The Bill Press Pod

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The GOP is in trouble... because of Trump. With CNN's Ron Brownstein. Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Bill interviews Ron Brownstein, senior political analyst at CNN and columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. They discuss the results of the November 4 elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, and California, and the unmistakable warning signs these results hold for Republicans. Ron highlights the importance of voter attitudes toward the incumbent president, which have increasingly influenced election outcomes. Despite negative views of the Democratic Party, voters' disapproval of Trump played a decisive role in Democratic victories. The conversation also covers the impact of economic dissatisfaction on Trump's approval ratings and the challenges Republicans face in overcoming this negative sentiment. Additionally, they delve into the significance of the recent government shutdown battle and its implications for future elections. Finally, the discussion touches on the generational shift within the Democratic Party and the prospects for Democrats to regain control of the House and Senate in 2026.

Today Bill highlights the work of the Democratic Governors Association. There are some great Democratic Governors who might end up as the Democratic Presidential candidate. More information at DemocraticGovernors.org

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"It's wild to see ." The Reporters' Roundtable. November 7, 2025. Nov 07, 2025

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Democratic Sweep. Affordability and Trump Key. GOP’s Struggles. New Blood Wanted. GOP More Blamed for Shutdown. Nancy Pelosi Retires. What’s Up With MTG? Dick Cheney’s Legacy. With Sabrina Siddiqui, National Politics Reporter at The Wall Street Journal, Linda Feldmann, White House Correspondent and DC Bureau Chief at The Christian Science Monitor and Philip Bump, former Columnist for The Washington Post and author of the How to Read This Chart Newsletter. You can follow Philip's work at HowtoReadThisCh.art

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org

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Retribution: Donald Trump, and the Campaign That Changed America. With ABC News' Jonathan Karl. Nov 04, 2025

Show notes

In this episode Bill sits down with Jonathan Karl, Chief Washington Correspondent for ABC News, to discuss Karl's latest book 'Retribution: Donald Trump, and the Campaign That Changed America.' The conversation covers Karl's unique relationship with Trump, including a personal call on the morning after the election, and a detailed discussion on Hunter Biden's significant yet tumultuous role in Joe Biden's political circle. They delve into Trump's comeback, the shocking revelations from January 6th, and the key moments leading up to Trump's re-election. The episode also examines Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' reflections on their political futures, an extraordinary account of Trump supporter Pamela Hemphill's journey, and current polling data revealing significant dissatisfaction with Trump's second term. Karl provides substantial insights through newly uncovered documents and personal anecdotes, making for a compelling discussion on current American political dynamics.

You can order your copy of Jon's latest book here.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers’ International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org.

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"He loves big bombs." The Reporters' Roundtable. October 31, 2025. Oct 31, 2025

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Shutdown Continues. Blame Game. Any Movement? Trump: Kill Filibuster. House Still Out. Trump Flattered in Asia. Nuclear Testing? NYC Mayor’s Race. VA and NJ Governor’s Race. CA Redistricting Fight. With Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for 19th News, Igor Bobic, Senior Politics Reporter for HuffPost and Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter at NOTUS.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org

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Crafting a Magnetic Message. With Democratic Strategist Anat Shenker-Osorio. Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Bill speaks with Anat Shenker-Osorio, a political strategist and messaging expert, about the state of Democratic messaging ten months into Donald Trump's second term. Shenker-Osorio critiques Democrats' reliance on polling and failure to effectively communicate their message to voters. She contrasts this with effective messaging strategies, citing examples like Zohran Mamdani and the importance of agenda-setting. Shenker-Osorio stresses the need for Democrats to adopt a more proactive and consistent messaging approach, focusing on key issues like affordability and framing the opposition as authoritarian. She also discusses current topics like AI-generated videos and California's Prop 50, emphasizing the importance of voter engagement and resistance to authoritarian tactics.

You can follow the great work of Anat Shenker-Osorio on Blue Sky at @anatosaurus.bsky.social.

