Generation, Gap
Harry Kreisler interviews Elizabeth Warren,March 2010
The financial watchdog on the trouble the American middle class is in, who’s responsible for it, and what needs to be done to get out of it.
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Sweet Nothings
Chris Lombardi interviews David Mixner, February 2010The civil rights champion on his battle to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” why the February 2nd Congressional hearings were a bust, and how the policy fosters sexual harassment of women soldiers.
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Exile on Any Street
Irina Reyn and Aleksandar Hemon in conversation, February 2010Are American readers insular, as the secretary of the Swedish Academy famously quipped? If so, why has immigrant fiction taken such a pivotal role in American letters? Novelist Irina Reyn hashes it out with lauded Bosnian author Aleksandar Hemon.
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On the Emancipation of Women
Katherine Dykstra interviews Sheryl WuDunn, January 2010Just as the 1800s were ripe for the abolition of the slave trade, this century will bring forces to bear on the freeing of women from violence, from slavery, from oppression, argues Sheryl WuDunn, co-author of Half the Sky.
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Worse than Cannibals
Harry Kreisler interviews Daniel Ellsberg, January 2010America’s most famous whistleblower on his willingness to go to jail, the pervasiveness of presidential lying, and why war is prolonged.
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Taking Care of Wall Street
Jake Whitney interviews Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, December 2009The Ohio Congresswoman (and the House’s longest-serving woman) on the vested interests in our broken system, how the bailout made things worse, and if she traded earmarks for donations.
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The Meth Whisperer
Kyle McAuley interviews Nick Reding, December 2009Nick Reding on his book Methland, why newspapers got the meth crisis wrong, and how the “middle of America” will pull itself out of a twenty-five year bust.
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Chomsky Half Full
Joel Whitney interviews Noam Chomsky, November 2009The controversial critic of U.S. foreign policy discusses his forthcoming book, the hypocrisy of neoliberalism, where he feels hopeful about democracy despite U.S. terrorism, and his friendship—okay, passing acquaintance—with Hugo Chavez and other “pink tide” presidents.
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I Don’t Want To Fight
A conversation with Amitava Kumar and V.V. Ganeshananthan, November 2009Guest fiction editors Amitava Kumar and V.V. Ganeshananthan discuss South Asian diaspora literature, war, and conflict—and their fiction selections for Guernica.
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Healthcare on the Moon
Jake Whitney interviews Stan Brock, October 2009If Stan Brock, creator of Remote Area Medical, can deliver health care to the furthest corners of the developing world (and large swaths of the U.S.) why can't Congress?
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Wise Latina
Joel Whitney interviews Lila Downs, October 2009Genre- and language-blending Mexican-American singer Lila Downs may never be hip in the U.S. But her songs might be the most eloquent response yet to the likes of Joe “You Lie” Wilson.
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Coming to Amreeka
Michael Archer interviews Cherien Dabis, September 2009Filmmaker Cherien Dabis on her feel-good (sort of) movie, Palestinians in the Windy City, and how personal experiences can trump political arguments.
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Shoot for the Legs
Jane Ratcliffe interviews Robert Thurman, September 2009Robert Thurman, the West’s first Tibetan Buddhist monk, on his friend the Dalai Lama, the nuance of forceful resistance, and how Hitler could have been defeated without violence.
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Art and Arms
Melodie Edwards interviews Sara Houghteling, September 2009On the 70th anniversary of the start of WWII, Sara Houghteling discusses the oral histories of Jewish survivors, the Nazi looting of art, and Pictures at an Exhibition.
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Last Temptation
Jake Whitney interviews Wendell Potter, August 2009Wendell Potter, the former mouthpiece for insurance giant Cigna, divulges his role in misleading the public, the emotional day that led to his whistle-blowing, and what should really scare you.
