The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Adam Mockler is a GenZ political commentator who's become a hero to Democrats and a giant thorn to Republicans over his ability to fact-check his conservative counterparts in real-time. At 23, and armed with receipts, he can debate the liars and gaslighters better than many analysts twice his age. Join us for this insightful and humorous chat about how to effectively beat down the right-wing bullshit and control the narrative.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Andrew McCabe is the former deputy director, and acting director, of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is also the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump. He is currently a senior law enforcement analyst for CNN, a distinguished visiting professor at the George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government, a consultant and advisor to cyber companies, and the co-host of the podcast “Unjustified” about the policies and actions of the Department of Justice.

Andrew began his 21-year FBI career in 1996 as a special agent assigned to the New York City Field Office, where he investigated Russian organized crime cases. In 2006, he shifted his focus to national security when he was promoted to FBI Headquarters in the Counterterrorism Division. He went on to serve in numerous high level leadership positions in the FBI including, assistant director of the Counterterrorism Division, executive assistant director of the National Security Branch, assistant director in charge of the Washington Field Office, and Deputy Director of the FBI. In 2017, he served as the acting FBI director after the firing of James Comey. He retired from the FBI in 2018.

We discuss the current state of the FBI under Kash Patel and the impact on the bureau's credibility, the hiring and firing policies of agents, and overall morale.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Batya Ungar-Sargon is the host of Batya! on NewsNation, where she is a weekend anchor. She is a frequent contributor to the New York Post and a columnist for the Free Press. Her new book is The Jews and the Left.

She joins me for a spirited conversation about the book, antisemitism, and her thoughts on how the progressive wing of the Democratic Party has driven a wedge between Jews over Israel.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Alisyn Camerota is an award-winning journalist, author and former CNN New Day anchor. Before CNN, she was an anchor and correspondent at the FOX News Channel. In her three+ decades in journalism, Alisyn has covered major stories nationally and internationally, earning two Emmy Awards, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and a DuPont-Columbia Award. Alisyn’s debut novel, Amanda Wakes Up, was selected by National Public Radio as one of the best books of 2017, and by Oprah Magazine as “a must read.” Her 2024 memoir Combat Love was an instant Amazon bestseller. On her Substack she writes about the process of having to reinvent life after leaving legacy media and the death of her beloved husband Tim. She now hosts a weekly interview show on the Scripps News network called, “Connected with Alisyn Camerota.”

Alisyn's had quite the storied life so far, full of incredible highs and lows. She takes us back to her turbulent childhood; her 'badass adjacent' teenage punk-rock period at CBGB's; when she realized she wanted to be a journalist; the tough decision to leave her coveted CNN anchor position; Tim's illness and eventual death; navigating through unfathomable loss and grief; the power of friendship; and reinventing herself professionally. I'm confident you'll find this conversation as engaging and inspiring as I have.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Keisha Lance Bottoms has served as senior advisor to former President Joe Biden, leading the transformation of the White House Office of Public Engagement, and acting as a liaison and media surrogate. Before joining the White House, she worked with CNN as a political commentator based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she served in all three branches of government, as judge, council member, and mayor. She is now running for governor and recently released her new memoir, The Rough Side of the Mountain.

Keisha joins me for an inspiring conversation about her life, campaign, and overcoming challenges on the road to success.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Danielle Crittenden is a journalist, author, and former host of the The Femsplainers Podcast and Substack, known for her incisive commentary on women and modern life. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and more. She is the author of five books, including What Our Mothers Didn’t Tell Us: Why Happiness Eludes the Modern Woman, and her new memoir, Dispatches from Grief: A Mother’s Journey Through the Unthinkable, which chronicles the sudden loss of her 32-year-old daughter Miranda in 2024, and the two interminable years of pain, love, and life since then.

Losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare. Danielle joins me to discuss her terrific new book and the profound grief journey she and her family have been navigating following Miranda's death. It's a raw, honest and at times humorous conversation.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff

Mallory McMorrow is a Michigan State Senator who in 2018 flipped a district that had previously voted Republican by 16 points, then helped Democrats take control of the Michigan Senate for the first time in 40 years. She’s stood up to extremists to repeal Michigan’s abortion ban, expand voting rights, and pass sweeping gun safety laws, and refuses corporate PAC or AIPAC money. She was thrust into the national spotlight in April 2022 over her incredible viral speech on the Michigan Senate floor in response to being accused of being a “groomer” by a Republican Senator. Last year she released her first book, a follow up to that speech, Hate Won't Win.

Mallory is back with us to discuss her U.S. Senate campaign, the economy and affordabilty, Israel and Gaza, Artificial Intelligence, the midterms and the threats to this critical election.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Asha Rangappa is a lawyer, scholar, and media commentator. She’s held senior administrative and teaching roles at Yale University for nearly two decades, where her work including advising deans on governance and strategy helped guide institutional growth during periods of transition, and teaches courses on national security law, Russian information warfare, and leadership and ethics. Prior to Yale, Asha served as a Special Agent in the New York Division of the FBI, specializing in counterintelligence investigations. She's the author of The Freedom Academy, a bestselling online Substack publication that explores how to create democratic resilience in America’s social fabric, and the co-host of the legal podcast, It’s Complicated, with Renato Mariotti. Her next book, UNCOMPROMISED: Activating Your Moral Compass in an Age of Complicity, will be published in 2028. She’s a former legal and national security analyst for CNN and ABC News, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other outlets. She is an editor for Just Security, a member of the Council of Foreign Relations, and a Security Fellow with the Truman National Security Project.

Asha and I discuss the Iran War, Trump's autocratic overreach and DOJ/FBI weaponization, the overall incompetence of the administration, and how Democrats need to fight back and win in November

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Ruth Ben-Ghiat is Professor of History at New York University. She writes about fascism, authoritarianism, and propaganda. She is the recipient of Guggenheim and other fellowships; an advisor to Protect Democracy; an MSNBC opinion columnist and television commentator; and publishes Lucid, a newsletter on threats to democracy. Her latest book, Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, looks at how illiberal leaders use propaganda, corruption, violence, and machismo - and how they can be defeated.

Ruth's back with us again for a discussion on Trump's second-term autocratic overreach, including his latest brazen act of corruption, the $1.776-billion 'Anti-Weaponization' slush-fund and his IRS immunity 'settlement'.

So is Ruth as optimistic as she was back in December? Tune in to see where Ruth currently stands on Trump's threats to democracy; her takeaways from his recent China summit; Viktor Orban's defeat and it's impact on Trump and American politics; and more.

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud

Kristy Greenberg is the host of "Courtside with Kristy Greenberg" on YouTube, and an MS NOW Legal Analyst. Kristy was a former SDNY Criminal Division Deputy Chief, where she oversaw the work of SDNY's Criminal Division and prosecuted fraud, cybercrime, and sex trafficking cases of national significance.

Kristy and I discuss the legality of Trump's $1.776 slush-fund and IRS immunity deal; Todd Blanche's corrupt DOJ; Pam Bondi's upcoming testimony; the Comey indictment; the courts, the midterms; the Epstein cover-up; and...the KNICKS!

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Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud