Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Harper Lee Dies, Political Ad Bloopers, and Parachute Kids
To Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee died today at 89. We remember her life and work with a bookstore owner from her hometown and a biographer.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenTo Kill a Mockingbird author Harper Lee died today at 89. We remember her life and work. Then, a political twofer: First, the dirty political history of South Carolina, followed by a look at the dangers of using stock footage in political ads. Next, our regular Friday film roundup includes a new horror film, a Jesse Owens biopic and more. And finally, inside the glamorous lives of Chinese so-called parachute kids.
In this episode
5 storiesHarper Lee Dies
Author Harper Lee died today in her hometown of Monroeville, Alabama. She was 89 years old. Her famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird , explored racial tensions in the South through the eyes of a young girl – the beloved Scout. Tens of millions of copies have been sold.
Read the story11 minSouth Carolina’s Dirty Political Tricks
South Carolina may have a reputation for its genteel, Southern charm … but when it comes to politics, that’s another story. The Palmetto State is also the home state of legendary GOP operative Lee Atwater. We get a primer on South Carolina’s less-than-polite political history.
Read the story8 minWhen Political Ads Go Wrong
Ads are usually part of any respectable campaign of dirty tricks. But sometimes, the ads play dirty tricks on the candidates. For instance, early this year, Marco Rubio was running an ad with a very America-specific message, but the skyline featured in it is actually in Vancouver, Canada.
Read the story8 minFriday Movie Roundup: ‘The Witch’ and More
We’ve got a pretty intense lineup of movies to talk about this week. We’ve got a horror film about witches in puritan New England, a Jesse Owens biopic and the devastation of indigenous tribes at the hands of Colombian rubber barons in the Amazon. Our critics give their takes in our regular Friday film roundup.
Read the story13 minInside the World of China’s “Golden Generation”
This week in L.A., a Chinese-born teenager named Xinlei Zhang was sentenced to six years in prison for his role in a gang attack. Before his arrest, Zhang attended a boarding school here while his parents stayed behind in China.
Read the story7 min
