That was the title of Timothy Crouse’s famed book of 1973: “The Boys on the Bus.” It was about reporters covering the 1972 presidential campaign.

This year, Robert Costa, of the Washington Post, is covering the presidential campaign. He is an old friend and colleague of Jay’s, and they discuss the reporting life: What’s it like to cover Hillary, Bernie, the Donald, and them?

What can a person read or watch, to get the straight dope? How much power rests in a reporter’s hands, given the opportunity to slant and make other mischief?

Finally: Will the republic survive? (How’s that for a “mega-question,” as John McLaughlin used to say?)

If you like politics, journalism, and related matters, you’ll like this “Q&A” with Bob ’n’ Jay.