Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
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A rigorous contest of ideas in the Firing Line tradition, every week on PBS with Margaret Hoover. Listings: http://to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf Youtube: http://bit.ly/FLMYT4 Podcast: http://bit.ly/FLMH4 App: http://to.pbs.org/3C32LZ8
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Taiwanese Cyber Ambassador @audreyt.org argues social media that emphasizes common ground over division can be popular and profitable.

"You can have engagement through overlap, not outrage."

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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan's government relied on "humor over rumor" to fight misinformation, says @audreyt.org, posting cute dog memes to promote mask-wearing and hand-washing instead of censoring speech.

"This de-escalated, de-polarized the situation."

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"If you just look at the anti-social corner of social media, you will think that they are really polarized, but that's an illusion," says @audreyt.org.

"Actually, most people agree with most of their neighbors, most of the time."

FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/3J7Zrnp
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Can technology save democracy?

@audreyt.org, Taiwan's cyber ambassador and former minister of digital affairs, tells Margaret Hoover why she believes it can.

TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET

@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
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"As soon as there are ways for young people to come together and set agenda in a depolarizing way, then suddenly there's a sea change."

@audreyt.org, who became Taiwan's youngest government minister at 35, makes the case for involving young people in government.
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"We want to send a message to the world that... authoritarianism actually does not deliver as well as democracy."

Taiwan's Cyber Ambassador @audreyt.org explains how technology can boost democracy in Taiwan and around the world.

FRIDAY @pbs.org

Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
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Former AG Alberto Gonzales says there is "no question" that the president exerting pressure on the Justice Department and interfering in investigations undermines confidence in the rule of law.

"Without the rule of law, we have no democracy. We have no America."
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Former AG Alberto Gonzales says "it pains me" to see prosecutors fired for their role in investigations that the president disapproves of.

"I consider that a betrayal. They were hired to do a job. They did their job well. They protected America, and then they were fired for it."

bit.ly/4nAEII3
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If a president asked him to indict a political enemy without justification, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says he would refuse.

"If he said, well, I want you to do it, then I have to say, I have to resign, Mr. President, because I cannot carry out that order."
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The Trump administration has warned it may use a shutdown to fire workers and reshape the government.

"I don't think that's the way to do it," says former AG Alberto Gonzales. "If you're going to do that, then do it in the light of day and make the case to the American people."

bit.ly/4nAEII3
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"Knowing certain members of the #SupremeCourt pretty well, I give them the benefit of the doubt," says former AG Alberto Gonzales.

"But I do acknowledge, and I think they know, there's a loss of confidence in their work and they need to pay attention."

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"The Department of Justice is not the lawyer for Donald Trump," says former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"The Department for Justice, from my perspective, that's the lawyer for the United States of America."

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"No career prosecutor from that office was willing to present the case or to sign off on the indictment," says former AG Alberto Gonzales of the case against James Comey.

"I think that is more telling in terms of whether or not we've got a good case here."

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"Not just Democrats, but I think some Republicans are concerned about some of the things that we see going on in this administration."

Former AG Alberto Gonzales assesses the state of the Justice Department and the rule of law under Trump.

FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4o2qGyA
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After James Comey's indictment, former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales discusses the danger of undermining the independence of the Justice Department.

"Without the rule of law, we have no democracy."

TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET

@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
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Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales questions the legality of U.S. military strikes on alleged drug boats from Venezuela, but he doubts there will be consequences.

“I don't know that this administration is concerned about how they're going to be viewed in history,” says Gonzales.
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After #PresidentTrump publicly pushed the #DOJ to indict his enemies, former AG Alberto Gonzales says such pressure is "contrary to norms."

"I worry that ignoring those kinds of norms undercuts the confidence of the American people in the integrity of our judicial system."
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"We have seen an erosion of public confidence, not only in the rule of law, but in the work of the Department of Justice," says former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

"And I think that's very, very dangerous."

FRIDAY @pbs.org

Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
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The @WFP.org has warned of an "unprecedented" hunger crisis in #Afghanistan this winter if more aid is not provided.

"I don't even want to think about that," says Executive Director Cindy McCain. "What we will see is exactly what you think you might see, and that is devastation and death."
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As leaders in the U.S. and Europe scale back foreign aid, @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain warns hunger could fuel mass migration toward their countries.

"You would do anything to feed your family, and so they will hit the road and migrate."

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Amid famine in Gaza, World Food Programme executive director Cindy McCain says their team “can’t get in” to the Gaza strip.

“The Israelis won't let us in…they make it very complicated and make it very difficult for us to operate efficiently.”
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"The soft power that the United States had through the food aid and the aid in general that they were distributing and helping out with is very important."

@WFP.org Executive Director Cindy McCain responds to U.S. humanitarian aid funding cuts.

On Apple: bit.ly/4nuThge
‘Food security is national security,’ says the World Food Programme’s Cindy McCain
Podcast Episode · Firing Line with Margaret Hoover · 09/27/2025 · 30m
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Cindy McCain acknowledges @wfp.org had gotten "a little top-heavy," and she has taken steps to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

"Using data better, using science and technology better, all of makes us a better organization."

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"We just need access, and we need access now," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.

"We need more diplomacy, we need countries really advocating for us instead of just saying, yeah, we support you. I need action from them."

FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4gTy78T
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"I would challenge anybody from the private sector or any other area to try to do what we do and do it efficiently, effectively, and get the job done," says @wfp.org Executive Director Cindy McCain.

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