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Diane Rehm: On My Mind

WAMU 88.5

Diane Rehm’s weekly podcast features newsmakers, writers, artists and thinkers on the issues she cares about most: what’s going on in Washington, ideas that inform, and the latest on living well as we live longer.

Copyright WAMU 88.5 American University Radio - For Personal Use Only

Diane Rehm’s weekly podcast features newsmakers, writers, artists and thinkers on the issues she cares about most: what’s going on in Washington, ideas that inform, and the latest on living well as we live longer.

Copyright WAMU 88.5 American University Radio - For Personal Use Only
6hr 33min
Thumbnail for "'The Spirit of America' vs. 'America First': Revisiting FDR's war of words with Charles Lindbergh".
In 1939 fascism was spreading around the world and America was at a crossroads. President Franklin D. Roosevelt argued for intervention while famed aviator Charles Lindbergh led a fierce isolationist movement with the slogan "America First." The former director of FDR's presidential library tells the story in a new book, "Awakening the Spirit of America."
May 30, 202439min 58sec
Thumbnail for "How serious is the threat of political violence in the U.S.?".
The ongoing threat of political violence in America. The Atlantic’s Adrienne France looks at how the escalating divisions and rhetoric are fueling attempts against our leaders and ordinary citizens.
July 25, 202430min 49sec
Thumbnail for "Understanding Project 2025 and how it could shape a second Trump presidency".
The Republican National Convention, J.D. Vance and the myths and realities of Project 2025. Diane talks to Andrew Prokop of Vox about the emerging picture of a Trump second term.
July 19, 202443min 51sec
Thumbnail for "The nation's first Black female billionaire on resilience, creativity, and following her passions".
A Diane Rehm Book Club conversation with Sheila Johnson, the nation's first Black female billionaire, recorded live at WAMU's Black Box Theater. They discussed her memoir "Walk Through Fire."
July 11, 20241hr 3min
Thumbnail for "A retired federal judge on his life on the bench and the current Supreme Court".
Retired DC Circuit judge David Tatel talks about his new book, "Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice," and his grave concerns about the direction of Supreme Court.
July 4, 202445min 14sec
Thumbnail for "The first Trump-Biden debate of 2024: "They both lost"".
The first presidential debate of the 2024 election took place last night. New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie breaks down what we learned, and how it might affect the race.
June 27, 202430min 20sec
Thumbnail for "How Barbara Walters changed the news media for women -- and everyone else".
Journalist Susan Page talks about the woman who blazed a trail in television news – and changed the media forever. Her new book is "The Rulebreaker: The Life and Times of Barbara Walters."
June 20, 202429min 58sec
Thumbnail for "The push to remove "forever chemicals" from America's drinking water".
ProPublica's Sharon Lerner on the fight to get "forever chemicals" out of America's drinking water – and the story of how they got there in the first place.
June 13, 202433min 17sec
Thumbnail for "How Trump's guilty verdict shifted the race for president (if not the minds of the voters)".
The New Yorker's Susan Glasser on the aftermath of Trump's guilty verdict, Biden's attempt to take on immigration, and the GOP's new wave of attacks on the country's justice system.
June 6, 202435min 30sec
Thumbnail for "The Story Of One Woman's Decision To End Her Life".
After years of battling a mysterious illness, Diana Williams chose to end her life with the help of Dignitas, a “death with dignity” organization in Switzerland. Before she did, she talked to Diane about her agonizing choice, and what she called a life well lived and a death well planned.
May 23, 202441min 4sec

'The Spirit of America' vs. 'America First': Revisiting FDR's war of words with Charles Lindbergh

Thumbnail for "'The Spirit of America' vs. 'America First': Revisiting FDR's war of words with Charles Lindbergh".
May 30, 202439min 58sec

In 1939 fascism was on the march around the world and America found itself at a crossroads. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt believed Hitler and the Nazis posed an existential threat to democracy. But the American public, still reeling from the Great Depression, remained wary of getting involved. 

Fascist sympathizers and powerful right-wing media groups egged on the isolationists. Famed aviator Charles Lindbergh became the voice of this opposition and over the ensuing two years a war of words played out between Lindbergh and Roosevelt. 

Paul Sparrow, the former director of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, tells this story in a new book, “Awakening the Spirit of America.”

“Awakening the Spirit” will be on bookstore shelves on June 4, 2024.