The Bill Press Pod

The Plan: How each of us can save our Democracy. With Former Wisconsin Democratic Chair, Ben Wikler.

Bill welcomes former Wisconsin Democratic Party chair Ben Wikler to discuss his new book, "This Is the Plan: How to End America's Meltdown and Save Democracy," and Wisconsin’s political arc from La Follette-era progressivism to Scott Walker’s rollback and a comeback under Gov. Tony Evers. Wikler argues the most effective political work is grassroots, trust-based conversations that target persuadable and low-propensity voters, noting how tiny margins can decide outcomes. He contends Democrats must prioritize state-level races—governors, legislatures, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and especially elected state Supreme Courts—to set election rules and defend democracy against Trump-era threats. Wikler describes building a year-round “permanent campaign” infrastructure in Wisconsin and outlines a step-by-step roadmap from weekly local elections through 2026 battleground-state trifectas, advancing the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, and pursuing major federal democracy reforms in 2029.You can order your copy of Ben's great new book at Bookshop.org. Today Bill highlights the work of Run For Something that has worked with over 200,000 people to run for office. More information at RunForSomething.net.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Generally speaking, this is not great." The Bill Press Pod Reporters' Roundtable. July 17, 2026.

The Speech With No Evidence. Networks Stiff Trump.SAVE Act Won’t be Saved. Trump TACO’s on Tolls.Lyndsey’s Mixed Legacy. Mitch Still MIA.Low T at the DOD. Daylight Savings Time. Again.With Olivier Knox, Senior National Correspondent at U.S. News and World Report, John Bennett, White House Correspondent at The Hill and Igor Bobic, Senate Reporter for NOTUS. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The Laborers' International Union of North America. More information at LIUNA.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tad Devine: "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie." And the Lessons for 2026.

Bill frames current Democratic primaries as “establishment versus outsider,” citing races in New York City, Maine, and Michigan, and introduces Bernie Sanders’ former strategist Tad Devine and his book, "How the Democrats Screwed Bernie." Devine recounts the first Sanders presidential planning meeting at Press’s home, explains why Sanders ran to elevate issues like wages, healthcare for all, climate change, and campaign finance reform, and describes how Sanders’ large email list fueled unprecedented small-dollar fundraising. Devine argues the 2016 nominating system—including superdelegates, limited debates, DNC coordination with the Clinton campaign, and a voter-file shutdown—was stacked against Sanders, and says Sanders would have beaten Donald Trump. Looking to 2026, Devine urges Democrats to let voters decide primaries, prioritize authenticity and economic issues, curb big-money influence, and mobilize to stop Trump.You can get your own copy of Tad Devine's book at Bookshop.org.Once again, Bill highlights the necessity of winning the midterms for Democrats to stop Donald Trump and his enablers. If you can support the cause financially, the best and easiest place to do that is ACTBLUE.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"I don't see how this ends." The Reporters' Roundtable. July 10, 2026.

The Iran War Continues. Bad for the GOP.New Airforce One Fail. Platner Out. Convention for Maine. Good for Susan Collins? How D’s and R’s Handle Sex Scandals.Where is Mitch? GOP Needs His Vote.4 Governors Races Shift Toward Democrats.Political Generation Gap. Trump and Communism. With Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief and White House Correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, Jeff Dufour, Editor-in-chief of the National Journal and Jessica Taylor, Governors and Senators Editor at The Cook Political Report. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.orgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The Roberts Court is a democracy-breaking machine." With Slate's Dahlia Lithwick.

Bill talks with Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick about the Supreme Court’s 2025–26 term, arguing it is decisively the Roberts Court and increasingly deferential to President Trump, especially through heavy reliance on the shadow docket, where Trump has won many emergency orders without signed opinions or reasoning. They discuss major rulings: a narrow outcome on birthright citizenship that Lithwick warns could be revisited; a decision granting broad presidential immunity; decisions expanding presidential power to fire heads of independent agencies; and immigration rulings allowing removal of Haitian and Syrian immigrants’ Temporary Protected Status and restricting asylum. Lithwick also highlights Voting Rights Act and redistricting decisions, expanded campaign spending, and a tariffs loss for Trump tied to economic stability concerns. Press closes urging Democrats to win the Senate to block future Court appointments.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.