Terry Gross

In light of the current dilemma over the fate of Haitian refugees, we examine the U.S.'s current immigration policy.
First we talk with Representative Lamar Smith, vice chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration.

Then Terry talks with Frank Sharry, the executive director of the National Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Forum, a group that works for the rights of new immigrants.

Village Voice art critic Peter Schjeldahl ("shell-dahl"). He's just published a new collection of his writings from the late 70s to 1990. The collection's called "The Hydrogen Jukebox." It's published by the University of California Press.

Journalist Ted Conover. His new book is "Whiteout: Lost in Aspen" about the two years he spent immersed in the culture of Aspen, Colorado, a mecca of sorts for the rich and famous. Conover's other books are "Rolling Nowhere," about riding the rails with America's hoboes, and "Coyotes," about illegal aliens, which was named a notable book of the year by "The New York Times." (His new book is published by Random House).

Writer Edward "Hacksaw" Jones -- so named for his many prison escapes. He was the only criminal put on the FBI's most-wanted list without a history of physical violence. When he was still in prison he began writing. He's written two novels, "Cage," and "Awake," as well as an autobiography, "Hacksaw." He's got a new novel, "Stoneface." (published by Donald I. Fine, Inc., New York).

Washington editor of "The Atlantic," James Fallows. He's also a commentator for NPR's Morning Edition. And he's writing a book about the future of East Asia. He lived in Japan for years and frequently writes about relations between America and Japan, and the cultural differences involved. He'll talk with Terry about how the Japanese view the upcoming anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Marine artist Richard Ellis. He's been studying and painting whales for the past two decades. His new book "Men and Whales," is the history of the relationship between the two, beginning with the hunting of whales. It's just been recent in history that whaling has been outlawed in most areas of the world. (published Alfred A. Knopf).

Cartoonist and writer Lynda Barry. Barry's comic strip about her childhood, "Ernie Pook's Comeek," is popular in many alternative newsweeklies around the country. She's also written a show based on the comic, called "The Good Times Are Killing Me." It's playing now Off-Broadway. (This interview was recorded this summer before a live audience in Seattle, when Terry visited station KPLU).

Film critic for the Wall Street Journal, Julie Salamon. She's just written a new book about the making of the film, "The Bonfire of the Vanities." The book is "The Devil's Candy: The Bonfire of the Vanities Goes to Hollywood," (published by Houghton Mifflin). The movie, based on the Tom Wolfe novel of the same name, was directed by Brian DePalma and was eagerly anticipated but turned out to be a critical and financial bomb. Salamon followed the entire film making process from casting to editing.

Cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld. He was the cinematographer for the Coen Brothers' "Blood Simple," "Raising Arizona," "Miller's Crossing," and for "Misery." He's just made his directing debut with the new film, "The Addams Family."

Cartoonist John Callahan. Callahan comes up with comics that are both funny and often offensive (a typical example: an obese man stands with his obese son in front of the refrigerator, saying "Son, someday all of this will be yours."). Callahan often pokes fun at alcoholics and the disabled, something he's qualified to do. Callahan was a alcoholic for many years, and he was left a quadriplegic after a drunk driving accident.