Bipodisan

One year in to the COVID-19 pandemic and one month into a new presidency, Robert and Jean discuss their own COVID experiences (including the depth of nasal testing), changes in politics and news, the importance of a balanced information diet and the refreshingly normal push-and-pull in Congress over the size and specifics of the Biden COVID relief package. The co-hosts find hope in commissions and candles.

David Murray, author of the forthcoming book “An Effort to Understand," is Bipodisan’s special guest this week. Robert, Jean and David apply their public speaking expertise to the matter of the speech that happens (or doesn’t happen) among our friends, neighbors and family members with whom we disagree. This episode ends on high hopeful notes of baseball and Yardi Gras.

Jean and Robert have a fascinating discussion with legal scholar Bruce Fein about the constitutional issues surrounding the second Trump impeachment trial. Then Robert shares why extraterrestrials are making him hopeful.

Jean and Robert politely wrestle with the question of what should be done with Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Is she simply the GOP’s problem? Should Congressional majorities tell Congressional minorities how to manage members of their own party? The hosts share concerns and manage to find hope on their respective sides of the aisle this week.

Robert and Jean take a look at two tracks of policy and politics in Washington during the first week of Joe Biden’s presidency, as the remains of the Trump era are hashed out on Capitol Hill and the new president leans heavily on his pen to keep campaign promises. Will the two ends of Pennsylvania Avenue eventually work together to make the sausage of public policy, and will that sausage be palatable?

Jean and Robert discuss President Joe Biden's inaugural address from the point of view of professional communicators (as well as from the point of view of Americans and partisans) and the prospects of bipartisan cooperation going forward.

Jean and Robert are joined by U.S. News & World Report Senior Political Writer Susan Milligan to analyze the ongoing politics around Trump’s second impeachment and the aftermath of the January 6th mob-attack on the U.S. Capitol. Their conversation explores the possible strategy of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, as well as speculation about how deep the GOP fractures may go, before ending on a shared, bipartisan note of hope.

Robert and Jean reflect on the previous day, when rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, including the moment when Robert’s son asked if the country was going into civil war. The co-hosts agree that we are not, and share their observations, perspectives, shared sorrows and hopes. 

What makes a great leader -- and how much of it can they control? Jean and Robert explore the topic with David Rubenstein, who has a new book out on the topic, "How to Lead: Wisdom From the World's Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game-Changers."

Jean and Robert discuss the political prospects for 2021 and whether Biden will be able to break the Republicans' fever next year.