The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

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Andrew Weissmann on his Interview with Jack Smith, and the Comey and James Indictments

2025-10-1531:40

Andrew Weissmann is the co-host of the popular podcast Main Justice 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. Andrew joins me fresh on the heels of the breaking news about his interview in London with former special counsel Jack Smith. We discuss this compelling conversation as well as the indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York State Attorney General Letitia James. 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 on the Shutdown, Economy, Stock Market, and Advice for Investors...and...Taylor Swift!

2025-10-1359:44

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's back to discuss the shutdown, the economy, the stock market, and what investors should be doing in Q4. And, we also found time to address the Carole King vs Taylor Swift debate and whether Boomer music is better than Gen Z's/Millennials'! 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

Cait Conley on her NY District 17 Congressional Campaign and the Fight to Defeat Mike Lawler

2025-10-1101:08:13

Cait Conley is a fourth-generation Hudson Valley native, daughter of a postal worker and a construction worker, a decorated combat veteran and national security expert. And she’s running for the House in NY’s 17th Congressional district. Cait discusses the shutdown, affordability, national security, Trump, Hegseth, her campaign and the fight to defeat Mike Lawler 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

Cass Sunstein on his new book, On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom

2025-10-0938:57

Cass Sunstein is currently the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard. He is the founder and director of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School. In 2018, he received the Holberg Prize from the government of Norway, sometimes described as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for law and the humanities. In 2020, the World Health Organization appointed him as Chair of its technical advisory group on Behavioural Insights and Sciences for Health. He was advisor to presidents Obama and Biden, has testified before congressional committees on many subjects, and he has advised officials at the United Nations, the European Commission, the World Bank, and many nations on issues of law and public policy. He is author of hundreds of articles and dozens of books, including Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide, The Cost-Benefit Revolution, On Freedom, Nudge. The World According to Star Wars, Too Much Information and his new book, "On Liberalism: In Defense of Freedom”. Cass joins me for an insightful discussion about his new book. 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

Jake Tapper on the Eagles, the Shutdown and his Terrific New Book

2025-10-0744:26

Jake Tapper wrote the NY Times bestselling nonfiction books The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor, which was turned into a critically acclaimed film in 2020, and this year’s ORIGINAL SIN: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. He’s also written two New York Times bestselling novels, The Hellfire Club and The Devil May Dance, He is an Emmy Award-winning TV journalist as lead DC anchor and chief Washington correspondent for CNN. His new book, RACE AGAINST TERROR: Chasing an Al Qaeda Killer at the Dawn of the Forever War, comes out Tuesday October 7th. Jake and I talk a little sports and then dive into the government shutdown and his terrific new non-fiction thriller. 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

Peter Baker on the Shutdown, Trump's DOJ Weaponization, and Lutnick's New Epstein Bombshell

2025-10-0454:371

Peter Baker is the Chief White House Correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for MSNBC. He has covered the last five presidents for The Times and The Washington Post. At The Post, he also served as Moscow Co-Bureau Chief and covered the opening months of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is author of seven books, including the best-selling The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021, and The Man Who Ran Washington: The Life and Times of James A. Baker III, both with his wife, Susan Glasser of The New Yorker. He is a frequent panelist on Washington Week on PBS. Peter and I discuss the government shutdown, the Comey indictment and Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department, and Howard Lutnick's jaw-dropping new Epstein comments. 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

Osita Nwanevu on his New Book About Democracy's Flaws and the Need to Amend the Constitution

2025-10-0243:00

Osita Nwanevu is a contributing editor at The New Republic, a columnist at The Guardian, and the Democratic Institutions fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. He is a former staff writer at The New Republic, The New Yorker, and Slate, and his work has also appeared in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books, The Nation, Harper’s Magazine, the Columbia Journalism Review, In These Times, Flaming Hydra, and Gawker. His new book is The Right of the People: Democracy and the Case for a New American Founding. Osita discusses his new book about democracy's many flaws and the desperate need to amend the Constitution to correct the inequities in representation including those in the Supreme Court, Senate, and the electoral college. 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

