The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

Friends,

I’m taking the day off, and Heather, Kamau, and Michael are taking the reins. As you’ll see, they keep our klatch as lively, informative, and enjoyable as ever. They ask, among other things: How excited are you for that $5,000 Trump check? What the Flock is up with the surveillance state? And with gas prices off the charts, just how pissed are voters going to be ahead of the midterms?Btw, for Kamau’s stand-up dates: https://www.wkamaubell.com. Preorder Kamau’s new children’s book, Rock Paper Scissors Cheese here. And to catch a screening of our new film: www.theworkinprogressfilm.com.

See you next Saturday.

Robert Reich

P.S. If you live in New York City, or know someone who does, we just found out that The Work in Progress film has been extended at the Quad Cinema until Thursday. Tickets here. Thanks to all who are seeing the film; your early support encourages theaters around the country to bring it to their audiences.

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Friends,

Today, W. Kamau Bell and Michael Lahanas Calderón join me to take a deep dive into the economy on this Labor Day weekend — which marks the start of the midterm elections. We look at what’s on the minds of voters in terms of jobs, wages, prices, and affordability and ask what all this is likely to mean for the outcome of the upcoming midterms as well as the well-being of the typical American family.

Heather is in New York for a screening of our new film, “The Work in Progress” (you can find out more about it here). Kamau has a new children’s book coming out soon called Rock Paper Scissors Cheese (more on it here) and a fabulous Substack, “Who’s With Me?” which you can find here.

Thanks for joining us.

Have a good, safe, relaxing weekend.

RR

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Friends,

Today Heather and I examine what Trump is doing as his war on Iran — which he promised would be over in “four to five weeks” — now exceeds six months, with no end in sight. Eager to show that he can still dominate and bully, he’s declared a nonsensical trade war on Canada. And he’s escalated his war on human rights here in the United States. It’s pathetic and also dangerous.

Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join the conversation.

RR

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Friends,

Here’s my conversation today with Heather Cox Richardson, in which we examine the origins of Trumpism. Professor Richardson is, of course, a major resource to all of us on substack. She’s also an historian who has specialized in 19th-century United States history, with a primary focus on American politics and economics.

We started our conversation with Heather’s reference to my 1994 talk to the Democratic Leadership Council, and then discussed the decline of the Democratic Party as the party of American workers — starting with Lewis Powell’s memo to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1971, the Supreme Court’s first money-in-politics case Buckley vs. Valeo in 1976, the House Democrat’s embrace of corporate money in the early 1980s, and my frustrations in dealing with the corporate (“moderate”) Democrats in the 1990s when I was secretary of labor.

Now, finally the working-class Democratic Party appears to be making a comeback.

We also talk about how the demonization of women by rightwing Republicans has been utilized as a means of aggregating power.

My thanks to Heather Cox Richardson for joining me.

***

(By the way, for anyone who may be interested, here’s a clip from my 1994 speech, with which Heather and I began today’s conversation:

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Friends,

Today Heather and I take a deep dive into the wacko views and decisions of Trump’s treasury secretary, Scott Bessent — whose attempts to reduce long-term interest rates before the midterm elections have failed miserably, who believes that inequality is not widening in the United States, and who’s been opening the I.R.S. to Trump’s bonkers vindictiveness. (Oh, and he’s also been attacking me with colossally vapid ad hominem arguments.)

So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation.

RR

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,

Today I’m taking a vacation. (It’s the second Klatch I’ve missed out of 230 since Heather and I began them on March 19, 2022.) But I’ve left you in good hands! Our good friend Kamau Bell is sitting in, and today he and Heather take a deep dive into how America can dump the Trump before he dumps America.

So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the discussion.

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,

Today, Heather and I take a deep dive into the so-called “civil war” inside the Democratic Party, between corporate Dems who keep spending enormous sums on primary races and progressives who keep winning them. We also look at the latest jobs report and Trump’s “trickle-down” economy, which continues to worsen. And we ponder why Anthony Fauci, of all people, has become the Republicans’ latest nemesis.

So grab a cuppa, pull up a chair, and join in the discussion.

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,

Today, Michael and I delve into Trump’s plummeting approval ratings and ask whether they’re due to the economy, Trump’s war (which obviously affects the economy), the Epstein files, Trump’s skyrocketing inflation, or Trump’s corruption. Along the way, we explore what Democrats ought to be advocating (and not) in the upcoming midterms.

Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, 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,

Today, Heather and I take a dive into the muck of Trump, 101 days before the midterm elections. His war in Iran is worsening, with no end in sight. His economy is dropping, as gas and food prices soar and as his tariffs (import taxes) take their toll. His regime is descending into chaos, as public health is compromised, measles spreads, children aren’t getting nutrition assistance, and Medicaid is cut.

But how do we peacefully and legally get rid of him between now and the 2028 election? What’s our 2028 strategy for regaining the White House? And our 2029 strategy for cleaning up this horrific mess? Heather and I discuss these questions and more.

Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join the conversation.

RR

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,

Today, Michael and I take a close look at the sharp contrasts between artificial problems dreamed up by Trump (such as voter fraud) and real problems the nation is failing to deal with (such as big money poisoning our elections).

Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join the conversation.

RR

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