Author, journalist and professor, Jared Yates Sexton, joins Mark Thompson to talk about his latest, enormously compelling and intensely researched book, American Rule: How a Nation Conquered the World but Failed Its People Jared goes way beyond the myth of American exceptionalism with which most are familiar and looks to the start of the nation and the "founding fathers".   He continues the trip through history with discussions that include the Reagan years and legacy and extend to even the latest election. The show starts with political commentator, Michael Shure and comedian/documentary filmmaker, J Elvis Weinstein, doing a post-mortem on the Presidential election and a look at the future in which Donald Trump may be very much relevant. 00:00-1:50 Mark welcome 1:50- 25:08 J Elvis, Michael Shure and Mark 25:08-49:41 Jared Yates Sexton and Mark        

The Lies We Tell Ourselves and the World About America, with Author Jared Sexton

News & Politics

Comedy

In his new book, REIGN OF TERROR HOW THE 9/11 ERA DESTABILIZED AMERICA AND PRODUCED TRUMP. the Pulitzer prize winning investigative journalist, Spencer Ackerman, lays bare the realities of a 20 year war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, and the rise of the surveillance state.  Spencer links to the post 9-11 era the increasing realities around white supremacy, domestic terrorism and, ultimately, Donald Trump. Spencer talks to Mark for the entire episode. You can purchase Spencer's book here: REIGN OF TERROR Reach our show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

REIGN OF TERROR..HOW THE 9/11 ERA DESTABILIZED AMERICA AND PRODUCED TRUMP...with Pulitzer Prize Winner, Spencer Ackerman

Best selling author Mark Bittman...Plus..Author and Researcher Sara Kamali, PHD To call Mark Bittman an authority on food and eating is to understate it in the extreme.  His columns, books and writings have, for decades, in the New York Times and elsewhere, celebrated the delights of food and the changing nature of trends in what we eat. In his latest book, ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, JUNK he takes on Big Food and reexamines that nature of the food we eat, how it's prepared and where it comes from. It's a revolutionary notion and comprehensive treatment of a subject Bittman has written about for decades. He talks with Mark Thompson. Then Sara Kamali chronicles, in her latest book, the causes and manifestations of a rise in white nationalism and militant Islamists. Mark and Sara discuss the rise of Q, disinformation and the threat of these groups in the coming years. Sara strikes a note of optimism. 00-:57 Welcome 1:48- 23:00 Mark Bittman 23:10- 58:30 Sara Kamali Contact the show by email at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Animal, Vegetable, Junk... Best-Selling Author, Food Writer, Mark Bittman...Plus...Homegrown Hate...The Rise of White Nationalism & Militant Islamists

You could go for years and years and never run into the personalities and experiences that our three guests share. As anchors on the NBC and Fox stations in Los Angeles all three of our guests have lives filled with a window on everything from show business to hard news. Kelly Lange talks about experiences with everyone from Orson Welles to Bob Hope to Johnny Carson and her prolific career writing murder mysteries… Fritz Coleman talks about trying to build a show business career in a less than friendly Hollywood… And John Beard shares the tale of rescuing a child from war torn Lebanon.  Then, years later John talks of being fired from Fox11 and an incident that may have led up to that firing. Mark also has stories and chimes in as well!  Enjoy Reach the show at EdgewithMarkthompson@gmail.com

No Teleprompters!!  Legendary L.A. News Anchors & Their Wild Stories

So much here on this packed episode... Author Mark Harris has just completed a fascinating biography about Director, Mike Nichols.  MIKE NICHOLS: A LIFE Harris joins Mark Thompson to discuss... Mike Nichols, an immigrant, with a troubled childhood, emerges as a key figure in entertainment, Mike Nichols story is a remarkable one. Then, J Elvis Weinstein joins Mark for a conversation about a lot of things: Don McLean the singer and his girlfriend and also a word about Mark's radio producer, Albert, who has also joined.  Mark tells a story about his failed Comedy Central pilot script and how success in show business has to bring many things together.  Finally, our featured guest is Dr. Roger Minkow.  Roger is an inventor who revolutionized the bicycle seat for millions of men suffering from erectile dysfunction.  His seats literally changed that world. Roger is also the mind behind airline seat redesign that's been installed in cockpits around the world. Roger Minkow has arrived to the show on this episode with a story of cancer and a virtual healer who is delivered to his life in a bizarre and chance fashion. Check it out and tell us what you think. edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com 00-2:11 Mark says hello 2:11-13:28 Mark Harris on Mike Nichols 13:28-39:15 J Elvis joins Mark and they welcome Albert 39:15-1:23:00. Dr Roger Minkow

The Doctor/ Inventor Who Saved Cyclists' Erections Encounters a Psychic Healer...Also, Mark Harris on Director Mike Nichols

 Comedy writer, Merrill Markoe, has a keen perspective on life.  Now, she turns that perspective toward her own life, having recently discovered her childhood diaries and turned them into an annotated and illustrated journey in the form of her latest book, We Saw Scenery--The Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe.  Merrill is a multiple Emmy Award-winning writer and boosted The David Letterman show into the America cultural zeitgeist.  She also wrote for shows like Sex and the City, Newhart and Moonlighting.  Merrill's written eight books in addition to her latest and was awarded the Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award for television writing achievement. She joins Mark and J Elvis Weinstein to talk about her book, We Saw Scenery--The Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe. The second half of the show brings on a man who has spent his life on the street.  Homeless by choice, Bumdog Torres discusses the year 2020 which had unimaginable challenges for all of us but for the homeless those challenges were amplified and encompassed a civil disobedience movement in addition to COVID-19. You can reach the show at EdgewithMarkthompson@gmail.com

The Lies We Tell Ourselves and the World About America, with Author Jared Sexton

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