The great columnist for The Washington Post Dana Milbank has a hilarious/frightening new book: Fools on the Hill: The Hooligans, Saboteurs, Conspiracy Theorists, and Dunces Who Burned Down the House. Bill’s conversation with Dana highlights the perceived incompetence and extremism of the current Republican House members, including figures like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kevin McCarthy. Milbank’s book chronicles the dysfunction and conspiracy theories within the House Republican caucus. Milbank argues that if Republicans maintain control of the House with Trump-aligned members like Mike Johnson as Speaker, it could pose a serious threat to American democracy, as they would likely seek to overturn election results at Trump's behest. The podcast emphasizes the high stakes of the 2024 House races and the need for Democrats to regain control to prevent further damage to the institution of Congress.

Bill points us to SwingLeft , an organization targeting the key races that could win control of the House and Senate. If Harris wins, she will need a Democratic Congress to get things done. Go to SwingLeft.org and give what you can.

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VP Debate Fall-out: Re: 2020 Election Lie. Re: Abortion. Cheney’s Impact. Melania’s Pro-choice! Jack Smith Revives J6. Why is the Race Close? Trump’s Grifting. With Lynn Sweet, Columnist and Washington Bureau Chief at the Chicago Sun-Times, Philip Bump, National Columnist at The Washington Post author of the How To Read This Chart newsletter and Amanda Becker, Washington Correspondent for 19th News and author if the great new book, YOU MUST STAND UP, the Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America.

Bill asks us all help support our fellow Americans in trouble in the South. Here are three ways to help: The American Red Cross, The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, The World Central Kitchen.

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This episode tells the fictional story of a middle school that opens its doors to unvaccinated students after a possible second -term President Trump eliminates Federal funding for schools with vaccine mandates. The story follows the school nurse, Stephanie Morris, as she navigates the influx of unvaccinated students and the resulting disease outbreaks that spread rapidly through the school and community. The narrative illustrates the real-world implications of the president's policy, with outbreaks of diseases like measles, whooping cough, and the flu causing hospitalizations and even deaths among vulnerable students and staff. The story highlights the challenges faced by the school nurse in trying to protect the health of all students, including her own daughter who has an autoimmune condition, without the backing of mandatory vaccination policies. Overall, the episode demonstrates how Donald Trump’s promise to defund schools with vaccine mandates could have devastating consequences for children's health and safety.

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode:

Laurie Burke, Leigh McGowan who read the chapters & Audrey Hakes , Joe Walsh, & others who contributed character voices.

Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jonathan Moser.

Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal written by Pepper and produced by Pepper, Melissa Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman and is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and The Bill Press Pod.

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