Worried Allies, Tree Moss, Spirit Animals

Coming up on today’s show:

• How does Donald Trump’s rhetoric and haphazard approach affect foreign allies and adversaries around the world? Takeaway Washington Correspondent Todd Zwillich answers. 

• Nearly two years after the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the debate over the “Ferguson-effect” continues. On Wednesday, FBI Director James Comey said that the “viral video effect” creates an atmosphere of fear among police officers who ware confronting suspects. Baltimore activist DeRay McKesson,and Jeff Asher, a crime analyst based in New Orleans, analyze Comey’s statements. 

• Culture reporter Melissa Locker discusses the season finale of the singing competition show Eurovision, and “Baby Cobra,” a Netflix special from comedian Ali Wong. Newsday film critic Rafer Guzman reviews “Money Monster” and “The Meddler.”

• For years, environmental regulators knew the city of Portland had an air pollution problem. But they didn’t know where it was coming from until researchers with the U.S. Forest Service found a way to use the city’s tree moss to test for air pollution. Cassandra Profita, an environmental reporter for Oregon Public Broadcasting, explains. 

• In the new movie “The Lobster,” single people are obliged to find a romantic partner in 45 days before they’re turned into an animal of their choosing. Yorgos Lanthimos, writer and director of “The Lobster,” and Colin Farrell, an actor who portrays the character of “David,” discuss their new film.