Episodes

Join Michael in his conversation with Jeffrey Toobin as they discuss his chilling new book, Homegrown: Timothy McVeigh and the Rise of Right-Wing Extremism which traces the rise of the right-wing extremism from the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1995 to the riot at the US Capitol on January 6th and what it portends for the future. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Michael in his conversation with Joan Biskupic as they discuss her new book, Nine Black Robes: Inside the Supreme Court’s Drive to the Right and its Historic Consequences. Topics include an analysis of some of the Court’s most explosive issues including abortion and LBGTQ+ rights, gerrymandering and voting/ballot access, and free exercise of religion cases as well as the impact of the three Trump appointed justices have had on the court and what they portend for the future of the court. Ad...

Join Michael in his conversation with Mehdi Hasan to discuss his new book Win Every Argument: The Art of Debating, Persuading, and Public Speaking. Arguments are everywhere, Hasan argues, and form the lifeblood of democracy as the only surefire way to establish the truth. In this discussion we explore the art of argument and rhetoric, and communicating with confidence and success whether around the dining room table or before millions of people on TV or social media. Advertising Inquiries: http...

Join Michael in his conversation with Stephen Moore about the book he co-authored with Gary Oezle: All Roads Lead to the Birchmere: America’s Legendary Music Hall, which chronicles the creation and growth of the Birchmere one of America’s great independent music venues just outside of Washington, DC. Michael's special guest is Peter Noone. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Michael in his conversation with Mark Whitaker to discuss his new book Saying It Loud: 1966-The Year Black Power Challenged the Civil Rights Movement which tells the story of how the Black Power movement spearheaded by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) challenged the Martin Luther King Jr. lead traditional civil rights movement in the turbulent year of 1966. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Michael in his conversation with Alexander Rose about his new The Lion and the Fox: Two Rival Spies and the Secret Plot to Build a Confederate Navy which tells a fascinating story of a Liverpool-based spy v. spy struggle between two Americans to build and defeat the building of a Confederate Navy which, if successful, surely could have changed the outcome of the Civil War. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Sammi Katz and her co-author Olivia McGiff have created a vibrant mixology book for both seasoned and newbie drinkmakers. It celebrates the craft of cocktail design, from raw ingredients to finished, delightful refreshments. Each page is fully illustrated with rich, inspiring gouache paintings, making it a visual delight that stands out from other bartender books. This book encourages readers to explore a palette of ingredients for their developing palate. Join me as I talk with Sammi about the...

Join Michael in his discussion with Patrick Bringley about his new book All the Beauty in the World, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me. Patrick was a museum guard at the Met for ten years. His book offers and intimate perspective of one of the greatest art museums in the world as seen through the eyes of a young man who was dealing with a tragic loss. Joining Michael as a special guest to help facilitate this conversation is Dr. Philip Eliasoph, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture ...

On today’s show we continue our two-part conversation with Karoun Demirjian and Rachel Bade about their book, Unchecked, The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump. The book provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes detailed analysis of how, according to their reporting, House Democrats hesitated for too long to stand up to President Trump and then pulled punches in both impeachments in favor of protecting their political interests. Advertising Inquiries: https://re...

Join Michael in his conversation with Karoun Demirjian and Rachel Bade about their book Unchecked, The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump which provides a fascinating, behind-the-scenes detailed analysis of how, according to their reporting, House Democrats hesitated for too long to stand up to President Trump and then pulled punches in both impeachments in favor of protecting their political interests. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privac...

Join Michael in his conversation with Ann Hagedorn as they discuss her critically acclaimed book, Sleeper Agent: The Atomic Spy in America Who Got Away, which is the chilling, little-known story of a successful American-born, Soviet-trained spy in the U.S. atomic bomb project during World War Two. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today’s show we continue our two-part conversation with Carl Bernstein about his new memoir, Chasing History, A Kid in the Newsroom. which traces his family history, self-education, and the origins of his storied career in journalism. It is a tour de force of a young man with a passion for journalism and determined commitment to the tru Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Michael Zeldin in conversation with Carl Bernstein about his new memoir, Chasing History, A Kid in the Newsroom which traces his family history, self-education, and the origins of his storied career in journalism. It is a tour de force of a young man with a passion for journalism and determined commitment to the truth. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join Michael in his conversation with Nina Totenberg about her new memoir, Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir on the Power of Friendships, which describes her nearly fifty-year relationship with Ruth Bader Ginsberg. It also traces her trail-blazing career in journalism including the obstacles she faced, the “Old Girls Network” of friends she made, and the importance of meaningful friendships in all of our lives. Guest Nina Totenberg Nina Totenberg is NPR’s award-winning legal affairs correspondent. He...

Join Michael in his conversation with Dr. Catherine Musemeche as they discuss her new book, Lethal Tides: Mary Sears and the Marine Scientists Who Helped Win World War II, which explains how the science of oceanography helped US armed forced prepare for the battles in the Pacific. Mary and her team were the hidden figures behind some of the great successes of the Pacific campaign. GuestDr. Catherine MusemecheIt takes a decade of training to become a pediatric surgeon. Catherine Musemeche has be...

Join Michael in his discussion with Adam Hochschild about his new book, American Midnight: The Great War, A Violent Peace and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis. This most important book examines the period from 1917-1921, when the toxic undercurrents of racism, nativism, Red-baiting, and contempt for the rule of law flowed throughout American life. Never was the raw underside of our nation’s life more revealingly on display during this critical time in our nation’s history and is all but forgotten ev...

Join Michael as he speaks with Molly Ball, author of the biography, Pelosi, about Speaker Pelosi’s decision to step down from her leadership role in the House of Representatives. Molly, having spoken to the Speaker just after her floor speech announcing her decision will offer her understanding of what led to Pelosi’s decision, her expectations for the democrats and the upcoming Congress, and her reflections of Speaker Pelosi’s legacy. This conversation will be followed by an encore presentation...

Join Michael in his discussion with Hugh Eakin about his new book Picasso’s War, How Modern Art Came to America which recounts the determined effort of a tiny group of people who, for nearly 30 years, fought to bring modern art to the United States impeded by war, economic crises, and a deeply skeptical public. Joining Michael as a special guest to help facilitate this conversation is Dr. Philip Eliasoph, Professor of Art History and Visual Culture at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecti...

Join Michael and former senior speechwriter for President Joe Biden as they discuss his fascinating new book, Undelivered: The Never-heard Speeches That Would Have Rewritten History. Undelivered presents some of the most notable, never delivered speeches from Richard Nixon’s refusal to resign to Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech; from Dwight Eisenhower’s apology for the failure of the D-Day invasion to Japanese Emperor Hirohito’s apology for his role in World War II. Guest Jeff Nussbaum Jeff ...

Join Michael in his discussion with Cody Keenan as they discuss his book, Grace: President Obama and Ten Days in the Battle for America. The book recounts the most remarkable eulogy delivered by President Obama in Charleston, South Carolina after the hate crime murders of Reverend Pickney and eight parishioners in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Guest Cody Keenan Cody Keenan rose from a campaign intern in Chicago and deputy pirate to become chief speechwriter at the White House ...

Join Michael in his discussion with A.J. Baime as they discuss his book, Dewey Defeats Truman: The 1948 Election and the Battle for America’s Soul. The book recounts the most remarkable victory by an underdog presidential candidate in the history of the United States. Beyond this, listeners will find the parallels to the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the lessons to be learned of fundamental importance. Guest A.J. Baime A.J. Baime (born July 24, 1971) is an American author, journalist,...

Join Michael in his discussion with A.J. Baime about his new book, White Lies: The Double Life of Walter F. White and America’s Darkest Secret which recounts in fascinating detail the rise and fall of Walter F. White, among the most important civil rights leaders of the early 20th century. AJ is the author of 7 books including several bestselling books including the NY Times bestseller, The Accidental President: Harry S. Truman and the Four Months That Changed the World. Guest A.J. Baime A.J. ...

Join Michael in his discussion with Sandy Greenberg as they discuss his memoir, Hello Darkness, My Old Friend, How Daring Dreams and Unyielding Friendship Turned One Man’s Blindness Into An Extraordinary Vision For Life which recounts how he was blinded at age 19 and, against all odds, and with the help of Art Garfunkel, Sandy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Columbia University, was a Marshall Fellow at Oxford University, and earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University and went on to have a most remark...

Join Michael in his discussion with Hawa Allan as they discuss her new book, Insurrection: Rebellion, Civil Rights, and the Paradoxical State of Black Citizenship which examines the paradoxical history and application of the 1807 Insurrection Act from its original intended use to attack the Klu Klux Klan, and desegregate southern schools in the aftermath of Brown v. The Board of Education to its more recent use against Black Live Matter protestors. Guest Hawa Allan Hawa Allan is an attorney and...