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The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

522 episodes — Page 5 of 11

Ep 322Mimi Rocah on Trump's Legal Battles and the Fight For the Rule of Law

Mimi Rocah was most recently District Attorney of NY’s Westchester County. During her four years as DA, she modernized the DA’s Office, aggressively pursued gun and violent crime, developed ways to better serve crime victims, and instituted sensible criminal justice reforms. Prior to becoming DA, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) for nearly 17 years from 2001-2017 rising to become Chief of the White Plains Criminal Division. As an AUSA, she prosecuted and oversaw cases involving violent crime, organized crime, human trafficking, sex trafficking, child exploitation, frauds and public corruption and co-chaired task forces on public health and sex trafficking. Before running for office, Mimi was a Legal Analyst with MSNBC/NBC News from 2017-19 and is now a frequent commentator on MSNBC, CNN, The Contrarian, and numerous podcasts and radio shows on topics relating to law, justice, women’s issues and antisemitism, and has written and published dozens of opinion pieces on those topics. She is an expert in the rule of law, democracy and the corruption and abuse of the justice system. And she is currently an adjunct professor at Fordham University School of Law. Join us for this compelling conversation as Mimi and I discuss the legal and political realities facing Trump, the Republican Party, Democrats, and the challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Mar 1, 20251h 9m

Ep 321Sloane Crosley on Life, Love, Loss, Grief and Whether We Can Ever Truly Achieve ‘Closure’

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SLOANE CROSLEY is the author of The New York Times bestselling books Grief Is for People, How Did You Get This Number, and I Was Told There’d Be Cake. She is also the author of Look Alive Out There and the novels, Cult Classic and The Clasp. Her work has been translated into ten languages. She has been featured in The Library of America's 50 Funniest American Writers, The Best American Non-required Reading, The Best American Travel Writing, Phillip Lopate’s The Contemporary American Essay and others. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair, her work has appeared in various publications including The New Yorker, The New York Review of Books, The New York Times Magazine, Vogue and The Guardian. She has been an adjunct professor in Columbia University’s MFA program and a guest teacher at Dartmouth College and The Yale Writers’ Workshop. Death is something we all experience. Myself included. Which is why I so loved this conversation with Sloane about life, love, loss, grief and whether we can ever truly achieve ‘closure’. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 24, 202554 min

Ep 320E.J. Dionne

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E.J. Dionne, Jr. is a distinguished university professor in the Foundations of Democracy and Culture at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy, and a senior fellow and W. Averell Harriman Chair in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution. He is also a syndicated columnist for the Washington Post. He is the author or co-author of nine books including, most recently, 100% Democracy: The Case for Universal Voting. Others include NYT Bestseller Why the Right Went Wrong, Our Divided Political Heart, and Why Americans Hate Politics. He is the co-editor of What’s God Got to Do With the American Experiment? His media career also includes 20 years with NPR, and 14 with the New York Times, including stints in Paris, Beirut, and Rome. E.J. and I discuss Trump 2.0, what Democrats must do in this Constitutional crisis to combat the attacks on democracy, and how they can win the 2016 midterm elections. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 22, 20251h 4m

Ep 319Mark Zaid

Mark S. Zaid is a Washington, D.C. based attorney specializing in crisis management and handling administrative and litigation matters relating to national security, international law, foreign sovereign and diplomatic immunity, and the Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts. His clients typically include former/current federal employees, particularly intelligence and military officers, defense contractors, Whistleblowers and members of the media who have grievances, have been wronged or are being investigated by agencies of the United States Government or foreign governments. Mark is also the Executive Director and founder of the James Madison Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization with the primary purpose of educating the public on issues relating to intelligence gathering and operations, secrecy policies, national security and government wrongdoing. And he is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Global Security Studies program and at Texas A&M’s George H.W. Bush School of Government & Public Service where he teaches on national security issues. Mark and I discuss Trump 2.0, the recent revocation of his security clearance, and whether the judicial system will hold under the weight of the administration's attacks on the rule of law. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 15, 202541 min

Ep 318Barry Sonnenfeld

Barry Sonnenfeld is a filmmaker and writer who broke into the film industry as the cinematographer on the Coen Brothers' first three films: Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, and Miller's Crossing. He also was the director of photography on Throw Momma from the Train, Big, When Harry Met Sally, and Misery. Sonnenfeld made his directorial debut with The Addams Family in 1991, and has gone on to direct a number of films including Addams Family Values, Get Shorty, and the first three Men in Black films. His television credits include Pushing Daisies, for which he won an Emmy, Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and most recently Apple TV+'s Schmigadoon! He is the author of Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time and Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother. Don't miss the super-fun, fascinating chat as Barry takes us on a journey through his storied life and career and takes us behind-the-scenes of some of the most iconic films ever! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 13, 20251h 10m

