The Roundtable

The Roundtable Panel : a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Former EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck, Counter-Terrorism Expert Malcolm Nance and Investigative Journalist Rosemary Armao.

Ron Chernow is the prizewinning author and the recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal. His first book, The House of Morgan , won the National Book Award, Washington: A Life won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography, and Alexander Hamilton (the inspiration for the Broadway musical) won the American History Book Prize. His new book, Grant , provides a complete understanding of Ulysses S. Grant -- the general and president whose fortunes rose and fell with dizzying speed and frequency.

This week's Book Picks from Amy Lane at The Open Door Bookstore and Gift Gallery in Schenectady, NY. List: "First Women" by Kate Andersen Brower "Orphan X" by Gregg Hurwitz "Wandering Home" by Bill McKibben "1776" by David McCullough "Nineteen Minutes" by Jodi Picoult "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen "Long Night Moon" by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Mark Siegel

The American tax system is about to undergo a major overhaul. In today’s Congressional Corner, Connecticut Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty speaks with WAMC’s Alan Chartock. This conversation was recorded minutes before final votes in the House.

Shawn Stone joins us to talk about what he's seen lately and what cultural events are coming up this week in our region. Seen: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" Upcoming: NRBQ - The Hangar on the Hudson, Troy, Friday 12/29, 8 PM Twiddle - Palace Theatre, Albany, Saturday 12/30 at 7:30 PM; Sunday 12/31 at 8 PM Berkshire Bach Ensemble: Bach at New Year’s - Academy of Music, Northampton, Mass., Saturday 12/30, 7:30 PM; Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, Mass., Sunday 12/31, 6 PM; Troy

The Roundtable Panel : a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Daily Freeman Publisher Emeritus Ira Fusfeld, Investigative Reporter Rosemary Armao and Communications Consultant Theresa Bourgeois.

The longtime host of Donahue , Phil Donahue established the modern daytime talk show format with his focus on audience participation and hot-button social issues. In 1967 he began hosting The Phil Donahue Show . The show lasted nearly 3-decades and both the host and host won numerous Emmy Awards. In a WAMC exclusive, Phil Donahue joins us for a special extended interview discussing his long career, politics, the media and even religion.

The Roundtable Panel : a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Investigative Journalist Rosemary Armao, Communications Consultant Theresa Bourgeois and Berkshire Eagle Reporter Jenn Smith.

"The Graduate" opened 50 years ago today. When it premiered in December 1967, its filmmakers had only modest expectations for what seemed to be a small, sexy art-house comedy adapted from an obscure first novel by an eccentric twenty-four-year-old. There was little indication that this offbeat story - a young man just out of college has an affair with one of his parents’ friends and then runs off with her daughter - would turn out to be a monster hit, with an extended run in theaters and seven

Laced with humor, rich historical detail from Charles Dickens’ life, and clever winks to his work, Samantha Silva's "Mr. Dickens and His Carol" is a new take on a cherished classic.

The Amtrak crash in Washington state has rail safety advocates fuming. In today’s Congressional Corner, Connecticut Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty speaks with WAMC’s Alan Chartock.

Christmas is all things to all people: a religious festival, a family celebration, a period of eating and drinking. In Christmas: A Biography , bestselling author and acclaimed social historian Judith Flanders casts a sharp eye on myths, legends and history, deftly moving from the origins of the holiday in the Roman empire, through Christmas trees in central Europe, to what might be the first appearance of Santa Claus – in Switzerland – to draw a picture of the season as it has never been seen

The Roundtable Panel : a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Former EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck and Counter-Terrorism Expert Malcolm Nance.

You can make your spirits (the alcoholic kind) brighter with some imagination and dazzling drink recipes, including martinis, punches, eggnog, and so many more seasonal favorites. Chris Weld from Berkshire Mountain Distillers is here to tell us how to make some awesome cocktails for the Holidays. Established in 2007, Berkshire Mountain Distillers (BMD) has created a line of award-winning artisanal spirits including Ethereal Gins, Ragged Mountain Rum, Ice Glen Vodka, Berkshire Bourbon and New

The Roundtable Panel : a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Daily Freeman Publisher Emeritus Ira Fusfeld, editor and marketer Stu Shinske and Communications Consultant Theresa Bourgeois.