MAX BOOT, military historian and author, writes the story of Edward Lansdale —a brilliant, but controversial CIA operative whose ideas have influenced American foreign policy for nearly a decade. In his new book, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam, Boot delved into over 30 archives across three continents and viewed classified documents, personal letters previously unavailable to historians. In this hour, Marty talks with Boot about his new book, Lansdale’s involvement in Vietnam and President Donald Trump’s presidency and foreign policy.

Guest: Philip Bump, Elif Shafak

ELIF SHAFAK is an award-winning Turkish novelist who writes about women’s and minority rights. In her new book, Three Daughters of Eve, Peri, a married, wealthy, beautiful Turkish woman, is on her way to a dinner party when a beggar snatches her purse. As she wrestles to get it back, a photo falls on the ground—an old Polaroid of three young women and their professor. This photo represents memories of a dark secret she wants to forget. In this hour, Marty talks with Shafak about her new novel and identity, feminism, faith in Turkey. But first, we’ll talk about the President’s State of the Union Address with Washington Post national correspondent, PHILIP BUMP.

Guests: Erick Guerra, Andrew Hawkins

The self-driving cab will soon be a reality. GM announced that its autonomous taxi–Cruise AV–will be on roads in 2019. It’s the latest news from the burgeoning self-driving vehicle industry. This hour, we’ll find out how close we are to a driverless future and how autonomous vehicles will change where and how we live. We’ll also learn about the latest car trends, flashy 2018 models, and if electric cars are catching on. Marty’s guests are University of Pennsylvania urban planning professor ERICK GUERRA, and The Verges’ senior transportation reporter, ANDREW HAWKINS.

Guest: Jacqueline Woodson

We listen to Marty’s conversation with writer JACQUELINE WOODSON, taped in front of a live audience at the Free Library’s Logan Branch in North Philadelphia. Her books were selected as the 2018 selection of the Free Library’s One Book, One Philadelphia event to promote literacy, the most recent of which is a novel called Another Brooklyn. It’s set in the 1970s and is about young women confronting their impending adulthood.  Marty talked with Woodson about the book, writing, and her life, which she wrote about in her “free verse” memoir, Brown Girl Dreaming.

Guests: Megan Devine, Julia Cooper

All of us will experience the death of a loved one in our lives, yet many of us are emotionally ill-equipped to cope with the grief that follows. Psychotherapist Megan Devine experienced this first hand. Although she had counseled dozens of people through loss in her therapy practice, she was completely unprepared when her husband died suddenly. In this hour, we explore how people grieve and why our culture avoids talking about it.  We’ll also look at ways to console people, what to say and what not to say, and how to celebrate the life of a departed loved one. Marty’s guests are MEGAN DEVINE, psychotherapist and author of It’s OK That You’re Not OK, and JULIA COOPER, author of The Last Word: Reviving the Dying Art of Eulogy.

Guests: Dave Davies, Michael Li, Brian Gordon

Pennsylvania has three weeks to draw new congressional districts following their ruling Monday that the current map “clearly, plainly and palpably” violated the state constitution. Today on the show, we’re going to discuss and dissect the court’s decision, and how the state can better apportion districts to reflect the will of the voters. We’ll be joined by BRIAN GORDON, attorney with Concerned Citizens for Democracy and by MICHAEL LI, Senior Counsel for the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program. But first, we’ll hear about the sexual harassment accusations against US Congressman Pat Meehan of Pennsylvania. WHYY’s DAVE DAVIES has been following the story and will give us the latest.

Guest: Michael Walzer

Most of the discussions taking place among American leftists concern domestic issues, such as healthcare and minimum-wage policy. But what is their approach to foreign policy? This question struck a nerve with political theorist MICHAEL WALZER as the debate about America’s proper role in the Syrian civil war was taking place. His new book A Foreign Policy for the Left, details his observations about international relations and the challenges the left faces dealing with crises and hot spots around the world.  He joins Marty to discuss his book, and how the left can better define their foreign policy ideals.

Guest: Nadine Burke Harris

Dr. NADINE BURKE HARRIS is known for delivering high quality healthcare to vulnerable families in a low-income part of San Francisco. After opening a community clinic in the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood, Harris noticed that her pediatric patients who had experienced trauma, such as physical abuse or having an incarcerated, also had poor health outcomes. In this hour, Marty talks to Harris about her new book, The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity, which explains the link between childhood trauma, disease in adulthood, and early death.

Guests: Eugene DePasquale, Charlie Dent

Today we’re joins by Pennsylvania Auditor General, EUGENE DePASQUALE. He’s been explicit about some of the changes he’d like to see in the state, including legalizing marijuana in order to increase revenue, expanding the power of his office in order to give him greater authority to audit state agencies, as well as ending the practice of tax-payer funded sexual harassment settlements in the state government. He joins Marty to talk about the Pennsylvania’s fiscal situation, how to generate and save revenue, and other issues facing the Commonwealth. Then, we’ll hear from Rep. CHARLIE DENT to get his thoughts on the government shutdown.

Guest: Sherman Alexie

SHERMAN ALEXIE’s relationship with his mother was complicated. Lillian showed love in unconventional ways. She was abusive, had a drinking problem, and was incapable of showing him and his siblings affection. In search of a better life, Sherman leaves, but returns home for Lillian’s funeral. In this hour, Marty speaks with Alexie, author of You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me, about his memoir that is made up of poems and chapters on growing up on an Indian reservation, family drama and brain surgery. [from the Radio Times archive]