While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical, we decided it’s important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and to ask the author David Pepper tie them to what’s actually happened so far. This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students under a second Trump Regime as Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies.

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes, Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

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While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 5 weeks we decided it’s important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what’s actually happened so far. In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration, in this fictional account and now in real life, rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety.

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org.

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While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 6 weeks we decided it’s important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what’s actually happened so far. Chapter Two depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's actions. The episode explores how the president's policies are impacting everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is turning into fact, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 are having. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. J. Smith Cameron read the chapter and audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod.

Today's Podcast is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org

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While Bill is on a research and writing sabbatical for the next 6 weeks we decided it’s important to revisit the horrors we laid out in our Project 2025 podcast series, Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal – and tie them to what’s actually happened so far. Chapter One depicts how the lives of everyday Americans would be impacted by the policies outlined in Trump's Project 2025 and the return of Donald Trump to power. The fictional story follows Ammon Maher, a college student and immigrant, as he is detained and deported without due process due to his involvement in past campus protests. This narrative directly reflects Trump's campaign promises and current actions to crack down on student protesters and his administration's policies that target undocumented immigrants. The author of the serialized “2025: A Novel” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how these policies are being implemented right now. We hope the re-running and updating of the podcast series will encourage even more people to stand up to Donald Trump, strengthen our courage to resist, and lead to a total rejection of Donald Trump and the anti-democratic MAGA movement in 2026..

You can read Chapter One of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel

This episode is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org

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Tarriff Debacle. Trump Defiant. Negotiation Ploy? Countries Fight Back. GOP is Nervous. Margin Slips in Florida Races. Musk Loses Wisconsin Race. Musk White House Turmoil. New Mothers Fight Johnson. Laura Loomer Flex. Booker’s Very Very Long Fight. With Sudeep Reddy, Senior Managing Editor at Politico, Nikki Schwab, Chief Political Campaign Correspondent at the Daily Mail and John Bennett, White House Correspondent at CQ Roll Call.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org

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This podcast episode features a conversation between Bill Press and Dahlia Lithwick, Author of Lady Justice, Senior Editor at Slate Magazine, Regular Contributing Analyst at MSNBC and AMICUS Podcast Host . They discuss:

* **Concerns about the Rule of Law:** They express concern about the Trump administration's actions testing the legal system, particularly regarding court rulings, executive orders, and targeting law firms.

* **Impeachment Threats:** Trump's calls to impeach judges for unfavorable rulings are discussed. Lithwick emphasizes that there's no basis for this and points out John Roberts' statement defending the judiciary.

* **Supreme Court and Presidential Power:** They discuss the potential for the Supreme Court to rule against Trump's actions and the implications if he refuses to comply, raising concerns about a constitutional crisis. The "unitary executive theory" and its impact are also examined.

* **Targeting Law Firms:** The administration's executive orders targeting specific law firms are scrutinized, focusing on the potential impact on the legal profession and the varying responses from law firms.

* **Immigration Issues:** The episode covers the deportation of Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, highlighting the lack of due process and the problematic legal justification. Cases of students being detained and deported for protesting are also discussed, raising concerns about freedom of speech.

* **Weaponizing the Justice Department:** The conversation touches on the concern that the Trump administration is using the Justice Department and the FBI to target its enemies, eroding the separation between the executive branch and law enforcement.

The discussion centers on the erosion of legal norms and the abuse of power by the Trump administration.

In this toxic legal environment, Bill points to the brave work of the American Civil Liberties Union. They are not caving to Trump. More information at ACLU.org.

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Security Scandal. GOP Crickets. Good Journalism. Stefanik Under The Bus. Special Election Worries. Greenland Fights Back. Car Tariffs. Canada Fights Back. Social Security Cuts. End FEMA? Purge Smithsonian. With Sarah Wire, Senior national political correspondent for USA Today, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-Chief of The National Journal and Jason Dick, Editor-in-Chief of CQ-Roll Call.

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.org

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In this episode of the Bill Press Pod, Bill interviews Ellie Mystal, Legal Analyst and Justice Correspondent for The Nation, on his new book, Bad Law: Ten Popular Laws That Are Ruining America. Mystal identifies ten laws plus a constitutional amendment that he argues are detrimental to America. During their conversation, they discuss the misconception of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as redefined by Republicans, the problematic impact of the Hyde Amendment on abortion rights, and the adverse effects of mandatory minimum sentencing from crime bills supported by both Democrats and Republicans. They also delve into voting rights, gun liability laws, and the lack of effective representation in Congress, suggesting reforms like the Wyoming Rule for more equitable representation. Mystal underscores the role of neoliberalism in shaping harmful laws and calls for a reevaluation of laws passed before the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

You can purchase your own copy of Elie Mystal’s new book here.

Today Bill highlights the work of The Nation magazine. A powerful progressive voice for over 160 years. Bill has been a subscriber for decades and it gives a platform for people like Elie Mystal. Sign up at TheNation.com.

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Dept. of Education Closed? Impeach Judges! Obey Court Orders? Constitutional Crisis. Musk vs Social Security. GOP Fears Musk, MAGA. Musk Solid with Trump. Town Hall Anger. Dems in Disarray. AOC Rising. Andrew Cuomo Back. Tesla is Political. With Maya King, Political Reporter at The New York Times, Emily Goodin, Senior White House Correspondent for the DailyMail.com and Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at HuffPost. 

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The American Federation of Government Employees. More information at AFGE.org

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In this episode, Bill talks with Anat Shenker-Osorio. She is a strategist, pollster and messaging consultant for progressive politicians. organizations and causes in the United States and around the world. Shenker-Osorio argues that progressives are not even "losing" the messaging war but rather failing to participate effectively. She attributes this to: An over-reliance on the idea that "good policies sell themselves." A lack of consistent, repeated messaging. Flawed message testing that doesn't reflect real-world communication. A lack of a "fight" mentality.

She emphasizes the importance of controlling the narrative through language. She uses the example of "deportation" versus "abduction," and how conservatives have successfully redefined terms like "critical race theory." To counter MAGA messaging, She advises progressives to: Frame issues around shared values. Clearly identify the "villain" (e.g., "MAGA Republicans"). Offer a positive vision for the future and use the phase "MAGA is a death cult."

She stresses that the Democratic party is seen as weak, and that the voters want to see a fight.

You can follow Anat Shenker-Osorio on Blue Sky at @Anatosauras.bsky.social

Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by the Iron Workers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org.

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