Salman Rushdie Abandons Fantasy in His New Novel

Coming up on today’s show:

• In the wake of the Trump Administration’s new announcement, many DACA recipients have struggled to comprehend what the future holds, or whether or not they’ll be permitted to live, work, or study freely in the United States. Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia, the director of the Center for Immigrants’ Rights Clinic at Penn State, joins The Takeaway to answer questions from DACA recipients.

• Following North Korea’s sixth nuclear test this past Sunday, North Korea’s ambassador to the U.N. said on Monday that the US will “continue to receive more gift packages.” To understand the latest from North Korea, we turn to one of the only journalist who has gone undercover in the country: Suki Kim, contributing editor for The New Republic.

• As tensions continue to rise between North Korea and the United States, Japan is on high alert. Anna Fifield, Tokyo bureau chief for The Washington Post, discusses the perspective from Japan. 

• Hurricane Irma made landfall in Puerto Rico today. The Category 5 storm is hitting the U.S. territory with 185 mile per hour winds. While residents of the island have experienced major storms in the past, there are concerns about recovering in the hurricane’s aftermath, particularly as Puerto Rico’s economic crisis drags on. Dánica Coto, a reporter and editor for the Associated Press based in San Juan, explains.

• On Wednesday, opening statements will be made in the trial of New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who faces 12 corruption-related counts, including six counts of bribery. It’s the first time in 36 years that a sitting senator is facing a federal bribery trial. Nancy Solomon, managing editor for New Jersey Public Radio and WNYC, has the details. 

• In a new novel out this week, author Salman Rushdie wades into presidential politics in a story that begins on the day of President Barack Obama’s inauguration. He joins The Takeaway to discuss his latest work, “The Golden House,” which tells the story of one immigrant who leaves behind a dark past in India to remake himself in the U.S. 

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.