We remember Phil Donahue, the daytime talk show host who pioneered thoughtful discussions on controversial issues, and paved the way for Oprah and others. And we remember actress Gena Rowlands, who best known for her often improvised independent film collaborations with her husband John Cassavetes.

Also, Justin Chang reviews the film Close Your Eyes.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Georgetown professor and foreign policy analyst Daniel Byman discusses Ukraine's daring offensive into Russian territory. And he reflects on the future of Gaza, after Israel's military operation ends.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter David Rohde argues that since 2016, Trump has used conspiracy theories, co-option and threats to bend Justice Department and FBI officials to his will. Rohde's new book is Where Tyranny Begins.

Maureen Corrigan reviews Paradise Bronx by Ian Frazier.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

As 50,000 people attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, we look at the history of politics, protest and play in American stadiums. "We fight our political battles in stadiums," Columbia historian Frank Andre Guridy says. "They become ideal places to stake your claims on what you want the United States to be." His new book is The Stadium.

Also, as part of his series celebrating albums turning 50 this year, Ken Tucker revisits Neil Young's On the Beach.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

In The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat, Ellis-Taylor plays the outspoken ringleader among three women whose friendship spans several decades. Her previous films include Origin and King Richard. She talks with Tonya Mosley about growing up in rural Mississippi, buying two billboards, and getting into acting to stave off adulthood.

Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews A Wilder Shore, by Camille Peri.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Pediatric surgeon and founder of the Black Doctors Consortium Dr. Ala Standford talks with Terry Gross about how, at the height of the pandemic, she dedicated herself to addressing health inequities in Black and Brown communities. She set up shop in parking lots and churches providing tests and vaccines to tens of thousands of people.

Also, we'll talk with brain surgeon Dr. Theodore H. Schwartz, author of the new book Gray Matters. He'll talk about how brain surgery has been transformed by new technologies, new instruments, and more powerful computers.

And Ken Tucker takes us back 50 years to Neil Young's On the Beach.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Homicide: Life on the Streets, the critically acclaimed police procedural set in Baltimore, is coming to streaming (Peacock) for the first time. The show, which ran for seven seasons, is based on a book by David Simon, from before he created The Wire. In an appreciation of the show, we're listening back to interviews with some of the people behind it: Executive producer and writer Tom Fontana, actor Andre Braugher, and actor Clark Johnson.

And film critic Justin Chang reviews Alien: Romulus.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

As democrats prepare for their national convention in Chicago next week, we take stock of a presidential race transformed. New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos tells us about the enthusiasm and energy he's seen on the campaign trail with Vice President Kamala Harris and running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Later TV critic David Bianculli reviews Bad Monkey, the new mystery series starring Vince Vaughan.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Casey Michel shines a light on Americans lobbying for foreign governments in Washington, in many cases representing brutally repressive regimes and countries that oppose U.S. interests. Laws requiring registration of lobbyists and disclosure of their efforts have been little-enforced, and thus ignored by countless agents who've reaped huge profits from their work. Michel's new book is Foreign Agents.

Also, Carolina Miranda reviews a YouTube documentary about the spectacular failure of a Star Wars-themed hotel in Orlando.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Poet and writer Safiya Sinclair grew up in a devout Rastafari family in Jamaica where women were subservient. When she cut her dreadlocks at age 19, she became "a ghost" to her father. Her memoir, How to Say Babylon, is out in paperback.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy