Firing Line with Margaret Hoover poster

TV series

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

2018TV-PG9 seasons8.0 / 10

Join author, activist and commentator Margaret Hoover for a public affairs talk show that delivers a civil and engaging contest of ideas among the brightest minds and voices from across the ideological spectrum.

Availability

Not streaming in United States

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover premiered June 22, 2018. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

Synopsis

Join author, activist and commentator Margaret Hoover for a public affairs talk show that delivers a civil and engaging contest of ideas among the brightest minds and voices from across the ideological spectrum.

Season 6 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 5

Episode 1

Al Sharpton

27m

Reverend Al Sharpton discusses his evolution as a civil rights leader and the challenges and controversies he has faced. He weighs in on the progress of the movement and the power of Black voters.

Episode credits

Guest stars Al Sharpton

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 2

Jon Meacham

27m

Pulitzer Prize winning-author and presidential biographer Jon Meacham discusses how today’s leaders compare to their predecessors. Meacham, who has helped craft some of Biden's key speeches, weighs in on today's GOP and whether Biden will run again.

Episode credits

Guest stars Jon Meacham

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 3

Nancy Mace

27m

Nancy Mace discusses the challenges of being a Republican who rejects the GOP's extremes and supports bipartisan solutions on abortion, cannabis and other issues. She weighs in on the classified documents investigations and debt ceiling.

Episode credits

Guest stars Nancy Mace

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 4

Barry Diller

27m

Media mogul Barry Diller discusses why he thinks Hollywood and the Oscars are irrelevant, the future of streaming, why he does not believe Alec Baldwin is responsible for the "Rust" set shooting, and what's ahead in politics.

Episode credits

Guest stars Barry Diller

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 5

Glenn Loury

27m

Brown economist Glenn Loury says affirmative action and reparations will not solve inequality and defends free speech on college campuses. Loury—who at 33 became Harvard's first Black tenured economics professor—discusses how his views have evolved.

Episode credits

Guest stars Glenn Loury

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 6

Brian O’Hara

27m

Brian O’Hara—Minneapolis’ first new police chief since George Floyd’s death—discusses policing after the death of Tyre Nichols renewed calls for reform. He weighs in on racial disparities, qualified immunity, gun violence and elevated crime rates.

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 7

Mike Gallagher

27m

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI)—chair of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party—discusses how the US should respond to growing threats from the CCP. He discusses trade, the dangers of TikTok, and says the US should commit to defending Taiwan.

Episode credits

Guest stars Mike Gallagher

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 8

Larry Hogan

27m

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the second Republican governor to be re-elected in Maryland and a vocal Trump critic, discusses why he won't challenge Trump for the GOP nomination, economic policy proposals, and the future of the GOP.

Episode credits

Guest stars Larry Hogan

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 9

Paulina Porizkova

27m

Supermodel and 1980s cover girl Paulina Porizkova discusses aging and ageism, harassment in modeling, her journey out of Communist Czechoslovakia, struggling with mental health, and the breakdown of her marriage to the late Cars' singer Ric Ocasek.

Episode credits

Guest stars Paulina Porizkova

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 10

Andrew Weissmann

27m

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann discusses the 34 felony count indictment of former President and 2024 candidate Donald Trump. He discusses the prosecution’s strengths and weaknesses and what to expect as Trump faces more criminal probes.

Episode credits

Guest stars Andrew Weissmann

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 11

Thomas Chatterton Williams

27m

Author and cultural critic Thomas Chatterton Williams explains why he thinks Americans need to unlearn traditional racial constructs in order to achieve equality. He also discusses the impact of culture wars and wokeness on contemporary politics.

Episode credits

Guest stars Thomas Chatterton Williams

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 12

Wes Moore

27m

Rising Democratic star and political newcomer Gov. Wes Moore discusses overcoming tragedy to become a Rhodes Scholar, Army captain, bestselling author and Maryland's first Black governor. He details his plans for tackling poverty and crime.

Episode credits

Guest stars Wes Moore

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 13

David French

27m

Conservative New York Times columnist David French, an anti-Trump voice in the GOP, weighs in on the 2024 presidential race, turmoil at Fox News, whether Trump may go to prison, and the latest cases and ethics questions before the Supreme Court.

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 14

Richard Dreyfuss

27m

Oscar winner Richard Dreyfuss discusses America's civics crisis and his initiative to restore civics education in public schools. He weighs in on the state of discourse in the country and speaks out against diversity inclusion standards in Hollywood.

Episode credits

Guest stars Richard Dreyfuss

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 15

Felix Salmon

27m

Financial journalist Felix Salmon discusses how Covid created an economic paradigm shift affecting everything from labor markets to millennial investing. He advocates for ending the debt ceiling and says minting money would be better than a default.

Episode credits

Guest stars Felix Salmon

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 16

Charlie Sykes

27m

Charlie Sykes, a founder and the editor-in-chief of the non-partisan news site "The Bulwark," discusses why he disassociated himself from the Republican Party, the challenges of covering Trump, the 2024 race, and whether conservatism can be redeemed.

Episode credits

Guest stars Charlie Sykes

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 17

Chris Christie

27m

Chris Christie discusses his newly launched 2024 presidential bid and why he’s taking direct aim at his former friend and boss Donald Trump. He says the DOJ must indict Trump if they have evidence of crimes in the classified documents investigation.

Episode credits

Guest stars Chris Christie

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 18

Elie Honig

27m

Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the federal indictment against Donald Trump and what to expect of the trials that may take place during the election season. He also weighs in on Hunter Biden’s plea deal.

Episode credits

Guest stars Elie Honig

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 19

Jill Lepore

27m

Harvard historian and journalist Jill Lepore discusses how the past sheds light on present truth-related threats. Lepore critiques the Supreme Court's dismantling of affirmative action, which she says will erode public confidence in the Court.

Episode credits

Guest stars Jill Lepore

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 20

Jewel Kilcher

27m

Singer-songwriter Jewel Kilcher discusses her journey from a troubled upbringing in Alaska to music megastardom, how she saved her own soul by prioritizing her mental health, and her virtual reality platform providing access to mindfulness tools.

Episode credits

Guest stars Jewel

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 21

Lisa Murkowski

27m

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a moderate Republican who defeated a Trump-backed candidate in the midterms, says Alaska’s new voting reforms could help democracy elsewhere. She discusses the 2024 race and indicates how she would vote in a Trump-Biden rematch.

Episode credits

Guest stars Lisa Murkowski

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 22

Amul Thapar

27m

Sixth Circuit Judge Amul Thapar discusses his new book defending Clarence Thomas’s originalism, his own presence on the conservative short-list for the Supreme Court, the affirmative action ruling, and ethics questions involving justices.

Episode credits

Guest stars Amul Thapar, Jerry Brown

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 23

Vivek Ramaswamy

27m

Entrepreneur and GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy discusses his critique of woke capitalism, his plan to eliminate federal agencies, his opposition to U.S. military support for Ukraine and why he believes America needs a political outsider.

Episode credits

Guest stars Vivek Ramaswamy

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 24

Will Hurd

27m

Moderate Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd challenges prevailing GOP sentiment by taking on Donald Trump. Hurd, a former Texas congressman and undercover CIA agent, discusses immigration, national security, and artificial intelligence.

Episode credits

Guest stars Will Hurd

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 25

Roya Mahboob

27m

Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO, Roya Mahboob, discusses the fall of Kabul and decimation of women's rights after two years of Taliban rule. She gives an update on the Afghan Girls Robotics Team, which she launched prior to the Taliban takeover.

Episode credits

Guest stars Roya Mahboob

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 26

Doug Burgum

27m

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican presidential candidate and former tech CEO, outlines his policy vision for energy, climate, immigration, and education reform. He says the GOP needs to move past the 2020 election and look to the future.

Episode credits

Guest stars Doug Burgum

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 27

Baratunde Thurston

27m

Writer, activist, comedian and “America Outdoors” host Baratunde Thurston discusses how nature can bridge divides and help heal the nation. He explains why he uses humor to tackle tough topics like race and politics, and weighs in on A.I. and 2024.

Episode credits

Guest stars Baratunde Thurston

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 28

Liev Schreiber

27m

Actor Liev Schreiber, co-founder of BlueCheck Ukraine, discusses the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Ukraine as President Zelensky asks for international support at the UN. He explains why he thinks Russia will lose and why Americans should care.

Episode credits

Guest stars Liev Schreiber

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 29

Walter Issacson

27m

Bestselling author Walter Isaacson discusses his biography of Elon Musk, who leads SpaceX, Tesla, and endeavors in AI and brain-machine interfaces. Isaacson comments on Musk's Twitter takeover, geopolitical influence, controversies, and aspirations.

Episode credits

Guest stars Walter Issacson

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 30

Yascha Mounk

27m

Left-leaning author and professor Yascha Mounk discusses his new book “The Identity Trap” examining the rise of identity politics within the progressive left. Mounk addresses the risks this trend may present to schools, corporations, and democracy.

Episode credits

Guest stars Yascha Mounk

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 31

Bret Stephens

27m

Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Bret Stephens discusses how Israel should respond to Hamas’s horrific terrorist attack. Stephens, the former Jerusalem Post editor-in-chief, assesses the role of Iran and the geopolitical ramifications of the war.

Episode credits

Guest stars Bret Stephens

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 32

Jonathan Schanzer

27m

Terrorism expert Jonathan Schanzer examines efforts to contain a wider war in the Middle East and deter Iran and its proxies. He discusses the Qatari-led hostage negotiations and the complexities of an Israeli ground fight against Hamas in Gaza.

Episode credits

Guest stars Jonathan Schanzer

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 33

Mitch Daniels

27m

Republican Mitch Daniels, the former governor of Indiana and Purdue University president, discusses America's political disarray, the national debt, campus speech debates, strategies for reducing tuition, and whether he would ever return to politics.

Episode credits

Guest stars Mitch Daniels

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 34

Kimberly Kagan

27m

Military historian Kimberly Kagan discusses Israel’s obstacles on the ground in Gaza, Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia, and the role Iran plays in both conflicts. She also explains her concerns over U.S. readiness for wider war.

Episode credits

Guest stars Kimberly Kagan

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 35

Thomas Nides

27m

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Thomas Nides explains why the next 30 days will be the most important in Israel’s history. He discusses hostage rescue negotiations, Israel’s combat calculations, and diplomatic and humanitarian challenges.

Episode credits

Guest stars Thomas Nides

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 36

Brad Raffensperger

27m

Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's Republican Secretary of State, discusses standing up to pressure from Trump to overturn the 2020 election in his state and how to restore public trust in elections. He explains why he believes Georgia is ready for 2024.

Episode credits

Guest stars Brad Raffensperger

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 37

Leopoldo López

27m

Exiled Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez discusses threats to democracy around the world and combatting autocracy. He comments on challenging conditions in Venezuela under Maduro and the impact of Biden's policies in the region.

Episode credits

Guest stars Leopoldo López

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode 38

Jonathan Greenblatt

27m

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt discusses the spike in antisemitism since Oct. 7, the double standard on speech he sees on university campuses, and his concerns about anti-Zionism and a lack of moral clarity among progressives.

Episode credits

Guest stars Jonathan Greenblatt

Where to watch Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Episode information updated Sep 3, 2026

More about Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Cast

Margaret HooverSelf - Host
Jon MeachamSelf
Mike PenceSelf
Stacey Abrams
Chris ChristieSelf
José Andrés PuertaSelf
Condoleezza RiceSelf
Larry HoganSelf

Production details

Status
Returning Series
Series type
Talk Show
Episodes
328
Original language
English

Networks & production

  • PBSUnited States
  • ThirteenUnited States
  • The Documentary GroupUnited States

Themes

public affairsusa politics