Podcasts by Category
The Back Room with Andy Ostroy presents a humorous, honest take on politics and pop culture featuring notable guest interviews, a shit-ton of righteous indignation, and rip-roaring repartee with co-producers Matty Rosenberg and Jen Hammoud. We're havin' a ball, and so will you! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
- 277 - Dr. Bandy X. Lee
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 BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 30 Oct 2024 - 276 - Charlie 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 BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 28 Oct 2024 - 275 - Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney
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 BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 26 Oct 2024 - 274 - Lee 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 BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 23 Oct 2024 - 273 - Jason Stanley
Jason Stanley is the Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University. He is the author of six books, including How Propaganda Works. He serves on the board of the Prison Policy Initiative and writes frequently about propaganda, free speech, mass incarceration, democracy, and authoritarianism for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and many other periodicals. His new book, Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future, is on sale next week.
Jason and I discuss his book and the existential threat to democracy of another Trump presidency
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 21 Oct 2024 - 272 - Ruth 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.
Ruth's back for another insightful conversation about Trump, Trumpism and the existential threat to democracy just two weeks from the most critical, consequential election in American history.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 19 Oct 2024 - 271 - Jon Michaels
Jon Michaels is a UCLA professor of law specializing in constitutional and national security law. His award-winning scholarship has appeared in the Yale Law Journal, University of Chicago Law Review, and Harvard Law Review, and he has written popular essays for the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Foreign Affairs, and Guardian. A Yale Law graduate and Supreme Court clerk, Jon is a member of the American Law Institute and serves on the advisory board of UCLA’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. His latest book, co-written with David Noll, is VIGILANTE NATION: How State-Sponsored Terror Threatens our Democracy.
Jon and I discuss his new book and the increasing use of vigilantism by the Republican Party and red states in targeting vulnerable groups in America to influence cultural, legal and political outcomes.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 17 Oct 2024 - 270 - Bill Adair
Bill Adair is the founder of the Pulitzer Prize winning website PolitiFact and is the Knight Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University and the director of the Duke Reporters’ Lab. His awards include the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting (with the PolitiFact staff), the Manship Prize for New Media in Democratic Discourse, and the Everett Dirksen Award for Distinguished Coverage of Congress. His new book is BEYOND THE BIG LIE The Epidemic of Political Lying, Why Republicans Do It More, and How It Could Burn Down Our Democracy.
Join us for this compelling chat about the breakdown of truth, facts and reality in politics, and its existential threat to democracy.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 14 Oct 2024 - 269 - Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh is a former Republican Congressman from Illinois elected to Congress in the TEA Party wave of 2010. Following his service in Congress, Walsh became one of the most popular syndicated conservative talk radio hosts in the country. In August of 2019 he ran for president, waging a Republican primary challenge against Donald Trump. He is the author of the 2020 book F*CK SILENCE: Calling Trump Out for the Cultish, Moronic, Authoritarian Con Man he Is. Joe is currently Director of The Social Contract and host of “The Social Contract With Joe Walsh" podcast. He can also be seen regularly on CNN, MSNBC and News Nation and has been written up in major publications like the NYT, Washington Post, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, Raw Story and Newsweek.
Joe's back with his inimitable wit, wisdom and flowery F-bombs talkin' Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, the presidential campaign and his predictions for the upcoming election!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 12 Oct 2024 - 268 - Joanne "JoJo From Jerz" Carducci
Joanne Carducci, also known as "JoJoFromJerz", 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), where she now has over 1-million followers. 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 & against tyranny in her signature snark and sass. And, she was even played by Dakota Johnson on SNL! You can find her on all the socials, at http://Patreon.com/JoJoFromJerz, on her Are You F’ng Kidding Podcast and over on Substack with her newsletter of the same name.
It's always fun and insightful when JoJo's in The Back Room! In this episode she shares poignant details of her personal life; her recent DNC convention experience and meeting one of her idols, Mark Hamill; the VP debate; her thoughts on the presidential campaign and upcoming election; and the thrill of being featured on Saturday Night Live!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 09 Oct 2024 - 267 - Don Lemon
Don Lemon is a best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and former anchor of the long-running CNN primetime program, Don Lemon Tonight, who earlier this year launched The Don Lemon Show, which is now streaming on all platforms. Don has won a variety of distinguished awards including an Edward R. Murrow award, multiple Emmys and a Peabody award, among others. He’s also been recognized as a leading influential figure by Ebony magazine, The Advocate, Out and others. And in 2011, he broke barriers by revealing he was gay in his auto-biographical book Transparent. His 2021 book This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was inspired by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer. His new book is "I Once Was Lost: My Search For God in America".
Don discusses his new book and shares in a brutally honest, thought-provoking manner how faith, religion and God has played a major role in his life. We also discuss the recent VP debate, Special Counsel Jack Smith's new filing, and the upcoming election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 07 Oct 2024 - 266 - George 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.
In his inimitable way, George dissects the mind of Trump and his followers and the impact of it all on the campaign and what lies ahead for the November 5th election. It's a truly fascinating, in-depth ,don't miss chat!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 05 Oct 2024 - 265 - Andy Richter
Actor and writer Andy Richter is best-known for his long-running role as Conan O’Brien’s announcer and sidekick throughout multiple late-night shows. He rose to fame alongside Conan in 1993 on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and reprised this role on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, which premiered in 2009. In 2010, the duo moved to TBS, where Conan ran for 11 years with Richter once again acting as announcer, writer, general sidekick and participant in comedy sketches.
Richter has guest-starred in popular shows such as Arrested Development and Hulu’s Love, Victor. His feature film work includes Scary Movie 2, Elf, Talladega Nights, Blades of Glory, Semi-Pro, and Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. Andy’s also had a prolific voiceover career across numerous projects Mort in DreamWorks Studios’ Madagascar films, as well as in the Nickelodeon series Penguins of Madagascar. Since 2019, Richter has hosted the popular podcast The Three Questions with Andy Richter, has appeared in the film 80 for Brady and recently finished production on the upcoming film First Time Female Director. Richter is a graduate of Chicago’s Improv Olympic and Annoyance Theater, and a frequent performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles.
Join us for this fun, insightful, in-depth chat about Andy's life and career.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 03 Oct 2024 - 264 - Judge David S. Tatel
Judge David Tatel served on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1994 to 2023. Prior to that, his three-decade career as a civil rights lawyer included private and government positions, and focused heavily on equal educational opportunity and access to justice. He served as Director of the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and then Director of the National Committee. He was the Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare during the Carter Administration. When he returned to private practice in 1979, Judge Tatel joined Hogan & Hartson, where he founded and headed the firm’s education practice until his appointment to the D.C. Circuit. Judge Tatel also co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences’ Committee on Science, Technology and Law.
Judge Tatel joins me in The Back Room for a riveting conversation about his illustrious life and career, his terrific book Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice, and the controversies involving the current United States Supreme Court.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 30 Sep 2024 - 263 - Dana Bash
Dana Bash is CNN’s chief political correspondent and the anchor and host of Sunday morning’s State of the Union, serving as the network’s lead reporter covering campaigns and Congress. She regularly acts as a moderator for CNN’s political town hall specials and debates, including CNN’s first debate of the 2020 election cycle in Detroit. She has conducted sit-down interviews with major players in the political sphere during 2016, including Donald Trump, Senators Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Bernie Sanders, and Governors Jeb Bush and John Kasich. Her debut book America's Deadliest Election: The Cautionary Tale of the Most Violent Election in American History (written with David Fisher) went on sale earlier this month and was an instant New York Times bestseller.
Dana and I chat about the debates, her interview with Kamala Harris, and her critically-acclaimed new book about the 1872 Louisiana Gubernatorial election, the Constitutional crisis that occurred four years later in the presidential election, and the striking similarities to the current political landscape. We also discuss her emotional journey last year to the Auschwitz concentration camp with her colleague Wolf Blitzer, her family's history with the Holocaust, and the post-October-7th rise in antisemitism and hate crimes.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 28 Sep 2024 - 262 - Melissa Eddy
Melissa Eddy is a journalist based in Berlin who covers German business, economics, and politics for The New York Times. She has covered Chancellor Angela Merkel since she entered office in 2005. A Minnesota native fluent in German and French, she came to Germany as a Fulbright scholar in 1996. Before joining The International Herald Tribune, now the international edition of The New York Times, in 2015, she was a correspondent for the Associated Press in Frankfurt, Vienna, and the Balkans. Her first book is Merkel’s Law: Wisdom from the Woman Who Led the Free World.
