Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Season 5, Episode 27: Elliot Ackerman

1

Adam Kinzinger

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-IL, one of two Republicans on the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack, discusses what lawmakers have learned and what questions remain unanswered – as the nation marks the one-year anniversary of that deadly day.

27 min

2

Fareed Zakaria

Author and anchor Fareed Zakaria discusses the lessons of Covid-19 as the world enters the third year of the pandemic; Zakaria, who as a student brought William F. Buckley Jr. to Yale, also discusses threats to democracy at home and abroad.

27 min

3

Indra Nooyi

Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi discusses her rise up America’s corporate ladder after emigrating from India. She also weighs in on the future of the workplace, the care economy and the role companies should play in addressing problems in society.

27 min

4

Eva Moskowitz

Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz makes the case for school choice as her network of charter schools in NYC outperforms schools across the state. She discusses the role of teachers unions, education reform proposals and the impact of the pandemic.

27 min

5

Lonnie Bunch

Secretary of the Smithsonian Lonnie Bunch kicks off Black History Month with a discussion on the importance of studying a complete history, the role of museums in society and his continued work to preserve America’s story for future generations.

27 min

6

Enes Kanter Freedom

NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, a prominent critic of his native Turkey and China, discusses the genocide of the Uyghurs, his call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games, and his criticisms of the NBA and Nike for business ties with China.

27 min

7

Michael McFaul

Michael McFaul, the U.S. ambassador to Russia in the Obama administration, discusses the rising tensions as Russian troops surround Ukraine and appear poised to invade. He assesses Putin’s motivations and the prospects for deterrence and diplomacy.

27 min

8

William B. Taylor

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor discusses Russia's invasion of its neighbor and Ukraine's resistance, the response of the U.S. and allies economically and militarily, and where the conflict is headed.

27 min

9

Margaret Atwood

“The Handmaid’s Tale” author Margaret Atwood discusses her dystopian classic and being a consultant on the hit Hulu series based on it. Atwood reflects on using fiction and essays to warn about authoritarianism, climate change and other dangers.

27 min

10

Lynsey Addario

Pulitzer Prize-winning war photojournalist Lynsey Addario joins from Kyiv to discuss shooting a defining image that exposed Putin’s war crimes in Ukraine, finding humanity amid horror on the ground, and her drive to document conflict zones.

27 min

11

Rhiannon Giddens

Grammy Award-winning musician Rhiannon Giddens discusses what her journey from opera to Black string band music taught her about her own identity, her mission to reclaim the true history of the banjo, and how her “American music” transcends genres.

27 min

12

Chris Coons

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) discusses the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court but says public trust in the institution is falling. He responds to Russian war crimes in Ukraine and assesses Biden’s legislative agenda to date.

27 min

13

Matt Damon and Gary White

Oscar-winner Matt Damon and water expert Gary White discuss their goal to end the global water crisis for 771 million people in their lifetimes. They explain how they use microfinance and impact investing to help millions gain access to clean water.

27 min

14

Marie Yovanovitch

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch discusses Putin's new offensive, Ukrainian resolve, and whether Russian atrocities are genocide. The impeachment witness analyzes Trump's dealings with Ukraine and Biden's response to the war.

27 min

15

Tina Brown

Legendary journalist Tina Brown discusses her new book about the royals, with reporting on Megxit, Prince Andrew, and what happens after Queen Elizabeth's reign. She weighs in on the future of magazines and billionaire Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover.

27 min

16

Linda Thomas-Greenfield

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield discusses holding Putin accountable for war crimes and tackling the global food security crisis that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has accelerated. She addresses the UN's mission and possible reforms.

27 min

17

Ed Whelan and Mary Ziegler

Legal scholars Mary Ziegler and Ed Whelan discuss their differing views on the Supreme Court’s leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the future of abortion law in America, and what this expected ruling could mean for other cases.

27 min

18

Eric Schmidt

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt discusses how artificial intelligence will change the world and impact the future of jobs, medicine and warfare. He says we need to prepare for the dark sides of AI and weighs in on other tech issues and climate change.

27 min

19

Raphael Warnock

Sen. Raphael Warnock (D), Georgia's first Black US senator and a minister, discusses the economy, Jan. 6, and other key midterm issues. Warnock is up against ex-football star Herschel Walker, a Trump-backed candidate, in a closely watched 2022 race.

27 min

20

Ben Ginsberg

Republican election lawyer Ben Ginsberg discusses speaking out against Trump and other election deniers at the January 6 hearings. He weighs in on efforts to reform federal election laws and assesses whether Trump will be prosecuted.

27 min

21

Christine Todd Whitman

Pro-choice Republican and fmr. NJ Gov. Christine Todd Whitman calls the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe judicial activism and says women will be harmed. She reflects on how the GOP became an anti-choice party and on polarization in America.

27 min

22

James Kirchick

Author James Kirchick discusses his New York Times bestseller “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington,” a chronicle of gay powerbrokers from the FDR presidency through the Cold War and into the Clinton years – and the risks they faced.

27 min

23

Chris Murphy

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-CT, discusses his first success in a decade-long fight to stop America’s gun violence epidemic and explains how the new law may have stopped the Highland Park shooter. He addresses urban gun violence and the weakening gun lobby.

27 min

24

Adam Grant

Organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant examines the value of rethinking deeply-held beliefs in an ever-changing world. He discusses how that approach could reshape our work, politics, and daily discourse for the better.

27 min

25

Mike Lee

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) discusses his support for Trump leading up to Jan. 6, whether Trump’s inaction that day violated his oath, and what it may mean for 2024. He also makes his case against what he sees as a Democratic plot to pack the Supreme Court.

27 min

26

Kenny Loggins

Legendary singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins discusses writing enduring hits for films like “Top Gun” and "Footloose," reuniting with Jim Messina, and other highs and lows of his 50-year career as he's out with his memoir, "Still Alright."

27 min

27

Elliot Ackerman

One year after U.S. troops left Afghanistan and 21 years after 9/11, Marine veteran and author Elliot Ackerman reflects on the war’s strategic failures, his own efforts to get Afghans out, and the dangers of America’s growing civil-military divide.

27 min

28

Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein

Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein discuss their new documentary series,“The U.S. and the Holocaust,” which examines America's response to Nazi atrocities, why the U.S. failed to take in more refugees, and how themes from the past echo today.

27 min

29

Iván Duque

Former Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez warns against the rise of left-wing populism in Colombia and across Latin America. He also discusses the war on drugs, the crisis in Venezuela, and the global impact of threats to democracy in the U.S.

27 min

30

Oksana Markarova

Ukrainian Amb. to the U.S. Oksana Markarova discusses Russia’s nuclear threats as Putin annexes territory and mobilizes 300,000 reservists. She weighs in on Russian war crimes that she calls “genocide” and makes the case for continued U.S. support.

27 min

31

Cori Bush

Progressive 'Squad' member Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) discusses surviving sexual assault and her experience with abortion as she is out with a memoir. She discusses her role in the Black Lives Matters protests, policing, and other policy priorities.

27 min

32

Masih Alinejad

Exiled Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad calls the protests in Iran over the government's brutal treatment of women a revolution that will bring down the regime. She also says the U.S. should do much more to support the protestors.

27 min

33

Matthew Continetti

Author and journalist Matthew Continetti discusses the evolution and future of the American conservative movement. He examines how figures like William F. Buckley Jr., Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh and Donald Trump led, shaped and changed the right.

27 min

34

Evan McMullin

Independent conservative candidate Evan McMullin discusses his race against Utah's Republican Sen. Mike Lee, which could decide control of the Senate. McMullin criticizes Lee's support of Trump and his role in efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

27 min

35

Maggie Haberman

Pulitzer-prize winning New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman gives the inside account of interviewing Donald Trump for her new biography. She discusses the latest on the investigations he is facing and why she believes Trump will run in 2024.

27 min

36

Asa Hutchinson

Republican Governor of Arkansas Asa Hutchinson assesses the GOP’s weak performance in the 2022 midterm elections, how key issues like abortion played into the race, how it may affect Donald Trump’s role in the party and what this means for 2024.

27 min

37

William Barr

Former Attorney General William Barr denounces Trump's 2024 bid and says his ex-boss should step aside. Barr discusses his high-profile resignation from the Trump administration, the state of the DOJ, and the current investigations of Trump.

27 min

38

Mike Pence

Vice President Mike Pence defends the work of the Trump administration while explaining his break with President Trump over January 6. He discusses the investigations of Trump, his call for civility, and his potential presidential candidacy in 2024.

27 min

39

Maria Ressa

Maria Ressa, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist who faces life in prison for standing up to authoritarianism in the Philippines, discusses how the spread of false news through social media threatens democracy and the importance of a free press.

27 min

40

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland discusses becoming American Ballet Theatre's first Black principal dancer and the role her mentor, trailblazing Black ballerina Raven Wilkinson, played in her rise. Copeland weighs in on diversity in ballet, motherhood and her future.

27 min