Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu sits down with Margaret Hoover in Concord to make his case for Nikki Haley ahead of next week’s pivotal Republican presidential primary. Sununu explains why he believes the former South Carolina governor is well-positioned to take on Donald Trump despite Trump’s decisive victory in Iowa and how his state’s independent streak and history of supporting underdogs could give her an edge. The fourth-term governor contrasts Haley’s experience and electability with Trump, discusses their policy proposals, and reflects on what the outcome of the race could mean for the future of the GOP. Despite his endorsement of Haley and his concerns about January 6th, Sununu defends his commitment to supporting Trump if he is the Republican nominee, and he argues a second Trump presidency would be better for the country than four more years of Joe Biden. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., 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, Pfizer Inc., Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about the record influx of migrants at the southern border and what it will take for Washington to confront the crisis. Gonzales, whose district includes nearly half the U.S.-Mexico border, explains why the surge of migration is happening now, how it is different from previous upticks, and how its economic and social impact is increasingly being felt across the country. He details his proposals to improve border security and protect legal immigration, as well as the challenge of convincing members of both parties to set aside politics and pursue real solutions. He also assesses the status of bipartisan immigration negotiations in the Senate. Gonzales discusses GOP efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, his endorsement of Donald Trump for president in 2024, and his own reelection race.  Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., 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, Pfizer Inc., Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Roger and Susan Hertog, Cheryl Cohen Effron and Blair Effron, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

Journalist Tim Alberta joins Margaret Hoover to discuss his reporting on the corruption of the evangelical movement by partisan politics and the role of the church in the ascendance of Donald Trump. Alberta, the son of an evangelical preacher and author of “The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory,” explains why the church has aligned behind Trump, providing one of his most loyal bases of support despite his character flaws, inflammatory rhetoric, and legal troubles.  He also digs into the persecution complex at the root of the evangelical movement, how a sense of fear fueled by cable news has supplanted the faith-based message of the church, and what the rise of Christian nationalism could mean for a second Trump presidency. Alberta, a staff writer for the Atlantic, assesses the state of the Republican primary race heading into the Iowa caucuses and offers his take on Nikki Haley’s campaign. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and national director of the Anti-Defamation League, sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the explosion of antisemitism around the world and on college campuses since the October 7th Hamas attack. Greenblatt responds to recent testimony by college presidents on Capitol Hill, accusing schools of hypocrisy in their handling of antisemitic incidents, and he reflects on why campuses have become hotbeds of hatred against Jews and Israel. He also details how the ADL is responding to the crisis and working to assist Jewish students. While he says antisemitism can be more obvious on the right, Greenblatt explains how the threat manifests on the left and why it is important for Democratic leaders to speak out against progressives like Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar when they express, as he puts it, fringe views about Israel. Greenblatt also comments on the surge of antisemitism on social media, his interactions with Elon Musk, and his disappointment with the lack of solidarity for Jews from progressive groups the ADL has aligned with in the past. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Margaret Hoover sits down with exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez to discuss his efforts to advance democracy in his home country and around the world. Lopez, who spent nearly four years in solitary confinement under Nicolas Maduro’s regime before fleeing the country in 2020, reflects on how life has changed in Venezuela under a repressive government that operates what he calls a “criminal economy” and the challenges the opposition movement faces. He assesses the “fragile” state of democracy in the world today and explains the mission of the World Liberty Congress, which he co-founded to unite pro-democracy activists against a growing coalition of autocratic governments that includes Venezuela, Russia, and China. Lopez also addresses the global ramifications of the war in Ukraine, China’s influence in South America, and the indictment of Sen. Robert Menendez, one of Maduro’s most vocal critics on Capitol Hill. Speaking to Hoover in late September–before the government suspended the primary process and issued arrest warrants for Lopez and other opposition figures–Lopez expresses hope for Venezuela’s 2024 elections despite doubts that Maduro will allow a free and fair vote. He comments on shifts in U.S. policy under the Biden administration and what he believes the U.S. and its allies can do to help the Venezuelan people. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Margaret Hoover sits down with Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, in Atlanta to talk about his defense of the state’s 2020 election and preparations for 2024. Raffensperger, who Donald Trump asked to “find” enough votes to overturn the election, discusses the Republican Party’s embrace of voter fraud conspiracy theories, as well as Democrats stoking fears about voter suppression.  He touts the state’s election reforms–including voter ID requirements and risk-limiting audits–and disputes allegations that an election integrity law passed in 2021 was discriminatory. Raffensperger also addresses investigations of Trump over his efforts to subvert Georgia’s election results, Trump’s recent rhetoric, and threats to poll workers in an increasingly polarized political environment. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides joins Margaret Hoover to discuss Israel’s response to the October 7th Hamas attack and why he believes the next 30 days may be the most important in the country’s history. As Israel draws international scrutiny for its tactics, Nides addresses the challenges Israel faces in Gaza as it attempts to limit civilian casualties while fighting an enemy that hides in residential areas and hospitals.  Nides, who served as President Biden’s ambassador until stepping down in July, responds to criticism of the administration’s policies toward Iran and assesses its efforts to deter Tehran and its proxies from escalating the war. He also comments on building a post-Hamas Gaza, the prospects of normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and confronting antisemitism on college campuses in the U.S. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Kimberly Kagan, founder and president of the Institute for the Study of War, talks to Margaret Hoover about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, why they matter, and how they are connected. The military historian who advised U.S. commanders in Iraq and Afghanistan assesses Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza and the potential challenges of waging urban warfare against Hamas. She also addresses the prospect of the conflict spiraling into a broader regional war with Iran. Kagan reflects on Ukraine’s slow summer counteroffensive against Russia and explains the global ramifications if Western nations allow Putin’s invasion to succeed. She also warns that the U.S. needs to “get real” about its own military preparedness, modernize its forces, and invest more in defense to confront emerging threats around the world. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Republican Mitch Daniels, the former governor of Indiana and president of Purdue University, sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the dangers of rising federal debt, education reform, and fixing America’s broken politics. Daniels, who worked for Ronald Reagan and served as director of President George W. Bush’s Office of Management and Budget, reflects on the nation’s failure under both Democratic and Republican administrations to rein in spending and reform programs like Social Security and Medicare–and he warns those decisions will have ‘unjust and unfair’ consequences. After holding tuition at Purdue steady for over a decade, Daniels explains how he did it and what other schools can learn from it. He also addresses the challenges college administrators have faced responding to the October 7th Hamas attack in Israel and the inflammatory student protests that followed on some campuses. Daniels, who resisted calls to run for president in 2012 and for Indiana’s open Senate seat in 2024, assesses a likely Trump-Biden rematch for the presidency and the prospects for a No Labels candidate to challenge them. He also offers advice for whoever wins the election to help move the country forward. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Terrorism expert Jonathan Schanzer joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the latest developments in Gaza and the next phase of Israel’s war against Hamas. Schanzer, a senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explains why Israel has delayed its expected ground invasion of Gaza, how the more than 200 hostages held by Hamas complicate any military action, and why the notion of Hamas-supporting Qatar facilitating hostage negotiations strikes him as “Orwellian.”  He assesses President Biden’s visit to Tel Aviv as the U.S. and Israel work to prevent Iran from escalating the conflict into a multi-front regional war. He also argues the Biden administration’s previous policies toward Iran emboldened Tehran and its terrorist proxies. Schanzer, author of three books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, looks ahead to the future of Gaza and comments on the importance of the U.S. maintaining support for both Israel and Ukraine amid rising threats to the U.S.-led world order. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Stephens Inc., Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Kathleen and Andrew McKenna through The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.