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Q&A: Gayle Feldman, "Nothing Random" Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Every week in the 1950s and 60s, 30 million Americans watched the congenial Bennett Cerf on Sunday nights on "What's My Line?" But he was much more than a game show panelist. In 1927, he co-founded the publishing giant Random House and brought to the public authors such as James Joyce, Ayn Rand, Truman Capote, Dr. Suess, and William Faulkner. Author Gayle Feldman spent 30 years researching and writing her book "Nothing Random."

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Ann Patchett on Writing, Bookstores & Storytelling with David Rubenstein May 31, 2026

Show notes

Bestselling author Ann Patchett joins David M. Rubenstein to discuss her novels, children's books, nonfiction work, and what it's like to own her own bookstore.

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AW: "Poisoned Ivies" with R-NY Rep. Elise Stefanik May 31, 2026

Show notes

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) argued that elite universities in America have embraced a culture of antisemitism, leftist groupthink, and censorship. She spoke at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum in Yorba Linda, California.

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Danny Funt, "Everybody Loses" May 26, 2026

Show notes

Danny Funt is the author of the book "Everybody Loses: The Tumultuous Rise of American Sports Gambling." In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act in a 6-3 decision that legalized sports betting nationally by declaring the federal prohibition unconstitutional. According to Danny Funt, sports leagues oversight went from the position that "gambling carries a serious risk of addiction and a long history of corrupting athletes and referees, to gambling is a relatively harmless wholesale form of entertainment." Mr. Funt points out that in eight short years, sports gambling is now legal in close to 40 states.

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Q&A: Lamar Alexander, "Education of a Senator" May 25, 2026

Show notes

Former Republican Senator and Governor of Tennessee Lamar Alexander, author of "The Education of a Senator," talks about his personal life and nearly six-decade career in politics. As a public servant Sen. Alexander worked with ten presidents, from JFK to Trump.

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AW: The Pilots who Evacuated Ebola Patients in 2014 May 24, 2026

Show notes

Journalist Kevin Hazzard talked about Phoenix Air, a private, air ambulance service that transports patients with highly infectious diseases when governments refuse to get involved. This event was hosted by Politics and Prose Bookstore in Washington, DC.

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BN+: Theo Baker, "How to Rule the World" May 19, 2026

Show notes

Theo Baker will graduate from Stanford University on June 14th, 2026. About one month prior, his first book, "How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University," is being published by Penguin Press. Praise for his book, gathered by Penguin Press, is plentiful. Author William D. Cohen writes: "[Theo Baker's] astounding reporting as a Stanford freshman led to the downfall of the university's president." Mr. Baker's parents are Susan Glasser of the New Yorker Magazine and Peter Baker of the New York Times.

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Q&A: Adam Szetela, "That Book Is Dangerous!" May 18, 2026

Show notes

Adam Szetela, author of "That Book Is Dangerous!," discusses his investigation into the rise of self-censorship in the publishing industry, which he argues is being negatively transformed by social media and the culture wars in the United States. Mr. Szetela talks about the role played by the Big Five publishers, literary agents, sensitivity readers, and online pressure groups in the process.

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ABC: Candice Millard Discusses Theodore Roosevelt, James A. Garfield & Winston Churchill May 17, 2026

Show notes

Bestselling Historian Candice Millard joins David M. Rubenstein at the U.S. Capitol to discuss her books about Theodore Roosevelt, James Garfield, and Winston Churchill.

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AW: Modern Russian History through the Experiences of its Women May 17, 2026

Show notes

A journalist looked at modern Russia through the eyes and experiences of its women. The 2026 San Antonio Book Festival hosted this program.

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