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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In Chapter 3, the fact-based fictional story of Dr. Yvette Hardman and JJ Newsom depicts the dismantling of expertise and science-based decision making in the federal government under a possible second Trump administration guided by Project 2025. Dr. Hardman, an experienced infectious disease expert, is removed from her position at the CDC and replaced by JJ Newsom, an unqualified political loyalist with no relevant experience. This reflects Project 2025's plan to fill government positions with partisan appointees rather than nonpartisan experts. The new administration rejects science-based pandemic response recommendations from Dr. Hardman instead prioritizing political and economic considerations over public health. This aligns with Project 2025's directives to limit the CDC's ability to make public health recommendations. The story highlights the Trump administration's hostility towards science and the displacement of experienced civil servants, which Project 2025 seeks to accelerate through measures like the "Schedule F" executive order to reclassify and fire federal employees. Overall, the narrative illustrates how a second Trump term guided by Project 2025 would undermine the role of expertise and independent scientific advice in government, with potentially disastrous consequences for public health and safety.

We'd like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode: CCH Pounder, Richard Schiff and Jason Kravits who read the chapters and Omid Abtahi, Tom Nichols, Laurie Burke and Joanne Carducci who did the voices. Sound design by Marilys Ernst and Jon Moser. Trump's Project 2025: Up Close and Personal was written by David 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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Bill talks with Karen Tumulty, Associate Editor and Opinion Columnist at The Washington Post about importance of the abortion issue in the 2024 presidential election, particularly in light of Donald Trump's comments on the topic. It highlights Trump's attempts to portray himself as a friend to women despite his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, and the backlash this has faced from the public. They also examine other Republican candidates' comments on abortion, such as Bernie Moreno and JD Vance, and the potential impact these could have on the party's standing with women voters. Additionally, they explore the role of Vice President Kamala Harris as a messenger on reproductive rights and the possibility that the Dobbs decision could propel her to the presidency. Overall, they suggest that the abortion issue could be a deciding factor in the 2024 election, with the potential to swing the outcome.

Today Bill highlights the work of three organizations working to help people in North Carolina, Georgia and Virginia whose lives have been upended by the monster storm Helene. Links for you to help: The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, The World Central Kitchen and the Salvation Army.

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Trump on Abortion. Moreno on Abortion. Men Care About Abortion. Trump: Off-Message. Harris=Change? Trump: Robinson Who? NYC Mayor Indicted. VP Debate. Another Pres. Debate? Trump Watches! With Sabrina Siddiqui, National Politics Reporter for The Wall Street Journal, Linda Feldmann, Washington Bureau Chief, White House/Politics Correspondent at The Christian Science Monitor and Kirk Bado, Editor of The National Journal Hotline.

Today’s Bill Press Pod is supported by The Ironworkers Union. More information at Ironworkers.org

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This is a special Bonus Episode: Chapter Two of Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal depicts the personal story of Eve, a nurse struggling with infertility, whose treatment is threatened by the new president's executive order banning certain fertility treatments. The episode explores how the president's policies would impact everyday Americans, particularly women and families, by interfering with reproductive freedom and the right to self-determination. The author of the serialized novel “2025,” upon which this podcast series is based, David Pepper, highlights how the fictional story is directly based on the policies outlined in the Trump’s Project 2025 and the president's own words, underscoring the very real and devastating consequences a second Trump term and the implementation of Project 2025 could have. You can read Chapter Two of David Pepper’s “2025: A Novel” at davidpepper.substack.com/p/2025-a-novel-chapter-2

Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is available on all the podcast apps and at 2025 pod.com. We'd also like to thank all the artists who volunteered their time to make this episode. J. Smith Cameron read the chapter and audio finishing by Marilys Ernst. This series is produced by David Pepper, Melissa, Jo Peltier and Jay Feldman. Trump’s Project 2025: Up Close and Personal is a production of Ovington Avenue Productions and the Bill Press Pod.

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Today Bill talks with Jessica Taylor, the editor for Senate and Governor Races at the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. In the podcast she discussed the key Senate races for the 2024 election, including: Montana - Jessica rates this race as lean Republican, with incumbent John Tester (D) being the underdog against Republican challenger Tim Sheehy. Ohio - Jessica rates this race as a toss-up between incumbent Sherrod Brown (D) and Republican challenger Bernie Moreno. Nevada - Jessica rates the race between incumbent Jackie Rosen (D) and Republican challenger Sam Brown as lean Democratic. Arizona - Jessica rates the race between Ruben Gallego (D) and Kari Lake (R) as lean Democratic. Michigan - Jessica rates this open seat race as a toss-up between Democrat Elyssa Slotkin and Republican Mike Rogers. Wisconsin - Jessica rates the race between incumbent Tammy Baldwin (D) and Republican challenger Eric Hovde as lean Democratic. Pennsylvania - Jessica rates the race between incumbent Bob Casey (D) and Republican challenger David McCormick as lean Democratic. Maryland - Jessica rates the race between incumbent Ben Cardin's (D) successor, Angela Alsobrooks, and Republican challenger, former Governor Larry Hogan as likely Democratic. Overall, Jessica assesses that the Democrats currently have less than a 25% chance of holding onto their Senate majority, given the tough defensive map they face in 2024.

Today Bill strongly encourages listeners to go to ActBlue.com to financially support Democratic Senate candidates that he believes are important, including John Tester, Sherrod Brown, Angela Alsobrooks, Ruben Gallego, Alyssa Slotkin, Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, and Colin Allred. He stresses the importance of Democrats holding the Senate in order to support a potential President Kamala Harris. That’s at ActBlue.com

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