Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Season 8, Episode 36: Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein

1

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Katya Snytsina and Natalia Kaliada

Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Olympic basketball star Katya Snytsina, and Belarus Free Theatre co-founder Natalia Kaliada discuss the fight against Lukashenko’s dictatorship and the power of art and sports in politics.

27 min

2

Juan Williams

Fox News analyst Juan Williams discusses his book “New Prize for These Eyes,” about what he sees as a second civil rights movement and the backlash against it. He reflects on the impact of right-wing media ahead of Trump’s inauguration and MLK Day.

27 min

3

Newt Gingrich

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich discusses his new PBS documentary “Journey to America” and makes a conservative case for legal immigration amid rising GOP skepticism. He also responds to President Trump’s executive orders and January 6th pardons.

27 min

4

James Carville and Mike Murphy

Two veteran campaign strategists, Democrat James Carville and Republican Mike Murphy, discuss the political fallout from the 2024 election, the chaotic early days of Donald Trump’s second term, and the challenges that lie ahead for both parties.

27 min

5

Richard Carmona

As Robert F. Kennedy Jr. nears confirmation as Health and Human Services Secretary, former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona discusses Kennedy’s controversial history, his potential impact on public health, and how to prepare for the next pandemic.

27 min

6

Philip K Howard and Will Marshall

Two government reform advocates, author and lawyer Philip K. Howard and Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute, discuss Trump's deep state blitz, what DOGE is getting wrong, and their advice for Elon Musk in a forum at Hofstra University.

27 min

7

Scott Lincicome and Jeff Ferry

Economist Jeff Ferry of the Coalition for a Prosperous America and trade expert Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute discuss the impact of President Trump’s tariffs on U.S. consumers, businesses, and the world in a forum at Hofstra University.

27 min

8

Ross Douthat

Conservative New York Times columnist Ross Douthat assesses President Trump’s address to Congress, his latest actions on Ukraine and trade, and the future of the GOP. Douthat also discusses his new book, “Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious."

27 min

9

Lawrence Perelman

100 years after the birth of William F. Buckley Jr., “American Impresario” author Lawrence Perelman discusses their friendship, Buckley’s love of music, and his life outside politics. He reflects on Buckley’s character and the values he represented.

27 min

10

Jonathan Martin, Adam Nagourney, Bob Shrum

Jonathan Martin of Politico, Adam Nagourney of The New York Times, and Bob Shrum of the USC Center for the Political Future discuss the challenges facing legacy media, threats to press freedom around the world, and the future of journalism.

27 min

11

Glenn Hubbard

Conservative economist Glenn Hubbard discusses the impact of Trump’s tariffs and other ways to rebalance the economy. The former adviser to Pres. George W. Bush doubts the return of manufacturing jobs and assesses the risks of a trade war with China.

27 min

12

Josès Andrès

Chef and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés discusses his approach to humanitarian aid, his work in Ukraine and Gaza, and his new book, “Change the Recipe.” He comments on the Trump administration, immigration, and threats to the rule of law.

27 min

13

Robert Lighthizer

Robert Lighthizer, who served as U.S. Trade Representative in Trump’s first term, defends the president’s tariffs and makes the case for more balanced trade. He discusses the impact of tariffs on prices and the future of American manufacturing.

27 min

14

Kelsey Grammer

Actor Kelsey Grammer discusses his new book, “Karen: A Brother Remembers,” transcending tragedy after his sister’s murder, and its impact on his life and his work. He also talks about being conservative in Hollywood in the age of Trump.

27 min

15

Niall Ferguson

Historian Sir Niall Ferguson assesses the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term. He discusses the economic impact of Trump’s tariffs, efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and the current and future challenges posed by China.

27 min

16

Fei-Fei Li

AI pioneer Dr. Fei-Fei Li discusses ethical development of artificial intelligence and the challenge of establishing effective regulations. She addresses government funding of research, diversity in science, and ensuring child safety as AI advances.

27 min

17

Chris Hughes

Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes discusses his book, “Marketcrafters,” about policymakers on the left and right who have shaped markets to achieve social and political goals. He also comments on social media regulation and the Meta antitrust trial.

27 min

18

Jason Riley

“The Affirmative Action Myth” author Jason Riley argues race-based college admissions policies failed Black students. The Wall Street Journal columnist discusses racial disparities in education and responds to Trump’s assault on universities.

27 min

19

Lisa Murkowski

GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski discusses the U.S. strikes against Iran, the Senate debate over Trump’s tax cuts, and protecting the powers of Congress. She talks about her new book, representing Alaska, and why that sometimes means defying her own party.

