Award-winning ProPublica reporter Topher Sanders has spent the last two years investigating America's aging freight train system. He says the Federal Railroad Administration monitors "less than 1% of what's happening on the rails." Sanders talks about the toxic East Palestine, OH derailment, the prevalence of blocked railroad crossings, and why railway safety legislation is yet to be passed. 

Also, rock critic Ken Tucker shares three new songs. 

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

NPR Privacy Policy

The Surprisingly Lax Regulation Of Our Railroads

Fresh Air from WHYY, the Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues, is one of public radio's most popular programs. Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries.

Subscribe to Fresh Air Plus! You'll enjoy bonus episodes and sponsor-free listening - all while you support NPR's mission. Learn more at plus.npr.org/freshair

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Arts

Literature

Performing Arts

Design

Food

Fashion & Beauty

Visual Arts

TV & Film

Books

Wallace is known for his celebrity profiles, but his new memoir, Another Word For Love, is about his own life, growing up unhoused, Black and queer, and getting his start as a writer at the age of 40.

David Bianculli shares an appreciation of John Mulaney's six-part live Netflix talk show, Everybody's in L.A.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Writer Carvell Wallace On Pain, Processing & Letting Go

The Economist Middle East correspondent Gregg Carlstrom explains why some Arab leaders hate Hamas, fear Iran and have some sympathy for Israel — although not for how Israel is waging the war.

For sponsor-free episodes of Fresh Air — and exclusive weekly bonus episodes, too — subscribe to Fresh Air+ via Apple Podcasts or here.


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

NPR Privacy Policy

Regional Complexities Of The Israel/Hamas War

Williams was thrust into the public eye as a kid, when he starred in Everybody Hates Chris. Now, playing a teacher on Abbott Elementary, he strives to make the child actors on set feel comfortable. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about the trauma of fame as a kid, his Crohn's diagnosis, and tuning out online chatter. 

Justin Chang reviews the Japanese film Evil Does Not Exist, by Drive My Car director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

'Abbott Elementary' Actor Tyler James Williams

Kathleen Hanna's band Bikini Kill was the epicenter of the riot grrrl feminist punk movement of the '90s. Their song "Rebel Girl" was the anthem. Now Hanna has a memoir (also called Rebel Girl) about her time in the punk scene, her childhood, and finding joy in expressing anger in public. 

Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews Claire Messud's new novel, This Strange Eventful History. 

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

NPR Privacy Policy

Kathleen Hanna's 'Rebel Girl' Life

WNBA star Brittney Griner talks about the physical and emotional hell of her nearly 300 days in Russian prisons. Russian authorities apprehended Griner at the Moscow Airport when she was found carrying a tiny amount of medically prescribed cannabis — then charged her with drug smuggling. Her memoir is Coming Home. 

Jazz historian Kevin Whitehead reviews a 1959 Sonny Rollins reissue. 

And we'll talk about plant intelligence with climate journalist Zoë Schlanger. Her book is The Light Eaters.

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

NPR Privacy Policy

The Surprisingly Lax Regulation Of Our Railroads

Download our free app to listen on your phone