Ep 317Sabrina Singh

Sabrina Singh is a veteran strategist with 15 years of experience advising national leaders on crisis communications, strategic messaging, and policy issues. In addition to frequently appearing on international and national broadcast TV and digital platforms, she’s advised senior leaders at all levels of government, including Members of the U.S. House and Senate, Governors, the Secretary of Defense, and the Vice President of the United States. Most recently, she served as the deputy press secretary at the Department of Defense. Additionally, she served as an advisor to Secretary Lloyd Austin and frequently traveled with the Secretary overseas, including to Ukraine, Japan, the Philippines and Israel. She was one the Department’s most outward facing voices on the Pentagon’s efforts to surge security assistance to Ukraine and support to Israel following the October 7th attack. Sabrina previously served as deputy press secretary for Vice President Kamala Harris, senior spokesperson roles for Mike Bloomberg’s 2020 presidential campaign, Cory Booker’s presidential campaign and previously served in various communications roles for Democratic committees, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign and Members of Congress. Join us for this compelling chat about Trump 2.0, Musk, DOGE, the challenging road ahead, and the fate of democracy. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 10, 202534 min

Ep 316Deborah Pearlstein

Deborah Pearlstein is Director of the Princeton Program in Law and Public Policy and Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor of Law and Public Affairs. Her research on the U.S. Constitution, international law, democracy and national security has appeared widely in leading law journals and in the popular press, including The Atlantic, Foreign Policy, the Washington Post, and the New York Times. She serves on the editorial board of the Journal of National Security Law and Policy, and was appointed in 2021 to a U.S. State Department Advisory Committee focused on helping to ensure the timely declassification and publication of government records surrounding major events in U.S. foreign policy. Throughout her tenure, she has worked closely with members of the defense and intelligence communities, including in helping to bring together retired military leaders to address key policy challenges in U.S. counterterrorism operations. Before embarking on a career in law, she served in the White House from 1993 to 1995 as a Senior Editor and Speechwriter for President Clinton. Deborah and I discuss her latest New York Times opinion piece, The Law Is Not Fully Trump's Yet, and whether the judicial system can and will serve as an effective check on Donald Trump's most destructive, democracy-endangering actions. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 8, 202548 min

Ep 315Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of global investment firm SkyBridge. He's the author of five books, including last year’s From Wall Street to the White House and Back, and his new book The Little Book of Bitcoin: What You Need to Know that Wall Street Has Already Figured Out (Feb 11). He also hosts the Open Book podcast and co-hosts The Rest is Politics: US podcast. And he’s of course well-known for the 11 roller coaster days he served in the first Trump White House as Communications Director, after having served on Trump's Finance Committee and then on his Presidential Transition Team. Mooch opines, as only Mooch can, on Trump 2.0, the GOP, Democrats and the challenging road ahead! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 3, 202529 min

Ep 314Norm Ornstein

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Norman Ornstein is an author, political scientist and emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He’s is a contributing editor and writer for The Atlantic and has been an election eve analyst for CBS News and BBC News. He was named one of the top 100 global thinkers in 2012 by Foreign Policy Magazine and one of the 250 most influential people in Washington in 2021 by Washingtonian Magazine, and in every year since. His many books include The New York Times bestseller, It's Even Worse Than It Looks with Tom Mann, and the NYT and WAPO best-seller One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate and the Not-Yet-Deported with EJ Dionne and Tom Mann. Join Norm and I as we discuss Trump 2.0 and the challenging road ahead, as well as our shared experience with tragedy, loss and grief. It's an in-depth chat you don't wanna miss... Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Feb 1, 20251h 16m

Ep 313Rosanna Arquette

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Rosanna Arquette is an award-winning actor, film director, producer and activist. Her film credits include SOB, THE EXECUTIONER’S SONG, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, AFTER HOURS, PULP FICTION, CRASH, NOWHERE TO RUN, NEW YORK STORIES and THE BILLIONAIRE BOY’S CLUB. She’s done a ton of television over the years, including WHAT ABOUT BRIAN, THE L WORD, RAY DONOVAN and most recently the terrific PRESUMED INNOCENT, which is streaming on APPLE TV. I've known Ro for almost 20 years now, and so it was a real honor to have her join me for this fun, insightful, poignant chat about life, love, loss, work and politics. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 31, 20251h 3m

