Last night I spoke with political journalist and investigative reporter Allen McDuffee about his outstanding new venture, Think Tanked Blog.
Launched in the Spring of 2010 by independent journalist Allen McDuffee, Think Tanked is a blog specializing in original reporting and analysis on the influence of think tanks in the politics of Washington and beyond.
What a great idea for a blog. Original reporting of an under covered, unappreciated power center in Washington. Kind of reminds me of what Tim Carney is doing at the Washington Examiner with his beat, covering the world of lobbying.
The only problem I have with Think Tanked is that I didn’t think of it myself.
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 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
The goal of Pundit Review Radio is to bring the best thought leaders in the new media to the radio. In the world of legal pundits and law blogs, there is no better guest than Mr. Walter Olsen of the Cato Institute and Overlawyered.com.
Walter Olson has written a series of widely acclaimed books on our legal system, beginning with The Litigation Explosion and most recently Schools for Misrule: Legal Academia and an Overlawyered America (Encounter, 2011). On the web, he founded and continues to run Overlawyered.com, widely cited as the oldest blog on law as well as one of the most popular. The Washington Post has described him an “intellectual guru of tort reform.”
His writing appears regularly in such publications as the Wall Street Journal and New York Times, and he has been a columnist for Great Britain’s Times Online as well as Reason. He has advised public officials at all levels, appeared on hundreds of broadcast shows including Oprah and testified before Congress.
Tonight we talked about all aspects of the Kagan nomination, from the criticism on the right, the left and left field (Yes, I asked Walter about Andrew Sullivan). It was a really fun discussion and a thrill to get someone so high profile and well regarded on the show.
Our mission is to bring the best of the blogs to the radio. Mission accomplished last night.
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 6-8pm 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 about Spc. Erik Oropeza,
With Oropeza in the driver’s hatch, six U.S. soldiers headed north on a routine Stryker patrol down Main Supply Route Tampa along with another Company B Stryker.
The bullets started flying less than 500 yards later.
It was to be no ordinary day for the Manchus of Fort Lewis, Wash.
By the time Oropeza returned to his unit’s outpost hours later, two of his fellow soldiers would be dead and three more severely wounded. For his courage in a fearsome firefight, Oropeza would be declared a hero.
In February, the 22-year-old became the 21st soldier to receive the Distinguished Service Cross — the country’s second highest award for valor in combat — since the wars began in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He’s credited with preventing his vehicle and crew from being overrun by “a five man enemy ground assault force maneuvering against him,” according to his medal citation.
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 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 6-8pm 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 about a Marine legend, in honor of Marine Week Boston. Here is the incredible story of Gunnery Sergeant “Manila John” Basilone who is the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
John Basilone was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York, one of 10 children of Salvatore and Dora Basilone. Reared and educated in Raritan, New Jersey, he gained local attention as a light-heavyweight boxer. He enlisted in the Army when he was 18 and served in the Philippines, where he picked up the nickname “Manila John.” He was honorably discharged in 1937, but, anticipating World War II, he enlisted in the Marines in July 1940.
On October 24-25, 1942, Sergeant Basilone was in charge of two sections of heavy machine guns defending a narrow pass to Henderson Airfield on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. Although vastly outnumbered, he and his fellow Marines checked the assault by the Japanese. For that, Sgt. Basilone was awarded the Medal of Honor
and sent back to the states to appear at war-bond rallies. He toured the country and met Hollywood starlets. His picture made the cover of Life magazine.But Sergeant Basilone was unsatisfied back home and volunteered to return to combat, ending up at Iwo Jima. Under heavy artillery fire on February 19, 1945, he singlehandedly took out an enemy blockhouse. Minutes later, he and four others in his platoon died in an artillery blast. Sergeant Basilone was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, making him the only enlisted Marine in World War II to receive all three medals.
His body later was reburied at Arlington National Cemetery. A life-size bronze statue depicting him in battle dress and cradling a machine gun was erected years later in Raritan, his hometown.
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 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 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
In the past few weeks we have interviewed the rising stars in the Massachusetts Republican party. In the wake of Scott Brown’s stunning victory, we are finally starting to see some legitimate competition in this state.
There are some really, really good candidates running for Congress this fall, including Jeff Perry in the 10th district, running to replace retiring Bill Delahunt. Jeff is currently a state representative and is one of only two people on Beacon Hill smart and brave enough to vote against Romneycare.
How would you like to replace Barney Frank with a Marine officer with a masters in public policy from Harvard and business experience running a $100 million division of iRobot? You can Retire Barney by supporting this man, Sean Bielat
Tonight, we met Jon Golnik, a husband, father and small business owner who is running in the 5th district against Nicki Tsongas. Like all the other candidates, he’s upset with the direction of the country and is ready to do something about it.
For Massachusetts Republicans, this is an embarrassment of riches. It has been ages since we’ve had so many good candidates running for congress, not to mention governor.
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 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.
A question for the Marines, and you know I love you, but who didn’t you let play with the guns?
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 about Sgt. Gregory Williams,
Sgt. Gregory Williams received the Army’s second-highest award for valor from Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. for what he did in a gun battle that ensued after an improved explosives device stopped his Stryker last year in Baghdad.
Although injured himself, Sgt. Williams pulled his lieutenant from a smoldering Stryker, provided suppressive fire with a 50-caliber weapon and enabled first aid to be given to Soldiers burned by the IED blast. He was a squad leader in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1/5th Infantry, 1st SBCT, 25th Infantry Division.
“When I want to talk about the quality of the force, I talk about Sgt. Williams,” said Gen. Casey. “(Soldiers like Sgt. Williams) are the heart and soul of the 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 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 6-8pm on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.