The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Steven Levitsky is David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Government and Director of the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard. His research focuses on democratization and authoritarianism, political parties, and weak and informal institutions, with a focus on Latin America. He is co-author of How Democracies Die, which was a New York Times Best-Seller and was published in 30 languages, and Tyranny of the Minority: Why American Democracy Reached the Breaking Point. He has written or edited 11 other books, including Transforming Labor-Based Parties in Latin America: Argentine Peronism in Comparative Perspective, Competitive Authoritarianism: Hybrid Regimes after the Cold War, and Revolution and Dictatorship: The Violent Origins of Durable Authoritarianism. He is currently working on a book on democratic resilience across the world. I asked Steven if our democracy is dying. Don't miss this insightful conversation where he answers this critical question and so much 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

Dr. Fiona Hill CMG is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution and Chancellor of Durham University. She served as deputy assistant to the president and senior director for European and Russian affairs on the U.S. National Security Council from 2017 to 2019, as well as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the U.S. National Intelligence Council from 2006 to 2009. Dr. Hill has researched and published extensively on issues related to Russia, the Caucasus, regional conflicts, and strategic issues, as well as the link between deindustrialization and political populism. She is the author of the bestselling memoir "There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century" and co-author of "Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin." In December 2023, she was recognized by the United Kingdom as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, for services to international relations and in July 2024, she was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to be an external reviewer for a Strategic Defense Review for the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom. Join us for this compelling conversation as Dr. Hill shares her keen insights into Trump 2.0's erratic, dangerous foreign policy on matters including Russia, Putin, and Ukraine and the president's autocratic threats 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

Alexander Vindman is a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel and was the director for European Affairs on the National Security Council. Before that, he served as the Political-Military Affairs Officer for Russia for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as an attaché at the US Embassies in Moscow and Kyiv. While on the Joint Staff, he authored the National Military Strategy for Russia. He earned an MA from Harvard University, where he served as a Hauser Leader, and an MA and PhD from Johns Hopkins, where he is a senior fellow. Dr. Vindman leads the national security think tank Institute for Informed American Leadership, is the president of the non-profit Here Right Matters Foundation, an executive board member for the Renew Democracy Initiative, a senior fellow at the Kettering Foundation, and a senior advisor to VoteVets. And he's the author of the Why It Matters Substack and the New York Times bestselling books Here, Right Matters and The Folly of Realism. My chats with Alex are always quite insightful and compelling given his distinguished career in both the military and the government and the vast experience he's amassed over the last three decades. Join us as he discusses his new book and shares his thoughts on Trump 2.0 foreign policy, Ukraine/Russia, SignalGate, Iran negotiations, the tension with Israel/Netanyahu, Tulsi Gabbard's NIC firings, the Qatar plane fiasco, the SCOTUS hearing on Birthright Citizenship and jurisdiction, and the threats to habeas corpus and due process. 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

After surviving the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, David Hogg turned his grief into action, co-founding March For Our Lives, one of the largest youth movements in our country's history. Last year, Hogg co-founded Leaders We Deserve, a grassroots organization dedicated to electing young people at the local and state level. Through his work, David campaigned across the country and raised over $11 million dollars for candidates nationwide. He was elected as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee in 2025. David is a passionate, resolute young man with a clear mission: to change the Democratic Party from within. And he doesn't care if he pisses off the establishment in the process. He joins me for a pull-no-punches chat about his controversial plan to primary "less effective" democrats in safe blue districts. 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

Congresswoman Jahana Hayes represents Connecticut's 5th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She serves on the Education and Workforce Committee and the Agriculture Committee, where she is Ranking Member of the Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee. Her legislative priorities include education, healthcare, labor, agriculture, and veterans issues. A former history teacher and the 2016 National Teacher of the Year, Congresswoman Hayes was the first African-American woman to represent Connecticut in Congress, elected in 2018. And she has successfully had 11 bills signed into law and advocates for equitable access to opportunity for all. Rep. Hayes discusses Trump's tariffs, trade wars, attacks on colleges and universities, spending cuts and what's at stake for public education, public broadcasting, farmers, SNAP, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security 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

Representative Ro Khanna is a leading progressive voice in the House, representing California's 17th Congressional District, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, and is serving his fifth term. He serves as vice chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, on the House Armed Services Committee as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems (CITI), is a member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and on the Oversight and Accountability committee, where he previously chaired the Environmental Subcommittee. Rep. Khanna and I get into the impact of Trump's tariffs and trade wars; our broken healthcare system; DOGE's devastating federal spending cuts; the threats to our national security from SecDef Pete Hegseth and SignalGate; the Kilmar Abrego Garcia 'disappearance' case; the administration's overall attacks on the rule of law, due process, and democracy itself; and the congressman's town hall road show, where he's hitting red districts across the country to help win over disaffected Americans on both sides of the aisle in advance of the critical 2026 midterm elections. 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

Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State and is running in the 2026 election to be the state's next governor. She 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. Her new book, "The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What's Right When the Stakes Are High”, is on sale May 6th. Jocelyn's back in THE BACK ROOM discussing the new book, which details her inspiring journey navigating through incredible challenges and triumphs. We also discuss her campaign for governor, Trump 2.0, and the fight to preserve the rule of law and Democracy itself. 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

After Googling “how to run for office” in the wake of the 2016 election, Mallory McMorrow took on an incumbent Republican State Senator and won, moving the seat 20 percentage points. When a right-wing state senator baselessly called her a “groomer”, she took to the floor in a now viral speech and declared "we will not let hate win.” NY Magazine called the speech “remarkable.” James Carville said it was “enormously effective.” The Atlantic wrote that it was “stunning.” After her viral speech, Mallory helped flip control of the Michigan Senate for the first time in 40 years, becoming the first woman Senate Majority Whip in state history. She has worked to strengthen unions and raise wages, eliminate the retirement tax on seniors, expand civil rights, repeal the state's 1931 abortion ban, tackle gun violence, expand affordable housing, and feed kids in schools. She recently released her first book, HATE WON'T WIN Mallory is a major Democratic rising star, and she's in THE BACK ROOM sharing insights into her new book, her campaign for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat, and how Americans can take action to fight tyranny, hatred, bigotry and achieve real change in Washington. Don't miss this truly inspiring 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

Amy McGrath is a political and national security analyst, a former fighter pilot and U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, founder of Democratic Majority Action PAC, Democratic nominee for the U.S. House and Senate from Kentucky and the author of "Honor Bound: An American Story of Dreams and Service." She, along with co-host Denver Riggleman, recently launched the brand new podcast, “Truth in the Barrel,” about politics and national security. Join us for this insightful convo about Trump 2.0, the Pentagon's Hegsistential crisis, SignalGate, and the mounting threats to National Security. 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

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. In May 2024,, she was named one of Variety's 2024 Women of Impact for her political commentary across FOX News Media. She also co-hosts the Raging Moderates podcast. Jessica's back with us sharing her awesome insights (and humor!) on a range of topics including Trump, the economy, tariffs, SignalGate, the assault on democracy and the challenging road ahead for democrats. 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

Congressman Adam Kinzinger served six terms in the US House of Representatives representing Illinois' 16th Congressional District. He served on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and on the non-partisan Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the US Capitol. Prior to Congress, he served in the Air Force in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom and continued his service in the Air National Guard throughout his time in Congress, retiring in 2023 as a Lt. Col. He founded the Country First movement, and since leaving Congress, has become a Senior Political Commentator for CNN and a New York Times Best Selling Author of Renegade. Join us for this insightful chat about the Ukraine/Russia war, SecDef Pete Hegseth and SignalGate, Trump 2.0 and the assault on democracy, the castrated GOP Congress, RFK Jr. 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

He represents Colorado's 6th Congressional District and serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Armed Services Committee, on which he is the Ranking Democrat of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee. He's a former Army Ranger and Bronze Star recipient who enlisted in the National Guard and worked construction to help pay his way through college. Congressman Crow and I chat about Trump 2.0, Pete Hegseth and SignalGate, the economy, tariffs and trade Wars, the path forward for Democrats, and if the MAGA fever is starting to break. And, whether the Knicks and Nuggets will make it to the NBA Finals! 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

As a scientist, clean energy entrepreneur and CEO, and now a member of Congress representing Illinois' 6th Congressional district. Rep. Sean Casten has dedicated his life to fighting climate change. He serves on the House Financial Services Committee and the Joint Economic Committee. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) and is a Co-Chair of the Sustainable Investment Caucus. Join us for this insightful chat about Trump 2.0 and the challenging road ahead for the Democratic Party as it fights to protect Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits, the environment, and more and win back the working class. 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

Mary Trump is an American psychologist and author. Her first book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man (2020), sold nearly one million copies on its first day of publication. She is the author of two other New York Times bestsellers, The Reckoning, and a memoir, Who Could Ever Love You. Mary holds a PhD in clinical psychology and, as an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, taught graduate courses in developmental psychology, psychopathology, and trauma. She also has a Master's degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. She writes The Good in Us, a best-selling newsletter on Substack, is the founder of Mary Trump Media whose YouTube channel has over 370,000 subscribers, and is well-known as the niece and outspoken critic of former president Donald Trump. Don't miss this incredibly insightful conversation about the current political landscape and the challenging road ahead for 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

Congressman John Larson represents Connecticut's First District. Now in his thirteenth term, he sits on the influential House Ways and Means Committee—including the Subcommittee on Trade and the Social Security Subcommittee, where he serves as the Ranking Member. Join us for this important conversation about the attack on Social Security by Trump, Musk and DOGE. 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

Jill Schlesinger is the Emmy and Gracie Award winning Business Analyst for CBS News. She appears on CBS radio and television stations nationwide covering the economy, markets, investing and anything else with a dollar sign. She is a weekly guest on NPR's “Here and Now” and writes the nationally syndicated column “Jill on Money”. She is the author of two books, The Great Money Reset and The Dumb Things Smart People Do With Their Money. Jill is also the host of the “Jill on Money” and the “MoneyWatch” podcasts and of the nationally syndicated radio show, “Jill on Money”. She is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics, including macroeconomic, market and demographic trends; workplace issues for women and LGBT employees in financial services; and how to create authentic branding. She serves on the board of the New York City Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Jill and I get into all of it...the economy, the tariffs and trade wars, stock market anxiety, the bond market meltdown, the threat of recession, and what investors should be doing defensively to minimize their downside. 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

Andrew Feinberg has been a journalist in the nation's capital for nearly two decades and is currently the White House correspondent for The Independent, covering the executive branch, Congress, campaigns and political investigations across the United States. He was the first journalist to report on the exact timing of the unprecedented first federal indictment of former president Donald Trump in June 2023. He also broke the story of the Trump White House social media monitoring operation that gave Mr Trump's aides advance warning of plans for violence on January 6, 2021. Andrew's work has also appeared in Politico Magazine, Newsweek, Washington Business Journal, The Hill, and Communications Daily. Join us for this insightful conversation about Donald Trump's tariff and trade war debacle, the motivations behind this disastrous economic policy, and where it all might be headed. We also discuss Trump 2.0, Elon Musk, DOGE, the spending cuts 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

Elie Honig is an attorney and CNN senior legal analyst and the bestselling author of Hatchet Man and last year's Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It. He's a former assistant United States attorney for the Southern District of New York. He also hosts podcasts, writes for CAFE, Vox Media and writes a weekly column for New York Magazine. Elie's back in The Back Room unpacking the latest with the myriad legal cases against the Trump administration. 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

Kevin Macdonald is a Scottish born filmmaker who's worked across feature films, documentary and television over the last 25 years. His best known films include: ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER, (Oscar win for Best Documentary, 2000) TOUCHING THE VOID, THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND, LIFE IN A DAY, MARLEY, WHITNEY, THE MAURITANIAN, and his new film, ONE TO ONE: JOHN AND YOKO, which premiered at Venice and Telluride in 2024 and opens exclusively in IMAX on April 11. Kevin is also the co-author of Imagining Reality, a history of documentary film. A must for fans of The Beatles, John and Yoko, and documentary film! 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

David Enrich is the Business Investigations Editor at the New York Times and the bestselling author of “Dark Towers and Servants of the Damned”. The winner of numerous journalism awards, he previously was an editor and reporter at the Wall Street Journal. His first book, “The Spider Network: How a Math Genius and Gang of Scheming Bankers Pulled Off One of the Greatest Scams in History”, was short-listed for the Financial Times Business Book of the Year award. His new book is “Murder the Truth: Fear, the First Amendment, and a Secret Campaign to Protect the Powerful”. Join us for this critically important and timely chat about free speech, the media, the Supreme Court and the legendary New York Times v. Sullivan decision on public figures and defamation. 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

Victoria Nourse is the Whitworth Professor of Law at Georgetown. She teaches and writes about Congress and the separation of powers. She has worked in the White House for former Vice-President Biden as his chief counsel, and in the Congress, DOJ, and in private practice. Join us for this compelling chat about Trump 2.0, the role of Congress, and the assault on the rule of law and 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

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. And he 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 super-insightful chat about the current status of the mounting lawsuits filed against the Trump Administration. 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

Liza Treyger is an actress, comedian, and podcaster. She's been named one of Variety's “Top Ten Comics to Watch,” Rolling Stone's “Ten Comics to Watch,” and Comedy Central's “Comics to Watch”, and her first ever hour-long comedy special entitled “Night Owl” just dropped on Netflix. She recently wrapped production on season two of Netflix's critically acclaimed comedy series “Survival of the Thickest”, and can next be seen in the independent feature “Damned If You Do”. She's also the co-host of the podcast, That's Messed Up: an SVU Podcast. Jojn me for this super-fun chat with this super-funny comedian! We discuss her Netflix Comedy Special, doing stand-up in the age of 'woke', her love of Soul Cycle and weed, 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

Michael Ian Black is an actor, writer, and comedian who began his career with the legendary sketch comedy troupe, The State. He then went on to co-create several television shows, including Viva Variety, Stella, and Michael & Michael Have Issues. His other tv credits include Ed, Another Period, The Jim Gaffigan Show, and the Wet Hot American Summer franchise. His film credits include This is 40, Sextuplets, The Baxter, and Linoleum. Michael's written several screenplays, including Wedding Daze, which he directed, and Run, Fat Boy, Run. He's also authored many books including My Custom Van (and 50 Mind-Blowing Essays That Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face), You're Not Doing It Right, and his most recent A Better Man: A (Mostly Serious) Letter to My Son. He is also the author of several award-winning books for children, including A Pig Parade Is A Terrible Idea, Chicken Cheeks, the I'm… series, and his satirical book, A Child's First Book of Trump. Additionally, he's hosted game shows including Trust Me I'm A Game Show Host, and Duck Quacks Don't Echo on NatGeo. He's co-created and hosted the How To Be Amazing, Topics, and Mike and Tom Eat Snacks podcasts and currently hosts the Obscure podcast. He's currently a team captain on CNN's Have I Got News For You. And he's a stand-up comedian who has released several albums and specials and regularly tours the US. Michael and I had an insightful, fun chat about his childhood, his early comedy inspirations and career, Trump 2.0, the CNN hit show "Have I Got News For You" and more. And don't miss our riveting discussion where we debate the pecking order of dinner theater, community theater, Medieval Times and  Renaissance Fair! 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

Lindsey Boylan has spent her career in urban planning and public service. She is the former Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Housing for New York and served as Special Advisor to former Governor Andrew Cuomo. She was the first woman to come forward with accusations about Cuomo's abuse of women and his related abuses of power. An unapologetic feminist, her words have appeared in leading publications including Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, and Gothamist. Lindsey joins me in The Back Room to share her personal story and her mission to help victims of sexual harassment. 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

Sabrina Singh is a veteran strategist with 15 years of experience advising national leaders on crisis communications, strategic messaging, and policy issues. In addition to frequently appearing on international and national broadcast TV and digital platforms, she's advised senior leaders at all levels of government, including Members of the U.S. House and Senate, Governors, the Secretary of Defense, and the Vice President of the United States. Most recently, she served as the deputy press secretary at the Department of Defense. Additionally, she served as an advisor to Secretary Lloyd Austin and frequently traveled with the Secretary overseas, including to Ukraine, Japan, the Philippines and Israel. Sabrina was one the Department's most outward facing voices on the Pentagon's efforts to surge security assistance to Ukraine and support to Israel following the October 7th attack. She previously served as deputy press secretary for Vice President Kamala Harris, senior spokesperson roles for Mike Bloomberg's 2020 presidential campaign, Cory Booker's presidential campaign and previously served in various communications roles for Democratic committees, Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and Members of Congress. Don't miss this super-insightful chat as Sabrina unpacks the Trump Administration 'SignalGate' national security fiasco. 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

Amanda Litman is the co-founder and President of Run for Something, a national organization that recruits and supports young, diverse progressives running for local office. She's also the author of the book, “Run for Something: A Real Talk Guide to Fixing the System Yourself,” and previously hosted two podcasts, “Run for Something: The Podcast” and “Battleground”. She's written for Elle, Cosmopolitan, The Nation, Teen Vogue, CNN.com, MTV.com, Buzzfeed, Vanity Fair, O Magazine, Crooked Media, and others. Before launching Run for Something, she was the email director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, digital director for Charlie Crist's 2014 Florida gubernatorial campaign, and an email writer for Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. Her new book, When We're In Charge: The Next Generation's Guide to Leadership, is on sale May 13th and available now for pre-order. I love this conversation because it helps folks at home understand how they can become a candidate for elected office and have a meaningful say in how government operates. It's an awesome call-to-action chat which stresses the critical need right now of staying positive, staying engaged, and running for something! 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

Jocelyn Benson is Michigan's 43rd Secretary of State and is running to be the next governor of the state in its 2026 election. She 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. Her new book,“The Purposeful Warrior: Standing Up for What's Right When the Stakes Are High”, is on sale May 6th and is available for pre-order. Jocelyn and I discuss her consequential role as Secretary of State in protecting and expanding voters' rights; how she's taken on Trump; continues to defend the Constitution and the rule of law; her decision to run for governor in 2026; and her inspiring new book which provides "a road map for shattering the status quo and standing up for ourselves, our communities, and our country." 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

Jim Acosta is an award-winning broadcast journalist, with 25 years of experience in network television news, at CNN and CBS News. Perhaps best-known for his time as the Chief White House Correspondent for CNN, he has covered six straight presidential elections at the network level. He's also as an anchor and reporter covering some of the biggest news stories of the last 30 years, including Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War and the aftermath of 9/11. In 2019, his New York Times bestselling book, “The Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America” was published. That same year his work was recognized by the New York Press Club with its “Truth to Power” Award. Jim hosts a podcast on Substack, YouTube and Apple Podcasts. Jim shares his keen insights on a variety if subjects including Trump 2.0, Musk and DOGE, the challenging road ahead for Democrats, and the administration's attacks on the media. 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

Kara Swisher is the host of the podcast On with Kara Swisher, and the co host of the Pivot podcast with Scott Galloway. Both are distributed by New York Magazine. Kara co-founded and was the 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. She has also worked for the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Burn Book is her third book and the paperback edition is now available with a brand-new afterward. Kara shares her inimitable with and wisdom on Trump, Musk, the tech broligarchy, Chuck Schumer and the rift within the Democratic Party over the GOP spending bill vote. 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

Brooke Harrington is Professor of Economic Sociology at Dartmouth College. Her most recent book, Offshore: Stealth Wealth and the New Colonialism, which the Financial Times named one of the Best Books of 2024, and the New Yorker highlighted it among the “Political Books That Help Us Make Sense of 2024.” Harrington's previous book on offshore finance—Capital without Borders: Wealth Managers and the One Percent --won an “Outstanding Book Award” from the American Sociological Association. She is a frequent op-ed contributor to the New York Times and the Washington Post, as well as to The Guardian and The Atlantic. Brooke and I discuss Trump 2.0, Putin/Russia, the Musk-led broligarchy, and its impact on America at home and abroad. 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

Gay Valimont is the Democrat candidate in the April 1st special election in Florida's 1st Congressional District. She's a gun violence prevention activist with a prior career in sports medicine. In 2012 she joined Moms Demand Action for Gunsense in America, rising from full-time grassroots activist to Florida State Lead. Gay has suffered unfathomable personal tragedy and she's here to tell her inspiring story of perseverance and patriotism and why this election is so critical to the balance of power in the House of Representatives. 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

Chris Matthews is a journalist and political commentator, columnist, author, television host and professor. His 15 years in politics and government includes speechwriter for president Jimmy Carter. Administrative assistant to House Speaker Tip O'Neil. Columnist for the San Francisco chronicle. Syndicated columnist and Washington bureau chief for SF Examiner. Host of MSNBC's Hardball. His books include 2011's Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero and his 2021 memoir This Country: My Life on Politics and History. Few people understand politics as well as Chris does. He and I discuss the mounting chaos of Trump 2.0; Musk, DOGE and the massive spending cuts and terminations; Republican buyers' remorse; and the challenging road ahead for Democrats as they focus on the 2026 midterms. 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

Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman is in THE BACK ROOM discussing her organization's litigation against the overreach of the Trump administration in various critical cases relating to DOGE's unlawful spending cuts, DEI, USAID, immigration and ICE raids, and the successes being achieved in the courts. Don't miss this very important and inspiring 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

