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

Nov 7, 2023 • 33min
Trump on Trial with MSNBC's Barbara McQuade
The day after Donald Trump testified in his own defense in a New York courtroom, Bill talks to MSNBC and NBC News legal analyst Barbara McQuade. McQuade is a former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and a professor at the University of Michigan law school. She is one of four great lawyers on very popular podcast, Sisters-in-Law. Barb and Bill covered a lot of ground. Former President Donald Trump testifying in his own defense in a courtroom is an unprecedented event. He attacked the judge, prosecutors, and the justice system during his testimony. Trump is facing 91 criminal counts in a string of cases, and it is challenging to keep track of all his legal challenges. McQuade believes that Trump's strategy is to protect his reputation in the court of public opinion rather than help himself legally. McQuade also discusses the possibility of Trump being found guilty in various cases and the potential consequences, including fines and the cancellation of business certificates. She also discusses the likelihood of Trump appealing a guilty verdict and the legal arguments he may use. Finally, McQuaid touches on cases challenging Trump's eligibility as a presidential candidate based on the 14th Amendment.Barbara McQuade has a new book coming out next year, Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America. Available for pre-order now.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the Laborers International Union of North America, Or LIUNA. Their members are rebuilding America. Check out their website at LIUNA.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nov 3, 2023 • 40min
"Juicy Stuff." The Reporters' Roundtable November 3
Israel/Ukraine Aid. Tuberville Slammed. No House Censures. No Gun Safety Action. VA, KY and MS Elections. Abortion Salience? Youngkin for Prez? Phillips In. Pence Out. Haley Boomlet. Favorite Stories. With David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY, Arthur Delaney, Political Reporter for Huff Post and Lauren Burke, Writer for Black Press USA. Today Bill highlights the great success of the UAW in getting historic wage increases for workers at the Big Three U.S. automakers. Unions are making a comeback!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 31, 2023 • 35min
New Speaker Mike Johnson, with NY Times Chief Washington Correspondent, Carl Hulse
In this episode, Bill discusses the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, with guest Carl Hulse, Chief Washington Correspondent for the New York Times. Hulse has covered Congress over the course of three decades and is the Dean of Hill correspondents. They discuss Johnson's conservative views, his relationship with Donald Trump, and his religious beliefs. Hulse also speculates on how Johnson will navigate the challenges of leading the House and working with Democrats. They also touch on other topics such as gun control and the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. The episode concludes with a discussion on the recent shooting in Lewiston, Maine and Congressman Jared Golden's change of stance on gun control.As the world spirals out of control, And most of us feel helpless to stop it, one man and one organization runs toward the crises. That man is Jose Andres, and the organization is his World Central Kitchen. They are on the ground in hot spots around the world including the hottest of them all, Israel and Gaza. They're feeding the innocent civilians caught up in this war. Please support their work by going to their website, WCK.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 27, 2023 • 46min
"MAGA Mike." The Reporters' Roundtable October 27
New and Unknown Speaker. Who is Mike Johnson? Can He Lead the House GOP? Three Trump Lawyers Plead Guilty. Meadows Cooperates. The Politics of Israel. Maine Massacre. With Linda Feldmann, Washington bureau chief, White House/politics correspondent at Christian Science Monitor. Host of the Monitor Breakfast, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of The National Journal and author of the Sunday Nightcap Newsletter and Zach Cohen, Congressional Reporter for Bloomberg Government.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 24, 2023 • 38min
Danger of a Wider War. With Joe Cirincione.
The crisis in the Middle East is showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, there's a real danger that it will escalate and metastasize to envelope the whole region in an even bloodier conflict. President Biden and the United States are playing a key role in the region and specifically in Israel’s response to the truly horrific, no excuses, terrorist attack by Hamas on Israeli citizens. So time for the pod to turn to our foreign policy guru, Joe Cirincione. He has a long and highly regarded record of foreign policy and nuclear policy analysis. He has been our guide to this and other crises around the world. Today he and Bill talk Israel and Ukraine, two democracies under attack. Today once again and importantly, Bill highlights the work of the world central kitchen led by Jose Andres. No matter where the disaster manmade or natural, the World Central Kitchen is on the scene feeding hungry people. They are already in Israel and Gaza. They need your support in their humanitarian mission. You can help by going to their website at WCK.org and do what you can to alleviate the pain of war.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 20, 2023 • 42min
"A Moment of Acute Danger." The Reporters' Roundtable October 20
Biden from the Oval. The Fog of War. GOP at War with Itself. Trump in Court. Powell Guilty/Flips. Favorite Stories. With Sarah Wire, Justice Department/ National Security and Washington Accountability Reporter for the Los Angeles Times, Philip Bump, National Columnist for The Washington Post and author of the How to Read this Chart newsletter and the great book, The Aftermath and Gabe Debenedetti, National Correspondent for New York Magazine and author of the great book about Biden and Obama, The Long Alliance.Today Bill once again asks for your support of Jose Andres and the World Central Kitchen, now on the ground in Israel and southern Gaza. Go to WCK.org to help in whatever way you can. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 17, 2023 • 37min
To Defeat Trump, No Labels Must be Stopped.
The idea behind No Labels, that Americans should have a third choice between Republicans and Democrats, might be a good idea if our democracy wasn't under attack by MAGA Republicans. But right now, democracy is on the ballot and a third party centrist candidacy will take more votes from Joe Biden than Donald Trump. And it might even get enough electoral votes to deny 270 to either Biden or Trump, resulting in the election being thrown to the House of Representatives. This is not the time to trifle with democracy. And that's what no labels is doing. Dick Gephardt the former Democratic Majority Leader of the House of Representatives come has formed a new group, Citizens to Save our Republic. His focus is to stop No Labels from fielding candidates and if they do, to advise voters in swing states that a vote for the No Labels candidate is a vote for Donald Trump. You can find more about this effort at ForOurRepublic.usToday’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers’ International Union of North America whose members are in the forefront of rebuilding 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.

Oct 13, 2023 • 43min
"The House is on Fire." The Reporters' Roundtable October 13
Speaker Chaos. Real World Impacts. Bi-partisan Speaker? Terror/War in Israel/Gaza. Grading Biden’s Response. Humanitarian Crisis Coming. Trump Praises Hezbollah. With Sabrina Siddiqui, White House Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Amanda Becker, covering Politics and Washington for 19th News and Brian Beutler, author of the Off Message newsletter on substack. You can see the video of "Coach" Tuberville here: bit.ly/3twgpDUToday’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.

Oct 10, 2023 • 46min
The Israel/Hamas War with NatSec Analyst Joe Cirincione
To understand the history and context of what's going on in the Middle East right now, 6 minute cable hits won't do it. That's why Bill talks today with Joe Cirincione. Cirincione is a national security analyst and foreign policy expert, adviser to presidents and the former head of the Ploughshares Fund. This is his sixth appearance on the Bill Press Pod because that's how much we value his expertise.Today’s Bill highlights the work of Jose Andres World Central Kitchen. On the scene at disasters around the world. And we expect, at a certain point, in the Middle East to ease the humanitarian crisis that is about to occur. . You can help support their work all over the world, in natural disasters and man-made tragedies, at WCK.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Oct 6, 2023 • 49min
“Watch this self-immolation.” The Reporters' Roundtable October 6
Kevin Vacated. Trump Endorses Jordan. Speaker Vote Chaos. Gaetz Hated. Trump in NY Court. How to Cover Trump. New CA Senator. Menedez Holding On. With Melanie Mason, Senior Political Writer at Politico, Arthur Delaney, Political Reporter at Huff Post and Kirk Bado, Editor of The National Journal Hotline. 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.