Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

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 Forward in New York, starring Snytsina and telling the story of her journey from Belarusian Olympic basketball player to political activist. In 2020, Tsikhanouskaya’s husband Sergei Tikhanovsky was arrested shortly after announcing he would run against Lukashenko. He remains in custody today, but Tsikhanouskaya ran in his place, failing to unseat Lukashenko in an election widely seen as a sham. Snytsina recalls how the mass protests that followed that election inspired her to speak out and leave the national women’s basketball team. Kaliada discusses the genesis of the play and explains why art can be a uniquely effective weapon against dictators. Tsikhanouskaya reflects on life in Belarus today, offers a warning for Americans about the urgency of defending democracy abroad, and looks ahead to the country’s January 2025 presidential election, which she expects will be a “farce.” This interview was recorded in September after a performance of KS6: Small Forward at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in New York. Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Phillip I. Kent Foundation and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.

Entrepreneur and GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy joins Margaret Hoover to discuss his vision for America as he rises in the Republican primary polls, earning a spot on the August 23 debate stage.  Ramaswamy said he thought Trump was “actually a very good president” but explained why he thinks Trump “fell short” and how he plans to go even further with an agenda that would radically reshape the U.S. government. Joining “Firing Line” in Des Moines, Iowa just days before Trump was indicted for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election, Ramaswamy said he would pardon Trump because censorship—not the former president—was what ultimately caused the violence on Jan. 6. He has doubled down on that position since the indictment was handed down.  The former biotech executive—who made a name for himself with his 2021 book “Woke, Inc.”—explained his critique of woke capitalism, his plan to end the war in Ukraine, and why he believes that climate change is not “an existential risk for humanity.” Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The McKenna Family Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, and Damon Button.

Four-star Admiral William H. McRaven, who rose to become commander of U.S. Special Operations, discusses America’s withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan and whether he believes U.S.-trained Afghan forces can handle an “onslaught by the Taliban.” McRaven also addresses the current threat level from Iran, his decision to speak out against President Trump, whom he calls “a leader that belittled people,” before the 2020 election and 10 everyday virtues laid out in his new book, "The Hero Code: Lessons Learned from Lives Well Lived."  Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The David Tepper Charitable Foundation Inc., The Fairweather Foundation, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, and Rosalind P. Walter. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc. and Morgan Stanley.

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 explains how his company, Cost Plus Drugs, works and why he is taking on pharmacy benefit managers–the insurance industry middlemen he blames for rising drug costs.Cuban addresses broader questions about the industry, telling Margaret why he supports bipartisan legislation to break up big healthcare companies, why he thinks TrumpRx is a good program, and why he doubts universal healthcare is feasible in America today.Cuban, who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024, also reflects on the Democratic Party’s communication problems and comments on whether he would consider running for president himself in 2028.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 1619 to the present, tracking the development of America’s founding ideals and the nation’s imperfect quest to live up to them. Meacham reflects on the first year of President Trump’s second term and his expansive use of executive power. He also addresses the administration’s “might makes right” approach to foreign policy and what it means for America’s place in the world.Meacham reflects on Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy, explains why presidential character matters, and discusses how America’s history can be a source for hope in the present.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 denounces the “anti-disinformation industry” that she believes silences alternative views. She also addresses rifts within the Republican Party revealed by a recent clash between President Trump and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.Mockler, 23, explains why authenticity attracts audiences online and reflects on the state of the Democratic Party, which he thinks should embrace aspects of both moderation and populism to succeed.The commentators debate President Trump’s immigration policies and broader attitudes toward immigration and assimilation.Winters and Mockler also take questions from Hofstra students about accountability in journalism, algorithms that promote extreme content, and desensitization toward tragedy.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Beth and Ravenel Curry Foundation, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 comments President Trump made this week about the surge and about crime in Minneapolis.O’Hara, who reformed the Minneapolis Police Department after George Floyd’s murder, explains why the actions of ICE are putting the progress he has made at risk and how his understaffed department is responding to the crisis.He discusses the relationship between local and federal law enforcement, the importance of accountability, and his assessment of the tactics used by protesters. He also comments on Trump’s threats to invoke the Insurrection Act.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 7th hostage, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the state of the peace process in Gaza, and the U.S. response to protests in Iran.Tishby talks about how antisemitism has evolved since the establishment of Israel and where the line is between valid criticism of the Israeli government and antisemitic vitriol that questions the country’s existence.She assesses the threat of antisemitism in the U.S., comments on the controversy on the right over Tucker Carlson’s interview with antisemite Nick Fuentes, and voices concerns about the left’s embrace of anti-Zionism exemplified by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 the limitations of a local government taking on the federal government.He offers advice for fellow progressive New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and reflects on some of the setbacks he has faced advancing his own agenda in Chicago after voters and the City Council rejected two major tax proposals.Johnson, a former public school teacher, also addresses Chicago’s rising public pension costs, his alignment with the teachers union, and whether ICE should be abolished.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 the last of them left office in 1897, it would be 95 years before the ninth–Clyburn–was elected in 1992. Clyburn explains why there was such a long gap and why he believes the segregationist past presents a cautionary tale for America today.He criticizes President Trump and the MAGA movement, and he warns that the Supreme Court could disenfranchise Black voters if it further weakens the Voting Rights Act.Clyburn, who is 85 and in his 17th term in Congress, reflects on his legacy, offers a message for the next generation of Democrats, and expresses hope for the nation’s future.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

