Getting Up to Speed on the Russia Investigation

Coming up on today’s show:

• On Thursday, The New York Times reported that President Trump ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller last June. The report is the latest in a series of developments around the Russia investigation that escalated this week, including revelations that President Trump asked the acting FBI director how he voted and the President’s statement that he would speak to Special Counsel Mueller. Ryan Goodman, a professor at NYU School of Law and Tom LoBianco, anational political reporter covering the Trump-Russia investigations for the Associated Press, join The Takeaway to make sense of the Russia investigation as it currently stands. 

• In 2017, President Trump signed 55 executive orders. David Dayen, a contributor to The Nation and The Intercept, joins The Takeaway to discuss what areas Trump focused on the most, which ones had the greatest impact, and how they shaped the first year of the Trump presidency.

• Every Friday,Rafer Guzman, film critic for Newsday and The Takeaway, drops by to review the new releases hitting the box office. Today, Rafer weighs in on “Maze Runner: The Death Cure” and “Den of Thieves.” 

• Jessica Bennett of the New York Times and Koa Beck of Jezebel continue their conversation about art and representation in the #MeToo movement with a look at a historically celebrated photo that belies a story of assault.

• The new novel “Red Clocks,” is set in an America where abortion is once again outlawed and in vitro fertilization has been banned. Leni Zumas, author of “Red Clocks,” joins The Takeaway to discuss her work. 

• PJ Morton, R&B vocalist and keyboardist for Maroon 5, is out with his first solo album, “Gumbo,” for which he landed two Grammy nominations. Ahead of this Sunday’s Grammy Awards, Morton speaks with The Takeaway about his music and how politics is shaping his sound.

This episode is hosted by Todd Zwillich.