Friends, Today, Heather and I take a deep dive into Biden’s choices now, after last night’s interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos and yesterday’s Biden rallies. Is Biden back on track? Has he recovered from last week’s bad debate performance? Or are the forces within the Democratic Party that want another candidate for president building to the point where he will almost certainly drop out? And if he drops out, whom will he anoint? Please pull up a chair and join us and, if you wish, take o...
Jul 06, 2024•27 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Good morning! Between the Supreme Court’s naked power grab and the debate debacle, it’s been a rough week. Heather Lofthouse of Inequality Media Civic Action and I break it all down in this week’s Coffee Klatch. Please pour yourself a cup of coffee (or something stronger) and join us. And if you wish, take our poll. RR This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe...
Jun 28, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, In today’s klatch, Heather and I begin with the Supreme Court’s “decision” — by making no decision on special counsel Jack Smith’s request for a ruling on presidential immunity — that Trump won’t be held accountable before the 2024 election for engineering an attempted coup on January 6, 2021. We then consider the spike in donations to the Trump campaign immediately following the Manhattan jury’s decision to convict him on all criminal counts of election interference — including billion...
Jun 22, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, What should we make of this week’s Supreme Court ruling that semi-automatic rifles with bump stocks are not machine guns? Or its ongoing decision to slow-walk the question of presidential immunity, effectively pushing the Trump insurrection trial until after the election — or maybe never? Revelations about more secret cash to Clarence Thomas. Samuel Alito’s views that “differences on fundamental things … can’t be compromised” and that America must return to “a place of godliness”? And T...
Jun 15, 2024•37 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, We decided to do another deep dive today — this one on Trumpism and fascism. With the election less than five months away and Trump escalating his fascist rhetoric and signaling his intent to use federal troops to round up undocumented people inside the United States and put them in camps, we felt it important to show the close parallels between Trumpism and neofascism. Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and, if so inclined, take our poll. This is a public episode. If you’d like to d...
Jun 08, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, We were tempted to talk about the Trump trial and verdict, and bask in the relief that our system of justice did what it should do to hold people accountable for breaking the law — no matter who they are. But you’ve probably heard everything there is to say about the trial by now. So we decided instead to do a deep dive into Trump politics and big money. It’s been reported that just 50 billionaire families have already contributed a whopping $600 million to the 2024 elections. Over two-...
Jun 01, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today, in honor of Memorial Day weekend, we take a deep dive into the common good versus its antithesis — Trumpism. We look at what’s happened to the common good, why Trumpism is attractive to so many these days, and how the common good can be resurrected. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join the conversation. (Also, if so moved, take our poll.) This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.subst...
May 25, 2024•33 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today Heather and I look at the Trump trial and everything it entails, including the moral squalor of Donald J. Trump and all who have sold their integrity to support him — including Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas. Please join us, and, if so moved, take our poll. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe...
May 18, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today Heather and I take a hard look at the Trump trials, the latest from Gaza, and RFK Junior’s brain-eating parasite, among other things. Please bring up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and (if so moved) take our poll. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe...
May 11, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today, Heather and I examine whether the protests against Israel’s slaughter in Gaza, now roiling university campuses across America, will harm Biden’s chances of being reelected next November. We also look at state anti-abortion laws — which now apply to 1 out of 3 American women of childbearing age — and consider how much they’ll harm Trump in November. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and, if so moved, take our survey. (And May the 4th be with you.) This is a public epis...
May 04, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today Heather and I take a deep dive into why so many Americans are supporting a neofascist for president. Trump is the consequence rather than the cause of several major problems that have worsened over four decades — problems that have undermined the American middle class and caused a substantial number of people to become angry, anxious, and cynical. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and (if so inclined) take our poll. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss th...
Apr 27, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today, Heather and I discuss what to expect from the Trump trial currently underway in New York, as well as other pending Trump trials. And Speaker Mike Johnson’s newly found discovery of bipartisanship, which is driving the extremist right “Freedom Caucus” crazy. Please pull up a chair and join us, and consider taking our poll. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe...
Apr 21, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Today we have a special guest to help us understand why food prices continue to go through the roof: Michael Pollan. Pollan is author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma , How to Change Your Mind, The Botany of Desire, and other books. He and Eric Schlosser (whose new piece in The Atlantic, “ Do We Really Want a Food Cartel ?” is also a must-read), are just out with a new documentary available for streaming now, “Food Inc. 2 ,” which explains how giant corporations have taken over what we eat. We...
Apr 13, 2024•30 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where today Heather and I look at the similarities between Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, and the importance of Joe Biden’s standing up to both of them. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and (if so moved), take our weekly klatch poll: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe...
Apr 06, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where Heather and I review the highs and lows of the week. Today we look at the role of big money in the presidential races of both parties. And with Tax Day looming, we also ask what’s in store when the Trump tax cuts (mostly for the wealthy and big corporations) run out next year? What sort of tax reforms are possible if Biden is reelected and Democrats take over both houses of Congress? Our guest today, appropriately, is tax expert Solana R...
Mar 30, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dear friends, Today Heather and I examine the potential bankruptcy of Trump’s finances as well as the bankruptcy of his mind. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and join us. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
Mar 23, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to the Saturday Coffee Klatch, where today we’ll discuss whether TikTok should remain a Chinese company or be taken over by American billionaires (why would anyone trust billionaires to better guard their privacy and police against dangerous lies?). Which gets us into a discussion about big money in politics, and big money in housing. And what happens if Trump loses but the election is close — will he contest it, and, if so, how? Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and (if ...
