The legendary television judge has overseen battles of every type. Listen as she and Tanya talk immigration, incivility (and worse) on the internet, and life in a TV courtroom. Plus, what to do when the dinner table is politically divided!

Jeffrey Rosen, author of Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America, discusses the Supreme Court, the occasional rebellion and “structured disagreement” that was at the heart of the Founders’ vision for America, and why today’s partisan divide is particularly dangerous.

Tanya and David Schmidt discuss the PBS docuseries The American Revolution (produced and co/directed by David, Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein) and what that conflict can tell us about managing today’s animosities.

A conversation about the Iran War, executive power, economic opportunity and the continuing fight for voting rights – with Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO).

(recorded 3/11/26)

The Los Angeles Fires were a battle to contain one of the worst wildfire disasters in U.S. history. They were a battle for lives, for homes, for community - they were a race against an all-consuming disaster. They also involved a battle for truth and information in a time of crisis. MS NOW reporter Jacob Soboroff explores these different battlefields in his new book, and he and Tanya discuss the book and the catastrophe that ravaged the city they love.

We’ve all been hit by something hard when we didn’t expect it. We’ve come through battles of every kind - personal, professional, national - and still are fighting some of them. What have we learned from them - and what can our past battles teach us about how to live in the present moment.

New episodes of Battletested begin next Wednesday, March 11th, with MS Now journalist Jacob Soboroff.

What's your battle? Email us at beingbattletested@gmail.com with your story.

I sit down with Beth Macy for an honest conversation about truth, empathy, and finding common ground in divided times. We talk about how to navigate family and friendship across political and ethical lines, the growing challenges to free press, and the responsibility of storytelling in shaping public understanding. Beth also shares insights from her new book Paper Girl, a deeply personal return to her Ohio hometown that examines the political, economic, and social divides defining small-town America. She reflects on her acclaimed work Dopesick, which inspired the Hulu series exposing how corporate power and systemic greed fueled the opioid crisis.

Paper Girl is available now wherever books are sold!

In this conversation, Massachusetts Rep. Jake Auchincloss and I discuss the government shutdown, the abundant falsities in modern media, the true value and meaning of serving our country, and more.