Firing Line

News and Public Affairs Series / 8 Seasons

Join author, activist and commentator Margaret Hoover for a public affairs talk show that delivers a civil and engaging contest of ideas among the brightest minds and voices from across the ideological spectrum.

Watch: S2025 E15

26m 46s

Ned Lamont

S2020 E340 / 27m 15s

CT Gov. Ned Lamont discusses his efforts to fight COVID-19 in one of the most-infected states per capita in the country. He discusses the race to find more ventilators and personal protective equipment as the state’s case count rises. Lamont also gives advice to states that have not been hit as hard yet about how to flatten the curve.

Tom Frieden

S2020 E339 / 27m 16s

Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden discusses the origins of the coronavirus, the current measures to fight it, and where he sees the pandemic headed. He also discusses how the United States can be better prepared to handle future microbial threats.

Ken Starr

S2020 E338 / 26m 46s

Former independent counsel Ken Starr discusses his investigation that led to the impeachment of President Clinton, and his work over 20 years later defending President Trump during his impeachment trial. Starr says that we are living in an "age of impeachment" in which it has become all too easy to impeach a president.

Jeh Johnson

S2020 E337 / 27m 16s

Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson discusses the Trump administration’s handling of the coronavirus. Johnson, who was DHS Secretary during the 2014 Ebola crisis, talks about communicating with the public during times of anxiety. He also discusses ongoing election interference and immigration policy.

Nikki Haley

S2020 E336 / 26m 46s

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley discusses her role in President Trump's cabinet, and assesses the Trump administration’s handling of North Korea and Iran. Haley addresses the controversy over her recent comments on the confederate flag, and explains how the GOP should appeal to new voters. She also says the UN needs to change with the times.

Michael Moore

S2020 E335 / 26m 46s

Filmmaker Michael Moore discusses the 2020 presidential race. Moore, who correctly predicted Trump’s win in 2016, now says the Democrat could win the popular vote by an even greater margin and still lose. He explains why he supports Sanders over Warren, and suggests that they team up at the end of the primaries. He discusses the Senate impeachment trial and his public apology to Iran’s ayatollah.

Michael Eric Dyson

S2020 E334 / 26m 46s

Georgetown professor, prolific author and political commentator Michael Eric Dyson discusses the state of race in the US ahead of the South Carolina Democratic primary. He talks about how black voters are assessing the rest of the 2020 field—including Bloomberg and Sanders—as Biden’s support slips. Dyson responds to Trump’s economic pitch to African-American voters.

Steve Bannon

S2020 E333 / 27m 16s

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon discusses his predictions for the 2020 election and the future of populism. He talks about Bloomberg’s impact on the race and suggests that a new Democratic candidate will shake up the race late in the process. Bannon issues a stark warning about the coronavirus.

Cornel West and Robert George

S2020 E332 / 26m 46s

Dr. Cornel West and Dr. Robert George, the “ideological odd couple,” discuss the importance of civil discourse in this era of polarization. Leftist West and conservative George are friends who teach together and travel the country to demonstrate their commitment to free speech. They explore their opposing views on several policy areas, respectfully disagreeing as well as finding common ground.

Paul Krugman

S2020 E331 / 26m 56s

Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman discusses what he calls “zombie” economic ideas and his public feuds with President Trump. The New York Times columnist talks about partisanship and whether ideological opponents can still have good faith debates. Krugman, a self-identified progressive, envisions what would happen if a progressive Democrat prevails in the 2020 race.

Deval Patrick

S2020 E330 / 27m 16s

Democratic presidential candidate and former MA Gov. Deval Patrick discusses his late entry into the 2020 race. The only African-American candidate left in the field, Patrick talks about his journey from the South Side of Chicago to law school and a career at Fortune 500 companies. He explains his views on capitalism and the wealth tax, as well as his newly released reparations platform.

David Miliband

S2020 E328 / 27m 16s

Former British Foreign Secretary and Labour politician David Miliband addresses the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Iran. Miliband, now head of the International Rescue Committee, says chaos in the Middle East could impact his work on the global refugee crisis. Miliband discusses U.K. and U.S. politics ahead of the 2020 election, warning that the "hard left doesn’t provide the answer.

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