The Roundtable

  Today's panelists are WAMC’s Alan Chartock, Editor of the Daily Gazette, Judy Patrick, and Times Union Capitol Reporter, Jimmy Vielkind. Ray Graf moderates.

Topics include:
Former Bush Official Said to Be Obama Pick to Lead F.B.I.
Holder Faces New Round of Criticism After Leak Inquiries
A Second Democrat Calls for Silver to Resign
CSEA attacks Cuomo tax-free zone plan
Saratoga racino expansion's inclusion of theater space
Cuomo's new tax free zones
The end of the NY legislative session
Gloversville ice cream trial

David Greenberger has just released his latest CD, So Tough, recorded with his new band, A Strong Dog (Kevin Maul, Mitch Throop, and Matthew Loiacono). For decades, David has collected stories from elderly people. Rather than portraying them as repositories of wisdom and memory, Greenberger illuminates their full and present humanity. David's monologues are entwined with live music in a show that is emotionally rich, charming, funny and evocative.

The works all draw from David's conversations with the elderly in nursing homes, senior centers and mealsites. Some reflect memory loss or other aspects of cognitive decline, while others simply mirror the process of two people coming to know one another through conversation and listening.

David Greenberger and A Strong Dog will perform at Caffe Lena in Saratoga Springs, NY on May 31st at 8pm.

    In The Civil War in 50 Objects, Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer sheds new light on the war by examining fifty objects from the New-York Historical Society’s acclaimed collection. A daguerreotype of an elderly, dignified ex-slave, whose unblinking stare still mesmerizes; a soldier’s footlocker still packed with its contents; Grant’s handwritten terms of surrender at Appomattox—the stories these objects tell are rich, poignant, sometimes painful, and always fascinating. They illuminate the conflict from all perspectives—Union and Confederate, military and civilian, black and white, male and female—and give readers a deeply human sense of the war.

  "Go Back Home" - by Kander and Ebb from Audra McDonald's latest album.

The five-time Tony Award winner will perform at The Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA on Saturday, June 15th.

    In his new book, Through the Perilous Fight: Six Weeks That Saved the Nation, veteran reporter Steve Vogel tells the gripping story of the burning of Washington and the improbable last stand at Baltimore that helped save the nation and inspired its National Anthem.

  Student loan debt is close to crisis levels for many people.

In today’s Congressional Corner, Vermont representative Peter Welch tells Alan Chartock that interest rates must not increase.

    Contemporary Hawaiian composer Jerre Tanner parodies Bach's Coffee Cantata in the Kona Coffee Contata - a hilarious and charming voice and chamber orchestra piece. The presentation by the Musicians of Ma'alwyck - on June 7 at the First Reformed Church in Schenectady, NY - will be semi-staged and feature vocalists Tim Reno and Sabrina Manna with a ten-piece ensemble directed from the keyboard by Tom Savoy.

They've partnered with Ambition, The Daily Grind, and Liquid Assets who will provide coffee for the event.

    Emmy and Golden Globe award winner (and Tony nominee), Tony Shalhoub will participate in the Berkshire Playwrights Lab’s Sixth Annual Gala Celebration at The Mahaiwe in Great Barrington, MA on June 7th. They will present staged readings of new short plays by a roster of playwrights including Joe Cacaci, Richard Dresser, Mark Malone, Maddy Meyers and Anna Ziegler.

The short film, Food for Thought, written and directed by Joe Cacaci and starring Minnie Driver, Meeghan Holoway, and Tony Shaloub will screen at BIFF this Thursday.

  Today's panelists are WAMC's Alan Chartock and Times Union Associate Editor, Mike Spain. Ray Graf moderates.

Topics include:
Moms Are Now Primary Breadwinners In 40 Percent Of Homes
Drone Protestors
Racino
Racism
Circling the media wagons

    Brown’s has been crafting dependable ales & lagers in the Northern Hudson Valley since 1993. From their 19th Century warehouse brewery on the Eastern shore of the mighty Hudson River, they brew a bountiful variety of well-made traditional styles with a sense of pride and dutiful conviction.

Joining us now to discuss Brown’s, their growth and amazing food and drink, we welcome co-owner Kelly Brown and Brown’s VP Gregg Stacy.