In this episode of Fresh Air, Tonya Mosley interviews Elizabeth Bruenig, a staff writer at The Atlantic, about her cover story, "Witness: Inside America's Death Chambers." Bruenig discusses her experiences as a witness to state executions, detailing the process of becoming a witness, the moral complexities of the death penalty, and her personal reflections on mercy and forgiveness, especially in light of her family's experience with the murder of her husband's sister. She shares insights into specific cases, including those of James Edward Barber and Kenneth Eugene Smith, and addresses the troubling issue of botched executions and their disproportionate impact. Bruenig also touches on the shifting public opinion on capital punishment and the potential implications of reinstating the federal death penalty.
