Lawrence Wright, who is known for best selling books about Al Qaeda and Scientology, has a new novel about the colorful world of Texas politics. In Mr. Texas, a naive rancher lucks into a seat in the state legislature, where he meets lobbyists, influence peddlers, conspiracy mongers and power brokers. Wright spoke with Dave Davies about their home state.

Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Blackouts by Justin Torres.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Iranian American filmmaker Maryam Keshavarz was banned from returning to Iran after the release of her first feature, Circumstance, about Iran's youth underground culture, and two young women who fall in love. That film and her new one, The Persian Version, won the Audience Award at Sundance. She spoke with Terry Gross about her family and sneaking American pop music into Iran as a kid.


Ken Tucker will review a new Joni Mitchell box set of rare recordings from the early '70s.

Also, we'll hear from electronic music producer and DJ Jennifer Lee, better known as TOKiMONSTA. In 2016 she was diagnosed with a rare brain disease that required two surgeries — leaving her without the ability to hear sound or speak. She spoke with Tonya Mosley about her recovery and relearning the language of music.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Patrick Stewart is best known for starring as Jean-Luc Picard in two Star Trek series, 30 years apart. In his new memoir, Making It So, he shares details of his life growing up in working class in England. At 15, he left school and went on to become a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He spoke with Sam Briger in 2020 about those early years.

Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews the new film Anatomy of a Fall, which won the top prize at Cannes. And Ken Tucker reviews Volume 3 of the Joni Mitchell archive series from 1972-1975.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Baron joined The Washington Post in 2013 – just months before the paper was acquired by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. He led coverage of major news events including Donald Trump's election and presidency, the document leak describing the NSA's surveillance operations, and the murder of George Floyd. His new book is Collision of Power.

Also, John Powers reviews two books by Helen Garner.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

We'll talk with terrorism expert Daniel Byman about the deadly foundations of the war between Israel and Hamas, and where the war may lead. Byman has written extensively about the Middle East. His books include A High Price: The Triumphs and Failures of Israeli Counterterrorism. He's a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a professor at Georgetown University.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

The Key & Peele and Schmigadoon! star explains why he loves sketch comedy — watching it, performing it and writing about it. His book, with writing partner Elle Key, is The History of Sketch Comedy.

David Bianculli reviews Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl short stories, now on Netflix.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Loosely based on Maryam Keshavarz's own life, The Persian Version centers on an Iranian American woman who identifies as bisexual and whose mother entered into an arranged marriage as a teen. Both this film and her 2011 movie Circumstance won the Audience Award at Sundance.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Musician Allison Russell talks and sings about the physical and sexual abuse she endured from her racist adoptive father — and about how she learned she was worthy of being loved. Her new album is The Returner.

David Bianculli reviews Wes Anderson's adaptations of Roald Dahl short stories, now on Netflix.

Also, Cat Bohannon talks about her new book Eve, which explores the development of the female body-- from its ability to produce milk to why women menstruate — and why women's bodies for so long have been left out of biological and medical research.


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

NPR Privacy Policy

Holes spent more than 20 years investigating crimes in California and played a critical role in identifying the so-called Golden State Killer. His memoir Unmasked is out in paperback.

Also, John Powers reviews The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Huge swaths of the country are pivoting from fossil fuels, toward wind, solar and other renewables. New York Times climate reporter Brad Plumer discusses this progress and the roadblocks that lie ahead.

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

NPR Privacy Policy