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Culture

Encore: The lasting legacy of Bob Ross

This week marks the 40th anniversary of The Joy of Painting. We revisit a story about a wildly popular Bob Ross solo exhibition in Virginia. The late PBS painter's popularity continues to soar.

Encore: The lasting legacy of Bob Ross

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The Missouri House tightens its dress code for women, to the dismay of Democrats

The Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., pictured in Sept. 2022. The Republican-controlled House began its new session by strengthening its dress code for women. Jeff Roberson/AP hide caption

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Jeff Roberson/AP

National

The Missouri House tightens its dress code for women, to the dismay of Democrats

As lawmakers met to debate House rules, one proposed requiring women to wear jackets. They ultimately passed a modified amendment (permitting cardigans), but not without vocal pushback from Democrats.

Curls and courage with Michaela Angela Davis and Rep. Cori Bush
Mike Harrington/Getty Images; Hulu; Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images; Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images

It's Been a Minute

Curls and courage with Michaela Angela Davis and Rep. Cori Bush

For Black women, hair is about so much more than beauty. It can affect how they're treated and what opportunities are available to them. It's tied to history, identity and politics. And though many Black women and girls now embrace their natural curls, Black hair is still a site of discrimination. In this episode, Brittany Luse talks to two women fighting to change that: Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who has been pushing for a federal law against race-based hair discrimination, and Michaela Angela Davis, whose docuseries "The Hair Tales" is meant to inspire Black women to celebrate their crowning glories.

Curls and courage with Michaela Angela Davis and Rep. Cori Bush

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In 'No Bears', a banned filmmaker takes bold aim at Iranian society

Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi plays a version of himself in No Bears. TIFF hide caption

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TIFF

Review

Movie Reviews

In 'No Bears', a banned filmmaker takes bold aim at Iranian society

Fresh Air

In 2010, Iranian the authorities charged Jafar Panahi with making anti-government propaganda. No Bears, which was filmed in secret, is a brilliant, layered drama — and an idiosyncratic self portrait.

In 'No Bears', a banned filmmaker takes bold aim at Iranian society

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'Sam,' the latest novel from Allegra Goodman, is small, but not simple
Penguin Random House

Review

Book Reviews

'Sam,' the latest novel from Allegra Goodman, is small, but not simple

Fresh Air

The novel follows a white working-class girl from age 7 through her late teens, navigating a world tightly circumscribed by class and culture.

'Sam,' the latest novel from Allegra Goodman, is small, but not simple

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'Wakanda Forever' receives 12 NAACP Image Award nominations

This image released by Sony Pictures shows Viola Davis, left, and John Boyega in "The Woman King." "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" earned 12 NAACP Image Awards nominations on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, while "The Woman King" and "Abbott Elementary" will enter next month's ceremony as top nominees. Ilze Kitshoff/AP hide caption

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Ilze Kitshoff/AP

'Wakanda Forever' receives 12 NAACP Image Award nominations

The awards honoring entertainers and writers of color will air live in Pasadena, California on Feb. 25. The two-hour show will be held in front of an audience for the first time in three years.

Does 'Plane' take off, or just sit on the runway?

Gerard Butler and Mike Colter star in Plane. Kenneth Rexach/Lionsgate hide caption

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Kenneth Rexach/Lionsgate

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Does 'Plane' take off, or just sit on the runway?

What do you need to know about the movie Plane? Well, there's a plane. Specifically, there's a plane that goes down when it's struck by lightning and ends up on the worst possible island. It's then up to a captain, played by Gerard Butler, and his passengers to survive.

Does 'Plane' take off, or just sit on the runway?

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U.S. women's soccer tries to overcome its past lack of diversity

U.S. national team player Crystal Dunn, second from left, listens to instructions with teammates during practice for a match against Nigeria Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2022, in Riverside, Mo. Charlie Riedel/AP hide caption

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Charlie Riedel/AP

Sports

U.S. women's soccer tries to overcome its past lack of diversity

While the U.S. women's national soccer team has steadily become more representative, players say there's still work to be done. That means ensuring young women of color feel included in the sport.

Anti-fatness keeps fat people on the margins, says Aubrey Gordon

Writer Aubrey Gordon wants to change the way people think and talk about fatness, including how the word "fat" is used. Beth Olson/Beacon Press hide caption

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Beth Olson/Beacon Press

Life Kit

Anti-fatness keeps fat people on the margins, says Aubrey Gordon

In her new book You Just Need To Lose Weight and 19 Other Myths About Fat People, Aubrey Gordon tackles the biases and myths that she says keep fat people on the margins of society.

Anti-fatness keeps fat people on the margins, says Aubrey Gordon

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The rom-com 'Smiley' asks if a gym rat and nerd can find love

Carlos Cuevas as Alex and Miki Esparbé as Bruno in Smiley Netflix hide caption

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Netflix

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

The rom-com 'Smiley' asks if a gym rat and nerd can find love

If you're looking for a charming romantic comedy, consider checking out the Netflix series Smiley. Set in Barcelona, it follows Alex and Bruno, two very different men who meet and experience an overwhelming attraction that they then, as they must, struggle with enormously. Can these two ever find happiness?

The rom-com 'Smiley' asks if a gym rat and nerd can find love

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