Filmmaker Marc Levin and Author David Paul Kuhn on the New Documentary HARD HAT RIOT

2025-09-2940:51

Marc Levin is an award-winning, independent filmmaker. He has made over 50 films, including documentaries, TV series, dramatic feature films and episodic television. He’s won four Emmys and four duPont-Columbia Awards, among other prominent accolades. Highlights include his dramatic hit SLAM; the groundbreaking docuseries Brick City; and several films for HBO including Gang War: Bangin’ in Little Rock, Thug Life in DC; and Class Divide. His most recent HBO film, An American Bombing, is streaming on Max and was recently nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Historical Documentary. His latest film, which premieres Sept 30th on PBS, is HARD HAT RIOT. David Paul Kuhn is a writer and political analyst and author of several books including his most recent, The Hardhat Riot: Nixon, New York City, and the Dawn of the White Working-Class Revolution. He’s served as the chief political writer for CBS News online, a senior political writer for Politico, as well as chief political correspondent at RealClearPolitics. He’s also written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post Magazine, The Los Angeles Times, National Review, New Republic, among other publications, and regularly appears on networks ranging from BBC to Fox News. Marc's new film is partly based on David's book. Join us for this super-interesting discussion about the riot, this violent end to the turbulent Sixties, and its stunning parallels to the current political chaos. 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

Katie Phang on Trump, Comey, Kimmel, Kamala and More!

2025-09-2701:07:05

Katie Phang is an independent journalist and trial lawyer. Formerly the host of “The Katie Phang Show” on MSNBC, Katie also has served as a legal contributor/legal correspondent for several media outlets, such as NBC, MSNBC, and Fox News. She’s had a front-row seat to some of the most consequential moments in recent history, including the unsealing of multiple criminal indictments against Donald Trump, oral arguments before the United States Supreme Court on presidential immunity, and attending the only criminal trial of an American president. After several years in mainstream media, Katie departed cable tv to dive into independent media, launching her own YouTube channel (@katiephangnews) and Substack (@katiephang), leveraging her experience, including as a trial lawyer for more than 25 years, to provide compelling analysis and commentary on the latest legal and political issues across the globe. Katie shares her astute insights into Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department and overall assault on democracy; the Comey indictment; the Jimmy Kimmel debacle; Kamala Harris and her new book; the big Hegseth military gathering next week; 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

Mark Zaid on Kimmel, Free Speech, the CDC Monarez Firing, Trump and the Weaponization of the DOJ, and the Future of Democracy

2025-09-2555:11

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 in 2017 he co-founded Whistleblower Aid, a non-profit law firm that provides pro bono legal representation to whistleblowers, particularly in the national security arena, and serves as legal counsel. Mark discusses the Jimmy Kimmel/Disney/FCC free speech debacle, RFK Jr's firing of CDC Director Dr. Susan Monarez, Trump's weaponization of the Justice Department, the strength (or lack thereof) of the judicial system, and the future 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

Vicky Ward on her New Book About the Idaho Four College Murders and her 22-Year Journey Through the Jeffrey Epstein Scandal

2025-09-2355:03

Vicky Ward is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, podcaster, documentary host and producer, former CNN Senior Reporter, magazine editor at large, entrepreneur, and Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford. Her investigative reporting focuses on power, money, and corruption in the United States and abroad. She is the author of the bestselling Substack newsletter, “Vicky Ward Investigates.” And her most recent book about the 2022 killing of four University of Idaho students, which she co-wrote best selling novelist James Patterson, is The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy, was published in July and became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller. Vicky discusses her new book about the horrific 2022 murders at the University of Idaho. She also shares in gripping detail how she first learned of Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls while writing her 2003 Vanity Fair profile of him and the investigative journey it's taken her on over the past 22 years. 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

George Conway on Kimmel, Kirk, and Epstein

2025-09-2001:08:19

George Conway is an attorney, political activist, and legal and political commentator. He is board president of the Society for the Rule of Law, and a founder of the Lincoln Project. He is also a host of The Bulwark’s podcast George Conway Explains It All (to Sarah Longwell), and he is a contributing writer to The Atlantic. He previously worked as a litigator for three decades at the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York City. George is back in THE BACK ROOM to discuss the Jimmy Kimmel free speech fiasco, the Charlie Kirk assassination and aftermath, and the intensifying Epstein scandal. 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

Russell Moore on the Charlie Kirk Assassination, the Epstein Scandal, and Christianity in America Today

2025-09-1801:03:32

Russell Moore is Editor in Chief of Christianity Today and is the author of several books, including Losing Our Religion: An Alter Call for Evangelical America. An ordained Baptist minister, Moore served previously as President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and, before that, as the chief academic officer and dean of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also taught theology and ethics. He also hosts the weekly podcast The Russell Moore Show and is a senior commentator of Christianity Today’s weekly news and analysis podcast, The Bulletin. Russell shares his insightful and thought-provoking views on the Charlie Kirk assassination and aftermath, the Epstein scandal, and Christianity in America today. So what would Jesus say? Russell addresses that 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

Tom Nichols on Russian Drones, SCOTUS's Ruling on ICE Raids, and the Charlie Kirk Assassination and Aftermath

2025-09-1645:45

Tom Nichols is a staff writer at The Atlantic and a contributor to the Atlantic Daily newsletter. He's back in THE BACK ROOM for a discussion about the concerns involving Russian drones over Poland, the reaction from NATO, and Trump's response (or lack thereof). We also discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling on ICE raids in LA involving racial profiling, and America in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination. As always, Tom offers truly insightful and thought-provoking analysis. 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 on his New Book About 50+ Years of DOJ Special Counsels; and the Latest SCOTUS and Lower Court Rulings

2025-09-1301:01:46

Elie Honig is CNN’s Senior Legal Analyst. He previously worked for 14 years as a federal and state prosecutor. He is also the national bestselling author of two books, “Hatchet Man: How Bill Barr Broke the Prosecutor’s Code and Corrupted the Justice Department” and “Untouchable: How Powerful People Get Away With It”. He writes a weekly column for New York magazine and for Cafe.com, and he hosts two podcasts for Vox Media. He teaches at Rutgers University and is special counsel to New Jersey law firm Lowenstein Sandler. His new book, When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ’s Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump, will be published September 16th. Elie joins me for a discussion of his new book as well as the latest Supreme Court and lower court rulings 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

Aziz Huq on the Lastest Supreme Court and Lower Court Rulings For and Against Trump

2025-09-1129:06

Aziz Huq is the Frank and Bernice J. Professor at the University of Chicago Law School and associate professor of sociology. His books include How to Save a Constitutional Democracy, The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies, and The Rule of Law: A Very Short Introduction. His scholarship is published in leading law, social science, political science, and criminology journals. He also writes for Politico, the London Review of Books, and many other general interest publications. Before teaching, Aziz represented civil liberties claimants with the Brennan Center for Justice, and worked for the International Crisis Group in Afghanistan, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. He was also a law clerk for Appeals Court Judge Robert D. Sack and the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. His latest opinion piece in Politico is titled, Will the Supreme Court Stand Up to Trump if He Sends Troops to Chicago…The military isn’t supposed to act as a national police force. Aziz joins me for an insightful conversation about the latest Supreme Court rulings over immigration and Trump's termination of FTC Commissioner. We also discuss the recent lower court rulings on National Guard deployment in LA, Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act regarding deportations, the cuts to Harvard's research funding, and the legality of his tariff policies. 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

