On Brand with Donny Deutsch

Bill O'Reilly returns to talk about his new book, Confronting America: What Has to Change, co-written with Josh Hammer. It's his 20th #1 New York Times bestseller. We cover the values he says America has drifted from: work ethic, family, personal responsibility, and patriotism. He also shares the deathbed promise he made to his father that drove his career. Then we turn to politics. With the midterms two weeks away, Bill explains where Republicans went wrong and what Trump learned from James K. Polk. He also says Trump isn't fading away after his term ends. We debate whether the far right is a real threat compared to the organized, well-funded far left. Bill explains why he thinks unrest like France's is coming to U.S. cities, and why so many young Americans now favor socialism. Plus: Israel's upcoming election and Netanyahu, Bill's Singapore-inspired approach to drugs and homelessness, Bezos vs. Buffett on generosity, and whether Stephen A. Smith will run for office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt returns to talk about where things stand six months after his last visit, and his answer is that the alarm hasn't subsided. He and Donny dig into the ADL's new State of the Arts report, which looked at 40 of America's top museums, including the Met, MoMA and LACMA. None of them included Jewish identity in their diversity commitments. Only six formally recognized Jewish American Heritage Month, and five of those dropped it after October 7th. Greenblatt calls it a "quiet erasure" of Jewish and Israeli artists. They also cover Robert Kraft's decision not to host Macklemore at Gillette Stadium, questions surrounding Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan campaign, why Greenblatt sees the DSA as a driving force behind left-wing antisemitism, and what's really happening on the streets of France. Greenblatt pushes back on the idea that antisemitism is about Netanyahu. He explains how polarization, conspiracy thinking, and manipulated platforms like Wikipedia and TikTok are spreading it, especially among young people. He also responds to President Obama's recent remarks in Belfast and makes the case for a two-state future despite everything. He closes with three things anyone can do to fight back: speak up, share facts, and show strength. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billionaire philanthropist David Rubenstein (Carlyle Group co-founder, Baltimore Orioles owner, and host of Bloomberg's The David Rubenstein Show) talks about Trump's future, the war with Iran, AI, and his new book, Speaking of America: Great Conversations at the Library of Congress. Rubenstein explains why he bought the Orioles as a gift to his hometown, and why tripling the payroll didn't buy a winning season. He talks about his "patriotic philanthropy," from repairing the Washington Monument to sending replicas of the Declaration of Independence to every governor and U.S. embassy for America's 250th. He also covers his path from Jimmy Carter's White House to private equity to the Giving Pledge. From the book, he shares stories from his bipartisan dinners for members of Congress: Michael Beschloss on wartime presidents (the U.S. hasn't formally declared war since 1941), Eric Schmidt and Henry Kissinger on artificial intelligence, Beverly Gage on J. Edgar Hoover's secret files, and Chris Wallace on how the 1960 Kennedy–Nixon debate created modern TV politics. On current events, he discusses the end of the post-WWII world order, how the Iran conflict might end, rising antisemitism since October 7, early 2028 contenders like Andy Beshear and J.D. Vance, and whether MAGA can outlast Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bestselling thriller author Harlan Coben reveals his writing process, how to beat writer's block, and the heartbreaking story behind his father's last words. With more than 100 million books sold and hit Netflix series like Fool Me Once, Harlan Coben is one of the world's most popular mystery writers. Donny Deutsch talks with his longtime friend about his new memoir, Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft, which is part memoir and part writing guide. Harlan explains why he always knows the ending before he starts (his "GPS theory"), why rewriting matters more than writing, and why he believes "plot is character." He talks about imposter syndrome and creative self-doubt, why boredom is good for creativity, and why he needs to leave the house to write. He also shares how losing both parents young led him to write about missing people, and tells the story of a hotel key found in his father's pocket. There are lighter moments too: his childhood Nerf basketball league, the "scary" children's book Are You My Mother?, being named a Jewish All-American at Amherst, his view on AI and books, and "The Boys," the friend group that includes Michael J. Fox and George Stephanopoulos. If you're an aspiring writer, a Harlan Coben fan, or love stories about creativity, friendship, and grief, this conversation is for you. 📖 Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben is available now wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week Donny Deutsch and Lou Pellegrino run through who's up and who's down in American culture. They start with a CDC report finding that most U.S. adults are running on empty, then compare notes on five o'clock naps and why sleep has become a $100 billion industry. From there it's senior TikTok creators talking openly about sex and intimacy, the University of Chicago banning AI and laptops from its core courses, and the dictionary's newest additions, including "parasocial," "cuffing season," and "Sunday scaries." A new Gallup finding that adults under 35 are now the loneliest Americans leads into one of the week's most surprising brand ups: the comeback of the American mall. Donny and Lou trade Queens Center and Roosevelt Field memories along the way. They also check in on Taco Bell's new branded hotel in Palm Springs, question some of Ad Age's picks for 2026's hottest brands, and look at pickleball's fourth straight year as America's fastest-growing sport. Rounding out the list are the fitness shift from weight loss to strength and longevity, "DivorceTok" as a content category, social saunas as Gen Z's new third place, and the milestone of fewer than half of married women taking their husband's name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices