Baratunde Thurston is an American comedian and the digital director of The Onion. He co-founded the black political blog Jack & Jill Politics. He is also a prolific tweeter.
Fresh Air Weekend: Baratunde, Stew, Leonard Cohen
()The comedian and digital director of The Onion talks about his new book How To Be Black. Also, Stew takes us inside his latest album Making It and Ken Tucker reviews a new album by Leonard Cohen.
Recent Interviews
Energy
Clean-Tech Industry Facing Lean Times After Solyndra
February 2, 2012 The once-booming clean-tech industry is facing hard times, in part because of cheaper natural gas, the effects of the financial crisis, China's growing solar industry and the Solyndra bankruptcy. Reporter Juliet Eilperin, who covers the industry's struggles in Wired's February issue, explains.
Television
The Producers Behind NBC's Musical 'Smash'
February 2, 2012 Producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan take us inside the world of Smash, the new NBC musical drama about the people putting together a Broadway musical.
Author Interviews
Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be Black'
February 1, 2012 From the comedian and digital director of The Onion, a satirical self-help book for anyone who has a black friend, wants to be the next black president or speak for the black community.
Music Interviews
Ira Glass Interviews His Cousin, Composer Philip Glass
January 31, 2012 It's no coincidence that composer Philip Glass and This American Life host Ira Glass have the same last name: They're second cousins. On today's Fresh Air, we replay excerpts from an onstage conversation between Ira and Philip in honor of the latter's 75th birthday.
Money & Politics
How SuperPACs Are 'Gaming' The 2012 Campaign
January 31, 2012 Journalist Joe Hagan says the upcoming election will be "the ugliest campaign ever." He details how superPACs have changed the election game, bringing an unprecedented flood of outside money to fund opposition research and negative ads.
Recent Reviews And Commentaries
Music Reviews
Lana Del Rey: The Self-Made Pop Star As Target
February 2, 2012 Rock critic Ken Tucker says questions of identity and authenticity have come to dominate heated discussions of the singer-songwriter's music.
Book Reviews
Fired And Foreclosed: Unemployment Lit
February 2, 2012 Unlike the Great Depression, our current recession hasn't yet produced much memorable literature, but book critic Maureen Corrigan says that situation, like the economy, seems to be changing.
Music Reviews
Leonard Cohen's 'Old Ideas' Inspire Confidence
January 31, 2012 Now in his late 70s, the singer-songwriter has just released a new album, his first collection of new material in eight years, titled Old Ideas. Rock critic Ken Tucker says these Cohen songs work as both pop music and as prayers.
Book Reviews
'An Available Man': Love After Loss
January 30, 2012 Hilma Wolitzer's finely observed comedy of manners follows the romantic misadventures of recently widowed 62-year-old Edward Schuyler as he re-enters the dating pool with a splash.
Television
HBO's 'Luck': A Winning TV Show, Set At The Track
January 27, 2012 HBO's newest series Luck is set in and around the world of horse racing. TV critic David Bianculli says the series, which stars Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte, is loaded with thoroughbred talent.
