The Bill Press Pod

Trump Tears Down Whole East Wing. “Privately” Funded Destruction. Trump Demands $230 Million. Johnson Knows Nothing. Shutdown Goes On and On. Does Trump Care? At “War” with Venezuela? No Putin Summit. Trump Poops on America. AI’s Cost to Truth. With Emily Goodin, White House Correspondent for McClatchy Media, Allan Smith, Political Reporter for NBC News and Kirk Bado, Editor, National Journal Hotline. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Bill speaks with Elie Mystal, the Justice Correspondent at The Nation, about the current state of the U.S. Department of Justice, particularly focusing on its role under the Trump administration. The discussion highlights recent indictments of political figures, the Department of Justice's shift towards serving Trump's political agenda, and the questionable legal merit of these indictments. They delve into the Supreme Court’s new session, discussing its selective case acceptance process and the conservative majority’s influence on the court’s docket, including key issues like voting rights, presidential powers, and the overall shift to the right. The conversation also addresses the potential impact on minority rights, particularly LGBT Americans, and criticizes Democrats for not taking a stronger stance on court reform. Mystal underscores the urgency for Democrats to focus on judicial appointments and court expansion to counterbalance the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.Bill referenced Elie’s work for the Nation Magazine. You can read his work here: thenation.com/authors/elie-mystal/Today Bill urged us to support the ACLU. More information at ACLU.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bolton Indicted. Retribution Continues. Is Adam Schiff Next? Putin Trump Summit-Again. Will Gaza Deal Hold? Shutdown Continues. SCOTUS vs Voting Rights Act. GOP’s Racist “Kids.” No Kings Protest. With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief of CQ-Roll Call, S. V. Date, Senior White House Correspondent for HuffPost and Cameron Joseph, Senior Washington Reporter for the Christian Science Monitor. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Bill speaks with congressional scholar Norm Ornstein about the deteriorating state of the United States Congress. They discuss the book Ornstein co-authored 13 years ago, 'It's Even Worse Than It Looks,' focusing on how the Republican party has evolved into an 'insurgent outlier.' Ornstein shares his personal history working in the Senate since 1970, citing a loss of 'institutional patriotism' among Republicans and their complete subordination to Donald Trump. He criticizes current congressional leadership, particularly Mike Johnson, and highlights issues like the Senate’s blind approval of Trump nominees and the failure of effective oversight. Ornstein also addresses the implications of a government shutdown, the misuse of the Justice Department for political retribution, and the need for an effective Democratic response. He ends on a somber note, comparing current political dynamics to the erosion of democratic norms seen in history, suggesting that the road to recovery is uncertain and fraught with challenges. (No kidding.)Norman Ornstein is a political scientist, co-host of the podcast “Words Matter,” and author of books, including “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism.” Today Bill highlights the work of one of his favorite morning reads, The Bulwark. A great website and media company founded by Never-Trump Republicans which is at the forefront of The Resistance. You can check it out at TheBulwark.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

No Trump Nobel. Trump’s Retribution Continues. No Shutdown Talks. Who Gets the Blame? Who Gets the ACA Subsidies? Trump’s Mideast Deal. With Jeff Dufour Editor-chief of The National Journal, John Bennett, White House correspondent for CQ Roll Call and Mia McCarthy, Congressional Reporter for Politico. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UIFCW.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode historian Doug Brinkley discusses the unprecedented ways in which Donald Trump has pushed the boundaries of presidential power. Brinkley compares Trump's actions to historic moments, such as FDR's attempts to pack the Supreme Court and Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, but notes that Trump's use of executive orders and his ability to intimidate fellow Republicans is unparalleled. The episode covers Trump’s potential to weaponize the National Guard for political gains, his circumvention of legal authority, and the broader implications for American democracy. Brinkley expresses optimism for the future but warns of the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as AI and deep fakes.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Government Shuts Down. It’s About Healthcare. Who Leads the Democrats? Blue State Spending Cancelled. AI Meme Wars. Hegseth’s Embarrassment. Trump's Unhinged Speech to the Generals. No Nobel for Trump. With Linda Feldmann, White House Correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for The Christian Science Monitor, Philip Bump, former Columnist for The Washington Post and Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at Huff Post. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Government Employees. More information at AFGE.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode. Bill interviews Matt Gertz, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America. They discuss various topics, including the recent media silence around a right-wing hate crime, the Jimmy Kimmel controversy, and the influence of corporate conglomerates on the free press. Gertz details how media giants often prioritize profit over journalism, resulting in increased vulnerability to political pressure. They explore how the Trump administration has attempted to manipulate the media landscape to favor its narrative, exemplified by threats from FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Attorney General Pam Bondi's remarks on hate speech. The conversation also touches on Donald Trump's admiration for authoritarian leaders and the implications for the First Amendment and press freedom in the United States.Today Bill features the work of the World Central Kitchen run by Jose Andres. As the war goes on in Ukraine the World Central Kitchen is there, taking care of that war-torn country. More information at WCK.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

James Comey Indicted. The InJustice Department. Tom Homan Took $50,000. Trump at the UN. EscalatorGate. Trump’s Ukraine Flip. Kimmel Beats Trump. Trump Attacks Reporters. Kamala Harris Book Tour.  With Jen Bendery, Reporter at Huff Post covering Congress, the White House and political campaigns, Evan McMorris Santoro, Reporter for NOTUS and contributor to the NOTUS Daily Newsletter and Kirk Bado, Editor, National Journal Hotline. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers’ International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 A couple of technical issues prevented us from posting our usual Tuesday podcast. Instead, we are featuring the entire United Nations address by the President of the United States because the mainstream media whitewashes the President's ramble, lies, ignorance and narcissism.  If you watch the evening newscasts, you’ll see and hear a few seconds of Trump making a point.  But we don’t see and hear the absolute madness of what he says most of the time. We hope you will share this episode with friends and neighbors who do not yet understand what a threat he is to Americans and the world. If you'd rather watch the speech, than listen to it,  you can do so here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c_9kY6sz_Uc?si=AQ2B13T6cjpVS9cV or search “Trump UN full speech.” See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.