Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
@firinglineshow.bsky.social
A rigorous contest of ideas in the Firing Line tradition, every week on PBS with Margaret Hoover.
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Youtube: http://bit.ly/FLMYT4
Podcast: http://bit.ly/FLMH4
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In 2020, Bari Weiss described a "perfect storm" of factors fueling a surge of antisemitism.
Those factors included "the rise of neo-isolationism and populism on the far right and on the far left" and "a sort of post-truth culture aided and abetted by a president who talks about fake news."
Those factors included "the rise of neo-isolationism and populism on the far right and on the far left" and "a sort of post-truth culture aided and abetted by a president who talks about fake news."
January 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM
In 2020, Bari Weiss described a "perfect storm" of factors fueling a surge of antisemitism.
Those factors included "the rise of neo-isolationism and populism on the far right and on the far left" and "a sort of post-truth culture aided and abetted by a president who talks about fake news."
Those factors included "the rise of neo-isolationism and populism on the far right and on the far left" and "a sort of post-truth culture aided and abetted by a president who talks about fake news."
"I believe deeply in the Palestinian right to self-determination," Bari Weiss said in 2020, adding that she agrees the Arabs living on that land have a right to it.
“But it's simply a lie of history, it's revisionist, to suggest that the Jews don't have an indigenous claim to the land of Israel.”
“But it's simply a lie of history, it's revisionist, to suggest that the Jews don't have an indigenous claim to the land of Israel.”
January 4, 2026 at 1:34 PM
"I believe deeply in the Palestinian right to self-determination," Bari Weiss said in 2020, adding that she agrees the Arabs living on that land have a right to it.
“But it's simply a lie of history, it's revisionist, to suggest that the Jews don't have an indigenous claim to the land of Israel.”
“But it's simply a lie of history, it's revisionist, to suggest that the Jews don't have an indigenous claim to the land of Israel.”
In a 2020 interview, Bari Weiss praised William F. Buckley Jr.'s rejection of antisemitism on the right.
"When I think about how responsible adults behave in moments like this or in the face of bigotry and Jew hatred, even at considerable cost, I think about Buckley."
"When I think about how responsible adults behave in moments like this or in the face of bigotry and Jew hatred, even at considerable cost, I think about Buckley."
January 3, 2026 at 8:00 PM
In a 2020 interview, Bari Weiss praised William F. Buckley Jr.'s rejection of antisemitism on the right.
"When I think about how responsible adults behave in moments like this or in the face of bigotry and Jew hatred, even at considerable cost, I think about Buckley."
"When I think about how responsible adults behave in moments like this or in the face of bigotry and Jew hatred, even at considerable cost, I think about Buckley."
"When I create a controversy because I have afflicted the comfortable, I'm really happy about that," Bari Weiss said in 2020.
"When I create controversy because I am willing to be different and think differently and express those views, I'm really, really proud of that."
WATCH: bit.ly/4jkmKrM
"When I create controversy because I am willing to be different and think differently and express those views, I'm really, really proud of that."
WATCH: bit.ly/4jkmKrM
January 3, 2026 at 1:33 PM
"When I create a controversy because I have afflicted the comfortable, I'm really happy about that," Bari Weiss said in 2020.
"When I create controversy because I am willing to be different and think differently and express those views, I'm really, really proud of that."
WATCH: bit.ly/4jkmKrM
"When I create controversy because I am willing to be different and think differently and express those views, I'm really, really proud of that."
WATCH: bit.ly/4jkmKrM
"Populism in general is something understandable in a time of incredible economic inequality," Bari Weiss said in 2020.
"But populism in general is not a very good thing for the Jews."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44PWjo2
"But populism in general is not a very good thing for the Jews."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44PWjo2
January 3, 2026 at 4:07 AM
"Populism in general is something understandable in a time of incredible economic inequality," Bari Weiss said in 2020.
"But populism in general is not a very good thing for the Jews."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44PWjo2
"But populism in general is not a very good thing for the Jews."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44PWjo2
During Trump's first term, Bari Weiss described him as a "philosemite."
Weiss explained in 2020: "There's someone who said, and I thought this was brilliant, that Donald Trump thinks all of the bad stereotypes about the Jews are true. He just thinks they're good things."
Weiss explained in 2020: "There's someone who said, and I thought this was brilliant, that Donald Trump thinks all of the bad stereotypes about the Jews are true. He just thinks they're good things."
January 3, 2026 at 3:12 AM
During Trump's first term, Bari Weiss described him as a "philosemite."
Weiss explained in 2020: "There's someone who said, and I thought this was brilliant, that Donald Trump thinks all of the bad stereotypes about the Jews are true. He just thinks they're good things."
Weiss explained in 2020: "There's someone who said, and I thought this was brilliant, that Donald Trump thinks all of the bad stereotypes about the Jews are true. He just thinks they're good things."
In an interview from 2020, Bari Weiss told Margaret Hoover that the rise in antisemitic violence under President Trump was “of course not” an accident.
“He is dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down,” said Weiss.
“He is dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down,” said Weiss.
January 2, 2026 at 7:49 PM
In an interview from 2020, Bari Weiss told Margaret Hoover that the rise in antisemitic violence under President Trump was “of course not” an accident.
“He is dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down,” said Weiss.
“He is dismantling the moral guardrails that keep bigotry down,” said Weiss.
In 2020, Bari Weiss told #FiringLine, “There are controversies…that are not intended that are tripping into landmines... But when I create a controversy because I have afflicted the comfortable, I'm really happy about that."
FRIDAY @pbs.org
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January 2, 2026 at 7:24 PM
In 2020, Bari Weiss told #FiringLine, “There are controversies…that are not intended that are tripping into landmines... But when I create a controversy because I have afflicted the comfortable, I'm really happy about that."
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Cindy McCain acknowledges @wfp.org had gotten "a little top-heavy," and she has taken steps to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
"Using data better, using science and technology better, all of makes us a better organization."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
"Using data better, using science and technology better, all of makes us a better organization."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
December 29, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Cindy McCain acknowledges @wfp.org had gotten "a little top-heavy," and she has taken steps to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
"Using data better, using science and technology better, all of makes us a better organization."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
"Using data better, using science and technology better, all of makes us a better organization."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
"The soft power that the United States had through the food aid and the aid in general that they were distributing and helping out with is very important."
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain responds to U.S. humanitarian aid funding cuts.
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain responds to U.S. humanitarian aid funding cuts.
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
December 28, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"The soft power that the United States had through the food aid and the aid in general that they were distributing and helping out with is very important."
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain responds to U.S. humanitarian aid funding cuts.
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain responds to U.S. humanitarian aid funding cuts.
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
As leaders in the U.S. and Europe scale back foreign aid, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain warns hunger could fuel mass migration toward their countries.
"You would do anything to feed your family, and so they will hit the road and migrate."
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"You would do anything to feed your family, and so they will hit the road and migrate."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
December 28, 2025 at 1:33 PM
As leaders in the U.S. and Europe scale back foreign aid, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain warns hunger could fuel mass migration toward their countries.
"You would do anything to feed your family, and so they will hit the road and migrate."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
"You would do anything to feed your family, and so they will hit the road and migrate."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
"In many countries, we're just barely hanging on," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.
"We don't have the access to get to where we need to go, and the amount of food that we're trying to get in is not enough. And that's because of funding cuts."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4gTy78T
"We don't have the access to get to where we need to go, and the amount of food that we're trying to get in is not enough. And that's because of funding cuts."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4gTy78T
December 27, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"In many countries, we're just barely hanging on," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.
"We don't have the access to get to where we need to go, and the amount of food that we're trying to get in is not enough. And that's because of funding cuts."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4gTy78T
"We don't have the access to get to where we need to go, and the amount of food that we're trying to get in is not enough. And that's because of funding cuts."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4gTy78T
"I would challenge anybody from the private sector or any other area to try to do what we do and do it efficiently, effectively, and get the job done," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
December 27, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I would challenge anybody from the private sector or any other area to try to do what we do and do it efficiently, effectively, and get the job done," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/42gTElP
"In many countries, we're just barely hanging on."
Amid funding cuts from the U.S. and others, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of feeding the hungry in Sudan, Afghanistan, and other regions in crisis.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Amid funding cuts from the U.S. and others, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of feeding the hungry in Sudan, Afghanistan, and other regions in crisis.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
December 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"In many countries, we're just barely hanging on."
Amid funding cuts from the U.S. and others, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of feeding the hungry in Sudan, Afghanistan, and other regions in crisis.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Amid funding cuts from the U.S. and others, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of feeding the hungry in Sudan, Afghanistan, and other regions in crisis.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"Food security is national security."
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of confronting global hunger, fighting famine, and why the U.S. and other countries should fund humanitarian aid.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of confronting global hunger, fighting famine, and why the U.S. and other countries should fund humanitarian aid.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
December 25, 2025 at 4:06 AM
"Food security is national security."
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of confronting global hunger, fighting famine, and why the U.S. and other countries should fund humanitarian aid.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain discusses the challenges of confronting global hunger, fighting famine, and why the U.S. and other countries should fund humanitarian aid.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"If it is determined that he committed crimes, I'd like to see him convicted," Rob Reiner said of Donald Trump in 2019.
"If that doesn't happen, it basically paves the way for anybody to take stuff from foreign governments... to do whatever it is you want, and we don't want that in the president.”
"If that doesn't happen, it basically paves the way for anybody to take stuff from foreign governments... to do whatever it is you want, and we don't want that in the president.”
December 23, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"If it is determined that he committed crimes, I'd like to see him convicted," Rob Reiner said of Donald Trump in 2019.
"If that doesn't happen, it basically paves the way for anybody to take stuff from foreign governments... to do whatever it is you want, and we don't want that in the president.”
