The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

Latest Episodes:

Is Kevin McCarthy toast? Kudos to the courts! Joe Biden should not bow out! Sep 30, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.

This morning we look at:

— The life and death of Senator Dianne Feinstein (who was a friend to both of us). What’s her legacy likely to be?

— The pending shutdown. Is Kevin McCarthy toast?

— This week’s Republican debate. Does anyone care?

— Kudos to the courts. Judges are making Trump accountable. If Trump gets reelected (perish the thought), can he merely stop all this litigation?

— We’re approaching Biden’s last exit ramp before the election year. He should not bow out, despite mounting pressure. We’re for him, 100 percent. Are you?

— Heather’s segment: real life examples of the common good. What’s your real-life example of the common good?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Why Trump wants a chaotic government shutdown, a crippling auto strike, and no more money for Ukraine Sep 23, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

This morning we examine:

— Kevin McCarthy’s Republican House mess. Will there be a shutdown? Almost certainly. Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump pushing for this?

— The UAW strike. When will it be resolved? Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump hoping for a long strike?

— Bonus question: Why is Trump against giving more U.S. aide to Ukraine? (Hint to all of these questions: Because Trump wants to blame Biden.)

— Democratic wins this week in special elections. They’re more predictive than national polls. Does this bode well for next year?

— The mainstream media talks about Biden’s age and supposed feebleness. Why not Trump’s age and genuine craziness? Isn’t it worse to elect a nutcase than someone who’s old?

— Heather’s policy of the week.

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and (if you’re so inclined), take our poll and share your views.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

What do polls mean anyway? Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

— The awful polls showing Donald Trump running neck-and-neck with Joe Biden. How is that possible? Should we be concerned?

— Biden as much more progressive than Bill Clinton or Barack Obama. Why don’t people see this? Why do young people think Biden is more conservative than Clinton and Obama?

— Elon Musk’s extraordinary unaccountable power to determine who has access to his satellites, in the war between Ukraine and Russia. How in hell did the State Department and the Defense Department ever allow Musk to accumulate this sort of power?

— Weekend plans: Bob is heading to a wedding this afternoon, and Heather is heading to a fundraiser at a state park with a woman friend. Is it harder to find new friends later in life? Are women better at maintaining friends than men? A final action item!

Thank you once again to the composers of our Saturday Coffee Klatch theme songs, Corey Kaup / Deirdre Broderick and Joseph Lawson, respectively.

Please pull up a chair, grab a mug, and join in the conversation. And also, if you wish, take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Labor Day weekend, Bob’s bad cold, Trump’s bad defense strategy, the House’s bad GOP, and Heather’s son’s bad worries. Sep 03, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

Today we look at:

— The “Goldilocks” economy — inflation is coming down, but we’re not heading into a recession. Yesterday’s jobs report showed continuous buoyant growth of jobs. Why?

— The Labor Department’s new overtime rule will help millions of workers. (Why Bob wants to write a love letter to the Labor Department.) Will this rule be implemented?

— Why Trump wants House Republicans to impeach Biden. Will he succeed? Is he panicking?

— Heather’s 10-year-old son wonders about school shootings. What should we be telling our children as they head back to school?

Please pull up a chair, grab a mug, take our poll (if you wish), and join in the conversation.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Trump sucks the oxygen out of the week: His arrest, mug shot, and absence from the GOP debate Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

This morning we’re looking at:

— Trump’s arraignment in Georgia on Thursday, and his brazen use of imagery and marketing to circumvent rational thought. Is this the tactic of a fascist?

— The Republican primary debate Wednesday evening, which exposed the GOP candidates’ extreme positions on abortion, climate, immigration, and education. Did any of them emerge as an alternative to Trump?

— Biden’s “Goldilocks” economy continues, although Fed Chair Jerome Powell continues to insist that inflation is too high. If the Fed raises interest rates further, will it push the economy into recession?

— Why Heather is a dog person and Bob is a cat person.

Please respond in the comments and, if you wish, take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Trump, the upcoming Republican primary debate on Fox News, and Bill O’Reilly Aug 20, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

— Trump’s FOURTH indictment, this one in Georgia, and why it could be the one that sends him to jail.

— The upcoming Republican primary debate, and why Trump’s simultaneous “counter-programming” with Tucker Carlson on Elon Musk’s Twitter/X may backfire.

— The continuing tragedy on Maui, and why young people are leading the way in the fight against climate change.

— The discovery of a videotape of my guest hosting Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News TV show in the late 1990s, and why I did that.

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And also, if you have a moment, please take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

The walls closing in on Trump Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

— Merrick Garland’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Will this hurt or help Joe Biden?

— Judge Tanya Chutkan’s threat to take “whatever measures are necessary” to stop Trump from intimidating potential witnesses in his upcoming trial for seeking to overturn the 2020 election. What will Trump do next?

— The tragedy in Hawaii and the mounting costs of climate change. Yet Trump is readying a “Project 2025” to roll back environmental regulations and spur more carbon pollution if elected. Hello?

— The UAW’s demand in negotiations with the Big Three automakers that worker pay rise by the same percentage as CEO pay. What’s the back story here?

— The truly remarkably great economy. Why isn’t Biden getting credit, and should we worry?

— DeSantis bars Romeo and Juliet from Florida classrooms, and Ohio Republicans vote against a constitutional amendment that would have made it harder to protect abortion rights. What’s really going on with the GOP?

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and, if you wish, take our klatch poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Trump, Jobs, and Musk Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

Good morning and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we’re looking at:

— The Trump arraignment in Washington on Thursday. What was notable? What does it suggest about Trump’s future?

— Friday’s jobs report. Are we about to have a “soft landing” — getting inflation down to 2 percent while avoiding a recession? And if so, how responsible is the Biden administration for this Goldilocks economy? (And by the way, why isn’t Biden getting credit from the public, at least as yet?)

— Elon Musk’s X threatens to sue a nonprofit that’s been monitoring hate speech on Twitter X. Is Musk out to make X into a major source of hate in America? Will he succeed?

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and, if you wish, take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Heather and I debut before a live audience! Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

Welcome back to our Saturday coffee klatch, where Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action, and my former student) and I discuss the highlights and lowlights of the week.

Today we share with you our discussion before a live audience at the San Francisco Arts and Lectures series. We focus on:

— Parallels between what occurred in the midterm elections of 2022 and the midterms of 1954 (the first election I focused on, when I was eight years old).

— How political communication has changed over the last half-century.

— Why and how I got involved in social media, film, and video, including TikTok.

— How young people are processing information online, especially information about public issues.

— Questions from the audience.

Please join us, and feel free to take today’s poll.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

The pending Trump indictment: Where will it end? Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

Friends,

Today, on our roster:

— The pending Trump indictment for his attempted coup. When will it drop? What does it mean? Will it strengthen democracy or drive us farther apart? Where will this end?

— The “unitary executive” theory that Trump will likely utilize should he be reelected, along with several Republican-appointed justices on the Supreme Court. What is this theory, and why is it troubling? Where will this end?

— The Republican Party’s emerging strategy for 2024. Will it be all about Democrats’ alleged persecution and prosecution of Trump? Where will this end?

— The “No Labels” attempt at a third party. Is this going anywhere, and, if so, should we be pleased or worried, and why? Where will it end?

— More sources of big money behind Clarence Thomas. Where will this end?

— The hottest June on record. Where will this end?

— The summer of labor activism. Where will this end?

— Heather’s upcoming family reunion.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

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