Here & Now

Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem has been translated into multiple languages. Two translators have quit or been fired after criticism that they did not share Gorman's race or life experiences. A linguist joins us to discuss. Also, the attack in a supermarket in Boulder marks the third Denver-area shooting in the last two decades in which 10 or more people died.

BuzzFeed News reporter Albert Samaha's mother is a staunch supporter of QAnon. He talks about struggling to convince her that the conspiracy theory is a lie. And, Michigan's seven-day average of new COVID-19 cases per day is 122%, one of the highest rates in the country. Debra Furr-Holden, associate dean for public health integration at Michigan State University, joins us.

Ger Vue, a high school guidance counselor in Minnesota, talks about the tools students will need to succeed in the future. And, Paul Kemp started Gun Owners for Responsible Ownership after his brother-in-law was killed by a gunman at a mall in 2012. He joins us to discuss the need for action after mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colorado.

Passover begins this Saturday. Chef Kathy Gunst shares a few Passover dessert recipes with us. Also, one researcher in northeastern Washington state is working to find a way to ensure that cougars avoid people, pets and livestock. His tools? Dogs and podcasts. Northwest Public Broadcasting's Courtney Flatt reports.

In 2012, Mark Barden's son Daniel was killed in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He talks about the frustrations he faces in his advocacy. And, data shows women earn 82% of men's annual earnings on average. Equal pay advocate Lilly Ledbetter and Fatima Goss Graves of the National Women's Law Center discuss how to close the wage gap.

New Dead Sea Scrolls fragments have been unearthed in desert caves in the West Bank. Israel Antiquities Authority's Oren Ableman joins us. And, the shooting at Atlanta-area spas is raising questions about how hate crimes are defined and prosecuted by law enforcement. Law professor Jeannine Bell, who has studied hate crimes for two decades, explains.

Comedian Jo Koy talks about his new memoir "Mixed Plate: Chronicles of an All-American Combo."And, Tinder is investing in the nonprofit Garbo, which will provide users a way to see if people they meet on the app have a history of violent crime. Garbo founder and CEO Kathryn Kosmides joins us.

After last week's shootings in Atlanta, Sung Yeon Choimorrow, executive director of the National Asian Pacific Women's Forum, discusses how stereotypes about Asian women have resulted in a culture of violence. And, data from the AstraZeneca U.S. Phase III vaccine trials found the vaccine is 100% at preventing severe disease and hospitalization. Dr. Angela Rasmussen talks about the data.

Lamik Beauty founder Kim Roxie talks about creating space for Black-owned brands and the pandemic's impact on makeup. Also, the NCAA has not yet acted in response to a number of states that have proposed new laws to restrict athletic activities of transgender girls and women. NPR's Danielle Kurtzleben reports.

Host Tonya Mosley continues her conversation with author Jesse Holland and illustrator John Jennings in this special edition of Here & Now's podcast.

Billy Strings talks about his album "Home," which won Best Bluegrass Album at the 2021 Grammy Awards. Also, Houston police chief Art Acevedo has been chosen to head up the Miami Police Department. He became a national figure when he marched with protestors after the police killing of George Floyd. He joins us.

There's something of a digital gold rush going on right now in the brave new world of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. "Endless Thread" host Ben Brock Johnson explains. And, Carl Hiaasen retired as a columnist for the Miami Herald. He began with the paper as a reporter in 1976 and has been writing a column since 1985.

Editor Amy Solomon and contributor Ayo Edibiri discuss "Notes from the Bathroom Line: Humor, Art, and Low-Grade Panic from 150 of the Funniest Women in Comedy." Also, there's growing interest in high-end collectibles of all sorts during the pandemic, causing auction prices to skyrocket. Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions, explains why.

Tererai Trent grew up in poverty in rural Zimbabwe where she dreamed of getting an education. Today she's one of the world's most recognized voices for quality education and rural empowerment. And, experts advised parents to relax about screen time during the past year. But is it time to scale back all that screen time? Dr. Jenny Radesky joins us.

Right-wing extremist groups operate in ways that echo groups like ISIS. NPR's Dina Temple-Raston explores how a sense of purpose inspired an 18 year old to breach the Capitol. Also, this week marks a decade since the beginning of the Syrian civil war. CNN's Arwa Damon joins us to discuss her reporting of the conflict.

Air travel is starting to pick up again, but is it safe to travel? President of Uniglobe Travel Designers Elizabeth Blount McCormick answers listeners' questions about taking a vacation. And, this year's Grammys featured history-making achievements and thought-provoking performances. Jenna Wortham of The New York Times Magazine and Ivie Ani of AMAKA Studio join us to discuss.

Mexico is close to legalizing recreational marijuana and having one of the biggest cannabis markets in the world. Ryan Berg of the American Enterprise Institute explains what that will look like. And, in the early 1900s, Henry Perry changed the barbecue scene in Kansas City. KCUR's Mackenzie Martin shares the story of how this Black entrepreneur created an American institution.

