The Roundtable

Historian Andrew Burstein joins us this morning. He recently retired from Louisiana State University where he was a Professor of History and author of 'The Passions of Andrew Jackson,' 'Jefferson’s Secrets,' and numerous other books on American politics and culture. He is a Thomas Jefferson scholar, and he is the author of the new book 'Being Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History.'

Author Madeleine Dunnigan’s new novel 'Jean' is haunting and it is a coming-of-age debut that integrates the fragilities of masculinity, the mysticism of adolescence, and the often-fraught bonds between mothers and their sons. Madeleine was a Jill Davis Fellow in the MFA program at New York University. She was also awarded a GRI fellowship in Paris and this is her first novel.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, and Semi-retired, Editor at large/columnist/editorial writer, Times Union Jay Jochnowitz.

This week's Book Picks comes from Heather Boyne from Battenkill Books in Cambridge, NY and Drew Broussard from Rough Draft Bar & Books in Kingston, NY.

Musicians of Ma’alwyck is teaming up with Excelsior Vocal Ensemble to present Henry Purcell’s “Dido & Aeneas.” The opera continues to mesmerize audiences more than 300 years after its premiere. They pair it with a work by Purcell’s teacher and friend John Blow: “Ode on the Death of Henry Purcell.” Performances are scheduled for Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Episcopal Church in Saratoga Springs, New York and Sunday, February 22 at 3 p.m. at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, New York.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are public policy and communications expert Theresa Bourgeois, Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College Robert Brigham, and Former Times Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

Each weekday morning, The Roundtable's Joe Donahue is joined by various experts, journalists, educators, and commentators to discuss current events. On Roundtable Panel: The Week in Review, we feature your favorite panelists discussing news items from the previous week.

Last week, in celebration of Lunar New Year, CulinaryArts@SPAC welcomed four-time James Beard Award–nominated chef and acclaimed author Natasha Pickowicz for an evening dedicated to the ancient East Asian tradition of hot pot.She was in conversation at SPAC with former New York Times Photo Editor for Food and Style Tiina Loite.

Anne Fadiman is Professor in the Practice of English and Francis Writer-in-Residence at Yale. Her most recent book is “Frog,” an essay collection that Booklist called “a joy to read for the etched-glass precision of [Fadiman’s] language and the warmth of her candor and wit”.

The Lift Concert Series at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall presents performances of new, independent music featuring regional performers, curated by S & S Presents, local artists Sam Torres and Sophia Subbayya Vastek. The performances give audiences the unique opportunity to sit on the historic stage with the artists while they perform. The first Lift concert at the historic music hall is on February 18 and will feature The Millstone Rounders. Sam Torres and Sophia Subbayya Vastek join us to tell us more.