The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.

Today we examine:

— The new speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. Who is he? What does his speakership mean? What does it bode for the future?

— The tragedy of Lewiston, Maine. If this can happen in a small Maine city, are any of us safe? Is there any prospect for stricter gun controls?

— The pending ground invasion of Gaza. What’s been delaying it? Beyond the likely loss of lives, is this a suicidal move for Israel? Will it lead to a wider war?

— Trump’s lawyers pleading guilty in the Georgia case. Do they make a Trump conviction more likely? Should they be disbarred?

— Halloween. Why Bob dislikes it, and a terrible trick he once played as a young teenager.

Our thanks to Michael Lahanas-Calderón for his technical help.

P.S. If you didn’t know already, you can also listen to our klatch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or whatever your favorite podcast app is.

Please consider a paid or gift subscription to receive the whole package, and to help us bring this letter to you each day. (It’s about the cost of a coffee per week.)

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.

Today we’re adding a new feature so you can watch as well as hear us (should you wish). And we apologize for the technical difficulties this week. Please let us know in the comments if you’d like us to continue this feature (assuming we do better with the video and audio).

Today, Heather and I examine:

— The continuing tragedy in Israel and Gaza. What’s the outlook? What role is Biden playing? What should be done?

— The continuing clown show in Congress. Jim Jordan is in for speaker, then he’s out, then in, then out. House Republicans continue to preside over what’s in effect a shutdown of the House of Representatives. What’s going to happen?

— The good economic news that median household wealth in America increased by a record 37 percent between 2019 and 2022 — but then dropped when the pandemic stimulus relief was withdrawn.

— The continuing predation of large pharmaceutical corporations. Pfizer doubled the price of Paxlovid — which is critically important for people who get COVID (as I did two weeks ago). Again, what should be done?

— I’m heading to Washington for the 30th reunion of my team at the Department of Labor, which will happen later today. We haven’t seen each other since we implemented the Family and Medical Leave Act, raised the minimum wage, attacked sweatshops, and protected the health and safety of millions of workers.

— Our emergency alert earthquake warning — without an earthquake (for some of us).

And our weekly poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.

Today, we look at:

— The tragedy in Israel and Gaza. Who and what are responsible? Is Israel solving anything by bombing and mounting a ground invasion of Gaza? What’s the likely endgame here?

— The dysfunction of House Republicans, who have effectively stopped the U.S. government. Why Jim Jordan would be a disaster as speaker. Is there any way out of this Trumpish quagmire?

— The strikes by the UAW, SAG, and health workers at Kaiser Permanente. Why are we seeing this upsurge in labor action? How is it related to what the Biden administration has done? And why is this a good thing?

— Heather’s “I’m not surprised, but I’m fuming” segment — about Republican efforts around the country to repeal no-fault divorce. Why are Republicans doing this? How is this related to Republican efforts to stop abortions?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cup, and join us.

This morning we look at:

— The life and death of Senator Dianne Feinstein (who was a friend to both of us). What’s her legacy likely to be?

— The pending shutdown. Is Kevin McCarthy toast?

— This week’s Republican debate. Does anyone care?

— Kudos to the courts. Judges are making Trump accountable. If Trump gets reelected (perish the thought), can he merely stop all this litigation?

— We’re approaching Biden’s last exit ramp before the election year. He should not bow out, despite mounting pressure. We’re for him, 100 percent. Are you?

— Heather’s segment: real life examples of the common good. What’s your real-life example of the common good?

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week.

This morning we examine:

— Kevin McCarthy’s Republican House mess. Will there be a shutdown? Almost certainly. Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump pushing for this?

— The UAW strike. When will it be resolved? Who’ll be blamed? Why is Trump hoping for a long strike?

— Bonus question: Why is Trump against giving more U.S. aide to Ukraine? (Hint to all of these questions: Because Trump wants to blame Biden.)

— Democratic wins this week in special elections. They’re more predictive than national polls. Does this bode well for next year?

— The mainstream media talks about Biden’s age and supposed feebleness. Why not Trump’s age and genuine craziness? Isn’t it worse to elect a nutcase than someone who’s old?

