Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Hillary Clinton sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about threats to press freedom around the world, crises in the Middle East, and the stakes of the 2024 election. In a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York City, the former secretary of state assesses the dangers faced by journalists abroad and in the U.S. Clinton–who is out with a new book, “Something Lost, Something Gained”--reflects on her efforts to evacuate women and their families during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and offers insight on campus protests against the war in Gaza. The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee also speaks extensively about the risks to democracy she sees in a second Donald Trump presidency, the Republican Party’s softening stance on Russia, and the possibility of an October surprise upending the race for the White House. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Bill O’Reilly sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his latest book, the presidential race, and the sexual harassment allegations that led to his firing from Fox News. In Confronting the Presidents, O’Reilly and co-author Martin Dugard present essays on each of the nation’s presidents. O’Reilly defends their depiction of Herbert Hoover and his approach to history. He addresses the presidential debate and the potential impact of the assassination attempts on Donald Trump, as well as how conservative media has changed since he left cable news in 2017 and figures like Tucker Carlson gained prominence. Hoover then questions O’Reilly about the harassment allegations against him and the cultural issues raised by the fact that he has gotten a second chance at success while some of his accusers struggle to find work in television. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Economist Kevin Hassett joins Margaret Hoover to talk about economic policies laid out by former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in their debate this week. Hassett, who chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump administration, defends Trump’s handling of the economy both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and blames the Biden administration for the spike in inflation since then. He assesses Harris’ “opportunity economy” agenda and the potential impact of policies like small business tax credits, housing down payment assistance, and taxing unrealized capital gains. He also explains why he sees Harris’ policies as socialist. Hassett outlines how Trump’s first-term tariffs worked and how Trump may approach trade policy in a second term. He also reflects on the Republican Party’s evolving position on free trade. Hassett discusses the likelihood of an interest rate cut and the importance of an independent Federal Reserve. He also addresses whether the economy is in a recession and whether Trump returning to the White House poses a threat to democracy. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

California Sen. Alex Padilla sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris, his longtime friend and colleague.  The son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla was appointed to Harris’ seat after she won the vice presidency in 2020. An MIT graduate, he initially hoped to become an aerospace engineer. But he was instead drawn to politics when, in 1994, California voters passed a proposition banning undocumented immigrants from public services, including education and non-emergency health care.  Padilla quickly rose through the Democratic ranks in the state, forging close relationships with figures like Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. After Newsom picked him to serve out the remainder of Harris’ term, he easily won the seat outright in 2022.  In Washington, Padilla is known as a fierce advocate for immigrants and their families. He discusses his opposition to President Biden’s border crackdown this year, and his hope that Harris handles immigration issues differently. He also defends Harris’ economic agenda, and lays out an argument for why all Americans — in particular Latino voters — should support the Democratic ticket in November.  Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Justice Neil Gorsuch sits down with Margaret Hoover at the Supreme Court to talk about his new book, Over Ruled, and his concern that America has “too much law.” In its recent term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, a precedent established in 1984 that required judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting unclear statutes. Gorsuch explains why that longstanding approach had imposed unfair costs on many, including fishermen, immigrants, and the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s six-toed cat. Gorsuch discusses how bureaucrats and judges may approach regulation in a post-Chevron world and what it will take to confront the dangers of over-criminalization. He also reflects on why conservative views on Chevron evolved over time and how lawmakers in both parties have increasingly come to recognize the problem. With public trust in the Supreme Court at a record low, Gorsuch addresses the need to restore confidence in the court, but he declines to wade into the political debate over term limits for justices or other controversies surrounding the court. He also explains why he remains optimistic about America’s future despite rising polarization and division. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst sits down with Margaret Hoover in Iowa to talk about her life and her views on trade and foreign policy. Ernst, a combat veteran, explains why she advocates for confronting threats abroad and providing strong support to Israel and Ukraine. She also reflects on how a visit to Soviet-controlled Ukraine in 1989 helped shape her position. She details her response to antisemitic protests on college campuses after October 7th, and she assesses what Kamala Harris’ selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over Jewish Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says about antisemitism in the Democratic Party. Ernst discusses the impact of tariffs on Iowa farmers, why she pushes back against the notion that the military is too “woke,” and why she is optimistic that American politics can become more civil. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Jocelyn Benson, the Democratic Secretary of State of Michigan, Ben Ginsberg, a seasoned Republican election lawyer, and David Becker from the Center for Election Innovation and Research share their insights on electoral security. They explain the importance of maintaining accurate voter rolls and advocate for best practices to enhance transparency. The trio also debunks myths around non-citizen voting and discusses the challenges of misinformation, emphasizing a collective effort to restore public trust in the electoral process as the 2024 election nears.

Legendary Democratic strategist James Carville talks to Margaret Hoover about the state of the 2024 presidential race after the withdrawal of President Joe Biden and the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris. Carville explains why he had long urged Democrats to replace the aging Biden and why he is satisfied with supporting Harris without a competitive primary process. He also pushes back against Republican claims that the candidate swap undermines democracy. With just over 100 days until the election, he assesses the challenges ahead for Harris and offers advice on how she can confront them. He discusses how she has evolved and improved as a candidate since her “god awful” run for the 2020 nomination. Carville, who led Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s 1992 campaign, reflects on the vice presidential selection process and details what Harris needs in a running mate. Also, in the wake of an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, he defends his dire rhetoric about the dangers of a second Trump presidency. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Veteran Republican strategist Mike Murphy, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, assesses the state of the presidential race in the wake of Trump’s attempted assassination and the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Murphy tells Margaret Hoover why he believes Joe Biden needs to withdraw from the race and how he thinks Democrats should approach replacing him as their nominee. He also lays out the potential advantages and risks of running Vice President Kamala Harris against Trump. Murphy, who has worked on dozens of Republican campaigns, discusses Trump’s selection of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as his running mate and what the pick means for the future of the GOP. He also reflects on how Trump has changed the party. Amid mounting concerns about extreme political rhetoric, Murphy comments on the excesses of both sides, argues substantive criticism of Trump should not be silenced, and addresses the path forward from this difficult and divisive moment for America. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Matt Pottinger, who served as deputy national security advisor under former President Trump, talks to Margaret Hoover about the geopolitical and economic stakes of defending Taiwan and the challenge of deterring China. Pottinger, editor and co-author of “The Boiling Moat: Urgent Steps to Defend Taiwan,” assesses Xi Jinping’s ambitions and timeline for a potential invasion, and he details what the U.S. and Taiwan need to do to prevent it. He explains how the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza are connected to Taiwan and rebuts arguments that an aggressive policy toward Beijing could accidentally provoke a war. He also defends his view that COVID-19 was the result of a lab leak in Wuhan and criticizes those in the scientific community who refused to consider the theory. Pottinger, who resigned from the Trump White House after January 6th, comments on Trump’s ambiguous Taiwan policy, his flattery of dictators, and whether Xi Jinping would prefer to see Trump or Biden in office in 2025. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.