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Nerdsmith
Adriana Lopez interviews Junot Diaz, July 2009Before he disappears from the spotlight once more, Junot Diaz sets the record straight on immigration, identity, family, and the brief and wondrous origins of his novel’s title character.
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In My Place
Joel Whitney interviews Fatima Bhutto, July 2009Fatima Bhutto, Pakistan’s dynasty-bashing heir apparent, discusses how Obama and corruption legitimize the Taliban, her work to include women in Pakistani politics, and why she will never run for office (it’s not why you think).
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On the Beauty of Violence
Mateo Hoke interviews Katherine Dunn , June 2009On the twentieth anniversary of Geek Love, author Katherine Dunn discusses her new book, the cultural value of boxing, and why some sports are superior to the arts.
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Going Too Far
Jake Whitney interviews Michela Wrong , June 2009Longtime Africa correspondent Michela Wrong discusses the Kenyan whistleblower who risked his life to end corruption, why she rejects Dambisa Moyo’s thesis about aid and democracy, and how she learned to love Paul Wolfowitz.
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A Lousy Deal
Michael Archer interviews Wuer Kaixi, June 2009On the twentieth anniversary of Tiananmen Square, Wuer Kaixi, the student leader made famous for scolding the premier in his hospital gown, discusses life in exile, guilt over the students’ deaths, and how his movement was a mere first step toward greater political freedom in China.
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The Genocide Myth
Joel Whitney interviews Mahmood Mamdani , May 2009In his latest book, Mahmood Mamdani attacks the Save Darfur Coalition as ahistorical and dishonest, and argues that the conflict in Darfur is more about land, power, and the environment than it is directly about race.
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Standing Before History
Ken Wiwa, Jr., and Richard North Patterson in conversation, May 2009On May 27, Royal Dutch Shell goes to court over the 1995 execution of Nigerian writer and eco-activist Ken Saro-Wiwa. His son, Ken Wiwa, Jr., and bestselling novelist Richard North Patterson discuss Saro-Wiwa’s legacy, and the upcoming landmark trial.
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Finding the Comfortable Spots
Craig Morgan Teicher interviews Jesse Ball, May 2009Author Jesse Ball on the ideal reader, Abraham Lincoln as a shaman, how poetry and fiction go together, and the greatness of a mongoose.
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We Need to Win
Michael Archer interviews Severn Suzuki, April 2009Environmental child prodigy Severn Suzuki on how the economy can benefit from green initiatives, why Canada and the U.S. must help lead the way, and the role for tribal peoples in conservation.
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Our Reality Has Not Been Magical
Wes Enzinna interviews Horacio Castellanos Moya, April 2009With a newly-elected leftist government in El Salvador, exiled Salvadoran novelist Horacio Castellanos Moya is optimistic about the future of a country that once responded to his novels with death threats.
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Aiding is Abetting
Jake Whitney interviews Dambisa Moyo, April 2009African author and economist Dambisa Moyo on ending western aid to Africa, what Bono and Geldof don’t get, and the stifling of African independence and entrepreneurship.
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Farmers and Chickens
Joel Whitney interviews Luis Moreno Ocampo, March 2009ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo on the Court’s first arrest warrant for a sitting head of state, why his Court is nobody’s instrument but the law’s, and how he got his mother to see the light.
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Tikkun Olam, Repairing the World
A conversation with Irshad Manji and Edgar M. Bronfman , February 2009Edgar M. Bronfman and Irshad Manji challenge Judaism and Islam to embrace doubt, democracy, and openness.
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The Limits to My Self-Importance
Joel Whitney interviews David Frum, January 2009Neo-con David Frum, who coined ‘axis of evil,’ on how writing for the president is like writing for the movies, the administration’s ‘departures from the law,’ and why the president should have brought in Democrats.
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I’m a Liberal, But...
Joel Whitney interviews Bernard-Henri Lévy , November 2008Celebrity polemicist Bernard-Henri Levy on the resurgence of anti-Semitism, an Arab brand of fascism, and how the election of Obama could reconstitute the grand alliance of Jews and African Americans.
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Christ Über Alles
Nancy Rawlinson interviews Jeff Sharlet, November 2008The religion reporter talks about his experiences with "the Family," the secret Christ-loving, Hitler-quoting powerbrokers of the modern world.
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Baghdad Nights
Joel Whitney interviews John Agnew, November 2008What can a California geographer possibly teach us about the American troop surge and ethnic cleansing in Iraq?
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How Soft is Smart
Joel Whitney interviews Joseph Nye, October 2008Author Joseph Nye on the definition of soft power, why it's imperative to getting what a country wants, and which presidential candidate is better equipped to use it.
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No Exit
Brendan Cooney interviews Steven Freeman, September 2008Election watchdog Steve Freeman dissects why U.S. voting machines have less oversight than Las Vegas slot machines, and claims that Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire primary victory was rigged. Not to mention the last two presidential elections.
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Cracked, Not Shattered
Katherine Dykstra interviews Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, August 2008Congresswoman & author Carolyn Maloney on the impact of Hillary's candidacy and the utter shortsightedness of voting for McCain, the next big goal for women, and the importance of supportive fathers.
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Roll Deep
Suzanne Menghraj interviews Luc Sante, August 2008Kill All Your Darlings and Low Life author Luc Sante on the majesty of rhythm, the primacy of surprise, and his cluelessness toward plot.
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Crisis Darfur
A conversation with Mia Farrow and Bernard-Henri Lévy, moderated by Dinaw Mengestu, August 2008Part 3: A conversation between actor/activist Mia Farrow and French intellectual Bernard-Henri Lévy on the Darfur genocide, boycotting the Olympics, and what to do after the Games; moderated by Dinaw Mengestu.
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Crisis Darfur
A conversation with Mia Farrow and Bernard-Henri Lévy, moderated by Dinaw Mengestu, July 2008(Part 2) Actor/activist Mia Farrow on the continued slaughter, China's role, and what we can do to help the people of Darfur
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Crisis Darfur
A conversation with Mia Farrow and Bernard-Henri Lévy, moderated by Dinaw Mengestu, June 2008(Part 1) French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy on how 3 great ideas of the political left have backfired on the people of Darfur
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Healthscare
Jake Whitney interviews Peter Rost, June 2008Former Pfizer veep-turned-whistleblower, Peter Rost, on how the pharmaceutical industry is like the mob, the sad state of U.S. healthcare, and his fruitless attempts at finding work.
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Patriot Missile
Joseph DiPalo interviews Henry Rollins, May 2008Punk rock icon Henry Rollins on debating the soldiers in Iraq, Sean Hannity's lack of courage, and the incalculable influence of rapper Chuck D
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Houses at Night
Erica Wright interviews John Ashbery, February 2008Rock star poet John Ashbery on pop art, manifestos, and feeling like a foreigner in America.
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Man with a Country
Amy DePaul interviews Seyed Mohammad Marandi, February 2008Iran's USA scholar, Seyed Mohammad Marandi, says it's not just American politics that demonize Iran, it's the culture, including books and films.
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Breaking into the Spell
Alexander Chee interviews Ursula K. Le Guin, February 2008Ursula K. Le Guin on war, the problem with literary realism and learning to write as a woman
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The Consequences
Anna Ross interviews Robert Hass, January 2008The recent National Book Award winner on how poets and poetry can best engage the world.
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Inequality is the Drug
Tara Bray Smith interviews John Bowe, December 2007It would surprise most people to know that slave labor is just as prevalent in America as anywhere else in the world. Here John Bowe, the author of Nobodies, sheds light on America’s dirty secret and why it still exists.
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Thrilling Difficulty
Gibson Fay-LeBlanc interviews Robert Pinsky, November 2007The poet who refuses to call himself a poet on his hatred of dumbing it down and the musician he might have been.
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Graffiti or Vermeer?
Joseph DiPalo interviews Aesop Rock, September 2007Aesop Rock on hip-hop, the intelligentsia, and being a mad scientist
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Intensity of a Plot
Mark Binelli interviews Don DeLillo, July 2007The author of the proto-9/11 novel deconstructs terrorism, fiction, and his inability to carry a tune.
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Powerful Acts
Joel Whitney interviews Mia Farrow , July 2007Actress Mia Farrow on her campaign to end genocide in Darfur, and how China, Steven Spielberg and Kofi Annan have stood in her way
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First Victims of Freedom
Amy DePaul interviews Iraqi feminist Yanar Mohammed, May 2007Iraqi feminist Yanar Mohammed says the U.S. war and its aftermath have completely disenfranchised women.
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Incoherence of Power
An interview with Ali Allawi, April 2007In his new book, Ali Allawi argues that the signs of disaster were all there, but the Bush administration chose not to look
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America's Century of Regime Change
An interview with Stephen Kinzer, March 2007Author Stephen Kinzer shows Iraq was not the first time, just the first time we all watched it happen
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Infidel
An interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali, February 2007Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Islam's toughest critic, discusses her new book, the Axis of Evil, and the neoconservatives' moral high ground
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Different Ways of Laughing
Gibson Fay-LeBlanc interviews Coleman Barks, February 2007An interview with translator Coleman Barks on the 800th anniversary of Sufi mystic poet Rumi's birth
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Unintelligent Design
Josh Jones interviews Sze Tsung Leong, January 2007Sze Tsung Leong, photographer, painter, and author, discusses the cost of hyper-rapid urban renewal in the midst of China's economic boom.
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Writing Without Borders
Chris GoGwilt interviews Ha Jin, January 2007Author Ha Jin discusses his decision to be a writer, the relationship between individual and nation, and his work as an opera librettist in the recent Zhang Yimou production of The Last Emperor at the Metropolitan Opera.
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This Mere Guy
Gibson Fay-LeBlanc interviews Dan Chiasson, October 2006Dan Chiasson on his apprenticeship to Bidart, developing an effective "camouflage" and where the self lives in poetry.
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Window
Dylan Fareed interviews Reiner Leist, September 2006Photographer Reiner Leist on working in series, the personal roots of his project, "Window," and September 11th.
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Giant Killer
Norman Solomon interviews Jonathan Tasini, August 2006The anti-Hillary candidate on the deaf media, war opportunism and building a progressive infrastructure.
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Dig the Hole
An interview with George Saunders, August 2006George Saunders on science fiction, collaborating with Ben Stiller, and how Ayn Rand almost made him an architect.
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Share the Wealth, or Share the Poverty
Josh Jones interviews William Powers, July 2006Author/activist William Powers on the politics of natural gas in Bolivia
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A Brisk Walk
An interview with Billy Collins, June 2006The former poet laureate on attacking pretension, daring to be accessible, and i-poetry.
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Who is John Conyers?
An interview with the congressman audacious enough to do his job, May 2006An interview with the congressman audacious enough to do his job
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Warming to Reality
Elyssa East interviews Elizabeth Kolbert, May 2006The author/journalist on climate change in a culture of denial
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Seeing Things Straight
Gibson Fay-Leblanc interviews Joan Didion, April 2006Joan Didion on giving up control, getting at the roots of grief and how she became a playwright
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Built Green
Rachel Postman interviews “green” designer Neil Chambers , April 2006Is post-September 11th New York on the verge of becoming the world’s greenest city?
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The Crossing Over
Andrew Varnon interviews Ted Kooser, April 2006The U.S. poet laureate on the aesthetic of the simple poem
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Gods of History
An interview with Eric Reeves, on failure in Darfur, March 2006They’re looking down upon us after Rwanda, saying, “You know, we’re going to give you another chance. This time we’re gonna give you lots of time.”
