Terry Gross

Journalist ANNIE LOWREY is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where she covers economic policy. Her new book is The Time Tax: How the Government Wastes Our Time, and How to Fix It. She argues that the red tape in American life isn't an accident. It's a policy choice, one that determines who gets food assistance, health care, even the ability to vote. Her previous book is Give People Money about universal basic income. (INTERVIEW BY TONYA MOSLEY) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Rock critic KEN TUCKER reviews two new albums by the Womack Sisters and Margaret Glaspy.

(2.) Actor RHEA SEEHORN<RAY Seehorn>. The former co-star of “Better Call Saul” is nominated for an Emmy for her starring role in “Pluribus,” the Apple TV series created by Vince Gilligan. Terry Gross spoke with RHEA SEEHORN last year about the “Pluribus”. “Pluribus” is nominated for eighteen Emmys, including one for SEEHORN as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The Emmys are scheduled for September 14th. (THIS INTERVIEW ORIGINALLY AIRED 12.09.2025)

(1.) Actor, writer, and producer RIZ AHMED. He’s nominated for an Emmy for his starring role in the Prime Video series “Bait” in which he plays a British Pakistani actor auditioning to be the next James Bond. AHMED is also a writer and creator of the series.

Jazz critic MARTIN JOHNSON reviews the new album by Cecil McLorin Salvant, “With Every Breath I Take.”

We remember DOLLY PARTON, singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. PARTON died yesterday in Nashville, Tennessee. She was 80 years old. Dolly Parton made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry in 1959 when she was just 13. Since then, she wrote thousands of songs, including "Coat of Many Colors," "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," which was later a hit for Whitney Houston. PARTON was one of the few performers who was successful enough to start her own theme park.

Veteran national security correspondent JOBY WARRICK, whose new book profiles a terrorist of the 1970’s and 80’s who became so famous for his brazen attacks and playboy lifestyle that once, when he was releasing hostages from a hijacked airplane, several asked him for his autograph. His new book is The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World’s First Super Terrorist. Warrick, whose last book Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS earned a Pulitzer Prize, believes there are lessons to learn from the life and crimes of his new subject, a notorious figure from the early days of modern terrorism.

John Powers reviews the Paramount+ Series Diarra from Detroit

(1.) LISA KUDROW. She's up for two Emmys for the final season of The Comeback, for lead actress in a comedy and for writing, the HBO series she co-created and stars in as Valerie Cherish, an actress who keeps trying to get her career back. It's her third acting nomination for the role, across three seasons and twenty-one years. Kudrow won an Emmy in 1998 for playing Phoebe on Friends. (INTERVIEW BY TONYA MOSLEY) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Adventure writer PETER HELLER, who wrote The Dog Stars, a story about two men who become unlikely compatriots when a pandemic wipes out much of the country's population. It’s been adapted into a new film starring Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin. His other novels include The Whale Warriors, Hell or High Water, The River, Celine, The Painter, and his latest, The Orchard. (INTERVIEW BY DAVE DAVIES). (THIS INTERVIEW IS A REBROADCAST. IT ORIGINALLY AIRED ON AUGUST 13, 2012.)