Best Firing Line With Margaret Hoover Podcasts (2025)

1
Godmother of AI Dr. Fei-Fei Li on the ‘double-edged sword’ of artificial intelligence 42:46

7d ago42:46

42:46

Dr. Fei-Fei Li, known as the godmother of AI, talks to Margaret Hoover about the ethical development of artificial intelligence and the challenge of regulating the rapidly advancing technology. Li, who recently received a lifetime achievement award at the Webbys for her AI research, explains why she focuses her work on “human-centered AI” and how s…

1
Historian Niall Ferguson on Trump’s tariffs, Ukraine, and China 57:16

15d ago57:16

57:16

Historian Niall Ferguson sits down with Margaret Hoover to assess the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term and the challenges that lie ahead for the White House. Ferguson, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, contrasts Trump with FDR and considers whether his early actions will have lasting impact. He also explains why he sees Trum…

1
Lessons in grief and gratitude with Kelsey Grammer 37:45

22d ago37:45

37:45

Actor Kelsey Grammer joins Margaret Hoover to discuss his new book, his decadeslong journey of healing after tragedy, and his politics. When most people think of Grammer, they think of his charming character Dr. Frasier Crane on “Cheers” and “Frasier,” but there is a darker side to his story. In “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” Grammer reflects on the…

1
Former U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer defends Trump’s tariffs 56:56

29d ago56:56

56:56

Robert Lighthizer, who served as U.S. trade representative in Donald Trump’s first term, sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the president’s trade agenda, his use of tariffs, and their impact on the economy. Lighthizer, author of No Trade Is Free, explains why he favors “balanced trade” over free trade and makes his case that tariffs can revi…

1
Changing the recipe – and changing the world – with José Andrés 35:36

1M ago35:36

35:36

As wars continue to rage in Ukraine and Gaza, chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés joins Margaret Hoover to discuss his approach to humanitarian aid in disasters, his reaction to losing aid workers in Gaza, and his new book, “Change the Recipe.” Andrés, whose organization has served millions of meals in Ukraine, urges the Trump admini…

1
The trouble with tariffs, with conservative economist Glenn Hubbard 42:48

1M ago42:48

42:48

As the world reels from President Trump’s trade war, conservative economist Glenn Hubbard joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the impact of Trump’s tariffs, his doubts on the return of manufacturing jobs, and the difficulty of decoupling from China. While Hubbard credits President Trump with recognizing the problems of globalization, he says tariffs a…

1
Challenges to journalism in the age of Trump: A Firing Line forum 38:03

2M ago38:03

38:03

Politico politics bureau chief Jonathan Martin, New York Times reporter Adam Nagourney, and USC Center for the Political Future Director Bob Shrum join Margaret Hoover to discuss challenges facing the media in Donald Trump’s second term, threats to freedom of the press, and the future of journalism. In a panel recorded at the CPF’s Warschaw Confere…

1
Author Lawrence Perelman looks back on his friendship with William F. Buckley Jr. 48:56

3M ago48:56

48:56

In September 1994, an 18-year-old musician named Lawrence Perelman sent a letter to William F. Buckley Jr., offering to perform a piano recital for him as a thank you for Buckley’s political work. The friendship that ensued lasted until Buckley’s final moments, all of which Perelman recounts in his new book, American Impresario: William F. Buckley …

1
NYT columnist Ross Douthat on Trump and the new post-post-Cold War era 52:34

3M ago52:34

52:34

As President Trump wages tariff wars around the world and upends the U.S. alliance with Ukraine, conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat and Margaret Hoover discuss the president’s actions, his address to Congress, and the future of the GOP. While Douthat defends the Trump administration's goal of achieving an armistice in Ukraine and co…

1
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett on Trump, tariffs, and tax cuts 25:39

3M ago25:39

25:39

Before Kevin Hassett was named director of President Trump’s National Economic Council, he sat down with Margaret Hoover last September to discuss Trump’s economic record and his second-term agenda. In this new cut of that interview, Hassett assesses the impact of tariffs in Trump’s first term and defends his threats to impose new ones, including r…

