In this episode, Michael Krasny sits down with political commentator and Washington Post columnist Max Boot for a wide-ranging discussion on contemporary American politics, international relations, and the evolving media landscape. Their conversation spans from immediate concerns about editorial independence to broader historical comparisons between presidential administrations and their foreign policy approaches.The episode began with a question from Krasny to Boot about the Washington Post's future editorials in light of the Jeff Bezos-ordered changes. It proceeded to a full discussion of the Reagan and Trump presidencies, Trump's attitudes toward Zelensky and Putin, and the present shift in relations between the U.S., its allies, and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.Questions emerged about China and Taiwan and the South China Sea; tests for presidents before assuming office; the inconsistent and mercurial nature of the presidency; and the influence of Ronald Reagan on fake news. The discussion also touched on Reagan and Trump's belief in divine intervention.Krasny told a funny story about Reagan and a Lebanese ambassador, while Boot spoke of social media regulation and editorial boundaries. Krasny then brought up the difference in cruelty between Reagan and Trump.The two concluded by discussing when the Russia-Ukraine war might end, Russian war crimes, and the economic views of Reagan and Trump. They also explored Boot's own political shift from the right, Musk and Vance's support for AfD in Germany, and where hope for the future may reside.

In a wide-ranging and provocative conversation that traversed the intersections of technology, politics, and social change, veteran tech journalist Sarah Lacy and host Michael Krasny engaged in a candid dialogue that explored the most pressing cultural and political issues of the moment.The conversation began with Lacy opining on venture capitalists investing in Trump. They went on to talk about the increase in hypermasculinity, and Lacy brought up the diminution of trans rights.Krasny asked Lacy about her falling out with Kara Swisher and why they aren't speaking. They then discussed press exclusions from the White House and the decision by Jeff Bezos to limit opinions on the editorial page of The Washington Post.Krasny inquired about Lacy's political views, including her feminist perspective, and asked for her major advice for working mothers. Lacy then spoke more about trans rights and shared her views on Gen Z, as well as the influence of her parents on her life.The conversation shifted to discussions of profit and money-making via chaos. They talked about Lacy's most recent book, her Palm Springs bookstore, and the future of tech journalism. It was an invigorating and illuminating hour!

We began this episode talking about Joan Didion as a Hollywood figure and the importance of John Wayne, as well as her importance as a political writer with early strong conservative political views. Didion's portrayal of Hollywood and her lesser-known film criticism also came up for discussion, followed by a consideration of the work of the legendary film critic Pauline Kael and how Wilkinson, a film critic for The New York Times, decides what films to review or critique. Alissa Wilkinson then spoke of what she views as the job of the film critic, and she spoke of her strong admiration for "Nickel Boys," which she called this year's best film. She and Krasny spoke of blockbusters, disaster and apocalyptic films, and Spielberg's "Jaws," and the larger question of the effect on our imaginations of the so-called Hollywood dream machine.Krasny and Wilkinson discussed villains and evil in contemporary films and Martin Scorsese's notion of too many films being like thrill rides and avoiding ordinary people and nuanced drama. They spoke, too, of the Oscars and discussed the history of the Oscars, and then went on to the impact of social media and streaming platforms and technology shifts and the question of misunderstood and too-long films and the tensions between art and commerce. They returned to Didion and her overall importance and concluded with a discussion of Wilkinson's view on faith and how she became a film critic and her film critic-filled Brooklyn neighborhood.

Tik Tok and data acquisition, scary topics on China up ahead. Michael Krasny featured leading Sinologist Orville Schell and began by asking Schell for his response to the Trump administration's imposed tariffs and their potential effects on a possible trade war, fentanyl out of China and U.S. China relations. Schell spoke of Xi Jinping's irrational actions and what appears to bind him and Putin together and Krasny asked Schell if he foresaw a role for Beijing brokering a peace between Russia and Ukraine. Krasny then proceeded to ask Schell about Tik Tok, data acquisition by China, Chinese surveillance and the AI race and Schell spoke of what he called "unequal relationships."Krasny asked Schell about China's persecution of the Uyghurs and whether it can be labeled as genocide. A subsequent listener question brought up population growth in China and what its effects are likely to be on the country's economic future. Schell addressed the question by speaking of China's internal labor shortage and its policy of not taking in immigrants, which he called a time bomb. Krasny then asked Schell to talk about soft power and Chinese projects in developing and third world nations as well as what profits accrued to U.S. politicians or Elon Musk via China.A discussion followed centering on the EV market in China and globally and on Teslas and the presence of Apple in China. China's ongoing role as a major market and geopolitical force then followed. Krasny wanted to know from Schell how much of a threat China posed and the status of ongoing tensions with Japan. The two spoke of long-term China grievances and grudges.After this decidedly rich and wide ranging discussion Krasny asked Schell about his recently published novel My Old Home, thirty-five years in the making, which centers on music and the cultural revolution. The two then wound up discussing the ongoing effects of the cultural revolution and China's leader Xi Jinping.

Former Gambino family mobster Lou Ferrante joined us for an episode about his three volumes of research on the Mafia. He spoke of the alleged role of the Mob in the JFK assassination just as the files were about to be opened and he and Michael Krasny explored the ethos of the Mob -- the law of Omerta and the past frequency of so called "whackings," as well as the perks of being a mobster and such Cosa Nostra figures as John Gotti, Henry Hill and Joey Gallo. They spoke of politicians and the Mob and how the mob is portrayed in film and television and they exchanged humorous narratives as Ferrante told a funny personal tale and Krasny told a joke. Ferrante spoke of his prison experiences and how he became a writer while incarcerated, including the influence on him of historian Barbara Tuchman. Krasny asked Ferrante of analogies he made in print between the Kennedys and the Medicis and the episode concluded with Krasny drawing out a humorous story from Ferrante about Cuba, President John F Kennedy, Ian Fleming and the CIA's Allen Dulles, and asking Ferrante about the ultimate fate of Teamster leader Jimmy Hoffa and what drives and inspires Ferrante to write.

Michael Krasny interviewed Professor Greg Sarris, Chair of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria and Chair of the Board of Trustees of The Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. This was the fourth interview sponsored by the Bill Lane Center for the American West.The dialogue began with Krasny asking Sarris his views on what separated Indians of the West from Indians of other regions in America. The conversation then moved into discussions about Indian casinos and the uses of their resources, online gaming, and the Wild West. They also explored Sarris's compelling personal story, including the influence of a remarkable medicine woman and basket weaver on his life. They discussed the effects of both personal and historic trauma.The conversation turned to the challenges of legal rights, as well as the psychological and generational problems facing Native people. They examined the importance of storytelling and the work of various American Indian writers. Later, Krasny shared an anecdote about mentioning Native American writer Tommy Orange's name in Maui and sought Sarris's views on cultural appropriation.Responding to a listener's question, Sarris discussed sovereignty and race versus treaties. He also addressed Indian poverty, life expectancy, and life on the reservations. Their discussion covered Indian stereotypes, and Sarris elaborated on the effect of nature on Indians and their need for connection.Krasny inquired about Sarris's role on the U.C. Board of Regents and his Jewish identity through his mother. The two concluded this rich and manifold dialogue with a discussion of Indians, the American West, and environmental stewardship.

In this episode, Michael Krasny sought answers to what we need to know—and still don't know—about what many are convinced might be our next pandemic. Leading health and environmental journalist Lisa Krieger provided an immense amount of important information about avian flu (H5N1), discussing what humans need to be most concerned about and how it affects different animals, as well as vaccines, surveillance, what to avoid, and routes of transmission.A listener asked Krieger what she, one of the nation's best and most awarded science writers, believes is the most underreported health or science story. This allowed Krieger to share her opinion and shed light on scientific progress, as well as questions surrounding the human genome project, health policy, and affordability.Another listener raised questions about the CDC's prioritization of the norovirus, followed by Krasny questioning Krieger on the fires in Southern California and COVID—including new variants, vaccines, and long COVID. The discussion concluded as a listener inquired about AI and healthcare, and Krasny asked Krieger about the new HIV drug and her perspective on the ongoing battle with climate change.Throughout this wide-ranging conversation, Krieger's expertise illuminated complex scientific and environmental challenges facing our society today. Her insights offered valuable perspective on how these various health and environmental issues interconnect, and what steps we might take to address them effectively.

Michael Krasny began this episode with author, hotelier and long-time wisdom seeker Chip Conley, who was in Baja, talking about the terrible fires in Los Angeles and what if any lessons can be learned from them. They spoke of wisdom seeking and Conley of the metaphor for our lives of a rental car as well as his ongoing struggle with cancer, which he calls his teacher. Krasny brought up wrong headed views of cancer that place too much blame on the individual self and they spoke of environmental and so-called lifestyle effects tied to it and then proceeded to discuss identity and what Conley, a gay man, has called "identity cleansing." The two also discussed Conley's history as a hotelier and his philosophy of hospitality, including how to deal with so-called "A-holes," as well as Conley's thoughts about seeking and finding joy. A good deal of this rich and highly illuminating conversation included talk of aging and shifting views of longevity, as well as ritual and the changing nature of the workplace and the role AI is likely to play in our future. The role and importance of mentorship also came up as did the significance of love. Conley spoke of his years of leadership at Airbnb, what he means by being a super host and what he calls karmic capitalism and the importance of imprint in memory.

The episode with two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times op-ed columnist Nick Kristof focused on his recent inspirational and hope-filled book, "Chasing Hope." The conversation began with Kristof speaking to Michael Krasny about the effects on him and the moral challenges he faced covering Tiananmen Square, as well as the lessons he gleaned from his early reporter's work in Cambodia and the U.S. He opined on the fight for democracy and weighed the effect on him of the oppression and suffering of children.Krasny then brought up the role and impact of Kristof's parents, and Kristof spoke of compassion fatigue and what he believes needs to be done. He emphasized the need for more stories that call attention to humanitarian crises and the public good. The two then spoke of journalism as an act of hope and discussed contrasts between former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and President-elect Donald Trump, as well as Kristof's past decision to run for Governor of Oregon.When Krasny asked Kristof about his views on race versus class and New York Times coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Kristof spoke about rising anti-Semitism, the meaning of the word genocide, and his feelings of frustration at the slow pace of change despite remarkable progress on many fronts. The conversation turned to journalistic ethics, human rights, and Kristof's wife Sheryl's Chinese ancestry.Kristof also addressed the concept of "white saviors" and answered a listener's question about the effect of Artificial Intelligence. The two then returned to further consideration of journalistic ethics, Janet Malcolm, journalists as storytellers, Tiananmen Square, and Gaza. Kristof spoke of making the ineffable effable and of David Brooks' dichotomy of a resume versus a eulogy. It was a brilliant and enlightening conversation with one of America's leading journalists.

The episode with Professor and Middle East expert Stephen Zunes began with Professor Michael Krasny asking about the victory of HTS over Assad in Syria and the poison weapons that remain there, as well as what to expect of the new government and its effect on ISIS, the Kurds, and migration.Krasny spoke of the profound enmity and divisions, and he and Zunes discussed prospects for democracy and the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Talk of Iran's role, the Houthis and Yemen, secularism, and the Sunni/Shia divide followed, as did discussion of Saudi Arabia rebranding itself, rising anti-Semitism, and "intifada" and "jihad" as triggering words. A listener posed questions about Egypt refusing to open its borders to Palestinians.Krasny then brought up the question of possible paths to peace and how best to determine bad actors from good ones in the region, as well as the likely effects of ongoing turmoil there and the effect of change in Syria on Russia's Putin and the ongoing war in Ukraine. The episode concluded with a listener's question about if and when Jewish Americans will be permitted to visit Syria.