Newt’s World – Episode 914: Steve Israel on “The Einstein Conspiracy” (November 27, 2025)

Overview

In this engaging episode, Newt Gingrich welcomes former Congressman, author, and bookstore owner Steve Israel to discuss his new historical thriller, The Einstein Conspiracy. The conversation delves into Israel’s transition from political satire to historical fiction, the real-life events and research behind the novel, and the fascinating, overlooked history of Nazi espionage in America. The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, reflections on the writing process, and thoughtful observations about the intersections of history, science, and storytelling.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Steve Israel’s Journey: From Congress to Bookstores (03:11–06:44)

• Opening Thoughts and Warm Welcome
  Newt introduces Steve Israel as a multi-faceted figure: former Congressman, acclaimed author, and independent bookstore owner (03:11).

• Motivation Behind Opening Theodore’s Books
  Steve shares that his love for bookstores was longstanding, using them as retreats during his congressional travels. After Congress, he wanted to contribute to his community through bookselling:

  “Those were my retreats, my refuges...I decided that I would devote the next chapter of my life to owning a bookstore and selling books.” —Steve Israel (04:50)

• Challenges of Independent Bookselling
  The tough economics of independent bookstores, especially in the age of Amazon, are discussed. Author events are crucial for survival:

  “I've got to hire booksellers, pay them a decent wage...margins on books is very, very narrow...But I’m having more fun now than I ever had in 16 years in Congress.” —Steve Israel (05:56)

• Tribute to Theodore Roosevelt
  The store's name, Theodore’s Books, honors Roosevelt, whose Sagamore Hill home is nearby. Steve shares colorful stories about Roosevelt’s deep connection to Oyster Bay (06:44).

Shifting to Historical Fiction: The Birth of “The Einstein Conspiracy” (07:25–09:43)

• From Political Satire to Historical Thriller
  Newt notes Steve’s successful pivot in genre, praising The Einstein Conspiracy as a compelling, accessible read about the 20th century’s greatest scientist.

• Origins of the Novel
  Steve’s fascination with pivotal ‘hinges’ of history leads him to Einstein’s 1939 cottage on Long Island, the site where Einstein wrote his fateful letter that spurred the Manhattan Project:

  “What if Einstein hadn’t written that letter? What if FDR hadn’t received it?...I put it all together into one historic thriller called The Einstein Conspiracy.” —Steve Israel (08:14)

Blending Fact and Fiction: Research & Writing Process (09:43–11:52)

• Balancing Research with Narrative Flow
  Steve describes the research “rabbit holes” he fell into, particularly regarding local details relevant to Einstein’s time on Long Island. Editorial guidance forced him to streamline for story pacing:

  “My editor...called me and said, ‘You’re up to page 20 on this voyage...you need to cut it to three paragraphs.’” —Steve Israel (10:37)

• The Author-Editor Relationship
  Newt openly admits he resents editing, and admires Steve’s willingness to pare down for the sake of storytelling (11:52).

Three Perspectives: Einstein, the FBI, and American Nazis (15:42–18:37)

• Depth of Narrative:
  Newt highlights three threads in the novel:

  1. Einstein as a Character: His personality, public appearances, complexity.
  2. FBI and Counterespionage: The increasing urgency of FBI operations against Nazi activities in the U.S.
  3. American Nazi Networks: The chilling reality of U.S. communities openly supporting the Nazi cause.
  • Newt singles out Steve’s depiction of Yapank (formerly German Gardens) on Long Island:

    “This place existed, and it was a haven for pro Nazi activities...Streets were named after Hitler and his lieutenants...They had parades training their young people to march in uniforms of Nazi Stormtroopers.” —Steve Israel (16:48)

• Espionage in American Industry
  Nazi infiltration of defense plants in New York is revealed, with J. Edgar Hoover pleading for more counterespionage resources from FDR (18:37).

The Science and Urgency Behind the Manhattan Project (19:27–24:20)

• Skepticism and the Nuclear Chain Reaction
  The episode covers scientific debates within the physics community about atomic weapons. Einstein is skeptical—until Leo Szilard presents him with new data:

  “He actually says, even if you could split an atom, that doesn’t mean you can create a chain reaction that can do anything dangerous...it’s like shooting birds in the dark...” —Steve Israel (20:30)

• Einstein’s Conversion and Letter to FDR
  Einstein’s shift to alarm and action is dramatized, highlighting the pivotal role of chance encounters in history.

• Scale of American Mobilization
  Anecdotes about the Manhattan Project’s vastness underscore America’s wartime unity and efficiency. Newt reflects on how impossible such rapid mobilization would be today:

  “Can you imagine today, if somebody walked in, started ordering billions of dollars, had not been sworn in, had not been vetted...the level of screaming would be unbelievable.” —Newt Gingrich (24:20)

The Ironies and Impact of Nazi Anti-Semitism (28:29–30:41)

• Expulsion of Scientific Talent
  Hitler’s anti-Semitic policies led to the exodus of leading physicists, which in turn sabotaged Nazi scientific efforts and hugely benefited the U.S.

  “Nazis begin to refute what they call dark physics...so many Jewish scientists working in the field and Hitler has to discredit them...To my knowledge, every credible Jewish physicist ends up leaving or is expelled.” —Steve Israel (29:21)

• American Immigration and Innovation
  Newt and Steve both stress the ongoing need for legal immigration to strengthen science and the nation.

Real-Life Inspirations & Future Plans (32:28–34:11)

• James Amos: Fact Inspires Fiction
  Israel reveals that the FBI agent in the novel, James Amos, was a real African American agent with a remarkable life story, working for Theodore Roosevelt and later taking down Nazi spy rings:

  “If this book does well enough, I can see a sequel where James Amos goes on his next adventure to bring down an even more lethal Nazi threat to the United States after WWII begins.” —Steve Israel (32:43)

• Writing Fiction vs. Nonfiction
  Newt confesses fiction writing is much harder than nonfiction, expressing admiration for Israel’s craft.

The Value of Bookstores and Local Community (34:11–35:37)

• Celebrating Small Business Saturday
  Steve shares that he’ll be signing his own books at Theodore’s Books, highlighting the unique environment of independent bookstores that foster civil discourse and community:

  “People come in, they can read Gingrich, they can read Adam Schiff. They’re there not to scream, but to learn and have civil discourse. And I love the locality of the place.” —Steve Israel (34:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On history’s hinges:

  “These fairly unknown moments that if they tip in a different direction, fundamentally and profoundly change all of history.” —Steve Israel (08:14)

• On the complexities of running a bookstore:

  “I'm a Democrat, and now suddenly I'm obsessed with less regulation and lower taxes now that I have a book.” —Steve Israel (05:40)

• On impatient authorship:

  “I hate being edited when I write it...Those are the moments when I just want to quit and go hide somewhere.” —Newt Gingrich (11:52)

• On the chilling reality of local Nazi networks:

  “This little village...it was called German Gardens...you had to show full Aryan blood...streets included Adolf Hitler Street, Joseph Goebbels Street...massive swastika banners...This place existed, and it was a haven for pro Nazi activities.” —Steve Israel (16:48)

• On scientific migration and American innovation:

  “Had those great, brilliant scientific minds not converged on America, I don't think we would have had the bomb.” –Steve Israel (29:21)

• On the need for continued legal immigration:

  “While we oppose illegal immigration, we desperately need to continue legal immigration and to be willing to attract talent from all over the world. And Einstein is a perfect example.” —Newt Gingrich (30:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Title | Summary | |---------------|-----------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:11 | Steve Israel Introduction | Newt’s intro and Steve’s background in politics and literature | | 04:50 | Why Open a Bookstore? | Steve on his motivation and personal connection | | 05:40 | The Challenge of Book Retail | Economic realities and author events at Theodore’s Books | | 06:44 | Theodore Roosevelt Tribute | Naming the bookstore and Roosevelt’s Oyster Bay history | | 08:14 | The Spark for The Einstein Conspiracy | The turning point that led to the novel | | 10:37 | Research and the Writing Process | Navigating research vs. story flow | | 15:42 | Three Narrative Strands | Einstein, FBI, and American Nazi communities | | 16:48 | Nazi Anda American Towns | The real history of Nazi activity in America | | 19:27 | The Science of the Bomb | Debates within the physics community | | 20:30 | Einstein’s Reluctant Alarm | Einstein’s changing perspective on the atomic bomb threat | | 24:20 | Mobilization of the Manhattan Project | American scale, urgency, and contrasts to today’s bureaucracy | | 29:21 | Nazi Anti-Semitism and Innovation | How Nazi policies harmed their science efforts | | 32:43 | James Amos – Real Life Inspiration | Origins and future of the series | | 34:32 | Small Business Saturday and Bookshop Life | Steve’s plans and reflections on bookstore community |

Tone and Language

Throughout, the conversation is warm, witty, and deeply informed. Steve Israel’s humor and self-awareness (“now suddenly I’m obsessed with less regulation and lower taxes”) and Newt’s mix of admiration and candid confession (“I hate being edited”) give the episode a relaxed, thoughtful tone that’s welcoming to history buffs, book lovers, and general listeners alike.

Conclusion

This episode of Newt’s World offers a fascinating journey through the hidden history behind The Einstein Conspiracy novel and the real-life stakes of World War II-era science and espionage. The dialogue is rich with historical revelations, literary insights, and personal anecdotes, making it valuable both as a primer on this moment in history and as a look at the process of transforming reality into captivating fiction.

For more information or to buy the book, visit Theodoresbooks.com