Ask the Lawyer with Mike Connors

08/05/2022

This weekend on the Connors Corner segment of Ask the Lawyer, we were honored to have on one of the greatest film directors working today, Ms. Agnieszka Holland. With works ranging from World War II odysseys, "Europa Europa," "In Darkness," and, "Angry Harvest," to spiritual and philosophical pieces such as, "To Kill a Priest," and, "The Third Miracle," as well as work in television directing episodes of shows ranging from, "The Wire," to, "House of Cards," she has made quite the mark on European and American screens alike.

Ms. Holland has had an extraordinary life and her family bore witness to much of the worst ideology wrought in twentieth century Europe. Her paternal grandparents were lost in the Holocaust, and her mother both shielded Jews during the Holocaust and was a member of the Polish resistance. Later, Ms. Holland herself was arrested in the midst of the Prague Spring for her support of the dissident movement.

For the show this weekend we discussed one of her more recent offerings, "Mr. Jones," which detailed the large-scale coverup of the atrocities of the Holodomor, when Stalin brought about the horrific starvation of Ukrainians and many in Western media - particularly Walter Duranty of the New York Times, who won a Pulitzer Prize as Moscow Bureau chief all while glossing over Soviet atrocities - considered it convenient to ignore. To Ms. Holland, this has become especially relevant given the recent invasion of Ukraine, as the history of persecution for this beleaguered nation is being rapidly forgotten or outright ignored by those sympathetic to the expansionist Russian narrative. Most disturbingly, she noted, the popular image of Stalin among many Russians has been largely whitewashed, and the increase in popularity for one of the monsters of the last century bodes ill for what the monsters of this one may be able to get away with via manipulation and propaganda.

"Mr. Jones," is available to watch on YouTube.

26/05/2021

Mr. Connors wishes you a blessed Wednesday from the wide open skies of the south!

23/01/2021

Tomorrow!!! Go Peggy!!!

For 10 years, Groovin' on a Sunday was a NYC variety show hosted by Ann McCormack & Woody Regan.

02/01/2021

Join us at 6:00 PM tonight or 11:00 AM tomorrow to hear our first show of the New Year! To get things going right for 2021, this weekend's guest is Brigadier General Ty Seidule, PhD., who discusses his new book, "Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause."

Brigadier General Seidule served for more than 35 years as an U.S. Army officer with command and staff positions in the United States, Italy, Germany, the Balkans, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. As a professor, Ty Seidule also served in West Point’s Department of History for nearly two decades; when he retired, he became the first professor emeritus of history that West Point has ever had.

In, "Robert E. Lee and Me," Brigadier General Seidule uses his background and upbringing as the staging area for a discussion challenging the myths and lies of the Confederacy and reevaluating our view of American history - as well as our identity going forward.

For those of you who are part of our Civil War history community, Brigadier General Seidule will join the Civil War Round Table of New York via Zoom for our January Lee/Jackson meeting on Wednesday, January 13th at 7:00 PM. If you are interested in (virtually) joining us, reach us at [email protected]. Also check out Brigadier General Seidule's website, www.tyseidule.com.

We hope you enjoy the show, and we're glad to have made it through last year with you. May 2021 be blessed for all our friends and listeners.

28/12/2020

Today, the Flushing Remonstrance is known as “the religious Magna Carta of the New World." It proved to be a major influence on America’s Founders to enshrine freedom of worship in the Bill of Rights, more than a century after the citizens of Flushing defied a Governor.

19/12/2020

This year in December, those who have tuned into our show know that we've been getting away from the politics of 2020 and made the theme of December, "Giving Month," with a spotlight on charities and causes people might consider giving to or participating in. So far we've discussed feeding the poor with the St. Francis Breadline and cutting edge medical research with the John Wayne Cancer Institute.

This week is something a little bit different, but keeping to the theme: we talk with the President of the Grant Monument Association, attorney, public advocate, and three-time congressional candidate Frank Scaturro, about just why it's so important to preserve history. Only a few decades ago, Grant's Tomb, formally known as the General Grant National Memorial, was in a state of utter disrepair. The Grant Monument Association is the organization that helped turn that around, and we'll discuss that as well as their broader historical efforts involving the legacy of Ulysses S. Grant on Connors Corner.

Frank also has a book out called, "President Grant Reconsidered," which takes a look at someone who, while now almost universally recognized as an extraordinary general, is associated with a presidency often described as mediocre at best and dogged by accusations of corruption. Mr. Scaturro challenges those notions one at a time, reviewing President Grant's handling of reconstruction, economic policies, and advocacy for equal rights for all races. We also cover the fact that much of the criticism now taken for granted came from powerful interests he posed a threat to in his day, as well as later Lost Cause historiography that found it convenient to blacken his character, which for a time went so far as even dismissing his generalship.

The show airs today at 8:00 AM on 570 AM The Mission, and tonight at 6:00 PM and tomorrow at 11:00 AM on 970 AM The Answer. Thanks as always for joining us; we hope you had a blessed Hanukkah and wish you a Merry Christmas! Next week we'll be with the wonderful people at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

18/12/2020

If intersectionality is not defeated, Americans will learn the truth that power, not freedom, is truly irresistible.

03/12/2020

From Fr. Sirico and our friends at Acton Institute

The world has lost a voice for logic, liberty, and love of the U.S. Constitution. Economist Walter Williams died overnight at the age of 84. Williams worked his way out of grinding poverty in the Philadelphia housing projects to chair George Mason University’s economics department, author 10 books...

14/10/2020

Those who tuned in to Ask the Lawyer this weekend heard our interview with SGT. Paul Michael Hoza of the Fighting 69th, who is also the host of The Untold Civil War podcast.

Tonight Paul and Ben Frail, the National Patriotic Instructor for the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War - National Organization (SUVCW), will be joining the Civil War Round Table of New York for a virtual meeting to discuss bringing history to 21st century media and the SUVCW's history and purpose as an organization!

E-mail [email protected] for more information on the Civil War Round Table of New York and how to join us for virtual gatherings this year.

25/09/2020

We have a packed show for our listeners this weekend!

First off, we'll have on our esteemed former State Senator Marty Golden to discuss the incredible work he's now doing with Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens. Few organizations are as committed or as effective as they have been at handling the needs of our community, particularly in this difficult year.

Then we will be joined by Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who is now running for the US Congress against Rep. Max Rose for NY-11, which spans Staten Island and south Brooklyn. We'll discuss her race in this pivotal swing district, the legislation she's put forward (and tried to stop in Albany and New York City), her policies and values, and the civic work she and her team have been engaged with throughout these trying times.

Finally, we will be joined by US Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee to discuss her new book, "The Mind of a Conservative Woman." Senator Blackburn has spent years in D.C., first as a Representative and now in the Senate, making sure that her voice stands out in the name of those who elected her. Senator Blackburn is also on the Judiciary Committee, so we touch upon the passing of the Hon. Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what will happen with that vacancy on the bench in an election year.

Tune in Saturday morning at 8 AM on AM 570 The Mission, or Saturday evening at 6 PM and Sunday morning at 11 AM on Am 970 The Answer to catch Ask the Lawyer this weekend!

24/09/2020

Last week, America's historical community lost one of our living legends. Ed Bearss - Marine Corps WWII veteran, Parks Department historian, battlefield tour guide extraordinaire, expert on countless wars but preeminent on the American Civil War - passed away at the age of 97. We were proud to call him a friend.

Our show last weekend featured one of the earlier interviews Mike recorded with Ed (out of the dozens spanning battles across American history - our listeners know he was one of our treasured guests), for the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. The tribute came at an appropriate time, as it was aired shortly after another September 17th anniversary of that fateful day.

This picture is Mike's favorite of him and Mr. Bearss - with Ed surveying the Connors home display of the first day at Gettysburg. We have little doubt that where Ed Bearss is now, he's got a bird's eye view of all the history he could dream of. Rest in peace; we miss you.