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This week, Jay has been at the Oslo Freedom Forum, the annual human-rights gathering in the Norwegian capital. Its founder is Thor Halvorssen, who also started the Human Rights Foundation, which is based in New York.

And he is Jay's guest on this "Q&A."

They talk about dictatorship and democracy. At the end, they talk about one dictatorship in particular - that in Mr. Halvorssen's home country, Venezuela.

As Jay explains in the podcast, Thor Halvorssen talks like an American, has a Norwegian name, and IS Venezuelan.

So, there you go. Amazing guy.

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Gao Zhisheng is one of the most heroic men in China, or anywhere. He is a human-rights lawyer who has put his neck on the line and paid for it with ten years of imprisonment and torture.

His wife and two children fled to America. One of those children is Grace, a senior in college, who is presently at the Oslo Freedom Forum, where Jay is too. They sat down for this "Q&A." What's it like to be the daughter of such a man? What does it do to you?

A lot, as you will hear.

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Diana Damrau is an opera star - a German soprano - and a total delight. Jay sat down with her in New York for this "Q&A." They talk about her new album - a compilation of Meyerbeer - and many other things: her children, her favorite singers, her technique, her dancing (including Michael Jackson routines).

No one can resist this soprano onstage. She is pretty irresistible in interviews, too. See what you think.

Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/la-diva-divina-diana/.

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John Negroponte is one of the leading diplomats of our age. When he was a young man, he was at Henry Kissinger's side in Vietnam. He had a Latin American career, including the ambassadorships to Mexico and Honduras. He was also ambassador to the Philippines.

In the George W. Bush years, he was ambassador to Iraq, and ambassador to the U.N. He was also director of national intelligence and deputy secretary of state.

Jay talks with him about the Philippines - the new sheriff in town. And about the infernal problem of North Korea. And China and Japan.

Then they talk about Venezuela, that miserable state. And Mexico and NAFTA. And Europe and Putin.

Finally, there are general questions, concerning "America First," "globalism," a new "American century," etc.

John Negroponte is a voice of experience, and a crystal-clear talker as well.

Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/briefings-by-negroponte/.

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At Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, Calif., there is a student-hosted podcast: "Free Food (For Thought)." Jay was on the campus recently. And he sat down for a podcast with two hosts, Zach Wong and Bryn Miller. It was obviously unusual for Jay to be in the "A" chair, the answerer's chair. He is used to being in the "Q" chair. So, for something different, we thought we would share this podcast with you. The hosts ask a range of questions, some of which require a little self-reflection. Jay balks at these. But he stumbles through, in his fashion.

Claremont McKenna College students conducted this podcast. They can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and SoundCloud.

Listeners can also subscribe to their weekly emails here for updates on speakers.

Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/tables-turned-jay-answerer/.

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