Joshua Weil is the Democratic nominee for Congress in Florida's 6th Congressional District. On April 1st he'll be facing Trump-endorsed State Senator Randy Fine in a special election to fill the seat vacated by Mike Waltz, who was selected by Trump to serve as National Security Advisor. Josh is a public educator and a single dad of two boys. He's worked in Orange County Public Schools at their Alternative Education Centers, and since 2018, with the School District of Osceola County as a secondary math and science teacher, an instructional coach, a dean of students, and an MTSS Coordinator. Josh and I discuss his candidacy and the critical significance of the upcoming election given the one-seat majority held by Republicans. 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

Adrienne Elrod is a political strategist, government affairs expert and communicator with over 25 years of experience working on Capitol Hill, the executive branch and advising corporate, political and non-profit organizations. She most recently served as Sr. Advisor and Sr Spokesperson to Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. She held this same position for President Biden's re-election campaign. A veteran of the Biden Administration, she served as Director of External and Government Affairs for the CHIPS Program Office. During the 2020 general election, she served as a top aide to Biden's general election campaign. A native of Arkansas, she began her political career in President Bill Clinton's Administration, serving in both the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. On the 2016 presidential campaign, she served as Hillary for America's Director of Strategic Communications. She was a senior communications aide to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign. She's also a frequent contributor to NBC and MSNBC news. Adrienne and I discuss Trump, Musk/DOGE, the Republican voter backlash, and the catastrophic Oval Office meeting with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of global investment firm SkyBridge. He's the author of five books, including last year's From Wall Street to the White House and Back, and his new book The Little Book of Bitcoin: What You Need to Know that Wall Street Has Already Figured Out (Feb 11). He also hosts the Open Book podcast and co-hosts The Rest is Politics: US podcast. And he's of course well-known for the 11 roller coaster days he served in the first Trump White House as Communications Director, after having served on Trump's Finance Committee and then on his Presidential Transition Team. Mooch opines, as only Mooch can, on Trump 2.0, the GOP, Democrats and the challenging road ahead! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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

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

Rosanna Arquette is an award-winning actor, film director, producer and activist. Her film credits include SOB, THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG, DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, AFTER HOURS, PULP FICTION, CRASH, NOWHERE TO RUN, NEW YORK STORIES and THE BILLIONAIRE BOY'S CLUB. She's done a ton of television over the years, including WHAT ABOUT BRIAN, THE L WORD, RAY DONOVAN and most recently the terrific PRESUMED INNOCENT, which is streaming on APPLE TV. I've known Ro for almost 20 years now, and so it was a real honor to have her join me for this fun, insightful, poignant chat about life, love, loss, work and politics. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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

Congressman Pat Ryan represents Upstate New York's 18th Congressional District. He's a West Point graduate, former Army Captain, and Ulster County Executive. He served two tours in Iraq where he led soldiers of all backgrounds in combat and earned two Bronze Stars. Join us for this important chat about the current political landscape under Trump 2.0 and what Democrats can and should do going forward to win the 2026 midterms and the next presidential election in 2028. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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

Ron Filipkowski is a former US Marine, State prosecutor, federal prosecutor, police academy director, lifelong Republican, Republican Club President, and was appointed by Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis to the Judicial nominating committee. Ron was a Republican Against Trump in 2020 and switched parties Jan 7, 2021. He left private-practice a year ago to become Editor in Chief of Meidas Touch. And he is co-host of the podcast Uncovered ,which focuses on covering the MAGA movement. Ron's a smart, funny, no-bullshit guy. Join us as we get into the November election, Trump 2.0, and the challenging road ahead. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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

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

Christopher Cox is a Senior Scholar in Residence at the University of California, Irvine, a Life Trustee of the University of Southern California, Chair of the Rhodes Scholarship selection committee for Southern California and the Pacific, and a member of several nonprofit and for-profit boards. Between two decades as a practicing lawyer, he served as chair of the Homeland Security Committee in the US House of Representatives, chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and senior associate counsel to the President. He has written for Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, The Detroit News, The Denver Post, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and dozens of other publications. His new book is Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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

Juanita Tolliver is an MSNBC Political Analyst, an Opinion Contributor for theGrio, and a Contributor for SiriusXM Progress. Previously, she served as the Director of Campaigns at the Center for American Progress. She is a graduate of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her new book, A More Perfect Party: The Night Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics, is on sale January 14th. Join us as Juanita takes us in riveting detail through the fascinating life and historic career of Shirley Chisholm. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at 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