Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

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.

Edward O’Keefe, author of “The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt,” joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the “extraordinary and unsung” women who shaped the life and legend of the 26th president–and why his legacy still resonates today. O’Keefe, a former journalist and North Dakota native who is now CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, details Roosevelt’s relationships with his mother, his sisters, and his wives and how they contributed to his successes. He comments on Roosevelt’s appeal to politicians in both parties today, his expansive use of executive power, and his support for gender equality. He also discusses the role of First Lady Edith Roosevelt in creating the modern White House. O’Keefe reflects on what Roosevelt’s experience as a vice president who rose to the Oval Office after an assassination reveals about the importance of presidential running mates and whether North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum would be a good choice for Donald Trump. He also addresses Roosevelt’s record on race and how the library intends to handle a controversial statue depicting the president on horseback flanked by a Native American and a Black man that was removed from outside the American Museum of Natural History in 2022. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Emmet Family Charitable Foundation, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Asness Family Foundation, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Marc Haas Foundation, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about Israel, immigration, and other issues that impact voters of color as polls suggest support for Donald Trump is rising among traditionally Democratic voting blocs that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 election. Torres, the first openly gay Afro-Latino member of Congress, discusses how growing up in public housing with a single mother influences his perspective and his policy positions. After Trump’s rally in his district, Torres assesses Trump’s potential to make gains with Black and Hispanic voters and what President Biden can do to regain their support. He comments on Biden’s executive orders on immigration and the failure of Congress to address the border crisis. Torres, who is one of Israel’s most vocal supporters in the House, explains why he became a Zionist, defends Biden’s record on Israel, and reflects on how the progressive movement has become radicalized on this and other issues over the last decade.  Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Emmet Family Charitable Foundation, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Asness Family Foundation, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Marc Haas Foundation, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Dan Senor, former foreign policy aide to Mitt Romney, defends Israel's actions in response to war crimes accusations, highlighting the challenges faced in protecting innocent lives in Gaza. He discusses the tactics used by Hamas to put Israel in a difficult position, emphasizing Israel's resilience in the face of ongoing conflicts. Senor also explores the potential for future conflicts with Hezbollah, the reluctance of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss postwar plans for Gaza, and the complexities of Israeli military strategy in the region.

As the end of Donald Trump’s first trial nears, Margaret Hoover sits down with conservative attorney and former Trump supporter George Conway to discuss the case and the prospect of another Trump presidency. Conway defends the Manhattan prosecution, talks about watching Trump in the courtroom, and explains why he disagrees with those who say the case is driven by politics. He also argues Trump has received preferential treatment from the courts, including in the classified documents case overseen by Judge Aileen Cannon, who he says is “corrupt” and “not competent.” Conway, whose ex-wife Kellyanne managed Trump’s 2016 campaign, explains why he sees a second Trump term as a threat to American democracy and why he now believes Trump is a narcissistic sociopath who is unfit for public office. Conway, a longtime member of the Federalist Society, assesses whether Trump’s Supreme Court nominations were worth the damage he has done and why conservative institutions have failed to respond to his abuses of power. He also addresses reports of an upside-down American flag seen at Justice Samuel Alito’s home in January 2021. Conway reflects on his own political evolution from a key player in Bill Clinton’s impeachment to big-dollar donor to Joe Biden’s reelection campaign. He contrasts Clinton and Trump, and he explains why he teared up when he cast a vote for Biden in 2020. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Asness Family Foundation, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Marc Haas Foundation, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss “An Unfinished Love Story,” her new book recounting the 1960s from her perspective and that of her late husband, presidential speechwriter Dick Goodwin. The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer recalls the genesis of the project and reflects on the difference between writing about her husband and long-dead presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. She details Dick Goodwin’s work for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, including writing Johnson’s address to Congress after the Bloody Sunday march in Selma. Goodwin also addresses declining trust in government since Johnson’s presidency, which she traces to his handling of the Vietnam War. She discusses her husband’s later work on Al Gore’s 2000 concession speech and how presidential candidates recognized the importance of putting patriotism before partisanship after close elections prior to 2020.  Goodwin considers parallels between the 1850s and today and the prospect that current divisions will lead to another civil war. She also explains why she sees her own love story with America as unfinished and why she believes the country has a long way to go to live up to its ideals. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Asness Family Foundation, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Eric and Wendy Schmidt Fund for Strategic Innovation, Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Marc Haas Foundation, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. and Pfizer Inc.