Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

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GOP Senate candidate Larry Hogan vows to ‘stand up to the crazy’ on both sides Oct 05, 2024

Show notes

Former Maryland Governor and current Republican Senate nominee Larry Hogan sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss why he’s running to flip a seat long held by Democrats and what he will do if he wins.

Hogan, who was popular even among Democrats when he left office in 2023, makes the case for Maryland voters to support him over Democrat Angela Alsobrooks, vowing to be an independent voice in the Senate and a check on the extremes of both parties.

Hogan assesses the vice presidential debate, criticizing J.D. Vance’s “whitewash” of January 6th but praising the civil tone of the event. Hogan defends his own refusal to support Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in November and details concerns he has about electing either of them.

Hogan also addresses America’s role in the world as tensions rise between Israel and Iran, his stance on abortion rights, and the prospect of a post-Trump Republican Party.

Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Hillary Clinton braces for an October surprise, warns of Trump 2.0 threat Sep 28, 2024

Show notes

Hillary Clinton sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about threats to press freedom around the world, crises in the Middle East, and the stakes of the 2024 election.

In a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York City, the former secretary of state assesses the dangers faced by journalists abroad and in the U.S.

Clinton–who is out with a new book, “Something Lost, Something Gained”--reflects on her efforts to evacuate women and their families during the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and offers insight on campus protests against the war in Gaza.

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee also speaks extensively about the risks to democracy she sees in a second Donald Trump presidency, the Republican Party’s softening stance on Russia, and the possibility of an October surprise upending the race for the White House.

‘I’d be a fool to dredge that up’: Bill O’Reilly faces questions about harassment settlements Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

Bill O’Reilly sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his latest book, the presidential race, and the sexual harassment allegations that led to his firing from Fox News.

In Confronting the Presidents, O’Reilly and co-author Martin Dugard present essays on each of the nation’s presidents. O’Reilly defends their depiction of Herbert Hoover and his approach to history.

He addresses the presidential debate and the potential impact of the assassination attempts on Donald Trump, as well as how conservative media has changed since he left cable news in 2017 and figures like Tucker Carlson gained prominence.

Hoover then questions O’Reilly about the harassment allegations against him and the cultural issues raised by the fact that he has gotten a second chance at success while some of his accusers struggle to find work in television.

Fmr. Trump economic adviser: Harris agenda is ‘consistent with the socialist playbook’ Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

Economist Kevin Hassett joins Margaret Hoover to talk about economic policies laid out by former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in their debate this week.

Hassett, who chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump administration, defends Trump’s handling of the economy both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and blames the Biden administration for the spike in inflation since then.

He assesses Harris’ “opportunity economy” agenda and the potential impact of policies like small business tax credits, housing down payment assistance, and taxing unrealized capital gains. He also explains why he sees Harris’ policies as socialist.

Hassett outlines how Trump’s first-term tariffs worked and how Trump may approach trade policy in a second term. He also reflects on the Republican Party’s evolving position on free trade.

Hassett discusses the likelihood of an interest rate cut and the importance of an independent Federal Reserve. He also addresses whether the economy is in a recession and whether Trump returning to the White House poses a threat to democracy.

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.

California Sen. Alex Padilla makes the case for Kamala Harris Aug 24, 2024

Show notes

CaliforniaSen. Alex Padilla sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris, his longtime friend and colleague.

The son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla was appointed to Harris’ seat after she won the vice presidency in 2020. An MIT graduate, he initially hoped to become an aerospace engineer. But he was instead drawn to politics when, in 1994, California voters passed a proposition banning undocumented immigrants from public services, including education and non-emergency health care.

Padilla quickly rose through the Democratic ranks in the state, forging close relationships with figures like Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. After Newsom picked him to serve out the remainder of Harris’ term, he easily won the seat outright in 2022.

In Washington, Padilla is known as a fierce advocate for immigrants and their families. He discusses his opposition to President Biden’s border crackdown this year, and his hope that Harris handles immigration issues differently. He also defends Harris’ economic agenda, and lays out an argument for why all Americans — in particular Latino voters — should support the Democratic ticket in November.

Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch says America is ‘over ruled’ Aug 17, 2024

Show notes

Justice Neil Gorsuch sits down with Margaret Hoover at the Supreme Court to talk about his new book, Over Ruled, and his concern that America has “too much law.”

In its recent term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, a precedent established in 1984 that required judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting unclear statutes. Gorsuch explains why that longstanding approach had imposed unfair costs on many, including fishermen, immigrants, and the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s six-toed cat.

Gorsuch discusses how bureaucrats and judges may approach regulation in a post-Chevron world and what it will take to confront the dangers of over-criminalization. He also reflects on why conservative views on Chevron evolved over time and how lawmakers in both parties have increasingly come to recognize the problem.

With public trust in the Supreme Court at a record low, Gorsuch addresses the need to restore confidence in the court, but he declines to wade into the political debate over term limits for justices or other controversies surrounding the court. He also explains why he remains optimistic about America’s future despite rising polarization and division.

GOP Sen. and combat vet Joni Ernst on Ukraine, antisemitism, and restoring civility Aug 10, 2024

Show notes

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.

Why the 2024 election will be free and fair, according to three experts Aug 03, 2024

Show notes

Margaret Hoover discusses what it will take to ensure a secure and accurate vote count in 2024 with three experts: Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Republican election lawyer Ben Ginsberg, and David Becker of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research.

Ahead of Firing Line’s “Counting the Vote” documentary–premiering on PBS on Aug. 27–the experts address how election administration has changed since the contested election of 2020 and the challenges that could arise this fall.

Becker, Benson, and Ginsberg break down the proven best practices for election systems, assess an unprecedented wave of pre-election litigation, and explain why they are so confident Americans’ votes will be counted accurately.

The experts also rebut Republican claims about noncitizens voting and push back against conspiracy theories amplified by Elon Musk accusing Democrats of “voter importation.”

James Carville says Democrats are ‘in a better position’ with Harris instead of Biden Jul 27, 2024

Show notes

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.

Is the 2024 race over? Only if Dems stick with Biden, Mike Murphy says Jul 20, 2024

Show notes

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.

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