Join us for this compelling conversation about a truly fascinating, consequential world leader.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 25 Sep 2024 - 261 - Prof. Allan J. Lichtman
Allan J. Lichtman is Distinguished Professor of History at American University and a leading geopolitical expert. He has provided expert testimony in some 110 civil rights cases. He has written 13 books, many hundreds of scholarly and popular articles, and provided worldwide media commentary. His recent books include The Case for Impeachment, The Embattled Vote In America, Repeal the Second Amendment, and 21 Cracks: Repairing American Democracy After Trump. His Keys to the White House prediction system has successfully forecasted the results of presidential elections since 1984, including Donald Trump’s win in 2016.
The professor is back in The Back Room, and this time he's discussing his prediction for the 2024 presidential election!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 23 Sep 2024 - 260 - Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci
Anthony 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 a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a board member of the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation....and the author of five books, including his latest, From Wall Street to the White House and Back. He's best known for the 11 rollercoaster days he served in the Trump WH as Communications Director, after having served on Trump's Finance Committee and then on his Presidential Transition Team.
We love when The Mooch brings his unique perspective into The Back Room on the pathological thinking and behavior of Trump and its impact on the campaign.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 21 Sep 2024 - 259 - Joe Trippi
Joe Trippi is a pioneer in bringing campaigns into the digital age. As National Campaign Manager for Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, his vision of using the Internet to connect directly with supporters transformed the way campaigns have been waged since. He currently serves as a senior strategist for several nonprofit and corporate clients, is a Sr Adviser to The Lincoln Project, and a Sr Advisor to MI Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. He began his political career working on Ted Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1980 and has since led efforts on a number of presidential, gubernatorial, senate, and congressional campaigns including Reps Ro Khanna, Kweisi Mfume (‘Kwyzee Mfoomay’), former CA Gov Jerry Brown and former AL Sen. Doug Jones. Joe is also the host of the podcast "That Trippi Show" and the author of “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: Democracy, the Internet and the Overthrow of Everything” and has served as a political commentator and analyst for MSNBC/NBC, CBS, FOX and CNN.
Joe takes us back to the 2024 Howard Dean presidential campaign, the political/campaign changes since, and weighs in on the current campaign.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Tue, 17 Sep 2024 - 258 - Max Boot
Max Boot is a historian, best-selling author and foreign-policy analyst. He is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a weekly columnist for The Washington Post. He just released the critically-acclaimed new book "Reagan: His Life and Legend". His previous biography, The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam, was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize in biography.
Max discusses his new book about Ronald Reagan and weighs in on the current presidential campaign.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 16 Sep 2024 - 257 - Michael Cohen
Michael 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.
It's always both insightful and fun when Michael's in The Back Room! He joins us this week to share his unique perspective on Tuesday night's debate, Trump's increasingly unhinged, dangerous behavior, and what it all means these next two months as we race towards the election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 14 Sep 2024 - 256 - Modi 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.
His current 'Pause For Laughter' tour includes stops in Zurich, London, Chicago, St. Paul, Montreal, and Denver before finally concluding at the iconic Beacon Theatre in NYC. His debut special, "Know Your Audience", is available on YouTube.
Modi is one of the funniest humans on the planet! I hope you enjoy this chat as much as I did!
Check out Modi's "Know Your Audience" comedy special here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPF3GkKuPVc. And find him on Instagram @Modi_Live!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 12 Sep 2024 - 255 - Jesselyn Cook
Jesselyn Cook is an award-winning investigative reporter and journalism lecturer who has written extensively about online conspiracy theories and their offline harms. Prior to covering the tech beat at NBC News, she was a senior reporter on HuffPost's national enterprise desk. Her new book is The Quiet Damage: Q Anon and the Destruction of the American Family.
Jesselyn shares her fascinating and at times chilling insights into the QAnon conspiracy phenomenon and its devastating effects on its followers' families. Her book is rare, intimate look into the psychology of how and why ordinary people come to believe the unbelievable.
More about the book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706443/the-quiet-damage-by-jesselyn-cook/
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 09 Sep 2024 - 254 - S.E. Cupp
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.
It's always fun when S.E. stops by The Back Room! We discuss Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the presidential campaign and the battleground states, the impact (or lack thereof) of RFK Jr on the election, and the upcoming debate. And, she reveals whether or not she'll be reading Melania's new memoir!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 07 Sep 2024 - 253 - Jeremy Sisto
Jeremy Sisto is a film, television and theater actor currently starring in the hit CBS show FBI. He is also a writer, producer and musician. His past tv credits include SIX FEET UNDER, LAW AND ORDER and the hit ABC sitcom SUBURGATORY. His extensive film credits include the 1995 classic CLUELESS, WAITRESS, the tennis comedy BREAK POINT, which he co-wrote and produced, the Oscar-nominated animated hit FROZEN II, and the Oscar-and Golden Globe-nominated animated film FERDINAND.
Jeremy's Los Angeles theater credits include “Take Me Out,” which earned him a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Featured Performance, Sidney Kingsley’s “Dead End”, and the one-man show “Sanguine”. In New York, he made his Broadway debut in “Festen,” a stage adaptation of Thomas Vinterberg’s film THE CELEBRATION, and starred in Beau Willimon’s “Spirit Control”, about a man’s 30-year struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
It's a truly fun, in-depth chat about Jeremy's early years, his diverse career, and his experience raising kids!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 05 Sep 2024 - 252 - Deja Foxx
Deja Foxx, a speaker at the recent Democratic Convention in Chicago, is 24 years old and leading thought at the intersection of social justice and social media. She is the founder of GenZ Girl Gang, a Graduate of Columbia University, and a Digital Creator with Ford Models who got her start advocating for reproductive justice after experiencing homelessness in her teenage years.
At just 19, Deja worked for Kamala Harris as the Influencer and Surrogate Strategist and became one of the youngest presidential campaign staffers in history. She is the recipient of Planned Parenthood's Catalyst of Change award, the Global Citizen Prize, and Gloria Steinem's Ms. Foundation's 'Free to Be You and Me' Woman of Vision award. She is currently living and working in her home state of Arizona where abortion is on the ballot.
Deja discusses her incredibly inspiring journey from homeless teen to nationally-recognized advocacy and activism...and the critical importance of the November election on reproductive rights and women's bodily autonomy.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 02 Sep 2024 - 251 - Andrew Weissmann
Andrew Weissmann is the co-host of the popular podcast Prosecuting Donald Trump and is a frequent legal analyst for NBC/MSNBC. He serves on the board of Just Security and writes frequently for it, as well as The New York Times, The Atlantic, & The Washington Post. From 2017-2019 Andrew served as a lead prosecutor in Robert S. Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office. His memoir about the Special Counsel investigation, Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation , was a New York Times bestseller. He is also a Professor of Practice at New York University and teaches courses in national security and criminal procedure. He also served as the General Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and from 2002-2005 he served as the Deputy and then the Director of the Enron Task Force where he supervised the prosecution of more than 30 individuals in connection with the company’s collapse.
Andrew was also a federal prosecutor for 15 years in the Eastern District of New York, where he served as the Chief of the Criminal Division and prosecuted numerous members of the Colombo, Gambino, and Genovese families, including the bosses of the Colombo and Genovese families.
Join us for this informative, insightful chat as Andrew brings us up-to-date on Trump's ongoing, ever-changing legal cases and shares his views on the current political landscape. And, he also reveals his top 5 musical artists of all time!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 31 Aug 2024 - 250 - Julie Roginsky
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 elected officials including governors, United States senators, members of the House of Representatives and state legislators. Earlier in her career, she served as the communications director for Senator Jon Corzine.
Julie 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 (NDAs) for toxic workplace issues. The organization has been credited with helping to pass sweeping bans on NDAs across the nation and with the passage of the federal Ending Forced Arbitration for Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act and the Speak Out Act, which have been called the strongest labor law change in the last 100 years. She’s 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 and I discuss the critical work of Lift Our voices; Donald Trump and Trumpism; and Kamala Harris, the campaign and the huge stakes for America in the upcoming November election.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Thu, 29 Aug 2024 - 249 - Jessica Tarlov
Jessica Tarlov joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in 2017 and serves as a rotating co-host of The Five. She also offers political analysis across FNC and FOX Business Network’s programming. Prior to joining FNC, she appeared as a frequent guest on the network since 2014.
In addition to her role on FNC, Jessica also serves as the Vice President of Research and Consumer Insight for Bustle Digital Group. Prior to this, she served as a senior strategist with Schoen Consulting, where she advised domestic and international clients on messaging strategies for more than five years and worked as a democratic pollster. In May 2024, she was named one of Variety’s 2024 Women of Impact for her political commentary across FOX News Media.
Back from the DNC convention, Jessica shares her big takeaways from the week, as well as Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the overall campaign.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Tue, 27 Aug 2024 - 248 - Stephanie Grisham
Stephanie Grisham is the New York Times bestselling author of “I’ll Take Your Questions Now, What I Saw in the Trump White House.” During the Trump Administration she served as White House press secretary and director of communications for both the President and First Lady, Melania Trump. She is the only person in history who has held three senior roles at once, while representing both the east and west wings.
Steph's back in THE BACK ROOM, fresh off her courageous, patriotic speech at the Democratic Convention, discussing it all. She shares her insights into the campaign, the stark contrasts between VP Kamala Harris and her former boss, and what it all bodes for November. We also get into Melania, Bobby Kennedy Jr, the upcoming September 10th debate, Trump's sudden pivot on GA Gov. Brian Kemp, whether or not he will dump JD Vance, and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sun, 25 Aug 2024 - 247 - Denise Brown
Denise Brown’s life was turned upside down on June 12, 1994 when her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, was murdered along with Ron Goldman. Since then she’s been committed to raising awareness against domestic violence. Since early 1995 Denise has traveled to various states speaking on the epidemic of domestic violence. She has addressed university student bodies, men in prison and in batterers' treatment programs, women at risk, church groups and various educational and legislative forums. She’s helped raise funds for local shelters all across the country with her appearances, and has assisted in the success of a major project called the Vine System. This Program is an automated victim notification service of the release of batterers from jail or prison.
As part of her commitment, Denise has worked to help pass a variety of legislative solutions for domestic violence. One of her most important projects was to lobby on behalf of the Violence Against Women Act, the funding of which she helped increase $18-million to $32-million. She’s made a life-long commitment to educate the public as well as improve the quality of living for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence.
Nicole was so much more than just a murder victim. She was a beloved daughter, sister, and mother. And so I'm thrilled to have Denise help us learn more about her sister and her life, sharing memories from their childhood through the day that short life tragically ended 30 years ago. She also shares her own heartbreaking journey; how she's personally navigated this nightmare; and her critical work as an activist against domestic violence.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Sat, 17 Aug 2024 - 246 - Sara Bareilles
Sara Bareilles is an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer, activist, and New York Times best-selling author whose accolades to date include two Grammy® Awards, three Tony® Award nominations, and three Primetime Emmy® Award nominations. As a recording artist and songwriter, she has sold more than 3 million albums and 15 million singles in the U.S., and her songs have been streamed more than 3.5 billion times worldwide. On Broadway, she composed music and lyrics for Waitress, stepping into the lead role both on Broadway and in the West End. Other musical theater credits include her Tony-nominated performance as ‘The Baker’s Wife’ in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, a song on the Tony Award-nominated score for SpongeBob SquarePants, and an Emmy Award-nominated appearance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.”
Sara currently plays Dawn Solano on the Emmy-nominated musical comedy series “Girls5eva”, the third season of which is streaming now on Netflix, and is currently at work on a musical theater adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s best-selling novel The Interestings, alongside author Sarah Ruhl.
If you love Sara Bareilles you will absolutely love this brutally-honest, poignant, in-depth chat about her illustrious life and career. It's a truly enjoyable, insightful conversation with one of the world's most talented, diverse and successful performers.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 15 Aug 2024 - 245 - Ameshia Cross
Ameshia Cross is a democratic strategist for national, state, and local campaigns, a regular political commentator and contributor on MSN, NBC, BBC, SiriusXM, iHeart Radio, and more. She is also a former campaign and communications adviser for President Barack Obama and a policy adviser for the National Urban League.
Join us for this insightful chat as we discuss Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the ever-changing campaign; Trumpism and MAGA; the media's role in normalizing Trump and the double-standard in media coverage; immigration and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 12 Aug 2024 - 244 - Chris Matthews
Chris Matthews is an award-winning journalist, columnist, author, political commentator, television host and professor. His 15 years in politics and government includes serving as speechwriter for president Jimmy Carter and administrative assistant to House Speaker Tip O’Neil. He was a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle; syndicated columnist and Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner; and host of MSNBC’s Hardball. His books include Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero and his 2021 memoir This Country: My Life in Politics and History.
Few people understand politics as well as Chris does. He joins me for an in-depth conversation about the ever-changing presidential campaign as we barrel towards the November election.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Sat, 10 Aug 2024 - 243 - Philip Bump
Philip Bump is a national columnist for The Washington Post. Prior to that he led politics coverage for The Atlantic Wire. In the past, he worked as a designer at Adobe Systems. As one of the paper's most read writers, he focuses on the data behind polls and political rhetoric. He also writes a weekly newsletter, "How To Read This Chart." He has appeared or been heard on most major media outlets, from MSNBC to Fox News to PBS to NPR. His first book, The Aftermath, looks at the overlap of the end of the baby boom and the upheaval in American politics and the U.S. economy.
Philip and I get into Democrats' 'euphoria' over the newly energized campaign; the key distinctions between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump; Harris's veepstakes; the Trump 'unity pivot' that never came; Q-Anon and conspiracy theories; Boomers and voting patterns; the November election and more. And, he reveals his top 5 musical artists of all time!
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Wed, 07 Aug 2024 - 242 - Hugo Lowell
Hugo Lowell is an award-winning Senior Political Correspondent at The Guardian, covering the intersection of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and the US Department of Justice. He regularly appears on MSNBC as a political and legal affairs analyst. His reporting has been recognized through appearances on NBC, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, the PBS NewsHour and BBC News. He is a recipient of the National Press Club's Sandy Hume Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Journalism and was a Paul Miller Fellow with the National Press Foundation.
Hugo joins me for an in-depth discussion on the release this past week of US hostages Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others held captive in Russia; the campaign transition from President Joe Biden to VP Kamala Harris; Harris's veepstakes; the erratic, incendiary and dangerous campaign of Donald Trump and his on-going legal troubles; and Hugo shares what's on his Summer play list!
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Mon, 05 Aug 2024 - 241 - Jamal Simmons
Jamal Simmons has been at the nexus of politics and media for three decades. He is currently a Political Commentator on CNN and immediately before that Deputy Assistant to the President and Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Before the White House, 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.
Jamal helps unpack all the latest campaign news including Kamala Harris's flawless launch and her imminent VP announcement; Donald Trump's racist train-wreck at the National Association of Black Journalists convention; and the outlook for these next three months as we head towards the November election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 03 Aug 2024 - 240 - Rep. Dan Goldman
Rep. Dan Goldman serves New York’s 10th Congressional District, which encompasses Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. 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. He serves on the Oversight Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and is a member of the Dads Caucus, the Pro-Choice Caucus, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, the Stop Project 2025 Task Force, and is a founder of the Court Reform Now Task Force.