Ep 312Rep. Pat Ryan

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Congressman Pat Ryan represents Upstate New York's 18th Congressional District. He's a West Point graduate, former Army Captain, and Ulster County Executive. He served two tours in Iraq where he led soldiers of all backgrounds in combat and earned two Bronze Stars. Join us for this important chat about the current political landscape under Trump 2.0 and what Democrats can and should do going forward to win the 2026 midterms and the next presidential election in 2028. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 28, 202525 min

Ep 311Ron Filipkowski

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Ron Filipkowski is a former US Marine, State prosecutor, federal prosecutor, police academy director, lifelong Republican, Republican Club President, and was appointed by Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to the Judicial nominating committee. Ron was a Republican Against Trump in 2020 and switched parties Jan 7, 2021. He left private-practice a year ago to become Editor in Chief of Meidas Touch. And he is co-host of the podcast Uncovered ,which focuses on covering the MAGA movement. Ron's a smart, funny, no-bullshit guy. Join us as we get into the November election, Trump 2.0, and the challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 25, 20251h 13m

Ep 310R.J. Cutler

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R.J. Cutler is an award-winning director and producer who has been making documentary film and television series for over thirty years. Cutler’s work has been nominated for an Academy Award, and he is the recipient of numerous other awards including three Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and a GLAAD Award. In 2009, the Museum of Television and Radio held a four-day retrospective of R.J.’s work. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Critic’s Choice Awards Pennebaker Award for Lifetime Achievement in Documentary Film. In 2020, Cutler launched This Machine, a production company focused on developing and producing documentary projects for film and television, which is now a part of Sony Pictures Television. R.J.’s film’s include THE WAR ROOM, BELUSHI, BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD’S A LITTLE BLURRY, MARTHA and ELTON JOHN: NEVER TOO LATE. His television work includes Freshman Diaries, 30 Days, Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, Murf the Surf, Big Vape, Nashville, If I Stay, and The Oval Office Tapes. Join me for a fun, fascinating chat with R.J. about his early life and inspirations and his stellar career as a producer and director. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 23, 202554 min

Ep 309Christopher Cox

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Christopher Cox is a Senior Scholar in Residence at the University of California, Irvine, a Life Trustee of the University of Southern California, Chair of the Rhodes Scholarship selection committee for Southern California and the Pacific, and a member of several nonprofit and for-profit boards. Between two decades as a practicing lawyer, he served as chair of the Homeland Security Committee in the US House of Representatives, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and senior associate counsel to the President. He has written for Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The Detroit News, The Denver Post, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and dozens of other publications. His new book is Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 18, 202554 min

Ep 308Juanita Tolliver

Juanita Tolliver is an MSNBC Political Analyst, an Opinion Contributor for theGrio, and a Contributor for SiriusXM Progress. Previously, she served as the Director of Campaigns at the Center for American Progress. She is a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her new book, A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics, is on sale January 14th. Join us as Juanita takes us in riveting detail through the fascinating life and historic career of Shirley Chisholm. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 15, 202539 min

Ep 307Michael Steele

Michael Steele is the co-host of MSNBC’s ‘The Weekend’ and host of ‘The Michael Steele Podcast.’ Prior to joining MSNBC as a political analyst, he was elected Lt. Governor of Maryland in 2003. Following his time as Lt. Governor, he served as Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 2009 to 2011. He was the first African-American to hold either office. He has appeared on Meet the Press, Face the Nation, Real Time with Bill Maher, and The Daily Show and is also the author of two books. The always insightful and entertaining Michael is back in The Back Room pulling no punches on Trump, the GOP, Democrats, and the challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 13, 202533 min

Ep 306Jill Wine-Banks

Jill Wine-Banks is an attorney, author, speaker, MSNBC Legal Analyst, and co-host of the award-winning #SistersinLaw podcast. She also hosts the YouTube show, Just The Facts. Her 2020 memoir is The Watergate Girl: My Fight for Truth and Justice Against A Criminal President, about her life and work as a Watergate prosecutor, and a film adaptation of the book is in discussion. Jill is a frequent op-ed contributor to various publications including the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Post, and Politico. She’s also appeared in films including Watergate—Or: How We Learned to Stop an Out of Control President; All the President's Men Revisited; and Fahrenheit 11/9. Given her experience as a former Watergate prosecutor, I'm sure you'll find Jill's insights and perspective into Donald Trump, the Republican Party and the current political landscape as compelling as I did. Join us as we explore what's to come in Trump 2.0. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 11, 20251h 7m

