The Bill Press Pod

Latest Episodes:

Tad Devine: "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie." And the Lessons for 2026. Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

Bill frames current Democratic primaries as “establishment versus outsider,” citing races in New York City, Maine, and Michigan, and introduces Bernie Sanders’ former strategist Tad Devine and his book, "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie." Devine recounts the first Sanders presidential planning meeting at Press’s home, explains why Sanders ran to elevate issues like wages, healthcare for all, climate change, and campaign finance reform, and describes how Sanders’ large email list fueled unprecedented small-dollar fundraising. Devine argues the 2016 nominating system—including superdelegates, limited debates, DNC coordination with the Clinton campaign, and a voter-file shutdown—was stacked against Sanders, and says Sanders would have beaten Donald Trump. Looking to 2026, Devine urges Democrats to let voters decide primaries, prioritize authenticity and economic issues, curb big-money influence, and mobilize to stop Trump.

You can get your own copy of Tad Devine's book at Bookshop.org.

Once again, Bill highlights the necessity of winning the midterms for Democrats to stop Donald Trump and his enablers. If you can support the cause financially, the best and easiest place to do that is ACTBLUE.com.

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"I don't see how this ends." The Reporters' Roundtable. July 10, 2026. Jul 10, 2026

Show notes

The Iran War Continues. Bad for the GOP.

New Airforce One Fail. Platner Out.

Convention for Maine. Good for Susan Collins?

How D’s and R’s Handle Sex Scandals.

Where is Mitch? GOP Needs His Vote.

4 Governors Races Shift Toward Democrats.

Political Generation Gap. Trump and Communism.

With Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of the National Journal and Jessica Taylor, Governors and Senators Editor at The Cook Political Report.

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

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"The Roberts Court is a democracy-breaking machine." With Slate's Dahlia Lithwick. Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Bill talks with Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick about the Supreme Court’s 2025–26 term, arguing it is decisively the Roberts Court and increasingly deferential to President Trump, especially through heavy reliance on the shadow docket, where Trump has won many emergency orders without signed opinions or reasoning. They discuss major rulings: a narrow outcome on birthright citizenship that Lithwick warns could be revisited; a decision granting broad presidential immunity; decisions expanding presidential power to fire heads of independent agencies; and immigration rulings allowing removal of Haitian and Syrian immigrants’ Temporary Protected Status and restricting asylum. Lithwick also highlights Voting Rights Act and redistricting decisions, expanded campaign spending, and a tariffs loss for Trump tied to economic stability concerns. Press closes urging Democrats to win the Senate to block future Court appointments.

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A Break from Politics: The Animals We Love. With NPR's Scott Simon. Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Bill felt we all needed a break from Politics and so this Fourth of July edition of the Bill Press Pod features NPR’s Scott Simon, discussing Simon’s book, Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known, and his family’s view that animals are members of the same family as humans. Simon shares stories about early pets like Penny the German shepherd and Hoppy the grasshopper, including how caring for Hoppy revealed his father’s ingenuity during a difficult time. He also talks about current pets Daisy the French poodle and Gato Blanco, an oversized, opera-loving cat who frequently interrupts home interviews. Simon reflects on animals’ roles in art and literature and recounts moving examples from covering Sarajevo and Hurricane Katrina where people risked danger or refused evacuation to protect their pets, leading to changed evacuation policies. Bill closes by previewing a Supreme Court discussion with Dahlia Lithwick next Tuesday.

You can order Scott’s new book at Bookshop.org.

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The Right Messaging and Messengers for the Midterms. Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Bill talks with political strategist and messaging consultant Anat Shenker-Osorio about what Democrats should say—and who should say it—heading into the midterms to check Trump 2.0. Shenker-Osorio argues Democrats must combine an affordability agenda with a clear villain frame, calling Trump’s team “bullies for the billionaires,” and pair warnings about authoritarianism with credible promises to act as a real check, not just “shout fire.” She says corruption messaging is not automatically a Democratic advantage because many voters believe all politicians are corrupt, and criticizes party leaders like Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Amy Klobuchar for ineffective communication. And the need for money has pols spending too much time on donor-driven “call time.” They discuss campaign “magnetism,” lessons from New York races and Zohran Mamdani’s focus on concrete benefits, Jon Ossoff’s anti-corruption appeal, backlash from James Carville, and the mixed calculus around Maine candidate Graham Platner’s working-class message amid allegations about past behavior.