The Congressman shares his thoughts on the campaign transition from President Joe Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris; Harris's imminent VP selection; Donald Trump's worsening dangerous behavior, including his off-the-rails performance Tuesday at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention; Project 2025; Dobbs, Roe, reproductive rights, the November election and winning back the House; the need for Supreme Court accountability and reform; and the widening regional conflict between Israel, Hezbollah/Lebanon and Iran.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 01 Aug 2024 - 239 - Mike Madrid
Mike Madrid has been a nationally recognized political consultant and authoritative voice on Latino voters for three decades. A pioneer in Latino communications and outreach strategies in state, local, and national political campaigns, and has worked for major campaigns on both sides of the aisle. In 2020, he co-founded the Lincoln Project, a Republican anti-Trump organization. Mike was an adjunct lecturer on Race, Class and Partisanship at the University of Southern California in Spring 2021 and is currently a Senior Fellow at UC Irvine School of Social Ecology. Madrid is the author of the book titled “The Latino Century”, published by Simon and Schuster.
Mike shares his keen insights into President Joe Biden's campaign exit; VP Kamala Harris's flawless transition to presumptive nominee; the sudden shift in momentum from right to left; Trump fatigue; the Latino vote; and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 29 Jul 2024 - 238 - John Heilemann
John Heilemann is a partner, chief political columnist, and host of the twice-weekly podcast Impolitic with John Heilemann at Puck, as well as national affairs analyst at NBC News and MSNBC. John also co-created and co-hosted Showtime's The Circus, and is the author of the NY Times best-selling books Pride Before the Fall, Double Down, and Game Change, which was adapted into an HBO feature film that won five Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, and a Peabody Award. He’s previously been co-founder and executive editor of The Recount, co-host of MSNBC and Bloomberg TV’s With All Due Respect, managing editor of Bloomberg Politics, and was a staff writer for New York, The New Yorker, Wired, and The Economist.
John shares his thoughts on the latest news involving Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, the ever-changing campaign and what it all means for the November election. We also chat about dogs, streamers, and John's eclectic music tastes! He's a truly fascinating dude and we've got him for an hour for a fun, insightful in-depth convo!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 27 Jul 2024 - 237 - Rick Wilson
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.
Rick's back in The Back Room discussing the latest with Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the presidential campaign
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Fri, 26 Jul 2024 - 236 - Kimberly Atkins Stohr
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.
Kimberly helps unpack the latest news involving President Joe Biden's exit from the race; VP Kamala Harris's quick and impressive start; Donald Trump's mounting weaknesses; and what lies ahead for the campaign and the November election. And, she reveals her awesome Top 5 musical artists of all time!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 25 Jul 2024 - 235 - Pete Best
Pete Best was the original drummer with the iconic band The Beatles, playing with them for two years between 1960 and ’62. He was unceremoniously fired from the band and replaced with Ringo Starr after its legendary Hamburg, Germany gigs and just before the band would skyrocket to worldwide success with its first album release and smash single "Love Me Do".
Please join us for this in-depth chat in which Pete shares in riveting detail his unique childhood; the early Beatles years; his heartbreaking dismissal; his subsequent relationship with John, Paul, George and Ringo; John's 1980 murder; his post-Beatles music career; and, at almost 83, his reflections on one of the most bittersweet musical legacies of all time.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Tue, 23 Jul 2024 - 234 - Tara Setmayer and Michelle Kinney
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.
Join us for this truly important conversation about the grave threat to women's bodily autonomy and reproductive rights and The Seneca Project's work to defend and protect a woman's right to choose and its efforts to flood the polls in November.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 20 Jul 2024 - 233 - Kara Swisher
Kara 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. The recently released BURN BOOK is her third book.
Kara chatted with me for an hour about the calls for President Joe Biden to quit, the assassination-attempt on Donald Trump, "VP" J.D. Vance, and the potential impact of each on the campaign and election. We also discuss Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the Florida classified documents case, the fate of an appeal, and how the US Supreme Court might ultimately decide. And of course, Elon Musk and the billionaire tech bros!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 17 Jul 2024 - 232 - Elle Reeve
Elle Reeve is a journalist and CNN correspondent whose work has won numerous awards, including the Emmy, the Peabody, and more. Her writing has appeared in VICE, The New Republic, New York magazine, Elle, The Atlantic, and The Daily Beast. Her just released book is Black Pill: How I Witnessed the Darkest Corners of the Internet Come to Life, Poison Society, and Capture American Politics.
Join us as Elle explains in riveting detail the rise of extremism, 'incels' and the alt right; who gets radicalized and why; the ongoing threats from QAnon, militias, and racist groups; and how the dark web and the real world often intersect to tragic consequences.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 15 Jul 2024 - 231 - Bakari Sellers
Attorney, NY Times best-selling author, former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, and CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers. Join us for this compelling chat about the calls for President Joe Biden to quit and the impact it could have on the November election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 13 Jul 2024 - 230 - Rachel Bitecofer
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. She is author of the recently released book Hit 'Em Where It Hurts: How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at their Own Game.
Rachel is a super smart, funny AF election guru who pulls no punches. And she's back in The Back Room discussing the recent presidential debate, the continued calls for President Joe Biden to quit, and why at this late stage in the campaign she believes it's political suicide for Democrats to be publicly attacking him this way. It's a truly don't-miss, timely convo...
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Wed, 10 Jul 2024 - 229 - Alexis 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 compelling chat about the calls for Joe Biden to quit in the wake of the presidential debate; the ongoing existential threat to democracy of another Trump presidency; the media's role in normalizing Trump and his lies; the Supreme Court's immunity ruling; and the upcoming Trump sentencing in the NY election-interference/hush-money case (now September) and the need for accountability.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Mon, 08 Jul 2024 - 228 - Prof. Allan J. Lichtman
Allan J. Lichtman is Distinguished Professor of History at American University and a leading geopolitical expert. He has provided expert testimony in some 110 civil rights cases. He has written 13 books, many hundreds of scholarly and popular articles, and provided worldwide media commentary. His recent books include The Case for Impeachment, The Embattled Vote In America, Repeal the Second Amendment, and 21 Cracks: Repairing American Democracy After Trump. His Keys to the White House prediction system has successfully forecasted the results of presidential elections since 1984, including Donald Trump’s win in 2016.
This is a truly fascinating chat about Professor Lichtman's model, how it was created, why it's worked flawlessly, and what it currently indicates for the November election. The professor also weighs in on the significance, or lack thereof, of the recent debate, polling, and fundraising on the campaign; the calls for President Biden to quit; and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 06 Jul 2024 - 227 - Peter Baker
Peter Baker is the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for MSNBC. He has covered the last five presidents for The Times and The Washington Post. At The Post, he also served as Moscow Co-Bureau Chief and covered the opening months of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is author of seven books, including the best-selling The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, and The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III, both with his wife, Susan Glasser of The New Yorker. He is a frequent panelist on Washington Week on PBS.
We're thrilled to have had Peter in THE BACK ROOM just as the Supreme Court's presidential immunity decision was announced. So join us as he breaks it all down and also shares his thoughts on the the campaign, the debate and the calls for President Biden to quit the race; veepstakes; the impact of RFK Jr, Jill Stein and Cornell West; the November election; and the existential threat to democracy under a Trump 2.0.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 03 Jul 2024 - 226 - SPECIAL SCOTUS BONUS EPISODE with Constitutional Law Scholar Eric 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.
Join us for this special bonus episode as Professor Segall unpacks today's monumentally consequential Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity.
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Mon, 01 Jul 2024 - 225 - Maura Gillespie
Maura Gillespie is the founder and principal of Bluestack Strategies, and is a communications professional with expertise in strategic messaging and media training. She previously served 12 years on Capitol Hill as Press Advisor to former House Speaker John Boehner and as Deputy Chief of Staff to former Congressman Adam Kinzinger. She is a recurring guest on CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Bloomberg, and FOX News.
Join Maura and I for a compelling discussion on the first presidential debate; the calls for President Biden to quit the race; the threats and dangers of Donald Trump; the broken Republican Party; VeepStakes; and the November election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 01 Jul 2024 - 224 - Michael Cohen
Michael 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. He’s a two-time New York Times 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 for a fun, insightful morning-after post-debate analysis. Guest Name(s)
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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel
Sat, 29 Jun 2024 - 223 - Judy Gold
Judy Gold is a film, television and theater actor and writer and comedian. Her stand-up specials have appeared on HBO, Comedy Central, and LOGO, and she’s appeared on Netflix's Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration. She’s the host of the podcast It’s Judy’s Show with Judy Gold; and is featured in the new Netflix documentary Outstanding: A Comedy Revolution, which explores the history of LGBTQ+ standup comedy.