One mother's 8-year-old son had to wait for over a month to be transferred to a psychiatric hospital where he could get the care he needs. She talks about how having to board in a hospital damages young mental health patients. And, a total of 65 journalists were killed worldwide in 2020, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

KPCC entertainment reporter John Horn talks about the Oscar nominations, which were announced Monday morning. And CBS's Jill Schlesinger shares tips on filing your 2020 tax return.

The Department of Defense is looking into a Trump administration order to move the U.S. Space Command from Colorado to Alabama. As Dan Boyce of CPR reports, critics say the order to move was politically motivated. And, because of the pandemic, education experts are worried that achievement gaps are widening, especially for English language learners. CapRadio's Pauline Bartolone reports.

Jacob Collier's latest album, "Djesse Vol. 3," has earned him three Grammy nominations. He joins us to explain the album, his creative process and more. And, a new study finds that in comparing cities that saw Black Lives Matter protests from 2014 to 2019 to those that didn't, police killings decreased. Travis Campbell, the study's author, talks about his findings.

Netflix knows many of its 200 million subscribers share their login information with others. The company plans to crack down on that practice with various verification tactics. Also, starting Monday, Texas prisoners will be able to see their loved ones in person again with some restrictions. Kirsten Ricketts, who hasn't seen her husband since March 13, 2020, joins us.

After years of being told to keep quiet about her relationship, country singer Brooke Eden is being honest about her partner. She explains how country music is shifting. And, spring rains wash rock salt used to melt snow into rivers and streams, which can destroy freshwater ecosystems. WBUR's Jesse Remedios reports on why this problem has no simple fix.

Lawmakers in Kentucky voted to advance a bill that would make it a crime to taunt a police officer. Sen. Danny Carroll, a retired police officer and the bill's lead sponsor, joins us. And, jurors in Iowa have found reporter Andrea Sahouri not guilty of failing to disperse and interfering with official acts while covering a protest last year.

People with Down syndrome are prone to serious illness or even death if they get COVID-19. WBUR's Callum Borchers shares one man's story. Also, the U.S. Army is planning to give their helicopters a significant reboot. A new initiative encouraged companies to prototype rotorcraft with better range and speed. As Ari Daniel of IEEE Spectrum reports.

The new "Through The Cracks" podcast revisits the disappearance of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd from a Washington, D.C., homeless shelter seven years ago. Host Jonquilyn Hill joins us. And, new research says the latest "super-Earth" discovery could help us better understand our own world. Trifon Trifonov led the research team.

Chef Kathy Gunst suggests using lemon to brighten up your late winter/early spring meals. She shares recipes for sole with lemon, lemon pudding and a lemon pound cake. And, the nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill includes funds for debt relief and support for farmers of color. John Boyd Jr., a fourth-generation farmer in Virginia, explains its significance.

Professor Cornell William Brooks' class at Harvard University set out to provide a working roadmap to transform policing. Brooks and a student join us to discuss their project. Also, LGBTQ communities and transgender people are being targeted in statehouses across the country. Reporter Kate Sosin breaks it down for us.

Derek Thompson of The Atlantic explains what's behind some people's concerns about getting one of the COVID-19 vaccines and how to reduce that hesitancy. Also, we talk to author Jesse Holland and illustrator John Jennings about their new projects. Jennings is the director of Megascope, a line of graphic novels, and Holland is editor of "Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda."

"The X-Files" star David Duchovny talks about his new novel "Truly Like Lightning," which had its origins in an episode that Duchovny wrote for the show. NPR's Chris Benderev spent two years getting to know survivors of the Capital Gazette shooting. And he tells their stories in a new podcast from NPR's Embedded team.

Science fiction writer Octavia Butler created expansive and imaginary new worlds in her work despite living a life constrained by poverty. Author Lynell George reflects on Butler's creative process. And, "The Real World" pioneered reality TV and featured raw conversations about issues of the day. NPR TV critic Eric Deggans discusses the season one cast reunion.

Many therapists are turning away patients because they're booked up. We talk to a licensed professional counselor and a school counselor about the challenges. Also, Gov. Cuomo is facing mounting criticism over accusations of sexual harassment. Jill Filipovich, who covers women's rights, politics and the law, discusses how the #MeToo movement is shaping the response.

In 2014, Los Angeles Times journalist Sandy Banks wrote a column praising the decision to condemn a 19-year-old accused of shooting into a crowd with a 40-year prison sentence. Looking back, she regrets her article. And, NBC's Ben Collins discusses what's going on with extremist groups nearly two months after the Capitol insurrection.

Puerto Rico Gov. Pedro Pierluisi joins us to discuss why he's in Washington, D.C., this week trying to boost the island's latest push for statehood. Also, wildlife photographer Will Burrard-Lucas published a new book on the photographic expedition he made to Kenya in 2019 to take pictures of the elusive African black leopard.

