The Bill Press Pod

Latest Episodes:

Trump is "The Biggest Loser." With ABC News' Jonathan Karl Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

This is Jonathan Karl's third book on Trump, the three privately known together as the "Treason Trilogy." Karl is ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent. The book is Tired of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party . You can get your copy here. The book is based on his interviews with Donald Trump and top Trump officials, and paints a picture of a chaotic and directionless White House under Trump's leadership. Karl argues that Trump personally led the charge to overthrow the government on January 6th and remains a clear and present danger to democracy. He also discusses the loyalty Trump demands from his supporters and the potential consequences if Trump were to be reelected in 2024. Karl concludes by urging voters to understand the stakes and the potential dangers of a Trump return to power.

Today Bill highlights the work of the Laborers' International Union of North America. A union at the heart of the American Labor Movement. More information at LIUNA.org

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Dinner With the President. Breaking Bread at the White House Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Special for the day after Thanksgiving. What a president eats can tell you a lot about the man. What he serves to people at the White House is also revealing. All that is the subject of a new book by Alex Prud’homme, Dinner With The President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House. You can buy it here. Prud’homme is the author, with his great aunt Julia Child of My Life in France, a New York Times bestseller and the inspiration for half of the movie, Julie and Julia. He's also written several important nonfiction books so he is well positioned to look at food and politics at the White House.

Today Bill has a great holiday gift idea! One of a kind, hand-loomed rayon chenille and bamboo scarves by his weaver wife, Carol Press. Check out the beautiful and unique designs at CarolPressScarves.com.

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Life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and DC with George Stevens, Jr. Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

John Kennedy, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, Edward R. Murrow, James Earl Jones, Steven Spielberg, Laurence Fishburne, Robert Wagner, Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and George Stevens, Sr., just a few of the people we meet in Bill's interview with George Stevens, Jr. In addition to working with his father, the legendary film director George Stevens. Sr., George Stevens, Jr. was a successful producer and director in Hollywood before being lured to Washington as a member of Edward R. Murrow’s team at the United States Information Agency during the Kennedy administration. Stevens founded the American Film institute and created the Kennedy Center Honors. He ran those for 37 years, interacting with the greatest artists and performers of our time and presidents from Carter to Obama. He's captured it all in a new book, a memoir, entitled My Place in the Sun: Life in the Golden Age of Hollywood and Washington. You can get your own copy here.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. America's most diverse union, as they like to say, from A to Z. From airline pilots to zookeepers. More information at teamsters.org

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"The Real Challenge." The Reporters' Roundtable November 17 Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

GOP Reps Fight Club. Santos Doomed. Israel Divides Democrats. GOP Abortion Woes. Trump’s Vermin Libel. Biden’s 2024 Themes. Biden-Xi Summit. Pandas! With Ginger Gibson, Senior DC Editor for NBC News, Alex Seitz-Wald, Senior Digital Reporter for NBC News, Amanda Becker, covering DC and politics for 19th News and Igor Bobic, Senior Political Reporter 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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Network of Lies with Brian Stelter. Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Brian Stelter is one of the top reporters covering the media. After covering media for The New York Times, he had a long career at CNN on the same beat as host of the weekly show, Reliable Services. He is a Special Correspondent for Vanity Fair. And the author of the new book, Network of Lies: The Epic Saga of Fox News, Donald Trump, and the Battle for American Democracy. You can buy a copy here. Bill and Brian explore the close relationship between Fox News and Donald Trump. Stelter discusses how Fox News hosts coordinated with White House officials to spread false information about voter fraud after the 2020 election. He also highlights the extent to which Fox News and Trump are intertwined, and how this relationship has influenced the network's coverage. Stelter argues that Fox News has become an extreme and anti-democratic outlet, and that the media as a whole is struggling to cover a radicalized Republican Party. He also touches on the coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the challenges faced by journalists reporting from the region.

Today Bill gives a shoutout to the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA. They secured an historic settlement with the studios gaining compensation from streaming and protections from Artificial Intelligence. After the Writers Guild and United Auto Workers wins it sure looks like unions are back!

