Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

After the first indictment of a former president in U.S. history, longtime federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the 34 felony charges against Donald Trump and what may come next. Weissmann, who served as a lead prosecutor on special counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Trump, details the legal challenges ahead for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Trump’s defense team. The law professor and podcast host responds to Republican criticisms of Bragg’s case and explains why he would have preferred if one of the other jurisdictions probing Trump on what he says are more serious charges had indicted him first. Weissmann also addresses Trump’s personal attacks on the judge in his case, the impact of the 2024 campaign on legal proceedings, and whether this indictment could open up a Pandora’s box of politicized prosecutions in America. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Model Paulina Porizkova sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss her career in front of the camera and her recent book, “No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful.” Born behind the Iron Curtain, Porizkova recounts her childhood in Soviet-controlled Czechoslovakia, her path to freedom, and her rise to become one of the top models of the 1980s and 1990s. Porizkova reflects on ageism in the modeling industry, what has and has not changed since her youth, and the challenges of presenting herself as sexy in her 50s. She also talks about her struggles with anxiety and grief and her use of social media to share her pain. She comments on the terror of occupation and why she finds Ukraine’s fight for freedom inspiring. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his recent announcement that he will not seek the GOP nomination in 2024 and whether anyone else could successfully challenge Donald Trump in the primaries. Hogan reflects on his two terms as the popular Republican governor of a deep blue state, how his approach to politics could work for the party at the national level, and why the GOP base does not seem interested in following his lead. Hogan assesses fellow governors who are running or considering running in 2024 and explains why he believes the party needs a more positive message than the one offered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He also addresses the impact a third-party candidate could have on the presidential race and whether he would consider running as an independent. The former governor also talks about current debates over fiscal responsibility and education reform, calling out some fellow Republicans for exploiting parents’ legitimate concerns about what their children are being taught for political gain.  Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Rep. Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his panel’s bipartisan mission to educate Americans about the CCP’s threat. The Wisconsin Republican argues that a new cold war with China has already begun and explains what he believes it will take to keep that war from turning hot. He reflects on his recent visit to Taiwan and the need for greater strategic clarity in the Taiwan Strait. Gallagher talks about the potential danger posed by Chinese-owned TikTok, the challenge of selectively decoupling the U.S. economy from a top trading partner, the relationship between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and what he wants members of Congress to know about the activities of China’s United Front Work Department. Gallagher also comments on the release of new surveillance video from January 6th and whether he stands by his 2021 statement that former President Donald Trump had permanently lost his support. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

In this 2019 interview, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley talks to Margaret Hoover about her trailblazing career and her perspective on the future of the Republican Party. Haley–who recently announced a run against Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination–discusses representing Trump at the U.N., her support for his policies, and her reservations about his style. Haley also reflects on a pivotal moment in her governorship: the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse after the racially motivated shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in 2015. She comments on the U.N.’s relevance in a changing world, whether the U.S. needs to remain part of the organization, and how Trump’s presidency impacted America’s reputation on the world stage. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Brian O’Hara, the first new police chief appointed in Minneapolis since George Floyd’s murder, joins Margaret Hoover to discuss policing in America and the deep-seated issues impacting the relationships between communities and police across the country. O’Hara, who previously led reform efforts as a captain in the Newark Police Department, reflects on how his experience in New Jersey prepared him for his new role at the helm of another troubled department. With violent crime in Minneapolis starting to decline after a two-year surge, O’Hara addresses the underlying causes of gun violence, as well as his concerns about progressive policies like bail reform and defunding police departments. In the wake of the Tyre Nichols case in Memphis, O’Hara also comments on racial disparities in policing, the benefits and limitations of body-worn cameras, and whether ending qualified immunity would solve the problem of police misconduct. 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.

Economist Glenn Loury joins Margaret Hoover to discuss racial inequality in America, his resistance to the notion of systemic racism, and how his perspective has evolved since the 1980s. Loury, who was the first tenured Black economics professor at Harvard at age 33, explains why he now opposes affirmative action, even though he benefited from it early in his career. He also comments on the fallout from decades of mass incarceration and makes his case against providing reparations for slavery. Loury now teaches at Brown University and is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He talks about threats to free speech on campuses and why he defends controversial figures like University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Amy Wax. The host of “The Glenn Show” podcast also reflects on insight he gained from writing his upcoming memoir and how his life experiences helped shape his views. 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.

Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group, joins Margaret Hoover to talk about the changing worlds of entertainment, technology, and politics. Diller, a former CEO of Paramount and Fox, reflects on the decline of the traditional movie business, the rise of streaming services, and how the Academy Awards have become “an antiquity.” The media mogul explains his objection to so-called “woke capitalism” and why he believes even offensive speech should be protected. As a longtime Democratic donor, he also weighs in on the future of both parties. Diller, the co-founder of The Daily Beast, offers his perspective on the world of digital journalism and the growing influence of right-wing tech investors. He also discusses his deep love of public art and his contribution to New York’s Little Island. 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.

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) joins Margaret Hoover to talk about her priorities in Congress, which include working toward bipartisan consensus on abortion, marijuana, and climate change. Mace blames both parties for driving up the nation’s debt in recent decades, but she supports a Republican strategy to use the debt limit as leverage to convince Democrats to accept spending cuts. She explains how her bill to balance the budget would work, though she acknowledges it would not be easy. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Mace argues President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should be held to the same standard on their handling of classified information, but she defends Republicans focusing solely on Biden. Mace, who defeated a Trump-backed primary challenger last year, discusses Trump’s policy legacy and what she believes Republicans need to look for in a candidate to win over independent voters 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.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham joins Margaret Hoover to talk about the lessons of America’s past and the threats to democracy looming in the future. Meacham, whose latest book “And There Was Light” focuses on President Abraham Lincoln, details the qualities of the country’s most successful presidents and the role their faith played in governing. The historian, who has helped craft speeches for President Joe Biden, discusses the political impact of the classified document controversy engulfing the White House, and he weighs in on whether the 80-year-old incumbent should run again in 2024. Meacham, writer of an acclaimed biography of President Andrew Jackson, also reflects on differences between Jackson and Donald Trump, the rapid transformation of the Republican Party under Trump’s influence, and the results of the midterm elections. 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.