Today Bill urges you to support Jon Ossoff by going to ACTBlue.com.

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"It felt like the Twilight Zone." The Reporters' Roundtable. June 26, 2026. Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Housing Bill/SAVE Act Chaos.

POTUS/Senate Shouting Match.

House/Senate Just Go Home.

Midterms GOP Panic.

NYC Democratic Socialists Win.

Mamdani Flexes Power.

Jeffries and Schumer Wounded.

But Some Centrists Win.

Reflecting Pool Debacle.

SCOTUS Backs Trump.

With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ Roll Call, Kirk Bado, Managing Editor of National Journal’s Hotline, Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at Huff Post and Savannah Behrmann, Congressional Leadership Reporter, 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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"The greatest strategic defeat the United States has ever suffered.” With Joe Cirincione. Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

Bill talks with national security analyst Joe Cirincione about Trump’s shifting claims on Iran and argues the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) functions as a ceasefire and “surrender document” after a war the U.S. and Israel could not win. Cirincione says the MOU mainly restores shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while leaving core U.S. objectives—curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment and missile forces—unmet and deferred to talks, and he notes Trump’s renewed threats violate the pledge to refrain from force or threats of force. He contrasts the deal with the JCPOA, the Obama Nuclear Deal, saying Trump lifts broader sanctions than the JCPOA, allows Iran to sell oil, and leaves Iran geopolitically stronger, with demonstrated leverage over the strait and Gulf economies. They discuss costs rising from Pentagon estimates to broader economic impacts, Netanyahu’s (and Trump’s) massive miscalculation and political fallout here and in Israel. Jared Kushner’s role and conflicts, and broader alliance strains including NATO.

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"A very inconvenient Truth." The Reporters' Roundtable. June 19, 2026. Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Shaky Iran Agreement. Vance Attacks Israel.

Worse Deal Than Obama’s. The Politics of War.

Where is Rubio? Jon Ossoff Rising.

Obama’s Shade Trump. Reflecting Pool Fail.

With Olivier Knox, Senior national political correspondent, US News & World Report, Maya King, Politics Reporter at The New York Times andand Erika Filter, National Campaign Correspondent for The National Journal Hotline.

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

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Trump's Mob-Style Government. With Barbara McQuade. Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

Bill talks with legal scholar and former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade about her book, "The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government," arguing that core democratic principles—rule of law and equality before the law—are eroding under Donald Trump. McQuade describes Trump’s tactics as extortionate and mob-like, pressuring institutions such as law firms, media, universities, and allies, and warns that Congress has failed to check executive overreach while the Supreme Court’s shadow docket and unitary-executive approach can enable it. She says DOJ independence has been damaged by political payback efforts and cites examples of alleged lawbreaking and self-dealing, including tariffs, Iran action, emoluments-style profiteering, and a proposed tax-related settlement. McQuade outlines “fixes” including restoring DOJ norms, extending ethics rules, and structural reforms like ranked-choice voting, independent redistricting, and overturning Citizens United, emphasizing elections and accountability, including reviving the election-interference case after Trump leaves office.

You can get McQuade’s great new book at Bookshop.org.

Today Bill directs listeners to ACTBlue.com, your one stop shop for donating to the causes and candidates you support.

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" All this is embarrassing." The Reporters' Roundtable. June 12, 2026 Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

Iran War Over? Its Political Impact.

“I Love the Inflation.” Pain at the Pump.

UFC at the White House. GOP and Masculinity.

Platner vs. Collins in Maine. Sleeping Trump.

With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ-Roll Call, Amanda Becker, National Reporter for 19th News and Philip Bump, senior editor and columnist at Hearst Connecticut.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers" International Union of North America. 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.

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