Her podcast, Words to Win By: WordsToWinBy-pod.com

Her writings on Substack: substack.com/@anatosaurus

Today Bill highlights the work of The American Civil Liberties Union. More information at ACLU.org.

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"This is Brave New World Territory." The Reporters' Roundtable. October 24, 2025. Oct 24, 2025

Show notes

Trump Tears Down Whole East Wing. “Privately” Funded Destruction. Trump Demands $230 Million. Johnson Knows Nothing. Shutdown Goes On and On. Does Trump Care? At “War” with Venezuela? No Putin Summit. Trump Poops on America. AI’s Cost to Truth. With Emily Goodin, White House Correspondent for McClatchy Media, Allan Smith, Political Reporter for NBC News and Kirk Bado, Editor, National Journal Hotline.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org

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Elie Mystal on the Supreme Court's "bigoted, miserable Republicans." Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Bill speaks with Elie Mystal, the Justice Correspondent at The Nation, about the current state of the U.S. Department of Justice, particularly focusing on its role under the Trump administration. The discussion highlights recent indictments of political figures, the Department of Justice's shift towards serving Trump's political agenda, and the questionable legal merit of these indictments. They delve into the Supreme Court’s new session, discussing its selective case acceptance process and the conservative majority’s influence on the court’s docket, including key issues like voting rights, presidential powers, and the overall shift to the right. The conversation also addresses the potential impact on minority rights, particularly LGBT Americans, and criticizes Democrats for not taking a stronger stance on court reform. Mystal underscores the urgency for Democrats to focus on judicial appointments and court expansion to counterbalance the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.

Bill referenced Elie’s work for the Nation Magazine. You can read his work here: thenation.com/authors/elie-mystal/

Today Bill urged us to support the ACLU. More information at ACLU.org

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" We've got a lot of weird things going on." The Reporters' Roundtable. October 17, 2025. Oct 17, 2025

Show notes

Bolton Indicted. Retribution Continues. Is Adam Schiff Next? Putin Trump Summit-Again. Will Gaza Deal Hold? Shutdown Continues. SCOTUS vs Voting Rights Act. GOP’s Racist “Kids.” No Kings Protest. With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief of CQ-Roll Call, S. V. Date, Senior White House Correspondent for HuffPost and Cameron Joseph, Senior Washington Reporter for the Christian Science Monitor.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.

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"Run for Your Lives:" Norm Ornstein on Republican Bad Faith and Cowardice. Oct 14, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Bill speaks with congressional scholar Norm Ornstein about the deteriorating state of the United States Congress. They discuss the book Ornstein co-authored 13 years ago, 'It's Even Worse Than It Looks,' focusing on how the Republican party has evolved into an 'insurgent outlier.' Ornstein shares his personal history working in the Senate since 1970, citing a loss of 'institutional patriotism' among Republicans and their complete subordination to Donald Trump. He criticizes current congressional leadership, particularly Mike Johnson, and highlights issues like the Senate’s blind approval of Trump nominees and the failure of effective oversight. Ornstein also addresses the implications of a government shutdown, the misuse of the Justice Department for political retribution, and the need for an effective Democratic response. He ends on a somber note, comparing current political dynamics to the erosion of democratic norms seen in history, suggesting that the road to recovery is uncertain and fraught with challenges. (No kidding.)

Norman Ornstein is a political scientist, co-host of the podcast “Words Matter,” and author of books, including “It’s Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided with the New Politics of Extremism.”

Today Bill highlights the work of one of his favorite morning reads, The Bulwark. A great website and media company founded by Never-Trump Republicans which is at the forefront of The Resistance. You can check it out at TheBulwark.com.

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"There is no evidence they are thinking." The Reporters' Roundtable. October 10, 2025 Oct 10, 2025

Show notes

No Trump Nobel. Trump’s Retribution Continues. No Shutdown Talks. Who Gets the Blame? Who Gets the ACA Subsidies? Trump’s Mideast Deal. With Jeff Dufour Editor-chief of The National Journal, John Bennett, White House correspondent for CQ Roll Call and Mia McCarthy, Congressional Reporter for Politico.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UIFCW.org.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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