Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
by Firing Line With Margaret Hoover
Author, feminist, gay rights activist and political commentator Margaret Hoover leads a rigorous exchange of ideas with America’s political and cultural newsmakers. In the spirit of William F. Buckley Jr.’s iconic “Firing Line,” Hoover engages with thought leaders on the pivotal issues moving the nation forward. New podcast episodes drop weekly, and sometimes more, featuring bonus content you won’t hear on TV.
Episodes
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Will a blue wave sweep the South? Jennifer Palmieri explains why it might
With control of Congress on the line next Tuesday, Jennifer Palmieri–former communications director for the Obama White House–joins Margaret Hoover to break down the state of the midterms and explain why the South is central to Democrats’ chances of victory. Palmieri is co-host of the new YouTube...
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Ambassador Mike Huckabee says Israeli & U.S. interests are 'identical'
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee joins Margaret Hoover from Jerusalem as elections approach in Israel and the United States, with questions mounting over the future of the U.S.–Israel alliance and the possibility of renewed war with Iran. Huckabee says American support for Israel will…
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Vibing with Adam Grant: How can we forge strong connections in a lonely world?
Dr. Adam Grant sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the causes and consequences of loneliness, the impact of artificial intelligence on human connection, and the precarious state of modern manhood. Grant, an organizational psychologist and professor at Wharton, breaks down the science of...
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Sen. Thom Tillis on Trump's sycophants—and his biggest regret
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) takes on the “sycophants” in the second Trump administration and reflects on his regrets over voting to confirm some of them–particularly Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who he is now working to get out of the Pentagon. As he prepares to retire from the Senate in January,...
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Danny Meyer on the secret sauce of hospitality
Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer tells Firing Line how a hot dog cart became a global brand—and why some of his biggest failures taught him the most about business. The restaurateur explains the philosophy behind “enlightened hospitality,” why he puts employees before customers, and what closing…
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Is American foreign policy for sale? Anne Applebaum on Trump’s ‘empire of grift’
As President Trump addresses the UN General Assembly and hosts Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum explains how an alliance of ideologues and kleptocrats is reshaping U.S. foreign policy. She assesses prospects for ending the wars in Iran and Ukraine and...
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‘You don't want to bet against the United States’: Dambisa Moyo on the economy in the age of AI
As AI leaders face backlash over doomsday warnings and the Federal Reserve defies Donald Trump on interest rates, economist Dambisa Moyo assesses the risks and opportunities facing the U.S. economy amid soaring debt and conflicting economic indicators. Moyo, chair of the Economic Club of New...
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Where is the off-ramp? Spencer Cox on defusing America’s crisis of polarization
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R) talks to Margaret Hoover about his new book Off-Ramp, which explores how alienation and polarization lead to political violence and how Americans can learn to disagree better. One year after Charlie Kirk’s assassination in Utah, he reflects on the dangers of social media...
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Salman Rushdie’s second act: 'My interest now is to lead the life that is mine to lead'
Author Salman Rushdie reflects on the “second act” he nearly didn’t get: surviving the 2022 attempt on his life, reclaiming his life and returning to fiction. He discusses the new documentary "Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie," how the attack changed his writing and his relationship…
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Why should anyone trust Marjorie Taylor Greene now?
Margaret Hoover sits down with former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of Donald Trump’s fiercest loyalists—and now one of his most outspoken defectors. Greene resigned from Congress in January after a spectacular and very public break with Trump over the war in Iran and the Epstein files.…
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What does one of America’s most powerful CEOs think business owes the country?
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, joins Margaret Hoover for a wide-ranging conversation about what American business owes the country—and where government should get out of the way. Fresh off JPMorgan’s announcement of a $750 billion commitment to affordable housing, Dimon explains why he...
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A defense of democratic socialism from House candidate Melat Kiros
Democratic socialist Melat Kiros sits down with Margaret Hoover in Denver to discuss her House race, what democratic socialism means to her, and explains her criticism of Israel. Kiros, who defeated a 15-term incumbent in a Democratic primary, reflects on why democratic socialism is resonating…
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Justice Neil Gorsuch on the heroes of 1776 and the future of American democracy
Justice Neil Gorsuch sits down with Margaret Hoover at the Supreme Court to talk about the ideas that shaped America, why they have endured for 250 years, and how to preserve them for the future. Gorsuch breaks down his new children’s book, “Heroes of 1776,” which tells the stories of the men and...
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Ret. Gen. Stan McChrystal on the role of the military and the responsibilities of citizens
Retired Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal joins Margaret Hoover to discuss America’s founding ideals and the role of the military and citizens in ensuring that they endure. He explains why the current politicization of the military concerns him and why military leaders have strived to remain…
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Can public education be fixed? Success Academy's Eva Moskowitz thinks yes
Eva Moskowitz, CEO of Success Academy–the top-performing charter school network in New York City–joins Margaret Hoover to talk about what’s wrong with public education in America and what failing schools can learn from her approach. Success Academy runs 59 public charter schools in New York City,...
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America at 250 with Justice Neil Gorsuch, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and Gen. Stan McChrystal (Ret.)
As America marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Margaret Hoover speaks to a Supreme Court justice, a swing state governor, and a retired four-star general about the state of American democracy and the nation’s progress toward fulfilling its founding…
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Melissa Murray’s strict scrutiny of the Constitution
Margaret Hoover talks to Melissa Murray, legal scholar and best-selling author of tThe U.S. Constitution: A Comprehensive and Annotated Guide for the Modern Reader, a book she wrote in the hope that the Constitution would be read and understood by all Americans—just as the founders had intended....
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‘Arrogance’ in Iran? Former IDF intelligence chief Tamir Hayman assesses the war plan
Margaret Hoover talks to General Tamir Hayman, former head of the IDF’s military intelligence unit, about the state of the war in Iran, the status of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, and what he believes the U.S. and Israel have gotten right and wrong so far. Hayman is now executive...
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Ryan Holiday and Jim Mattis on Stoicism and leadership in America
Bestselling author and podcaster Ryan Holiday and former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis discuss America’s founding ideals and why they still matter 250 years later in the second part of a conversation recorded at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Holiday and Mattis explain why…
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Living with loss: Danielle Crittenden shares ‘Dispatches from Grief’
Danielle Crittenden joins Margaret Hoover to discuss her new book, “Dispatches from Grief: A Mother's Journey Through the Unthinkable,” which details the aftermath of her daughter’s unexpected death. Miranda Frum, who once worked for “Firing Line,” died suddenly in 2024 at age 32 as she was...
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Built to last? America at 250 with Yuval Levin and Jeffrey Rosen
Margaret Hoover sits down with American Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Yuval Levin and National Constitution Center CEO Emeritus Jeffrey Rosen to discuss the enduring ideals of America’s founding documents. Levin and Rosen, who both contributed to the NCC’s new book “The Promise of America,”...
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Ben McKenzie’s warning about crypto: ‘All hell will eventually break loose’
Ben McKenzie joins Margaret Hoover to break down his new documentary about cryptocurrency, “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,” and the dangers he believes crypto poses to investors and the economy itself. McKenzie–best known for his performances on “The O.C.,” “Southland,” and…
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Lanhee Chen on fixing America’s broken health care system
Health care policy expert Lanhee Chen joins Margaret Hoover to unpack the paradox at the heart of American medicine: the best care in the world—and some of the highest costs. What’s broken, and why hasn’t Washington been able to fix it? Chen—a Hoover Institution fellow who has advised Republican...
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Can Congress be fixed? A Firing Line forum with Philip Wallach and Oona Hathaway
As presidents increasingly rely on executive action to advance their agenda, Philip Wallach and Oona Hathaway join Margaret Hoover to discuss why Congress has abdicated its constitutional power and how to fix it in a forum at Hofstra University. Wallach, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise...
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General Jim Mattis and Ryan Holiday on the war in Iran and Stoicism in the military
Former Four Star Marine General Jim Mattis and best selling author and popular podcaster Ryan Holiday join Margaret Hoover to talk about the war in Iran, the Trump administration’s “murky” endgame, and the role of Stoic philosophy in military leadership. This interview was recorded as part of the...