Her recent film credits include She Came To Me, Tripped Up, and Love Reconsidered. And her TV credits include City On A Hill, Better Things, The First Lady, Extrapolation, Life and Beth, Girls 5 Eva and recurring roles on Awkwafina, Friends from College and Search Party. She’s won two Emmy awards for writing and producing The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and has written and starred in three critically acclaimed Off-Broadway hit shows, Yes I Can Say That!, The Judy Show – My Life as a Sitcom, and 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother. Judy’s appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show, and has made numerous appearances on The View, The Today Show, The Drew Barrymore Show, and on MSNBC, CNN and NewsNation as a free-speech advocate. She is the author of the critically acclaimed book Yes I Can Say That: When They Come For The Comedians, We Are All In Trouble.
Judy is funny AF! We have an absolute blast chatting about Jews and Jewish mothers; cats and dogs; cancel culture and the comedy business today; her early inspirations and favorite current comics; and her writing process. And, she reveals the things that piss her off most, as well as her Top 5 musical artists of all-time! And, what would a chat between two Jews be without a passionate discussion of Israel, the protests and antisemitism...
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 27 Jun 2024 - 222 - Peter Strzok
Peter Strzok served in the FBI from 1996 to 2018, rising to the deputy of its Counterintelligence Division. During his career, he worked around the world against national security threats from China, Russia, Iran, Cuba and others, including countering state-sponsored disinformation, prosecuting acts of economic espionage and theft of intellectual property, and combatting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Prior to the FBI, he spent four years on active duty in the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division. He’s an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, is the NYT bestselling author of Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J Trump, and co-host of the Cleanup On Aisle 45 podcast.
Peter's back in THE BACK ROOM sharing his keen insights into America's most dangerous foreign and domestic threats as we head towards the presidential election in November.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 24 Jun 2024 - 221 - Michael 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. Steele 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, “Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda” and “The Recovering Politician’s Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis”.
It's always a blast when Michael brings his inimitable wit and wisdom into The Back Room! He's back helping unpack the latest with Trump, the campaign, VeepStakes, the debates, the November election, and what concerns him most.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 22 Jun 2024 - 220 - Ryan Hamilton
Ryan Hamilton is a husband, father, acclaimed singer/songwriter-turned-radio host, and unexpected women’s rights activist who’s been speaking out after he and his wife Jess experienced a nightmarish miscarriage-related situation at a Texas hospital back in May.
Please join us for this incredibly moving (and infuriating) conversation as Ryan emotionally recounts their harrowing ordeal in riveting detail.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 19 Jun 2024 - 219 - Judge LaDoris Hazzard Cordell
LaDoris Hazzard Cordell was the first lawyer to open a law practice in East Palo Alto, CA, a low-income community of color. In 1978, she was appointed Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at Stanford Law School, where she implemented a successful minority admissions program. In 1982, Governor Jerry Brown appointed her to the Municipal Court of Santa Clara County making her the first African American woman judge in northern California. In1988, Judge Cordell won election to the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. In all, she' spent nearly 20 years on the bench.
From 2010 to 2015, she served as Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose. In 2015 she was a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Transparency, Accountability, and Fairness in Law Enforcement. She’s also served as Vice Provost & Special Counselor to the President for Campus Relations at Stanford University; served on the Palo Alto City Council; was the Independent Police Auditor for the City of San Jose; and is the co-founder of the African American Composer Initiative. She is the author of the 2021 book: Her Honor: My Life on the Bench...What Works, What's Broken, and How to Change It. And, she’s appeared on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, CBS-5 television and Court TV.
Judge Cordell take us back to childhood and her early inspirations; walks us through her illustrious academic and judicial career; helps unpack the latest with convicted-felon Donald Trump's sentencing options in the New York election-interference/hush-money trial; discusses the need for an enforceable code of conduct for the Supreme Court in the wake of new disclosure violations and conflicts of interest with Justices Thomas and Alito; discusses her book; and shares how music has impacted her life.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Tue, 18 Jun 2024 - 218 - Mark McKinnon
Mark McKinnon is a political advisor, reform advocate, columnist, and television producer. He was the creator and co-host of Showtime's Emmy-nominated hit documentary series "The Circus”. He’s worked for many causes, companies, and candidates, including President George W. Bush, Senator John McCain, late Governor Ann Richards, and Bono. He was the chief media advisor for five winning presidential primary and general election campaigns. Dedicated to bipartisanship, McKinnon helped start No Labels. He’s been a regular columnist for The Daily Beast, The London Daily Telegraph, and Vanity Fair, and was a consultant to the HBO show “The Newsroom” and Netflix’s “House of Cards.”
Join us for this fun, insightful chat about Donald Trump, Trumpism, the Republican Party, the race for the White House, the upcoming debate, VeepStakes, the November election, and the fate of THE CIRCUS. And if that's not enough, Mark reveals his love of the movie WAITRESS, Broadway musicals, the origin of his hats, and his favorite musical artists of all time!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 15 Jun 2024 - 217 - Jordan Matthew Horowitz / Jack Waksal
Jordan Matthew Horowitz is an Emmy-winning writer/director of both documentary and narrative film. His recent documentary, JACK AND SAM, about Holocaust survivors Jack Waksal and Sam Ron, was executive produced by Julianna Margulies and Sarah Silverman, and was shortlisted for a prestigious IDA Award. His other films include the documentary ANGEL OF NANJING and the narrative feature film PAINLESS. He is currently in development on a feature narrative of JACK AND SAM.
Jordan joins me for a truly compelling chat about his poignant, riveting documentary film JACK AND SAM, Holocaust education, the alarming rise in anti-Israel protests and antisemitism, and more. And, we are joined by 99-year-old Jack, who discusses his friendship with Sam, their incredible chance-reunion after 80 years, the harrowing details of his escape from the Pionki concentration camp in Poland, and how he survived hiding out in the forest for six months.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 - 216 - Frank Bruni
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 discusses his new book, The Age of Grievance, and the theories behind why Americans are so polarized and angry. We also chat about Donald Trump and Trumpism; and dissect the MAGA mentality and its impact on the presidential campaign and the upcoming election. And, Frank reveals his Top 5 musical artists of all time!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 - 215 - Maggie Haberman
Maggie Haberman is a journalist who joined The New York Times in 2015 and was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for reporting on the investigations into Donald Trump’s, and his advisers’, connections to Russia. She has twice been a member of a team that was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize, in 2021 for reporting on the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus, and in 2022 for coverage related to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the Capitol. Before joining The New York Times as a campaign correspondent, she worked as a political reporter at Politico, from 2010 to 2015. She previously worked at The New York Post and The New York Daily News.
Maggie brings her keen insights and perspective to a broad discussion about Donald Trump, his legal troubles, his amped-up revenge-rhetoric, its impact on the campaign, and what it all means should he win; the role Bobby Kennedy Jr and Nikki Haley voters may play in the November election; and more...including her top-5 musical artists of all time!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 08 Jun 2024 - 214 - Ferne Pearlstein
Ferne Pearlstein is a director, cinematographer, and editor based in New York City. Her most recent film is “XCLD: THE STORY OF CANCEL CULTURE,” a nuanced look at this controversial topic, produced by Trevor Noah and Time Studios for MSNBC’s Turning Point series. As a director and producer, with husband and producing partner Robert Edwards, she has had four features premiere at Tribeca, including SUMO EAST AND WEST and the narratives LAND OF THE BLIND starring Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland, and ONE MORE TIME starring Christopher Walken. The most recent of those four features was the critically acclaimed THE LAST LAUGH (2016) about taboos in humor.