Filmmaker James Sweeney and his Co-Star Dylan O'Brien on Their New Film TWINLESS

2025-09-0924:54

James Sweeney is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker. He wrote, directed, produced, and co-stars in his new film TWINLESS, and which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, winning the US Dramatic Audience Award and a Special Jury Award for Acting for Dylan O'Brien. Roadside Attractions will release the movie this summer. James was recently named one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch. His debut feature, STRAIGHT UP , a screwball romantic comedy, won the Grand Jury Prize at the San Diego Asian Film Festival and was nominated for Best First Screenplay at the 2021 Independent Spirit Awards. Dylan O’Brien not only stars in TWINLESS, he also Executive Produced the film. He recently wrapped production on SEND HELP from director Sam Raimi, and which will be released in January. His other recent credits include the feature films PONYBOI, SATURDAY NIGHT, NOT OKAY, THE OUTFIT, and LOVE AND MONSTERS. and guest appearances on the television shows Fantasmas, The Other Two and Curb Your Enthusiasm. James and Dylan join me in THE BACK ROOM to discuss their terrific new 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

Ofirah Yheskel on the Critical Importance of Governors in the Fight Against Trump's Autocratic Overreach

2025-09-0601:01:13

Ofirah Yheskel is the External Affairs Director and senior spokesperson at the Democratic Governors Association. Prior to joining the DGA in 2023, she served as the Democratic National Committee’s Deputy Communications Director. She has worked across presidential and statewide races, acting as a spokesperson for the 2020 DNC War Room, as Director of Media Relations for the successful 2020 Democratic National Convention, and as Deputy Communications director for Beto O’Rourke’s presidential campaign. Prior to that, she was a Senior Advisor to Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and the Wisconsin Press Secretary for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Ofirah joins me for an important conversation about her organization and the critical role governors are playing in the fight against Trump's autocratic overreach. We also discuss the extremely consequential gubernatorial elections coming up this November in New Jersey and Virginia. 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 Strassner on his Terrific New Film THE BALTIMORONS and his Collaboration with The Duplass Brothers

2025-09-0550:52

Michael Strassner is an actor, writer, and director. His credits include Young Rock, A Spy Movie, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation and more. He also wrote, directed, and starred in the award winning short film BIG BOY. He stars in the new film THE BALTIMORONS, which he co-wrote with Jay Duplass, and which opens in theaters tomorrow, September 5th. Join us for this fun chat as Michael takes us back to his childhood, shares his early acting and filmmaker inspirations, and discusses his terrific new film and his collaboration with the Duplass Brothers. 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

Ophira Eisenberg on Stand Up and Storytelling!

2025-09-0357:39

Ophira Eisenberg is a standup comedian, writer, and host of the award-winning comedy podcast Parenting Is a Joke. She also regularly hosts and tours with the Peabody Awarding winning radio show and podcast, The Moth Radio Hour, and podcast. She also hosted NPR’s Ask Me Another for 9 years where she interviewed and played silly games with hundreds of celebrities including Sir Patrick Stewart, Rosie Perez, Yo-Yo Ma, Roxanne Gay, Nick Kroll, Chelsea Handler, and others. She’s appeared multiple times on CBS’s The Late Late Show, Sherri! with Sherri Sheppard, Comedy Central, HBO, The New York Festival, and is regular on The Moth Radio Hour. Her stories are included in three of The Moth’s best-selling collections. Her memoir, Screw Everyone: Sleeping My Way to Monogamy was optioned for a TV series, and her recent comedy special Plant Based Jokes is streaming on YouTube. She is a regular at The Comedy Cellar and other New York clubs, and her solo show Leaving A Mark: A Comedy About Scars made it’s Off-Broadway review to rave reviews and won the Women in the Arts & Media Award for Solo Show Scripts. She will be recording her new 1-hour comedy special at The Comedy Cellar in NY on Sunday Nov 9th, 2025 Such a fun chat with the very funny Ophira! We talk life, love, family, stand up, storytelling, growing up in Canada, living in NYC and, as two highly inquisitive Jews, we explore some of the burning questions about Brooklyn's Hatzalah ambulance service! 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

#box-pro-ellipsis-176066589522033{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}The Back Room with Andy Ostroy