Midday

Today on the Midday News Wrap, WYPR Morning Edition news anchor Nathan Sterner sits in for Tom Hall as we examine some of the week's top news developments. First, a look at the continuing migrant crisis along the U.S. southern border, and the impending nationwide ICE raids on migrants with deportation orders. Nathan talks with Seattle-based immigration attorney Minda Thorward -- whose private firm provides legal services to migrant families in the Northwest -- about the roots of the current immigration disaster. Then, we’re joined by AP White House correspondent Darlene Superville, who describes the Trump Administration’s controversial citizen-count efforts, its aggressive immigration strategies, and how it’s dealing with now-resigned Labor Secretary Alex Acosta's legal ties with the wealthy financier and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.And later, we talk with Michael Fletcher, a writer with ESPN’s Undefeated, about the US Women’s Soccer Team’s high-profile quest for pay equity, on the heels of their remarkable 4th World Cup victory.

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It's the July edition of Midday at the Movies, our monthly look at notable new films and trends in filmmaking. Today, we’re talking about the new crop of summer movies, and some of the exciting new animation technologies in films like Toy Story 4 and the Disney remake of Lion King (set for release on July 19). Our favorite movie mavens -- Maryland Film Festival founding director Jed Dietz and Ann Hornaday, the film critic for the Washington Post -- join Midday senior producer and guest host Rob Sivak to discuss some of their favorite summer flicks, and we’ll ask YOU to tell us which films are brightening up your summer…Among the films we discuss today are Toy Story 4, Lion King, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Yesterday, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Booksmart, Midsommar, Pavarotti, and Walking on Water.AVAM's 2019 season of Flicks from the Hill kicks off tonight (July 11) with a free 9pm outdoor screening of The Sound of Music, preceded by a Sing-A-Long and Costume Parade. You can enjoy all-you-can drink and eats from local restaurants with ticket purchases. All proceeds benefit the American Visionary Art Museum. Flicks from the Hill continues through August 22. Follow the link above for more information.

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It's Thursday, and time for our weekly visit with theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck, who joins Midday senior producer and guest host Rob Sivak today with her review of Roald Dahl's Matilda: the Musical, now on stage in an extended run at Olney Theatre Center, in Olney, Maryland.An adaptation of one of the late British author's most popular children's stories, Matilda: The Musical was written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. The production at Olney Theatre Center is directed by Peter Flynn, with choreography by Byron Easley and music direction by Christopher Youstra. The cast of more than 30 adult and child actors features Emiko Dunn in the title role, Felicia Curry as Miss Honey, and Tom Story as Miss Trunchbull. Roald Dahl's Matilda: The Musical continues at the Olney Theatre Center through Sunday, July 28.

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On today’s show, we're talking about Baltimore’s local film industry. From thoughtful documentaries to gritty indie darlings, films made in and about Baltimore have been riding a wave of critical acclaim. Local filmmakers Clarke Lyons, John Benam and Madeline Becker are Fellows of the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund, a film incubator at Johns Hopkins University. They join guest host and Midday Producer Kathleen Cahill in studio.

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It's another edition of Midday Culture Connections, with Dr. Sheri Parks. Today we’re asking the question: what is courage? From sacred texts to screenplays to the daily news, our culture is filled with references to courage as an element of character that makes a person worthy of respect. We see courage in the physical bravery of soldiers and first responders. But courage is also the moral strength to do what’s right, when doing so can be hard, or dangerous.Today, we’ll look for examples of courage in the Central American migrants now suffering at the southern US border…in political leaders who’ve put principle above party…and in victims who’ve found the strength to forgive great wrongs.And we’ll ask: what does courage mean to you?Midday’s senior producer Rob Sivak, sitting in for Tom Hall, is joined today, as we are each month on this series, by Dr. Sheri Parks, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and author of Fierce Angels: Living with a Legacy from the Sacred Dark Feminine to the Strong Black Woman. Also with us in the studio is Dr. Ana Patricia Rodriguez. She is an associate professor of U.S-Latino and Central American Literature at the University of Maryland College Park. Dr. Rodriguez left El Salvador as a child when her family emigrated to the United States. She has been closely involved with the immigrant community through her volunteer work as a Spanish interpreter for asylum-seeking migrants, and her work with the children of undocumented immigrant families here in Maryland.This conversation was livestreamed on WYPR’s Facebook page, and you can watch the video here.The audio clip of Eva Kor in today's program was taken from a longer 2015 Google Talk conversation with Eva Kor and Ted Green, director of the documentary ----Eva,---- and moderated by Mike Abrams.

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After the crew of Apollo 11 made history on July 20th, 1969, more American teams followed and then, three years later, just as suddenly as the momentum had built, it stalled out. We haven’t set foot on the moon since. But it looks like it won’t be long now until we make a return. Guest host Aaron Henkin discusses human ventures to the moon -- and beyond -- with authors Oliver Morton and Christian Davenport.