We chat about her early inspirations and career; her films; the film business today; cancel vs consequence culture; and whether there are or should be subjects that are off limits in comedy.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 06 Jun 2024 - 213 - S.E. Cupp
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. Her new syndicated show, Battleground News, launches June 10th.
It's always so much fun when S.E. brings her keen insights and humor into The Back Room! Is this episode we discuss the Trump trial, the verdict, and its impact on the campaign; Trump's veepstakes; Biden, RFK Jr, Nikki Haley and the November election; and she answers the burning question, "Who had the better week, Robert De Niro or Dennis Quaid!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 03 Jun 2024 - 212 - Jennifer Rodgers
Jennifer Rodgers is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at the NYU School of Law, and a Legal Analyst for CNN. She teaches, writes, and speaks about government ethics, public corruption, sports corruption, and criminal law issues. Between 2000-2013, Jennifer worked at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she served in numerous capacities, including as a Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney, the Chief of the Organized Crime Unit, and a Chief of the General Crimes Unit. She serves on the Board of Directors for the New York City Bar Association.
Jennifer shares her keen insights into Donald Trump's election-interference/hush-money trial, the verdict, the sentencing options, the appeal process and more. It's an informative, compelling chat that's not to be missed!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 01 Jun 2024 - 211 - Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci
Anthony “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.
Join us as Mooch discusses his new book From Wall Street to the White House and Back; the presidential campaign and Trump's 'veepstakes'; the November election; the NY election-interference/hush-money trial; and yes, we even found a way to discuss Taylor Swift!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 30 May 2024 - 210 - Rick Wilson
The inimitable Rick Wilson's back in The Back Room! Rick's a renowned political strategist, infamous ad-maker, writer, speaker, political commentator, co-founder of the political action committee The Lincoln Project, co-founder of media company Resolute Square and a two-time New York Times bestselling author.
Rick is on fire! Join us as he riffs on Trump, his sons "Uday and Qusay", 'his GOP sycophants, and 'veepstakes'; 'Nikki Haley; the November election; the NY trial; and more!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 29 May 2024 - 209 - Rep. Jasmine Crockett
Jasmine 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 epic "Bleach-Blonde Bad-Built Butch-Body" clapback of Marjorie Taylor Greene (and does she think Greene's a racist?); her viral popularity and role as the highly-effective humorous, sarcastic nemesis of the GOP crazy caucus; her role as a potent Biden campaign surrogate; Trump and the November election; and more!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 25 May 2024 - 208 - Donna Pescow
Donna Pescow is a film, television and theater actor, director and producer with a career spanning five decades . She was born and raised in Brooklyn NY, graduated from New York's prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Shortly after graduation she was cast as Annette in the iconic film SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977), and was nominated for Best Supporting Actress by the New York Film Critics Circle. She followed that up with her starring role in the sitcom Angie (1979), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series and a People's Choice Award nomination for Favorite Female Performer on a New Television Program. In addition, she starred in the long running sitcom Out of This World (1987) and the popular sitcom Even Stevens (2000) for which she was nominated for three Emmy Awards. Early on she appeared in the soaps One Life to Live, All My Children and General Hospital. Other tv credits include The Flash, Clueless, NYPD Blue, Pauly, Ivory Tower, New Girl, Truth Be Told, Welcome to Chippendales, The Sopranos, and most recently Grey’s Anatomy.
Donna’s other film credits include JAKE SPEED, PARTNERS, CAROL OF THE BELLS, and ORANGE SHERBERT. And her NY, LA, and regional stage credits include, Love Letters, Rest in Pieces, Isn’t It Romantic, Grease, Guys & Dolls, Promises, Promises, Melvin Van Peebles' production of Body Bags, and her own successful cabaret act that she performed at New York’s Les Mouches, East Hampton’s John Drew Theatre and LA’s Canon Theatre.
What an absolute thrill to chat with Donna about her childhood, early inspirations and early career; her portrayal of "Annette" in the iconic film SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, the film's popularity, her thoughts on John Travolta, and the Bee Gees soundtrack; her sitcom ANGIE; working on soap operas; and so much more, including my idea for a SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER sequel!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 23 May 2024 - 207 - Eugene Vindman
Eugene Vindman is an immigrant, a husband, a father of two, a human rights lawyer, and a former Colonel in the U.S. Army. He and his twin brother Alex were born in the Soviet Ukraine. Following the death of their mother, the family immigrated to America as refugees with $759 to their name.
In 2019, after serving 22 years in the Army, he served on the National Security Council as the senior ethics attorney when he blew the whistle on the infamous phone call in which President Trump attempted to extort President Zelenskiy of Ukraine, threatening to withhold critical aid if Ukraine didn't investigate President Biden’s family. Trump was impeached but acquitted by the Senate. Trump retaliated and Trump’s vengeance cost Eugene his career. Colonel Vindman is now running to represent Virginia’s 7th Congressional District.
Join us as we discuss Eugene's storied life including childhood, the Trump impeachment hearings, and his campaign for Congress.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 20 May 2024 - 206 - Elie Honig
Elie Honig is an attorney and CNN senior legal analyst and the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and 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, this time helping unpack the latest from Donald Trump's New York election-interference ("hush-money") trial. As always, it's a fun, insightful chat.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 18 May 2024 - 205 - Liora Rez
Liora Rez is the Founder and Executive Director of Stop Antisemitism, a national watchdog organization working to expose the hate, threats, and outright violence Jews in America are facing each day. Liora herself is a political refugee, who fled the Soviet Union with her family as a young girl due to escalating antisemitism.
Join us for this important conversation about the huge rise in antisemitism and antisemitic hate crimes in America in the wake of the October 7th massacre in Israel by Hamas; the volatile, hate-fueled protests on college campuses; and what her organization is doing to expose those responsible for spewing dangerous antisemitic rhetoric.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 13 May 2024 - 204 - Rep. Elissa Slotkin
Democrat Elissa Slotkin represents Michigan’s 7th Congressional District and serves on the Armed Services and Agriculture Committees. Following grad school after the September 11 attacks, she was recruited by the CIA to be a Middle East analyst, and within a year she was sent on the first of three tours in Iraq alongside the U.S. military. She’s held national security roles in the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. For President Obama she helped negotiate some of the Pentagon’s most sensitive national security matters from the fight against ISIS to the U.S. response to Russian aggression. In 2018 she was elected to the House of Representatives, flipping a Trump district. She was reelected in 2020.
The Congresswoman and I discuss her August 6th Senate primary campaign and the recent “far left liberal lunatic” attack by Donald Trump; Marjorie Taylor Greene, her motion-to-vacate debacle and why Democrats helped rescue Speaker Mike Johnson; the November election and RFK Jr; the antisemitism crisis; and the anti-Israel protests on college campuses.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 11 May 2024 - 203 - Stephanie Grisham
Stephanie Grisham is the New York Times bestselling author of “I’ll Take Your Questions Now, What I Saw in the Trump White House.” During the Trump Administration she served as White House press secretary and director of communications for both the President and First Lady, Melania Trump. She is the only person in history who has held three senior roles at once, while representing both the east and west wings.
Steph's back in THE BACK ROOM to help unpack the first two weeks of Donald Trump's New York election-interference ('hush-money') trial...including his mental state; Melania, Junior and Ivanka's absence; and yes, the snoozing and farting! We also discuss Biden, the election, the impact of abortion, and who she'll be voting for. Don't miss this fun, insightful chat!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 08 May 2024 - 202 - Gershon Baskin
Gershon Baskin is an Israeli writer, columnist, author and one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is the Middle East Director of ICO…International Communities Organization and is the Director of the Holy Land Bond. Ad he 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.
