Fresh Air with Terry Gross

03/11/2025

In 2019, Justice Clarence Thomas raised the prospect of overturning one of the most consequential free speech decisions ever made. New York Times Co. v. Sullivan is a 1964 landmark case that strengthened First Amendment protections by enabling journalists and writers, from top national outlets to local newspapers and bloggers, to pursue the truth without being afraid of being sued.

In his book Murder the Truth, author David Enrich explores how Justice Thomas' words coincide with a surge in legal threats and litigation against journalists and media outlets.

Listen: https://bit.ly/3R21VnA

03/10/2025

Comic Bill Burr is known for his fiery rants. He spoke with Terry Gross about working on his anger and feeling lighter onstage lately.

Burr is known for his contrarian, fiery stand-up, but lately he's been feeling lighter on stage. His latest Hulu comedy special is Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years.

03/07/2025

The 1970s band The New York Dolls made only two studio albums, but the group was hugely influential, setting the stage for punk rock. We listen back to Terry Gross' 2004 interview with the band's co-founder David Johansen, who died last week. They talked about how the Dolls played with gender in their stage personas. Listen: https://tinyurl.com/3cc6tdva

03/07/2025

Review: Robert Pattinson plays a space traveler who's repeatedly killed and resurrected in the name of scientific research in this otherworldly farce. It's B**g's first movie since his Oscar-winning Parasite.

Robert Pattinson plays a space traveler who's repeatedly killed and resurrected in the name of scientific research in this otherworldly farce. It's B**g's first movie since his Oscar-winning Parasite.

03/06/2025

Years ago, Simu Liu got fired from his accounting job because he skipped work to be an extra in a movie -- and he's never looked back. He talks about his new movie, which was largely shot underwater.

In 2012, three deep-sea divers were on a routine operation in the North Sea when one of them became trapped underwater. Liu had to dive in deep, dark water in order to recreate the harrowing rescue.

03/05/2025

How did DEI become part of a larger political agenda? Georgetown professor Ella Washington and Harvard professor Frank Dobbin discuss the beneficiaries and misperceptions of "Diversity, Equity, Inclusion," and who will be hurt as it's dismantled across public and private sectors.
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/4748bszp

03/04/2025

Known as "Lady Louie," Doreen Ketchens has been a fixture of the French Quarter for nearly four decades. We talk about her classical training and her career as a street performer, and she'll play some music. Listen: https://tinyurl.com/3daxj8ed

03/03/2025

Hanif Kureishi began his new memoir just days after a fall left him paralyzed. In it, he describes being completely dependent on others — and the sense of purpose he's gained from writing.

Kureishi began his new memoir just days after a fall left him paralyzed. In it, he describes being completely dependent on others — and the sense of purpose he's gained from writing.

02/28/2025

Review: When the flood waters rise, a band of animals takes shelter on a boat, where they have to work together to survive. 'Flow' is a radiant fantasy, where solidarity, not selfishness, can save the day. (Streaming on Max)

When the flood waters rise, a band of animals takes shelter on a boat, where they have to work together to survive. Flow is a radiant fantasy, where solidarity, not selfishness, can save the day.

02/27/2025

Natasha Rothwell talks about filming the new season of The White Lotus in Thailand, growing up a military brat, and the cancellation of her series How to Die Alone.

In the new season of The White Lotus, Rothwell reprises her role of spa manager Belinda, a woman "on the precipice of change" as she straddles the line between guest and staffer.

02/26/2025

Today we examine DOGE and Elon Musk’s sudden and sweeping cuts to the U.S. government. Harvard professor of public policy and management Elizabeth Linos discusses how firing thousands of federal employees will have economic impacts around the country. Listen: https://tinyurl.com/yznrn64y

02/26/2025

Review: Formerly enslaved people would placed ads in newspapers hoping to find lost children, parents, spouses and siblings. Historian Judith Giesberg tells the stories of some of those families in a new book.

Formerly enslaved people would placed ads in newspapers hoping to find lost children, parents, spouses and siblings. Historian Judith Giesberg tells the stories of some of those families in a new book.

02/25/2025

We're diving into the real-life 'Succession' drama. Atlantic staff writer McKay Coppins describes the rivalry among the children of 93 year-old media titan Rupert Murdoch over who will control his business empire when he dies. Coppins says the saga at times evoked scenes from the HBO series Succession, which many family members were obsessed with.
Listen: https://tinyurl.com/2s335jj4

02/24/2025

In 'Jesus Wept,' investigative journalist Philip Shenon examines the last seven popes, and how efforts to reform the Church with the Second Vatican Council led to power struggles and doctrinal debates that lasted for decades. He spoke with Dave Davies about the theological clashes, scandal, and the accuracy of the movie 'Conclave.' Listen: https://tinyurl.com/bde6dd8h

02/24/2025

Review: 'Live Fast' won France's top literary prize in 2022. Brigitte Giraud's haunting book revisits the death of her husband in a motorcycle crash 20-odd years earlier.

Live Fast won France's top literary prize in 2022. Brigitte Giraud's haunting book revisits the death of her husband in a motorcycle crash 20-odd years earlier.

02/20/2025

Rich Benjamin's grandfather, a labor leader, was appointed president of Haiti in '57, but was overthrown after 19 days in office. He talks about his family's resilience and the lasting effects of the coup.

Listen: https://tinyurl.com/2yt3v6fd

02/19/2025

The Atlantic writer Anne Applebaum says President Trump's dismantling of the U.S. civil service system, and his attacks on judges and his opponents, are part of a playbook on undermining democracy. Listen: https://tinyurl.com/3w32xujf

02/18/2025

"Measles thrives on being underestimated," Dr. Adam Ratner says. The highly infectious disease was thought to be a "solved problem," until a 2018 outbreak in New York City. "When we start to see measles, it's evidence of the faltering of our public health systems and of fomenting of distrust of vaccines."

Ratner predicts the appointment of Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, will impact vaccine availability and hesitancy: "It is much easier to scare people than to un-scare them," he says.