The Roundtable

This week marks the 100th anniversary of the conclusion of The State of Tennessee v. John Thomas Scopes.In "Keeping the Faith: God, Democracy, and the Trial That Riveted a Nation," acclaimed historian Brenda Wineapple revisits the Scopes “Monkey” Trial of 1925 - not just as a courtroom clash over evolution, but as a defining moment in the struggle between religious belief, scientific inquiry, and democratic ideals in America.

This year’s theme for the 94th Anniversary Library Fair is “Which Way the Wind Blows” this Saturday, July 26, 2025, from 10am to 5pm.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Dean of the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany Robert Griffin, Professional speaker, speaking coach and Albany County legislator Mark Grimm, and Associate Professor in the department of sociology at Vassar College and her research is on health, wellness, and medical knowledge Catherine Tan.

New York Rep. Pat Ryan, a Democrat from the 18th district, speaks with WAMC's Ian Pickus on the "Congressional Corner" July 22, 2025.

This week's Book Picks comes from Tara Ludwin from Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga Springs, NY and Manchester Center, VT and we also welcome Kira Wizner from Merritt Bookstore in Millbrook, NY.

"There Are NO Black Shakers" is a contemporary folk opera re-interpreting traditional Shaker hymns to tell the very true story of Prime Lane, a free Black man who joined the Shaker Society in Albany in 1802. It is a debut opera written and directed by Jean-Marc Superville Sovak with Musical Direction by Gwen Laster and will be performed at The Yard in Beacon, NY on Thursday, July 24 at 7 p. m.

Megan Marshall, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for biography, has long been revered for her narrative skills and deep insights into historical figures. In her new book “After Lives: On Biography and the Mysteries of the Human Heart” she takes those skills to her own art and life.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are The Empire Report’s JP Miller, Albany Law School Professor Sarah Rogerson, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and Former Times-Union Associate Editor Mike Spain.

Content warning: this conversation deals with sexual assault and rape.E. Jean Carroll’s “Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President” is an unfiltered memoir chronicling her two high-stakes civil trials against Donald Trump, first for sexual abuse in 2023 and then defamation in 2024, culminating in over $100 million awarded against him.Carroll shares everything from trial strategy and wardrobe choices to psychiatric evaluations and courtroom drama. She riffs on Trump’s infamous “she’s not my type” line, turning it into the narrative spine of her story while skewering his legal team’s theatrics.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Professor of History and International Relations at Vassar College Robert Brigham, Senior Fellow, Bard Center for Civic Engagement Jim Ketterer, and Political Consultant and lobbyist Libby Post.