The Bill Press Pod

The Right Messaging and Messengers for the Midterms.

Bill talks with political strategist and messaging consultant Anat Shenker-Osorio about what Democrats should say—and who should say it—heading into the midterms to check Trump 2.0. Shenker-Osorio argues Democrats must combine an affordability agenda with a clear villain frame, calling Trump’s team “bullies for the billionaires,” and pair warnings about authoritarianism with credible promises to act as a real check, not just “shout fire.” She says corruption messaging is not automatically a Democratic advantage because many voters believe all politicians are corrupt, and criticizes party leaders like Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Amy Klobuchar for ineffective communication. And the need for money has pols spending too much time on donor-driven “call time.” They discuss campaign “magnetism,” lessons from New York races and Zohran Mamdani’s focus on concrete benefits, Jon Ossoff’s anti-corruption appeal, backlash from James Carville, and the mixed calculus around Maine candidate Graham Platner’s working-class message amid allegations about past behavior.Today Bill urges you to support Jon Ossoff by going to ACTBlue.com.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It felt like the Twilight Zone." The Reporters' Roundtable. June 26, 2026.

Housing Bill/SAVE Act Chaos.POTUS/Senate Shouting Match.House/Senate Just Go Home. Midterms GOP Panic.NYC Democratic Socialists Win. Mamdani Flexes Power.Jeffries and Schumer Wounded.But Some Centrists Win. Reflecting Pool Debacle. SCOTUS Backs Trump. With Jason Dick, Editor-in-chief at CQ Roll Call, Kirk Bado, Managing Editor of National Journal’s Hotline, Arthur Delaney, Senior Reporter at Huff Post and Savannah Behrmann, Congressional Leadership Reporter, CQ Roll Call.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.

"The greatest strategic defeat the United States has ever suffered.” With Joe Cirincione.

Bill talks with national security analyst Joe Cirincione about Trump’s shifting claims on Iran and argues the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) functions as a ceasefire and “surrender document” after a war the U.S. and Israel could not win. Cirincione says the MOU mainly restores shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while leaving core U.S. objectives—curbing Iran’s uranium enrichment and missile forces—unmet and deferred to talks, and he notes Trump’s renewed threats violate the pledge to refrain from force or threats of force. He contrasts the deal with the JCPOA, the Obama Nuclear Deal, saying Trump lifts broader sanctions than the JCPOA, allows Iran to sell oil, and leaves Iran geopolitically stronger, with demonstrated leverage over the strait and Gulf economies. They discuss costs rising from Pentagon estimates to broader economic impacts, Netanyahu’s (and Trump’s) massive miscalculation and political fallout here and in Israel. Jared Kushner’s role and conflicts, and broader alliance strains including NATO.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"A very inconvenient Truth." The Reporters' Roundtable. June 19, 2026.

Shaky Iran Agreement. Vance Attacks Israel.Worse Deal Than Obama’s. The Politics of War.Where is Rubio? Jon Ossoff Rising.Obama’s Shade Trump. Reflecting Pool Fail. With Olivier Knox, Senior national political correspondent, US News & World Report, Maya King, Politics Reporter at The New York Times andand Erika Filter, National Campaign Correspondent for The National Journal Hotline. Today's Bill Press Pod is supported by The United Food and Commercial Workers Union. More information at UFCW.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump's Mob-Style Government. With Barbara McQuade.

Bill talks with legal scholar and former U.S. attorney Barbara McQuade about her book, "The Fix: Saving America from the Corruption of a Mob-Style Government," arguing that core democratic principles—rule of law and equality before the law—are eroding under Donald Trump. McQuade describes Trump’s tactics as extortionate and mob-like, pressuring institutions such as law firms, media, universities, and allies, and warns that Congress has failed to check executive overreach while the Supreme Court’s shadow docket and unitary-executive approach can enable it. She says DOJ independence has been damaged by political payback efforts and cites examples of alleged lawbreaking and self-dealing, including tariffs, Iran action, emoluments-style profiteering, and a proposed tax-related settlement. McQuade outlines “fixes” including restoring DOJ norms, extending ethics rules, and structural reforms like ranked-choice voting, independent redistricting, and overturning Citizens United, emphasizing elections and accountability, including reviving the election-interference case after Trump leaves office. You can get McQuade’s great new book at Bookshop.org. Today Bill directs listeners to ACTBlue.com, your one stop shop for donating to the causes and candidates you support. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.