Ep 305Andrew McCarthy

Andrew McCarthy is an award-winning travel writer, television director, and actor. He’s appeared in over two dozen films including such iconic 80s movies as PRETTY IN PINK and ST. ELMO’S FIRE. His recent documentary, BRATS, debuted at #1 on Hulu. He’s directed nearly 100 hours of television, including Orange Is the New Black and The Blacklist. Andrew’s also been named Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers, and for a dozen years served as an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler magazine. He is the author or four New York Times Best Selling books, including, most recently, WALKING WITH SAM. Join us for the fun, honest, insightful in-depth chat about Andrew's life and career, and of course, his documentary BRATS, which he directed and produced. It’s a poignant, captivating journey through this pivotal era of his life as a member of the legendary Brat Pack. The film includes interviews with former castmates, producers and other key figures associated with the beloved 1980’s coming of age films which include THE BREAKFAST CLUB, ST ELMOS’S FIRE, PRETTY IN PINK and MANNEQUIN. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 8, 202553 min

Ep 304Dr. Helen Ouyang

Helen Ouyang is an emergency physician, associate professor at Columbia University, and contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. She is also a fellow at the Type Media Center. She has written for The Atlantic, Harper’s, Los Angeles Times, New York, The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. Her writing has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award, anthologized in The Best American Science and Nature Writing, and funded by The Pulitzer Center. Join us for this important conversation about the state of our nation's healthcare and insurance industries. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jan 4, 202540 min

Ep 303Dawn Porter

Dawn Porter has emerged in the entertainment industry as a leader in the art of storytelling; directing and producing critically acclaimed films and series. A two-time Sundance film festival director, her work has been featured on HBO, Netflix, CNN, PBS, MSNBC, ESPN, Discovery, National Geographic and others. Dawn’s films include GIDEON’S ARMY, THE LADY BIRD DIARIES, THE WAY I SEE IT, SUPREME, BOBBY KENNEDY FOR PRESIDENT and JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE. Her latest film is LUTHER: NEVER TOO MUCH, about the public and private life and music career of Luther Vandross, which premieres New Year’s Day on CNN. Dawn joins me in The Back Room to discuss her terrific new film LUTHER which tells the story of this iconic, multi-faceted yet complicated musical genius. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 31, 202419 min

Ep 302Christine Quinn

Christine C. Quinn is the President and CEO of Win, the largest provider of shelter and supportive housing for families experiencing homelessness in New York City and the nation. Win has also been at the forefront of the city's response to the ongoing migrant and homelessness crisis. She was also the first female and openly gay Speaker of the NYC Council, ran for NYC mayor in 2013, and is a political contributor on CNN and MSNBC. Chris joins me in The Back Room for a conversation about homelessness in New York City, the migrant crisis, and her organization's work to provide family shelter and supportive housing. We also discuss her concerns for the LGBTQ+ community under the incoming Trump administration; the health risks to New Yorkers under an RFK Jr-led HHS; and whether or not she's planning to run for NYC mayor next year. We close out the chat with Chris sharing her top 5 musical artists of all time! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 28, 202431 min

Ep 301Eric Segall

Eric J. Segall is a constitutional law scholar, professor, and author of the books Originalism as Faith, and Supreme Myths: Why the Supreme Court is not a Court and its Justices are not Judges. His articles on constitutional law have appeared in, among others, the Harvard Law Review Forum, the Stanford Law Review On Line, the UCLA Law Review, the George Washington Law Review, the Washington University Law Review, the University of Pennsylvania Journal of Constitutional Law, the Northwestern University Law Review Colloquy, and Constitutional Commentary among many others. His op-eds and essays have appeared in the New York Times, the LA Times, The Atlantic, SLATE, Vox, Salon, and the Daily Beast, among others and his television appearances include CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and France 24. Eric's back with us to share his thoughts on the Donald Trump and his cabinet nominations and the threats they pose to the rights of Americans, our rule of law, and the future of our democracy. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 24, 202442 min

Ep 300Frank Figliuzzi

Frank Figliuzzi is a national security contributor and regular columnist for NBC News and MSNBC. He was the assistant director for counterintelligence at the FBI, where he served 25 years as a special agent and directed all espionage investigations across the government. He held senior FBI leadership positions in major American cities and was appointed the FBI’s Chief Inspector by then Director Robert Mueller to oversee sensitive internal inquiries, shooting reviews, and performance audits. Following his FBI career, Frank became a corporate security executive for a Fortune 10 company and led global Investigations, Insider Threat, Workplace Violence Prevention, and Special Event security for 200,000 employees in 180 countries. He is the author of “The FBI Way: Inside the Bureau’s Code of Excellence", and this year's "Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers". Frank and I discuss his latest book, Trump's controversial cabinet nominations, and the existential threats to our democracy as we head into Trump 2.0. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 21, 202457 min