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 George W. Bush, explains why he supported Trump taking action against Maduro and why he is alarmed by decisions the administration has made since. He details his concerns about the administration aligning with remnants of Maduro’s regime instead of supporting the democratic opposition.Abrams comments on Trump’s fixation on Venezuelan oil and the administration’s “might makes right” mindset that he says is inconsistent with America’s history. He also questions Trump’s push to seize control of Greenland.Abrams assesses Marco Rubio’s performance as secretary of state and the potential ramifications of unseating Maduro for other countries in the region, including Cuba. He talks about Trump’s effort to dominate the Western Hemisphere and the importance of asserting America’s values in the year of the nation’s 250th anniversary.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Charles R. Schwab, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, Jared Stone, and Al and Kathy Hubbard.

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 Zionist, describes her views on Israel and its government and reflects on the historic claim that both Israelis and Palestinians have to their land.Weiss–who went on to found the Free Press and take charge of CBS News–commented on her history of generating social media controversy and clashing with progressive critics of Israel like Rep. Ilhan Omar. Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

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 legendary filmmaker discussed working with conservatives to advance the cause of marriage equality and forging friendships with Republicans who opposed Donald Trump in his first term. He also explained why he viewed Trump as a threat to democracy and why he was supporting Joe Biden heading into 2020.Reiner, who played Mike "Meathead" Stivic on “All in the Family,” reflected on the show’s political impact. He also commented on how his progressive advocacy and frequent criticism of Trump might affect audience reactions to his films, and he assessed Hollywood’s treatment of conservative filmmakers and actors.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

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 alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and the ethical and legal questions they raise for the military.Hertling, who served as commanding general of the Army in Europe, responds to Trump’s criticism of America’s allies, his effort to revive the Monroe Doctrine, and his decision to allow Nvidia to sell advanced AI chips to China.Hertling also comments on ending the war in Ukraine and discusses his upcoming book, “If I Don’t Return.”Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, The Meadowlark Foundation, and Jared Stone.

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 childhood, his leadership of the American conservative movement, and his later years.This is an abridged version of a conversation with Tanenhaus that lasted nearly 90 minutes. In it, Tanenhaus defends his handling of Buckley’s Catholicism and his views on racial issues, as well as his contention that Buckley was an arguer, not a thinker. He also comments on Buckley’s lasting impact on journalism and politics, including the extent to which he might have laid the groundwork for President Trump’s MAGA movement. Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

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 Carlson’s interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes–explains what he learned from West about race in America. West, who ran for president as an independent candidate in 2024, comments on defending free speech as many fellow progressives favor restrictions and why he believes health care is a human right.West and George, authors of the recent book “Truth Matters,” delve into their differences on the merits of capitalism and socialism, and they offer advice on how to navigate political divisions at Thanksgiving dinner.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

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 billion by 2027 and how a new generation of creators like Mr. Beast interact with the gatekeepers of traditional media.He also comments on the challenges of protecting children from harmful content in this new media ecosystem–and the potential dangers of exposing adults to some of it too.Wiskus discusses the growing role of the creator economy in politics, the concerns that arise from the spread of misinformation, and the emerging risks posed by artificial intelligence.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, The Tepper Foundation, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Pritzker Military Foundation, Cliff and Laurel Asness, Katharine J. Rayner, Lindsay and George Billingsley, and Jared Stone.

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 have come to know. Burns and Botstein explain why the revolution was also a bloody civil war–and ultimately a world war.They talk about the impact of leaders like George Washington and lesser-known elements like the roles of women and Native Americans in the war. They also detail how they built the narrative with maps, written records, and commentary from modern historians.Burns and Botstein respond to President Trump’s efforts to downplay negative aspects of the nation’s history, and Burns–who endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024–comments on maintaining neutrality in his work despite his personal politics.They also talk about how the founders’ warnings against tyranny and executive overreach remain relevant today.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

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 and the recovery, including Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He explains how Democrats worked to undermine Hoover’s reputation even before the crash and how a negative propaganda campaign–and Hoover’s refusal to engage with it–helped a false narrative about his response to the crisis take hold.Sorkin, who also wrote “Too Big to Fail” about the 2008 financial crisis, reflects on similarities between the two events and what the next economic crash might look like. Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.

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 foreign policy so far in his second term, acknowledging the president has not been the isolationist many expected but also criticizing him for abandoning America’s soft power institutions.McFaul, who first met Vladimir Putin in the 1990s, explains how Putin’s worldview differs from Xi Jinping and why he believes that makes Putin a more aggressive threat to democracy. He also lays out what he thinks it will take to bring Putin to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine.And McFaul reflects on the 2024 death of his friend, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and what it means for Russia’s post-Putin future.Support for Firing Line with Margaret Hoover is provided by Robert Granieri, The Tepper Foundation, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, and Pritzker Military Foundation.