
The Back Room with Andy Ostroy
522 episodes — Page 8 of 11

Ep 172Alan Zweibel
EAlan Zweibel was an original Saturday Night Live writer who’s won numerous Emmy and Writers Guild of America awards for his work in television which includes It's Garry Shandling's Show (which he co-created and produced), The Late Show with David Letterman, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. In the theater, he collaborated with Billy Crystal on the Tony Award winning play "700 Sundays”, Martin Short's "Fame Becomes Me”, and the off-Broadway hit "Bunny Bunny: Gilda Radner - Sort of a Romantic Comedy" which he adapted from his bestselling book. In total, Alan has written 11 books including his Thurber Prize-winning novel "The Other Shulman" and, most recently, a cultural memoir titled "Laugh Lines - My Life helping Funny People Be Funnier." Because of his diverse body of work, the Writers Guild of America, East has honored Alan with a Lifetime Achievement Award". What a truly fun chat listening to Alan's riveting memories of childhood; the early days of SNL; his cherished relationship with Gilda Radner; his various television and theater collaborations with the most legendary comedians; his books; comedy's new boundaries; 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

Ep 171Kara Swisher
EKara Swisher is the host of the podcast “On with Kara Swisher” and the co-host of the “Pivot” podcast with Scott Galloway, both distributed by New York magazine. She’s also a regular panelist on CNN’s “The Chris Wallace Show.” She was the co-founder and editor-at-large of Recode, host of the “Recode Decode” podcast, and co-executive producer of the Code conference. She was a former contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and host of its “Sway” podcast and has also worked for The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Her new memoir BURN BOOK is out tomorrow, Tuesday February 27th. With her inimitable wit and wisdom, Kara's back in THE BACK ROOM discussing the new book...talkin' tech, tech-bros, Trump, and her personal journey from the loss of her father at five to becoming Silicon Valley's top journalist and a hugely successful podcaster. 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

Ep 170Adrienne Elrod
Adrienne Elrod is a political strategist, government affairs expert and communicator with over 25 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, the executive branch and advising corporate and political organizations. A native of Arkansas, she began her political career in President Bill Clinton’s Administration, serving in both the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. On Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, Adrienne served as Regional Press Secretary, Texas Communications Director, and Deputy Director of the Congressional Delegate Selection office. On the 2016 presidential campaign, she served as Hillary for America’s Director of Strategic Communications. Most recently she served in the Biden Administration as Director of External and Government Affairs for CHIPS for America at the Department of Commerce. She also served as Biden for President’s Director of Surrogate Strategy and Operations during the 2020 campaign. She’s also a frequent contributor to NBC and MSNBC News. Adrienne and I talk Bill and Hillary Clinton, President Joe Biden and the success of Bidenomics, Donald Trump, the 'almost dead' GOP, and the November election. She also takes us back to childhood, her early political years, and reveals 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

Ep 169Daniel-Ryan Spaulding
EDaniel-Ryan Spaulding is a stand-up comedian, writer, and influencer who's performed in over 50 countries worldwide. He is Canadian, but lived in Europe for 12 years with his comedy career mainly overseas. He moved to New York City last year, where he’s performed his popular one-man Off-Broadway show Power Gay. He has been an advocate against Antisemitism, against Hamas, and against extremism on the left and right. He believes in a Pro-Israel, Pro-Palestinian, Pro-Peace agenda! Join us for this fun, revealing and inspiring chat about using humor to navigate through and overcome life's personal challenges while trying to understand and reconcile the complicated geopolitical landscape 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

Ep 168Chely Wright
EChely Wright is country-music artist, author and LGBTQ+ activist. Named "Top New Female Vocalist" by The Academy of Country Music, she rose to fame as a commercial country singer in the '90s, and has since released 9 studio albums and charted more than 17 singles on the Billboard charts, including "Shut Up and Drive," "Single White Female," and "The Bumper of My S.U.V." She made history by being the first country music star to publicly come out as gay, which she wrote about in her 2010 memoir Like Me. The documentary film about her coming out process, "Wish Me Away", was nominated for an Emmy Award. Subsequently, her life’s changed to include advocacy and corporate engagement around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and she currently serves as Chief Diversity Officer at Unispace--a global strategy, design, and delivery firm. She is also Vice-Chair of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network Board of Directors, which is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. She was also recognized as a 2023 Crain's New York Business Notable LGBTQ Leader. Her latest book is 2022’s My Moment: 106 Women on Fighting for Themselves. Chely shares her incredible journey from Wellsville, KS to the Grand Old Opry and her courageous decision to acknowledge her sexuality at the height of her career. This is her brutally honest and inspiring story. 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

