Firing Line with Margaret Hoover
@firinglineshow.bsky.social
A rigorous contest of ideas in the Firing Line tradition, every week on PBS with Margaret Hoover.
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Listings: http://to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Youtube: http://bit.ly/FLMYT4
Podcast: http://bit.ly/FLMH4
App: http://to.pbs.org/3C32LZ8
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social believes that #MAGA Republicans “absolutely” want to reinstitute Jim Crow.
“They wish to get us back as close to slavery as they can possibly get us to” without violating the Constitution, Clyburn tells Margaret Hoover.
“They wish to get us back as close to slavery as they can possibly get us to” without violating the Constitution, Clyburn tells Margaret Hoover.
January 20, 2026 at 1:34 PM
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social believes that #MAGA Republicans “absolutely” want to reinstitute Jim Crow.
“They wish to get us back as close to slavery as they can possibly get us to” without violating the Constitution, Clyburn tells Margaret Hoover.
“They wish to get us back as close to slavery as they can possibly get us to” without violating the Constitution, Clyburn tells Margaret Hoover.
"I've got a little great-granddaughter. I think it's important for her to know who she is and from whence she came."
"The First Eight" author @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social explains why telling the stories of South Carolina's first eight Black members of Congress was important to him.
bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"The First Eight" author @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social explains why telling the stories of South Carolina's first eight Black members of Congress was important to him.
bit.ly/4qPvtEM
January 19, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"I've got a little great-granddaughter. I think it's important for her to know who she is and from whence she came."
"The First Eight" author @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social explains why telling the stories of South Carolina's first eight Black members of Congress was important to him.
bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"The First Eight" author @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social explains why telling the stories of South Carolina's first eight Black members of Congress was important to him.
bit.ly/4qPvtEM
@RepJamesClyburn.bsy.social's book, “The First Eight,” was inspired by the eight Black congressmen from South Carolina who preceded him.
One of those people was Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery and convinced Lincoln to let him recruit thousands Black soldiers to fight in the Civil War.
One of those people was Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery and convinced Lincoln to let him recruit thousands Black soldiers to fight in the Civil War.
January 19, 2026 at 1:33 PM
@RepJamesClyburn.bsy.social's book, “The First Eight,” was inspired by the eight Black congressmen from South Carolina who preceded him.
One of those people was Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery and convinced Lincoln to let him recruit thousands Black soldiers to fight in the Civil War.
One of those people was Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery and convinced Lincoln to let him recruit thousands Black soldiers to fight in the Civil War.
"Politics is not complicated. It is very, very simple," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"Build a relationship with the constituents you're seeking to serve. Get to know who they are... They're the ones that hold your future. Not you."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"Build a relationship with the constituents you're seeking to serve. Get to know who they are... They're the ones that hold your future. Not you."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
January 18, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"Politics is not complicated. It is very, very simple," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"Build a relationship with the constituents you're seeking to serve. Get to know who they are... They're the ones that hold your future. Not you."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"Build a relationship with the constituents you're seeking to serve. Get to know who they are... They're the ones that hold your future. Not you."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"I do believe that this is a great country. No need to be made great," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"Our big challenge, which is a problem, to figure out how to make this country's greatnesses accessible and affordable for all."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"Our big challenge, which is a problem, to figure out how to make this country's greatnesses accessible and affordable for all."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
January 18, 2026 at 1:33 PM
"I do believe that this is a great country. No need to be made great," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"Our big challenge, which is a problem, to figure out how to make this country's greatnesses accessible and affordable for all."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"Our big challenge, which is a problem, to figure out how to make this country's greatnesses accessible and affordable for all."
Follow on Apple: bit.ly/4qPvtEM
"The facts are the facts. For some strange reason, this administration and a lot of people in this country have decided that we can have alternate facts."
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social says Pres. Trump's complaints about how America's history is taught are "hogwash."
bit.ly/4qBWegc
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social says Pres. Trump's complaints about how America's history is taught are "hogwash."
bit.ly/4qBWegc
January 17, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"The facts are the facts. For some strange reason, this administration and a lot of people in this country have decided that we can have alternate facts."