"If that doesn't happen, it basically paves the way for anybody to take stuff from foreign governments... to do whatever it is you want, and we don't want that in the president.”
In a 2019 interview, Rob Reiner said Hollywood doesn't care about a filmmaker's politics "if they're making a lot of money," but being conservative might hurt an actor's career.
"You can hire another actor. But for the people who are in power to actually make the films, I don't think it matters."
"You can hire another actor. But for the people who are in power to actually make the films, I don't think it matters."
December 23, 2025 at 1:34 PM
In a 2019 interview, Rob Reiner said Hollywood doesn't care about a filmmaker's politics "if they're making a lot of money," but being conservative might hurt an actor's career.
"You can hire another actor. But for the people who are in power to actually make the films, I don't think it matters."
"You can hire another actor. But for the people who are in power to actually make the films, I don't think it matters."
In 2019, Rob Reiner questioned whether American institutions could survive President Trump.
“I'm nervous about it,” he told Margaret Hoover. “Right now, we're being tested.”
“I'm nervous about it,” he told Margaret Hoover. “Right now, we're being tested.”
December 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
In 2019, Rob Reiner questioned whether American institutions could survive President Trump.
“I'm nervous about it,” he told Margaret Hoover. “Right now, we're being tested.”
“I'm nervous about it,” he told Margaret Hoover. “Right now, we're being tested.”
"I've always said you cannot have a healthy democracy unless you have a healthy Republican Party and a healthy Democratic party," Rob Reiner said in 2019, "so that we can actually debate the ideas of where we are."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
December 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I've always said you cannot have a healthy democracy unless you have a healthy Republican Party and a healthy Democratic party," Rob Reiner said in 2019, "so that we can actually debate the ideas of where we are."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"I don't believe I have changed many people's minds," Rob Reiner said of the impact of his criticism of #DonaldTrump in 2019.
"What you do is, you keep the people who are going to be engaged engaged to get out there and vote."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"What you do is, you keep the people who are going to be engaged engaged to get out there and vote."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
December 21, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"I don't believe I have changed many people's minds," Rob Reiner said of the impact of his criticism of #DonaldTrump in 2019.
"What you do is, you keep the people who are going to be engaged engaged to get out there and vote."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"What you do is, you keep the people who are going to be engaged engaged to get out there and vote."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"We are a capitalist nation," Rob Reiner told Margaret Hoover in 2019.
"But we also have a lot of socialist programs inside the capitalist nation and we have to find a way to balance those things."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"But we also have a lot of socialist programs inside the capitalist nation and we have to find a way to balance those things."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
December 21, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"We are a capitalist nation," Rob Reiner told Margaret Hoover in 2019.
"But we also have a lot of socialist programs inside the capitalist nation and we have to find a way to balance those things."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"But we also have a lot of socialist programs inside the capitalist nation and we have to find a way to balance those things."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/44BB5dp
"The good Republicans that I talk to all the time, their hair is on fire..," Rob Reiner said in 2019.
"At a certain point, you've got to say I care more about this country than I do about my getting reelected."
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"At a certain point, you've got to say I care more about this country than I do about my getting reelected."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
December 20, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"The good Republicans that I talk to all the time, their hair is on fire..," Rob Reiner said in 2019.
"At a certain point, you've got to say I care more about this country than I do about my getting reelected."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"At a certain point, you've got to say I care more about this country than I do about my getting reelected."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"When you look at the sweet spot of any great civilization, it's usually 250 to 300 years," Rob Reiner told Margaret Hoover in 2019.
"We're coming up against that."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/3MNi15N
"We're coming up against that."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/3MNi15N
December 20, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"When you look at the sweet spot of any great civilization, it's usually 250 to 300 years," Rob Reiner told Margaret Hoover in 2019.
"We're coming up against that."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/3MNi15N
"We're coming up against that."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/3MNi15N
"Benjamin Franklin said we were a republic if you can keep it," Rob Reiner said in 2019.
"And right now, we're being tested. We, as a country, are being tested, whether or not we can keep it. But there's no guarantee."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"And right now, we're being tested. We, as a country, are being tested, whether or not we can keep it. But there's no guarantee."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
December 20, 2025 at 2:49 AM
"Benjamin Franklin said we were a republic if you can keep it," Rob Reiner said in 2019.
"And right now, we're being tested. We, as a country, are being tested, whether or not we can keep it. But there's no guarantee."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"And right now, we're being tested. We, as a country, are being tested, whether or not we can keep it. But there's no guarantee."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4asuKEU
"The two most important issues that I care about is one, the environment... and two, the survival of democracy."
Rob Reiner discusses his political activism in an updated 2019 interview with previously unaired material.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Rob Reiner discusses his political activism in an updated 2019 interview with previously unaired material.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
December 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
"The two most important issues that I care about is one, the environment... and two, the survival of democracy."
Rob Reiner discusses his political activism in an updated 2019 interview with previously unaired material.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Rob Reiner discusses his political activism in an updated 2019 interview with previously unaired material.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf