The Bill Press Pod

Latest Episodes:

Great Presidents vs Donald Trump with historian Douglas Brinkley. Apr 16, 2024

Show notes

What can a deep dive into presidents of the past tell us about the potential of a Biden second term and the dangers of a Trump second term? For the answers we turn to Douglas Brinkley, a leading presidential historian. He is CNN's official Presidential Historian, a professor at Rice University and the author of 20 books. In this episode, Bill talks to Brinkley about the qualities of great presidents and the lessons we can learn from them. They discuss the importance of figures like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, who are often considered the greatest presidents in American history. Brinkley highlights their leadership during times of crisis, such as the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and World War II. They also discuss the changing role of the presidency over time, including the increased focus on foreign affairs and the environment. Brinkley emphasizes the importance of a president's ability to adapt to new technologies and effectively communicate with the public. They also touch on the current presidential election and the contrasting styles of Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Brinkley concludes by stating that this election is one of the most important in American history due to the potential consequences of a second Trump term.

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

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"It's going to be a bumpy ride." The Reporters' Roundtable-April 12, 2024 Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Trump on Abortion. AZ Abortion Bombshell North Carolina Gov’s Race. Mayorkis Impeachment. Immigration Salience. GOP House Chaos. With Jason Dick, Editor in chief at CQ-Roll Call, Katherine Tully-McManus, Congressional Reporter at Politico and author of its Huddle Newsletter, Jessica Taylor, Senate and Governors Editor at The Cook Political Report and Dan Merica, longtime political reporter writing these days in The Daily Beast.

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

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What makes a good president? With Historian Doug Brinkley. Apr 09, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Bill introduces a new series on the Bill Press Pod that will explore the history of American presidents and what qualities make a good president. He is joined by Douglas Brinkley, a leading presidential historian. He is CNN's official Presidential Historian, a professor at Rice University and the author of 20 books. They discuss the characteristics of a presidential candidate and the importance of messaging and communication. They also discuss the significance of vice-presidential nominees and the impact of past presidents on the current choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Brinkley emphasizes the need for a president who can unite the country and address the challenges of the world today. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the different visions of America represented by Biden and Trump.

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

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"This weird election cycle." The Reporters' Roundtable April 4, 2024 Apr 05, 2024

Show notes

2024 Money Battles. Trump: J6 “Hostages.” Christian Visibility Day. Trump’s Trials. The Abortion Issue. The Border Issue. No Labels/No Way. RFK,Jr. Still a Factor. OH, MD, AZ Senate Races. Down Ballot Effect? Biden on GAZA. With Ginger Gibson, Senior Washington Editor for NBC News, Allan Smith, Politics Reporter, NBC News, Philip Bump, National Columnist for the Washington Post, author of the book, The Aftermath and writer of the How to Read This Chart Newsletter and Amanda Becker, Politics and Washington Reporter for 19th News, author of the forthcoming book, You Must Stand Up: The Fight For Abortion Rights In Post-Dobbs America.

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

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Biden is Aging. Trump is dementing. With Dr. John Gartner Apr 02, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. John Gartner, a clinical psychologist and former Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Medical School, discusses his concerns about Donald Trump's mental capacity. He explains that Trump exhibits signs of narcissism, paranoia, antisocial personality disorder, and sadism, which are characteristic of a "planet-killing personality disorder." Gartner also suggests that Trump is showing signs of dementia, such as difficulty completing sentences and using language, and predicts that if reelected, Trump would become mentally incapacitated within four years. He contrasts this with Joe Biden, whom he believes is up to the job of president. Gartner emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing Trump's mental health issues and criticizes the media for normalizing his behavior and pathologizing Biden's aging.

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

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"They are certainly very loud ."The Reporters' Roundtable-March 29, 2024 Mar 29, 2024

Show notes

Bridge Collapse. $26MM Dem Fundraiser. Trump Selling Bibles. Democratic Unity. But, Enthusiasm Gap? NBC McDaniel Fiasco. Trump Dementia? RFK, Jr. Picks Rich VEEP. Trump’s Trials. With Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, White House/Politics Correspondent at Christian Science Monitor and host of the Monitor Breakfast, David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY 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

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Republicans Can Defeat Trump. With Bill Kristol Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Bill Kristol, Editor-at-Large of the Bulwark, discusses the current state of the Republican Party and the need for Republicans to speak out against former President Donald Trump. Kristol emphasizes the importance of supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia and criticizes Trump's handling of foreign policy. He also comments on Chuck Schumer's speech criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the partisan nature of support for Israel. Kristol concludes by condemning Trump's divisive rhetoric and its negative impact on the country.

Today Bill highlights the work of Bill Kristol’s organization, Republican Voters Against Trump. More information at RVAT.org

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"The Imaginary World of Donald Trump." The Reporters' Roundtable-March 22, 2024 Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

Trump/Dems Win in Ohio. Trump Predicts “Bloodbath.” Biden-Harris on the Road. Trump Not So Much. Tulsi-Marco Veepstakes. Trump Cash Crunch. Schumer Bidi Fallout. Trump Attacks Dem Jews. With Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief at the Chicago Sun-Times, Alex Seitz-Wald, Senior Digital Politics Reporter for NBC News and Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief at The National Journal.

Today Bill highlights the work of Razom for Ukraine, an organization dedicating to helping the Ukrainian people. Not with weapons or ammunition, but with healthcare, food assistance and community services. More information at RAZOMforUkraine.org

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"Democrats have to worry." With CNN's Ron Brownstein. Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Ron Brownstein is one of the sharpest analysts of American politics. He is a Senior CNN Political Analyst and a Senior Editor for The Atlantic. In this podcast Ron Brownstein discusses the upcoming California senatorial election and the potential impact of Steve Garvey's campaign. He also discusses the national political scene, including Mike Pence's decision not to endorse Donald Trump for a second term and the potential implications for other Republicans. Brownstein also analyzes the potential impact of Benjamin Netanyahu's policies on US-Israel relations and the Democratic Party. He discusses the ongoing debate over reproductive rights and its significance in the upcoming election. Finally, he talks about the role of third-party candidates and the potential impact on the election outcome. Ron's CNN work can be found here. His work for The Atlantic here.

Today bill highlights the work of Jose Andres world central kitchen. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza gets worse, the world central kitchen comes to the rescue ready to provide thousands of meals at the new temporary port being built by the United states armed forces. You can help the world central kitchen in this work and their work all around the world by going to their website at WCK.org

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"Political Catnip." The Reporters' Roundtable-March 15, 2024 Mar 15, 2024

Show notes

TikTok Ban. Special Counsel Hearing. Schumer Slams Bibi. Impeachment Fail. Biden Jokes on Age. Trump Tears Down USA. VP to Abortion Clinic. With Emily Goodin, Political Reporter for DailyMail.com and Arthur Delaney, Political Reporter for HuffPost.

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

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