The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

Friends,Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse. Today we examine:— George Santos’s demise. What is there about sociopathic liars and the Republican Party? Why were most House Republicans unwilling to oust him? — Henry Kissinger and Sandra Day O’Connor. Was Kissinger a war criminal? Was O’Connor the most powerful woman in America? — Gavin Newsom and Ron DeSantis. Was their debate on Fox News a preview of what we’ll see in 2028? Whatever happened to reasonable, decent, intelligent debate? — Heather reveals something about Bob that very few people know or remember. Why didn’t Bob become a Fox News regular? Please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and join us for these and other stories. (And, should 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,Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse. Today we examine:— The temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. What does it really mean?— Black Friday holiday sales. My personal relationship to the day. Consumer spending is up, so why are so many people down on the Biden economy?— Bob’s new Substack series on the reality of American capitalism and whether American capitalism is compatible with the common good. Is it? — The mess at OpenAI and what it means. Has OpenAI sacrificed safety for big money? What does this mean for AI in general? Who should be balancing safety and profits?— Nikki Haley’s political rise. Will she get the Republican nomination? — My 1994 Thanksgiving speech predicting that a growing class of angry and frustrated people would become susceptible to a demagogue. Bob reveals a secret about that speech. — Heather’s mother-in-law, Julia, who is visiting over Thanksgiving. And what Bob is grateful for (hint: her first name is Heather). Thanks for joining us! 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:— House Republicans will not kick out George Santos despite his fake resume and mounting evidence of illegal activity. Will the GOP and Santos be held accountable?— Incidents of violence and potential violence in the House and Senate, among lawmakers. Why is this happening? — Trump’s full-throated fascism — describing his opponents as vermin, planning to round up undocumented immigrants and place them in detention camps, encouraging violence. Where is this going?— Meanwhile, Biden avoids or plays down conflict with big corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires — which means that the media ignores his accomplishments (the media reports on conflict). Why won’t he call them out? Why isn’t he taking credit for going after Google and Amazon?— Elon Musk promotes antisemitism on “X” by advocating a post on “replacement theory.” Advertisers must pull out all advertising from X, and the rest of us should boycott the platform. Like Trump, Musk is building his base off of hate. — Thanksgiving plans. Travel safely. Enjoy your family. Please pull up a chair and, if you’re so moved, take our poll:Our thanks to Kyle Parker, Naomi Bradford, and Michael Lahanas-Calderon for their technical assistance. 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 results of races in Ohio, Kentucky, and elsewhere in “red America” are showing how out of step the GOP’s white Christian nationalism is with the majority of Americans. How much encouragement should Democrats take from this?— Mike Johnson’s utter inability to get anything done, including a continuing resolution to keep the government open after Friday, and aid to Israel and aid to Ukraine. How large a problem is this likely to be?— Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York. Why is he taking such a brash and outrageous approach to his defense? — Joe Manchin decides not to run for Senate again. What does this mean for the Democrats? Will Manchin now run for president under the “No Labels” party? How big a problem might this be for Biden?— Trump’s plans for taking over America. He’ll lose the 2024 election, but what happens if he doesn’t? Is Nikki Haley Trump’s likely vice presidential pick? — My new series beginning next Friday on Substack about the common good and capitalism. Is American capitalism compatible with the common good?Please pull up a chair and, if you’re so moved, take our poll:Our thanks to Jordan Alport for his technical assistance. 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

Sam Bankman-Fried's downfall in the crypto world and the potential end of crypto. The Trump organization's civil fraud trial and Trump's seriousness about it. The Fed's success in slowing the economy and the economic outlook. The hosts' discussion on the war in Gaza and the October jobs report, ending with the significance of close friendships and hope for peace.

Heather Lofthouse, executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action, joins Robert Reich to discuss the new speaker of the House, the tragedy of Lewiston, Maine, the pending ground invasion of Gaza, Trump's lawyers pleading guilty, and Bob's dislike for Halloween.

Friends,Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.Today we’re adding a new feature so you can watch as well as hear us (should you wish). And we apologize for the technical difficulties this week. Please let us know in the comments if you’d like us to continue this feature (assuming we do better with the video and audio).Today, Heather and I examine:— The continuing tragedy in Israel and Gaza. What’s the outlook? What role is Biden playing? What should be done?— The continuing clown show in Congress. Jim Jordan is in for speaker, then he’s out, then in, then out. House Republicans continue to preside over what’s in effect a shutdown of the House of Representatives. What’s going to happen?— The good economic news that median household wealth in America increased by a record 37 percent between 2019 and 2022 — but then dropped when the pandemic stimulus relief was withdrawn. — The continuing predation of large pharmaceutical corporations. Pfizer doubled the price of Paxlovid — which is critically important for people who get COVID (as I did two weeks ago). Again, what should be done? — I’m heading to Washington for the 30th reunion of my team at the Department of Labor, which will happen later today. We haven’t seen each other since we implemented the Family and Medical Leave Act, raised the minimum wage, attacked sweatshops, and protected the health and safety of millions of workers. — Our emergency alert earthquake warning — without an earthquake (for some of us). And our weekly 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 my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.Today, we look at:— The tragedy in Israel and Gaza. Who and what are responsible? Is Israel solving anything by bombing and mounting a ground invasion of Gaza? What’s the likely endgame here? — The dysfunction of House Republicans, who have effectively stopped the U.S. government. Why Jim Jordan would be a disaster as speaker. Is there any way out of this Trumpish quagmire? — The strikes by the UAW, SAG, and health workers at Kaiser Permanente. Why are we seeing this upsurge in labor action? How is it related to what the Biden administration has done? And why is this a good thing?— Heather’s “I’m not surprised, but I’m fuming” segment — about Republican efforts around the country to repeal no-fault divorce. Why are Republicans doing this? How is this related to Republican efforts to stop abortions? 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 my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us. This morning we look at:— The life and death of Senator Dianne Feinstein (who was a friend to both of us). What’s her legacy likely to be?— The pending shutdown. Is Kevin McCarthy toast?— This week’s Republican debate. Does anyone care? — Kudos to the courts. Judges are making Trump accountable. If Trump gets reelected (perish the thought), can he merely stop all this litigation?— We’re approaching Biden’s last exit ramp before the election year. He should not bow out, despite mounting pressure. We’re for him, 100 percent. Are you? — Heather’s segment: real life examples of the common good. What’s your real-life example of the common good? 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 my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we examine:— Kevin McCarthy’s Republican House mess. Will there be a shutdown? Almost certainly. Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump pushing for this? — The UAW strike. When will it be resolved? Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump hoping for a long strike? — Bonus question: Why is Trump against giving more U.S. aide to Ukraine? (Hint to all of these questions: Because Trump wants to blame Biden.)— Democratic wins this week in special elections. They’re more predictive than national polls. Does this bode well for next year?— The mainstream media talks about Biden’s age and supposed feebleness. Why not Trump’s age and genuine craziness? Isn’t it worse to elect a nutcase than someone who’s old?— Heather’s policy of the week. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and (if you’re so inclined), take our poll and share your views. 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