Jen Rubin's Green Room

Jen is joined by Rep. Jamie Raskin to lay out the case against Trump and examine the legal issues that should keep him out of the presidency.  They cover the potential of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to keep him out of office for his role in the January 6th insurrection, why his incitement against the election is not protected by the Constitution, and how he attacked our voting rights and pressured officials to break their oaths.  They also discuss the bottom up legal strategy being used to prosecute him and those he inspired, and emphasize the role our institutions have in defending our democracy. This Week’s Guest: Congressman Jamie Raskin: Twitter | Website | House.gov | Author of “Unthinkable” Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by master political strategist Simon Rosenberg to discuss why polling vastly overestimated the non-existent so-called Red Wave in 2022 and how the results of the special elections since then demonstrate that the electorate is continuing to punish Republicans.  They explore how the Dobbs decision, Supreme Court radicalism, Trump and his party’s attempts to overturn the election, the possibility of a government shutdown, and their inability to moderate is giving democratic candidates positive numbers not seen in decades.  Building upon the decline in inflation and other successful policies, is a Blue Wave coming? This Week’s Guest: Simon Rosenberg: Twitter | New Democrat Network Bio | Substack Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by finance expert and human rights campaigner Bill Browder for an inside look at the corruption and oppression in Putin’s Russia that directly targeted Bill’s company and friends.  In their conversation they cover Putin’s massive theft from businesses operating there, how he uses torture and violence against his political enemies, and why defeating him in Ukraine is essential to protecting freedom and democracy around the world.  They also discuss how the bi-partisan Magnitsky Act is one of the most effective weapons in the war because of its power to freeze accounts and directly target the oligarchs behind the invasion.  Now that it is being passed in dozens of other countries, are we gaining the upper hand? This Week’s Guest: Bill Browder: Twitter | Website | Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign | Author of “Freezing Order” Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen talks with champion of voting rights Marc Elias to review developments in the court cases facing Trump relating to aggressive actions by his lawyers, his threatening behavior, and the attempts to move Georgia cases to federal court.  Then, they lay out the Republican war on voting rights through their efforts to influence elections by gerrymandering, the rogue legislatures like Alabama’s ignoring the courts, and attacking early voting.  However; they find hope in the recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election win, how courts are stepping up to defend democracy, and our individual power to stand up for our most important values. This Week’s Guest: Marc Elias: Twitter | Democracy Docket | Elias Law Group | Defending Democracy Podcast Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by Amb. Dennis Ross to explore the recent developments shaking up middle eastern politics.  They cover the cross demographic and widespread protests in Israel against attempts by hard liners to take control of the judiciary and what it means for the country’s future.  Then, they dive into Netanyahu’s efforts to create a breakthrough deal to normalize relations with Saudi Arabia, even though it might mean concessions to Palestine.  If successful, it has the potential to solidify peace with the Sunni countries.  Will it finally bring about a lasting transformation in the region? This Week’s Guest: Dennis Ross: Twitter | The Washington Institute |Georgetown | Author of “Be Strong and of Good Courage” & Other Books Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

With Trump racking up another indictment in Georgia, Jen sits down with legal maven Rep. Dan Goldman to dive into the charges he faces.  During their conversation they explore how RICO prosecutions work to bring down criminal enterprises and why it strengthens the possibility of conviction, and explain why the jury pool won’t be corrupted by politics or wild rhetoric from Donald.  They also emphasize the need to ground the law in objective reality, and shut down comparisons to the Biden family– especially when the Trump family has exhibited far more evident corruption.  Will this be the case that finally holds the former president to account? This Week’s Guest: Rep. Dan Goldman: Twitter | Campaign Site | Act Blue Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen welcomes NYU journalism professor Jay Rosen to discuss the modern media ecosystem and how the classic both sides approach and opinion free corporate coverage is failing us with repeated coverage centered on crisis.  They also examine the pressures on journalists from institutions, and more importantly what it will take to fix things.  Will re-establishing truths over savviness with a focus on transferring knowledge from a position of expertise be enough to tame the rising populist passions that rely on misinformation to spread? This Week’s Guest: Jay Rosen: Twitter | Mastodon| PressThink.org | NYU  Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen brings on legal maven and civil rights leader Maya Wiley to take on the continuing hold white grievance has over our politics, why its complaints are dangerous and misguided, and how it influences the Republican party.  From there, they explore the pernicious leverage social media gives to outdated philosophies of hate, and how to fight back with our institutions and at the personal level.  To do so, we might push for a culture of diversity, become civically engaged, live as agents of change in our daily lives, and most importantly– never give up! This Week’s Guest: Maya Wiley: Twitter | Civil Rights Org | Website | Instagram Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by author and activist Fred Guttenberg to tackle the pressing need to address gun violence, how we can fight back, and what our government needs to do to protect the vulnerable.  In their conversation they explore the obscene power of the NRA and the mythologies supporting weapons of war, how to construct a legal strategy that can start securing electoral and legislative wins, and the power of activism.  They also share the reasons we should have for hope, and more importantly ask how we can use our voices most effectively to end senseless gun violence? This Week’s Guest: Fred Guttenberg: Twitter | Website | Orange Ribbons For Jaime | Author of “American Carnage” & Other Books Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen sits down with expert on authoritarianism Ruth Ben-Ghiat for a look at the mythic hold strongmen have on political systems around the world and how Trump took up that mantle here.  They cover how he resurrected the spoils system, used divisive language to create a cult-like following, and his attempts to create disinformation that tears apart loyalty to anyone besides him.  More importantly, they explore how deep the threat to democracy goes– and when our system is threatened, how can we fight back to restore equality and justice under the law? This Week’s Guest: Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Twitter | NYU | Website | Substack | Author of “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” & Other Books Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen has a conversation with author and expert on the rise of the radical religious right in recent years, Robert P. Jones.  Together they look at the growing power and platforms held by White Christian Nationalists, the role they play in social division and Republican policies, and how Trump allowed the SCOTUS to become compromised by fundamentalists.  They also break down how that message has fused with Protestant churches while continuing to celebrate the Old South– with a look to how we can bring them back from extremism and into our democratic system.  This Week’s Guest: Robert P. Jones:  Twitter | Public Religion Research Institute | SubStack | Author Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by author of “Newsroom Confidential” and media maven Margaret Sullivan for a deep dive into the current state of the 4th Estate.  In their conversation, they discuss the growing dominance of right-wing framing and language on some of the most critical issues facing the country, and what to do when you’re tasked with covering the preposterous.  Whether it’s related to the Donald or even science denialism, bothsides-ism is obscuring the facts and tearing the country apart.  Is turning our focus to hard reporting and away from the snap reactions of clout chasing journalists on social media the way to rehabilitate our news industry? This Week’s Guest: Margaret Sullivan:  Twitter | WaPo | The Guardian | SubStack | Author of “Newsroom Confidential” Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump

Following the anniversary of the despicable Dobbs decision by the SCOTUS, Jen is joined by author and former NARAL President Ilyse Hogue for a deep dive into the war on women’s rights.  They discuss how far our country is set back by state government abortion laws, the role of right wing Christian Nationalism in weakening the agency of women by replacing justice with ideology, and how theocracy is rearing its ugly head once again.  Will Democrats wake up and solve this crisis by seizing on the issues of healthcare and personal freedom to win elections and restore our democracy in time? This Week’s Guest: Ilyse Hogue:  Twitter | NARAL | Author of “The Lie That Binds” Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen brings on recent White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain to explore the successes of President Biden and the challenges that he still faces.  They dive into how his defense of democracy by giving primacy to the rule of law has its limitations, but hasn’t stopped him from strengthening NATO, producing jobs, passing a budget, and solving the problems left behind by Trump.  Also discussed are the enduring strengths of Kamala Harris, how their administration is fighting against discrimination, and the other ways the government can help restore our faith in our institutions. This Week’s Guest: Ron Klain:  Twitter | O’Melveny | Statement from Whitehouse.gov Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by legal expert, author and Slate senior editor, Dahlia Lithwick for a deep dive into the current state of our judicial system and what it means for all of us.  In their conversation, they discuss how the Supreme Court has been undermining the public trust with its partisanship, disregard of precedent (and even Originalism!), and how the courts can’t be ignored so long as they have the power to constrain our rights and decide elections.  Given the scope of the threat to our democratic values, what reforms could restore justice to the country? This Week’s Guest: Dahlia Lithwick:  Twitter | Slate | NewsWeek | Amicus Podcast | UVA Law | Author of “Lady Justice” & Other Books Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by co-founder and EVP for Public Affairs at Third Way Matt Bennett to lay out the destruction of moderation in our politics, the rise of extremism on the right, and the disastrous horse race approach of the media.  Are they locking us into a Biden-Trump re-election battle that few people want?  And if they are, is a third party something that could be dangerous to our democracy when the stakes are so high? They also cover how each side turns off people with messaging when they would agree with policy, how it relates to gun rights, and how the practical implementation of policy lets down the electorate.   This Week’s Guest: Matt Bennett:  Twitter | Third Way Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Jen is joined by author, journalist, and political thought leader Matthew Dowd for an insider’s look at the sport-ification of media, and how it leads to political nihilism and rising extremism due to the both sides approach it uses.  They also dive deep into the changes happening at CNN evidenced by Trump’s town hall, the shallow coverage of the difficulties Republicans created for the debt ceiling deal, and the tragic pretense of networks trying to be “unbiased”.  Is journalism as a whole still salvageable when the presentation of the basic facts are undermined?  And with the future at stake, will the media be bold enough to stand for democracy?    This Week’s Guest: Matthew Dowd:  Twitter | University of Chicago | MSNBC | Author Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

In this inaugural episode, Jen welcomes legal expert and brilliant pundit George Conway for his insider view of E. Jean Carroll’s cases against Donald, the factors behind why she’s been successful so far, and to look at the system’s surprising defense of our democracy against him.  George also shares how he introduced E. Jean to the lawyer behind her victory, and why Donald will keep losing based on his inability to keep his mouth shut.  From there, they examine the psychology that drives Trump to be his own worst enemy and the narcissism that compels him to continue pursuing power at any costs.  Will the Republican party be able to escape his pull and start the search for redemption before he wins their primary yet again? This Week’s Guest: George Conway:  Twitter | WaPo | On Morning Joe | Broaddrick V. Carroll Cases Article | “Unfit for Office” Get More From Jennifer Rubin: Twitter | WaPo | Author of “Resistance: How Women Saved Democracy From Donald Trump”

Trailer for Jen Rubin's Green Room