Podcast
The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich
Hosted by Robert Reich · EN
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich exposes where power lies in our system — and how it's used and abused.
robertreich.substack.com
robertreich.substack.com
21episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Desperate Donald's Debacle | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 9, 2026
1w ago00:49:14Tap to summarizeFriends,This morning, Michael and I (Heather is out today) delve into the redistricting wars — including the decision by the Virginia Supreme Court to cancel that state’s redistricting — and examine strategies still open to Democrats before the midterms. We also try to decipher what’s really happening in the Persian Gulf. And we take a close look at Trump’s sycophants Kash Patel at the FBI, Todd Blanche at Justice, Brendan Carr at the FCC, and Bill Pulte at the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the wrecking balls they’re wielding. Given all this, we compare Michael’s Gen Z’s outlook on America with my postwar boomer’s outlook.So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in today’s conversation. RR This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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Is This the Shittiest Supreme Court in History? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 2, 2026
2w ago00:53:07Tap to summarizeFriends,Today, Heather and I ask: Why is Trump so obsessed with his ballroom? What is actually going on in Iran? Is this the worst Supreme Court of all time? We look ahead to the midterm elections in six months and make some predictions. We’re also joined by Ben McKenzie to discuss Trump’s crypto corruption.So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the discussion. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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Live with Joyce Vance, on today's shameful and dishonest Supreme Court decision
3w ago00:54:20Tap to summarizeJoyce Vance was U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. I’m grateful to her for sharing her views on today’s shameful and dishonest Supreme Court decision kneecapping Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, in which Samuel Alito pretends he’s not nullifying Section 2 while doing exactly that. It’s a bad day for American democracy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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Trump's Dire Straits: The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, April 25, 2026
3w ago00:37:18Tap to summarizeFriends,Today, Heather and I try to make sense out of this week’s riddles: What is Trump’s strategy for reopening the Strait of Hormuz? What’s he doing to stop his base from unraveling over his failed war? How can he avoid a “blue wave” in the midterm elections? And, by the way, why are jobs so hard to come by these days, anyway? We answer these and other riddles of the week. Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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The Good Pope vs. The Shitty President | The Saturday Coffee Klatch for April 18, 2026
4w ago00:37:34Tap to summarizeFriends,Today Heather and I are joined by our colleague Michael, who helps us dissect a wild week. What’s the truth about the Strait of Hormuz? Why did Trump and Vance pick a fight with Pope Leo? Who or what’s behind the booming stock market? We grapple with these and much more on today’s Klatch. Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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War Criminal-in-Chief | The Coffee Klatch, April 11, 2026
Apr 1100:47:42Tap to summarizeFriends,Today, Heather and I examine this wildly horrendous week and tackle a basic question: Did the United States win its war with Iran, or lose it? We also take a deep dive into whether Trump is a war criminal for having threatened to cause the death of an entire civilization. And we talk with our friend journalist Amy Goodman, who’s out with a new movie about her life speaking truth to power. So, please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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What Planet Is Trump Now On? The Saturday Coffee Klatch for April 4, 2026
Apr 400:40:40Tap to summarizeFriends,Today Heather and I venture to the far corners of Trump’s galaxy. First, to the planet from which he’s viewing his war in Iran. He says he’s eliminated Iran’s capacities to threaten U.S. air power, but on Friday Iran shot down an American F-15E bomber.Next we travel to planet Bondi, whom Trump has sacked. We ask why, and whether this is good news or bad — I think it’s bad. Then on to Trump’s ballroom fiasco, which a federal judge has halted. And we look at Trump’s Supreme Court, which is decidedly skeptical about his argument against birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to undocumented people (the plain wording of the 14th Amendment says “all persons born” in the U.S. are citizens). Much else to explore today, including the Artemis II mission, now taking four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth. And Larry Ellison’s layoffs of 30,000 Oracle workers on the same day he became $9 billion richer. What planet is he on?So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join our conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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Sending a Message to Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, March 28, 2026
Mar 2800:36:33Tap to summarizeFriends,Today is the third (and hopefully the largest) No Kings Day demonstration across the nation — and Heather and Michael and I focus today’s Klatch on how Trump has managed to exert near-regal powers in America. We also give you an update on his calamitous war in Iran and how average Americans are paying for it. But — good news — we focus on how public opinion has shifted against him, as illustrated not only by his awful poll results but also a blue wave of Democratic wins in special elections. And as a special bonus, we offer our recommendations for the best books we’ve been reading. So pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation. Then demonstrate! (Your nearest No Kings action can be found here.) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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“He’s a Worthless Pile of S**t” | The Coffee Klatch for March 21, 2026
Mar 2100:47:27Tap to summarizeFriends,That quote comes from someone who voted for Trump three times and now feels betrayed by his war in Iran and its consequential price increases for gas, food, and much else. Today, Heather and I delve into why Trump is losing his MAGA base, why he’s losing his war in Iran, why he’s losing the economy — and why he’s losing his mind. We look at Iran’s strategy for outlasting Trump and Israel, based on maximizing the political and economic pressure on Trump. We also look at Trump’s likely plans for subverting the midterm elections and what must be done to protect those elections from his plans. And we’re joined by special guest Leah Greenberg, co-founder with Ezra Levin of Indivisible — the powerful decentralized organization that’s leading the way on No Kings. So please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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Who’s America’s Abuser-in-Chief? | The Coffee Klatch for March 14, 2026
Mar 1400:46:50Tap to summarizeFriends,Today Heather and I are joined by E. Jean Carroll — journalist, author, advice columnist (her “Ask E. Jean” column appeared in Elle magazine from 1993 through 2019) … and target of Trump’s sexual assault. Her book Not My Type, subtitled One Woman Against a President, chronicled what happened, and the court cases she initiated against Trump — and won. It’s a fabulous, frightening, but also funny (really!) account. Heather surprised me by snagging E. Jean for our Klatch. We’ll start with an assessment of Trump’s war, then turn to E. Jean.Please pull up a chair, grab a cuppa, and join in the conversation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit robertreich.substack.com/subscribe
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