Mar 16, 2024•26 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where today Heather and I talk about Biden’s State of the Union address, the Republican reaction to it, what we learned from Super Tuesday, and Trump’s mounting troubles — ranging from the upcoming criminal hush-money trial to his cash crunch. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and, should you wish, take our poll: This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich....
Mar 09, 2024•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where Heather and I talk about the consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to consider Trump’s immunity claim; the House Republicans’ (in particular, Speaker Michael Johnson’s) refusal to consider the Senate’s bipartisan bill to tighten border security and provide funding to Ukraine; Russia’s continuing efforts to help Trump through social media lies; and the coming end of Mitch McConnell’s reign as Senate Republican leader. Please grab a...
Mar 02, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch. This week, Heather and I try to figure out why the Republican Party has become an enemy of democracy — refusing to fund Ukraine against Putin’s aggression, supporting Trump’s invitation to Putin to attack other European countries and his threat to leave NATO if he’s reelected, and giving legitimacy to attempts to substitute scripture for law (as did the Alabama Supreme Court in deciding that embryos are “children”) and embrace white Christian ...
Feb 24, 2024•31 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, This was not exactly Trump’s best week. New York Justice Arthur F. Engoron found Trump liable for conspiring to manipulate his net worth and ordered him to pay a penalty that will exceed $450 million — which, along with the $83 million judgment against him in the defamation suit brought by E. Jean Carroll — could wipe out his entire stockpile of cash. Meanwhile, a date was set for the hush money trial, in which Trump is alleged to have paid off a porn star to keep her quiet before the e...
Feb 17, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello friends, Welcome back to our Saturday Coffee Klatch, where Heather and I consider special counsel Robert K. Hur’s report emphasizing Biden’s age and memory loss. Was it politically motivated? Is Biden really too old to be president? We also examine the Supreme Court’s oral argument on Colorado’s decision to bump Trump from the ballot on the basis of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment; the decision of the three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that Trump doesn’t...
Feb 10, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello friends, Welcome back to our Saturday Coffee Klatch. Today is the South Carolina primary, but rather than spend much time on it (Trump will get his party’s nomination), Heather and I consider the remarkably good set of economic reports that emerged this past week and what, if anything, they mean for Biden’s reelection bid — plus why more than 70 percent of Republicans say the economy is terrible. We also look at the U.S. military’s attacks on Iranian forces and the militias Iran is backing...
Feb 04, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello friends, Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where today we explore the real story behind Trump’s so-called “wins” in the New Hampshire primary and last week’s Iowa caucuses — and why they’re actually big losses for Trump. After all, he was president between 2017 and 2021, and a former president has a presumed lock on his party’s nomination. What’s extraordinary is how well Nikki Haley did on Tuesday. We also talk with Congressman Ro Khanna — one of the sharpest and most progressiv...
Jan 27, 2024•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello friends, Today Heather and I look back three years to Biden’s inauguration and Trump’s no-show, and ahead to next week’s New Hampshire primary and the coming fight over funding for Ukraine — and wonder what happened to the Republican Party. Lots more to talk about today. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll. A paid or gift subscription will give you the whole package and enable us to do even more. Please consider. This is a public episode. If you’...
Jan 20, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hello friends, Today Heather and I look ahead to Monday’s Iowa caucuses — and ask whether Nikki Haley has a chance to become the Republican nominee in 2024. Or are Haley and DeSantis simply laying foundations for their 2028 runs, assuming Trump relinquishes his dictatorship then? Lots to talk about today. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And if you wish, take our poll. Please consider a gift subscription for someone you care about. They’d receive the whole package. And your gener...
Jan 14, 2024•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today marks the third year since the attack on the Capitol. The person responsible is now leading the race to become the Republican candidate for president, and, if polls are to be believed, is even leading incumbent President Joe Biden. Heather and I discuss whether Trump will ever be held accountable. We also address the so-called “crisis” at the border and the ouster of Harvard President Claudine Gay, as parts of the Trump-Republican strategy. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. ...
Jan 06, 2024•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast [Most of you wanted us back in video, so here we are.] This week, the secretary of state of Maine decided — as did the Colorado Supreme Court last week — that under Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, Donald Trump should not appear on the Republican primary ballot. So what will and what should the Supreme Court do? More generally, how are you feeling about 2024? These are among the questions Heather and I discuss on this morning’s klatch. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and ...
Dec 30, 2023•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast (We’re in audio only today, as several of you requested — but let us know in the comments if you’d rather we return to video.) This week, the Colorado Supreme Court decided that under Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution (which bars anyone from holding office if they’ve previously sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution and participated in an insurrection against the United States), Donald Trump should not appear on the ballot in Colorado. Maine’s secretary of state is now ponder...
Dec 23, 2023•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast Friends, Good morning and welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch. Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. Today, Heather and I examine: — The House Republicans’ impeachment of Joe Biden despite zero evidence of any wrongdoing. Why did every single Republican House member vote in favor, even those elected from districts that overwhelmingly voted for Biden in 2020? — Special Counsel Jack Smith went to the Supreme Court, asking it to rule on whether a president is immune from criminal ...
Dec 17, 2023•28 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