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"It's like an onion." The Reporters' Roundtable November 10 Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

KY: Beshear Wins. VA: Youngkin Loses. OH: Abortion Rights Wins. Joe Manchin’s Future. 3rd Party Threats. GOP Debate: Why? Trump Confused. Ivanka Testifies. Shutdown Looming. With Lynn Sweet, columnist and Washington Bureau Chief at the Chicago Sun-Times, John Bennett, Editor-at-Large & Analysis Columnist, CQ Roll Call, writer of the CQ Afternoon Briefing and Emily Goodin, U.S. political reporter for DailyMail.com.

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Trump on Trial with MSNBC's Barbara McQuade Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

The day after Donald Trump testified in his own defense in a New York courtroom, Bill talks to MSNBC and NBC News legal analyst Barbara McQuade. McQuade is a former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and a professor at the University of Michigan law school. She is one of four great lawyers on very popular podcast, Sisters-in-Law. Barb and Bill covered a lot of ground. Former President Donald Trump testifying in his own defense in a courtroom is an unprecedented event. He attacked the judge, prosecutors, and the justice system during his testimony. Trump is facing 91 criminal counts in a string of cases, and it is challenging to keep track of all his legal challenges. McQuade believes that Trump's strategy is to protect his reputation in the court of public opinion rather than help himself legally. McQuade also discusses the possibility of Trump being found guilty in various cases and the potential consequences, including fines and the cancellation of business certificates. She also discusses the likelihood of Trump appealing a guilty verdict and the legal arguments he may use. Finally, McQuaid touches on cases challenging Trump's eligibility as a presidential candidate based on the 14th Amendment.

Barbara McQuade has a new book coming out next year, Attack from Within: How Disinformation Is Sabotaging America. Available for pre-order now.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the Laborers International Union of North America, Or LIUNA. Their members are rebuilding America. Check out their website at LIUNA.org

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"Juicy Stuff." The Reporters' Roundtable November 3 Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

Israel/Ukraine Aid. Tuberville Slammed. No House Censures. No Gun Safety Action. VA, KY and MS Elections. Abortion Salience? Youngkin for Prez? Phillips In. Pence Out. Haley Boomlet. Favorite Stories. With David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY, Arthur Delaney, Political Reporter for Huff Post and Lauren Burke, Writer for Black Press USA.

Today Bill highlights the great success of the UAW in getting historic wage increases for workers at the Big Three U.S. automakers. Unions are making a comeback!

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New Speaker Mike Johnson, with NY Times Chief Washington Correspondent, Carl Hulse Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, Bill discusses the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, with guest Carl Hulse, Chief Washington Correspondent for the New York Times. Hulse has covered Congress over the course of three decades and is the Dean of Hill correspondents. They discuss Johnson's conservative views, his relationship with Donald Trump, and his religious beliefs. Hulse also speculates on how Johnson will navigate the challenges of leading the House and working with Democrats. They also touch on other topics such as gun control and the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. The episode concludes with a discussion on the recent shooting in Lewiston, Maine and Congressman Jared Golden's change of stance on gun control.

As the world spirals out of control, And most of us feel helpless to stop it, one man and one organization runs toward the crises. That man is Jose Andres, and the organization is his World Central Kitchen. They are on the ground in hot spots around the world including the hottest of them all, Israel and Gaza. They're feeding the innocent civilians caught up in this war. Please support their work by going to their website, WCK.org.

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"MAGA Mike." The Reporters' Roundtable October 27 Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

New and Unknown Speaker. Who is Mike Johnson? Can He Lead the House GOP? Three Trump Lawyers Plead Guilty. Meadows Cooperates. The Politics of Israel. Maine Massacre. With Linda Feldmann, Washington bureau chief, White House/politics correspondent at Christian Science Monitor. Host of the Monitor Breakfast, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of The National Journal and author of the Sunday Nightcap Newsletter and Zach Cohen, Congressional Reporter for Bloomberg Government.

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

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