
Q & A, Hosted by Jay Nordlinger
Jay Nordlinger is a journalist who writes about a range of subjects, including politics, foreign affairs, and the arts. He is 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. www.jaynordlinger.com
Latest episodes

Jan 2, 2024 • 31min
Soccer, Etc.: A Writer at Large
Simon Kuper is a jack of many journalistic trades. He is a columnist for the Financial Times. He is a prominent soccer writer. He has written a book about George Blake, the British spy for the Soviets. He recently wrote a bracing column titled “What if Russia wins?” He has lived in many parts of the world. He has highly interesting things to say about sports and the rest. Spend a bit of time with him. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Dec 8, 2023 • 33min
A Warrioress for Truth about Israel and Jews
Since October 7, Aviva Klompas has provided an extraordinary service. She has brought a wealth of information about that day’s attack. And about the people held hostage by Hamas. And about instances of antisemitism around the world. She has done this mainly through Twitter, or X. She has devoted her life to combating antisemitism through education. She does not fear to deal with some of the darkest elements around us. An extraordinary person, Aviva Klompas. She and Jay discuss some of the biggest and most problematic issues. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Dec 4, 2023 • 41min
Sharansky on the Present Crisis
Introducing Natan Sharansky, Jay Nordlinger calls him “the great dissident and refusenik; the Israeli politician; the Jewish leader; the human-rights activist.” In this episode of “Q&A,” Jay has Sharansky discuss October 7; the hostages; the role of Iran; the question of Russia; the position of the United States; the nature of antisemitism; and more. No one is better equipped to discuss these matters than Sharansky. A highly valuable conversation. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Nov 9, 2023 • 25min
Amid the Anti-Israel Storms at Yale
Sahar Tartak is an undergraduate at Yale University. She was an intern at National Review magazine last summer. She is a Jewish, pro-Israel student in a largely hostile environment. Jay asks her, “How has it been?” Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Nov 3, 2023 • 46min
George Weigel on Our Perilous Times
George Weigel is one of America’s leading political writers and social critics. His biography of John Paul II—“Witness to Hope”—is one of the great modern biographies. With Jay, Weigel talks about his growing up in Baltimore. The conversation moves to Ukraine, Israel, and some key questions of American politics today. George Weigel is both sagacious and blunt. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Oct 30, 2023 • 37min
Shakespeare and Power and Life
Eliot A. Cohen, the scholar of international affairs, is a favorite guest of “Q&A.” He has written a new book, a Shakespeare book: “The Hollow Crown: Shakespeare on How Leaders Rise, Rule, and Fall.” Shakespeare knew . . . everything. Professor Cohen knows a great deal too. At the end of his conversation with Jay, he talks about Ukraine and Israel and the immense challenge facing us all. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Oct 17, 2023 • 52min
Israel in This Moment
Once more, Jay speaks with Haviv Rettig Gur, the Israeli journalist, about what is going on in Israel and the profound meaning of this moment. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Oct 12, 2023 • 47min
Thrash-Metal Reaganite Kid as Economic-Policy Guru
A conversation with Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, about the economy, politics, and life. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Oct 9, 2023 • 59min
Haviv Rettig Gur: For Israel, ‘a New Era, a New World’
Haviv Rettig Gur is one of the leading journalists in Israel. He is the senior analyst of the Times of Israel. He is a regular guest on “Q&A.” Listeners want to hear from him, for a deeper understanding of what is going on in Israel and in the Middle East more broadly. With Jay, he has discussed the Hamas attack and the war to come. Most illuminating. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Sep 29, 2023 • 44min
Maestro Fischer, in Session
Adam Fischer is a noted Hungarian conductor (as is his brother, Ivan). He conducted at the Salzburg Festival in August. And, in an event hosted by the Salzburg Festival Society, Jay had a conversation with him. Very interesting man, Maestro Fischer. Bright, experienced, candid. One learns from him. Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe