about it anyway. "The bad part about being a comedian is that sometimes you just aren't funny," he says. "Sometimes to grow as a comedian you got to go through the stupid part." Ben Stiller directed the Showtime series 'Escape at Dannemora,' which dramatizes the true story of two murderers' escape from a maximum security prison in 2015. "It seemed like such an old-fashioned sort of escape, and I thought, 'Wow, how can that happen in today's prison system?'" he says.

Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart said he's "over" talking about the homophobic jokes that cost him the Oscars gig — but then he and Terry Gross talked about it anyway. They discussed his upbringing in North Philly, how comedy is changing, and the fine line between edgy and offensive material. "The bad part about being a comedian is that sometimes you just aren't funny," he says. "Sometimes to grow as a comedian you got to go through the stupid part." Hart's new movie is 'The Upside.'

Ben Stiller On 'Escape At Dannemora'

Stiller directed the Showtime series 'Escape at Dannemora,' which dramatizes the true story of two murderers' escape from a maximum security prison in 2015. "It seemed like such an old-fashioned sort of escape, and I thought, 'Wow, how can that happen in today's prison system?'" he says. Stiller talks about filming in a prison, interviewing one of the real prisoners who escaped, and also his recurring role on 'SNL' as Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen.

Best Of: Adam McKay / Driverless Cars

Adam McKay, who wrote and directed 'The Big Short' about the 2008 financial collapse, has a new comedy that draws on investigative journalism. 'Vice' charts Dick Cheney's rise from Yale dropout to vice president and "operator" behind George W. Bush. Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording of Stravinsky's 'The Soldier's Tale' by Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters.Autonomous vehicles could be the "most disruptive technology to hit society worldwide since the advent of the motor car," says former New York City traffic commissioner Sam Schwartz. We talk about what driverless cars could mean for traffic, infrastructure and pedestrians. His book is 'No One at the Wheel.'

Filmmaker Adam McKay On 'Vice'

McKay, who wrote and directed 'The Big Short' about the 2008 financial collapse, has a new comedy that draws on investigative journalism. 'Vice' charts Dick Cheney's rise from Yale dropout to vice president and "operator" behind George W. Bush. "He's always kind of just been in the background. So I had to bring him to the foreground," McKay says. 'Vice' is nominated for six Golden Globes. Also, linguist Geoff Nunberg explains a communication breakdown at the Mexican border between border agents and asylum seekers

Best Of 2018: Actor Rami Malek On Becoming Freddie Mercury

Malek sang at the top of his lungs while playing Queen's iconic lead singer in the new biopic 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' Still, he says, "No one can sing like Freddie Mercury." Malek spoke with Terry Gross about recreating the 1985 Live Aid concert, learning to move like Mercury, and wearing prosthetic teeth. He also talks about playing a withdrawn and socially anxious hacker in the thriller series 'Mr.Robot,' and how he got started in acting. Malek is nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG award for his performance as Mercury.

Best Of 2018: 'BoJack Horseman' Creator

Raphael Bob-Waksberg's animated comedy series for Netflix satirizes Hollywood using a mix of human and animal characters. "Part of the original pitch was like, 'What's Mr. Ed like behind the scenes?'" BoJack (a horse) is a depressed, alcoholic, sexist former sitcom star in the #MeToo era.Also, rock critic Ken Tucker and film critic Justin Chang share their favorite music and movies of the year.

Best Of 2018: Comic Bo Burnham On 'Eighth Grade'

The former YouTube star explores coming of age online in his film 'Eighth Grade.' "This awful D-list celebrity pressure I had experienced onstage has now been democratized," Burnham says. He talks about living with anxiety, being embarrassed by some of his early material, and why he wrote a film about a 13-year-old girl. Elsie Fisher, who plays Kayla in the film, is nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Also, Kevin Whitehead remembers jazz musicians we lost this year.

A Rockabilly Christmas Concert With JD McPherson

McPherson never thought he'd make a Christmas album. Then, he says, "I got a bug in my ear." He and his band perform live in studio from 'Socks,' and McPherson talks about growing up on a cattle farm.