The Roundtable

Michael Roth, the President of Wesleyan University, will speak at the Monterey Meeting House in Monterey, MA on Sunday, August 9th. His talk is titled: 'From Neutrality to Democracy; How Higher Ed Can Defend Democracy.' Michael will join us later this morning.Michael Roth has been president of Wesleyan University since 2007. His most recent books are 'The Student: A Brief History and Safe Enough Spaces: A Pragmatist's Guide to Free Speech, Affirmative Action, and Political Correctness on College Campuses,'and 'Beyond the University: Why Liberal Education Matters.'He is currently focused on building a network of schools, Democracy 250, whose students defend democracy by participating in it. We welcome Michael Roth to the RT.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) welcomes back The Philadelphia Orchestra for a three-week summer residency from August 5–22 as part of its celebratory 60th anniversary season.Led by Music and Artistic Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin,the season pairs classical masterworks with SPAC premieres and performances by world-renowned artists, including Tony, Emmy, and five-time Grammy Award–nominated singer Josh Groban, Grammy Award–nominated indie-folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov, and two-time Tony Award–winning Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell.Christopher Shiley is President of Saratoga Performing Arts Center.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, Associate Professor of Music at Vassar College. He studies music in American politics; sound studies; East Asian art music; and music in the African diaspora Justin Patch, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

Long before Joe Goldberg became one of fiction's most unsettling antiheroes, he was simply a lonely teenager looking for love. In 'You First: A Joe Goldberg Prequel,' Caroline Kepnes takes readers back to seventeen-year-old Joe, working in Mr. Mooney's Manhattan bookstore and chasing the promise of romance, only to reveal how obsession and deception first took root. Kepnes, the 'New York Times' bestselling author whose 'You' novels inspired the hit Netflix series, once again blends dark humor, psychological suspense, and razor-sharp social observation. This origin story offers longtime fans—and newcomers alike—a chilling look at how monsters are made.

Jan Carson has become one of the most imaginative voices in contemporary Irish fiction, blending folklore, magical realism, and the emotional complexities of everyday life. The Belfast-based writer is the award-winning author of 'The Fire Starters,' winner of the European Union Prize for Literature, as well as 'The Raptures' and several acclaimed short story collections. Her new novel, 'Few and Far Between,' imagines an alternate Northern Ireland where the draining of Lough Neagh creates a mysterious archipelago that becomes a refuge from the Troubles. As environmental disaster threatens this isolated community decades later, Carson explores memory, family, belonging, and the enduring scars of history with wit, compassion, and startling originality.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, Semi-retired, Editor at large/columnist/editorial writer, Times Union Jay Jochnowitz, a full professor in the History Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) Allison Kavey, and Siena University Professor of Economics Aaron Pacitti.

Erin Harkes, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Metroland Now, joins us this morning for our regular arts segment where she will talk about what's in the pages of Metroland Now and preview each month's events for First Friday in Albany.Erin is a local musician, comedian and Metroland publisher and has a brand-new album of music, just out, it's called "Blue."

'New York Times' opinion writer Michelle Goldberg will appear in conversation with essayist, poet, and longtime 'The Nation' columnist Katha Pollitt at the New Marlborough Meeting House on Saturday, August 1, at 4:30 pm. They will be discussing the current political moment and the future of American democracy.

For more than three decades, Bruce Sconzo has chronicled the world with a cartoonist's eye, blending wit, sharp observation, and an unmistakable drawing style to capture everything from everyday life to politics and popular culture. His new collection, 'Bruce: Three Decades of Cartooning.'

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, The Ulster County Comptroller and the former president and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley March Gallagher, and Former Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

A New Play by Mark St. Germain, 'Amchitka,' is being produced Chester Theatre Company, directed by Julianne Boyd and running through Aug 8th. The production is taking place in the Chester Town Hall Theatre.In a monitoring station at Amchitka, a volcanic island 170 miles off the coast of Alaska used for underground nuclear testing in the 1960s, three scientists find themselves cut off from the outside world as an event seems to be underway. But what? A new philosophical thriller by Mark St. Germain, author of 'Magdalene' and 'Freud's Last Session.'

Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival 2026 continues through Sunday, August 30th. The Festival features indoor performances in the landmark Ted Shawn Theatre and the newly-opened Doris Duke Theatre, as well as outdoor performances on the Henry J. Leir Stage.In addition to showcasing acclaimed dance companies from the United States and around the world, the summer Festival is featuring a wide range of programs - including livestreams, talks, classes, exhibits, parties, community events, family-friendly activities, workshops with artists, and more.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Lecturer of Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former Fulbright US Scholar to Egypt Jackie Berry, Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

This week's Book Picks comes from Suzanna Hermans from Oblong Books in Rhinebeck and Millerton, NY and Mike Hare from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, NY and Manchester Center, VT.