We speak with Kelly Marie Tran, who voices Raya in the new Disney animated film "Raya and the Last Dragon." Also, the LA Unified School District in California is taking matters into its own hands by launching a vaccination program this week to get all its teachers and staff inoculated to open schools by mid-April. The LAUSD superintendent joins us.

Dr. Ruth Karron answers listener questions about getting the COVID-19 vaccine if you're pregnant, eligibility requirements and much more. And, experts in cult deprogramming are turning their skills to those who have fallen down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. NPR's Tovia Smith reports on the efforts to combat the disinformation that's gripping Americans.

Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that it will no longer publish six books because of their racist and insensitive imagery. Author Juanita Giles discusses diversifying children's literature. Also, University of Arkansas students Anna Cook and Elizabeth Kimbrell are in different political parties but they're best friends. They talk about what kind of politics they envision for the future.

Jared Leto talks about "The Little Things." Leto plays an appliance delivery man who becomes the prime suspect in a series of murders in 1990's California. And, data from the Cost of War Project shows the U.S. conducted counterterrorism operations in more than 80 countries between 2018 and 2020. The co-director of the Cost of War Project joins us.

Cultural critic Nelson George discusses how themes from Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" still reflect some challenges and divisions we face as a society. Also, after the winter storm in Texas, the true number of those who died is still being counted. Attorney Larry Taylor, representing the families of Gilbert Rivera and Doyle Austin in wrongful death lawsuits, joins us.

Magic: The Gathering is exploring Black life through a new set of cards called Black Is Magic. Lead designer Sydney Adams joins us. And, in New Hampshire, scientists are remotely recording the sounds of the forest to track how warmer weather is affecting the behavior of migratory birds during the pandemic. Annie Ropeik of New Hampshire Public Radio reports.

Anti-Asian violence remains on the rise across the country. Jess Owyoung talks about her group Compassion in Oakland, which is combatting anti-Asian violence in the city's Chinatown with volunteer patrols. And the deadly winter storm in Texas left Francoise Wilson, 70, with busted water pipes. Wilson shares her perspective on the recovery from the storm.

A curated editorial project by EDGE acknowledges the significant contribution Black fashion makers and influencers made to fashion's history. Publishing editor Rhonda Hill talks about the inspiration behind the project. Also, the Golden Globes and the organization that operates them have been under increased scrutiny after a Los Angeles Times investigation alleged corruption, self-dealing and conflicts of interest.

Resident chef Kathy Gunst joins us to share her favorite recipes using chuck roast, lamb shanks and pork belly. Also, Dr. Leana Wen, professor of public health at George Washington University and emergency room physician, discusses Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness and the timeline for FDA approval.

Following the U.K.'s split with the EU, British musicians have to get a visa for every country they want to play in. British saxophonist Binker Golding explains how the new costs and red tape will affect him and other performers. And, Frank McWorter became the first Black person to legally plan a community in America. McWorter's great-grandson joins us.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont discusses his plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines strictly based on age. Also, crops in Texas were badly damaged by last week's freeze. Texas International Produce Association's president says initial estimates show 80% to 95% of the state's leafy greens are now gone.

It took 70 days, 3 hours, and 48 minutes for Jasmine Harrison to row across the Atlantic Ocean — a 3,000-mile journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Harrison, the youngest woman ever to row solo across an ocean, joins us. And, KUOW reporter Deborah Wang talks about the problems her mother ran into signing up for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Thousands of U.S. veterans came home from Operation Desert Storm with health problems that are now referred to as Gulf War illness. And, two Texas pastors who referred to Kamala Harris as a "Jezebel" are facing backlash for using a word that has become shorthand for a wicked woman. Author Tamura Lomax explains the dangers of using the term.

Author Elizabeth Miki Brina looks at family, identity and the difficult relationship between the Japanese city and the U.S. in her new memoir "Speak, Okinawa: A Memoir." And, Facebook has ended its standoff with Australia after a fight over proposed legislation that would force social media companies to pay news organizations to host their content. Recode's Sara Morrison joins us.

Los Angeles has opened vaccination sites in neighborhoods that have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic. Nurse practitioner Shannon Fernando talks about street medicine, where staff are often forced to travel to find patients experiencing homelessness. And, Ewart "U-Roy" Beckford died last week at 78. We remember the Jamaican deejay who elevated the art of toasting to an international phenomenon with Billboard's Patricia Meschino.

Swimmer Dara Torres won 12 Olympic medals over 25-years, but underneath her success she struggled with an eating disorder early in her career. Torres discusses a new documentary that tells her story. And, nearly 500,000 people have died from COVID-19 in the U-S — more than in any other country. Dr. Peter Hotez talks about the death toll.