1
Who will pay Trump’s tariffs? A Firing Line forum with Jeff Ferry and Scott Lincicome 43:46

3M ago43:46

43:46

As President Trump ratchets up trade wars with America’s adversaries and allies, two experts on the economy — Jeff Ferry, chief economist emeritus at the Coalition for a Prosperous America, and Scott Lincicome, vice president of General Economics and Stiefel Trade Policy Center at the Cato Institute — clash over whether tariffs will bolster or crus…

1
The real way to DOGE: Will Marshall and Philip K. Howard on Elon Musk’s deep state blitz 43:49

4M ago43:49

43:49

As President Trump and Elon Musk launch an assault on the federal bureaucracy, Will Marshall, the president of the Progressive Policy Institute, and Philip K. Howard, lawyer and author of “Everyday Freedom,” tell Margaret Hoover that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has the right diagnosis, but the wrong cure. Speaking before a studen…

1
A Surgeon General's Warning: Dr. Richard Carmona on RFK Jr.’s nomination 38:41

4M ago38:41

38:41

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination to lead the Department of Health and Human Services advances in the Senate, former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona talks to Margaret Hoover about the danger he fears Kennedy could pose to public health. Carmona criticizes Kennedy’s history of spreading misinformation about vaccines and health care and false…

1
'Time for Democratic outrage’: Mike Murphy and James Carville on the new Trump era 34:59

4M ago34:59

34:59

Two veteran strategists–Democrat James Carville and Republican Mike Murphy–sit down with Margaret Hoover to assess the fallout from the 2024 election and the challenges that lie ahead for both parties. At the USC Center for the Political Future’s Warschaw Conference on Practical Politics, Carville and Murphy discuss the chaotic first weeks of Presi…

1
Newt Gingrich takes on GOP skepticism of legal immigration 44:08

4M ago44:08

44:08

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about his new PBS documentary “Journey to America: With Newt and Callista Gingrich,” his longstanding support for legal immigration, and the executive actions President Trump has taken in his first days in office. Amid rising Republican skepticism of all immigration, Gingrich…

1
Fox analyst Juan Williams: ‘We are at a critical juncture in terms of race’ 1:05:21

5M ago1:05:21

1:05:21

Journalist and author Juan Williams joins Margaret Hoover to talk about civil rights in America as the nation prepares to inaugurate Donald Trump as president on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Williams, who wrote the companion book to the 1987 PBS documentary series Eyes on the Prize, discusses his latest book, New Prize for These Eyes, which charts t…

1
Defying a dictator: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Katya Snytsina, and Natalia Kaliada 43:25

5M ago43:25

43:25

Margaret Hoover sits down with three Belarusian dissidents–exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, athlete-turned-activist Katya Snytsina, and theater director Natalia Kaliada–to discuss their fight against Aleksandr Lukashenko’s dictatorship. Kaliada is co-founder of the Belarus Free Theatre, which recently debuted the play KS6: Small F…

1
Peggy Noonan: GOP senators ‘will regret it’ if they don’t serve as check on Trump 48:05

5M ago48:05

48:05

Best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Peggy Noonan sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the presidential election, Donald Trump’s second term, and her new book, A Certain Idea of America. Noonan, a former speechwriter for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, details the Republican Party’s evolution since the 1980s …

1
Journalists under attack abroad: Alsu Kurmasheva, Maria Ressa, and Jonathan Munro 32:21

6M ago32:21

32:21

Three journalists on the frontlines of the global fight for press freedom sit down with Margaret Hoover at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York to discuss threats to the media around the world and how free countries in the West can help protect the press abroad. Alsu Kurmasheva, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist wrongfully detained …

1
The Fight to Free Jimmy Lai: Sebastien Lai and attorney Jonathan Price 45:07

6M ago45:07

45:07

Sebastien Lai, whose father publisher Jimmy Lai is on trial in Hong Kong, and Jonathan Price, a member of Jimmy Lai’s international legal team, talk to Margaret Hoover about their effort to build global support for his release. Jimmy Lai had been a leading voice in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement before his arrest in 2020 under a controversial n…

