The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

Hello friends,Welcome back to our Saturday Coffee Klatch, where Heather and I consider special counsel Robert K. Hur’s report emphasizing Biden’s age and memory loss. Was it politically motivated? Is Biden really too old to be president? We also examine the Supreme Court’s oral argument on Colorado’s decision to bump Trump from the ballot on the basis of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment; the decision of the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that Trump doesn’t have broad immunity from criminal indictments; and what this means for whether Trump will be tried before the election. And the GOP’s bad week on the border bill and on trying to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas. And, of course, tomorrow’s Super Bowl. Please grab a chair and a cup of coffee and join us. Also, please take our poll. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends,Welcome back to our Saturday Coffee Klatch. Today is the South Carolina primary, but rather than spend much time on it (Trump will get his party’s nomination), Heather and I consider the remarkably good set of economic reports that emerged this past week and what, if anything, they mean for Biden’s reelection bid — plus why more than 70 percent of Republicans say the economy is terrible. We also look at the U.S. military’s attacks on Iranian forces and the militias Iran is backing, in Iraq and Syria, in response to Iran’s drone attack last Sunday that killed three American soldiers and injured at least 40 others. Is this the start of a regional war?Along the way we look at the new Child Tax Credit bill and why so many progressives are against it. And why the border security bill emerging from the Senate, as well as additional funding for Ukraine, are unlikely to pass (the answer is spelled TRUMP).Finally, we examine whether the Delaware chancery court is correct — that there is such a thing as excessive executive compensation — and why Elon Musk is living proof. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And, if so inclined, take today’s klatch poll: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends,Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where today we explore the real story behind Trump’s so-called “wins” in the New Hampshire primary and last week’s Iowa caucuses — and why they’re actually big losses for Trump. After all, he was president between 2017 and 2021, and a former president has a presumed lock on his party’s nomination. What’s extraordinary is how well Nikki Haley did on Tuesday. We also talk with Congressman Ro Khanna — one of the sharpest and most progressive members of Congress — about these Trump losses, what they signify for the general election, and how Biden can best cut through the noise and demagoguery to show voters why he deserves another term. So please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us (and if you wish, take this week’s coffee klatch poll).Thanks for joining us. If you can, please consider a paid or gift subscription, so you’ll get the whole package and we can pay our bills! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends,Today Heather and I look back three years to Biden’s inauguration and Trump’s no-show, and ahead to next week’s New Hampshire primary and the coming fight over funding for Ukraine — and wonder what happened to the Republican Party. Lots more to talk about today. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll.A paid or gift subscription will give you the whole package and enable us to do even more. Please consider. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Hello friends,Today Heather and I look ahead to Monday’s Iowa caucuses — and ask whether Nikki Haley has a chance to become the Republican nominee in 2024. Or are Haley and DeSantis simply laying foundations for their 2028 runs, assuming Trump relinquishes his dictatorship then? Lots to talk about today. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll.Please consider a gift subscription for someone you care about. They’d receive the whole package. And your generosity would help us pay the bills. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Today marks the third year since the attack on the Capitol. The person responsible is now leading the race to become the Republican candidate for president, and, if polls are to be believed, is even leading incumbent President Joe Biden. Heather and I discuss whether Trump will ever be held accountable. We also address the so-called “crisis” at the border and the ouster of Harvard President Claudine Gay, as parts of the Trump-Republican strategy. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

[Most of you wanted us back in video, so here we are.]This week, the secretary of state of Maine decided — as did the Colorado Supreme Court last week — that under Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, Donald Trump should not appear on the Republican primary ballot. So what will and what should the Supreme Court do? More generally, how are you feeling about 2024?These are among the questions Heather and I discuss on this morning’s klatch.Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll.And Happy (if possible) New Year! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

(We’re in audio only today, as several of you requested — but let us know in the comments if you’d rather we return to video.)This week, the Colorado Supreme Court decided that under Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (which bars anyone from holding office if they’ve previously sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and participated in an insurrection against the United States), Donald Trump should not appear on the ballot in Colorado.Maine’s secretary of state is now pondering whether to allow Trump on Maine’s ballot, for the same reason.Trump is appealing the Colorado decision to the Supreme Court. In the event that the Supreme Court affirms the decision (unlikely, in my view), the court could strike him from the ballots of all 50 states. So … what will and what should the Supreme Court do? It’s among the questions Heather and I discuss on this morning’s klatch. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends, Good morning and welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. Today, Heather and I examine:— The House Republicans’ impeachment of Joe Biden despite zero evidence of any wrongdoing. Why did every single Republican House member vote in favor, even those elected from districts that overwhelmingly voted for Biden in 2020? — Special Counsel Jack Smith went to the Supreme Court, asking it to rule on whether a president is immune from criminal prosecution. Why is Smith doing this? Why isn’t there more pressure on Clarence Thomas to recuse himself? — Rudy Giuliani found guilty of defaming two election workers and fined $148 million. What’s Giuliani’s next move?— The Fed kept interest rates where they were, but signaled it would reduce interest rates next year. Is it any wonder Wall Street went bananas? Will the stock market continue to rise? — Despite the good economy, polls continue to show that Americans favor Trump over Biden. Is this because Trump is riding the wave of anti-establishment forces? Why is Trump able to ride this wave? — The Texas Supreme Court decided that Texas’s strict abortion law doesn’t allow a woman to have an abortion even if her life is threatened. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agreed to consider a challenge to the FDA’s approval of an abortion pill. Will all of this galvanize more political action against Republicans?— Trump and his Republicans’ unwillingness to continue to support Ukraine. Is Putin salivating over the possibility of a Trump presidency, and Trump’s lack of support for Ukraine? Will the Republicans succeed in forcing America to choose between Israel and Ukraine? — The use of AI in campaigns. Already, a candidate for office has been utilizing AI bots to make calls on her behalf. Will we be seeing more of this? Please also take this week’s poll: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse. Today we examine:— The Republicans are playing into Putin’s plan to take over Ukraine. Whatever happened to the GOP that was hawkish on Russia?— Israel shifts to bombing southern Gaza. More children have been killed in Gaza since October 7 than all the children killed in every world conflict in 2022. Why isn’t Biden doing more to restrain Netanyahu?— Biden’s confusion about the upcoming election, saying on Tuesday that he wouldn’t be running if Trump weren’t running, and saying on Wednesday that “fifty” Democrats could beat Trump. Why is Biden off message? — Trump’s age and his gaffes. Why is he getting a free pass from the media?— The jobs report has a lot of good news for Biden. So why aren’t more people enthusiastic about the Biden economy?— Voters want to hear that Biden is on the side of the people rather than the powerful. Why isn’t Biden making this case? Why isn’t he advocating higher corporate taxes on companies with the highest ratio of CEO pay to median worker pay? — Norman Lear died this week. He was one of the most creative and important forces in American entertainment — and, indirectly, American politics. Here’s something I’ve been hiding for years — when I guest hosted for Bill O’Reilly on Fox News in 2001. It was a different era.Have a look: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe