Here & Now Anytime

"The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny," Kiran Desai's 2025 novel, is a sprawling, multi-generational family saga that plays out across four continents in the late 1990s. Desai talks about her epic second novel and the power of solitude. 

Then, "The Muppets Show" is turning 50. We speak with Bonnie Erickson, the creator of the Miss Piggy puppet, and Dave Goelz, the only human who has played Gonzo.

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A U.S.-provided Starlink satellite has been a critical tool in Ukraine’s war against Russia. But, Ukrainian drone operator Dmytro Veselov says disruption in that system has caused an "irreversible" breach of Ukraine’s trust in the U.S.

Then, the latest analysis by the Cook Political Report finds more and more House races shifting toward Democrats. Erin Covey, editor with the Cook Political Report, breaks down the potential for Democrats to win control of the House.

And, in the aftermath of a high-profile sexual assault case at Cornell University, the school suspended all fraternity parties through the end of the school year. Nicholas L. Syrett from University of Wisconsin-Madison weighs in on whether fraternities can be reformed.

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The Department of Government Efficiency lasted just a few months in 2025, but its impact will last for years. That's not because it made the government more efficient — it failed to meaningfully reduce federal spending — but because it hollowed out several government agencies and demonized federal workers. A new book tells the story of DOGE through the eyes of career civil servants who fought back. It’s called “Blockers: Rebels in the Deep State,” by Michael Lewis. He speaks to host Scott Tong.

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Midterm elections are three weeks away, and recent polls show more excitement from Democratic voters than Republicans. The Boston Globe’s James Pindell weighs in on if that matters, what Republicans want from elections and where big donors like Elon Musk are putting their money.

Then, in India, Gen Z protesters are fighting for free and fair elections after more than 130 million people were removed from the country’s voter roll. New Delhi-based reporter Suhasini Raj of the New York Times explains what protesters are demanding and the violent crackdown from the state.

And, Grammy-winning singer and musician Laufey is using her platform to encourage fans to go to their local library and sign up for library cards. She talks about the importance of libraries as a third space and how reading has inspired her songwriting. 

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Cheyenne author Tommy Orange found out that one of his favorite Indigenous writers wasn't actually Indigenous. Then, he interviewed him. Orange shares what he learned and the long history of "pretendians," non-Indigenous people claiming to be Indigenous.  

Then, Brian Frange, who calls apples the "greatest fruit to grace the earth," has made it his calling to rank and re-rank at least 100 varieties of the fruit, based on 10 criteria, including density, skin, flesh, crispness, beauty and, of course, taste. Frange joins us to talk about his rankings, the unlikely origins of the apple, and the fact that planting the seeds from any variety of apple will produce a new species, making grafting the only way to produce known apple types.

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