1
AEI’s Kori Schake on the ‘genuine risk’ and potential upside of Trump 2.0 foreign policy 43:18

7M ago43:18

43:18

Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute joins Margaret Hoover to discuss Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term and how it may impact the U.S. and the world. Schake, a defense policy expert who served in Republican and Democratic administrations, makes the case for conservative internationalism and details the flaws s…

1
Jon Meacham on what Trump’s reelection means for the soul of the nation 31:35

7M ago31:35

31:35

After Donald Trump’s historic reelection, presidential biographer Jon Meacham joins Margaret Hoover to discuss what the outcome means for the soul of the nation and what comes next. The Pulitzer Prize-winning historian had warned Americans against the “genuine risk” of returning Trump to power, but he explains why he accepts the results. He also re…

1
H.R. McMaster: America is electing a wartime president 48:05

7M ago48:05

48:05

H.R. McMaster, Donald Trump’s second national security advisor, joins Margaret Hoover to discuss his tumultuous experience in the Trump White House, what he characterizes as Trump’s “disruptive” leadership, and what a second term could look like. McMaster, who recently published At War With Ourselves about his nearly 14 months in the administration…

1
Counting the vote: A bipartisan panel on voting, elections & Elon Musk 52:55

7M ago52:55

52:55

Margaret Hoover sits down with Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer (R), Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D), and veteran GOP election attorney Benjamin Ginsberg for a bipartisan discussion of the facts about elections and voting in America. After a screening of “Counting the Vote” at the 92nd Street Y in New York, the experts talk ab…

1
Gov. Josh Shapiro says the 2024 race is a ‘jump ball’ in Pennsylvania 36:33

8M ago36:33

36:33

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the state’s pivotal role in the race for the White House and what Kamala Harris needs to do to win it. At the Abington Arts Center in Shapiro’s hometown, the Democratic governor assesses Harris’ strategy and contrasts her agenda with Donald Trump’s. He also defends Harris’ eff…

1
Condoleezza Rice on Israel, Ukraine, and the perils of American isolationism 32:10

8M ago32:10

32:10

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joins Margaret Hoover to discuss America’s role in the world amid multiple crises and the dangers of retreating from global leadership. In a recent Foreign Affairs essay, Rice warned about the “perils of isolationism.” She explains why these sentiments concern her and how leaders should reframe arguments i…

1
GOP Senate candidate Larry Hogan vows to ‘stand up to the crazy’ on both sides 30:32

8M ago30:32

30:32

Former Maryland Governor and current Republican Senate nominee Larry Hogan sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss why he’s running to flip a seat long held by Democrats and what he will do if he wins. Hogan, who was popular even among Democrats when he left office in 2023, makes the case for Maryland voters to support him over Democrat Angela Al…

1
Hillary Clinton braces for an October surprise, warns of Trump 2.0 threat 29:37

8M ago29:37

29:37

Hillary Clinton sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about threats to press freedom around the world, crises in the Middle East, and the stakes of the 2024 election. In a discussion at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York City, the former secretary of state assesses the dangers faced by journalists abroad and in the U.S. Clint…

1
‘I’d be a fool to dredge that up’: Bill O’Reilly faces questions about harassment settlements 46:10

8M ago46:10

46:10

Bill O’Reilly sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his latest book, the presidential race, and the sexual harassment allegations that led to his firing from Fox News. In Confronting the Presidents, O’Reilly and co-author Martin Dugard present essays on each of the nation’s presidents. O’Reilly defends their depiction of Herbert Hoover and his …

1
Fmr. Trump economic adviser: Harris agenda is ‘consistent with the socialist playbook’ 41:47

9M ago41:47

41:47

Economist Kevin Hassett joins Margaret Hoover to talk about economic policies laid out by former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in their debate this week. Hassett, who chaired the White House Council of Economic Advisers in the first Trump administration, defends Trump’s handling of the economy both before and during the CO…