The Tanglewood Learning Institute presents 'February 1933' at the Linde Center on Saturday at 2PM in Lenox, MA. It is a World Premiere of a reading, with music, of Uwe Wittstock's 'February 1933: The Winter of Literature.'

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College. He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy Robert Brigham, an author, lawyer, consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneur. Her most recent book is: 'Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won't Tell You' Fatimah Gilliam, Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association Judy Patrick, and the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project. She is also a columnist for The Free Press and a Greene County resident Larissa Phillips.

33-years ago, the family classic 'Free Willy' opened in theatres and became a hit leading to two sequels and a film still revered today. Star Jayne Atkinson will be doing an event at The Triplex in Great Barrington on July 29th at 7 pm for a talkback after a screening of the film.

Heather Headley is known for her prolific career on Broadway, in music, and in TV and film. Headley has a multifaceted career, which she considers a blessing.Headley in 1997 made her breakthrough by being cast as the titular role of Nala in the Tony Award Winning Musical ‘The Lion King.' She then starred as the leading role of Aida in Elton John's and Time Rice's ‘Aida' where she won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actress. She also has been in the West End's “The Bodyguard,' the Broadway Revival of ‘The Color Purple,' and Encores ‘Into the Woods.'Heather Headley will be at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center on Friday July 31st with 'An Evening with Heather Headley' at 8pm.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government atSkidmore College Beau Breslin, Preceptor in Public Speaking for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University Terry Gipson, and Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio.

Earlier this summer we had a lobster bake of sorts under a pavilion at Saratoga Performing Arts Center, part of SPAC's Culinary Arts events with chef Devin Finigan. Finigan is owner of Aragosta and recognized as one of food and wine's best restaurants in both 2024 and 2025. Finigan shares stories from her debut cookbook 'A Kitchen on Goose Cove: Recipes from the Heart of Maine.' Joe Donahue spoke with Devin Finigan in May 2026.

The Red Lion Inn presents their event: 'Voices of Democracy: Imagining America: The Next 250.' They will be celebrating America with visionary artists, activists, educators and musicians from the national and local community as they envision the hopes, dreams and challenges of our next 250 years.Wednesday, July 29, 2026Festive Food & Drinks: 5PMShowtime: 6:30PM-8PMIt is an evening of songs, story-telling, poetry and imaginings. The production is conceived and directed by Robert Egan. Musical director Johnny Irion joins us for a preview.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are a senior fellow and faculty member in the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator. Judith is co-author of the book 'The Problem with Plastic ' Judith Enck, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, and Arthur Zankel Chair in Management for Liberal Arts at Skidmore College where she teaches International Affairs and Business Management Pushi Prasad.

For more than four decades, Paula Poundstone has been one of America's most distinctive comedians, celebrated for her quick wit, improvisational style, and hilarious conversations with audiences that make every performance unique. A longtime favorite on NPR as a regular panelist on 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!,' Poundstone remains one of stand-up's most recognizable voices.She continues to tour nationally, bringing her sharp observations on everyday life, politics, family, and the absurdities of modern living to audiences across the country. Paula Poundstone brings her latest stand-up show to The Egg in Albany on Saturday Night at 8PM and she joins us now for a preview.

The 95th Anniversary Woodstock Library Fair will be held on Saturday, July 25th from 10am to 5pm at the new Library on 10 Dixon Ave.This year's theme for the 95th Anniversary Library Fair is “We Belong Together”. It is a home-town party celebrating Woodstock as a center of the arts: painting, sculpture, poetry, music, fiction, nonfiction, pottery — “all the arts for which Woodstock is known.”

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert - Theresa Bourgeois, Former Vice President for Editorial Development at the New York Press Association and a longtime editor of the Daily Gazette Judy Patrick, the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project. She is also a columnist for The Free Press and a Greene County resident Larissa Phillips, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

British poet Lucas Jones has become an international literary sensation by pairing deeply personal poetry with the reach of social media, earning millions of readers drawn to his candid reflections on modern life.His new collection, 'I Still Believe in Miracles,' is an instant bestseller that explores masculinity, love, grief, hope, and the search for connection in an often-fractured world. Blending vulnerability with resilience, Jones writes about heartbreak and healing with remarkable emotional clarity.A London-based actor, writer, and poet, he has emerged as one of a new generation of voices bringing contemporary poetry to an expansive, devoted audience.

Northshire Bookstore and Universal Preservation Hall are presenting an evening with #1 New York Times bestselling author and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Colson Whitehead on Thursday night at UPH in Saratoga Springs at 8 PM.He will discuss “Cool Machine,” the final installment of his Harlem Trilogy, a vividly imagined portrait of 1980s New York filled with daring heists, unforgettable characters, and the city's magnetic energy.Whitehead weaves history, crime, and imagination into a gripping story that critics are calling “the literary equivalent of a great action movie” and “the greatest New York novel in years.”

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, an educator who teaches drama and humanities at Poughkeepsie Day School in Poughkeepsie Stephen Haff, Associate Professor of Government at Dutchess Community College and since 2023, she has been President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley Dr. Karin Riedl, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

This week's Book Picks comes from Green Toad Bookstore in Oneonta, NY and Cheryl McKeon from The Book House in Albany and Marketblock Books in Troy, NY.

Gangster fiction has long explored questions of power, loyalty, and survival. But in 'All Them Dogs,' Irish novelist Djamel White brings something unexpected to the genre: a deeply human story in which violence and vulnerability exist side by side. Set in the gangland neighborhoods of West Dublin, the novel follows Tony Ward, who returns home after years in exile for a killing committed in his youth. Hoping to reclaim his place in the criminal world, Tony instead finds himself drawn into an increasingly dangerous relationship with Darren "Flute" Walsh, an enforcer whose presence forces him to confront desires, loyalties, and fears he has long kept buried.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Principal, Faith in the Public Square and Co-Principal of The Religious Nationalisms Project The Reverend Peter Cook, Semi-retired, Editor at large/columnist/editorial writer, Times Union Jay Jochnowitz, Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain, and an Associate Professor in the department of sociology at Vassar College. Her research is on health, wellness, and medical knowledge Catherine Tan.

Three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Mike McIntire has spent years following the money, politics, and power behind some of America's biggest stories. As a reporter for 'The New York Times,' his work has exposed everything from Russian election interference to hidden financial incentives in policing.In his new book, 'Ricochet: Guns, Greed, and the American Way of Violence,' McIntire turns his attention to one of the nation's most urgent and divisive issues. Drawing on extensive reporting, he traces how commerce, politics, history, and ideology combined to shape America's uniquely powerful gun culture.

What does it take to outrun history without leaving it behind? In his new memoir, 'Running with Lions,' Dr. Pius Kamau traces an extraordinary journey from a childhood in colonial Kenya to a career as a thoracic surgeon in the United States.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Stuart Rice Honorary Chair at the University of Massachusetts Amherst's College of Information and Computer Sciences (CICS) and Faculty Associate at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University Fran Berman, Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, the incoming director of extension programs and professor of practice at the American University of Armenia Jim Ketterer, and Political Consultant & Lobbyist Libby Post.

What happens when the United States launches an unconventional foreign aid program in the aftermath of a national uprising? Cornelius Queen of the Egyptian-American Enterprise Fund will discuss his new book, 'A Daring Enterprise A US-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power,' with panelist Jim Ketterer.

Tom Papa has spent years making audiences laugh by finding the humor in everyday life, family, food, and aging in the wonderfully absurd business of just being a human being walking on this planet. A veteran standup comedian, actor, podcast host, and best-selling author Papa is familiar with fans through his Netflix specials, his work alongside Jerry Seinfeld, and his long running appearances on NPR's ‘Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.' This summer he brings his ‘Grateful Bread Tour' to The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington on 7/18.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government at Skidmore College Beau Breslin, a senior fellow and faculty member in the Center for the Advancement of Public Action at Bennington College. She is the President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator. Judith is co-author of the book 'The Problem with Plastic' Judith Enck, The Ulster County Comptroller and the former president and CEO of the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley March Gallagher, and a full professor in the History Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) Allison Kavey.

Daniel Silva has spent more than two decades proving that the international spy novel can be as elegant as it is suspenseful. The #1 'New York Times' bestselling author and former journalist returns with 'Ransom,' the latest adventure featuring legendary art restorer and Israeli intelligence operative Gabriel Allon.This time, what appears to be the disappearance of a glamorous British socialite quickly unfolds into a dangerous web of wealth, deception, political intrigue, and long-buried secrets. As Gabriel searches for the missing Alice Winter, he discovers that nearly everyone involved has something to hide—and that an old enemy is waiting in the shadows.

