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.
Listings: http://to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
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Podcast: http://bit.ly/FLMH4
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Listings: http://to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Youtube: http://bit.ly/FLMYT4
Podcast: http://bit.ly/FLMH4
App: http://to.pbs.org/3C32LZ8
“1929” author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says the current deregulatory environment is “very similar” to the 1920s.
“There's a lot of conversation about democratizing finance…and all sorts of new products that are going to be put in the market,” he says.
“There's a lot of conversation about democratizing finance…and all sorts of new products that are going to be put in the market,” he says.
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
“1929” author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says the current deregulatory environment is “very similar” to the 1920s.
“There's a lot of conversation about democratizing finance…and all sorts of new products that are going to be put in the market,” he says.
“There's a lot of conversation about democratizing finance…and all sorts of new products that are going to be put in the market,” he says.
Six months before the 1929 crash, DNC chair John Raskob launched a propaganda campaign to tear down President Herbert Hoover.
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says Hoover refused to defend against those attacks--and his reputation suffered as a result.
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says Hoover refused to defend against those attacks--and his reputation suffered as a result.
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Six months before the 1929 crash, DNC chair John Raskob launched a propaganda campaign to tear down President Herbert Hoover.
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says Hoover refused to defend against those attacks--and his reputation suffered as a result.
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says Hoover refused to defend against those attacks--and his reputation suffered as a result.
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says one of the "great surprises" of his research was that polling suggested the economy is not what doomed President Hoover's 1932 reelection bid.
"[Hoover] could have reversed himself on... Prohibition... and then I wonder whether he would have won."
"[Hoover] could have reversed himself on... Prohibition... and then I wonder whether he would have won."
November 10, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social says one of the "great surprises" of his research was that polling suggested the economy is not what doomed President Hoover's 1932 reelection bid.
"[Hoover] could have reversed himself on... Prohibition... and then I wonder whether he would have won."
"[Hoover] could have reversed himself on... Prohibition... and then I wonder whether he would have won."
"Every crash is really about one thing. It's about credit, it's about debt, too much debt in the system," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "Too Big to Fail" and "1929."
"That is the match that lights the fire of every financial crisis."
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"That is the match that lights the fire of every financial crisis."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/484tjuy
November 9, 2025 at 8:41 PM
"Every crash is really about one thing. It's about credit, it's about debt, too much debt in the system," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "Too Big to Fail" and "1929."
"That is the match that lights the fire of every financial crisis."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/484tjuy
"That is the match that lights the fire of every financial crisis."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/484tjuy
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.sbky.social shares his advice for how to prepare for the next financial crisis.
“The truth is, you will be much more successful as a professional optimist than as a professional skeptic or Cassandra…if you had kept your money under your mattress, you would have lost.”
“The truth is, you will be much more successful as a professional optimist than as a professional skeptic or Cassandra…if you had kept your money under your mattress, you would have lost.”
November 9, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"1929" author @andrewrsorkin.sbky.social shares his advice for how to prepare for the next financial crisis.
“The truth is, you will be much more successful as a professional optimist than as a professional skeptic or Cassandra…if you had kept your money under your mattress, you would have lost.”
“The truth is, you will be much more successful as a professional optimist than as a professional skeptic or Cassandra…if you had kept your money under your mattress, you would have lost.”
"I believe that the AI bubble will, at some point, bust," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"And that will be significantly destabilizing, in part because so much of our economy today is so concentrated in this AI boom."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"And that will be significantly destabilizing, in part because so much of our economy today is so concentrated in this AI boom."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
November 9, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I believe that the AI bubble will, at some point, bust," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"And that will be significantly destabilizing, in part because so much of our economy today is so concentrated in this AI boom."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"And that will be significantly destabilizing, in part because so much of our economy today is so concentrated in this AI boom."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"The truth is there wasn't a crash just on one day," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"And it didn't just sort of all of a sudden happen that there was a depression. There was a series of dominoes."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"And it didn't just sort of all of a sudden happen that there was a depression. There was a series of dominoes."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 PM
"The truth is there wasn't a crash just on one day," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"And it didn't just sort of all of a sudden happen that there was a depression. There was a series of dominoes."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"And it didn't just sort of all of a sudden happen that there was a depression. There was a series of dominoes."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"I can clearly sit here and tell you that there will be a hiccup or worse in the markets," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"The question is... can we avoid something that looks like 1929, or can we avoid something that looks like 2008?"
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47v0B5N
"The question is... can we avoid something that looks like 1929, or can we avoid something that looks like 2008?"
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47v0B5N
November 8, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"I can clearly sit here and tell you that there will be a hiccup or worse in the markets," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"The question is... can we avoid something that looks like 1929, or can we avoid something that looks like 2008?"
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47v0B5N
"The question is... can we avoid something that looks like 1929, or can we avoid something that looks like 2008?"
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47v0B5N
"You want some semblance of speculation in the system. You need that for it to work to get to the next place," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"But you're trying to thread a needle of having enough speculation, but not too much."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"But you're trying to thread a needle of having enough speculation, but not too much."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
November 8, 2025 at 2:33 AM
"You want some semblance of speculation in the system. You need that for it to work to get to the next place," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social.
"But you're trying to thread a needle of having enough speculation, but not too much."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
"But you're trying to thread a needle of having enough speculation, but not too much."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4hMIYSF
What caused the 1929 stock market crash--and what can we learn from it today?
"Every crash is really about one thing," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social. "It's about credit, it's about debt."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"Every crash is really about one thing," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social. "It's about credit, it's about debt."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
November 7, 2025 at 9:09 PM
What caused the 1929 stock market crash--and what can we learn from it today?
"Every crash is really about one thing," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social. "It's about credit, it's about debt."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"Every crash is really about one thing," says "1929" author @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social. "It's about credit, it's about debt."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
President Herbert Hoover took office less than nine months before the stock market crash of 1929.
Could anyone have averted the crash at that point?
"I think it would have been very, very hard to do such a thing," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929."
Could anyone have averted the crash at that point?
"I think it would have been very, very hard to do such a thing," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929."
November 7, 2025 at 7:13 PM
President Herbert Hoover took office less than nine months before the stock market crash of 1929.
Could anyone have averted the crash at that point?
"I think it would have been very, very hard to do such a thing," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929."
Could anyone have averted the crash at that point?
"I think it would have been very, very hard to do such a thing," says @andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929."
"It's not preordained that an economy comes back after a crisis."
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929," talks about the causes of the Great Depression, its consequences, and the lessons it offers for the next economic crash.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929," talks about the causes of the Great Depression, its consequences, and the lessons it offers for the next economic crash.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
November 6, 2025 at 2:31 PM
"It's not preordained that an economy comes back after a crisis."
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929," talks about the causes of the Great Depression, its consequences, and the lessons it offers for the next economic crash.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@andrewrsorkin.bsky.social, author of "1929," talks about the causes of the Great Depression, its consequences, and the lessons it offers for the next economic crash.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
As @radiofreeasiapr.bsky.social suspends broadcasting, @mcfaulmike.bsky.social laments the Trump administration shutting down soft power institutions.
"That is such a tragedy…," McFaul says. "We're not going to win this competition with the Chinese and the Russians if we unilaterally disarm."
"That is such a tragedy…," McFaul says. "We're not going to win this competition with the Chinese and the Russians if we unilaterally disarm."
November 4, 2025 at 1:37 AM
As @radiofreeasiapr.bsky.social suspends broadcasting, @mcfaulmike.bsky.social laments the Trump administration shutting down soft power institutions.
"That is such a tragedy…," McFaul says. "We're not going to win this competition with the Chinese and the Russians if we unilaterally disarm."
"That is such a tragedy…," McFaul says. "We're not going to win this competition with the Chinese and the Russians if we unilaterally disarm."
Former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says Zelensky cannot recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory in peace negotiations.
"If he did that, he would be ousted."
"But what he could do, delicately, is say, we will only pursue reunification through peaceful means."
"If he did that, he would be ousted."
"But what he could do, delicately, is say, we will only pursue reunification through peaceful means."
November 3, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says Zelensky cannot recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory in peace negotiations.
"If he did that, he would be ousted."
"But what he could do, delicately, is say, we will only pursue reunification through peaceful means."
"If he did that, he would be ousted."
"But what he could do, delicately, is say, we will only pursue reunification through peaceful means."
Fmr. Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says recent sanctions on Russian oil companies "should have been done three and a half years ago."
"More weapons faster. Better weapons faster. More sanctions faster. Better sanctions faster... We might have been able to push this war to an end faster."
"More weapons faster. Better weapons faster. More sanctions faster. Better sanctions faster... We might have been able to push this war to an end faster."
November 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Fmr. Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says recent sanctions on Russian oil companies "should have been done three and a half years ago."
"More weapons faster. Better weapons faster. More sanctions faster. Better sanctions faster... We might have been able to push this war to an end faster."
"More weapons faster. Better weapons faster. More sanctions faster. Better sanctions faster... We might have been able to push this war to an end faster."
Former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says Trump's recent criticism of Vladimir Putin over Ukraine is "very different" than in the past.
"For about a decade, Putin could do no wrong for #PresidentTrump."
But he adds, "It's easy to talk tough, it's harder to act tough."
"For about a decade, Putin could do no wrong for #PresidentTrump."
But he adds, "It's easy to talk tough, it's harder to act tough."
November 3, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says Trump's recent criticism of Vladimir Putin over Ukraine is "very different" than in the past.
"For about a decade, Putin could do no wrong for #PresidentTrump."
But he adds, "It's easy to talk tough, it's harder to act tough."
"For about a decade, Putin could do no wrong for #PresidentTrump."
But he adds, "It's easy to talk tough, it's harder to act tough."
"Had Russia remained quasi-democratic and integrated into Europe, they could be one of the most important countries in the world right now," says @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"So [Putin's] autocracy at home and imperialism abroad has set them back decades."
Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
"So [Putin's] autocracy at home and imperialism abroad has set them back decades."
Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
November 3, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"Had Russia remained quasi-democratic and integrated into Europe, they could be one of the most important countries in the world right now," says @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"So [Putin's] autocracy at home and imperialism abroad has set them back decades."
Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
"So [Putin's] autocracy at home and imperialism abroad has set them back decades."
Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
Former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social's new book is titled "Autocrats vs. Democrats."
Which side is #PresidentTrump on?
"I still want to believe that at the end of the day he understands that freedom is better than tyranny."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
Which side is #PresidentTrump on?
"I still want to believe that at the end of the day he understands that freedom is better than tyranny."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
November 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social's new book is titled "Autocrats vs. Democrats."
Which side is #PresidentTrump on?
"I still want to believe that at the end of the day he understands that freedom is better than tyranny."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
Which side is #PresidentTrump on?
"I still want to believe that at the end of the day he understands that freedom is better than tyranny."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/438vsTj
"In the fight between autocrats and democrats, we have more power, the free people of the world," says @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"Freedom is better than dictatorship... And you know what? Most people in the world agree with that."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
"Freedom is better than dictatorship... And you know what? Most people in the world agree with that."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
November 2, 2025 at 1:33 PM
"In the fight between autocrats and democrats, we have more power, the free people of the world," says @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"Freedom is better than dictatorship... And you know what? Most people in the world agree with that."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
"Freedom is better than dictatorship... And you know what? Most people in the world agree with that."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
"They're thinking long-term all the time... And they don't want to burn it all down to create Marxism-Leninism in America and Europe," former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says of China.
"But [Putin has] shown that the power that he has... he’s willing to use to burn it all down."
