Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and expert in military strategy, discusses the nuances of Trump’s new National Security Strategy. He raises ethical concerns over military strikes on drug boats and the lack of congressional oversight. Hertling critiques the administration's values-free approach, emphasizing the need for clearer legal boundaries and accountability. He also debates the relevance of the Monroe Doctrine today and shares insights from his upcoming book, focusing on leadership lessons for future generations.

Sam Tanenhaus, a biographer known for his work on William F. Buckley Jr., dives deep into Buckley's life and influence on modern conservatism. He elaborates on Buckley’s shift in political landscape from elite conservatism to the MAGA movement. Tanenhaus discusses Buckley’s complex views on race, his debates against figures like James Baldwin, and how he managed extremism within conservatism. The conversation also touches on Buckley’s legacy, including the ideological threads connecting him to contemporary politics.

Cornel West, a progressive philosopher and activist, joins Robert George, a conservative legal scholar, for a dialogue that bridges their ideological divide. They explore the importance of free speech on campuses, revealing challenges from within their own political circles. West shares his views on healthcare as a human right, while George reflects on race and affirmative action, highlighting how their discussions shaped his understanding. Together, they advocate for humility and listening, offering practical advice on navigating political discussions, especially during family gatherings.

Dave Wiskus, founder and CEO of Nebula, is at the forefront of the creator economy. He discusses how creator-driven content could be worth $500 billion by 2027 and highlights the massive influence of creators like Mr. Beast. Wiskus points out the decline of traditional media and the importance of protecting children from harmful content online. He delves into the challenges of misinformation and the potential dangers of AI deepfakes, emphasizing the need for greater media literacy and accountability among creators in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Ken Burns, a renowned documentary filmmaker, teams up with producer Sarah Botstein for a deep dive into the complexities of the American Revolution. They challenge the sanitized narrative, highlighting the roles of women and Native Americans as pivotal players. The discussion spans how the Revolution was a civil war and global conflict, the impact of Enlightenment ideas, and the contradictions of the founders regarding slavery. They also critique modern political attempts to rewrite history, emphasizing the importance of an inclusive, truthful narrative.

Financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about his new book, “1929,” and what the lessons of the Great Depression mean for the economy today.Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times columnist, discusses the bankers and policymakers at the center of the crash and the recovery, including Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He explains how Democrats worked to undermine Hoover’s reputation even before the crash and how a negative propaganda campaign–and Hoover’s refusal to engage with it–helped a false narrative about his response to the crisis take hold.Sorkin, who also wrote “Too Big to Fail” about the 2008 financial crisis, reflects on similarities between the two events and what the next economic crash might look like. Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

Former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Margaret Hoover to discuss President Trump’s trip to Asia, the state of the war in Ukraine, and the new era of great power competition with Russia and China.McFaul, author of the new book “Autocrats vs. Democrats,” assesses Trump’s handling of foreign policy so far in his second term, acknowledging the president has not been the isolationist many expected but also criticizing him for abandoning America’s soft power institutions.McFaul, who first met Vladimir Putin in the 1990s, explains how Putin’s worldview differs from Xi Jinping and why he believes that makes Putin a more aggressive threat to democracy. He also lays out what he thinks it will take to bring Putin to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine.And McFaul reflects on the 2024 death of his friend, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and what it means for Russia’s post-Putin future.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo discusses the New York City mayoral race, his policy proposals, and the danger he sees in electing his opponent, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani.With Election Day approaching, Cuomo lays out his potential path to victory and challenges Mamdani’s plans to address affordability concerns. He also comments on broader divisions in the Democratic Party.Running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in the Democratic primary, Cuomo argues his experience as governor has prepared him to defend against threats from President Trump, and he warns Trump would use Mamdani’s election as an excuse to take over the city.Cuomo, who resigned as governor in 2021 amid allegations of sexual harassment, explains why he now regrets stepping down and responds to questions about how he has changed and what he has learned.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

Justice Anthony Kennedy talks to Margaret Hoover about his three decades on the Supreme Court and the threats he sees to American democracy today.As the court begins a new term, Kennedy, who took senior status in 2018, discusses the relationship between the Supreme Court and the executive branch and the prospect of a president defying the court’s orders.Kennedy, author of the new memoir Life, Law, and Liberty, reflects on his Citizens United opinion and its impact on political spending. He also explains why he believes it would be “unfortunate” if the court overturns his opinion affirming the right to same-sex marriage.Amid declining public confidence in the Supreme Court, Kennedy expresses concern about the growing incivility between the current justices and comments on the challenges of enforcing an ethics code on the court.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s cyber ambassador, sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about technology, democracy, and the fate of Taiwan amid new threats from China.Tang, who served as Taiwan’s first minister of digital affairs, reflects on her work integrating technology into the government and the lessons learned from its successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic.She explains why she believes technological advances like social media can be used to bring people together instead of dividing them, and she discusses projects in California and Kentucky that have attempted to do that.Tang also addresses how Taiwan is preparing for potential attacks by China and why Taiwan’s freedom is important to other democracies around the world.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.