Fresh Air

Glaude's book, 'America, U.S.A.,' looks at the country through the lens of its previous anniversaries and centennials. Today, as in the past, he tells Tonya Mosley, "the divided soul of the nation is in full view." As the 250th anniversary approaches, he says it's time for the U.S. to acknowledge the ways it has failed to deliver on its founding principles. "America has to grow up. It can no longer hide in its adolescence," he says.
Also, Maureen Corrigan recommends three books to help you jump into summer reading.

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Fifteen years after ‘The Book of Mormon’ made its Broadway
debut, original cast members Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad once again took the
stage as Mormon missionaries — this time at the 2026 Tony Awards. The musical
is a satirical — sometimes affectionate, sometimes offensive — look at
Mormonism and youthful naïveté. Rannells and Gad spoke with Terry Gross about
their first impressions of the show, how their voices have changed, and how the songs in 'The Book of Mormon' are a tribute to musical theater.

Also, Clarke Peters played Det. Lester Freamon in ‘The
Wire’ and now plays a retiree in the supernatural thriller ‘The Boroughs.’ He
spoke to Terry Gross about both series, and about his continued work as an
actor. “I picked this profession so that I would have longevity, so that I
could still be acting at 100, if it comes to it,” he says. 

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In the new film 'Pressure,' Scott plays an Army
meteorologist advising military officials on the date for the D-Day invasion.
He spoke to Terry Gross in 2024 about playing a killer conman in ‘Ripley’ and
the “hot priest” in ‘Fleabag.' Plus, we listen back to Terry Gross’ 2003 interview
with French-Iranian artist and writer Marjane Satrapi, who died June 4. Satrapi's
groundbreaking graphic novel ‘Persepolis’ introduced readers to life
in Iran during the Islamic revolution and the Iran/Iraq war. And Justin Chang
reviews ‘Disclosure Day.' 

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Johnson says he’s not shy about sharing his insecurities on
stage. "One of the most connected attributes of the human condition
... is just being flawed," he tells Terry Grosss. "We really
connect with people on their faults." Johnson’s new comedy special
is Symphony.

 

Also,
Martin Johnson reviews ELEPHANT, a new album by jazz trumpeter Adam
O'Farrill.

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O'Connor stars as a cybersecurity expert who decides the
world deserves to know the truth about alien life in the Steven Spielberg film Disclosure
Day. He speaks with Tonya Mosley about preparing in secret to star in the
summer Blockbuster, why he initially had no interest in playing Prince Charles
in The Crown, and why he gets sick after completing almost every role.

David Bianculli reviews new documentaries about Martin Short and Lorne
Michaels.

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