The Bill Press Pod

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"The Right is Running a Revolution." With Presidential Historian Douglas Brinkley Oct 07, 2025

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In this episode historian Doug Brinkley discusses the unprecedented ways in which Donald Trump has pushed the boundaries of presidential power. Brinkley compares Trump's actions to historic moments, such as FDR's attempts to pack the Supreme Court and Lincoln's leadership during the Civil War, but notes that Trump's use of executive orders and his ability to intimidate fellow Republicans is unparalleled. The episode covers Trump’s potential to weaponize the National Guard for political gains, his circumvention of legal authority, and the broader implications for American democracy. Brinkley expresses optimism for the future but warns of the challenges posed by emerging technologies such as AI and deep fakes.

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"It's really brazen." The Reporters' Roundtable. October 3, 2025 Oct 03, 2025

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The Government Shuts Down. It’s About Healthcare. Who Leads the Democrats? Blue State Spending Cancelled. AI Meme Wars. Hegseth’s Embarrassment. Trump's Unhinged Speech to the Generals. No Nobel for Trump. With Linda Feldmann, White House Correspondent and Washington Bureau Chief for The Christian Science Monitor, Philip Bump, former Columnist for The Washington Post and Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at Huff Post.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Government Employees. More information at AFGE.org.

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Free Speech Under Attack with Leading Media Critic Matt Gertz Sep 30, 2025

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In this episode. Bill interviews Matt Gertz, Senior Fellow at Media Matters for America. They discuss various topics, including the recent media silence around a right-wing hate crime, the Jimmy Kimmel controversy, and the influence of corporate conglomerates on the free press. Gertz details how media giants often prioritize profit over journalism, resulting in increased vulnerability to political pressure. They explore how the Trump administration has attempted to manipulate the media landscape to favor its narrative, exemplified by threats from FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Attorney General Pam Bondi's remarks on hate speech. The conversation also touches on Donald Trump's admiration for authoritarian leaders and the implications for the First Amendment and press freedom in the United States.

Today Bill features the work of the World Central Kitchen run by Jose Andres. As the war goes on in Ukraine the World Central Kitchen is there, taking care of that war-torn country. More information at WCK.org

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"It's all just very blatant." The Reporters' Roundtable. September 26, 2025. Sep 26, 2025

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James Comey Indicted. The InJustice Department. Tom Homan Took $50,000. Trump at the UN. EscalatorGate. Trump’s Ukraine Flip. Kimmel Beats Trump. Trump Attacks Reporters. Kamala Harris Book Tour. With Jen Bendery, Reporter at Huff Post covering Congress, the White House and political campaigns, Evan McMorris Santoro, Reporter for NOTUS and contributor to the NOTUS Daily Newsletter 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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An Embarrassment for America: Trump at the UN. Sep 24, 2025

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A couple of technical issues prevented us from posting our usual Tuesday podcast. Instead, we are featuring the entire United Nations address by the President of the United States because the mainstream media whitewashes the President's ramble, lies, ignorance and narcissism. If you watch the evening newscasts, you’ll see and hear a few seconds of Trump making a point. But we don’t see and hear the absolute madness of what he says most of the time. We hope you will share this episode with friends and neighbors who do not yet understand what a threat he is to Americans and the world. If you'd rather watch the speech, than listen to it, you can do so here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/c_9kY6sz_Uc?si=AQ2B13T6cjpVS9cV or search “Trump UN full speech.”

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"A very chilling moment." The Reporters' Roundtable. September 19, 2025. Sep 19, 2025

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Kimmel Cancelled. FCC’s Carr: More to Come. Big Media Keeps Caving. Trump Attacks Reporters. Chilling Effect? AG Bondi vs. Free Speech. Right Wing’s New Cancel Culture. Will There be Accountability? With Sabrina Siddiqui, national politics reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Hunter Walker, investigative reporter for Talking Points Memo and Geoff Earle long time Washington correspondent for the Daily Mail and New York Post.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.org.

You can buy the new book by the President of the AFT, Randi Weingarten, Why Fascists Fear Teachers, here.

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Trump and The Fear of Knowledge. With AFT President Randi Weingarten. Sep 16, 2025

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In this episode, Bill speaks with Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), about the significant challenges facing education in the United States. They discuss the federal government's role in leveling the playing field for students, the importance of maintaining a Federal Department of Education, and the dangers of current political attacks on schools and teachers. Weingarten also talks about the impacts of school shootings and the lack of effective measures to keep schools safe. Furthermore, they delve into her new book 'Why Fascists Fear Teachers,' highlighting how autocratic regimes throughout history suppress education to stifle critical thinking and maintain control. The conversation underscores the urgent need for supporting public education and safeguarding democracy.

You can get your copy of Why Fascists Fear Teachers here:

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"It's all coming apart ."The Reporters' Roundtable. September 12, 2025. Sep 12, 2025

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Kirk Assassination. Pols are Fearful. Blame it on the Left. What About Guns? Epstein Birthday Book. The “Signature.” Government Shutdown? Dems Have No Plan. Who Gets the Blame for Shutdown? Which City Next Gets Troops. With Emily Goodin, White House Correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers, Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ-Roll Call and Igor Bobic, Senior Politics Reporter at HuffPost.

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

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The Mental Deterioration of Donald Trump: With Dr. John Gartner Sep 09, 2025

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In this episode, Dr. John Gartner, a clinical psychologist and former professor, discusses the mental and cognitive decline of former President Donald Trump. Dr. Gartner emphasizes that Trump's deteriorating condition, which includes signs of dementia, malignant narcissism, and potential bipolar spectrum disorder, was evident even before his presidency and has worsened over time. The conversation highlights Trump's frequent, erratic social media usage, his memory lapses, and his increasingly incoherent speech as symptoms that support this diagnosis. Dr. Gartner also expresses concern over the normalization of Trump's abnormal behavior by the media and political allies. The episode explores the potential dangers of Trump's unpredictability, especially regarding impulsive decisions that could have grave consequences. The episode concludes with a discussion about the importance of mental health evaluations for presidential candidates and the systemic failures that prevent the invocation of the 25th Amendment.

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"Never a dull moment." The Reporters' Roundtable. September 5, 2025. Sep 05, 2025

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Very Bad Jobs Report. Department of War. Attack on “Drug” Boat. RFK, Jr., Slammed. Epstein Survivors Speak. Files Release Stalled. Troops in DC. Troops To Chicago? Pritzker Fights Back. Will SCOTUS Stop Trump? With Jeff Dufour, Editor in chief at National Journal, Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for 19th News and Arthur Delaney, Senior Politics Reporter covering Congress and the economy for Huff Post.

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

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