Ep 299Dylan Douglas

Dylan Douglas, a 2022 graduate of Brown University, has spent much of his young adult life working on a variety of political campaigns and grassroots movements. During the 2020 election, while still in college, Douglas served as deputy campaign manager for a high-profile congressional race and later co-founded a progressive political action committee called Make Room, aimed at “making room for young, progressive, generational candidates.” In the summer of 2024, Douglas launched the political program Young American with Dylan Douglas on SiriusXM, designed to engage Gen Z and other young listeners in the lead-up to the highly anticipated November elections. Originally intended as a limited series, the show has since been picked up to run indefinitely. Beyond domestic American politics, Douglas is a passionate advocate for dyslexia awareness, having struggled with the learning disability for much of his life. He is also an amateur historian. Dylan brings a very important perspective to the conversation about what happened in the 2024 election and what Democrats must do going forward to engage and inspire not just his generation of voters, but the party's broader coalition as well. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 18, 202439 min

Ep 298Max Rose

Max Rose is a former member of Congress from New York City and a Senior Advisor to Vote Vets. He's a highly-decorated combat veteran who currently serves as a company commander in the New York Army National Guard. As a Congressman, he chaired the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counter-terrorism and served on the committees for Homeland Security and Veteran's Affairs. He also served in 2021 at the Department of Defense as Special Assistant to Secretary Lloyd Austin. Max helps unpack the election results and what the Democratic Party must do going forward to win the 2026 midterm elections and the presidency in '28. He also discusses the DNC and whether he wants the top job, and whether he plans to run for NYC mayor next year. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 14, 202456 min

Ep 297Mark Zaid

Mark S. Zaid is a Washington, D.C. based attorney specializing in crisis management and handling administrative and litigation matters relating to national security, international law, foreign sovereign and diplomatic immunity, and the Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts. His clients typically include former/current federal employees, particularly intelligence and military officers, defense contractors, Whistleblowers and members of the media who have grievances, have been wronged or are being investigated by agencies of the United States Government or foreign governments. Mark is also the Executive Director and founder of the James Madison Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization with the primary purpose of educating the public on issues relating to intelligence gathering and operations, secrecy policies, national security and government wrongdoing. And he is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Global Security Studies program and at Texas A&M’s George H.W. Bush School of Government & Public Service where he teaches on national security issues. Besides discussing our mutual passion for collecting political, historical and cultural memorabilia, Mark and I get into Donald Trump's continued threats against his opponents and perceived enemies; his representation of several high-profile government and media retribution targets; and the prospect of Trump's weaponizing the DOJ and FBI. We also discuss Mark's personal interest and professional work relating to the JFK assassination. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 11, 202453 min

Ep 296Paul Begala

Paul Begala is a CNN political commentator, consultant and NY Times best-selling author. Along with his partner James Carville, he was one of the masterminds behind Bill Clinton's winning presidential campaign in 1992 and later served as Counselor to the President, serving as one of President Clinton's closest aides, and coordinating policy, politics, and communications. In the 2012 campaign, Paul was a senior adviser for the pro-Obama Super PAC, making Begala one of the few people to play a critical role in electing two different presidents. Paul's back in THE BACK ROOM for an election post-mortem, Trump's crazy cabinet nominations, what lies ahead for the Democratic Party, and more! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 9, 202447 min

Ep 295Charlie Sykes

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Charlie Sykes is the author of nine books, including his latest, How the Right Lost Its Mind. An 'OG Never-Trumper', he is the author of the Substack newsletter, “To the Contrary,” and contributes to The Atlantic and MSNBC. He's written for The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, Commentary, The Wall Street Journal, Politico, The Los Angeles Times, Newsweek, Time.com, USA Today, National Review, The New York Review of Books, the New York Daily News, and other national publications. Charlie joins me for fun, insightful chat about the election, the crazy Trump cabinet nominations, what Democrats need to do going forward, and more! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 7, 202459 min

Ep 294Modi Rosenfeld

Modi Rosenfeld was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, and at 7 emigrated with his family to the United States and was raised on Long Island. After graduating from Boston University, he worked as an investment banker until he fell in love with stand-up comedy during his first open-mic performance. He’s a regular at the New York and Los Angeles comedy clubs and headlines around the country and across the globe. He’s currently performing in the US and abroad in his 'Pause For Laughter' tour. His debut special, "Know Your Audience", is available on YouTube. Modi's back in The Back Room discussing the tour, life on the road, his upcoming shows Dec 17-19 at NYC's Beacon Theater and more! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 5, 202420 min

Ep 293Dylan O'Brien

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At 11:30pm on October 11, 1975, a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers changed television – and culture – forever. Directed by Jason Reitman, written by Gil Kenan & Reitman and told in real time, SATURDAY NIGHT is based on the true story of what happened behind the scenes in the 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Actor Dylan O'Brien is one of the film's stars, portraying the legendary cast member Dan Aykroyd. He joins me for an insightful, entertaining chat about the film, the casting process, his approach to the performance, and his upcoming projects. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 3, 202429 min

Ep 292Jonathan Greenblatt

Since 2015 Jonathan A. Greenblatt has served as the CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, more commonly knows as the ADL…and is its sixth National Director. He leads all aspects of the world’s leading anti-hate organization…whose mission since its founding in 1913 is to fight the defamation of the Jewish people, and to secure justice and fair treatment to all. In 2022, Jonathan released It Could Happen Here, a book that sounds an alarm, warning that hate and systemic violence is gathering momentum in the United States – and that violence on a more catastrophic scale could be just around the corner. Jonathan's back in The Back Room discussing the heightened concerns over the precipitous rise in antisemitism in America and abroad. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Dec 1, 202432 min

Ep 291Rachel Bitecofer

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Rachel Bitecofer is a political scientist and election forecaster turned political strategist. Bitecofer’s interviews and analysis have been featured by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Salon, Politico, The New Republic, Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN, MSNBC, and many other prominent news sources. She worked with Democratic Party candidates and organizations to implement negative partisanship strategy in the 2022 midterms. Her latest book is Hit ‘Em Where it Hurts: How to Save Democracy By Beating Republicans At Their Own Game. Rachel's back in THE BACK ROOM with a hard dose of reality about what went wrong with the election and the radical shifts in thinking and strategy Democrats must embrace if they're ever going to win critical national and statewide elections again. It's a wake-up call for the party you don't wanna miss! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 29, 202435 min

Ep 290Pete Dominick

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Pete Dominick is a podcaster, stand-up comic, speaker, news commentator, host, journo activist, moderator and professional speaking consultant. For almost 12 years, Pete was the host of a daily three-hour live radio show on SIRIUSXM, “Stand Up with Pete Dominick”. After that he started his independent daily podcast. He began his career as a stand-up comic and was selected as the warmup comic, first for Jon Stewart and The Daily Show, and then The Colbert Report on Comedy Central, where he worked for most of its run. He’s also a CNN panel commentator and had hosted the CNN show “What the Week.” Pete and I chat about Trump, Trumpism, and toxic masculinity; America's challenging political and cultural road ahead; stand-up comedy; who we both look like, and more! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 27, 202451 min

Ep 289Joanna Coles

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Donald Trump, Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, GOP, Republican Party, Democrats, election, Elon Musk, politics, cabinet, RFK Jr., US Constitution, rule of law, recess appointments, separation of powers, advise and consent, congress, US Senate, midterm election, The Daily Beast, Ben Sherman, Jeff Bezos, The Washington Post, media, Mika Brzezinski, Joe Scarborough, Morning Joe, Fox News, Stormy Daniels, Barry Diller, journalism, John Oliver, Linda McMahon, Pam Bondi, Bill Clinton, CNN, MAGA, Joe Biden, Biden, John Thune Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Mar A Lago, Britain, Princess Diana, Kensington Palace, Prince Charles, Samantha Bee, podcasting, podcast, Alex Cooper, Call Her Daddy, Amazon, Twitter, Rupert Murdoch, Tik Tok, The Daily Show, Pod Save America, Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Europe, Zelensky. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 25, 202442 min

Ep 288Elie Honig

Elie Honig is an attorney and CNN senior legal analyst and the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and last year's Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It. He’s a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. He also hosts podcasts, writes for CAFE, Vox Media and writes a weekly column for New York Magazine. Elie's back in The Back Room with an update on the status of Donald Trump's legal cases, his Attorney General nominations, and what lies ahead for the Department of Justice in the new administration. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 23, 202449 min

Ep 287Ashley Allison

Ashley Allison is a media entrepreneur, creator, advocate, organizer and thought leader, who seamlessly bridges the gap between culture and politics. She is the Founder and CEO of Watering Hole Media, a social impact media company. Ashley is also a political commentator for CNN. She previously served as a senior advisor in the Obama-Biden White House. As the National Coalitions Director for the Biden-Harris 2020 presidential campaign, she led nearly 500 staff to activate the most robust coalition of voters in modern history. She’s also served as Executive Vice President for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, where she spearheaded campaigns to protect the right to vote for millions of Americans and helped to get the citizen question removed from the 2020 census form. Join me and Ashley as we take a hard, honest post-election look under America's hood and discuss the challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 20, 202428 min

