
The Bill Press Pod
Deep dives into the crucial issues and emergencies facing America with the people trying to solve them.
Latest episodes

Jan 16, 2024 • 39min
Rep. Jamie Raskin takes on MAGA Extremists.
Congressman Jamie Raskin (D) MD is in the forefront of holding the MAGA extremist Republicans in Congress to account. Making his fourth appearance on the Bill Press Pod, they discussed Hunter Biden and the House Oversight Committee. Raskin explained that Hunter Biden had been subpoenaed by the committee and had initially agreed to appear for a committee hearing, but the committee later changed the terms to a closed-door deposition. Raskin argued that Hunter Biden had been willing to participate but wanted the proceedings to be public due to concerns about the committee's handling of closed-room depositions. Raskin also discussed the Republican push to impeach President Joe Biden, stating that they have no case and that it is a humiliation to their party. He emphasized the importance of the 2024 election, describing it as a choice between a government that serves the common good and one that prioritizes private self-enrichment. Raskin highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change and the need for Democrats to take action.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The International Brotherhood of Teamsters. More information at Teamster.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 12, 2024 • 40min
"It's been such a circus." The Reporters' Roundtable January 12
Hunter Shows-up GOP. Trump: “I’m Immune.” Austin AWOL. Mike Johnson Squeezed. Christie Out. Haley Tops DeSantis. Trump Hugs Dobbs. With Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for 19th News, Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico and Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ-Roll Call. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jan 9, 2024 • 36min
Michael Steele on Trump, Haley, DeSantis, Democracy
Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele discusses the 2024 election, the state of the Republican Party, and his new show on MSNBC. Steele predicts that Donald Trump will win the Republican nomination, despite facing numerous legal challenges. He also criticizes the GOP for not standing up to Trump and for failing to offer a viable alternative. Steele believes that the upcoming election is crucial for the future of democracy in the US, and he urges voters to reject Trump's authoritarian tendencies. He also previews his new show, "The Weekend” with Alicia Menendez and Symone Sanders-Townsend which premiers this Saturday at 8AM on MSNBC. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. They say the sky is the limit and they prove it. They are the backbone of North America's labor movement, rebuilding our infrastructure, 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.

Jan 5, 2024 • 44min
"A lot of ifs there." The Reporters' Roundtable-January 5
Iowa Caucus Import. Haley Slavery Mess. Biden vs Autocracy. Biden Impeachment Folly. Trump Took Foreign $$. Border Security Deal? Trump Disqualified? Trump Immune? With John Bennett, Editor-at-Large, CQ Roll Call, writer of the Afternoon Briefing and Brian Beutler, Author of the Off Message Newsletter at OffMessage.net.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers International Union of North America. Re-building America's infrastructure. 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.

Jan 2, 2024 • 41min
"You have to defeat them again and again and again." With Stuart Stevens
In the first Bill Press Pod of 2024, Bill and Stuart Stevens discuss the current state of the Republican party and the potential for a Trump re-election. Stevens, a legendary Republican campaign manager, warns that a Trump re-election could lead to the end of democracy in America. He discusses his new book, "The Conspiracy to End America Five Ways: My Old Party is Driving Our Democracy to Autocracy," and highlights the dangers of sliding into autocracy. Stevens believes that the Republican party has lost its way and needs to be defeated repeatedly in order to change. He also expresses concern about the potential for a third-party candidate to disrupt the 2024 election. Today Bill salutes his own union, SAG-AFTRA and their historic victory after a long strike. More information at SAGAFTRA.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 29, 2023 • 31min
Our Best Favorite Stories of the Week of 2023
When Bill talks to people who listen to the Bill Press Pod, they tell him that one of their favorite parts of the show is when our reporters contribute their favorite stories of the week. Those stories can be funny. They can be sad. They can be important. They can be poignant. We've assembled a bunch of them for your listening pleasure here at the end of 2023. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the Iron Workers Union. Rebuilding America in some of the most dangerous jobs in all of construction. We salute them and you can find 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.

Dec 26, 2023 • 39min
Re-assessing President Jimmy Carter with Jonathan Alter
After watching the memorial service for First Lady Rosalyn Carter last month, we decided it’s time to take another look at our 39th President, Jimmy Carter. And the very best person to do that is journalist and historian Jonathan Alter. His 2021 book, His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, A Life, is out in paperback and you can get it here. Alter is also the author of a very good Sub-stack newsletter, Old Goats. You can see that here. Bill and Jonathan discuss the legacy of the 39th President, Jimmy Carter, and his wife, Rosalyn Carter. They argue that while Carter's presidency is often viewed as ineffective, he actually accomplished a great deal and set a new standard for post-presidencies with his extensive public service. They also highlight Rosalyn Carter's significant contributions as First Lady, including her instrumental role in passing the Mental Health Act of 1980. The discussion also touches on Carter's deep faith and his commitment to environmental issues.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 22, 2023 • 40min
Year-End Editors' Roundtable December 22
PROGRAM NOTE: THIS EPISODE WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT DECISION ON DONALD TRUMP'S ELIGIBILTY TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT. Three top Washington editors, who also regularly join us on The Reporters’ Roundtable, look back at 2023 and ahead to 2024. They reveal what they spend most of their time editing and what they expect to be doing again next year. Bill is joined by Ginger Gibson Senior Washington editor at NBC News, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of The National Journal and Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief of CQ Roll Call. They discussed Donald Trump's legal troubles, the disarray in the House of Representatives, political violence, and the GOP primary. They also discussed special elections focused on abortion access and the disconnect between economic indicators and public sentiment. Looking ahead to 2024, the panel predicted that the Trump trials will continue to dominate headlines, along with the economic issues and the potential for a dramatic choice between democracy and autocracy in the presidential election.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.

Dec 19, 2023 • 49min
Judging the Judiciary with Courts Expert, Dahlia Lithwick
As the year ends, we take a look back at our judicial system and look forward to what we can expect from it in 2024 with legal expert Dahlia Lithwick, a Senior Editor at Slate and a Contributing Editor at Newsweek. She graduated from Stanford Law and has been covering the courts for over two decades. She hosts the podcast, Amicus. In the pod today, Bill and Dahlia discuss the current state of the American judicial system, focusing on the impact of the Trump administration's appointments and the potential consequences for the 2024 presidential election. They discuss the role of the Supreme Court and its shift to the right under Trump, with three of his appointees now sitting on the bench. They also discuss the potential for authoritarianism if Trump were to return to office, with the former president currently arguing in various courtrooms that he is exempt from the justice system due to his previous role as president.. The podcast ends with a discussion on the legacy of Sandra Day O'Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court, and her belief in the importance of the court's reputation.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The International Brotherhood of Teamsters. More information at Teamster.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dec 15, 2023 • 43min
"Packed With Big News." The Reporters' Roundtable December 15
Impeachment Folly. Hunter Speaks. GOP Stiffs Ukraine. Trump Dominates Iowa. Haley’s Moment? Rudy’s Descent. Biden Not Run? With Sabrina Siddiqui, White House Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY and Kirk Bado, Editor of The National Journal Hotline.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. Doing God's work in classrooms all across America from Elementary Schools through Universities, More information at AFT.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.