Ep 167Matt Friend
EMatt Friend is an incredibly talented stand-up comedian, actor, and impressionist whose repertoire spans more than 250 flawless vocal and physical impressions of celebrities, politicians, business tycoons and other notables. So join this hilarious party in The Back Room with Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Mitch McConnell, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Bradley Cooper, Timothee Chalamet, Austin Butler, Paul Giamatti, Michael Buble, Patrick Mahomes and others! Matt also shares his Grammy, Emmy and Golden Globe red carpet experiences; meeting his idols including Steve Martin, Martin Short, Billy Joel and Jack Antonoff; doing CNN with Jim Acosta; and offers Howard Stern's thoughts on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce! 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

Ep 166Molly Roden Winter
EMolly Roden Winter is a Brooklyn-based based writer, author and musician. Her personal essays have appeared in The Cut, Time Magazine, Romper, and elsewhere. Her just-released NY Times best-selling book is titled, More: A Memoir of Open Marriage. Is it possible to enjoy guilt-free sex with whoever you want and still have a loving relationship with your spouse? Molly shares her personal journey through open marriage and polyamory, the inherent benefits and challenges of this unconventional lifestyle, and her experience with not just having multiple lovers, but being in love with multiple people. 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

Ep 165Michael Cohen
EMichael Cohen is the former personal attorney for Donald Trump and served for years as an executive in the Trump Organization. He is host of the Mea Culpa With Michael Cohen podcast and co-host of Political Beatdown with Michael Cohen and Ben Meiselas podcast, and is a 2x NYT best-selling author. His latest book is “Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the US Department of Justice Against His Critics. He’s also Principal of crisis management firm Crisis-X. Michael shares his thoughts on Trump's big loss in the DC Appeals Court's immunity ruling; the Supreme Court's oral arguments in the 14th Amendment case; the latest in the Stormy Daniels hush-money case; Rep. Elise Stefanik's shocking VP audition; MAGA Mike Johnson and the derailed border deal; Nikki Haley and the campaign; Trump's 'Elvis' delusions; and more. And, he unveils his awesome new Trump impression! This is a truly fun 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

Ep 164Josh Mankiewicz
For almost 30 years Josh Mankiewicz has been a correspondent for Dateline NBC, the longest running primetime show in NBC history, and has reported on a variety of stories the 25th anniversary of the O.J. Simpson bronco chase, the Jonestown massacre, and Jon Benet Ramsey investigation. Since 2020, he’s reported for the #1 podcasts Dateline: Missing in America, Motive for Murder and Internal Affairs. Join us as Josh takes us on a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Dateline and explains the massive popularity of the true crime genre. He also shares some childhood memories, influences and inspirations and his early years as a journalist. And, we have some fun discussing the friendly rivalry with the other "Dateline Daddy" Keith Morrison! So, come for the Keith impressions, stay for the surprising Taylor Swift revelation! 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

Ep 163Alexis Coe
Alexis Coe is a presidential historian and a fellow at New America, where she is thinking about the presidency in anticipation of America's 250th. She is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George of Washington and Alice+Freda Forever: A Murder in Memphis. She frequently appears on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, History, BBC, and PBS, and has been featured in and published by most major publications, including the New Yorker, the New York Times, and the Washington Post. She is a frequent guest on NPR and hosted the podcasts No Man's Land and Presidents Are People Too! Join us for this fascinating chat about American political history, George Washington and the presidency, Donald Trump, the current political landscape, and the future of democracy. This insightful and witty historian also shares her personal history, her exodus from Brooklyn to the Hudson Valley, and 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

Ep 162Anthony Scaramucci
EAnthony “The Mooch” Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of global investment firm SkyBridge and founder and chairman of SALT, a global thought leadership forum and venture studio. He’s also an author, hosts the OPEN BOOK podcast, and is best known for the 11 roller-coaster days he served in the Trump White House as Communications Director. As a former insider, Mooch never fails to provide astute and unique insights into Donald "The Orange Maniac" Trump's deranged dictatorial mindset and motivations, Trumpism, and the current political landscape as we race towards the critical November election. We also get his thoughts on President Biden, Nikki Haley, the RNC, the economy, public education, and Republicans' insanely antagonistic obsession with Taylor Swift. 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

Ep 161Pamela Paul
Pamela Paul is an Opinion columnist for The New York Times. For nine years, she was the editor of The New York Times Book Review and oversaw all books coverage at The New York Times. She was also the longtime host of the weekly Book Review podcast. She is the author and editor of 8 books including The Starter Marriage and the Future of Matrimony, Pornified, Parenting, Inc. and the picture book Rectangle Time. She’s a former contributor to Time and former correspondent for The Economist, and has been a columnist for the Styles section of The Times, Worth magazine and The Economist. Join Pamela and I for this fun, spirited chat about her latest NY Times column, "'Barbie' is Bad. There, I Said It", and the controversial Oscars snub of the film's director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie. 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

Ep 160Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, and propaganda. She is the recipient of Guggenheim and other fellowships; an advisor to Protect Democracy; an MSNBC opinion columnist and television commentator; and publishes Lucid, a newsletter on threats to democracy. Her latest book, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence, and machismo - and how they can be defeated. This is our first live-audience podcast taping! And it's a truly riveting conversation about America's chilling flirtation with fascism, Donald Trump's dangerous authoritarian behavior, the ongoing threats to democracy of Trumpism, the death of the Republican 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

Ep 159Frank Rich
Frank Rich is a journalist, author, and television producer. A writer-at-large for New York magazine, he was previously chief drama critic and an OpEd columnist for the New York Times. He executive produced the long-running HBO series Succession and Veep as well as the limited series White House Plumbers and the documentaries Six by Sondheim and Becoming Mike Nichols. Frank's books include The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina and the memoir Ghost Light. He has been awarded 6 Emmys, 3 Peabody Awards, 3 Golden Globe Awards, and a Producer’s Guild Award. His journalism honors include the George Polk Award for Commentary and the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism from Harvard University. He has twice been a Pulitzer Prize finalist. In 2015, he was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame. His new limited series for HBO, The Regime, starring Kate Winslet and directed by Stephen Frears, is scheduled to premiere in March 2024. Join us as Frank takes us on a riveting ride through his celebrated life and illustrious career, sharing memories of childhood, his early theater inspirations (including his relationship over the years with iconic composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim), his tenure at the New York Times, and his award-winning work in television. He also shares his thoughts on the state of the media, AI, the comparisons to Succession's Roy family with the Trumps, 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

Ep 158Edie Falco
EEdie Falco is a television, film and stage actor whose roles on HBO's Oz, Showtime's Nurse Jackie and the iconic HBO series The Sopranos have earned her multiple Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards. She currently stars in the hit Peacock series Bupkis as Pete Davidson's mother. Her Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning play Sideman, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair De Lune, ‘Night Mother, and The House of Blue Leaves, for which she received a Tony Award Nomination. Off-Broadway she’s appeared in The Madrid, This Wide Night, The True, and Morning Sun. Her work in feature film includes Cost of Living (American Film Institute’s Best Actress Award), Laws of Gravity (Independent Spirit Award nomination), Sunshine State, Landline, Hurricane, The Funeral, The Addiction, Freedomland, The Land of Steady Habits, Judy Berlin, and the Avatar sequels. …as well as indie film pioneer Hal Hartley’s classics The Unbelievable Truth and Trust, which also starred my late wife Adrienne Shelly. Edie and I intimately chat for an hour about childhood, life, family, addiction, her illustrious career, The Sopranos, a possible Nurse Jackie re-boot, Trump and politics, the Knicks, her animal-welfare work 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

Ep 157Rep. Jasmine Crockett
EJasmine Crockett is an attorney, former member of the Texas House of Representatives and currently serves as the US Representative for Texas’s 30th Congressional District, which covers much of the city of Dallas and parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties. She is a member of the House Oversight and Agriculture Committees. Rep. Crockett is back in THE BACK ROOM discussing her home state's draconian abortion and immigration laws, the chaos and dysfunction of the Republican House Crazy Caucus, the Trump crazy train, 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

Ep 156Caitlin Keating
Caitlin Keating is a New York City based filmmaker, journalist, and co-founder of Wise Fool Films. She produced 'Take Care of Maya' ,which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and released on Netflix last year. She previously spent over a decade as a reporter and writer at People magazine, having covered hundreds of exclusve human interest and crime stories across the country. She also hosted People's first episodic human interest series, and has contributed to The New York Times, among many other leading publications, and has appeared on NBC’s Today, ABC’s Good Morning America, Investigation Discovery’s hit show People Magazine Investigates, and People Now. 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

Ep 155Gary Gulman
EOver 25 years in comedy, Gary Gulman has established himself as an eminent performer and peerless writer whom the New York Times said is “finally being recognized as one of the country’s strongest comedians.” He’s made five TV specials, including the critically-acclaimed new stand-up special for MAX, Born on 3rd Base. He recently released his memoir, Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the 80’s…and can also be seen in the 2019 international blockbuster Joker and the Hulu comedy series Life & Beth, alongside Amy Schumer. Gary's an incredibly funny stand-up comic and a brilliant comedy writer. Our conversation is both hilarious and insightful, and inspiring, as we discuss his HBO/Max stand-up comedy specials, his hilarious new book, his childhood, mental health, and overcoming challenges. 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

Ep 154James Kirchick
EJames Kirchick is a journalist, historian, columnist for Tablet magazine, writer at large for Air Mail, and the author of the NYT bestseller, SECRET CITY: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the Atlantic, the New York Review of Books, New York and Rolling Stone among others. He’s a frequent speaker at colleges and universities across America and at venues including the National Security Agency, the U.S. Department of State, the Oslo Freedom Forum and the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. He’s also appeared on Good Morning America, Real Time with Bill Maher, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, the BBC and NPR. Jamie shares his childhood, the evolution of his political thinking and early career, and discusses Israel, antisemitism, campus free speech, homophobia, transphobia, his book about gay DC, and what it's like being a gay conservative in America today. 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

Ep 153Tina Nguyen
ETina Nguyen is a national correspondent for Puck, covering the world of Donald Trump and the American right. Previously, she was a White House reporter for Politico, a staff reporter for Vanity Fair Hive, and an editor at Mediaite….and was nominated for a James Beard Award for her coverage of the restaurant industry while working at The Braiser. She is the author of the new book The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out), an explosive, first-person account chronicling the rise of the MAGA movement . Join us for this fascinating conversation as Tina shares her journey through the ground levels of the conservative recruiting machine and into Donald Trump's MAGA cult. 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

Ep 152Michael Gerhardt
Michael J. Gerhardt is the Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Scholar in Residence at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and the foremost scholar on impeachment in the United States. He is one of only two legal scholars to testify in three different presidential impeachment hearings and served as Special Counsel to the Presiding Officer in Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. He is the author of six books, including his latest, THE LAW OF PRESIDENTIAL IMPEACHMENT: A Guide For the Engaged Citizen, is on sale January 9th. Join us for this compelling chat about Donald Trump, his two impeachments, and his ongoing threat to democracy; the Republican-led evidence-free Biden impeachment inquiry and the partisan weaponization of the impeachment process; the Constitution and the history of impeachments; and the motivation for his new book. 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

Ep 151Jo "JoJo From Jerz" Carducci
EJo Carducci, also known as "JoJo From Jerz", is a mom living in the Jersey suburbs who, in the wake of the 2016 election, was looking for an outlet to share her frustrations and fears about Donald Trump, so she joined Twitter (X). And she hasn’t looked back since. What once was a sounding board to vent with like-minded people, has turned into a full-time commitment to standing up for democracy and against tyranny in her signature snark and sass. You can find her on all the socials, at http://Patreon.com/JoJoFromJerz, on her Are You F’ng Kidding Podcast, and on Substack with her newsletter of the same name. Join us for this fun, lively conversation about Jo's fascinating journey from her childhood in Morristown to suburban single mom to social media sensation! Jo shares with us how and when she found her political voice, and how as a 'resister' she uses it to speak out against Trump, Trumpism and the Republican Party. 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

Ep 150Michael Cohen
EMichael Cohen is the former personal attorney for Donald Trump and served for years as an executive in the Trump Organization. He is host of the Mea Culpa With Michael Cohen podcast and co-host of Political Beatdown with Michael Cohen and Ben Meiselas podcast, and is a 2x NYT best-selling author. His latest book is “Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the US Department of Justice Against His Critics. He’s also Principal of crisis management firm Crisis-X. Michael's back in The Back Room helping unpack Trump's latest political and legal troubles, the threat to democracy of Trump 2.0, and answers the chilling question, 'Is mob boss Trump capable of putting out a "hit" on his enemies?'. And of course, we discuss Rudy "Colludy" Giuliani, "Melanoma" Trump's whereabouts, and Michael's pending pardon application. It's another compelling Cohen convo 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