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social says Pres. Trump's complaints about how America's history is taught are "hogwash."
bit.ly/4qBWegc
@RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social says Pres. Trump's complaints about how America's history is taught are "hogwash."
bit.ly/4qBWegc
"History should not just be informative, but it should instruct," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"I think that the extent to which we are left out of that history takes away from the foundation that our children and grandchildren can build upon."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4pHX7ma
"I think that the extent to which we are left out of that history takes away from the foundation that our children and grandchildren can build upon."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4pHX7ma
January 17, 2026 at 1:33 PM
"History should not just be informative, but it should instruct," says @RepJamesClyburn.bsky.social.
"I think that the extent to which we are left out of that history takes away from the foundation that our children and grandchildren can build upon."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4pHX7ma
"I think that the extent to which we are left out of that history takes away from the foundation that our children and grandchildren can build upon."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/4pHX7ma
In "The First Eight," @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social tells the stories of South Carolina's first Black members of Congress, including Robert DeLarge, who served in the Confederate Army before entering politics.
"He was a big apologist for the enslavers."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4qBWegc
"He was a big apologist for the enslavers."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4qBWegc
January 17, 2026 at 2:27 AM
In "The First Eight," @repjamesclyburn.bsky.social tells the stories of South Carolina's first Black members of Congress, including Robert DeLarge, who served in the Confederate Army before entering politics.
"He was a big apologist for the enslavers."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4qBWegc
"He was a big apologist for the enslavers."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4qBWegc
"Anything that's happened before can happen again."
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social explains why his book about the first eight Black members of Congress from South Carolina amid segregation offers a cautionary tale for America today.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social explains why his book about the first eight Black members of Congress from South Carolina amid segregation offers a cautionary tale for America today.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
January 16, 2026 at 8:06 PM
"Anything that's happened before can happen again."
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social explains why his book about the first eight Black members of Congress from South Carolina amid segregation offers a cautionary tale for America today.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social explains why his book about the first eight Black members of Congress from South Carolina amid segregation offers a cautionary tale for America today.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social responds to Trump's complaints that teaching about America's history of racial injustice fosters shame.
"That history does cause shame, but it's not the way he thinks," he says.
"Slavery is shameful. Jim Crow is shameful...All of that was made legal in this country."
"That history does cause shame, but it's not the way he thinks," he says.
"Slavery is shameful. Jim Crow is shameful...All of that was made legal in this country."
January 16, 2026 at 7:41 PM
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social responds to Trump's complaints that teaching about America's history of racial injustice fosters shame.
"That history does cause shame, but it's not the way he thinks," he says.
"Slavery is shameful. Jim Crow is shameful...All of that was made legal in this country."
"That history does cause shame, but it's not the way he thinks," he says.
"Slavery is shameful. Jim Crow is shameful...All of that was made legal in this country."
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social believes that MAGA Republicans today are “absolutely” echoing the tactics of Redeemer Democrats, who asserted white supremacy after the Civil War.
“I am convinced that whoever put January 6th together used a roadmap that they came right out of this era.”
“I am convinced that whoever put January 6th together used a roadmap that they came right out of this era.”
January 16, 2026 at 7:27 PM
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social believes that MAGA Republicans today are “absolutely” echoing the tactics of Redeemer Democrats, who asserted white supremacy after the Civil War.
“I am convinced that whoever put January 6th together used a roadmap that they came right out of this era.”
“I am convinced that whoever put January 6th together used a roadmap that they came right out of this era.”
"We have to start electing people to office who believe in the Constitution."
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social discusses his new book, the echoes of America's racist past he sees today, and his warning for younger generations.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social discusses his new book, the echoes of America's racist past he sees today, and his warning for younger generations.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
January 15, 2026 at 3:41 PM
"We have to start electing people to office who believe in the Constitution."
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social discusses his new book, the echoes of America's racist past he sees today, and his warning for younger generations.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
@repjamesclyburn.bsky.social discusses his new book, the echoes of America's racist past he sees today, and his warning for younger generations.
FRIDAY @pbs.org
Local listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Fmr. State Dept. official Elliott Abrams sees a clash between the values of the Trump administration and the values America has always upheld.
"If the administration is not itself going to be fighting for those values and promoting them and explaining them, then others are going to have to do it."
"If the administration is not itself going to be fighting for those values and promoting them and explaining them, then others are going to have to do it."
January 14, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Fmr. State Dept. official Elliott Abrams sees a clash between the values of the Trump administration and the values America has always upheld.
"If the administration is not itself going to be fighting for those values and promoting them and explaining them, then others are going to have to do it."
"If the administration is not itself going to be fighting for those values and promoting them and explaining them, then others are going to have to do it."
Elliott Abrams says it is hard to believe Sec. Rubio agrees with everything Trump is doing, but his job is to take orders from the president.
"I do not think that he has cashiered a whole lifetime of views about American foreign policy. I think he's trying to figure out how to make it work."
"I do not think that he has cashiered a whole lifetime of views about American foreign policy. I think he's trying to figure out how to make it work."
January 13, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Elliott Abrams says it is hard to believe Sec. Rubio agrees with everything Trump is doing, but his job is to take orders from the president.
"I do not think that he has cashiered a whole lifetime of views about American foreign policy. I think he's trying to figure out how to make it work."
"I do not think that he has cashiered a whole lifetime of views about American foreign policy. I think he's trying to figure out how to make it work."
After successful operations in Iran and Venezuela, Elliott Abrams fears President Trump will order more military action because he is convinced "the American military can do literally anything and there's no risks."
"The only thing that makes me think maybe that won't happen: November is coming."
"The only thing that makes me think maybe that won't happen: November is coming."
January 13, 2026 at 1:34 PM
After successful operations in Iran and Venezuela, Elliott Abrams fears President Trump will order more military action because he is convinced "the American military can do literally anything and there's no risks."
"The only thing that makes me think maybe that won't happen: November is coming."
"The only thing that makes me think maybe that won't happen: November is coming."
President Trump will now meet with opposition leader Maria Carina Machado after first belittling her on the world stage. That slight was “terrible,” says Elliott Abrams.
“It's a severe setback... to all Venezuelans who are looking and saying, 'The door is now open to change.'"
“It's a severe setback... to all Venezuelans who are looking and saying, 'The door is now open to change.'"
January 12, 2026 at 8:00 PM
President Trump will now meet with opposition leader Maria Carina Machado after first belittling her on the world stage. That slight was “terrible,” says Elliott Abrams.
“It's a severe setback... to all Venezuelans who are looking and saying, 'The door is now open to change.'"
“It's a severe setback... to all Venezuelans who are looking and saying, 'The door is now open to change.'"
Elliott Abrams believes Trump could have gotten "very substantial bipartisan support" for action in Venezuela if he went to Congress for approval.
So why didn't he?
"I think it's a combination of the weakness of Congress and a mistake on the part of the administration."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
So why didn't he?
"I think it's a combination of the weakness of Congress and a mistake on the part of the administration."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
January 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Elliott Abrams believes Trump could have gotten "very substantial bipartisan support" for action in Venezuela if he went to Congress for approval.
So why didn't he?
"I think it's a combination of the weakness of Congress and a mistake on the part of the administration."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
So why didn't he?
"I think it's a combination of the weakness of Congress and a mistake on the part of the administration."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"When I was in the Reagan administration, Venezuela was a prosperous democracy," recalls Elliott Abrams.
"And it was part of the solution to democracy in Latin America. It can be again, but not with this regime."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
"And it was part of the solution to democracy in Latin America. It can be again, but not with this regime."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
January 11, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"When I was in the Reagan administration, Venezuela was a prosperous democracy," recalls Elliott Abrams.
"And it was part of the solution to democracy in Latin America. It can be again, but not with this regime."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
"And it was part of the solution to democracy in Latin America. It can be again, but not with this regime."
Follow on Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
As Trump suggests he may take Greenland from Denmark by force, Elliott Abrams calls NATO "the greatest military alliance that's ever existed."
"I don't think it really survives... if the main actor in NATO... actually attacks another member of NATO."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"I don't think it really survives... if the main actor in NATO... actually attacks another member of NATO."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
January 11, 2026 at 1:33 PM
As Trump suggests he may take Greenland from Denmark by force, Elliott Abrams calls NATO "the greatest military alliance that's ever existed."
"I don't think it really survives... if the main actor in NATO... actually attacks another member of NATO."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"I don't think it really survives... if the main actor in NATO... actually attacks another member of NATO."
bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"My criticism is not that [Trump] wants peace," says Elliott Abrams.
