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

May 19, 2023 • 43min
"That's Insane. "The Reporters' Roundtable May 19
Debt Optimism. Work Requirements on the Table. GOP 2024 Gets Crowded. Abortion: GOP Poison. MTG in Charge? With Shirish Date, Senior White House Correspondent HuffPost, Maya King, Politics reporter for The New York Times covering the South and David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY.Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The International Association of Fire Fighters, More information at IAFF.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

May 16, 2023 • 35min
WTF Happened to Lindsey Graham?
The Bulwark’s Will Saletan has a new long article/short book entitled: The Corruption Of Lindsey Graham: A case study in the rise of authoritarianism. This is a very important and well-written and reported story that charts the fall of Graham from severe Trump critic to Trump enabler. He says it was a slow process for Graham and mirrors how a society descends into authoritarianism, one small step at a time. And before we realize what is happening it could be too late. The piece debunks the idea that “It can’t happen here.” Here is the link to the Kindle version and here is a link to the piece on The Bulwark website.Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. The folks who take care of us in our supermarkets, pharmacies and Cannabis dispensaries 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.

May 12, 2023 • 44min
"There are two realities." The Reporters' Roundtable May 12
CNN’s Townhall Debacle. Trump Gives Evidence. Trump Assaults and Defames. Default Fears. Santos Indicted. Trump a Lock? With Sabrina Siddiqui, White House Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief, National Journal and Abby Livingston, Writer for The Almanac of American Politics. 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.

May 9, 2023 • 40min
Clarence Thomas: Ethical Disaster
Norm Ornstein has been studying and writing about Congress and politics for over 40 years. He is currently a Senior Emeritus Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a mostly conservative think tank. He wrote (along with Thomas E. Mann) It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism. When it came out in paperback, they changed the title to It's Even Worse Than It Looks Was. Now he says, jokingly, if they did another edition, he might call it Run for Your Lives. This is Ornstein’s fifth appearance on The Bill Press Pod, so highly does Bill value his opinions and insights. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America . Having built most of America's iconic buildings, they are now 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.

May 5, 2023 • 48min
" Are there ANY Rules?" The Reporters' Roundtable
Clarence Thomas “Ethics.” Trump to CNN. Trump “Rape” Trial. J6 Sedition Convictions. Debt Ceiling Looming. With Linda Feldmann, Washington bureau chief, White House/politics correspondent at Christian Science Monitor. Host of the Monitor Breakfast, Kirk Bado, Editor, National Journal Hotline and Dan Merica, National Political Reporter at The Messenger. 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.

May 2, 2023 • 35min
Cable News Chaos. Does it Matter?
It's been a wild ride for the media these last few weeks. First Fox settles its Dominion lawsuit by paying nearly $800 million. But they escaped an apology. Then a few days later they fired Tucker Carlson, the highest rated host in prime-time cable news. Then that same day CNN fires Don Lemon. And as a backdrop to all this high-profile news, is the undercurrent of heavy layoffs in the media field, at NPR, at Vice News, at BuzzFeed News and the Gannett newspapers. Who better to break this all down and explain its impact on us than Erik Wemple, the Media Critic for the Washington Post, focusing on cable news. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the American Federation of Teachers. Along with President Randy Weingarten, fighting the good fight for teachers’ salaries and rights. And for their students. 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.

Apr 28, 2023 • 50min
"Just simply extraordinary." The Reporters' Roundtable April 28
Biden Announces. Trump Inevitable? Can DeSantis Recover? Pence Testifies. Trump "Rape" Trial. Tucker Firing Fallout. With Allan Smith, Political Reporter for NBC News, Alex Roarty, White House Correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers and Hunter Walker, Investigative Reporter for Talking Points Memo.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.

Apr 25, 2023 • 30min
The Man Between the Pope and the President
Yes, there is an Ambassador from the United States focused on the Vatican and the Pope. He's Joseph Donnelly, the former Senator from Indiana and now the United States Ambassador to The Holy See. He explains exactly what the ambassador does, and you'd be surprised how important President Biden, himself a Catholic, is in influencing the Pope and The Vatican. Today Bill highlights the work of Jose Andres and The World Central Kitchen, on the frontlines of just about every natural disaster and war zone. Providing millions of meals fo rpeople most in need. Please help support their work by visiting 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.

Apr 21, 2023 • 48min
"A Chaotic Contrast." The Reporters' Roundtable April 21
Debt Ceiling Battle. GOP Investigations. Fox Huge Settlement. DeSantis Struggling. Abortion’s Big Impact. GOP Transgender Attack. Senate’s Age Problems. With Jason Dick Editor-in-Chief at CQ-Roll Call, Jackie Alemany, Congressional investigations reporter at The Washington Post and Contributor to NBC News and MSNBC, Katherine Tully-McManus, covering Congress for Politico and co-author of The Huddle Newsletter and Matt Gertz, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Apr 18, 2023 • 29min
How America is Seen from Europe. Not Great.
Bill is in Rome at the American Academy and got to engage in one of his favorite pastimes: wondering what residents of the country he is visiting think about us Americans and what they think about their own country. He got the chance to sit down for that very discussion with one of Italy’s best-known journalists. In Italy, Maria Latella is a superstar. She's like an Andrea Mitchell or a Diane Sawyer. Maria Latella is an author, columnist, radio talk-show host and TV anchor. She doesn't hold back and you might be surprised at what Maria Latella has to say about problems facing Italy. And worries that Italians have about politics in the United States. 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.