27 min

20

Mike Pence

Former Vice President Mike Pence assesses President Trump’s second term so far, defends Trump’s tax cut bill and strikes against Iran, and raises concerns about his former running mate’s handling of tariffs, the TikTok ban, and the nation’s debt.

27 min

21

Elissa Slotkin

Senator Elissa Slotkin lays out her economic “war plan” for Democrats and discusses divisions within the party. The Michigan Democrat also comments on support for Ukraine, the MAGA rift over the Epstein files, and fighting Trump’s domestic agenda.

27 min

22

Jessica Riedl

Conservative economist Jessica Riedl discusses the impact of Trump’s tariffs and trade deals, the cost of his tax cuts, and potential entitlement reforms. She assesses the Republican Party’s shift toward populism and the threat posed by rising debt.

27 min

23

Mike Lawler

GOP New York Congressman Mike Lawler discusses the impact of Trump’s tax cut bill, his response to critics of its cost and Medicaid provisions, new developments in Gaza, and the challenge of representing a Democratic-leaning district as a Republican.

27 min

24

Sam Tanenhaus

Author Sam Tanenhaus discusses his biography of William F. Buckley Jr. and responds to critics of his portrayal of the leader of the American conservative movement. He reflects on Buckley’s views on race and faith and how he impacted modern politics.

27 min

25

Sam Tanenhaus Part 2

In part two, author Sam Tanenhaus further discusses his biography of William F. Buckley Jr., the leader of the modern American conservative movement. He defends his exploration of Buckley’s sexuality and reflects on his influence on the GOP today.

27 min

26

Chris Coons

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons discusses China’s efforts to reshape the world order and the U.S. response. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee member assesses Trump’s handling of the war in Ukraine and his National Guard deployments in the U.S.

27 min

27

John Malone

Cable TV titan John Malone reflects on his career as an industry pioneer and assesses the state of the media today. He discusses the need to regulate Big Tech, the danger of political dysfunction, and his views on President Trump’s second term.

27 min

28

Cynthia Miller-Idriss

Extremism expert Cynthia Miller-Idriss assesses the shooting of Charlie Kirk, the Trump administration’s response, and the rise of political violence in America. She discusses forces that fuel radicalization, especially among young men and boys.

27 min

29

Cindy McCain

World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the global hunger crisis–including famine in Sudan and Gaza–the impact of humanitarian aid cuts by the U.S. and other nations, and her message to world leaders at the UN General Assembly.

27 min

30

Alberto R. Gonzalez

Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales comments on the indictment of James Comey, the relationship between the White House and the Justice Department, the erosion of norms under President Trump, and Congress' failure to check the executive branch.

27 min

31

Audrey Tang

Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s ambassador-at-large and former minister of digital affairs, discusses how technology can advance democracy, the dangers posed by social media and artificial intelligence, and why Taiwan’s independence from China matters.

27 min

32

Anthony Kennedy

Anthony Kennedy discusses his decades on the Supreme Court and the legacy of his landmark decisions. He assesses challenges facing the court in Trump’s second term, including incivility among the justices, and warns of threats to American democracy.

27 min

33

Andrew Cuomo

Andrew Cuomo discusses the New York City mayoral race and his pitch to voters to choose him over democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani. He addresses threats the city faces from President Trump and reflects on his primary defeat and past controversies.

27 min

34

Michael McFaul

Former Ambassador Michael McFaul discusses Trump’s Asia trip, the state of the war in Ukraine, and a new era of U.S. competition with Russia and China. He addresses Trump’s second term foreign policy, sanctions on Russia, and negotiating with Putin.

27 min

35

Andrew Ross Sorkin

Andrew Ross Sorkin, author of "1929," discusses the 1929 stock market crash, the causes of the Great Depression, and how lessons from it can be applied today. He also reassesses the impact of Presidents Coolidge, Hoover and Roosevelt on the crisis.

27 min

36

Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein

Filmmakers Ken Burns and Sarah Botstein discuss their new PBS series “The American Revolution” that expands and updates the story of America's founding ahead of its premiere this Sunday.

27 min

37

Dave Wiskus

Dave Wiskus, founder and CEO of streaming service Nebula, discusses the rise of the creator economy, how the rapidly growing industry is changing the traditional media ecosystem, and what it means for entertainment, content moderation, and politics.

27 min

38

Mark Hertling

Ret. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling assesses the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy and what it means for U.S. allies and adversaries. He discusses U.S. strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats, the war in Ukraine, and countering China.

27 min