Bill and the Rev. Jim Wallis discuss the aftermath of the 2024 U.S. presidential election and the troubling moral and ethical implications of Donald Trump's victory. Wallis is the inaugural holder of the Chair in Faith and Justice and the founding Director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice. Wallis expresses deep concern that the election of Trump, someone who openly repudiated basic values of honesty, decency, and respect, reveals a profound crisis of character and values ...
Nov 19, 2024•42 min•Ep. 583
Trump. Gaetz. Musk. Advise and Consent? GOP Wins House. Abortion Not Salient. Dems in Disarray. State of the Resistance. With Jason Dick, Editor in Chief at CQ-Roll Call, Arthur Delaney, Political Reporter at Huff Post and Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter and co-author of the Morning Newsletter at NOTUS. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...
Nov 15, 2024•43 min•Ep. 582
Bill discusses the implementation of Project 2025 with David Pepper, former Chair of the Democratic Party in Ohio and author of our special podcast series, Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal. Project 2025 is a draconian blueprint for a second Trump term prepared by the Heritage Foundation. And now we face the implementation across all elements of society. The discussion covers the dangers of Project 2025, including the weaponization of the Department of Justice to target political oppon...
Nov 12, 2024•34 min•Ep. 581
Bill and three top Washington journalists on the surprising result of the election, with Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico, Ginger Gibson, Senior Washington Editor at NBC News and Igor Bobic, Senior Politics Reporter at HuffPost. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Nov 08, 2024•43 min•Ep. 580
It's Election Day but we won't know the outcome for many hours, or even days. After we voted, there's not much more we can do. So today we're offering an alternative to politics, an interview with one of the most prolific spy novelists in history. He was Bill's producer at CNN and now Daniel Silva is the internationally acclaimed novelist whose main character Gabriel Allon, has captured the imagination of people all over the world. This episode is for you to relax and enjoy and get your mind off...
Nov 05, 2024•30 min•Ep. 579
Hate Fest at the Garden. Harris at The Ellipse. Trump: Shoot Liz. Women’s Secret Ballot. Which Issues Matter? Michelle Addresses Men. Who Will Win? With Philip Bump, Washington Post National Columnist and author of the How To Read This Chart newsletter, Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief at the Chicago Sun-Times and David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More informat...
Nov 01, 2024•39 min•Ep. 578
Chapter 12 chronicles the demise of our fictional magazine, Capital Monthly. The pressure from the White House, from advertisers and from Social Media algorithms kills the independent journalism that was documenting what life was like under Donald Trump's second term guided by Project 2025. As our host, Bill Press, of The Bill Press Pod says in the episode: “It’s not too late to change some minds. The election is a few days away and still most people have not voted. If you have a friend or famil...
Oct 31, 2024•7 min•Ep. 577
In Chapter 11, set in November in Tallahassee, fictional Florida, Governor Buck Bryce confidently addresses the press regarding Hurricane Timothy, initially predicted to be a manageable Category 1 storm. However, the hurricane unexpectedly strengthens to a devastating Category 4 upon landfall, causing widespread destruction and significant loss of life. The governor, previously assured by Washington that all preparations were sufficient, is confronted with the reality of inadequate storm forecas...
Oct 30, 2024•16 min•Ep. 577
The two leading mental health professionals, Dr. John Gartner, formerly a Visiting Professor at Johns Hopkins Medical School and the man behind the Duty to Warn Twitter feed and Dr. Vincent Greenwood, Founder and Executive Director of The Washington Center for Cognitive Therapy, warn that Donald Trump exhibits signs of serious mental and cognitive decline, including malignant narcissism and early-stage dementia. They argue that Trump's deteriorating mental state poses an existential threat to Am...
Oct 29, 2024•34 min•Ep. 577
Focus on Georgia. Trump to NYC. Harris to TX. Who’s Gonna Win? Kelly: Trump Fascist. Trump Sex Scandal. Trump Threatens Press. With Maya King, Politics Reporter covering the south for The New York Times, Gabe Debeneddetti, National Correspondent for New York Magazine and Jeff Dufour, Editor in Chief of The National Journal. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by the American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...
Oct 25, 2024•50 min•Ep. 576
The first part of Chapter10 introduces the fictional character Dr. Joy Brewer, a dedicated researcher focused on studying cancer clusters affecting Black Americans. Joy learns from her colleague, Dr. Matthias Kunz, that all federal grants linked to race or gender are being canceled, jeopardizing her life’s work. Despite her attempts to advocate for her essential research, the political climate forces her into a corner where she must reconsider her direction. This part of the chapter closes with ...
Oct 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 575
The story follows fictional Private Troy Marquis, who attends a tense early morning briefing at a military reserve base in Philadelphia. Troy is told that a radical group, Antifa, has invaded the city, prompting a second-term President Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act. US law currently prohibits the military from operating on US soil. However, the Insurrection Act of 1807 gives the president broad and sweeping authority to use the military to quell domestic violence or conspiracy that the pr...
Oct 23, 2024•54 min•Ep. 575
Today's guest on the Bill Press Pod is veteran journalist and presidential historian Jonathan Alter. His new book, American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial―and My Own is out today. Alter believes this election is the most pivotal since the Civil War, with democracy itself at stake. A Trump victory could lead to the establishment of an authoritarian, even fascist government. The conviction of Trump on 34 felony counts earlier this year was a major "reckoning" for him, but for Bill, the lack of co...
Oct 22, 2024•41 min•Ep. 575
Trump’s “Music Fest.” Trump Going Silent? Harris Everywhere. Trump: Use Military vs Political Foes. MD Senate Race Close. TX Senate Race Close. Sinwar Killing. Biden to Europe Now? With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ Roll Call, Sarah Wire, Senior national political correspondent for USA TODAY, Tom LoBianco, National Politics Reporter 24sight News, and John Bennett, White House Correspondent & Editor-at-Large at CQ Roll Call. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by the IronWorkers Union. Mo...