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Iran: The road to war
Over the last eight seasons, Margaret Hoover has spoken to many guests about the threat posed by Iran and what the U.S. can do about it. As the war in Iran enters a third week, we look back at how key policymakers and experts have addressed the prospect of military action against the regime. This...
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Mark Cuban wants to ‘f- up the entire healthcare industry’
Entrepreneur Mark Cuban talks to Margaret Hoover about what is wrong with the healthcare system in America and how he hopes to fix it. Since selling his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks and quitting ABC’s “Shark Tank,” Cuban has focused his energy on disrupting the healthcare industry. He...
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Jon Meacham on ‘American Struggle’ and the pursuit of a more perfect union
Historian Jon Meacham sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about America’s pursuit of democracy, the dangers posed by the Trump administration, and his new book, “American Struggle.” The book collects speeches and documents by prominent figures beginning with the First Assembly of Virginia in...
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A brave new world of media and politics: Natalie Winters and Adam Mockler
Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, and Adam Mockler, host of “The Adam Mockler Show” on YouTube, join Margaret Hoover for a discussion at Hofstra University about how their generation views politics and media. Winters, 24, defends her approach to reporting and…
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Policing a city on ICE: Minneapolis PD Chief Brian O’Hara
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara returns to “Firing Line” to talk about the impact of the federal immigration enforcement surge in his city and the protests against it. He addresses the Trump administration’s announcement that 700 federal officers will be leaving Minnesota and responds to...
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Is anti-Zionism the new antisemitism? Activist and author Noa Tishby says yes
Noa Tishby, Israel’s former Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism, discusses the global rise in hatred and violence against Jews and explains why she believes anti-Zionism is inherently antisemitic. The actress and best-selling author reflects on the recovery of the body of the last October…
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson on ICE raids and brutal budget battles
Margaret Hoover sits down with Mayor Brandon Johnson in Chicago to talk about his clash with the Trump administration over immigration enforcement and the political and fiscal challenges that cities are facing today. Johnson discusses the role of mayors in challenging the president’s policies and...
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Rep. Jim Clyburn tells the cautionary tale of ‘The First Eight’
Rep. James Clyburn joins Margaret Hoover to talk about “The First Eight,” his recent book about the eight Black South Carolinians who served in Congress before him and why their stories still matter. During reconstruction after the Civil War, South Carolina sent eight Black men to Congress. After...
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Elliott Abrams makes the case for a democratic Venezuela
Elliott Abrams, who was U.S. special representative for Venezuela in President Trump’s first term, responds to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and discusses what it means for U.S. foreign policy. Abrams, who also worked in the State Department under Presidents Ronald Reagan and...
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Bari Weiss on the ‘perfect storm’ fueling antisemitism in America
In a 2020 interview, journalist Bari Weiss discusses the rise of antisemitism on the right and left and her book, “How to Fight Anti-Semitism.” Weiss details several factors driving antisemitism, including President Trump “dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down.” Weiss, a proud...
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Rob Reiner’s 2019 warning about the fate of American democracy
Rob Reiner talked to Margaret Hoover in 2019 about politics, activism, and his concerns for America’s future. Following the death of Reiner and his wife Michelle–and the arrest of their son for their murders–we look back at that interview, including material that did not previously air. The...
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Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling on Trump’s second-term National Security Strategy
Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling joins Margaret Hoover to talk about President Trump’s new National Security Strategy and how his second term foreign policy differs from his first. Having spent nearly four decades in the U.S. Army, Hertling provides insight into the Trump administration’s strikes on...
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Assessing William F. Buckley Jr.’s legacy with biographer Sam Tanenhaus
One hundred years after William F. Buckley Jr.’s birth, Margaret Hoover sits down with biographer Sam Tanenhaus to reflect on the original “Firing Line” host’s life and legacy. In his long-awaited book, “Buckley: The Life and the Revolution That Changed America,” Tanenhaus details Buckley’s...
