Q & A, Hosted by Jay Nordlinger

Paul Massaro is a senior policy advisor to the U.S. Helsinki Commission. With Jay, he discusses the Ukraine war, primarily: what it means for the United States, Russia, Europe, and—not least—Ukraine. The views he expresses are his own and do not represent an official position of the U.S. government. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Michela Wrong is a journalist, and “not just any journalist,” as Jay says in his introduction: She is “a famed, and superb, chronicler of Africa.” Along with her journalism, she has written five books, rightly acclaimed. “In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz” is a fascinating depiction of Mobutu and Zaire. Ms. Wrong’s latest book is “Do Not Disturb,” about Rwanda. You will enjoy this conversation about a... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Abdulrahman al-Sadhan worked for the Red Cross, or Red Crescent, in Saudi Arabia. He jotted some tweets critical of the Saudi dictatorship, anonymously. But his cover was blown—and he was arrested, imprisoned, tortured . . . This is the Saudi way. Working to win his release is his sister, Areej. As Jay says, “she is a brave, determined woman, and, of course, a very loyal sister.” This is a story... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Jewher Ilham, age 27, is a Uyghur activist, in the United States. She is a spokesman for the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region. Her father, Ilham Tohti, an economist, is somewhere in the gulag. The U.S. State Department has classified China’s persecution of the Uyghur people as a genocide. Jewher Ilham is the author of “A Uyghur’s Fight to Free Her Father” and “Because I Have To.”... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Vladimir Kara-Murza is one of the leading Russian democracy campaigners. He is an old friend of “Q&A” and an old friend of Jay’s. Now he is a political prisoner. His wife and partner—his wife and chief ally—is Evgenia Kara-Murza. In this conversation, she talks about her husband, their marriage, their work, the Russian people . . . As Jay points out, she is much like Vladimir: brave, elegant... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Akhil Reed Amar is an outstanding teacher of the Constitution, and American history. He is a professor of law at Yale. He was born in Michigan to immigrant parents from India. The latest of his several books on the Constitution is “The Words That Made Us.” He recently wrote about Roe vs. Wade, explaining why he, a pro-choice Democrat, thinks it is a bad decision. He does a podcast called “Amarica’... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Harvey Sachs is one of the great writers about music. “His biography of Toscanini,” says Jay, “is one of the greatest biographical feats I know.” Sachs’s latest book is “Ten Masterpieces of Music.” With Jay, he talks about this mighty ten. The conversation at large abounds in interesting facts, observations, opinions, and stories. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

As Jay says in his introduction, Matthew Continetti is “a conservative and a conservative-ologist: a student of conservatism, a dissector of it, an expert on it. He has written a new book: ‘The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism.’” Jay and Matt have a meaty hour on conservatism. And they barely get started. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Inna Sovsun is a member of the Ukrainian parliament. What she has to say about what is happening in her country right now is very informative and not a little moving. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

“On ‘Q&A,’” says Jay, “I have had people from many walks of life: politicians, novelists, athletes, comedians, scientists, journalists, businessmen, sopranos, human-rights activists—on and on. I don’t think I have ever before had a poet. So, today is the day to have one. She is Danielle Rose.” And a very interesting person is she. A thought-provoking, enriching conversation. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe