Jen Rubin's Green Room

Jen, Malcolm and Yair explores the concept of centrism and the need for political moderation in the face of populism and extremism.  The guests discuss their book, 'The Center Must Hold,' which brings together voices from around the world to advocate for centrism. They emphasize the importance of shared values, compromise, and humility in politics. They also discuss the role of institutions, such...

Ben Wikler, Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, discusses the grassroots organizing efforts that have made Wisconsin a key battleground state. He highlights the importance of neighbor-to-neighbor organizing and building a unified operation. Wikler also emphasizes the significance of issues like reproductive rights and democracy in motivating voters. He praises Vice President Kamala Harris...

Jen Rubin discusses the upcoming debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. She predicts that Trump will come out aggressive and lie repeatedly, as he is immune to facts. She suggests that Biden should provoke Trump by bringing up his ridiculous stories and his history of losing in court. Jen also highlights the importance of Biden addressing issues such as abortion, the economy, Trump's foreign p...

Amy McGrath discusses Donald Trump's attitude towards the military and the perception of it within the military. She highlights the concerns about Trump's treatment of veterans and his disrespectful comments about fallen soldiers. Amy and Jen also discuss the potential dangers of a second Trump administration, including the lack of guardrails and the potential for misuse of presidential power. She...

Jen Rubin and Nicole Bibbins Sedaca delve into the global phenomenon of democratic backsliding, exploring the erosion of democratic norms, the role of civil society, and the connection between financial corruption and political power. They also highlight the importance of individual responsibility and collective action in safeguarding democracy. Please Support This Week’s Sponsor Babbel:  Learn a...

Lee Kovarsky and Jennifer Rubin discuss the recent conviction of a former president of the United States and the challenges faced by the judge and jury in the trial. They explore the exercise of prosecutorial discretion, the criticism of the decision to prosecute, and the importance of respecting the rule of law. They also touch on the issue of presidential immunity and the potential involvement o...

Susan Page discusses her book on Barbara Walters, highlighting her groundbreaking career in journalism and entertainment. Walters, rising from a generation with low expectations for women, became known for her meticulous preparation and high-profile interviews. Despite facing criticism, she persevered to become a legend in the industry. Walters struggled with personal relationships, prioritizing h...

Jen Rubin talks with Yasmin Radjy, executive director of Swing Left, an organization that aims to channel resources to the most impactful elections to ensure Democrats have the balance of power.  Swing Left believes that without Democratic control, nuanced policy disagreements are irrelevant because the government will be co-opted by extremists. They prioritize grassroots efforts, such as door-kno...

Jen Rubin and Tom Joscelyn dissect the intricate web of events surrounding the January 6th Capitol attack and its aftermath. They scrutinize key figures, investigative findings, law enforcement failures, and the pervasive threat posed by right-wing extremist groups. Delving into the implications of accountability, they explore the potential consequences of legal actions against former President Tr...

Jen is joined this week by Marc Elias, sign up to democracydocket.com/signup The conversation covers the ongoing trial involving Stormy Daniels and the implications for Donald Trump's defense lawyers. It also delves into the Supreme Court's immunity case and the potential swing vote of Justice Barrett. The discussion then shifts to voting rights and the challenges posed by the Supreme Court's deci...

Jennifer Rubin welcomes Steve Vladeck to discuss the Supreme Court’s immunity case deliberations, the decision not to expedite the appeal, and the potential implications of the  decision. They explore the ideological leanings of the justices, with a focus on Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Barrett. They also delve into the concept of standing and its impact on cases, as well as the role of Congr...

John Dean discusses his study of authoritarian personalities and the lessons learned from Watergate. He explains that there are two approaches to understanding authoritarianism: studying the way authoritarian governments operate and studying the personality traits of those attracted to authoritarian leaders. Dean describes the traits of social dominators and right-wing authoritarian followers, as...

Jen Rubin chats with author Brian Klass about his new book, "Fluke," diving into the role of randomness in shaping events and the need to embrace uncertainty. They discuss how seemingly minor events can have major impacts and caution against overconfidence in predictions, advocating for policy experimentation and emphasizes individual responsibility in shaping the future. They also explore the cha...

Billy Ray discusses various movies he has worked on, including 'Breach' and 'Shattered Glass,' and delves into the complexities of understanding characters like Robert Hansen. He explores the themes of deception, confirmation bias, and the power of storytelling in politics. Billy emphasizes the importance of understanding conservative voters' fear of chaos and the need for Democrats to rebrand the...

Jen calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war and welcomes labor leader Michael Podhorzer.  They discuss how the rural-cosmopolitan divide has framed our politics from the founding to the present day, the role white Christian nationalism has played in the rise of MAGA, the threat extremist groups pose to our freedoms, and how we can preserve our democracy.  Their analysis lays out the importanc...

Jen welcomes psychotherapist John Gartner to discuss the history of the psychiatric profession’s involvement in our elections and why the Goldwater Rule should not stand in the way of its duty to warn us about Trump’s decline into dementia.  They lay out how he presents symptoms of cognitive issues in line with DSM criteria by analyzing his patterns of speech, the repeated confusion of dates and n...

Jen welcomes author and military historian Max Boot for a deep dive into the Ukraine-Russia war and to contrast the modern Republican Party with the presidency of Ronald Reagan.  They discuss the situation on the ground in Eastern Europe, what Ukraine is trying to preserve in light of Russia’s recent gains, the role of air power and ammunition production, and why support from the United States is...

Jen welcomes legal maven Barb Mcquade of #SistersInLaw to discuss how malicious actors are using technology to endanger our democracy by spreading disinformation.  They analyze the ways that social media, algorithm manipulation, A.I., and other tools of mass communication can erode trust in our institutions, drive radicalization and partisanship, undermine elections, and even lead to violence.  Wi...

Jen welcomes Professor Kathleen Belew to lay out the history of post-war white power movements in the United States leading up to MAGA, QANON conspiracy theories, and the 1/6 insurrection.  They discuss how these groups recruit followers, their relationship to Trump, and the role of former military members, religion, and women in their organizations.  More importantly, they explore the part that j...

Jen welcomes political scientist Norm Ornstein to explore the rise of radicalism in the Republican party and how to defeat it.  They discuss how reasonable governance ended with the Gingrich Revolution, why this election must be about saving democracy, and what will happen to our freedoms, particularly for women and the LGBT community, if Trump wins again.  Then they lay out the strategies that wi...

Jen gives an update on the presidential primaries and frames the choice facing Nikki Haley, before welcoming NY prosecutor Karen Friedman Agnifilo.  As Trump’s first criminal case moves to trial, they discuss why his hush money payments broke the law, the role of Michael Cohen, and the possibility of Trump racking up an additional perjury charge.  They also cover the courtroom process, including j...

Jen blasts Republicans for rejecting the Democrats’ border bill and welcomes legal expert Dennis Aftergut to break down the constitutional and legal means of stopping Trump.  They explore the possible outcomes of Trump’s quest to uphold presidential immunity in the courts, whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment will keep him off any ballots, and if the SCOTUS is up to the challenges of the moment...

Jen picks apart Trump’s claim to presidential immunity and welcomes Renew Democracy Initiative CEO Uriel Epshtein.  They break down how authoritarian governments wield power, review the evidence that Trump has rejected liberal values, and explain why the US still holds a critical role as a standard bearer of democracy.  They go on to look at the deterioration of democratic values around the world...

Jen explores Nikki Haley’s impact on Trump’s electoral prospects and the toxicity of the Republican Congress, before welcoming foreign policy maven Aaron David Miller.  They discuss the recent history of US-Iranian relations, the danger Iran’s proxies pose to our forces, and review the most effective ways to protect our interests.  Then, they break down the mechanics of Middle Eastern politics, an...

Jen analyzes the Republican primary and looks at how the budget battle ties into recent foreign policy developments, before welcoming legal expert Ben Ginsberg.  They compare J6 to Bush vs. Gore, looking at how our politics have become more extreme and why equal protection under the law is relevant to our elections.  Then, they weigh whether our elections are secure, discuss how vote by mail, vote...