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Robert George and Cornel West: Revisiting a conversation with an ideological odd couple
Conservative Robert George and progressive Cornel West talk to Margaret Hoover about their long-standing friendship that bridges their ideological differences in an interview recorded in 2020. George–who recently resigned from the board of the Heritage Foundation over its defense of Tucker...
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Nebula CEO Dave Wiskus on the rise of the creator economy
Dave Wiskus, founder and CEO of the streaming service Nebula, sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about the rise of the creator economy, the decline of traditional media, and what comes next. Wiskus explains how creator-driven content has become a global industry that could be worth $500…
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Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein on ‘The American Revolution’
Filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein sit down with Margaret Hoover to discuss their latest project, “The American Revolution,” ahead of its premiere on PBS. The 12-hour documentary series revisits America’s founding, aiming to tell the complete story rather than the "sanitized" version many…
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Andrew Ross Sorkin on the 1929 crash, the Depression, and Herbert Hoover’s legacy
Financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about his new book, “1929,” and what the lessons of the Great Depression mean for the economy today. Sorkin, a CNBC anchor and New York Times columnist, discusses the bankers and policymakers at the center of the crash...
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Autocracy and democracy in the age of Trump with former Amb. Michael McFaul
Former Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul joins Margaret Hoover to discuss President Trump’s trip to Asia, the state of the war in Ukraine, and the new era of great power competition with Russia and China. McFaul, author of the new book “Autocrats vs. Democrats,” assesses Trump’s handling of...
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Andrew Cuomo on his mayoral run, Mamdani’s ideas, and taking on Trump
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo discusses the New York City mayoral race, his policy proposals, and the danger he sees in electing his opponent, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. With Election Day approaching, Cuomo lays out his potential path to victory and challenges Mamdani’s plans to...
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Anthony Kennedy: Democracy would be in danger if a president defies the Supreme Court
Justice Anthony Kennedy talks to Margaret Hoover about his three decades on the Supreme Court and the threats he sees to American democracy today. As the court begins a new term, Kennedy, who took senior status in 2018, discusses the relationship between the Supreme Court and the executive branch...
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Can technology save democracy? Taiwan’s cyber ambassador Audrey Tang thinks so
Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s cyber ambassador, sits down with Margaret Hoover to talk about technology, democracy, and the fate of Taiwan amid new threats from China. Tang, who served as Taiwan’s first minister of digital affairs, reflects on her work integrating technology into the government and the...
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Former AG Alberto Gonzales: 'Without the rule of law, we have no democracy'
Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales lays out his concerns about the indictment of James Comey and the Trump administration defying the norms of Justice Department independence. Gonzales–a Republican who supported Kamala Harris in 2024 due to concerns about Trump and the rule of law–says...
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‘Food security is national security,’ says the World Food Programme’s Cindy McCain
World Food Programme Director Cindy McCain joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the global food crisis and the need for more resources to fight it. In a conversation on the sidelines of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York, McCain details the impact of humanitarian aid cuts by the U.S. and other...
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Extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss on Charlie Kirk and America’s political violence problem
Political violence expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the rising threat of political violence in America. Miller-Idriss, author of the new book “Man Up: The New Misogyny and the Rise of Violent Extremism,”...
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John Malone says the current state of media ‘is not good for democracy’
Cable TV titan John Malone joins Margaret Hoover to talk about his new memoir, “Born to Be Wired,” and current challenges in media and politics. Malone, who played a key role in the development of the cable industry at Tele-Communications Inc. and Liberty Media Corp., explains why he opposed...
About this show
Author, feminist, gay rights activist and political commentator Margaret Hoover leads a rigorous exchange of ideas with America’s political and cultural newsmakers. In the spirit of William F. Buckley Jr.’s iconic “Firing Line,” Hoover engages with thought leaders on the pivotal issues moving the nation forward. New podcast episodes drop weekly, and sometimes more, featuring bonus content you won’t hear on TV.
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Firing Line With Margaret Hoover