In the nearly six years of doing Pundit Review Radio, I don’t think I’ve referred to a book more than David Fredosso’s The Case Against Barack Obama from the 2008 campaign. That book was a detailed examination of Obama’s career, such that it was, in Chicago community organizing and Illinois politics. Freddoso is back with a new book, this time looking at the first two years of the Obama administration.
Gangster Government: Barack Obama and the New Washington Thugocracy
And in this new and stunning book, New York Times best-selling author David Freddoso (The Case Against Barack Obama) provides the much-needed exposé of an administration that has brought Chicago-style corruption and strong-arm politics to Washington, looking to reward its friends (the unions, federal workers, and other liberal interest groups) and punish its enemies (the private sector workers and taxpayers who foot the bill for Obama’s massive expansion of the federal government).
The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Last night we welcomed for the first time to Pundit Review Radio Governor’s Councillor Mary Ellen Manning. The Governor’s Council is one of those institutions that we hear about from time to time, usually when something awful happens, but what they actually do is not very well understood by the public. We started by asking Mary for a cliff notes version of the Council’s role and responsibilities in state government. We then touched on a number of issues that have been in the news lately, from the nomination of Appeals Court Judge Barbara Lenk to the state Supreme Court to the Parole Board and the semi-regular calls to abolish the Council itself. To me, it seems like the Council, right now at least, is one of the only places in state government with true diversity of opinions. No wonder Deval and his minions are talking once again with doing away with it.
Mary Ellen Manning is a great public servant. A Democrat holding both parties accountable. We need more people like her in state government.
The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
New York Times best selling author TJ English returned to Pundit Review Radio and WRKO last evening. His last book, Havana Nocturne: How the Mob Owned Cuba and Then Lost It to the Revolution was spectacular.
His new book is just as good. The Savage City: Race, Murder, and a Generation on the Edge tells the story of race in NYC through the eyes and events of three very different men. One is a poor, semi-literate black teenager framed for a gruesome double murder, one is a crooked cop and the third is a founding member of the New York Black Panther Party.
I was so glad to hear that TJ enjoys coming on the show and doing these longer style interviews that really dig into the book. It is such a thrill to get to devour these books and then have the opportunity to talk to the author in great detail about their work. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I did,
The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Back in December 2008, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alice Schroeder for about 45 minutes on WRKO Boston about Snowball, the first and certainly the last authorized biography of Warren Buffett.
Schroeder scored the most coveted assignment in financial journalism, writing THE official Bufffett biography, not because of her work as a journalist, but as a Wall Street analyst who covered Berkshire Hathaway, Buffett’s company. At the time, Buffett told Schroeder to write a warts and all account, and so she did. Buffett has not spoken to Alice Schroeder since the book came out. That in and of itself is a window into the character, and flaws, of the world’s greatest investor.
Buffett’s character is back in the spotlight this week, along with his grandfatherly image and reputation as one of the world’s most admired businessmen. From Alice’s Bloomberg column titled Buffett Misses Chance to Show Moral Courage,
What were they thinking? How could Warren Buffett excuse David Sokol’s trading in Lubrizol Corp. (LZ) stock while Sokol was pitching the company to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK/A) as an acquisition candidate?
Buffett and Sokol both say that nothing “unlawful†was going on (Sokol even went so far as to tell CNBC he did nothing inappropriate). Their explanation is that, because a deal with Lubrizol hadn’t actually been struck and wasn’t likely when Sokol bought his shares, it was all right for Sokol to profit from his knowledge of a possible deal.
On Wall Street, we call this kind of trading front-running, and everybody knows that it is wrong. People get fired for doing it. Sokol said that he is leaving Berkshire to pursue other business interests, and the timing is linked to Berkshire’s April 30 annual shareholder meeting, which is attended by tens of thousands of people. That’s probably true, in a sense. Buffett must want this mess cleared up and out of the way before he has to take questions from shareholders.
I cannot recommend Snowball: Warren Buffett and The Business of Life any higher, it is just an amazing profile of this fascinating, complicated man. Few people in the world have the insight into Warren Buffett as Alice Schroeder does. It was an honor to welcome her back to the show.
The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Bruce McQuain from Blackfive joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce spent 28 years in the U.S. Army and he is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match.
This week Bruce told us the story of Master Sgt Patrick M Quinn of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). From his Silver Star citation,
…for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while serving with Operational Detachment Alpha 065 (ODA-065), Company A, 2d Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), during combat operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM, on 5 April 2003, in Iraq, in engaging and destroying the Iraqi 96th Infantry Brigade, neutralizing the 4th and 16th Infantry Divisions, and routing a battalion of Saddam Fedayeen. Master Sergeant Quinn’s performance was integral in the 2d Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) attack towards Mosul, Iraq. His actions under overwhelming odds and fierce resistance are a credit to him, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the United States Army.
The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce does an incredible job with the series every week. The SYSK archive can be found here and the Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Christen Varley, president of the Greater Boston Tea Party, joined me tonight to talk about their 3rd annual Tax Day Rally in Boston Common coming up April 15 at 4pm. Former MN governor Tim Pawlenty will be the featured speaker.
We covered a lot of ground, about her own road to action, to the Tea Party as political football and 2012 and beyond.
The Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
Bruce McQuain from Blackfive joined us once again for Someone You Should Know, our weekly tribute to the troops. Bruce spent 28 years in the U.S. Army and he is a veteran of the Vietnam war. He brings a perspective and understanding to these stories that we could never match.
This week Bruce told us the story of Army Pfc. Harrison J. Meyer. This came from a Facebook page,
“Pfc. Harrison James Meyer grew up in Worthington, Ohio and graduated from high school in May 2003. He enlisted on July 11, 2003 and became a Soldier and a medic. On February 25, 2004, he arrived in Korea and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault), and served as a platoon medical specialist. Known for his enthusiasm in medical treatment, he earned the respect of all who knew him. Pfc. Meyer was killed in action on November 26, 2004. While suffering his own injuries, he left cover and was mortally wounded while attempting to rescue injured Soldiers caught in an enemy ambush. He will be awarded a Purple Heart and a Combat Medic’s Badge for his service in Iraq. He also received the Silver Star. In his free time, he enjoyed learning more about the medical field, cooking, and was a budding author. He is survived by his father, William M. Meyer, mother, Deborah L. Meyer, and Three Sisters, L sisters. Pfc. Harrison Meyer was 20 years old.”
The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Bruce does an incredible job with the series every week. The SYSK archive can be found here and the Pundit Review Radio Podcast RSS feed can be found here.
What is Pundit Review Radio?
On Boston’s Talk Station WRKO since 2005, Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week we give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to the radio every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.