Think from KERA

Courtroom judgments are supposed to be made without consideration of race, sex, class or ethnicity – if you can get a good lawyer. As Think broadcasts from the studios of KUT in Austin, journalist Neena Satija joins host Krys Boyd to discuss how Texas’ approach to public defense is failing low-income citizens, which she writes about for Texas Monthly.

There’s an expectation that a protective order filed in a courtroom will bring some relief to a victim of domestic violence — that is unless the abusive ex uses a courtroom to terrorize. Journalist Jessica Klein joins guest host Courtney Collins to talk about the little known trauma of “paper abuse,” which she writes about in The Atlantic.

Pedestrian deaths are on the rise. Population spikes, growth in truck and SUV sales, people distracted by their phones — these are all reasons cited for the jump. But what about racism? Tamika L. Butler, director of planning for California and the director of equity and inclusion for Toole Design, joins host Krys Boyd to talk about an overlooked — and deadly — problem in urban design and why it’s time to start paying attention.

“Where do we go when we die?” That might be a subject best left to the philosophers. But what about other burning questions like, “What happens to astronauts if they die in space?” or “Do fingernails grow after I’m dead?” Mortician Caitlin Doughty joins host Krys Boyd to tackle the interesting and icky questions posed by children about a still-taboo subject, which she writes about in “Will the Cat Eat My Eyeballs? Big Questions from Tiny Mortals about Death.”

When wealthy parents were caught bribing their children’s way into exclusive schools, it highlighted a broken admissions system. Journalist Paul Tough joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the hurdles low-income students face to attend college — many that the affluent don’t even see — and the admissions departments scrambling to balance class makeup with university budgets. His new book is called “The Years That Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us.

In 1985, the world met Offred, the protagonist of “The Handmaid’s Tale,” a dystopian world in which fertile women are forced surrogates to the religious ruling regime in Gilead. Now the characters return in a much-anticipated sequel. Novelist Margaret Atwood joins host Krys Boyd to talk about “The Testaments,” which she says was partially inspired by current world events.

“Trekkies” are known the world over (though they’d snap back that it’s “Trekkers”). For lovers of “Star Trek,” “Harry Potter” and the like, fandom isn’t just about admiration – try bemoaning a song by Taylor Swift or Nicki Minaj if you want swift justice from their supporters. Michael Schulman joins host Krys Boyd to talk about the rise of superfans and the power they command, which he writes about in The New Yorker.

We celebrate when a disadvantaged student makes it into a top college. But what happens when the welcome mat is rolled up and classes begin? Anthony Jack was once one of those students. The Harvard education professor joins host Krys Boyd to talk about students who are book smart but don’t have the social skills or class knowledge to succeed on campus. His recent essay on the subject appears in The New York Times magazine.

Questions remain about the drone strikes that took out half of Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil facility. The Houthis in Syria have claimed responsibility, but the Trump administration is pointing the finger at Iran. Jim Krane, Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute, joins host Krys Boyd for a primer on why tensions are escalating quickly in the Middle East,  what it means for worldwide energy supply and if it could lead to a U.S.-backed war.

How did a man known for the TV catch phrase “You’re fired” get hired to the highest office in the land? James Poniewozik, chief television critic for The New York Times, joins host Krys Boyd to argue that Donald Trump represents the melding of politics and pop culture – and television’s ultimate takeover. Poniewozik’s new book is called “Audience of One: Donald Trump, Television, and the Fracturing of America.”