Oct 18, 2024•52 min•Ep. 574
Project 2025 proposes to eliminate the Department of Education and divert federal education funding into universal school voucher programs, allowing public money to be used for private and for-profit schools. This would result in cuts to critical services and programs at public schools, including mental health counseling, school resource officers, after-school programs, reading/writing specialists, and services for students with disabilities. Classroom sizes at public schools would increase subs...
Oct 17, 2024•54 min•Ep. 573
In this episode of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, we see the real-life effects of this assault on unions and workers. In our fictional story, two legendary high school football players, Turk Foster and DeAndre McCollum, still relish their past glory. But they are struggling to navigate the rule changes proposed by Project 2025 that undercut the power of unions and tilt the playing field in favor of the employers to the detriment of employees. Turk struggles with his job as a union ...
Oct 16, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 573
Bill talks with David Noll, one of the co-authors of Vigilante Nation. How State-Sponsored Terror Threatens Our Democracy. The new and important book examines the threat of state-sponsored vigilantism in the United States. The book traces the history of vigilantism in America, such as the Fugitive Slave Act, and Noll argues that the MAGA movement is now trying to institutionalize and normalize the use of vigilante power to enforce its agenda. Examples include Texas' bounty system for reporting o...
Oct 15, 2024•39 min•Ep. 573
Hurricanes Politicized. Harris Media Blitz. Gaffe on The View. Harris’s Billion. Trump’s Intensified Attacks. Melania Effect? GOP Senate vs Dem POTUS. Trump and Putin. With Ginger Gibson, Senior Washington Editor at NBC News, plus Senior Political Reporter Alex Seitz-Wald, White House Reporter, Katherine Doyle and Political Reporter Allan Smith, all from NBC News. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by More information at The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LI...
Oct 11, 2024•40 min•Ep. 572
The story that leads off Chapter 6 of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, Mass Deportation Disaster captures the struggles of 12-year-old Alvaro and his mother in a fictional detention center in West Texas. Alvaro expresses his hunger to his mother, who is too weak to properly care for herself. As they navigate the deteriorating conditions of the camp—overcrowded with diminishing food supplies, hostile guards, and a sense of fear from both authorities and fellow detainees—Alvaro reflect...
Oct 10, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 571
In Chapter 5 of Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal, Part one, the fictional characters Congresswoman Louise Getty and Senator Wade Stiller, former rivals, meet at the World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. They reflect on their pasts and express concern over a hostile political climate under Trump’s second term, feeling fear and paranoia about being surveilled and targeted by the government. Their conversation reveals a sense of vulnerability as they confront the reality that many of ...
Oct 09, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 571
The great columnist for The Washington Post Dana Milbank has a hilarious/frightening new book: Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House . Bill’s conversation with Dana highlights the perceived incompetence and extremism of the current Republican House members, including figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kevin McCarthy. Milbank’s book chronicles the dysfunction and conspiracy theories within the House Republican caucus. Milbank ...
Oct 08, 2024•37 min•Ep. 571
VP Debate Fall-out: Re: 2020 Election Lie. Re: Abortion. Cheney’s Impact. Melania’s Pro-choice! Jack Smith Revives J6. Why is the Race Close? Trump’s Grifting. With Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief at the Chicago Sun-Times, Philip Bump, National Columnist at The Washington Post author of the How To Read This Chart newsletter and Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for 19th News and author if the great new book, YOU MUST STAND UP, the Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs A...
Oct 04, 2024•45 min•Ep. 570
This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students after a possible second -term President Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbr...
Oct 03, 2024•42 min•Ep. 570
In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a possible second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with ...
Oct 02, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 570
Bill talks with Karen Tumulty, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist at The Washington Post about importance of the abortion issue in the 2024 presidential election, particularly in light of Donald Trump's comments on the topic. It highlights Trump's attempts to portray himself as a friend to women despite his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, and the backlash this has faced from the public. They also examine other Republican candidates' comments on abortion, such as Bernie Moreno and JD Vance, ...
Oct 01, 2024•27 min•Ep. 569
Trump on Abortion. Moreno on Abortion. Men Care About Abortion. Trump: Off-Message. Harris=Change? Trump: Robinson Who? NYC Mayor Indicted. VP Debate. Another Pres. Debate? Trump Watches! With Sabrina Siddiqui, National Politics Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, White House/Politics Correspondent at The Christian Science Monitor and Kirk Bado, Editor of The National Journal Hotline. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More in...
Sep 27, 2024•47 min•Ep. 568
This is a special Bonus Episode: Chapter Two of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel ...
Sep 25, 2024•47 min•Ep. 568
Today Bill talks with Jessica Taylor, the editor for Senate and Governor Races at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. In the podcast she discussed the key Senate races for the 2024 election, including: Montana - Jessica rates this race as lean Republican, with incumbent John Tester (D) being the underdog against Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. Ohio - Jessica rates this race as a toss-up between incumbent Sherrod Brown (D) and Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. Nevada - Jessica rates t...
Sep 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 567
Mark Robinson: Black Nazi. GOP Still Lying About Haitians. Vance Makes It Up. JD Complains About Rhetoric: Trump’s the Offender. Confused Trump. Rate Cut/Economy. Shutdown Farce. With Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico, Arthur Delaney, Politics Reporter for HuffPost and John Bennett, White House Correspondent & Editor-at-Large at CQ Roll Call. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org Bill also talke...
Sep 20, 2024•43 min•Ep. 566
Chapter One of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trumps’s Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises to crack down on student protesters and his administrati...
Sep 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 566
