I'm joined on the podcast this week by one of my favorite authors, Jonathan Alter, who wrote my most favorite book on Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal (and that's saying something, because I've read A LOT of those). He and I have a wonderful conversation about his book, The Defining Moment: FDR's Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, the history behind the book and his process of writing it, the importance of FDR's legacy to the country, and his impact on Appalachia. We also discuss the importance of the idea behind Roosevelt's Presidency, and the New Deal: that the federal government has a responsibility to improve economic and material well-being. That idea was not only powerful then, but as we continue to face severe economic inequality, vanishing opportunity for the working poor, and a moment of great division, that idea of good and active government is important to us today. I hope you all enjoy this episode, and be on the lookout for more material on the New Deal coming soon!