Ep 149Jonathan Karl
Jonathan Karl is the chief Washington correspondent for ABC News, co- anchor of This Week and the author of the just released NY Times best-selling book TIRED OF WINNING: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party. He's covered every major beat in Washington, DC, and reported from the White House under four presidents and fourteen press secretaries. He's also a former president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. His prior books, Front Row at the Trump Show and Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, were also instant New York Times bestsellers. Join us as Jonathan and I get into his new book, which is packed with incredibly detailed reporting and fascinating, shocking, and at times chilling inside information about Trump and what another Trump presidency would be like. We also discuss his prior books, Nikki Haley and the 2024 election, 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 148Michael Steele
EMichael Steele is the former Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman, former Lt. Governor of Maryland, MSNBC political analyst and host of the Michael Steele Podcast. Join us for this insightful, entertaining chat about Trump and his 14th Amendment and immunity cases; the ongoing threats from Trumpism; the slow death of the GOP; RNC chair Ronna McDaniel's failure, and how he'd fix that broken organization; Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Liz Cheney and the 2024 presidential election; and the fall of Rudy Giuliani. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 147Naysa Woomer
Naysa Woomer served as the former Communications Director for the now former and disgraced, indicted U.S. Congressman George Santos. She’s a Republican communications advisor who previously worked for former Massachusetts Gov Charlie Baker, the Republican Party of Massachusetts and Reps. Ryan Costello (PA), Thomas Massie (KY) & Tim Huelskamp (KS). She’s made various media appearances on MSNBC's The Beat with Ari Melber, CNN This Morning & with CNN’s Jim Acosta. Join us for a fun, fascinating look inside the wild and wacky world of George Santos from someone in the chaotic front seat of this unprecedented political roller-coaster! 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 146Elie Honig
EElie Honig is an attorney and CNN senior legal analyst and the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and this year's book 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 and writes for CAFE and Vox Media. Elie's back in The Back Room helping unpack the week's legal developments regarding Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and the Texas abortion case. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 145Rep. Ritchie Torres
Rep. Ritchie Torres, at 25, became New York City's youngest elected official, and the first openly LGBTQ person elected in the Bronx. He currently represents New York’s 15th Congressional District and is a member of the Financial Services Committee and the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party. Rep. Torres' life personifies the true American success story. It's an inspirational narrative of overcoming socioeconomic, health/mental health and sexuality struggles to great accomplishment at an unprecedented young age. He shares with us his impoverished childhood and his meteoric ascent to the City Council in 2013 and into the United States Congress eight years later. He's been called 'Israel's loudest House supporter' and has become a powerfully outspoken voice against the tidal-wave of antisemitism sweeping across the country. Join us for this incredibly important and moving 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 144Rep. Dean Phillips
Rep. Dean Phillips is a third-term Democratic Congressman from Minnesota’s 3rd District and is running for president against Joe Biden. He serves on the House Foreign Affairs and Small Business Committees, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Known for his bipartisan approach to governing, he is a current member of the House Problem Solvers Caucus and served as vice chair. We discuss his childhood and background, his early inspirations, his business success, his decision to enter politics in 2018, and why he's decided to take on Biden in an unorthodox primary bid against an incumbent president. It's a conversation you don't want to 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 143Tom Nichols
ETom Nichols is an author, staff writer at The Atlantic, and an expert on international security issues who taught national security affairs for 25 years at the U.S. Naval War College, as well as at the Harvard Extension School, Dartmouth College, and Georgetown University. He is the author of several books on Russia, the Cold War, and international politics. His most recent book is Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault From Within on Modern Democracy. Tom joins me for an insightful, compelling conversation about Donald Trump's continuing existential threat to democracy, and his chilling new piece in The Atlantic's 'all-Trump' issue, "A Military Loyal to Trump". He also shares some entertaining anecdotes about his days as a five-time Jeopardy! champion 30 years ago! 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 142Chris Cuomo
EChris Cuomo is host of the nightly news show "Cuomo" on NewsNation and The Chris Cuomo Project podcast. Join us for this insightful, entertaining chat as Chris and I discuss what's good, bad and ugly in the world, including his thoughts on the Jets, Knicks, Taylor Swift, Public Enemy, The Beatles 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 141Dr. Alexander Vindman and Rachel Vindman
EDr. Alexander Vindman is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who most recently served on the National Security Council. He was thrust into the national spotlight in October 2019 when he testified before Congress during former president Donald Trump's first impeachment hearing. He is currently a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute, and leads the national security think tank, the Institute for Informed American Leadership. He’s an executive board member for the Renew Democracy Initiative and a senior advisor for VoteVets. He frequently appears on NPR, MSNBC, and CNN and is the author of the book "Here, Right Matters: An American Story". Rachel Vindman is an opinion columnist at USA TODAY and a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors. She's an activist and political commentator and also co-hosts the Suburban Women Problem podcast. Join me and this dynamic power-couple as we discuss the Israel-Hamas war; the hostage crisis; the failure of the Netanyahu government; the rise in rabid antisemitism; the 'forgotten' Ukraine-Russia war; the continued threat to our democracy from Donald Trump and Trumpism; the 2024 election and Alex's twin brother Eugene's candidacy for Virginia's 7th Congressional district seat; 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 140Zelda Roland, Ph.D.
Zelda Roland is the Founding Director of the Yale Prison Education Initiative at Dwight Hall, which brings access to Yale classes and other campus programming to incarcerated students in Connecticut. A Yale alumna (BA 08, PhD16), she also serves as the inaugural director of University of New Haven’s Prison Education Program and its partnership with YPEI, through which incarcerated students earn degrees in prison and receive support when released from confinement. She is a Lecturer in Yale’s Education Studies Program, a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Communications at the University of New Haven, an affiliated faculty of the Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law at Yale Law School, and a fellow of Jonathan Edwards College. Zelda and I discuss the genesis of the program, how it works, its success and why programs like these are critically important to society. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 139Bess Freedman
EBess Freedman is CEO of Brown Harris Stevens, one of the largest privately held real estate companies in the United States. She draws upon her law background and passion for helping people to drive change within the company and the larger real estate industry. She’s declared Juneteenth a company-wide holiday, made Election Day a paid day off, partnered with the Human Rights Campaign in support of legislation protecting rights of the LGBTQ+ community, and provides travel expenses for employees seeking to obtain legal and safe abortions. An advocate for social change, Bess is on the Board of The Bridge, an organization focused on the needs of homeless and housing-insecure, and an advocate for Sanctuary for Families. She also supports the mentorship program at YJP (Young Jewish Professionals), the Leadership Now Project--a corporate initiative to protect democracy--and the Kalief Browder Foundation. Before entering real estate, she practiced law as an Assistant State's Attorney in Montgomery County, Maryland, and worked at Legal Aid as an attorney fighting for the rights of under-served youth in NYC. This is a truly compelling conversation about Bess's successful business career and what lies ahead for real estate market; her important, inspirational advocacy work; and what it means to be a passionate and proud Jew in these turbulent times rife with rabid antisemitism and war. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 138Miles Taylor
EMiles Taylor is a national security expert who served in the Trump administration as chief of staff at the US Department of Homeland Security, where he published an “Anonymous” essay in The New York Times, blowing the whistle on presidential misconduct. He later published the #1 national bestseller A Warning, revealed himself to be the author, and launched a campaign of ex-officials to oppose Donald Trump’s reelection. He’s worked as an advisor in the George W. Bush administration, on Capitol Hill, and as a CNN contributor. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, Blowback, and the host of the “The Whistleblowers” podcast. Miles is a true patriot, is full of great stories and anecdotes, and is a pretty funny guy (come for his Trump impression, stay for the 'spooning'!)...all of which makes for an insightful, entertaining conversation. Miles takes us back through the surreal, chaotic, dysfunctional and dangerous Trump White House; the emotional and physical toll it took on him personally; and the existential threat the 4x-indicted GOP front-runner continues to pose to our democracy, especially should he become president again. Miles also answers the one question no one else has asked him, and he reveals his favorite 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 137Kevin Krim
EKevin Krim is President and CEO at EDO, the TV outcomes company, a leading platform measuring predictive behaviors driven by Convergent TV advertising, and co-founded over 8 years ago with actor and filmmaker Edward Norton and Daniel Nadler. Prior to EDO, Kevin was the General Manager & SVP of CNBC Digital and previously held leadership positions at Bloomberg, Yahoo, and LookSmart, and began his career with McKinsey & Co. He is the co-founder and chairman of the non-profit Lulu & Leo Fund and its flagship Choose Creativity initiative. Kevin is also one of my 'tragedy buddies'. On the afternoon of October 25, 2012, his wife Marina returned to their Upper West Side Manhattan home with their 3-year-old daughter Nessie to the gruesome discovery that their two other children Lucia and Leo, 6 and 2, had been murdered by their nanny. Kevin shares their inspiring journey through the healing process and their efforts to build the children's legacies through their amazing education non-profit, which can be supported at choosecreativity.org. Kevin is also an accomplished digital media entrepreneur, and we close out the conversation with a discussion about his company's work, the latest trends in television advertising, and what the future holds for how people view and experience content. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 136Julianna Margulies
EJulianna Margulies is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award winner currently starring as Laura Peterson on Apple TV+'s The Morning Show. She previously starred as Alicia Florrick on the long-running hit CBS show The Good Wife, which she also produced, and was one of the original cast members of ER. More recently, Julianna’s starred on critically acclaimed series including Billions and The Hot Zone...and is the author of her memoir, Sunshine Girl: An Unexpected Life. She’s been involved with Project ALS, Erin's Law, is also a board member of the New York City-based MCC Theater company, and is the founder of the The Holocaust Educator School Partnership at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. After a brief chat about this Season's The Morning Show, Julianna and I have a brutally honest in-depth conversation about the barbaric October 7 attack on Israel by terrorist organization Hamas; the ensuing war; the outbreak of rabid antisemitism; the mis/disinformation being spread; and the frustration and anger felt by Jews that too few are standing up for us here 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 135Mark Chiusano
EMark Chiusano covered George Santos as a columnist and editorial writer at New York Newsday. His new book, "The Fabulist: The Lying, Hustling, Grifting, Stealing, and Very American Legend of George Santos", comes out November 28th. Join us for this insightful, entertaining chat about wild and wacky world of George Santos! 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 134John Fugelsang
EJohn Fugelsang is a Drama League nominated actor, comedian, and broadcaster who hosts the acclaimed "Tell Me Everything" series on SiriusXM. He's been a regular on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and hosted "Viewpoint" on Current TV. He’s sold out theaters across the country with Stephanie Miller, Hal Sparks and Aisha Tyler on The Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour. He was also the co-host of 'America's Funniest Home Videos' for 2 seasons. And his acting credits include 'CSI,' Becker,' 'Coyote Ugly,’ 'The Girl On The Train,' "Somewhere In the City," 'The Whole Truth,' ‘Maggie Black,’& the award winning 'Coexist Comedy Tour.' Join us for this fun chat about the comedy biz, religion, politics 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 133Jonathan Greenblatt
Jonathan Greenblatt is the CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). 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, he 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. Join us for this critical in-depth conversation about the barbaric October 7 attack on Israel by terrorist organization Hamas, the ensuing war, and the subsequent explosion of rabid, often violent 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 132Gershon Baskin
EGershon Baskin is an Israeli writer, columnist, author and one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. He is the Director of the Holy Land Bond, a new fund aimed at investing in housing projects for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, integrated housing projects for Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in Israel’s “mixed cities”. Gershon is the co-founder and former co-director of the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information. During the Premiership of the late Yitzhak Rabin, he served as a special advisor on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process to a secret team of intelligence officers established by Mr. Rabin. In 2011, after five years of negotiation with Hamas, he successfully brokered the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. Join us for this insightful, riveting conversation about an extremely complicated, nuanced, volatile situation involving the barbaric October 7th attack on Israel by terrorist organization Hamas, the ensuing war, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, hostage negotiations, and the desperate need for peace between Israel and Palestinians. And perhaps even more significantly, Gershon provides honest, balanced historical context for this centuries-old conflict in the region 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 131Alexandra Pelosi
Alexandra Pelosi has written, produced, filmed and directed 15 HBO Documentary Films. She started off her career at NBC News where she served for a decade as a field producer. Covering the campaign of future-President George W. Bush led to her first documentary, Journeys with George. Since then, she has been making films that take the temperature of the American political landscape. She is also the author of two books, Sneaking Into the Flying Circus: How the Media Turn Our Presidential Campaigns Into Freak Shows, and Citizen USA: A 50 State Road Trip. This is such a fun, insightful, riveting chat about politics and movies with one of America's premier documentary filmmakers. We discuss her early career and inspirations; Trump and Trumpism; the chaos in the House; the 2024 election; the January 6, 2021 insurrection, which is the subject of her most recent films, last year's Pelosi in The House, and her new HBO documentary, The Insurrectionist Next Door; 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 130Dr. Sheila Nazarian
EDr. Sheila Nazarian is an Iranian-American board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills and the star of the Emmy-nominated Netflix series Skin Decision. She is also a mom, wife, humanitarian and activist. Join us for this important discussion about the Israel-Hamas war, the rise in rabid anti-Semitism, and what lies ahead for Israel, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Gaza and the overall struggle for peace in the region. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 129Daniel Byman
EDaniel Byman is a professor and Vice Dean at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and the director of the Security Studies Program there and a Senior Fellow with the Transnational Threats Project at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He’s also a part-time Senior Advisor to the Department of State as part of the International Security Advisory Board and a senior fellow at the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution, as well as a Professional Staff Member with both the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks on the United States (“The 9-11 Commission”) and the Joint 9/11 Inquiry Staff of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. He’s written widely on a range of topics related to terrorism, insurgency, intelligence, social media, artificial intelligence, and the Middle East. He is the author of nine books, and his most recent is Spreading Hate: The White Power Movement Goes Global. Professor Byman shares his keen insights on the Israel-Hamas war; the threat of escalation from Hezbollah/Lebanon and Iran; the need for Egypt to broker peace; post-war Gaza; Israel's and Bibi Netanyahu's political future; the rise in rabid anti-Semitism; Donald Trump, Trumpism and domestic terrorism; the threat to America from China; 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 128New York Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado
Antonio Delgado is Lt. Governor of the State of New York, appointed in May of 2022 and then elected for a full term in November ’22. He previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving NY’s 19th Congressional District. He played basketball at Colgate, is a Rhodes Scholar, and a graduate of Harvard Law School. He spent 5 years pursuing a career as a hip-hop artist in LA, and then went on to work as an attorney focusing on complex litigation with pro-bono work in criminal justice reform. As Lt. Governor, he serves as chair of the Hate and Bias Prevention Unit, oversees the Regional Economic Development Council, and is committed to empowering New York communities through civic engagement. Join us for this insightful conversation about the Israeli/Hamas war and the rise of anti-Semitism, especially here at home; NY's Hate and Bias Prevention Unit; the GOP House chaos; the success of Bidenomics and the need for better Democratic messaging; political tribalism; and the 2024 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 127Rep. Dan Goldman and S.E. Cupp
EIt's a two-fer in The Back Room! Join us for two incredibly important, insightful conversations about the Maine mass-shooting and America's gun-violence epidemic; the Israeli-Hamas War and the growing tensions here and abroad; the chilling rise in anti-Semitism; the Republican House chaos and Speaker debacle; Donald Trump's legal troubles and the on-going threat to democracy of Trumpism; and more. Rep. Goldman serves New York’s 10th Congressional District. In 2019, he served as lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of President Donald J. Trump for abusing his office for his personal interest regarding Ukraine. Prior to that, Goldman served for a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. S.E. Cupp is a CNN political commentator and 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. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 126May Pang
EMay Pang is the subject of the just-released documentary THE LOST WEEKEND: A LOVE STORY, in which she recounts her legendary 18-month romantic relationship in ’73/’74 with John Lennon which began at 22 when she was John and Yoko Ono’s personal assistant—an affair orchestrated by Yoko herself. She is also a photographer, author and jewelry designer. Her intimate portraits of John during their time together include rare images of the former Beatle and music legend and his son Julian. In addition to working for Apple Records and John & Yoko, she worked in music publishing at United Artists, Famous Music and Island Records. May and I discuss this incredible new documentary; her time with John in NY and LA; her thoughts on the phrase "Lost Weekend", her relationships with John's first wife Cynthia Lennon, Julian and Yoko; and the emotional journey she's been on since John's murder in 1980. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 125David Jolly
EDavid Jolly is an attorney, political consultant, NBC/MSNBC political analyst and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida from 2014 – 2017. His work has been published in the Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, USA Today, Roll Call, CNN.com, NBCNews.com, NewsMax, the Washington Times, and the Tampa Bay Times. After leaving Congress he became a prominent critic of former President Trump and in 2018 announced he’d left the Republican Party. David helps unpack the Israeli/Palestinian war and what lies ahead; the GOP House chaos and the Speaker's vacancy; Donald Trump and the overall Republican Party dysfunction; and handicaps the 2024 presidential horse race. And don't miss the first part of this episode as Andy, Matty and Jen--three American Jews--engage in a spirited debate about the mounting crisis in the Middle East. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 124Tara Setmayer
ETara Setmayer is a former CNN political commentator, contributor to ABC News and former GOP Communications Director on Capitol Hill. She's frequently guest-hosted ABC's The View and appears regularly on MSNBC. She’s also a Senior Advisor for the Lincoln Project and co-hosts the streaming show "The Breakdown" alongside Lincoln Project co-founder Rick Wilson. After spending 27 years with the Republican Party, Tara publicly left the GOP in November 2020 after Donald Trump refused to concede the election to Joe Biden. She now identifies as a 'conservative independent'. Tara is super smart, super insightful and super engaging. We discuss the crisis in the Middle East, the crisis in the GOP House and the ongoing threat to democracy from Donald Trump and his right-wing extremist election-denying cultists. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ep 123Rep. Jasmine Crockett
EJasmine Crockett is an attorney, former member of the Texas House of Representatives and currently serves as the US Representative for Texas’s 30th Congressional District. Elected as a freshman last Fall, her district covers much of the city of Dallas and parts of Dallas and Tarrant counties. She is a member of the House Oversight and Agriculture Committees. Congresswoman Crockett is a Back Room favorite, and she's back with us again to discuss the barbaric Hamas attack on Israel and the war that's followed, as well as the Republican House chaos and the crisis its creating as America supports two allies at war--Israel and Ukraine--without a Speaker and a fully functioning Congress. We also revisit her epic speech during the GOP's recent sham Biden impeachment inquiry. 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 Music by Andrew Hollander Design by Cricket Lengyel