Tag Archives: Congress

January 13, 2013

Should President Obama change his mind and invoke the 14th Amendment to rid himself of troublesome debt ceiling opponents? Economist James Galbraith says he doesn’t have to “invoke” it – it is already part of the Constitution and ought to rule the day.

Former Congressman Mike Barnes, who also served as head of the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence, says legislative restrictions on firearms will be difficult because one political party and one House of Congress are owned by the gun lobby.

Reid Epstein of Politico tells Bill Press the president is spoiling for a fight over Chuck Hagel.

  • Jan. 13, 2013 Jan. 13, 2013 A good use for the 14th Amendment …and a terrible use for assault rifles.
  • James Galbraith James Galbraith Why are we in the fiscal mess we’re in? Economist James Galbraith says it is because the dialogue has been “hijacked by a manic obsession over budget projections that are highly unreliable.”
  • Mike Barnes Mike Barnes Former Congressman Mike Barnes used to be president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. He was also once a Marine. And he says it is pure insanity that America allows the sale to nearly anybody of the rifle he was issued – a weapon designed to kill as many people as possible as fast as possible.
  • Reid Epstein Reid Epstein Bill Press and his guest Politico’s Reid Epstein, who says the president is spoiling for a fight over Chuck Hagel.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Slippin' and slidin' on corporate cash.

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December 30, 2012

Progressive icon Fred Harris talks about challenges facing the second Obama administration, including barriers to organized labor. Law professor Larry Gibson tells us about his new biography of a young Thurgood Marshall. And historian Steve Conn rips Republicans for hating government, except for when they need it.

  • Dec. 30, 2012 Dec. 30, 2012 Challenges in the second term … the early years of Thurgood Marshall … and the Republican states’ rights fetish.
  • Fred Harris Fred Harris Fred Harris was a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, and a candidate for president. Still active, Fred tells us what he sees as challenges for the second Obama Adminstration -- labor rights, the minimum wage, civil rights and immigration reform.
  • Larry Gibson Larry Gibson Larry Gibson is a prominent attorney and law professor in Baltimore. He has a new book out called “Young Thurgood,” which delves into the early years of Thurgood Marshall, the nation’s first African-American Supreme Court justice.
  • Steven Conn Steven Conn Historian Steven Conn's new book examines the benefits of government. He talks with us today about the fetish Republicans have about “states rights” – the rallying cry for attacking reproductive freedom and suppressing voting rights. Conn says the GOP is laissez-faire when it suits them but in favor of government help when they need it.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower Warning: A new intrusive swarm coming our way -- domestic drones!

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December 23, 2012

The Newtown shootings have once again focused the nation on the easy availability of guns. Today we talk with Ben Palumbo, an old Washington hand who has worked with the Brady Campaign against gun violence, and he tells of a politician who stood up to the NRA and won some 50 years ago.

We also talk with Middle East expert Professor Richard Bulliet about the prospects of stability in the region. He says you can’t go from dictatorship to democracy without instability.

And Bill Press speaks with Senator Tom Udall, who predicts the Senate will modify the filibuster rule.

  • Dec. 23, 2012 Dec. 23, 2012 This Christmas week -- prospects for meaningful gun control … and prospects for Middle East peace.
  • Ben Palumbo Ben Palumbo Longtime Washington political operative Ben Palumbo has worked for decades on gun control issues, including a stint on the board of the Brady Campaign. In an interview with us before the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, Palumbo said nothing will happen until politicians are ready to stand up to the National Rifle Association.
  • Richard Bulliet Richard Bulliet Taking a look at the constant turmoil in the Middle East, Columbia University professor Richard Bulliet predicts it could take 10 years before there is a hope of stability in the region. The reason, he says, is you simply can’t go from dictatorship to democracy without a lot of instability. But, instability does not necessarily mean war.
  • Tom Udall Tom Udall Bill Press and his guest, Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, with encouraging news about limiting Senate filibusters.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower The hell of private equity gun money.

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November 18, 2012

Fred Harris, who served in the Senate with the late George McGovern, has a surprising candidate to wear the mantle of McGovern progressivism in these times – Barack Obama. Mike Ussery, who was an ambassador in two Republican administrations, says the election gives President Obama a stronger hand against Iran. And Bill Press interviews Charlie Fink, whose group of patriotic millionaires favors higher taxes on the rich.

  • Nov. 18, 2012 Nov. 18, 2012 Will Obama become more progressive in a second term? Does the election strengthen his hand against Iran? Our guests think so.
  • Fred Harris Fred Harris Fred Harris, a former senator and chair of the DNC, says President Obama is a worthy successor to the late Senator George McGovern as an icon of the progressive movement. And, he says, the American electorate really does have a strong populist and progressive streak.
  • Mike Ussery Mike Ussery One result of President Obama returning to office, says Republican foreign policy expert Mike Ussery, is that he has more room to move in dealing with Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
  • Charlie Fink Charlie Fink Bill Press and Charlie Fink of Patriotic Millionaires for Fiscal Strength.
  • Jim Hightower Jim Hightower A telling insight into Mitt's character.

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