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Fighting for the working class.  A strategy to rebuild the power of labor unions.  Why Democrats need to take a stand for blue collar voters in 2020. Plus, the political ambitions of Michael Pence.   Why the time has come for sectoral bargaining. Bill Press on how Democrats can win back working class voters. And a conversation with Tom LoBianco on his new biography of Vice President Mike Pence.   Bill Press One of the most pivotal issues for Democrats heading into 2020 is how to win back working class voters. For Bill Press, there’s a clear path that begins with economic justice and refuses to accept making a choice between race and class.   David Madland Against the backdrop of declining membership, a different way of organizing workers is gaining support. Sectoral bargaining not only has the potential to rebuild union membership.  David Madland says it can lead to better working conditions for all workers and reduce economic inequality.   Tom LoBianco Why Donald Trump and Michael Pence are joined at the hip

The path to progressive change. The transformative potential of intersectional politics. Why progressives must fight for the states. Plus Bill Press on the politics of impeachment.   Why Democrats need to talk about race and class. Plus, how the path to progressive renewal runs through the states. And Bill Press catches up on the impeachment inquiry with Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.    Sherry Lee Linkon Too often, the challenge for Democrats in this political moment  is framed as one that pits voters of color against the white working-class.  Sherry Lee Linkon argues for an intersectional politics that embraces the complexity of American voters and transcends the singular categories of race and class.     Meaghan Winter In her new book, journalist Meaghan Winter writes that Democrats have largely ceded control of state governments to the GOP, allowing them to rig our political system and undermine democracy itself. She says that winning state and local races is c

The erosion of democracy under Donald Trump, and how to reclaim America with a progressive populist agenda.  Plus Bill Press on the Trump kleptocracy.   An extended conversation with Robert Kutner about his new book “The Stakes: 2020 and the Survival of American Democracy”. And Bill Press talks with David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post about President Trump's history of profiting off his presidency.    Robert Kuttner Pt. 1 In his latest book, Robert Kuttner makes the case that Donald Trump has brought American democracy perilously close to the brink, and that it will only get worse if he wins a second term.  He argues for a revival of New Deal-era populism to bring us back from the edge and begin to repair the damage.   Robert Kuttner Pt. 2 We continue our conversation with Robert Kuttner, author of “The Stakes: 2020 and the Survival of American Democracy” about Democrats pursuit of an all-out progressive economic agenda.     David Farenthold  What we need to know about Trump's money.  Bill Press talks wi

Wake Up Calls. How right wing policies are killing the voters who support them.  Plus, the truth about the Koch Brothers and their powerful reach. And Bill Press talks with Congressman Mark Pocan.   “Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland.” Plus, “Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America”. And Bill Press talks Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI),  Co- Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.   Johnathan Metzl Why are so many working-class white Americans  willing to support policies that are making them sick and may even lead to their death? That’s the question that led Johnathan Metzl to spend six years talking to Trump supporters. And what he found out tells an alarming story about the politics of race and its impact on public health.   Christopher Leonard The phrase “Koch brothers” has become synonymous with the outsized influence of wealth and conservative ideology on American politics.  And for good reason. In his new

The Future of Politics. Republicans in a battle with a new America, and what that means for progressive Democrats. Plus, is President Trump fit to serve? Bill Press takes it on.   An extended conversation with Stanley Greenberg on his new book RIP GOP: How the New America Is Dooming the Republicans. Plus, Bill Press talks with mental health experts about why they fear the President is a danger to the nation.   Stanley Greenberg Progressive democrats are not only fighting to get Donald Trump out of the White House,  but for a new alignment of politics in America that will realize a progressive agenda on everything from jobs and immigration to health care and the climate. Pollster and author Stanley Greenberg says the nation is ready to respond, and Republicans are set up for a shattering defeat.   Jerrold Post and Bandy Lee Bill Press on Donald Trump’s  state of mind and why mental health experts are taking an unusual public stand to warn the public.   Jim Hightower Look who’s joining the struggle against corp

Reframing white identity. Reforming elections. Plus Bill Press on the politics of how we talk about Israel.   Richard D. Kahlenberg on the limits of white identity politics. Joshua A. Douglas on the growing movement for voting rights reform.  Plus Bill Press with a progressive perspective on US-Israeli relations.    Richard Kahlenberg Richard Kahlenberg is a scholar who has written extensively on the interplay of race and class in education.  He has been called “the intellectual father of the economic integration movement” in schooling. In a recent book review, he takes on the  issue of “white identity”, its influence on American politics, and the need for a national identity and politics that bridge racial divides.   Joshua A. Douglas Amid dire news about our broken electoral system and efforts to suppress American voters, a new book from Joshua A. Douglas offers an optimistic view drawn from the stories of people across the nation fighting for free and fair elections.   Bill Press Bill Press on why criticis

Taking a stand for workers. How workers around the world are fighting for a living wage.  The labor campaign for health care justice. Plus Bill Press with former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.   Author Annelise Orleck takes us inside the global uprising against poverty wages. The grassroots labor movement for Medicare-for-All.  Plus, Bill Press with former Trump aide turned critic Anthony Scaramucci.   Annelise Orleck Annelise Orleck is a longtime historian of labor movements. In this encore interview, she talks about her newest book and tracking the growing fight across the globe for workers rights and a living wage.   Mark Dudzic  The Labor Campaign for Single Payer Health Care believes that health care is a fundamental human right for everyone. In this encore interview, Mark Dudzic says it’s up to unions to take the lead and fix our broken health care system.   Anthony Scaramucci Bill Press asks former Trump aide Anthony Scaramucci about why he is fighting to make sure the Presiden

The populism we need now. Revisiting the fight against gerrymandering . Plus Bill Press on Donald Trump’s broken vision of immigration.   David Daley on how to restore fairness and democracy to elections. John Judis and a progressive vision of populism and nationalism. Plus Bill Press on how to solve America’s immigration crisis.   David Daley The Supreme Court’s decision on partisan gerrymandering dealt a huge blow to the future of democratc elections in America.  David Daley is one of the nation's leading experts on partisan gerrymandering. He says it’s not too late to fight back.   John Judis Across the globe, nationalism and populism  are being co-opted by the right, and democracy is paying the price. Veteren journalist John Judis says it doesn’t have to be that way.  He says the left needs to embrace both ideas for the promise they hold for a progressive and inclusive politics.   Tom Jawetz Bill Press gets to the truth about immigration with Tom Jawetz, Vice President for Immigration Policy at the Center

Standing up for Truth. The evolution of Trump’s attack on the press.  A new commitment to covering climate change. Plus calling out the GOP effort to sabotage health care.    Donald Trump’s assault on truth and how we repair the damage. Why journalists are signing up to give the climate story the coverage it demands. Plus Bill Press on what’s at stake if the Affordable Care Act is struck down.    Kyle Pope Kyle Pope says the science is clear, but too often journalists are not. For too long, the U.S. media have downplayed and distorted  the climate change story, with devastating consequences. That’s why he has co-founded a new initiative involving over 60 news organizations to get the story right.   Brian Ott Well before his inauguration, Donald Trump launched a virile assault on the press and the very notion of truth itself. Since then, the attacks have only escalated. Brian Ott is a communications scholar who examines the intersection of rhetoric, media and democratic discourse.  He says the President has sp

The Politics of Race: Past and Present, plus a defining moment in the history of AIDS in the United States   The GOP’s Southern Strategy from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump.  Plus former Virginia governor Terry McAulife on the growing threat of white nationalism in America today.   And Bill Press on the story behind the first ever AIDS ward in the United States.    Terry McAuliffe Terry McAulife served as the 72nd Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. He was chair of the Democratic National Committee from 2001 to 2005, was co-chair of President Bill Clinton's 1996 re-election campaign and chair of Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign.  It was during his recent term as Governor that the infamous Unite the Right Rally took place in Charlottesville and led to the deaths of three people. Dozens more were injured. In his new book Beyond Charlottesville: Taking a Stand Against White Nationalism, the former governor offers a behind the scenes account of that day, and his thoughts on what the nation should s

Building a Movement for Deep Change.  Confronting the power of concentrated wealth. Overcoming the new Jim Crow. Plus, how to defeat the NRA.   The entrenchment of American wealth and political power. A faithful movement to end mass incarceration. Plus  Bill Press with Igor Volsky founder and the Director of Guns Down America.   Paul Starr In a new book, Paul Starr argues that much of our politics today is a struggle over the historic entrenchment of great wealth through political power. And if Donald Trump gets re-elected, this entrenchment will only deepen.   Billy Honor With nearly 2.3 million prisoners behind bars, the United States is the incarceration capital of the world. Our next guest is part of a new interfaith movement that is calling for an end to what they describe as a moral injustice and one of the dominant expressions of systemic racism in our country today.   Igor Volsky Can America end its love affair with guns?  There’s more progress than you may think. Bill Press talks with Igor Volsky aut

Delivering on the promise of economic security. Why social security works, and NAFTA 2.0 doesn’t. Plus Bill Press with DNC Chair Tom Perez on why the party of Lincoln is dead.   Why social security isn’t going broke and how expanding it will help all of us. Who wins and who loses under Trump’s renegotiated NAFTA.  Plus, DNC Chair Tom Perez tells Bill Press how history will judge Donald Trump and the Republicans who support him.   Arthur Stamoulis President Trump’s hoping to fast track his renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement with a promise that he has the best plan for American workers. Arthur Stamoulis says the plan falls far short of that promise,  and a lot more work is needed for a NAFTA replacement to benefit working people and the planet.   Nancy Altman On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Social Security Act. It remains one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history. Few can  speak better to that than Nancy Altman. Countering t

Give voters a bigger voice. Building the movement for automatic voter registration. Making the case for ranked choice voting. Plus Bill Press with ex Fox news reporter Carl Cameron.   How a new organization is taking on the fight for election integrity. Ranked Choice voting in Maine explained. Plus, why one Fox news reporter left the network and what he’s doing now.   Sean McAlwee Sean McAlwee has spent half a decade bringing cutting edge data analysis to progressive advocacy. His work has been cited by politicians at the national, state and local level. And now, he’s part of a new coalition to secure American elections without every infringing on an eligible voter’s right to vote.    Kyle Bailey Maine has been at the forefront of the movement to implement ranked choice voting. And Kyle Bailey has been a leader in that movement. He says it’s a way to make democracy work better for all of us.   Carl Cameron Bill Press talks with journalist Carl Cameron about life after Fox News and why he launched a new progre

Sounding the alarm. Military spending nears historic highs, and climate change as a public health emergency.   This week, why 74 medical and health groups are calling climate change the   “greatest public health challenge of the 21st century.” How cutting the Pentagon budget will make the country stronger.  And Bill Press goes deep on religious freedom with Rachel Laser, CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.   Lindsay Koshgarian President Trump and the Republican led Senate is pushing a bill that would increase military spending to over 750 billion dollars. Lindsay Koshgarian says the Pentagon’s budget is already near an historic high,  and cutting it down is the best path to real American security   Barbara Gottlieb Dozens of the United States’ most prominent health organizations have come together to sound the alarm over climate change as one of the greatest threats to public health our nation has ever faced. Barbara Gottlieb says the time is running out to take action.   Rachel Laser

Building an economy that works for everyone, and how to pay for it. Plus, the decline of diplomacy under Donald Trump.   A moral budget to end poverty in America.  The massive failure of the GOP tax plan. And a conversation with Wendy Sherman, lead negotiator on the Iran nuclear deal.   Shailly Gupta Barnes In June, the Poor People’s Campaign, along with the Institute for Policy Studies released a “Moral Budget” to end poverty in America. Shailly Gupta Barnes is one of its authors and she says it’s a necessary response to the needs of all Americans.   Frank Clemente President Trump’s tax cut plan is proving to be a huge give away for corporations and the wealthy.  Frank Clemente offers a progressive plan for tax reform that can bring fairness to the American economy.   Wendy Sherman Bill Press talks with Ambassador Wendy Sherman on the possibility of war with Iran and the narrowing space for diplomacy under Donald Trump.   Jim Hightower How to get Congress to reform our broken healthcare system.

America on Edge. The growing threat of an unnecessary war. Plus, undermining democracy tweet by tweet. And Bill Press’ take on the Democrats’ debate.   A failing foreign policy and the path to military confrontation. Plus, the President on Twitter and the damage it does. And a Bill Press review of the second night of the Democratic debates.   Joseph Ciricione Joseph Ciricione is nuclear expert and a respected voice on American foreign policy. He says a President inept at foreign policy and a national security team focused on domination could lead to disaster   Brian Ott Brian Ott is a communications scholar whose most recent book is a deep dive into Donald Trump’s  tweets. He says what the President says on twitter and the way he does it is an assault on democracy and decency.    Bill Press A Bill Press review of the second night of the Democratic debates.   Jim Hightower Why a 70% tax rate on the super rich would be good for America  

Expanding the reach of progressive populism.  How Democrats can win again in small towns and rural communities with a populist message. Reclaiming democratic populism as the American project. Plus, new answers to the deepening crisis of economic inequality in America.   The progressive populist issues that resonate with rural voters. The potential of populism to rebuild democracy.  And Bill Press takes a deep dive into income inequality with Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.   Matt Hildreth Matt Hildreth is an organizer working in small town and rural America. He says it’s time for progressive Democrats to reshape their message to rural Americans with a populist agenda, and begin by letting go of stereotypes.   Harry C. Boyte Harry C. Boyte is an activist and scholar who focuses on the power of citizen engagement to connect to the common good. He says that democratic populism has the potential to reignite civic agency in America with a history that includes his ow

The front lines battles over America’s future.  The right wing’s online assault on American values. The conservative takeover of state politics. And the Republican attack on the right to vote.   A deep dive into digital warfare and the  threat to American democracy. Plus how conservative donors, activists, and businesses are reshaping politics at the state level.  And Bill Press talks with the head of The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law about how to fight back against voter suppression.   Peter Daou Peter Daou is a veteran blogger, digital strategist and political operative.  His new book takes us inside the online world of right wing extremism. He argues it’s a battle for the soul of America and all of us need to engage.   Alexander Hertel-Fernandez Author and scholar Alexander Hertell Fernandez says that progressive democrats need to rethink their fight to gain and keep control in state politics. His new book examines how conservative donors, activists, and businesses are using their power to t

People Powering Change.  Teachers at the front line of progressive politics. Mothers leading the fight against gun violence. Plus Bill Press with Representative Jamie Raskin.   Mothers take on the gun lobby.  Plus, how a wave of teachers strikes in red state America is changing the political landscape. And on his new podcast,  Bill Press talks impeachment with Representative Jamie Raskin .   Shannon Watts In the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook, Shannon Watts started a movement. Built on the fundamentals of grassroots organizing and the unstoppable power of mothers,  “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” now has 6 million supporters nationwide, with chapters in all 50 states. In a new book, she tells the story of its success.   Eric Blanc In 2018, in some of the reddest states in our nation, teachers led  a series of walkouts demanding not only better pay for themselves, but better schools for the children they teach.  Writer Eric Blanc embedded himself in this unlikely and powerful rebellion for an

Looking ahead to 2020. Winning over the white working class.  What will it take? Plus, making the case for a national popular vote.  And, Bill Press with an early look at the upcoming Democratic primary debate.   What progressive Democrats need to do now to regain the white working class vote.   Plus, inside the movement for a national popular vote and the difference it could make. And Bill Press talks The Guardian’s Lauren Gambino on what to expect at the first Democratic primary debate.   Justin Guest Justin Guest has written extensively about our nation’s white working class voters.  In this encore interview, he says that Democrats still have a long way to go, to regain the ground they’ve lost to Donald Trump.   Karen Hobert Flynn As it stands now,  the 2018 midterms popular vote went overwhelmingly in favor of Democrats in the House with a margin not seen since 1974. And once again, that did not necessarily translate into electoral wins.  In an encore interview, our next guest says it’s time to value all