1
California Sen. Alex Padilla makes the case for Kamala Harris 36:36

9M ago36:36

36:36

California Sen. Alex Padilla sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss Vice President Kamala Harris, his longtime friend and colleague. The son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla was appointed to Harris’ seat after she won the vice presidency in 2020. An MIT graduate, he initially hoped to become an aerospace engineer. But he was instead drawn to polit…

1
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch says America is ‘over ruled’ 46:21

10M ago46:21

46:21

Justice Neil Gorsuch sits down with Margaret Hoover at the Supreme Court to talk about his new book, Over Ruled, and his concern that America has “too much law.” In its recent term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, a precedent established in 1984 that required judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting unclear statutes.…

1
GOP Sen. and combat vet Joni Ernst on Ukraine, antisemitism, and restoring civility 36:32

10M ago36:32

36:32

Republican Sen. Joni Ernst sits down with Margaret Hoover in Iowa to talk about her life and her views on trade and foreign policy. Ernst, a combat veteran, explains why she advocates for confronting threats abroad and providing strong support to Israel and Ukraine. She also reflects on how a visit to Soviet-controlled Ukraine in 1989 helped shape …

1
Why the 2024 election will be free and fair, according to three experts 50:34

10M ago50:34

50:34

Margaret Hoover discusses what it will take to ensure a secure and accurate vote count in 2024 with three experts: Democratic Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, Republican election lawyer Ben Ginsberg, and David Becker of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research. Ahead of Firing Line’s “Counting the Vote” documentary–pre…

1
James Carville says Democrats are ‘in a better position’ with Harris instead of Biden 37:38

10M ago37:38

37:38

Legendary Democratic strategist James Carville talks to Margaret Hoover about the state of the 2024 presidential race after the withdrawal of President Joe Biden and the ascension of Vice President Kamala Harris. Carville explains why he had long urged Democrats to replace the aging Biden and why he is satisfied with supporting Harris without a com…

1
Is the 2024 race over? Only if Dems stick with Biden, Mike Murphy says 33:55

11M ago33:55

33:55

Veteran Republican strategist Mike Murphy, an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, assesses the state of the presidential race in the wake of Trump’s attempted assassination and the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Murphy tells Margaret Hoover why he believes Joe Biden needs to withdraw from the race and how he thinks Democrats should appr…

1
China wants to ‘render the United States irrelevant,’ says former NSC official Matt Pottinger 1:02:01

11M ago1:02:01

1:02:01

Matt Pottinger, who served as deputy national security advisor under former President Trump, talks to Margaret Hoover about the geopolitical and economic stakes of defending Taiwan and the challenge of deterring China. Pottinger, editor and co-author of “The Boiling Moat: Urgent Steps to Defend Taiwan,” assesses Xi Jinping’s ambitions and timeline …

1
Author Edward O’Keefe on the ‘unsung’ women behind Theodore Roosevelt 51:48

11M ago51:48

51:48

Edward O’Keefe, author of “The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt,” joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the “extraordinary and unsung” women who shaped the life and legend of the 26th president–and why his legacy still resonates today. O’Keefe, a former journalist and North Dakota native who is now CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundatio…

1
Dem Rep. Ritchie Torres on the ‘fundamental problem’ with the progressive movement 37:54

12M ago37:54

37:54

Democratic Rep. Ritchie Torres of the Bronx sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about Israel, immigration, and other issues that impact voters of color as polls suggest support for Donald Trump is rising among traditionally Democratic voting blocs that will play a pivotal role in the 2024 election. Torres, the first openly gay Afro-Latino member…

1
Dan Senor defends Israel after war crimes accusations: No war has been more ‘scrutinized’ 1:07:45

12M ago1:07:45

1:07:45

Following a U.N. report accusing Israel of war crimes, Margaret Hoover sits down with Dan Senor, a former foreign policy aide to Mitt Romney and the host of the podcast “Call Me Back,” to the daring rescue of four Israeli hostages in Gaza, prospects for a cease-fire, and the new U.N. report accusing both Hamas and Israel of war crimes. Senor defend…

