Accessibility links
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Author, feminist, gay rights activist and political commentator Margaret Hoover leads a rigorous exchange of ideas with America's political and cultural newsmakers. In the spirit of William F. Buckley Jr.'s iconic "Firing Line," this refreshing reprisal provides a platform that is diligent in its commitment to civility as Hoover engages with thought leaders on the pivotal issues moving the nation forward. Interviews and debates highlight leading lights from the left and right, complemented by archival material from the original "Firing Line." To watch all episodes, visit the Firing Line website.
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Podcast Directory
Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

From WLIW

Author, feminist, gay rights activist and political commentator Margaret Hoover leads a rigorous exchange of ideas with America's political and cultural newsmakers. In the spirit of William F. Buckley Jr.'s iconic "Firing Line," this refreshing reprisal provides a platform that is diligent in its commitment to civility as Hoover engages with thought leaders on the pivotal issues moving the nation forward. Interviews and debates highlight leading lights from the left and right, complemented by archival material from the original "Firing Line." To watch all episodes, visit the Firing Line website.

Most Recent Episodes

What Larry Hogan will do to stop Trump

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his recent announcement that he will not seek the GOP nomination in 2024 and whether anyone else could successfully challenge Donald Trump in the primaries. Hogan reflects on his two terms as the popular Republican governor of a deep blue state, how his approach to politics could work for the party at the national level, and why the GOP base does not seem interested in following his lead. Hogan assesses fellow governors who are running or considering running in 2024 and explains why he believes the party needs a more positive message than the one offered by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. He also addresses the impact a third-party candidate could have on the presidential race and whether he would consider running as an independent. The former governor also talks about current debates over fiscal responsibility and education reform, calling out some fellow Republicans for exploiting parents' legitimate concerns about what their children are being taught for political gain. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

We're in a new cold war, says CCP Committee Chair Rep. Mike Gallagher

Rep. Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss his panel's bipartisan mission to educate Americans about the CCP's threat. The Wisconsin Republican argues that a new cold war with China has already begun and explains what he believes it will take to keep that war from turning hot. He reflects on his recent visit to Taiwan and the need for greater strategic clarity in the Taiwan Strait. Gallagher talks about the potential danger posed by Chinese-owned TikTok, the challenge of selectively decoupling the U.S. economy from a top trading partner, the relationship between Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, and what he wants members of Congress to know about the activities of China's United Front Work Department. Gallagher also comments on the release of new surveillance video from January 6th and whether he stands by his 2021 statement that former President Donald Trump had permanently lost his support. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

2024 GOP candidate Nikki Haley's delicate Trump balancing act

In this 2019 interview, former South Carolina Governor and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley talks to Margaret Hoover about her trailblazing career and her perspective on the future of the Republican Party. Haley–who recently announced a run against Donald Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination–discusses representing Trump at the U.N., her support for his policies, and her reservations about his style. Haley also reflects on a pivotal moment in her governorship: the removal of the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse after the racially motivated shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in 2015. She comments on the U.N.'s relevance in a changing world, whether the U.S. needs to remain part of the organization, and how Trump's presidency impacted America's reputation on the world stage. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Margaret and Daniel Loeb Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, Jeffrey and Lisa Bewkes, Peter and Mary Kalikow, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Minneapolis PD Chief Brian O'Hara: 'Guns are designed to kill people'

Brian O'Hara, the first new police chief appointed in Minneapolis since George Floyd's murder, joins Margaret Hoover to discuss policing in America and the deep-seated issues impacting the relationships between communities and police across the country. O'Hara, who previously led reform efforts as a captain in the Newark Police Department, reflects on how his experience in New Jersey prepared him for his new role at the helm of another troubled department. With violent crime in Minneapolis starting to decline after a two-year surge, O'Hara addresses the underlying causes of gun violence, as well as his concerns about progressive policies like bail reform and defunding police departments. In the wake of the Tyre Nichols case in Memphis, O'Hara also comments on racial disparities in policing, the benefits and limitations of body-worn cameras, and whether ending qualified immunity would solve the problem of police misconduct. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Black economist Glenn Loury says it's time to end affirmative action

Economist Glenn Loury joins Margaret Hoover to discuss racial inequality in America, his resistance to the notion of systemic racism, and how his perspective has evolved since the 1980s. Loury, who was the first tenured Black economics professor at Harvard at age 33, explains why he now opposes affirmative action, even though he benefited from it early in his career. He also comments on the fallout from decades of mass incarceration and makes his case against providing reparations for slavery. Loury now teaches at Brown University and is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He talks about threats to free speech on campuses and why he defends controversial figures like University of Pennsylvania Law Professor Amy Wax. The host of "The Glenn Show" podcast also reflects on insight he gained from writing his upcoming memoir and how his life experiences helped shape his views. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Media mogul Barry Diller on why the movie business is finished

Barry Diller, chairman and senior executive of IAC and Expedia Group, joins Margaret Hoover to talk about the changing worlds of entertainment, technology, and politics. Diller, a former CEO of Paramount and Fox, reflects on the decline of the traditional movie business, the rise of streaming services, and how the Academy Awards have become "an antiquity." The media mogul explains his objection to so-called "woke capitalism" and why he believes even offensive speech should be protected. As a longtime Democratic donor, he also weighs in on the future of both parties. Diller, the co-founder of The Daily Beast, offers his perspective on the world of digital journalism and the growing influence of right-wing tech investors. He also discusses his deep love of public art and his contribution to New York's Little Island. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Nancy Mace

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) joins Margaret Hoover to talk about her priorities in Congress, which include working toward bipartisan consensus on abortion, marijuana, and climate change. Mace blames both parties for driving up the nation's debt in recent decades, but she supports a Republican strategy to use the debt limit as leverage to convince Democrats to accept spending cuts. She explains how her bill to balance the budget would work, though she acknowledges it would not be easy. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Mace argues President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump should be held to the same standard on their handling of classified information, but she defends Republicans focusing solely on Biden. Mace, who defeated a Trump-backed primary challenger last year, discusses Trump's policy legacy and what she believes Republicans need to look for in a candidate to win over independent voters in 2024. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Jon Meacham

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham joins Margaret Hoover to talk about the lessons of America's past and the threats to democracy looming in the future. Meacham, whose latest book "And There Was Light" focuses on President Abraham Lincoln, details the qualities of the country's most successful presidents and the role their faith played in governing. The historian, who has helped craft speeches for President Joe Biden, discusses the political impact of the classified document controversy engulfing the White House, and he weighs in on whether the 80-year-old incumbent should run again in 2024. Meacham, writer of an acclaimed biography of President Andrew Jackson, also reflects on differences between Jackson and Donald Trump, the rapid transformation of the Republican Party under Trump's influence, and the results of the midterm elections. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Al Sharpton

Reverend Al Sharpton speaks to Margaret Hoover about his evolution as a civil rights leader from the 1980s to today, which is chronicled in the new documentary "Loudmouth." Sharpton discusses his influences and why he developed his loud and dramatic style of activism to attract attention in New York. He also reflects on how Coretta Scott King ultimately convinced him to soften his rhetoric in order to stay true to his mission. Thirty-five years later, Sharpton defends his advocacy for Tawana Brawley–a Black teen who claimed she was abducted and raped by white men in 1987–and explains why he still will not apologize for standing by Brawley, even after a grand jury deemed her accusations a hoax. Sharpton assesses the Democratic Party's current challenges with Black voters and offers his perspective on President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He also looks ahead to the future of the civil rights movement. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

January 6th Anniversary: Mike Pence

Two years after January 6th Capitol attack, former Vice President Mike Pence sits down with Margaret Hoover to discuss the events of that day, why he chose to defy Donald Trump, and what it all means for his political future. Pence, whose recent memoir, "So Help Me God," details his decades in politics, reflects on his role as Trump's vice president. He acknowledges some differences with Trump, but he defends most of the administration's record. Pence explains why he publicly supported Trump's legal challenges to the 2020 election and supported investigations into what he says were election "irregularities," even as he says he privately encouraged the president to accept defeat. The former vice president also talks about the prospect of Trump being indicted, the fallout from the Biden administration's Afghanistan withdrawal, and how he will decide whether to run for the presidency himself in 2024. Support for "Firing Line for Margaret Hoover" is provided by Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, The Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, The Center for the Study of the International Economy Inc., Damon Button, The Pritzker Military Foundation on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, The Marc Haas Foundation, and Stephens Inc.

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Podcast Directory