Q & A, Hosted by Jay Nordlinger

Vladimir Kara-Murza is a Russian democracy leader, and one brave hombre. Twice, he has been poisoned. Twice, he recovered. And he is still at his work. Jay wrote about him earlier this year in a three-part series: Part I, Part II, and Part III. And Kara-Murza is Jay’s guest on this “Q&A.” They talk about vital matters: Putin, the West, “fake news,” and the future. Kara-Murza has important things... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980. Since then, it has been ruled by one man: Robert Mugabe, the dictator. Like most Zimbabweans, Evan Mawarire has never known any other leader. Today, he is Mugabe’s worst nightmare: a principled, moral, talented, brave critic. Mawarire is a Christian pastor. Last year, he made a video, expressing love of country, and exasperation at the longstanding... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

This week, Jay has been at the Oslo Freedom Forum, the annual human-rights gathering in the Norwegian capital. Its founder is Thor Halvorssen, who also started the Human Rights Foundation, which is based in New York. And he is Jay’s guest on this “Q&A.” They talk about dictatorship and democracy. At the end, they talk about one dictatorship in particular – that in Mr. Halvorssen’s home country... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Gao Zhisheng is one of the most heroic men in China, or anywhere. He is a human-rights lawyer who has put his neck on the line and paid for it with ten years of imprisonment and torture. His wife and two children fled to America. One of those children is Grace, a senior in college, who is presently at the Oslo Freedom Forum, where Jay is too. They sat down for this “Q&A.” What’s it like to be the... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Diana Damrau is an opera star – a German soprano – and a total delight. Jay sat down with her in New York for this “Q&A.” They talk about her new album – a compilation of Meyerbeer – and many other things: her children, her favorite singers, her technique, her dancing (including Michael Jackson routines). No one can resist this soprano onstage. She is pretty irresistible in interviews, too. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

John Negroponte is one of the leading diplomats of our age. When he was a young man, he was at Henry Kissinger’s side in Vietnam. He had a Latin American career, including the ambassadorships to Mexico and Honduras. He was also ambassador to the Philippines. In the George W. Bush years, he was ambassador to Iraq, and ambassador to the U.N. He was also director of national intelligence and deputy... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

At Claremont McKenna College, in Claremont, Calif., there is a student-hosted podcast: “ Free Food (For Thought).” Jay was on the campus recently. And he sat down for a podcast with two hosts, Zach Wong and Bryn Miller. It was obviously unusual for Jay to be in the “A” chair, the answerer’s chair. He is used to being in the “Q” chair. So, for something different, we thought we would share this... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

This is Tara Ross’s moment – an extended moment. She is one of the country’s foremost experts on the Electoral College. This institution was put in the spotlight in 2000. And again in 2016. Tara Ross is the author of “Enlightened Democracy: The Case for the Electoral College”; a children’s book, “We Elect a President: The Story of Our Electoral College”; and the forthcoming “The Indispensable... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

“ University Challenge” is a British quiz show, watched all over the world (particularly on YouTube). A major star of the recent season was Eric Monkman, of Oakville, Ontario. He was the captain of a Cambridge team. And he wowed the world with — as Jay says — “his amazingly extensive knowledge; his unaffected, individualistic style; and his obvious generosity of spirit.” A hashtag flew through the... Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe

Venezuela is spinning out of control: starvation, desperation, chaos, fear. Hannah Dreier, the Associated Press correspondent in Caracas, is in the midst of it. In a briefing with Jay, she gives us the latest. What does the latest include? The slums – the ruling party’s strongholds – turning against the party. The supreme court nullifying the congress. And then reversing itself. Source Get full access to Onward and Upward at www.jaynordlinger.com/subscribe