On his HBO series 'Last Week Tonight,' host John Oliver dives into often obscure stories, like NRA TV and the laws that govern televangelism. Oliver talks about how the show comes together, and his experience as an immigrant in America. Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews 'A Wrinkle in Time.' Sarah McBride became the first trans person to speak at a major party's convention when she spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention. Now she's the spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign. Her new memoir is 'Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality.'
Hamid's novel, 'Exit West,' is about knowing when it's time to flee your country, and what happens when you migrate to a nation that's hostile to immigrants. Hamid was born in Lahore, Pakistan, but has lived in New York and London. He talks about feeling like an outsider, and the power of language. He spoke with Terry Gross last year. Also, jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new CD-set recording of Charles Mingus, and film critic Justin Chang reviews 'A Wrinkle in Time.'
Crimmins, who died last week, mentored Bobcat Goldthwait when they were up-and-coming comics in the '80s. The two men spoke with Terry Gross in 2015 about their documentary 'Call Me Lucky,' which details Crimmins' career, traumatic childhood and subsequent work advocating for survivors of sexual abuse. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews the second season of 'Jessica Jones' on Netflix.
On 'Last Week Tonight,' Oliver dives into often obscure stories, like NRA TV and the laws that govern televangelism. He describes the show's style as "the slowest improv you've ever seen."
'New Yorker' staff writer Jane Mayer tells the story of ex-spy Christopher Steele, the man behind the unverified dossier detailing Trump's ties with Russia. We'll talk about how the dossier was compiled, and why so little was done about its findings during the campaign — even after Steele told the FBI. Steele also wrote a memo after the election about the possibility that Russians blocked Trump's first choice for Secretary of State, Mitt Romney.
Luis Alberto Urrea's 'The House of Broken Angels' borrows from the story of his older brother, who died of cancer. He says the book went through a dramatic rewrite after Trump became president.