— Heather’s policy of the week.

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and (if you’re so inclined), take our poll and share your views.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we examine:

— The awful polls showing Donald Trump running neck-and-neck with Joe Biden. How is that possible? Should we be concerned?

— Biden as much more progressive than Bill Clinton or Barack Obama. Why don’t people see this? Why do young people think Biden is more conservative than Clinton and Obama?

— Elon Musk’s extraordinary unaccountable power to determine who has access to his satellites, in the war between Ukraine and Russia. How in hell did the State Department and the Defense Department ever allow Musk to accumulate this sort of power?

— Weekend plans: Bob is heading to a wedding this afternoon, and Heather is heading to a fundraiser at a state park with a woman friend. Is it harder to find new friends later in life? Are women better at maintaining friends than men? A final action item!

Thank you once again to the composers of our Saturday Coffee Klatch theme songs, Corey Kaup / Deirdre Broderick and Joseph Lawson, respectively.

Please pull up a chair, grab a mug, and join in the conversation. And also, if you wish, take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week.

Today we look at:

— The “Goldilocks” economy — inflation is coming down, but we’re not heading into a recession. Yesterday’s jobs report showed continuous buoyant growth of jobs. Why?

— The Labor Department’s new overtime rule will help millions of workers. (Why Bob wants to write a love letter to the Labor Department.) Will this rule be implemented?

— Why Trump wants House Republicans to impeach Biden. Will he succeed? Is he panicking?

— Heather’s 10-year-old son wonders about school shootings. What should we be telling our children as they head back to school?

Please pull up a chair, grab a mug, take our poll (if you wish), and join in the conversation.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. Pull up a chair and grab a mug shot.

This morning we’re looking at:

— Trump’s arraignment in Georgia on Thursday, and his brazen use of imagery and marketing to circumvent rational thought. Is this the tactic of a fascist?

— The Republican primary debate Wednesday evening, which exposed the GOP candidates’ extreme positions on abortion, climate, immigration, and education. Did any of them emerge as an alternative to Trump?

— Biden’s “Goldilocks” economy continues, although Fed Chair Jerome Powell continues to insist that inflation is too high. If the Fed raises interest rates further, will it push the economy into recession?

— Why Heather is a dog person and Bob is a cat person.

Please respond in the comments and, if you wish, take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we’re looking at:

— Trump’s FOURTH indictment, this one in Georgia, and why it could be the one that sends him to jail.

— The upcoming Republican primary debate, and why Trump’s simultaneous “counter-programming” with Tucker Carlson on Elon Musk’s Twitter/X may backfire.

— The continuing tragedy on Maui, and why young people are leading the way in the fight against climate change.

— The discovery of a videotape of my guest hosting Bill O’Reilly’s Fox News TV show in the late 1990s, and why I did that.

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and join us. And also, if you have a moment, please take our poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe

Friends,

Good morning, and welcome back to my Saturday coffee klatch with Heather Lofthouse (executive director of Inequality Media Civic Action), where we examine the highs, lows, and even lower points of the previous week. This morning we’re looking at:

— Merrick Garland’s appointment of a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Will this hurt or help Joe Biden?

— Judge Tanya Chutkan’s threat to take “whatever measures are necessary” to stop Trump from intimidating potential witnesses in his upcoming trial for seeking to overturn the 2020 election. What will Trump do next?

— The tragedy in Hawaii and the mounting costs of climate change. Yet Trump is readying a “Project 2025” to roll back environmental regulations and spur more carbon pollution if elected. Hello?

— The UAW’s demand in negotiations with the Big Three automakers that worker pay rise by the same percentage as CEO pay. What’s the back story here?

— The truly remarkably great economy. Why isn’t Biden getting credit, and should we worry?

— DeSantis bars Romeo and Juliet from Florida classrooms, and Ohio Republicans vote against a constitutional amendment that would have made it harder to protect abortion rights. What’s really going on with the GOP?

Please grab a cup, pull up a chair, and, if you wish, take our klatch poll:

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe