Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Reverend Al Sharpton speaks to Margaret Hoover about his evolution as a civil rights leader from the 1980s to today, which is chronicled in the new documentary “Loudmouth.” Sharpton discusses his influences and why he developed his loud and dramatic style of activism to attract attention in New York. He also reflects on how Coretta Scott King ultimately convinced him to soften his rhetoric in order to stay true to his mission. Thirty-five years later, Sharpton defends his advocacy for Tawana Brawley–a Black teen who claimed she was abducted and raped by white men in 1987–and explains why he still will not apologize for standing by Brawley, even after a grand jury deemed her accusations a hoax. Sharpton assesses the Democratic Party’s current challenges with Black voters and offers his perspective on President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He also looks ahead to the future of the civil rights movement. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Two years after January 6th Capitol attack, former Vice President Mike Pence sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the events of that day, why he chose to defy Donald Trump, and what it all means for his political future. Pence, whose recent memoir, “So Help Me God,” details his decades in politics, reflects on his role as Trump’s vice president. He acknowledges some differences with Trump, but he defends most of the administration’s record. Pence explains why he publicly supported Trump’s legal challenges to the 2020 election and supported investigations into what he says were election “irregularities,” even as he says he privately encouraged the president to accept defeat. The former vice president also talks about the prospect of Trump being indicted, the fallout from the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal, and how he will decide whether to run for the presidency himself in 2024. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the power of music to bring people together and provide hope and comfort in a time of crisis. Long before COVID-19 hit, Ma was using his instrument to unite people, performing Bach suites in cities around the world and at the U.S.-Mexico border. He explains why he believes songs written centuries ago can connect humanity today. Ma also talks about performing during a pandemic, how technology has changed musical collaboration, and why he feels Zoom can never fully replace the experience of a live performance. Ma reflects on his decades-long career, offers perspective on how music might help heal America’s divisions, and plays from his recent album, “Songs of Comfort and Hope.” Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Misty Copeland, American Ballet Theatre’s first Black principal dancer, joins Margaret Hoover to discuss her career, her new memoir, and her relationship with her mentor, Raven Wilkinson. As Copeland details in The Wind at My Back, Wilkinson was a trailblazing Black ballerina who performed in the U.S. and Europe in the mid-20th century, but she has often been overlooked by history after her career was cut short by racism. Copeland recalls the lessons she learned from her mentor, reflects on how ballet has changed, and explains why she gives Wilkinson credit for her biggest successes–like starring in ABT’s “Swan Lake.” She also talks about her own confrontations with racism in the dance world, her hopes for the future of ballet, and when she plans to return to the stage. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist Maria Ressa joins Margaret Hoover to talk about her reporting, her concerns about social media, and her new book, “How to Stand Up to a Dictator.” Ressa, who could face life in prison in the Philippines for speaking out against authoritarianism and corruption, explains why a free press is vital to democracy and why she is willing to risk her freedom to return to the country. She recounts delivering warnings to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook executives years ago about the dangers the platform created and details the role of social media in the rise of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. Ressa discusses her hopes for the country under new leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr., her thoughts on TikTok and Twitter, and what it may take for the world to overcome the “original sin” of social media. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Former Vice President Mike Pence sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss January 6th, his political future, and why he still stands by most of the record of the Trump administration. Pence, out with a new memoir titled “So Help Me God,” details private conversations with Donald Trump about the 2020 election and defends his own rhetoric urging supporters to keep fighting in the weeks before January 6th. He recounts the lessons of his years in Congress and how he developed his approach to the job of vice president, and he discusses some areas where he differed from Trump, such as his approach when dealing with Vladimir Putin. Pence also explains why he is considering a 2024 presidential run and how he will decide whether to challenge Trump for the Republican nomination. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.

Former Attorney General William Barr reflects on his time in Donald Trump’s administration and tells Margaret Hoover why he thinks it would be a “tragedy” if Trump wins the GOP nomination. Barr–who left the DOJ amid Trump’s baseless claims of a stolen election in December 2020– defends his own pre-election warnings about the potential for voter fraud, denies Trump’s frequent tweets ever influenced his work, and explains why he feels descriptions of January 6th as an attempted coup are “overdramatic.” Barr, who also ran the Justice Department under President George H.W. Bush, discusses the growing politicization of government institutions, the facts and fiction about the “deep state,” and his expansive view of executive power. And despite his criticisms of Trump’s character and judgment, Barr confirms he might still be willing to vote for his former boss again over a progressive Democrat. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.

Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas joins Margaret Hoover to break down the results of the midterm elections, the weaker than anticipated performance of GOP candidates, and the direction of the party heading into 2024. Hutchinson, who is considering a 2024 presidential run, explains why he blames former President Donald Trump for the party’s losses in key races and why he believes there is an urgent need for Republicans to look to a post-Trump future. He warns of the danger in the rhetoric of GOP election deniers like Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and calls for a return to “common-sense” conservatism. Hutchinson also discusses the role of abortion rights in the election, the top priorities for Republicans if they take control of the House, and whether they should pursue impeachment of President Joe Biden. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman joins Magaret Hoover to discuss her coverage of former President Donald Trump and her new book, “Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America.” Haberman explains how the pursuit of fame has driven Trump throughout his life and how his years on “The Apprentice” set the stage for his political ascent. She also deconstructs some of the myths he has promoted about his life and his business record. The Pulitzer Prize winner discusses Trump’s legacy as president and the fallout from his chaotic final days in office, as well as the political and legal risks he now faces from various investigations. She also reflects on how Trump has warped the reality of the Republican Party and continues to wield influence. As a longtime observer of both Trump and the GOP, Haberman offers insight into whether Trump will run again in 2024, what a second term might look like, and whether anyone in the party would be willing or able to challenge him for the nomination. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.

Independent Senate candidate Evan McMullin talks to Margaret Hoover about his race against Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee, which could potentially determine which party controls the chamber. Although he is a lifelong conservative and he has vowed not to caucus with either party if he wins, McMullin’s bid to unseat Lee has the backing of Utah’s Democratic Party. He explains how he built a cross-partisan coalition that has made this Senate race the state’s most competitive one in decades. McMullin, who ran for president as an independent in 2016 with Sen. Lee’s support, discusses Lee’s evolution into a loyal ally of former President Donald Trump. He also lays out his argument that Lee betrayed the Constitution by trying to overturn the 2020 election—even if Senator Lee ultimately voted to certify the results on January 6th. McMullin addresses Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s decision not to endorse either candidate in the race, former Vice President Mike Pence’s support for Lee, and whether America needs a new political party to compete with Democrats and the GOP. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, and The Marc Haas Foundation.