Ep 286Frank Bruni

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Frank Bruni has been a prominent journalist for more than three decades, including more than twenty-five years at The New York Times, in roles as diverse as op-ed columnist, White House correspondent, Rome bureau chief, and chief restaurant critic. He is the author of four New York Times bestsellers. In July 2021, he became a full professor at Duke University, teaching in the school of public policy. He currently writes his popular weekly newsletter for the Times and produces additional essays as one of the newspaper’s Contributing Opinion Writers. Frank and I discuss his latest columns about the recent election, what the Democrats must do going forward, and who the likely 2028 candidates might be. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 18, 202431 min

Ep 285Rick Wilson

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The inimitable Rick Wilson is a renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, political commentator, podcaster, co-founder of the political action committee The Lincoln Project and media company Resolute Square, and a two-time New York Times best-selling author. Join Rick and I for a frank discussion about the recent devastating election, Trump's crazy cabinet nominations, and the dark, challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 17, 202456 min

Ep 284Jamal Simmons

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Jamal Simmons is a political commentator on CNN and co-host of the new podcast Trailblaze. He’s previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Before that he was a political contributor for CBS News and NPR and hosted digital interviews for HillTV. He is a veteran of the Clinton Administration, Congress and several political campaigns. He’s also been a communications consultant, digital entrepreneur, appeared on every major television network and written opinion pieces for many newspapers. First it was the devastating election. Then came the barrage of Trump's crazy cabinet nominations. Jamal and I get into the stunning events of the last 10 days and what it all means going forward. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 15, 202430 min

Ep 283Julie Roginsky

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Julie Roginsky is a founding partner of Baro Strategies and has nearly three decades of public and private sector experience as an adviser on strategic communications, political strategy and public relations…working on behalf of corporate and political clients which include Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, non-profits and dozens of politicians. She is also the co-founder of Lift Our Voices, a national non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the American workplace by banning forced arbitration clauses and non-disclosure agreements for toxic workplace issues. And she is a former contributor at Fox News Channel, where she was a frequent co-host of Outnumbered and The Five. Prior to that, she was a contributor at CNBC, the financial news network. Julie joins me for a frank 'what the hell happened' chat about last week's devastating election. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 12, 202439 min

Ep 282Kimberly Atkins Stohr

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Kimberly Atkins Stohr is a senior opinion writer and columnist for The Boston Globe with over 20 years of experience covering politics, policy and law. She is an on-air political analyst for MSNBC, a frequent panelist on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” and co-host of the popular Politicon legal news podcast #SistersInLaw. She has appeared as a political and legal commentator on a host of national and international television and radio networks, including CNN, Fox News, NBC News, PBS, NPR, Sky News, and CBC News. Before launching her journalism career, she was a civil trial and appellate litigation attorney in Boston, where she argued in a number of courts, including the Massachusetts Appeals Court and the federal 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals. In the wake of the devastating election, so many Americans are feeling anger, frustration and despair as we try to reconcile what happened and how we move forward as Americans and as a party in the face of so much sexism and racism and the abandonment of the party by several core constituencies. Kimberly and I take an honest and gut-wrenching look under the hood... Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 10, 20241h 5m

Ep 281Ron Reagan

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For forty years, Ron Reagan has been a television and radio correspondent, host and political commentator with ABC, MSNBC and Air America among others. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller My Father at 100. Ron shares his keen insights into the election, the status of the two political parties, and the legacy of his father, Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States. We also chat about God, religion and Ron's "unabashed" atheism. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 8, 202451 min

Ep 280Michael Cohen

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Michael Cohen is host of the YouTube Channel "The The Michael Cohen Show". And he's brought his unplugged wit and wisdom back in The Back Room to discuss his former boss Donald Trump, VP Kamala Harris, and tomorrow's historic election! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 4, 202422 min

Ep 279S.E. Cupp

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S.E. Cupp is a CNN political commentator and host of the daily TV show Battleground. She was most recently host of CNN's S.E. Cupp Unfiltered. Before joining CNN she co-hosted MSNBC's The Cycle. She's a nationally syndicated political columnist, culture critic, author and consultant who regularly writes for the New York Daily News, Glamour and CNN.com. She was previously a consultant for Apple TV+'s The Morning Show starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell and HBO's hit series, The Newsroom. The always-insightful and fun S.E.'s back in The Back Room for a homestretch chat about the most critical, consequential election in United States history. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 3, 202428 min

Ep 278George Conway

George Conway is an attorney, political activist, and legal and political commentator. He is president of the Society for the Rule of Law, the executive director of the Anti-Psychopath Political Action Committee, and a founder of the Lincoln Project. He is a host of The Bulwark’s podcast George Conway Explains It All (to Sarah Longwell), and he is a contributing writer to The Atlantic. He previously worked as a litigator for three decades at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York City. With the most important, consequential election in American history just four days away, we're thrilled to have George back with us to share his unique homestretch analysis. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 2, 202425 min

Ep 277Gretchen Carlson

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Gretchen Carlson is an acclaimed journalist, NY Times bestselling author, speaker, and advocate for women’s rights in the workplace. She went public in 2016 with harassment claims against then Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes, paving the way for the #MeToo movement. Gretchen spent over 30 years as a journalist and has hosted the Saturday edition of CBS’s The Early Show, Fox & Friends and The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson. She is co-founder of Lift Our Voices, a nonprofit organization fighting to eradicate forced arbitration clauses and non-disclosure agreements in workplace contracts that keep toxic workplace issues silent. With just four days to go until the most critical, consequential election in American history, Gretchen's back in The Back Room giving her 11th hour thoughts on this nail-biter of a presidential race. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Nov 1, 202446 min

Ep 276Dr. Bandy X. Lee

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Bandy X Lee, M.D. is a forensic and social psychiatrist and a world expert on violence who taught at Yale School of Medicine and Yale Law School for 17 years before joining the Harvard Program in Psychiatry and the Law. She became known to the public for leading a group of mental health professional colleagues in breaking the silence about the immediate past U.S. president’s dangerous psychology and publishing the New York Times bestseller, The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President. The volume proceeded from an ethics conference she organized at Yale School of Medicine, which led to her consulting with over 50 members of the U.S. Congress. She is currently president of the World Mental Health Coalition. She penned over 300 opinion editorials in outlets such as the Guardian, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Independent, and Politico. Her new book is THE MORE DANGEROUS CASE OF DONALD TRUMP: 40 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Warn Anew. Dr. Lee pulls no punches as she continues to loudly sound the alarm bells about the grave dangers of another Trump presidency. Join us for this riveting and at times chilling conversation. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Oct 30, 202433 min

Ep 275Charlie Warzel

Charlie Warzel is a journalist who helps audiences to make sense of our current digital moment, analyzing technology and media in a time of intense upheaval and cultural change. He's a Staff Writer at The Atlantic and the author of its newsletter Galaxy Brain, about technology, media, and big ideas. Previously he was a writer at large for The New York Times’ Opinion section. Charlie and I discuss the worsening assault on truth, facts and reality in America in the AI and digital age. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Oct 28, 202450 min

Ep 274Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney

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Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney are co-founders of the recently launched bi-partisan superPAC The Seneca Project, which is dedicated to mobilizing women voters in key swing states to ensure Democratic victory in November in order to safeguard women’s rights, healthcare access, the preservation of democracy, and the defeat of the extremist MAGA agenda. Tara's a former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill and most recently served as a Senior Advisor for The Lincoln Project and host of the live show The Breakdown. She’s a contributor on MSNBC and other news outlets, has been a frequent guest host on ABC’s The View, Sirius XM’s The Michael Smerconish Program, and has several appearances on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher. After 27 years as a Republican she left the party in November 2020 after Donald Trump refused to concede the election to Joe Biden. Michelle previously served as the Creative Director at The Lincoln Project. She's also a photojournalist, previously served as VP of WestSide Democrats in NYC, and was publicly elected to the New York County Democratic Committee. Prior to entering the political arena, she was a performing artist and producer. There's just 10 days to go before the most critical, consequential election in history. Join us for this lively, insightful homestretch chat about the super-tight presidential race. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Oct 26, 202456 min

Ep 273Lee Yaron

Lee Yaron has been a journalist with Israeli newspaper Haaretz for nearly a decade. Her investigative reporting has resulted in the founding of state-level commissions and the changing of substantial bodies of Israeli policy and law. She is an elected member-representative of the Executive Committee of the Union of Israeli Journalists. She has also written and directed acclaimed theater productions notable for their use of found materials, including official governmental texts, to bring attention to marginalized communities both in Israel and throughout the Middle East. Born in Tel Aviv, Yaron splits her time between her native city and New York. Her new book is 10/7: 100 Human Stories. Lee shares in riveting detail the impact of the horrific October 7, 2023 massacre on the diverse victims, the global community, and on her own life. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at [email protected] Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Oct 23, 202454 min