"It's that he doesn't seem to realize that there are regimes in the world, the Chinese regime, the Russian regime, that don't want peace, that never want peace."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
"It's that he doesn't seem to realize that there are regimes in the world, the Chinese regime, the Russian regime, that don't want peace, that never want peace."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
January 10, 2026 at 7:59 PM
"My criticism is not that [Trump] wants peace," says Elliott Abrams.
"It's that he doesn't seem to realize that there are regimes in the world, the Chinese regime, the Russian regime, that don't want peace, that never want peace."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
"It's that he doesn't seem to realize that there are regimes in the world, the Chinese regime, the Russian regime, that don't want peace, that never want peace."
On Spotify: bit.ly/4brGyrf
"This is actually the greatest mystery...Why did the president decide now?" says Trump's first term Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams of capturing Nicolas Maduro.
"We could have done this in 2020. And he was not even thinking about it."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/49zIMT7
"We could have done this in 2020. And he was not even thinking about it."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/49zIMT7
January 10, 2026 at 1:33 PM
"This is actually the greatest mystery...Why did the president decide now?" says Trump's first term Venezuela envoy Elliott Abrams of capturing Nicolas Maduro.
"We could have done this in 2020. And he was not even thinking about it."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/49zIMT7
"We could have done this in 2020. And he was not even thinking about it."
FULL EPISODE: bit.ly/49zIMT7
"The last thing they need is the federal government saying, do what we want you to do and do it where we tell you to do it," says Elliott Abrams as Trump presses oil companies to invest in Venezuela.
"I thought we believed in free market capitalism."
Apple: bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"I thought we believed in free market capitalism."
Apple: bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
January 10, 2026 at 2:45 AM
"The last thing they need is the federal government saying, do what we want you to do and do it where we tell you to do it," says Elliott Abrams as Trump presses oil companies to invest in Venezuela.
"I thought we believed in free market capitalism."
Apple: bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"I thought we believed in free market capitalism."
Apple: bit.ly/3Yy2hpR
"The idea that you go around the world saying I want that and I'm taking it, that has not been the foreign policy of the United States."
Elliott Abrams assesses what Trump is getting right and wrong in Venezuela.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Elliott Abrams assesses what Trump is getting right and wrong in Venezuela.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
January 9, 2026 at 8:50 PM
"The idea that you go around the world saying I want that and I'm taking it, that has not been the foreign policy of the United States."
Elliott Abrams assesses what Trump is getting right and wrong in Venezuela.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Elliott Abrams assesses what Trump is getting right and wrong in Venezuela.
TONIGHT 8:30 pm ET
@pbs.org listings: to.pbs.org/39hI6Tf
Former State Dept. official Elliott Abrams explains why a democratically governed Venezuela is better for the region than the Maduro regime which is “unbelievably corrupt.”
“They're anti-American, they're pro-Russian, pro-China, they're thieves, they are criminals, they're drug traffickers.”
“They're anti-American, they're pro-Russian, pro-China, they're thieves, they are criminals, they're drug traffickers.”
January 9, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Former State Dept. official Elliott Abrams explains why a democratically governed Venezuela is better for the region than the Maduro regime which is “unbelievably corrupt.”
“They're anti-American, they're pro-Russian, pro-China, they're thieves, they are criminals, they're drug traffickers.”
“They're anti-American, they're pro-Russian, pro-China, they're thieves, they are criminals, they're drug traffickers.”
Elliott Abrams, who supports regime change in Venezuela, says it’s “immoral” for the U.S. to back a government run by Delcy Rodriguez.
“To say, 'Well, all we want is oil, and we don't care how many Venezuelans are jailed, shot, exiled...that should never be the position of the United States.”
“To say, 'Well, all we want is oil, and we don't care how many Venezuelans are jailed, shot, exiled...that should never be the position of the United States.”
January 9, 2026 at 5:20 PM
Elliott Abrams, who supports regime change in Venezuela, says it’s “immoral” for the U.S. to back a government run by Delcy Rodriguez.
“To say, 'Well, all we want is oil, and we don't care how many Venezuelans are jailed, shot, exiled...that should never be the position of the United States.”
“To say, 'Well, all we want is oil, and we don't care how many Venezuelans are jailed, shot, exiled...that should never be the position of the United States.”