The Bill Press Pod

Mark Robinson: Black Nazi. GOP Still Lying About Haitians. Vance Makes It Up. JD Complains About Rhetoric: Trump’s the Offender. Confused Trump. Rate Cut/Economy. Shutdown Farce. With Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico, Arthur Delaney, Politics Reporter for HuffPost 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 Bill also talked about Washington Post Columnist Dana Milbank and his funny and sad new book, Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chapter One of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trumps’s Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants, including so-called "dreamers." The author of the serialized “2025: A Novel” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how these policies, if implemented, would violate civil liberties and human rights in an alarming and unjust manner. The podcast series aims to raise awareness of the very real dangers posed by Trump's extremist agenda and the disturbing implications of "Project 2025" for the American people. You can read Chapter One of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025 pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. Heather Thomas J. Smith Cameron Omid Abtahi, Kirk Acevedo and Bayo Akinfemi. Audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Larry Sabato is the Founder and Director of the University of Virginia Institute of Politics. There is no better political analyst in the country. Here are the key points he made in today’s Bill Press Pod: The 2024 presidential election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is seen as a very close race, with no clear frontrunner. Sabato believes Harris performed well in the first presidential debate, getting under Trump's skin effectively. However, the debate likely only moved the needle slightly in the polls. Sabato is skeptical of polls showing Harris with a comfortable lead, as he believes some Trump supporters are not being honest with pollsters. He points to significant polling misses in recent elections as evidence that the polls cannot be fully trusted. He expresses concern about the reliability of polls in key battleground states like Wisconsin, where polls have significantly underestimated Trump's performance in recent elections. He sees the vice presidential debate as a potential wild card, with Vance potentially struggling to match the performance of Harris's running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. Sabato is critical of Republican members of Congress who have not stood up to Trump, saying they are putting their party's interests ahead of the country. Today urges our listeners to support endangered Senators Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester through ActBlue.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Debate: Strategy. Debate: No Strategy. Dogs, Cats, Geese. MAGA Rumor Mill. GOP Abortion Problem. Harris Powerful on Abortion, Trump Waffles on Abortion. Harris Credible as POTUS. Another Debate? Shutdown Re-run. With David Jackson, National Political Correspondent for USA TODAY, Jeff Dufour, Editor in chief at The National Journal and Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter at NOTUS. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Teachers. More information at AFT.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reporters’ Roundtable regular and Political Correspondent for19th news, Amanda Becker is back with a quick reaction to last night’s debate. Her book "You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post Dobbs America" makes her one of the foremost experts on the battle for abortion rights ands its impact on politics. As expected, Abortion was a major topic. Amanda gives her informed reaction to both Harris and Trump. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our guest today is Reporters’ Roundtable regular and Political Correspondent for19th news, Amanda Becker. Her book "You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post Dobbs America" provides valuable insights into the battle for abortion rights. It was published today. She and Bill discuss the book and the overturning of Roe V Wade and its impact on the 2024 election although the 2024 election is expected to be decided mostly on personalities rather than policy. However, one of the central issues that may come into play is reproductive rights. Kamala Harris is a longtime leader and supporter of abortion rights, while Donald Trump, a former abortion rights supporter, is now the country's anti-abortion leader. Each of the 50 states is trying to navigate the post-Dobbs reality, which has resulted in chaos. The issue of abortion rights is gaining importance among voters, particularly women under 45. The impact of abortion rights on voter turnout and candidate races remains to be seen. It is expected that Trump will try to avoid giving a clear answer on his stance on abortion, while Harris will likely keep the conversation focused on this issue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania. Harris Still Not Well Known. Liz Cheney for Harris. Harris on Small Business. Trump on What?? Debate Will be Key, With Gabe Debenedetti, National Correspondent for New York Magazine, Jasmine Wright, reporting on the Presidential campaign for NOTUS and Geoff Earle, US Deputy Political Editor of MailOnline.com. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill and Jonathan Martin discuss the state of the 2024 presidential race. Martin is the Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist for Politico. They agree that Kamala Harris has a slight advantage, but the race is still a toss-up. They discuss the importance of key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, as well as the potential impact of issues like abortion and immigration. They also talk about the role of Donald Trump and the choice between two different personalities in this election. They observe that Joe Biden will be campaigning with Kamala Harris in Pittsburgh, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and discuss the potential future of Democratic politicians like Gavin Newsom and Josh Shapiro. Overall, the election is seen as a referendum on Donald Trump and his presidency. Today Bill urges you to contribute whatever you can to Democratic candidates up and down the ballot at ActBlue.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CNN Interviews Harris. Walz Was There, Too. Trump Still Flails vs Harris. Trump in a Box on Abortion, IVF. Trump Violates Arlington Rules. Vance’s Awkward Events. RFK, Jr. Endorsement Effect. With Maya King, Politics Reporter covering The South for The New York Times, Philip Bump, National Columnist for The Washington Post, author of the How to Read this Chart Newsletter and author of the great book, The Aftermath: The Last Days of the Baby Boom and the Future of Power in America, and Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, White House/Politics Correspondent at The Christian Science Monitor. 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.

Washington Post Columnist Dana Milbank and Bill discuss the recent changes in the American political scene. Dana Milbank expresses his surprise at how dramatically the political landscape has shifted in just a month. He initially expected an unpleasant political season but now finds it to be an interesting story. They also discuss the Democratic National Convention and how it compared to expectations. Dana Milbank mentions that there were fewer protests and conflicts than anticipated. They highlight the use of words like "joy" and "freedom" by Democrats during the convention. They also discuss Kamala Harris and her emergence as a strong candidate. Dana Milbank believes she is the antidote to the darkness portrayed by Trump. They touch on Trump's reaction to the convention and his inability to focus on policy rather than personal attacks. They discuss JD Vance's campaign and his lackluster performance, as well as the upcoming debates between Trump and Harris and between Vance and Tim Walz. Dana Milbank expresses his belief that Harris has the advantage at this moment due to her energy, fundraising advantage, and momentum. Dana has a new book coming Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House. You can pre-order here. Bill takes Michelle Obama's convention advice to “do something.” In this case contribute what you can to Democratic candidates up and down the ballot at ActBlue.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Harris: Who I Am. On Offense on Border. Addressed Palestine. Protests Fizzle. Trump Freaks Out. Walz Connects on Family. Joy! Freedom Takes the Stage. Provoking Trump. RFK, Jr. Dropping Out. With Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief for the Chicago Sun-Times, Amanda Becker, Washington and Politics Reporter for 19th News and author of the new book, YOU MUST STAND-UP, The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America, out next month and Jason Dick, Editor in chief at CQ Roll-Call. Today Bill thanks all of the great unions who have supported progressive media. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill's reactions and insights from the Convention on day three. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill's reaction to another wonderful day at the Democratic National Convention. The joyful Roll Call, the Speeches from Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Michelle and Barack Obama. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wow. What a first night of the Democratic National Convention! Bill was on scene talking to delegates and politicians. Get his reactions and insights. Plus highlights of the best speeches including Harris, AOC, Rafael Warnock, Hillary Clinton, Jill Biden and Joe Biden. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump Embraces Personal Attacks, Can’t Stay on Message. Vance, GOP Abortion Fail. Trump Trashes Congressional Medal of Honor Winners. New Level of Democratic Enthusiasm. RFK, Jr. Crashing. Evangelicals for Harris. What to Expect at The Democratic National Convention. With Ginger Gibson, Senior Washington Editor at NBC News, Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico and Emily Goodin, Senior White House Correspondent for DailyMail.com Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercials Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In today’s episode, Dahlia Lithwick, the Senior Legal Correspondent for Slate Magazine, discusses President Biden's proposed reforms to the Supreme Court. Lithwick believes that Biden's efforts this time are more meaningful and that it is important to have a conversation about potential changes to the court. She highlights the need for term limits for justices, stating that it would keep ideas fresh and depoliticize the institution. Lithwick also emphasizes the importance of a binding code of conduct for justices, as it would hold them accountable for ethical issues. She mentions that there are bills in Congress to address these issues. However, Biden did not mention increasing the number of justices, which Lithwick believes is outside of what he is willing to support. Bill and Dahlia also briefly touch on ongoing cases involving Stormy Daniels, the January 6th attack on the Capitol, and the documents case. Today Bill highlights the work of The Constitution Accountability Center, preserving the rights and freedoms of all in America and protecting our judiciary. More information at TheUSConstitution.org. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump’s Lying Presser: Fake Helicopter Crash. Sexist Attack on Harris. Abortion Delusion. MLK Crowd Whopper. And Harris’ CA Record. How Long Will “Joy” Work? Walzmentum. “Swiftboat” Attacks. Debate Expectations. CA Senate, House Races. With Joe Garofoli, Senior Political Writer, San Francisco Chronicle, Melanie Mason, Senior Political Writer at POLITICO California and Marisa Lagos, Politics Correspondent, KQED News. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

John Nichols is the National Affairs correspondent for The Nation and associate editor of The Capital Times in Madison Wisconsin. He discusses the political landscape and the excitement surrounding Kamala Harris as Joe Biden's running mate. He reflects on the energy and momentum she has generated in just a few days since the announcement. Nichols also discusses the response from Republicans, including some who have not endorsed Trump. He believes that America is ready for a woman, especially a woman of color, to be president. He criticizes Trump's response to Harris and highlights the comfort level within the Republican party for statements that were once considered unacceptable. Nichols also discusses the potential for debates between Harris and Trump, emphasizing the need for fair rules and structures. He predicts that Harris will continue to gain support in the polls and will receive a bump from the Democratic convention. Nichols and Bill speculate on the potential vice presidential candidates, focusing on Governor Walz and Governor Shapiro. They discuss the importance of having someone from the Midwest and the progressive records of both candidates. They also mention Bernie Sanders' expected endorsement of Harris. Finally, Nichols emphasizes the importance of the 2024 election and the opportunity for a united government that works for the American people. 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.

Political Sea Change. Will Honeymoon Last? Trump’s Racist Attack. Will They Debate? JD Vance “Weird” and Struggling. No GOP Convention Bump. The Weird Factor. VP Search Ending. Biden’s Prisoner Swap. With Alex Seitz-Wald, National Politics Reporter for NBC News, Kirk Bado, Editor of The National Journal Hotline and Evan McMorris-Santoro, Reporter for NOTUS. Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Autoworkers Union. More information at UAW.org See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode Bill talks with Jamal Simmons, former Communications Director for Vice President Kamala Harris in the White House. He discusses the remarkable launch of Harris as the new Democratic nominee, highlighting the success of various Zoom calls organized by different groups to raise funds for her campaign. Simmons describes Harris as someone who is attentive to the needs and perspectives of different communities and has a keen mind for asking questions. He believes that Harris, having been elected in California three times, has the campaigning experience and skills necessary for a general election. Simmons also mentions that Harris's background as a law enforcement officer and her progressive approach to prosecution could be an asset in the campaign. He emphasizes that Harris is not afraid to talk about reproductive freedom and believes that she will focus on issues such as abortion rights, childcare, healthcare, and space exploration. Simmons dismisses JD Vance's first week as lackluster and suggests that there may be buyer's remorse among Republicans. He also speculates on the possibility of Donald Trump replacing Vance as his running mate. Simmons concludes by discussing the qualities Harris should look for in a running mate. He expresses optimism about the future of the Democratic Party and the strong bench of potential candidates for VP. Today, Bill suggests we support Kamala Harris by going to ActBlue.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.