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(Originally aired on May 21, 2019)In this archive edition of Midday, Tom speaks with James Cabezas, the former chief investigator for the Office of the State Prosecutor here in Maryland and, before that, a Baltimore City cop. His new memoir is called Eyes of Justice: A Career Crime Fighter Battles Corruption… and Blindness.Joining Tom and James in the studio is Joan Jacobson, the co-author of the book. She was a reporter for The Baltimore Sun and The Evening Sun for 28 years. They talked about the book on May 21st at the Maryland State Library for the Blind in Baltimore, on Park Avenue, directly behind the Enoch Pratt Central Library. James Cabezas and Joan Jacobson will be speaking again about Eyes of Justice on Monday, July 15th, from 6-7pm in the Meeting Room at the Hamilton Branch Library, located at 5910 Harford Road, Baltimore 21214. For more information about the event, click here.

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(Originally aired on May 21, 2019)Today, in this archive edition of Midday, Tom's guest is John Urschel, whose resum\u233\u includes great skill and high achievement in two areas that are not often, in fact, hardly ever, associated: football and mathematics. He is a former offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens who retired from the NFL at the age of 26 to pursue a career in math. The book is called Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football. He co-wrote it with his wife, Louisa Thomas. They spoke about the book at the Ivy Bookshop in Baltimore back on May 21st, 2019. This conversation was streamed live on WYPR's Facebook page. You can watch the video here.

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(Originally aired on May 15, 2019)In this archive edition of Midday, Tom's guest for the hour is William Davies, a political economist and author who argues in his new book, Nervous States: Democracy and the Decline of Reason, that a decline of trust in scientific expertise has led individuals and governments to rely less on facts and increasingly on feelings -- especially feelings of fear and anxiety. The result, the author says, is that we've entered an age of “nervous states,” both in our individual bodies and our body politic. Davies is a Reader in Political Economy at Goldsmiths, University of London, where he also co-directs the Political Economy Research Centre, which explores significant cultural and political perspectives on economic life. He is the author of many books, and is a contributor to many publications, including The Atlantic and The New York Times.

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It’s What Ya Got Cookin?: Another in our occasional series featuring some of Baltimore’s best chefs and foodies, who take time away from their steamy kitchens to share with Midday listeners all manner of cooking tips. With July 4th looming, we’re zeroing in on that most American category of summer holiday cooking: the backyard barbeque. What should you grill? And how, exactly should you grill it? Whether you’re a seasoned backyard cook or a newbie to the summer outdoor cooking scene, we’ve got your back. Our guests are John Shields a chef, an author and the proprietor, along with John Gilligan, of Gertrude’s Restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art and Damian Mosley, chef and proprietor of Blacksauce Kitchen, a catering and mobile food business specializing in biscuits and barbeque. We livestreamed this conversation on the WYPR Facebook page. To watch the video, click here.Recipes follow: Mediterranean-Style Grilled Blue CrabsIn the seafood caf\u233\us of Greece during the summer months, one finds grilled crabs smaller than Chesapeake blues. John Shields says, ----My Greek-Chesapeake cooking expert Maria, tried a similar, pardon the expression, “execution,” on the blue crab of the Chesapeake with outstanding results. This is a great idea for a Greek themed cookout that could include a hearty feta cheese and Kalamata olive salad, loaves of crusty bread and chilled bottles of retsina.---- Serves 3 – 4 12 large male blue crabs (#1 jimmies) 1 \u189\u cup olive oiljuice of 3 lemonsLight a fire in a charcoal grill. In a steamer pot, or a large heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid, pour water to a depth of 2 – 3 inches. Put a raised rack in the pot that is tall enough to clear the water. Bring to a good strong boil.Place the live crabs on the rack, cover, and steam over moderately high heat until about half cooked.Remove the crabs and allow to cool until you can handle them. With a sharp chef’s knife, cut the body down the middle lengthwise, right through the shell, resulting in 2 halves with legs. Pull off the top shell and discard. Clean out the gills and the “devil.”In a small bowl mix together the olive oil and the lemon juice. Pour off 1/3 of that mixture to use for basting. Brush the crabs with the basting mixture and place on the hot charcoal grill. Cook, turning frequently, until the shells are bright red and the meat has turned form opaque to white.Serve with the reserved olive oil and lemon mixture for dipping the meat.Barbecued OystersJohn Shields adds, ----Barbecuing oysters may seem an odd way to cook Chesapeake oysters, but take my word: It is an absolutely delicious method and well worth the effort.There is no barbecuing involved. Rather, a tangy barbecue sauce is spooned over the shucked oysters and topped with a piece of hickory-smoked bacon.---- Serves 4 to 624 oysters1 \u189\u to 2 cups Jimmy’s Barbecue Sauce (recipe follows)24 pieces (2 inches square) baconRock saltPreheat the oven to 450\u176\uF. Shuck the oysters, keeping the oyster meat in the deep part of the shell. Place about 1 tablespoon of the barbecue sauce on each oyster. Top with a bacon piece. Make a layer of rock salt on a heatproof tray and arrange the oysters on it. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes, or until the oysters begin to curl at the edges and the bacon begins to brown slightly. Serve at once.Jimmy’s Barbecue Sauce (Makes about 2\u189\u cups)1\u189\u cups ketchup\u189\u cup cider vinegar2 tablespoons brown sugar2 tablespoons dry mustard2 tablespoons grated onion1 tablespoon minced garlic1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce2 tablespoons prepared horseradish2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice1 teaspoon salt3 tablespoons butterMix all the ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Let stand for at least 1 hour to let the flavors mingle.

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