Author, journalist and professor, Jared Yates Sexton, joins Mark Thompson to talk about his latest, enormously compelling and intensely researched book, American Rule: How a Nation Conquered the World but Failed Its People

Jared goes way beyond the myth of American exceptionalism with which most are familiar and looks to the start of the nation and the "founding fathers".   He continues the trip through history with discussions that include the Reagan years and legacy and extend to even the latest election.

The show starts with political commentator, Michael Shure and comedian/documentary filmmaker, J Elvis Weinstein, doing a post-mortem on the Presidential election and a look at the future in which Donald Trump may be very much relevant.

00:00-1:50 Mark welcome

1:50- 25:08 J Elvis, Michael Shure and Mark

25:08-49:41 Jared Yates Sexton and Mark

Guest, Billy Ray, is an award winning director and writer who has brought (among others) THE HUNGER GAMES, CAPTAIN PHILLIPS, RICHARD JEWELL and SHATTERED GLASS to the screen.

Billy's latest chronicles the narrative and controversy around former FBI Director James Comey and his, ulitrmately doomed, relationship with Donald Trump.

The two part television event, THE COMEY RULE, airs on Showtime and VOD.

The show begins with political correspondent, Michael Shure, surveying the Presidential race and the current political landscape.

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

00-01:15  Mark welcom

1:15-15:30 Michael Shure politics

15:30-1:01:00  Director/Writer Billy Ray

Forbes Senior Editor, Dan Alexander, has a new book called, White House Inc.: How Donald Trump Turned the Presidency Into a Business

The book details President Trump’s efforts to make money off of politics, taking us inside his exclusive clubs, luxury hotels, overseas partnerships, commercial properties, and personal mansions.

Dan tracks hundreds of millions of dollars flowing freely between big businesses and President Trump. He explains, in plain language, how Trump tried to translate power into profit, from the 2016 campaign to the ramp-up to the 2020 campaign.  

But, just because there's all that money washing back and forth DOESN'T mean that Trump has made it profitable.  He hasn't.

First, political analyst and correspondent, Michael Shure talks with Mark Thompson and J. Elvis Weinstein about Trump getting COVID-19 and the last debate forum in Cleveland (from which he's just returned).

Also, Trump's COVID situation and how it changes a political  landscape already being readied for legal challenges to the outcome and for cyber attack among other things.

00-2:00 Mark welcome...

2:00-20:00 Debate mess and Trump gets Covid.--J Elvis Weinstein and Michael Shure

20:00-51:00 Dan Alexander --White House Inc.

reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Columnist, lecturer and political strategist, Richard Greene, takes us through the likely strategy the GOP and Donald Trump will use to win a second term, no matter how big Trump's popular vote loss may be.

Here's the link to Richard Greene's latest piece in Medium which lists the 12 ways Trump can, and likely will, win.

First, J. Elvis Weinstein and Michael Shure react to the final night of the Republican Convention.

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

00:00-01:35 Mark welcome

01:50-14:51  J Elvis Weinstein and Michael Shure

14:51-47:04 Richard Greene --Trump route to winning

Mark Thompson welcomes back comedian and documentary filmmaker, J. Elvis Weinstein, and the two speak with political analyst, Michael Shure about the Democratic National Convention.

Then, after Michael, award winning former journalist and media executive, Joe Ferullo, joins the two and talks about how the use of media in this time of COVID-19 transformed essential media aspects of that convention.

Lastly, why one of the biggest stories of the week involving Russian collusion and corruption is getting so little play.

00:00-01:25 Mark hello

01:25-16:46 Michael Shure

16:46-34:16 Joe Ferullo

reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

When it comes to Trump, it's all about money and The Washington Post's David Fahrenthold is one of our favorites when it comes to covering the part of the Trump administration that connects to money.

David joins Mark to talk about the strategies that Trump has used on the media and the country and how they reflect those he used at what turned out to be the fraud that was Trump University.

You can read the David Fahrenthold article that Mark talks about here

Professor Edward Goldberg joins Mark for the second half of the show. 

He says our nationalist trade policies are destroying the country and the pandemic has only hastened those realities.

His book is Why Globalization Works For Amberica: How Nationalist Trade Policies Are Destroying Our Country

:02:-24 David Fahrenthold 

:24-:59 Professor Edward Goldberg 

Director, writer and producer Rod Lurie is getting terrific reviews for his film, THE OUTPOST, which tells the true story of an attack on an American outpost in Afghanistan.

This film is not pro-war or anti-war and doesn't have a political slant one way or another but does provide the viewer with an immersive, riveting experience.

Mark talks with Rod about shooting this movie which feels all too real and how, several times, the movie almost didn't happen or was derailed.

It's Rod and Mark for the entire episode.

:00-01:30 Mark welcome

1:30-47:00 Mark and Rod

Reach us at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

As political awareness and participation increases, Jimmy Dore is at the center of a lot of the action.

Jimmy is a political activist and comic with a formidable following.

Jimmy Dore joins Mark for the entire episode.

:00-01:30 Mark hello

01:30-53:00 Jimmy Dore and Mark T

Reach us at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

The bailout/rescue package that's poured trillions of dollars into the American economy has done so in a very specific way.  The corporate money grab is beyond anything most Americans would  imagine.

The remarkable truths about the bailout are revealed by guest, David Dayen, from The American Prospect.

Here's a link to David's article at prospect.org 

Michael Shure kicks us off the episode with the politics and realities of life in America as COVID-19 lockdowns and Black Lives Matter unrest meet and produce uncomfortable realities in America.

00-02:00 Mark intro

2:00-29:00 Michael Shure

29:00-1:01:00 Journalist David Dayen

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Comedian Eddie Pepitone has been the subject of documentaries and has made his way through the comedy scene as both enormously popular with audiences and "a comic's comic".

What's it like to see the live comedy scene shut down because of COVID19?  How does the comedy scene still flourish during this time of unprecedented obstacles?

Eddie joins J Elvis Weinstein for the conversation.

First, Michael Shure talks key political races and election politics. 

The guys also remember performances from Al Pacino and the TV series, Emergency.

00-06:30 Mark on U.S. rioting

7:00-30:30 Michael Shure politics

30:30-1:08:30 Comedian Eddie Pepitone

To reach the show:

edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Josh Mankiewicz from Dateline NBC has the number one podcast in America right now.  It's called, MOTIVE FOR MURDER.  He takes us through some of the beats of the podcast.

He talks with longtime friend, Mark Thompson, and comedian/documentary filmmaker, J.Elvis Weinstein about life as a Mankiewicz (his grandfather wrote Citizen Kane and his family is something of show business and Washington political royalty).

Finally, culture blaster, Michael Snyder (culture critic for Marina Times and writer of Coastal Commuter Column) reviews entertainment picks and kicks it around with Mark and J. Elvis.

00:00-08:15 Mark and J Elvis welcome

08:15-1:01:24 Josh Maniewcz

1:01:24-1:18:46  Culture Blaster, Critic Michael Snyder 

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

In an election season marked by new challenges created by COVID-19, Joe Biden has a challenge not unfamiliar to some high profile men:  An accusation of sexual assault.

How to appropriately engage on this issue and how to campaign during a presidential election season that is unlike any other.

Political analyst Michael Shure joins Mark Thompson and J. Elvis Weinstein for the conversation.

:00-33:20 Mark, J Elvis and Michael Shure

You can contact the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Our guest, Dan Gerstein, contracted COVID-19 but added several societal layers.  Starting with his wife whose family was enduring the brunt of it in her home, Italy.

He wrote about it in his NY Daily News article

He talks with Mark Thompson and J Elvis Weinstein about the entire experience of the earlier days of the COVID-19 outbreak in NYC.

First, Mark torments J Elvis with his new "toy" and the two review the world of presidential corona virus briefings and the magic of Huell Howser

00-2:30 Intro

2:45- 30:40 J Elvis Weinstein 

31:00- 1:01:50 Dan Gerstein on COVID19 in his life

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Mark Thompson and J Elvis Weinstein discuss life as shut-ins and some of the news around the Covid-19 outbreak.

Then, Pulitzer Prize winner and investigative journalist, David Cay Johnston on the world of Trump and money in politics.  

David's website is DCreport.org

Then, Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist for the Washington Post, Phillip Rucker, on his new book, A Very Stable Genius: Donald J Trump's Testing of America

:00-1:30 Mark intro

1:30-23:00 Mark and J Elvis Weinstein talk life under COVID19

23:00- 1:04:45 David Cay Johnston joins Mark and J.Elvis

1:04:45-1:41:30 Washington Post journalist, Phillip Rucker

In this episode:

The cops come to Mark's house in force...Michael Shure talks campaign politics and superstar plant dietician Julieanna Hever joins Mark.

Julieanna's latest book, The Healthspan Solution--How and What to Eat to Add Years To Your Life is a mix of science, recipes and beautiful photos of delicious food!

She's written the book with scientist and gourmet chef, Ray Cronise.

Julieanna's Books are available at Julieanna's website

First,  Mark talks with political correspondent, Michael Shure, who is on the road with the Presidential candidates.  The two talk about the flaws in the caucus system and Bernie's chances (along with Elizabeth Warren and the progressive left) moving forward

Plus, they visit a bizarre and magical hockey moment.

Then, Mark welcomes in J. Elvis Weinstein.  Mark tells the story of an intruder at his home and cops showing up with a massive show of force and the arrest that follows.

To reach the show:

edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

00-1:00 Mark welcome

1:30-17:15 Michael Shure on Politics

17:50-46:55 J Elvis Weinstein joins for Mark's "cop story"

46:55-1:19:40 Superstar Dietician, Julieanna Hever

From the road in New Hampshire, political reporter Michael Shure talks about the mess of Iowa, the primary in New Hampshire and the impeachment acquittal of Donald Trump.

Then...

Mark speaks with the director and one of the activists profiled in the new documentary THE ANIMAL PEOPLE: 

(summary from IMDB)

Fifteen years in the making, this feature documentary - Executive Produced by Joaquin Phoenix - follows the journey of six young Americans who find themselves targeted as terrorists by the US government for their involvement in a controversial protest campaign. Seeing the future of social movement organizing, the activists used the then fledgling internet to dramatically magnify their impact as they systematically knocked out the pillars of financial support that kept the company in business. But when letter writing and protests began to mushroom into dead-of-night vandalism and worse by unknown activists, this corporation and the government formed an alliance to destroy the group. The FBI began an unprecedented campaign of surveillance in preparation for prosecution, creating a model that would later be used against Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter. Congress, under corporate influence, rewrote laws and bent the definition of incitement in order to accomplish the prosecution of these six, potentially weakening free speech rights for all Americans. Featuring expansive interviews with the activists spanning over a decade, rare archival footage - including never-before-seen FBI undercover surveillance tapes, wiretaps and government documents, The Animal People is a chilling portrait of what happens when activism rattles the institutions of power.

:00- 2:50  Mark welcome and explains episode

 3:15-17:05  Michael Shure checks in from New Hampshire                Primary...Also talks impeachment vote/acquittal.

17:10-1:15:16   From the documentary film, THE ANIMAL PEOPLE, Director, Casey Suchan and activist, Jake Conroy 

Reach the show at edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com

Mark welcomes back the audience and J Elvis Weinstein!

Then...

As head writer on the Letterman Show (both daytime and late night) Merrill has influenced the entire culture and genre of contemporary talk shows.

We visit with her as she writes her acceptance speech for the prestigious Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award from the Writers Guild and reflects on her award winning work with the Letterman shows--work that shaped a generation of comedy.

J Elvis Weinstein joins Mark Thompson for the talk with Merrill.

Then, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, James Risen on Iran, the U.S. intelligence community and a reinvigorated abortion debate in America.

00:00-07:20 Mark welcomes back the audience and J Elvis Weinstein!

720-41:10   Merrill Markoe on Comedy

41:25- 1:17:30 James Risen on Intel Community, Iran and Abortion Rights

reach the show at: edgewithmarkthompson@gmail.com