Gershon shares his thoughts on the pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel protests on college campuses across America, and offers his critical perspective on an extremely complicated, nuanced, volatile situation which predates and includes the barbaric October 7th attack, as well as the actions taken by Israel since. We discuss the hostage negotiations; the current ceasefire offer; the desperate need for peace; and the necessity of a two-state solution. Once again, Gershon provides honest, balanced historical context for this centuries-old conflict in the region
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 06 May 2024 - 201 - Susan Glasser
Susan B. Glasser is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where she writes a weekly column on life in Washington. She’s served as the top editor of several Washington publications, including Politico, where she founded the award-winning Politico Magazine, and Foreign Policy, which won three National Magazine Awards, among other honors, during her tenure as editor in chief. Before that, she worked for a decade at the Washington Post, where she was the editor of Outlook and national news. She also oversaw coverage of the impeachment of Bill Clinton, served as a reporter covering the intersection of money and politics, spent four years as the Post’s Moscow co-bureau chief, and covered the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. She edited Roll Call, a Capitol Hill newspaper, early in her career. Her books include “Kremlin Rising,” “The Man Who Ran Washington,” and, most recently, “The Divider,” a best-selling history of Donald Trump in the White House, which she co-wrote with her husband, Peter Baker.
Susan and I discuss her terrific new column, "Is 2024 Doomed to Repeat 1968 or 2020—Or Both", how these elections are similar and differ, and how it all portends for November. It's a fascinating look into Donald Trump, the Republican Party, and the institutional failures in the political system that have resulted in the existential threat to American democracy.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 04 May 2024 - 200 - Eric 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.
Join us for this compelling conversation about the Supreme Court, its controversial rulings, conflicts of interest, ethics transgressions, and whether Democrats should 'stack' the court; abortion, Roe v Wade, and Dobbs; Donald Trump and last week's SCOTUS immunity hearing; the 2nd Amendment; and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 02 May 2024 - 199 - Danny Cevallos
It was a dizzying week in court for Donald Trump, from the Supreme Court's hearing on immunity to the New York election-interference ("hush-money") trial. Criminal defense attorney and MSNBC legal analyst Danny Cevallos makes his first appearance in THE BACK ROOM to help unpack it all and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 29 Apr 2024 - 198 - Mary Trump
Mary L Trump is a trained Clinical Psychologist with a PhD from The Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies. She’s the author of two New York Times best-selling books… Too Much and Never Enough and The Reckoning. her next BOOK, Who Could Ever Love You: A Family Memoir, will be published in September. She publishes The Good In Us newsletter on Substack, and is well-known as the niece and outspoken critic of former president Donald Trump.
Join us as Mary helps unpack the week's dizzying legal proceedings and the current toll they're taking on Donald Trump. As always, Mary's insights and perspective keep us riveted!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 27 Apr 2024 - 197 - Cliff Chenfeld
If you're a 21st Century parent you likely know what KIDZ BOP is! My close pal of 30 years Cliff Chenfeld co-founded this wildly popular and successful music franchise, and he joined me in THE BACK ROOM for a fun, intimate chat about his illustrious career and the ever-changing music business.
Cliff's an NYU law school graduate, music entrepreneur, writer, radio host, and film producer. He co-founded and was co-CEO of Razor & Tie, an independent music company that included a label, a music publishing company and the top kids’ audio brand Kidz Bop. He’s also been a partner in several music festivals including WonderBus and WonderWorks, and has executive produced of a number of films including Joan Baez: How Sweet The Sound, Serious Moonlight and Concussion. He is the host of the NPR radio show Modern Sounds and writes a monthly Substack column on new music. He serves on several non-profit boards and is active in Democratic politics
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 25 Apr 2024 - 196 - Jonathan Burkhart
Yes, it's true! At 13 Jonathan worked as a camera operator at a television station on Nantucket for its 5:30pm newscast and then was promoted 2 years later to news director. After college he worked as a cameraman for film and tv. His film credits include Spike Lee's “Do the Right Thing” and “Mo' Better Blues,” “Mountain View” for John Sayles, “A Better Tomorrow” for John Woo, and “Dazed and Confused” for Richard Linklater. He later produced independent films, television, and theater, including the award-winning "Baby Steps", “Higher Ground,” “Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding,” “The Last Keepers” “Rhymes with Banana” and most recently “Antarctica”. His TV projects include “Almost There”, "Ivy Dreams," “Must Do Disney”, The Super Bowl Half Time Show, “Away We Go” by Jonathan Larson, and the “Tomorrow is Tonight Show” starring Ben Stiller.
Jonathan's also produced commercials for Time Warner, Ford, Disney, Chase and American Express. In theater, he produced the Tony nominated Broadway production of Mario Cantone’s “Laugh Whore,” the award-winning play “Avow”, and the 10th anniversary original-cast production of RENT. He is also co-founder of the Nantucket Film Festival, and is event producer for Project ALS, the organization launched by his friend Jenifer Estess, who died from the disease in 2003.
I've known JB a couple of decades now, so it was a lot of fun to sit down with him as part of our Live-Audience Series and learn more about his life, career, and his very poignant memories of his dear friend Jonathan Larson, the famed Broadway composer, lyricist and playwright (RENT).
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Tue, 23 Apr 2024 - 195 - Tonya Mosley
Tonya Mosley is an Emmy award-winning journalist and co-host of Fresh Air with Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley. She is also the founder of TMI Productions, an audio documentary production company that produces the award-winning podcast Truth Be Told and the documentary She Has A Name in collaboration with American Public Media. Previously, Tonya was a television correspondent for various news outlets, including NBC and Al Jazeera America. She also served as the LA-based co-host of Here & Now, a midday radio show co-produced by NPR and WBUR.
Tonya and I discuss her childhood and early influences; her new docuseries; and her illustrious career. This is a riveting in-depth dive into Tonya's life and work.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 20 Apr 2024 - 194 - Bill Weir
Bill Weir is a veteran award-winning anchor, writer, producer, and host who came to CNN in 2013 after a decade of award-winning journalism at ABC News. In 2019, he was named the network’s first Chief Climate Correspondent, drawing on his experience creating and hosting the primetime CNN Original Series “The Wonder List with Bill Weir,” now streaming on Discovery+.
Throughout his network career, Bill’s reported from all 50 states and more than 100 countries, covering breaking news and uncovering global trends including Hurricane Katrina, the Japan tsunami, the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. As a writer and anchor, Weir produced several special hours for CNN and ABC prime time on topics ranging from religion, brain science and Woodstock to the business of mail-order brides and the rise and fall of General Motors. His first book, Life As We Know It (Can Be) is on sale April 16th.
Bill discusses the worry and wonder of climate change and how communities can galvanize around nature and each other to provide hope and real change for a better future.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 17 Apr 2024 - 193 - Stephanie Mencimer
Stephanie Mencimer covers legal affairs and domestic policy in Mother Jones’ Washington Bureau. She is the author of Blocking the Courthouse Door: How the Republican Party and Its Corporate Allies Are Taking Away Your Right to Sue. She appeared in the documentary “Hot Coffee,” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and was based in part on her book. She is also a contributing editor of the Washington Monthly, a former investigative reporter at the Washington Post and senior writer at the Washington City Paper. She was nominated for a National Magazine Award in 2004 for a Washington Monthly article about myths surrounding the medical malpractice system.
Join us for this fun, insightful chat about Stephanie's new piece, “From Laddie Mag Model to RNC Co-Chair: Lara Trump, Nepo-Spouse”; Donald Trump; MAGA extremism; the GOP crazy caucus; and RFK Jr and the November election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 15 Apr 2024 - 192 - Sarah McCammon
Sarah McCammon is a National Political Correspondent for NPR and cohost of The NPR Politics Podcast. Her work focuses on political, social and cultural divides in America, including the intersections of politics and religion, reproductive rights, and the conservative movement. She is also a frequent guest host for NPR news magazines, and has appeared on the BBC, CNN, PBS, and MSNBC. During the 2016 election cycle, Sarah was NPR’s lead political reporter assigned to the Donald Trump campaign and previously reported for NPR Member stations in Georgia, Iowa and Nebraska.
Sarah is the author of the terrific new book The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church. In this fascinating conversation, Sarah shares her deeply personal journey of faith to freedom; explains white evangelical support for Trump; and offers compelling insights on religion in America today.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 13 Apr 2024 - 191 - Paul 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 is back in The Back Room, and as always, he brings his inimitable wit and wisdom on a range of critical subjects including Trump and his existential threat to democracy; right-wing religious extremism and its Orange Jesus worship; RFK Jr and his VP pick Nicole Shanahan; Liz Cheney, the November election and the latest polling; the economy; and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 11 Apr 2024 - 190 - Miles Taylor
Miles 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 both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations, 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 back in The Back Room to discuss his revised paperback edition of Blowback (out April 9) and the intensifying threats of a Donald Trump 2.0, including his promises of dictatorship and weaponizing of the government to exact revenge on his opponents and perceived enemies.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 08 Apr 2024 - 189 - Ian Bremmer
Ian Bremmer is a political scientist, Columbia University professor and president and founder of geopolitical risk advisory firm Eurasia Group, and GZERO Media, which covers international affairs. He is the author of eleven books, including the New York Times bestsellers “Us vs. Them: The Failure of Globalism,” and his latest book, “The Power of Crisis: How Three Threats—and Our Response—Will Change the World”. Ian serves as rapporteur of the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and is the foreign affairs columnist and editor at large for Time magazine. He is the host of GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, a global affairs program that airs weekly on US public television. Ian is also a frequent guest on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and many other news outlets globally.
Ian and I get into it all: Putin, Russia, Ukraine, NATO, Israel, Trump, Biden, the November election and its impact on American foreign policy.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 06 Apr 2024 - 188 - Jonathan Vigliotti
Jonathan Vigliotti is an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow Award–winning CBS News national correspondent whose work has appeared on numerous platforms including CBS Sunday Morning, Face the Nation, 48 Hours, and more. His reporting has taken him to more than forty countries and territories across six continents. His just released debut book is Before It’s Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America.
Join us for this important conversation about the climate crisis, its devastating consequences, and what we can do to protect and preserve the environment.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 03 Apr 2024 - 187 - Jocelyn Benson
Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State, and has become one of the nation’s most prominent leaders in ensuring elections are secure and accessible. Her work overseeing Michigan’s 2020 and 2022 general elections, earned her national recognition, including the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award and the Presidential Citizens Medal. She also implemented new voting rights for all eligible Michiganders prior to the 2020 election, including the right to vote absentee, and oversaw more than 250 audits after the election, all of which affirmed its integrity and accuracy.
At 36 she was appointed dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, becoming the youngest woman in U.S. history to lead a top-100, accredited law school, and continues to serve as vice chair of the advisory board for the Levin Center at Wayne Law, which she founded with former U.S. Sen. Carl Levin. She is the author of the book State Secretaries of State: Guardians of the Democratic Process, and is a frequent tv news commentator.
Join us as the Secretary discusses the past, present and future of election integrity and security in Michigan and across the United States.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 01 Apr 2024 - 186 - Don Lemon
Don Lemon is a best-selling author, journalist and former anchor of the long-running CNN primetime program, Don Lemon Tonight. He made headlines recently when his newly launched The Don Lemon Show, originally set to launch on X, formerly Twitter, was cancelled by Elon Musk after his interview with the testy billionaire tech-bro. The show is available on YouTube and all audio and video platforms.
Don has won a variety of distinguished awards including an Edward R. Murrow award, multiple Emmys and a Peabody award, among others. He’s also been recognized as a leading influential figure by Ebony magazine, The Advocate, Out and others. And in 2011, he broke barriers by revealing he was gay in his auto-biographical book Transparent. His 2021 book This is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism, debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and was inspired by the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
Join us as Don and I get into it all...the old show, the new show, Musk and more. It's a truly don't-miss conversation.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 30 Mar 2024 - 185 - Katie Rogers
Katie Rogers is a White House correspondent for The New York Times, where she has worked since 2014. She has traveled the world covering two presidential administrations, writing extensively about domestic policy, foreign policy and the complicated dynamics of first families. Her just published first book is American Woman: The Transformation of the Modern First Lady, from Hillary Clinton to Jill Biden . Join us for this fun, insightful chat about the role of the First Lady, and the best and worst moments of the last several decades!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 - 184 - Tom Nichols
Tom Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic. He’s 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. A new, updated edition of his most recent book, Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault From Within on Modern Democracy, will be released in April.
Tom brings his inimitable wit and wisdom back into The Back Room to discuss Putin, Ukraine and the recent Russian 'election'; Trump's legal troubles; the Biden administration; the November election and the existential threat to democracy; "campus culture" and the youth vote; the MAGA cult; and more.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 25 Mar 2024 - 183 - Jennifer Rodgers
Jennifer Rodgers is a Lecturer-in-Law at Columbia Law School, an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Law at the NYU School of Law, and a Legal Analyst for CNN. She teaches, writes, and speaks about government ethics, public corruption, sports corruption, and criminal law issues. Between 2000-2013, Jennifer worked at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, where she served in numerous capacities, including as a Deputy Chief Appellate Attorney, the Chief of the Organized Crime Unit, and a Chief of the General Crimes Unit. She serves on the Board of Directors for the New York City Bar Association.
Join us for this informative, insightful chat as Jennifer helps unpack each of Donald Trump's civil and criminal cases and how and when he may finally be held accountable...or not.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 23 Mar 2024 - 182 - Brian Karem
Brian Karem is a weekly columnist for Salon. He is the former executive editor for The Sentinel newspaper group and the former senior WH correspondent for Playboy Magazine. He’s also a regular columnist for The Washington Diplomat and appears frequently on the country’s top-rated news shows. He has covered every presidential administration since Ronald Reagan, sued Donald Trump 3 times successfully to keep his press pass, spent time in jail to protect a confidential source, covered wars in the Middle East and is the author of seven books. His latest is Free the Press: The Death of American Journalism and How to Revive It. He is also the host of the podcast, “Just Ask the Question”.
Brian brings decades of experience and his humor into The Back Room for a fun, insightful chat about Trump and his existential threat to democracy; the GOP's complicity; the current political landscape; the upcoming presidential election; and more. We also discuss his rock band, and, he reveals his top 5 musical artists of all time! (finally, someone names the right #1!).
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Wed, 20 Mar 2024 - 181 - Rachel Bitecofer
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's 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 is wicked smart, funny AF and super-engaging. And she's in The Back Room discussing her new book, the current political landscape, the 2024 election, and what President Joe Biden and Democrats need to do between now and then to ensure victory.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Mon, 18 Mar 2024 - 180 - S.E. Cupp
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.
S.E.'s back in THE BACK ROOM discussing her new Daily News opinion piece about President Joe Biden, Donald Trump and the November election.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Sat, 16 Mar 2024 - 179 - Pete Souza
Pete Souza was the Chief Official White House Photographer for the entire tenure of the presidency of Barack Obama. He is the author of several books, including the #1 New York Times bestsellers Obama: An Intimate Portrait and Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents. A photojournalist since the late 1970s, Souza was also an official White House photographer during the Reagan administration, a freelance photographer for Life and National Geographic, and the Washington-based natural national photographer for the Chicago Tribune.
A documentary about his work at the White House, The Way I See It, was nominated for an Emmy, and its Premier was the highest rated non-news, non-live program in MSNBC history. He is a professor emeritus at Ohio University’s School of Visual Communication. In 2021, Souza was inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame.
As Obama‘s photographer, Pete had one of the coolest jobs on the planet. And when he left the White House, he for years threw shade on Donald Trump through his humorous and sarcastic Twitter posts. Join us for this captivating look back on Pete's illustrious life and career. He also has some interesting insights into how the Biden Administration could be handling the "age" issue more effectively through its photos. It's a truly don't-miss conversation!
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Thu, 14 Mar 2024 - 178 - Jane Lynch
Jane Lynch is a five-time Emmy winner and is known for her portrayal of Sue Sylvester on Glee. She currently hosts NBC’s revival of Weakest Link and appears in Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building. Additional television credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Good Fight, Criminal Minds, Two and a Half Men and hosted Hollywood Game Night. Lynch’s film credits include Wreck It Ralph I and II, The Three Stooges, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Talladega Nights, Role Models, Julie & Julia, A Mighty Wind and Best In Show.
Join us for this truly fun chat as Jane takes us on an insightful ride through her illustrious career in theater, television, film and commercials.
Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com 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
Tue, 12 Mar 2024
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