1
George Conway explains why ‘narcissistic sociopath’ Trump is unfit for office 49:11

1y ago49:11

49:11

As the end of Donald Trump’s first trial nears, Margaret Hoover sits down with conservative attorney and former Trump supporter George Conway to discuss the case and the prospect of another Trump presidency. Conway defends the Manhattan prosecution, talks about watching Trump in the courtroom, and explains why he disagrees with those who say the ca…

1
Doris Kearns Goodwin on her husband, history, and her ‘unfinished love story’ 51:15

1y ago51:15

51:15

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss “An Unfinished Love Story,” her new book recounting the 1960s from her perspective and that of her late husband, presidential speechwriter Dick Goodwin. The Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer recalls the genesis of the project and reflects on the difference between writing abou…

1
Fareed Zakaria: ‘Biden should learn something from Trump’ on the border 58:55

1y ago58:55

58:55

Author and journalist Fareed Zakaria joins Margaret Hoover to talk about his recent book, “Age of Revolutions,” and how past periods of progress and backlash inform our present revolutionary moment. Zakaria, host of CNN’s “Fareed Zakaria GPS,” reflects on a full-blown cultural backlash against decades of social and political change that has fueled …

1
Grievance in vogue: Frank Bruni on modern discontent 47:19

1y ago47:19

47:19

New York Times columnist Frank Bruni sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about college protests, grievance politics, and how to restore humility in a fractured country. Bruni, author of “The Age of Grievance” and a professor at Duke University, discusses the roots of anti-Israel sentiment on campuses and the double standards behind progressive s…

1
Trump allies indicted in Arizona: GOP Maricopa election official Stephen Richer responds 47:57

1y ago47:57

47:57

Margaret Hoover sits down with Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer – a Republican election official in Arizona’s most populous county – to discuss the new indictment of allies of Donald Trump for their fake elector scheme in 2020 and how he’s preparing for the 2024 election. Richer recalls the “unrelenting” pressure that Arizona officials faced…

1
Scrutinizing Donald Trump’s first criminal trial with Melissa Murray 54:23

1y ago54:23

54:23

As Donald Trump’s first criminal trial begins, Margaret Hoover sits down with NYU law professor Melissa Murray to discuss the historic proceedings and what prosecuting a former president means for America. Murray, co-host of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, breaks down the charges filed by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, addresses the challenges of selecting…

1
The case for a colorblind America with Coleman Hughes 56:45

1y ago56:45

56:45

Coleman Hughes, author of “The End of Race Politics,” joins Margaret Hoover to lay out his argument against race-based policies and in favor of a colorblind approach. Hughes, host of the Conversations with Coleman podcast, traces the roots of his colorblind philosophy from the Civil War through the civil rights era, making the case that leaders lik…

1
Futurist Ari Wallach on building a better tomorrow 34:07

1y ago34:07

34:07

Futurist Ari Wallach joins Margaret Hoover to discuss “A Brief History of the Future,” his new PBS series exploring the ideas and technologies that could help humanity build better tomorrows. Wallach reflects on the “intertidal” moment society currently faces and explains why he believes decisions made in the years ahead will have ramifications for…

1
Saving Gen Z from smartphones and social media with Jonathan Haidt 59:35

1y ago59:35

59:35

Margaret Hoover sits down with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt to discuss how social media and smartphones have rewired childhood and put the mental health of a generation of kids at risk. Haidt, author of “The Anxious Generation,” argues a surge in anxiety and depression among Gen Z is a consequence of constant smartphone use that has crowded o…

1
Time to abolish the Electoral College? A Firing Line forum 46:15

1y ago46:15

46:15

Margaret Hoover hosts a forum at Hofstra University on whether America should abolish the Electoral College with writers Jesse Wegman and Trent England. Wegman, author of “Let the People Pick the President” and a member of The New York Times editorial board, makes the case that the current system is unfair and undemocratic, empowering a handful of …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Firing Line With Margaret Hoover Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen