The Back Room with Andy Ostroy

Jessica Tarlov joined FOX News Channel as a contributor in 2017 and serves as a rotating co-host of The Five. She also offers political analysis across FNC and FOX Business Network’s programming. Prior to joining FNC, she appeared as a frequent guest on the network since 2014. In addition to her role on FNC, Jessica also serves as the Vice President of Research and Consumer Insight for Bustle Digital Group. Prior to this, she served as a senior strategist with Schoen Consulting, where she advised domestic and international clients on messaging strategies for more than five years and worked as a democratic pollster. In May 2024, she was named one of Variety’s 2024 Women of Impact for her political commentary across FOX News Media. Back from the DNC convention, Jessica shares her big takeaways from the week, as well as Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the overall campaign. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Stephanie Grisham is the New York Times bestselling author of “I’ll Take Your Questions Now, What I Saw in the Trump White House.” During the Trump Administration she served as White House press secretary and director of communications for both the President and First Lady, Melania Trump. She is the only person in history who has held three senior roles at once, while representing both the east and west wings. Steph's back in THE BACK ROOM, fresh off her courageous, patriotic speech at the Democratic Convention, discussing it all. She shares her insights into the campaign, the stark contrasts between VP Kamala Harris and her former boss, and what it all bodes for November. We also get into Melania, Bobby Kennedy Jr, the upcoming September 10th debate, Trump's sudden pivot on GA Gov. Brian Kemp, whether or not he will dump JD Vance, and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Denise Brown’s life was turned upside down on June 12, 1994 when her sister, Nicole Brown Simpson, was murdered along with Ron Goldman. Since then she’s been committed to raising awareness against domestic violence. Since early 1995 Denise has traveled to various states speaking on the epidemic of domestic violence. She has addressed university student bodies, men in prison and in batterers' treatment programs, women at risk, church groups and various educational and legislative forums. She’s helped raise funds for local shelters all across the country with her appearances, and has assisted in the success of a major project called the Vine System. This Program is an automated victim notification service of the release of batterers from jail or prison. As part of her commitment, Denise has worked to help pass a variety of legislative solutions for domestic violence. One of her most important projects was to lobby on behalf of the Violence Against Women Act, the funding of which she helped increase $18-million to $32-million. She’s made a life-long commitment to educate the public as well as improve the quality of living for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. Nicole was so much more than just a murder victim. She was a beloved daughter, sister, and mother. And so I'm thrilled to have Denise help us learn more about her sister and her life, sharing memories from their childhood through the day that short life tragically ended 30 years ago. She also shares her own heartbreaking journey; how she's personally navigated this nightmare; and her critical work as an activist against domestic violence. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Sara Bareilles is an award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, producer, activist, and New York Times best-selling author whose accolades to date include two Grammy® Awards, three Tony® Award nominations, and three Primetime Emmy® Award nominations. As a recording artist and songwriter, she has sold more than 3 million albums and 15 million singles in the U.S., and her songs have been streamed more than 3.5 billion times worldwide. On Broadway, she composed music and lyrics for Waitress, stepping into the lead role both on Broadway and in the West End. Other musical theater credits include her Tony-nominated performance as ‘The Baker’s Wife’ in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, a song on the Tony Award-nominated score for SpongeBob SquarePants, and an Emmy Award-nominated appearance as Mary Magdalene in NBC's “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.” Sara currently plays Dawn Solano on the Emmy-nominated musical comedy series “Girls5eva”, the third season of which is streaming now on Netflix, and is currently at work on a musical theater adaptation of Meg Wolitzer’s best-selling novel The Interestings, alongside author Sarah Ruhl. If you love Sara Bareilles you will absolutely love this brutally-honest, poignant, in-depth chat about her illustrious life and career. It's a truly enjoyable, insightful conversation with one of the world's most talented, diverse and successful performers. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Ameshia Cross is a democratic strategist for national, state, and local campaigns, a regular political commentator and contributor on MSN, NBC, BBC, SiriusXM, iHeart Radio, and more. She is also a former campaign and communications adviser for President Barack Obama and a policy adviser for the National Urban League. Join us for this insightful chat as we discuss Kamala Harris, Donald Trump and the ever-changing campaign; Trumpism and MAGA; the media's role in normalizing Trump and the double-standard in media coverage; immigration and more. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Chris Matthews is an award-winning journalist, columnist, author, political commentator, television host and professor. His 15 years in politics and government includes serving as speechwriter for president Jimmy Carter and administrative assistant to House Speaker Tip O’Neil. He was a columnist for the San Francisco Chronicle; syndicated columnist and Washington Bureau Chief for the San Francisco Examiner; and host of MSNBC’s Hardball. His books include Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero and his 2021 memoir This Country: My Life in Politics and History. Few people understand politics as well as Chris does. He joins me for an in-depth conversation about the ever-changing presidential campaign as we barrel towards the November election. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Philip Bump is a national columnist for The Washington Post. Prior to that he led politics coverage for The Atlantic Wire. In the past, he worked as a designer at Adobe Systems. As one of the paper's most read writers, he focuses on the data behind polls and political rhetoric. He also writes a weekly newsletter, "How To Read This Chart." He has appeared or been heard on most major media outlets, from MSNBC to Fox News to PBS to NPR. His first book, The Aftermath, looks at the overlap of the end of the baby boom and the upheaval in American politics and the U.S. economy. Philip and I get into Democrats' 'euphoria' over the newly energized campaign; the key distinctions between VP Kamala Harris and Donald Trump; Harris's veepstakes; the Trump 'unity pivot' that never came; Q-Anon and conspiracy theories; Boomers and voting patterns; the November election and more. And, he reveals his top 5 musical artists of all time! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Hugo Lowell is an award-winning Senior Political Correspondent at The Guardian, covering the intersection of Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and the US Department of Justice. He regularly appears on MSNBC as a political and legal affairs analyst. His reporting has been recognized through appearances on NBC, MSNBC, CNN, CBS, the PBS NewsHour and BBC News. He is a recipient of the National Press Club's Sandy Hume Memorial Award for Excellence in Political Journalism and was a Paul Miller Fellow with the National Press Foundation. Hugo joins me for an in-depth discussion on the release this past week of US hostages Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others held captive in Russia; the campaign transition from President Joe Biden to VP Kamala Harris; Harris's veepstakes; the erratic, incendiary and dangerous campaign of Donald Trump and his on-going legal troubles; and Hugo shares what's on his Summer play list! Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Jamal Simmons has been at the nexus of politics and media for three decades. He is currently a Political Commentator on CNN and immediately before that Deputy Assistant to the President and Communications Director to Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Before the White House, he was a political contributor for CBS News and NPR and hosted digital interviews for HillTV. He is a veteran of the Clinton Administration, Congress and several political campaigns. He’s also been a communications consultant, digital entrepreneur, appeared on every major television network and written opinion pieces for many newspapers. Jamal helps unpack all the latest campaign news including Kamala Harris's flawless launch and her imminent VP announcement; Donald Trump's racist train-wreck at the National Association of Black Journalists convention; and the outlook for these next three months as we head towards the November election. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel

Rep. Dan Goldman serves New York’s 10th Congressional District, which encompasses Lower Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. In 2019, he served as lead counsel for the impeachment investigation of President Donald J. Trump for abusing his office for his personal interest regarding Ukraine. Prior to that, Goldman served for a decade as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of New York. He serves on the Oversight Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government and is a member of the Dads Caucus, the Pro-Choice Caucus, the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, the Stop Project 2025 Task Force, and is a founder of the Court Reform Now Task Force. The Congressman shares his thoughts on the campaign transition from President Joe Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris; Harris's imminent VP selection; Donald Trump's worsening dangerous behavior, including his off-the-rails performance Tuesday at the National Association of Black Journalists' convention; Project 2025; Dobbs, Roe, reproductive rights, the November election and winning back the House; the need for Supreme Court accountability and reform; and the widening regional conflict between Israel, Hezbollah/Lebanon and Iran. Got somethin' to say?! Email us at BackroomAndy@gmail.com Leave us a message: 845-307-7446 Twitter: @AndyOstroy Produced by Andy Ostroy, Matty Rosenberg, and Jennifer Hammoud @ Radio Free Rhiniecliff Design by Cricket Lengyel