Maverick Concerts, founded in 1916, is the nation's oldest continuously running summer chamber music festival, welcoming generations of world-class artists to its iconic rustic concert hall. While chamber music remains at its heart, Maverick's adventurous programming also embraces jazz, folk, contemporary, and world music, making it one of the region's most distinctive cultural destinations.As another season unfolds, we're joined by Maverick's Music Director, Alexander Platt, to talk about this summer's performances and the enduring magic of making music in the Catskills.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College. He is a specialist on the history of US foreign policy Robert Brigham, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at The Empire Center for Public Policy Bill Hammond, the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project. She is also a columnist for The Free Press and a Greene County resident Larissa Phillips, and an Associate Professor in the department of sociology at Vassar College. Her research is on health, wellness, and medical knowledge Catherine Tan.

Acclaimed pianist and NPR host Lara Downes, who has spent the past two years traveling the country for 'The Declaration Project,' a national initiative built around a deceptively simple question: What does it mean to be American today?This Saturday Lara will bring that work to MASS MoCA's Hunter Center with 'Hold These Truths: Lara Downes and Friends,' a poignant and probing concert that marks America's 250th anniversary by celebrating the power of music to express the core essence of our founding promise.

The creator of NBC's Smash and the author of more than 20 plays - including 'Seminar,' 'Bernhardt/Hamlet,' 'Dig and Seared' - Theresa Rebeck is also the longtime resident playwright at Vermont's Dorset Theatre Festival. This summer she's returning to direct her own acclaimed backstage comedy, 'The Understudy,' running through Sunday.Set in the rehearsal room of a Broadway production of a long-lost Kafka play, 'The Understudy' follows an overlooked actor, a Hollywood star, and a frazzled stage manager as old rivalries, bruised egos, and dreams of success collide. It's a funny, fast-paced look at ambition, jealousy, second chances, and the wonderfully chaotic world behind the curtain.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert - Theresa Bourgeois, Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Bob Griffin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Robert Pondiscio, and Diplomat in Residence at Bard College. She retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in 2025 after over 30 years in public service. Her last post was ambassador to the SE Asian country, Timor-Leste Donna Welton.

This week's Book Picks comes from Roxanna Pisiak from Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA and Drew Broussard Rough Draft Bar and Books in Kingston, NY for our selections this week.

'Mother. Daughter. Father. Son.' is a funny and deeply human new play about what happens when love, memory, faith, and responsibility collide. When an aging mother moves in with her fiercely independent daughter, long-buried tensions surface—alongside unexpected friendships next door that complicate everything.The production is up at the Adirondack Theatre Festival in Glens Falls, NY and runs through Sunday.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Joseph Palamountain Jr. Chair in Government atSkidmore College Beau Breslin, an author, lawyer, consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneur. Her most recent book is: 'Race Rules: What Your Black Friend Won't Tell You' Fatimah Gilliam, The Empire Report's JP Miller, and Former Mayor of the City of Albany Kathy Sheehan.

From the streets of Manhattan to the Hudson Valley and the Mohawk frontier, New York became the Revolution's central battleground—politically, militarily, and socially. In the new collection 'Fire and Freedom: The American Revolution in New York,' historian Thomas Wermuth and his fellow editors bring together leading scholars to tell a richer, more complicated story of the conflict and the people who lived through it.

Summer means music in Cooperstown, and one of the region's most anticipated traditions is ready to begin. The Cooperstown Summer Music Festival opens Wednesday evening with the acclaimed wind quintet WindSync performing at Fenimore Farm and Country Village.The festival continues through August 17 with a lineup of chamber music, jazz, and crossover performances at venues including Fenimore Farm and Christ Episcopal Church.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Lecturer of Cognitive Sciences at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and former Fulbright US Scholar to Egypt Jackie Berry, Senior Fellow, Bard Center for Civic Engagement Jim Ketterer, Political Consultant Libby Post, and Investment Banker on Wall St. Mark Wittman.

For many of us, driving is routine - until it isn't. Anne O'Dwyer has spent her career studying how emotion and perception influence behavior. A professor of psychology at Bard College at Simon's Rock, she brings years of classroom experience and scholarly research to her latest work.In her new book, "A Driving Anger: The Psychology of Road Rage," O'Dwyer investigates the psychological forces that make driving such fertile ground for anger. She joined the Roundtable this morning for a detailed discussion about road rage.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Allison Kavey, a professor in the history department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY); Aaron Pacitti, an economics professor at Siena University; Larissa Phillips, the founder and director of the Volunteer Literacy Project, as well as a columnist for The Free Press and a Greene County resident; and Kathy Sheehan, the former mayor of Albany.