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Fooled Again—Who Won in ’04 and Why It Matters Now
An interview with Mark Crispin Miller, February 2006“Americans aren’t so stupid, after all, as to re-elect this guy.”
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Spinning Us to Death
An interview with Norman Solomon, January 2006The columnist and author on the current war with Iraq and the next one with...
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Mask of the Critic
Peter Schjeldahl with Jonathan Santlofer, January 2006The critic and the artist on Christo, political art, and the toggle between looking and reading
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The Devil's Advocate
Joel Whitney interviews John Yoo, December 2005The former deputy assistant attorney general on his new book, the Geneva Conventions and the legal case for torture
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This Girl Is Taking Bets
Taya Mueller interviews Thea Gilmore, November 2005The British singer on the folk tradition, American politics, and the social responsibility of the artist.
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Yes
An interview with director Sally Potter, October 2005The innovative writer/director discusses her latest film, venturing into uncharted territory, and how A.O. Scott got her movie wrong.
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Telling Details
An interview with Russell Banks, an American novelist, September 2005Banks discusses his time in Students for a Democratic Society, finding a narrator's voice, and his (brief) acting career.
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Accumulation of Heartbreak
An interview with Yaroslav Trofimov, author of Faith At War, on covering Islam, August 2005What the Muslim gaze westward has seen during the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
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“The Legit Heir to the Throne”
Taya Mueller interviews Oscar Hernández of the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, August 2005The pianist and arranger talks about winning a Grammy, being an indy favorite and the state of salsa today.
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Indict Him Already
An interview with Donna Newman, counsel for alleged "dirty bomber" and American torture victim Jose Padilla, August 2005Newman discusses Padilla's case, his state of mind and why the Bush administration's position sets an ugly precedent.
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The Distance Between Us
Joel Whitney interviews Jonathan Safran Foer, August 2005The author of Everything is Illuminated, on the verge of a film release and an opera debut, talks about his new book.
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The Crisis of Our Times
Nicholas Kristof's prism into Darfur, June 2005"What I learned from him was that you could perhaps better tell the story of a place by writing of a tiny village as a sort of prism into the bigger issues the culture was facing."
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Writing the Playwright
Tony Kushner in conversation with Frederic Tuten, June 2005"In a sense, I feel like the job of the artist at all times is essentially the same, which is simply to tell the truth. I mean, I’m nervous about any prescriptions for what a writer should or shouldn’t do."
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A Witness to Genocide
An interview with Samantha Power, May 2005"The only long-term way that the terrorist threat will be neutralized is to improve human dignity, and shore up failed states like Afghanistan, like Darfur, so that they don’t become a breeding ground for more people hostile to the United States."
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Oscar Arias Sánchez
Joel Whitney interviews Costa Rica’s Nobel laureate & tireless peace-maker, May 2005As he gears up for another term as president, Costa Rica’s Oscar Arias talks about waging peace, winning the Nobel, and quips, “Al Qaeda has received a great deal of support and training over the years from the U.S. What’s important about mentioning these connections is to prevent the same mistake from being repeated again.”
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The Fragile Scaffolding of Human Rights
An interview with William Schulz, of Amnesty International USA, January 2005"Terrorists act as they do because they don't have great power at their easy disposal. The result is that they rely upon the ability to exploit the mistakes of others."
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On Translating the Prince of Wits
An interview with Edith Grossman, January 2005"Yes, I think we have to be faithful to the context. But it's very important to differentiate between fidelity and literalness."
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The Hard-To-Say
Joel Whitney interviews Stephen Dunn, October 2004"Poetry articulates and enacts the difficult-to-say, the half-known; it finds a music and a shape, offers an arrangement of words and sentences that better approximate the way things are."
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A People’s History of Howard Zinn
Joel Whitney interviews Howard Zinn, October 2004"Historians hate to make predictions."