Q & A, Hosted by Jay Nordlinger Ricochet
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- News
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Jay Nordlinger is a senior editor of National Review and the music critic of The New Criterion. His guests are from the worlds of politics and culture, talking about the most important issues of the day, and some pleasant trivialities as well.
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An American-Russian Film Director and His Sensational Movie
Michael Lockshin is a film director, who grew up in both the United States and Russia. (Actually, he grew up in the Soviet Union, too.) He has made a magnificent movie: “The Master and Margarita,” based on Bulgakov’s classic novel. It is a sensation in Russia. It has been denounced by the authorities, for hitting too close to home: for depicting the struggle of artists against dictatorship. With Jay, Lockshin talks about literature, movies, identity, and Russia today.
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The Democracy Man
Carl Gershman was the founding president of the National Endowment for Democracy, serving in that position from 1984 to 2021. Jay talks with him about his life: starting with his boyhood in New York. Along the way, Gershman touches on Max Shachtman, Sidney Hook, Leszek Kołakowski, Pat Moynihan, Jeane Kirkpatrick, Ronald Reagan, Natan Sharansky . . . Wonderful stories, wonderful points—grave and important issues.
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A Man of Parts (All of Them Interesting)
Patrick Chovanec, as Jay says in his introduction, is a hard man to sum up: an econ whiz; a China man; a politico (of a sort); a writer. Now he is a pilot. His new book is “Cleared for the Option: A Year Learning to Fly.” Jay talks with him about a slew of issues, relating to what Chovanec has done and learned in his life. Get to know this interesting and versatile fellow.
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AI: The Whys and Wherefores
David Zuluaga is an intellectual, a philosopher, a management consultant, a politico—many things. He is also a friend of Jay’s. And he has been spending a lot of time on artificial intelligence: studying it, explaining it. In this “Q&A,” he discusses some fundamental issues concerning AI. He also talks some philosophy in general—a delight.
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Burning Issues, with Bret Stephens
Bret Stephens is a columnist for the New York Times. Previously, he was a columnist for the Wall Street Journal. In 2013, he won the Pulitzer prize for commentary. Earlier in his life, he was the editor of the Jerusalem Post. He and Jay talk about Russia and Ukraine. And about Israel, Gaza, and antisemitism. And about the U.S. media. A rich, multilayered conversation.
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The U.S. in the World: Basic and Blunt Questions
Luke Coffey is an expert on foreign policy and national security. He works at the Hudson Institute. He was in the Army, serving in Afghanistan. Jay asks him about Afghanistan: Did we achieve anything in that country, in our 20 years there? Or was it all for naught? Discussion then turns to Ukraine: Is it in the U.S. interest? Why? What would be the consequences of a Putin victory over Ukraine? What do you think Americans ought to know? A blunt and bracing conversation.
Customer Reviews
A Voice For Human Rights
Jay Nordlinger is a soft-spoken champion for those who would see an end to regimes who rule their citizens through heavy-handed oppression. Russia, China, and Iran all provide ready interview subjects who have endured the cruelty those governments inflict upon those who resist their authoritarian control, but victims of other countries’ predations make appearances, as well: Venezuela, Sudan, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Saudi Arabia, to name a few.
However, not all of the episodes feature such grim, but valuable, content. Jay also is a music critic, and so brings the listener interviews with notable artists from symphonies and opera. Sports and commentary from thoughtful sources - the occasional interviews with George Will, for example - provide an eclectic selection from which the well-rounded intellect may indulge.
Consistent production problem in otherwise outstanding podcast
I like, but PLEASE stop overlaying the closing music over the end of the guest's remarks. Jay continues to thank his producer, but this is an AWFUL production issue.
New Party
Jay nailed it with his last question. We need leaders who put the country’s interests first NOT their own or their party’s (as was on full display Jan 6). Love the podcasts!