The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are former New York 19th Congressman and NY Assemblyman John Faso, Professor of Government at Dutchess Community College and President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley Dr. Karin Riedl, and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

How does the son of a Presbyterian minister end up winning a Pulitzer Prize for a distorted newspaper column that is read by many? Well, in Dave Berry’s new book “Class Clown: The Memoirs of a Professional Wiseass: How I Went 77 Years Without Growing Up” he provides the details.“Class Clown” isn’t your regular memoir; it is a celebration of life rich with humor, joy, absurdity, and sadness.

Saratoga Performing Arts Center has announced their presentation of “Music and Mind with Renee Fleming: Harnessing the Arts to Heal & Connect.” This will take place this Thursday August 14th at 4pm at the Spa Little Theater. 5-time Grammy Award winning soprano Renee Fleming, curator of the groundbreaking anthology "Music and Mind" will host a discussion with a panel of experts exploring compelling research on the powerful connection between arts and health.

Lisa Gardner is a #1 "New York Times" bestselling thriller novelist with over 30 million copies of her books in print worldwide. A self-described research junkie, Lisa has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published in over 30 languages.An avid hiker, gardener and cribbage player, Lisa lives with her family in New England. “Kiss Her Goodbye” is her 29th book and we welcome her to the RT this morning.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are Senior fellow at the Center for Civic Engagement at Bard College Ambassador Fred Hof, Political Consultant and lobbyist Libby Post, and Professor of Government at Dutchess Community College and President of the World Affairs Council of the Mid-Hudson Valley Dr. Karin Riedl.

Each weekday morning, The Roundtable's Joe Donahue is joined by various experts, journalists, educators, and commentators to discuss current events. On Roundtable Panel: The Week in Review, we feature your favorite panelists discussing news items from the previous week.

Samsun Knight is a writer, graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop, and a Truman Capote Fellow. His new novel “Likeness” is intimate, riveting, and raw.On a summer evening in the 1990s Ann learns that one of her husband’s lovers is expecting his child, only a few weeks after finding out she too is pregnant. Meanwhile Sandy, the lover, works to find her own path forward through her surprise pregnancy searching through diaries, grocery lists, and séances with the dead she tries to remember just enough of her original sense of direction to make her own way home. Based on his own up brining in a polyamorous family the book speaks to Samsun’s complicated family with his parents in an open marriage. Also, to those of us who grew up with multiple parents and half or step siblings.

“Joan: A New Play About Joan Rivers” is having its regional premiere at the Barrington Stage Company’s Boyd-Quinson Stage in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts.The audience will discover the pioneer who conquered a man’s world, the mother of all-time punchlines, and the woman who had it all, lost it all, and did it all. It is a no-holds-barred look at the life of a true legend. The play is directed at Barrington by David Ivers.Tessa Auberjonois plays Joan Rivers.

This year is a very special year as it marks Keith Lockhart’s 30th Anniversary as conductor of the Boston Pops. A tenure that includes over 2250 performances, 45 national tours to more than 150 cities, and 5 international tours. One is tomorrow night; he will be conducting the annual John Williams Film Night curated by Williams himself and then on Friday August 22nd there will be the Keith Lockhart 30th Anniversary Celebration.

The Roundtable Panel: a daily open discussion of issues in the news and beyond. Today's panelists are former EPA Regional Administrator, Professor at Bennington College, and President of Beyond Plastics Judith Enck, Siena College Professor of Economics, Aaron Pacitti, and Executive Director of The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Nic Rangel.