The Book Review - Andy Weir on Writing the Hit Book Behind the Movie ‘Project Hail Mary’

Andy Weir’s first time at the Hollywood rodeo was a singular trip. His debut novel, “The Martian,” went from self-published project to blockbuster, best picture-nominated film starring Matt Damon.

His most recent book, “Project Hail Mary,” was also a sensation, and its adaptation, starring Ryan Gosling as a middle school science teacher tasked with saving humanity from slow extinction, charts warmly familiar territory: a lone man, stuck in space far from Earth, solving science problem after science problem with many a humorous aside.

Weir joined the Book Review’s podcast and spoke to the host, Gilbert Cruz, about the similarities and differences between Mark Watney and Ryland Grace (the main characters of “The Martian” and “Project Hail Mary”), his second novel, “Artemis,” and the alien character that readers have fallen in love with.

We would love to hear your thoughts about this episode, and about the Book Review’s podcast in general. You can send them to thebookreview@nytimes.com.

“The Book Review Podcast” is hosted by Gilbert Cruz and produced by Sarah Diamond and Amy Pearl. The show is edited by Larissa Anderson and mixed by Pedro Rosado.

Special thanks to MJ Franklin, Dahlia Haddad, and Paula Szuchman.

Illustration by The New York Times; Photo: Taylor Glascock for The New York Times

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.


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The Daily Detail - The Daily Detail for 3.20.26

Alabama

  • The bodies of 3 Crew members from Birmingham have returned to US soil
  • Spain authorities have found the body of missing U of A student
  • State senate committee passes bill to protect CHOOSE act student athletes
  • AL House passes bill that closes party primary voting to registered members
  • Macon County jury finds Ibrahim Yawed guilty in murder of Aniah Blanchard

National

  • President Trump says no US boots on ground in Iran, calls on Israel to stop bombing Iranian oil fields
  • Journalist now raising question about AI videos of Israeli Prime Minister
  • Former CIA analyst defends Joe Kent and decision to oppose war with Iran
  • US Senate to work over weekend on SAVE America Act and funding of DHS
  • DOJ issues subpoena to James Comey and 130 other involved in "Russiagate"
  • 3 men with microchip company in CA charged with exporting tech to China

The Ezra Klein Show - Naomi Klein on Trumpism and Our Age of ‘Unlikely Bedfellows’

Naomi Klein saw where our politics was headed before most people on the left. Her 2023 book “Doppelganger: A Trip Into the Mirror World” is hard to describe. But among other things, it traces the new coalitions Klein saw forming on the right, the ways they were co-opting issues long associated with the left, and finding huge audiences and influence outside existing institutions.

The people and coalitions that Klein wrote about run our world now. We are all living in the mirror world. As she put it, it’s “doppelgangers at the wheel.” So I wanted to have Klein on the show to help understand how that happened, what the left failed to see at the time and the lessons the left should take from it now.

As Klein told me: “The thing about doppelgangers is, in literature, they’re always a message telling you a warning: You have to look at yourself. There’s something about yourself that you’re not seeing.”

Note: We recorded this episode before the war in Iran.

Mentioned:

Doppelganger by Naomi Klein

No Logo by Naomi Klein

Minnesota Proved MAGA Wrong” by Adam Serwer

End Times Fascism by Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor

Book Recommendations:

Empire of AI by Karen Hao

Here Where We Live Is Our Country by Molly Crabapple

Fire Alarm by Michael Löwy

Thoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.

You can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of “The Ezra Klein Show” at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.

Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.


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Money Girl - How to Invest When My 401(k) Fails Nondiscrimination?

1005. Is your company "returning" your retirement savings? In this episode, Laura answers a listener question from Jay P., who is frustrated that his contributions keep getting bounced back as taxable income.

If you’re a high earner or a diligent saver, nothing is more frustrating than seeing your hard-earned 401(k) contributions returned to your checking account. But why does the IRS penalize you just because your coworkers aren’t saving enough?

In this episode, Laura breaks down the "Highly Compensated Employee" (HCE) rules and explains exactly why your retirement plan might be failing its annual nondiscrimination tests. More importantly, she shares the specific steps you can take to keep your momentum going even when your workplace plan hits a ceiling.

Laura goes over:

  • The HCE Threshold: The specific 2026 income and ownership limits that trigger these IRS rules.
  • The "Safe Harbor" Solution: How to pitch a plan upgrade to your HR department that eliminates testing forever.
  • Tax Fallout: How to handle the tax liability of returned pre-tax vs. Roth contributions.
  • Pivot Strategies: Three powerful "Plan B" accounts—including HSAs and Roth IRAs—to house your returned cash so it stays invested for the long haul.

Find a transcript here. 

Have a money question? Send an email to money@quickanddirtytips.com or leave a voicemail at (302) 364-0308.

Find Money Girl on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more personal finance tips.

Money Girl is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips.

Links:

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT

 

What A Day - The Uncertain Fate of America’s Dreamers

The Trump Administration’s crackdown on undocumented and documented immigrants hasn’t stopped — even for recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. Since Trump returned to the White House last year, his administration has made life harder and harder for the estimated half a million DACA recipients living in the US. The Trump Administration has said it’s deported nearly 100 DACA recipients — and that’s not including everyone who has been detained. To talk more about what Dreamers are having to endure under Trump, we spoke with Laura Barrón-López. She’s a White House reporter for MSNOW.

And in headlines, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly plans to ask Congress for $200 billion to fund the war with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds a press conference just to prove he’s still kickin’, and rapper Afroman is — legally — serving up Lemon Pound Cake.

Show Notes:

Pod Save America - The Worst Way to Spend $200 Billion

The Pentagon requests an additional $200 billion in funding for Trump's war in Iran. Jon and Dan discuss how Democrats in Congress should respond to the request, the administration's insistence that rising gas prices are nothing to worry about, and the resignation of a high-ranking intelligence official, Joe Kent, over the administration's decision to go to war with Iran. Then, they talk about Tulsi Gabbard's and Markwayne Mullin's explosive hearings on the Hill, AIPAC's impact on Tuesday's Democratic primaries in Illinois, and Trump's latest money-making venture — putting himself on a commemorative gold coin. Then, Juliana Stratton, the new Democratic nominee for Senate in Illinois, talks to Dan about her simple, effective anti-Trump message.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

Pod Save America - The Worst Way to Spend $200 Billion

The Pentagon requests an additional $200 billion in funding for Trump's war in Iran. Jon and Dan discuss how Democrats in Congress should respond to the request, the administration's insistence that rising gas prices are nothing to worry about, and the resignation of a high-ranking intelligence official, Joe Kent, over the administration's decision to go to war with Iran. Then, they talk about Tulsi Gabbard's and Markwayne Mullin's explosive hearings on the Hill, AIPAC's impact on Tuesday's Democratic primaries in Illinois, and Trump's latest money-making venture — putting himself on a commemorative gold coin. Then, Juliana Stratton, the new Democratic nominee for Senate in Illinois, talks to Dan about her simple, effective anti-Trump message.

For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

WSJ Tech News Briefing - How Apple is Making Bank From AI—Without the Help of Siri

Apple is set to surpass $1 billion in artificial intelligence revenue this year, but much of it is derived from other companies’ AI leaps. WSJ tech reporter Rolfe Winkler explains how. Plus, the WSJ’s Jinjoo Lee asks what’s next for electric battery makers as EV demand dips. Katie Deighton hosts.


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