Fresh Air

Though Alex had been the guitarist in the family, when they formed Van Halen, it quickly became clear who would play: "[Ed] made that instrument sing." Alex's new memoir is Brothers.

So many of the network's new prime-time series are like cafeteria casseroles: aggressively and intentionally bland. But late-night shows continue to offer spice in the form of biting humor.

Journalist Eliza Griswold says complaints about homophobia, white privilege and diversity are splintering progressive organizations — including one particular church. Her book is Circle of Hope.

Ken Tucker reviews Robert Hilburn's biography of Newman, A Few Words in Defense of Our Country. Plus, we listen back to a 1998 archival interview with the Grammy Award-winning artist.

When the pope dies, backbiting, infighting and ruthless smear campaigning taint the effort to find his successor. Ralph Fiennes stars in a film perfectly timed for this nail-biting election season.

Kaphar draws on his own painful relationship with his father in his film, Exhibiting Forgiveness. He says the project gave him "a sympathy for my father that I never had as a young man."

Nick Harkaway grew up hearing his dad read drafts of his George Smiley novels. He picks up le Carré's beloved spymaster character in the new novel, Karla's Choice.

In Charles Baxter's new novel, a small-town insurance salesman buys a blood test that can predict romantic entanglements, promotions — and more. It's a screwball satire of all-American zaniness.

New Yorker writer Susan Glasser says Trump is highly transactional, so billionaires may be betting on access and a seat at the table if he’s re-elected. It’s what some of them got in his first term.

Everett never felt like she fit in her hometown of Manhattan, Kan. After moving to New York City and developing a cabaret show, she returned to Kansas for her HBO show Somebody Somewhere.

The animated film Piece By Piece traces Pharrell’s early life in Virginia Beach to music superstardom. Elvis’ granddaughter says it was her "duty" to finish Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir.

Anora is easily one of Sean Baker’s funniest works — and also one of the saddest. The film won the Palme d'Or at Cannes, and the director says it's dedicated to sex workers "past, present and future."