America's Democrats

Reclaiming populism and rebuilding civic power in an era of crisis. Plus, Bill Press on the casualty of truth in the era of Trump.

Rogers M. Smith on returning populism to its progressive roots.  K. Sabeel Rahman on realizing an inclusive and responsive democracy for the future. Plus Bill Press with Brian Stelter on the toxic political mix of Donald Trump and Fox News.

1. Sabeel Rahman is a leading scholar of democracy, law, and inequality.  

In his newest book, co-authored with Hollie Russon Gilman, he calls for a transformative model for democracy reform that fundamentally redistributes power to citizens. And it couldn't come at a more critical time.

Rogers M. Smith’s newest book is a deep dive into what populism could and should mean in the future of American politics. It offers a road map to how progressives can build a populist movement that better reflects its inclusive values.

Why Trump’s unprecedented relationship with Fox New is a threat to democracy.  Bill Press talks with Brian Stelter,  author of Hoax: Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit BillPressPods.com.

CEO tricksters cut their pay without bleeding.

The past, present and future of progressives in the Senate.  A leading political forecaster on who will win in November. Plus, Bill Press with a progressive’s take on electing a moderate to the White House.

Senator Sherrod Brown on his latest book Desk 88: Eight Progressive Senators Who Changed America. Professor Allan Lichtman on why he’s calling 2020 for Biden. Plus, Bill Press with Representative Mark Pocan on promoting progressive values in a potential Biden Whitehouse.

Senator Sherrod Brown’s most recent book offers a timely history of 20th-century American progressivism. Along the way he makes a compelling case to believe in the future of the Progressive idea in American politics.

Allan Lichtman is a political historian renowned for predicting the outcome of presidential elections. The secret he says is to keep your eye on the big picture of the strength of the incumbent president’s party.

Bill Press  with  Representative Mark Pocan on why he believes progressives will support a Biden-Harris ticket. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit BillPressPods.com.

The Dow Jones v. The Doug Jones

White rage and the political forces that drive it and benefit from it. Plus, Bill Press continues his series on the growing threat of Donald Trump’s mental state.

An extended conversation with scholar and author Carol Anderson on the history of White rage against Black advancement and it’s continuation in Trump’s modern day politics of grievance. Plus, Bill Press on the impact of Donald Trump’s mental imbalance on the mental health of our nation.

Carol Anderson’s 2016 book on White rage remains a classic text in our national conversation about race. In a broad sweep of history, she demonstrates how any significant advance toward racial justice in US history has been met with powerful political backlash.

We continue our conversation with Carol Anderson, author of One Person, No Vote: How Voter Suppression is Destroying Our Democracy and White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide. 

Bill Presscontinues his series on Donald Trump’s mental health and what that has to do with the mental health of millions of Americans. If you'd like to hear the entire series, visit BillPressPods.com.

Where did the Republican Party go?

Economic Justice and the forgotten history of the March on Washington. The origins of right wing populism and the future of the GOP. Plus, Bill Press continues his series on the growing threat of Donald Trump’s mental state.

How Black unionists organized the 1963 March for Jobs and Freedom.  How Republicans used organized money and organized outrage to become the party of plutocrats. Plus, Bill Press on why psychiatrists are saying Trump is unfit to hold office and cannot change.

William P. Jones has written extensively on the history of labor unions and race. In his highly acclaimed book on the 1963 March on Washington, he reminds us of the critical role of Black trade unionists in making that historic event happen.

In his newest book, Jacob Hacker, and his co-author Paul Pierson, offer a groundbreaking account of the dangerous marriage of plutocratic economic priorities and right-wing populism, and how it threatens American democracy.

Bill Press with contributors to the New York Times bestseller The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump discuss the pathologies that control Donald Trump and put American democracy at risk. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit BillPressPods.com. 

Trump’s bassackwards government

At the crossroads of history. The political state of play and what Democrats have to do to turn an advantage into victory. Plus, Bill Press continues his series on the growing threat of Donald Trump’s mental state.

Stanley Greenberg on the failing vision of the GOP.  Ruy Teixeira on why Democrats need to build an even bigger tent. Plus, Bill Press on why psychiatrists are speaking out to say Trump is unfit to hold office.

Stanley B. Greenberg is a pollster who has worked for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Tony Blair, and Nelson Mandela. He says that even as polls failed to predict Trump’s victory in 2016, believe them now when they predict his defeat.

Ruy Teixeira specializes in the study of demographic change and its impact on elections. He says that even with demography on their side,  Democrats still need to reach out beyond the ranks of its most supportive groups.

Bill Press talks with leading psychiatrists about why they are putting their careers on the line to warn us about Trump’s mental state. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit Bill Press pods dot com.

Save our Post Office… and our right to vote

A defining moment for progressive politics in America. Plus, another attempt to sabotage the census. And Bill Press on why Trump is more dangerous now than ever before.

The enduring legacy of Henry Wallace's anti-fascist, anti-racist politics. Trump’s unconstitutional attempt to erase undocumented immigrants. Plus, Bill Press talks with leading psychiatrists about the growing threat of Donald Trump’s mental state.

Seventy five years ago, Vice President Henry Wallace was one of the most progressive Democrats of his time. In his newest book, journalist John Nichols follows the rise and fall of Wallace in Democratic Party politics and says it’s a story we cannot afford to forget.

Donald Trump is not  giving up in his fight to exclude noncitizens from the census. And Dale Ho is not giving up in his fight to stop Trump, and to ensure all communities are treated with dignity and respect.

Why leading psychiatrists are warning us about Trump’s mental state and why we need to reclaim reality. Bill Press with contributors to the New York Times bestseller The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump.

 If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit BillPressPods.com.

How intractable is CEO greed?

Words Matter. President Donald Trump’s increasingly dangerous rhetoric.  Plus, trade wars as class wars. A new way of thinking about the global economy. And a seasoned political strategist offers a roadmap for Democratic victory  in November.

The dangerous effect of Trump’s toxic language and how to fight back.  Why trade wars are a threat to the global economy and international peace, and what we can do about it.   Plus,  Bill Press talks with Paul Begala on his new book You're Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump.

Author Helio Fred Garcia’s newest book focuses on the language President Trump uses that conditions his audience to accept, condone, and even commit violence.  He says it’s up to all of us to name it for what it is, and hold him accountable for the consequences.

Matthew Klein’s newest book offers a provocative look at how today’s trade conflicts are caused by governments promoting the interests of elites at the expense of workers.  He says it’s up to the United States to fix a broken trade system.

Paul Begala, author of You're Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump, tells Bill Press what Democrats need to do to win the most important election he has seen in his lifetime.

Trump’s one-word re-election campaign

A racial reckoning for America. Will it be different this time? Plus, a new era of toxic politics and how it started.

An extended conversation with Peniel E. Joseph on the still unfinished journey toward racial equality and true democracy in America. Plus, Bill Press with Julian Zelizer on how Newt Gingrich broke politics.

Peniel E. Joseph is an American scholar, teacher, and leading public voice on race, democracy and civil rights. He says within this moment of national crisis is a generational opportunity to transform American democracy to one that is free of racial injustice.

We’re speaking with Peniel E. Joseph, founding director of the LBJ School’s Center for the Study of Race and Democracy and author most recently of

 The Sword and The Shield:The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The roots of today's partisan warfare. Bill Press talks with Julian Zelizer, author of Burning Down the House: Newt Gingrich, the Fall of a Speaker, and the Rise of the New Republican Party.

The virus that’s killing America

The political power of Black women. The deepening crisis of America’s middle class. And, a recap of the latest Supreme Court term.

Black women and their political pursuit for justice, fairness, and equity. Plus, with inequality soaring, America’s middle class is in retreat. How to turn it around.  And a surprising term for the Supreme Court. Bill Press with Adam Liptak, Supreme Court Correspondent for The New York Times. 

Melanie Campbell is known for her powerful ability to build diverse coalitions for the common good, and for advancing the political power of Black women.  She says Black women are taking their political leadership to new levels that will be felt far beyond the ballot box.

In 1992, James Steele and Donald Barlett wrote their groundbreaking book on the economic decline of the working middle class in America.  Nearly thirty years later, James Steele says new policies are launching a fresh assault on the middle class.

New York Times correspondent Adam Liptak talks with Bill Press about the Supreme Court’s latest term and its tack to the center. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit BillPressPods.com.

Sneaking public dollars into private schools

A new social contract for the 21st century. Plus, how Trump could use political chaos to upset the election. And, what “reopen safely” really means for our nation’s schools.

Neera Tanden on why now is the time to reimagine a social contract that not only leads us into recovery, but paves the way for a new future. Plus, former U.S. Senator Tim Wirth on how Trump could stay in the White House no matter what the voters say. And Bill Press with Randi Weingarten,  president of the American Federation of Teachers.

As president of the Center for American Progress, and throughout her career, Neera Tanden has focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans.  As we face the crisis brought on by the pandemic, she says we have an opportunity today to build on the New Deal with a new social contract that presents a more fair and just way forward.

Former U.S. Senator Tim Wirth says there’s little Trump hates more than losing, and Americans cannot afford to ignore how far he will go to avoid it.

Randi Weingarten,  president of the American Federation of Teachers tells Bill Press what it will take to keep students and teachers safe this Fall. If you'd like to hear the entire interview, visit Bill PressPods.com.

Cashing in on the COVID crisis