Here & Now

NPR TV critic Eric Deggans discusses the end of an era after "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" aired its final episode. And, NYC's Drama Book Shop shut down prior to the pandemic and was then saved by Lin-Manuel Miranda and his often-collaborator Thomas Kail. NPR's Jeff Lunden reports on the store's long-awaited reopening.

After World War II, veteran Charles Waterhouse made it his mission to honor his fellow Marines by painting their portraits. His daughter Jane Waterhouse joins us to discuss publishing his art in the book "Valor in Action." And, the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Arizona's oldest and largest botanical garden, was saved Monday from the Telegraph Fire after firefighters dropped flame retardant from an air tanker. The arboretum's executive director talks about the rescue.

When gyms closed last year, millions of Americans went online to keep fit during the pandemic. Marc Santa Maria, national director of group fitness for Crunch Fitness, discusses the future of the fitness industry. And, the company behind the Keystone XL pipeline announced it's terminating the project after more than a decade of fighting. Larry Wright Jr, chairman of Nebraska's Ponca Tribe, shares his reaction.

There's excitement — and controversy — surrounding Biogen's new Alzheimer's drug. What are doctors saying? Dr. Jason Karlawish and Dr. Gayatri Devi discuss the drug's promise and peril. And, ProPublica revealed a trove of tax records showing the megarich pay next to nothing in income taxes. Robert McClelland of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center weighs in.

"The Secret History of Home Economics" author Danielle Dreilinger discusses how home economics classes gave women career opportunities in science. And, very few people will be able to catch the annular solar eclipse on June 10. Sky & Telescope senior editor Kelly Beatty explains how to see it and what it'll look like.

In 2012, then-Vice President Joe Biden became the highest-ranking Democrat to support marriage equality. Author Sasha Issenberg explains the evolution of Biden's position on LGBTQ rights. And, when Maryland psychotherapist Kerry Malawista noticed frontline health care workers struggling with the pandemic and deaths, she started a writing program to help them cope. She joins us to discuss.

There's a lot of buzz around a newly developed technology that protects bees from some deadly pesticides. Researcher James Webb joins us. And, abandoned construction sites along the U.S.-Mexico border have left scars in the landscape of several natural areas. Host Peter O'Dowd traveled to the border to see what's going on.

Mandolinist Chris Thile, out with a new solo album, joins us to talk about becoming more reflective as a result of the pandemic. And, for many, it's been tough to shake the grief that COVID-19 has caused. Here & Now listener Jamie Mayer and her daughter remember their dad and grandpa, who died from COVID-19, by singing his favorite song.

New documentary "All Light, Everywhere" examines surveillance, police body cameras and the nature of how we see. Director Theo Anthony joins us. And, "A New View" art project in Camden, New Jersey, hopes to deal with the city's illegal dumping problem while involving the community in public art. WHYY's Elisabeth Perez-Luna reports.

This year marks the 400th birthday of Rebecca Nurse, the oldest woman executed for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. One of Nurse's descendants discusses how the story resonates today. And, Betsy McKay of the Wall Street Journal talks about the evolution of the theory that the coronavirus originated from a lab leak in Wuhan, China.

"Madhouse At The End Of The Earth" tells the harrowing tale of the 19th century polar explorers aboard the Belgica. Author Julian Sancton joins us. And Malala Yousafzai recently graced the cover of British Vogue — but received backlash in Pakistan for her comments on marriage. NPR's Diaa Hadid explains the controversy.

Rev. William Barber has long been calling for a Third Reconstruction, a restructuring of U.S. policies to root out racism, poverty and other ills. Barber explains why he thinks now is the right time to push the vision forward. And, KCUR's Mackenzie Martin looks at how Henry Perry, the so-called "Barbeque King," built an American institution in Kansas City.

A group of over 100 hospital workers in Texas is refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine. They are suing their employer, Houston Methodist, for its compulsory vaccination policy as a violation of medical ethics standards. And, sportscaster and NBA veteran Len Elmore discusses aggressive fan behavior during the NBA playoffs.

"Critical Role" — a show based on the tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons — wraps up its narrative arc Thursday. We revisit a conversation with two cast members about the game's enduring appeal. And, NPR's Aisha Harris and KPCC's John Horn join us to talk about this year's movies and if anyone's going to the theatres these days.

The music of the Jacksons is resurfacing after the re-release of their albums. But how does Michael Jackson's complicated legacy impact the family's music? Writer Jody Rosen joins us. And, strawberry season begins in many parts of the U.S. this month. Resident chef Kathy Gunst has three strawberry recipes to share.

Salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. In Bradenton, Florida, volunteers are working to bolder this coastal habitat. WUSF's Cathy Carter takes us there. And, new data shows the pandemic spurred a migration of tech jobs away from Silicon Valley and into some midsize metros. Bloomberg's Jonathan Levin explains this new trend.

When country singer John Prine was hospitalized last year with COVID-19, Sturgill Simpson felt he'd never see his friend again. Simpson joins us to discuss Prine and other country legends. And, vampire bats could soon arrive in the U.S. from Mexico due to climate change. WUSF's Jessica Meszaros reports.

Tennis player Naomi Osaka said Monday she's withdrawing from the French Open after being fined $15,000 for refusing to speak to the media to protect her mental health. ESPN's Pam Shriver joins us. And, experts predict the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane Season will have an above-normal number of named storms. Jeff Huffman of Florida Public Radio Emergency Network weighs in.

A Washington law firm contacted Andrew Bacevich, asking his family to join a lawsuit against Iran connected to his son who died in the Iraq War. He denied, but wondered: who's responsible for the death of my son? He joins us to discuss. And, Jessica Parkison, co-owner of the restaurant Salt, in Lakewood, Ohio details how her business is faring.

A century ago, the all-Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was attacked by a white mob. We excerpt an NPR Code Switch episode that looks at Greenwood 100 years later. And, as more pandemic restrictions lift, we hear from Here & Now listeners on what they're looking forward to doing as fully vaccinated people.