Rep. James Clyburn joins Margaret Hoover to talk about “The First Eight,” his recent book about the eight Black South Carolinians who served in Congress before him and why their stories still matter.

During reconstruction after the Civil War, South Carolina sent eight Black men to Congress. After the last of them left office in 1897, it would be 95 years before the ninth–Clyburn–was elected in 1992. Clyburn explains why there was such a long gap and why he believes the segregationist past presents a cautionary tale for America today.

He criticizes President Trump and the MAGA movement, and he warns that the Supreme Court could disenfranchise Black voters if it further weakens the Voting Rights Act.

Clyburn, who is 85 and in his 17th term in Congress, reflects on his legacy, offers a message for the next generation of Democrats, and expresses hope for the nation’s future.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

Elliott Abrams, who was U.S. special representative for Venezuela in President Trump’s first term, responds to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and discusses what it means for U.S. foreign policy.

Abrams, who also worked in the State Department under Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, explains why he supported Trump taking action against Maduro and why he is alarmed by decisions the administration has made since. He details his concerns about the administration aligning with remnants of Maduro’s regime instead of supporting the democratic opposition.

Abrams comments on Trump’s fixation on Venezuelan oil and the administration’s “might makes right” mindset that he says is inconsistent with America’s history. He also questions Trump’s push to seize control of Greenland.

Abrams assesses Marco Rubio’s performance as secretary of state and the potential ramifications of unseating Maduro for other countries in the region, including Cuba. He talks about Trump’s effort to dominate the Western Hemisphere and the importance of asserting America’s values in the year of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

In a 2020 interview, journalist Bari Weiss discusses the rise of antisemitism on the right and left and her book, “How to Fight Anti-Semitism.” Weiss details several factors driving antisemitism, including President Trump “dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down.”

Weiss, a proud Zionist, describes her views on Israel and its government and reflects on the historic claim that both Israelis and Palestinians have to their land.

Weiss–who went on to found the Free Press and take charge of CBS News–commented on her history of generating social media controversy and clashing with progressive critics of Israel like Rep. Ilhan Omar. 

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

Rob Reiner talked to Margaret Hoover in 2019 about politics, activism, and his concerns for America’s future. Following the death of Reiner and his wife Michelle–and the arrest of their son for their murders–we look back at that interview, including material that did not previously air.

The legendary filmmaker discussed working with conservatives to advance the cause of marriage equality and forging friendships with Republicans who opposed Donald Trump in his first term. He also explained why he viewed Trump as a threat to democracy and why he was supporting Joe Biden heading into 2020.

Reiner, who played Mike "Meathead" Stivic on “All in the Family,” reflected on the show’s political impact. He also commented on how his progressive advocacy and frequent criticism of Trump might affect audience reactions to his films, and he assessed Hollywood’s treatment of conservative filmmakers and actors.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Margaret Hoover to talk about President Trump’s new National Security Strategy and how his second term foreign policy differs from his first.

Having spent nearly four decades in the U.S. Army, Hertling provides insight into the Trump administration’s strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the ethical and legal questions they raise for the military.

Hertling, who served as commanding general of the Army in Europe, responds to Trump’s criticism of America’s allies, his effort to revive the Monroe Doctrine, and his decision to allow Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China.

Hertling also comments on ending the war in Ukraine and discusses his upcoming book, “If I Don’t Return.”

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

One hundred years after William F. Buckley Jr.’s birth, Margaret Hoover sits down with biographer Sam Tanenhaus to reflect on the original “Firing Line” host’s life and legacy. In his long-awaited book, “Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America,” Tanenhaus details Buckley’s childhood, his leadership of the American conservative movement, and his later years.

This is an abridged version of a conversation with Tanenhaus that lasted nearly 90 minutes. In it, Tanenhaus defends his handling of Buckley’s Catholicism and his views on racial issues, as well as his contention that Buckley was an arguer, not a thinker. He also comments on Buckley’s lasting impact on journalism and politics, including the extent to which he might have laid the groundwork for President Trump’s MAGA movement. 

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

Conservative Robert George and progressive Cornel West talk to Margaret Hoover about their long-standing friendship that bridges their ideological differences in an interview recorded in 2020.

George–who recently resigned from the board of the Heritage Foundation over its defense of Tucker Carlson’s interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes–explains what he learned from West about race in America. 

West, who ran for president as an independent candidate in 2024, comments on defending free speech as many fellow progressives favor restrictions and why he believes health care is a human right.

West and George, authors of the recent book “Truth Matters,” delve into their differences on the merits of capitalism and socialism, and they offer advice on how to navigate political divisions at Thanksgiving dinner.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

Dave Wiskus, founder and CEO of the streaming service Nebula, sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about the rise of the creator economy, the decline of traditional media, and what comes next.

Wiskus explains how creator-driven content has become a global industry that could be worth $500 billion by 2027 and how a new generation of creators like Mr. Beast interact with the gatekeepers of traditional media.

He also comments on the challenges of protecting children from harmful content in this new media ecosystem–and the potential dangers of exposing adults to some of it too.

Wiskus discusses the growing role of the creator economy in politics, the concerns that arise from the spread of misinformation, and the emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

Filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein sit down with Margaret Hoover to discuss their latest project, “The American Revolution,” ahead of its premiere on PBS.

The 12-hour documentary series revisits America’s founding, aiming to tell the complete story rather than the "sanitized" version many have come to know. Burns and Botstein explain why the revolution was also a bloody civil war–and ultimately a world war.

They talk about the impact of leaders like George Washington and lesser-known elements like the roles of women and Native Americans in the war. They also detail how they built the narrative with maps, written records, and commentary from modern historians.

Burns and Botstein respond to President Trump’s efforts to downplay negative aspects of the nation’s history, and Burns–who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024–comments on maintaining neutrality in his work despite his personal politics.

They also talk about how the founders’ warnings against tyranny and executive overreach remain relevant today.

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

Financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about his new book, “1929,” and what the lessons of the Great Depression mean for the economy today.

Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times columnist, discusses the bankers and policymakers at the center of the crash and the recovery, including Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. 

He explains how Democrats worked to undermine Hoover’s reputation even before the crash and how a negative propaganda campaign–and Hoover’s refusal to engage with it–helped a false narrative about his response to the crisis take hold.

Sorkin, who also wrote “Too Big to Fail” about the 2008 financial crisis, reflects on similarities between the two events and what the next economic crash might look like. 

Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.