"But [Putin has] shown that the power that he has... he’s willing to use to burn it all down."
November 1, 2025 at 6:59 PM
"They're thinking long-term all the time... And they don't want to burn it all down to create Marxism-Leninism in America and Europe," former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social says of China.
"But [Putin has] shown that the power that he has... he’s willing to use to burn it all down."
"But [Putin has] shown that the power that he has... he’s willing to use to burn it all down."
What will it take to bring Putin to the negotiating table over Ukraine?
"We need to deny him the capability to continue to fight the war," says former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, adding that weapons, sanctions, and economic support for Ukraine would be "a positive signal."
bit.ly/438vsTj
"We need to deny him the capability to continue to fight the war," says former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, adding that weapons, sanctions, and economic support for Ukraine would be "a positive signal."
bit.ly/438vsTj
November 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
What will it take to bring Putin to the negotiating table over Ukraine?
"We need to deny him the capability to continue to fight the war," says former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, adding that weapons, sanctions, and economic support for Ukraine would be "a positive signal."
bit.ly/438vsTj
"We need to deny him the capability to continue to fight the war," says former Ambassador @mcfaulmike.bsky.social, adding that weapons, sanctions, and economic support for Ukraine would be "a positive signal."
bit.ly/438vsTj
"He sees the world as strong leaders and weak leaders," says former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social of #PresidentTrump.
"And he will engage with the strong leaders irrespective of whether they're autocrats or democrats."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47vG3c3
"And he will engage with the strong leaders irrespective of whether they're autocrats or democrats."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47vG3c3
November 1, 2025 at 12:33 PM
"He sees the world as strong leaders and weak leaders," says former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social of #PresidentTrump.
"And he will engage with the strong leaders irrespective of whether they're autocrats or democrats."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47vG3c3
"And he will engage with the strong leaders irrespective of whether they're autocrats or democrats."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/47vG3c3
"Stop personalizing American foreign policy," former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social advises #PresidentTrump.
"He talks too much about himself and trade deals... He's supposed to represent America and American national interests."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
"He talks too much about himself and trade deals... He's supposed to represent America and American national interests."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
November 1, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Stop personalizing American foreign policy," former Ambassador to Russia @mcfaulmike.bsky.social advises #PresidentTrump.
"He talks too much about himself and trade deals... He's supposed to represent America and American national interests."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
"He talks too much about himself and trade deals... He's supposed to represent America and American national interests."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/3JFF4y6
What is the risk of underestimating Vladimir Putin?
"War in Europe, and getting dragged into a war," says former Ambassador Michael @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"I worry that if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop in Ukraine."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"War in Europe, and getting dragged into a war," says former Ambassador Michael @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"I worry that if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop in Ukraine."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
October 31, 2025 at 8:01 PM
What is the risk of underestimating Vladimir Putin?
"War in Europe, and getting dragged into a war," says former Ambassador Michael @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"I worry that if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop in Ukraine."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"War in Europe, and getting dragged into a war," says former Ambassador Michael @mcfaulmike.bsky.social.
"I worry that if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop in Ukraine."
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
"I am surprised...how engaged he has been in the world," says former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social of #Trump's second term so far.
"First term was the Trump withdrawal doctrine...and this is different," he adds, noting Trump has not been the isolationist he expected.
"I hope it lasts."
"First term was the Trump withdrawal doctrine...and this is different," he adds, noting Trump has not been the isolationist he expected.
"I hope it lasts."
October 31, 2025 at 3:07 PM
"I am surprised...how engaged he has been in the world," says former Amb. @mcfaulmike.bsky.social of #Trump's second term so far.
"First term was the Trump withdrawal doctrine...and this is different," he adds, noting Trump has not been the isolationist he expected.
"I hope it lasts."
"First term was the Trump withdrawal doctrine...and this is different," he adds, noting Trump has not been the isolationist he expected.
"I hope it lasts."