So after nearly 7 years and 250 shows, this is our final one. Rich Lowry and Wayne Barrett agree that Russia’s hacking was unprecedented and consequential although it wouldn’t, shouldn’t (and didn’t) overturn the Electoral College. Again, there’s agreement that Trump should but won’t divest a company that will create a daily and unconstitutional conflict-of-interest. So how does he get away with such corruption? “Race” announces Wayne, explaining that so long as his base is satisfied with him on race, they’ll cut him slack on his lies and corruption. Last, the panel lists the biggest public events of their lifetimes: both say 9/11; Rich adds the fall of the Berlin Wall and Wayne the shooting of Robert Kennedy even more than the assassination of his brother, “because Johnson largely continued JFK’s program but Bobby would have won in ’68 and changed the subsequent history of America.” https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/bsn-podcast-121616.mp3…

Cooke & Corn largely agree on Trump’s recent action, especially the obvious conflict of interest between a company named Trump and a Trump White House. They think his only escape hatch is to completely divest like his predecessors did or else he risks later impeachment under the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause as pay-to-play scandals surface. They also concur that Trump’s “industrial policy by tweet” — Carrier, Boeing — is irrational corporate socialism, though popular. But as for his Cabinet picks so far — Billlionaires, Generals, Randites — Charles thinks they’ve been good conservative choices (not Flynn at NSA) while David objects to appointing anti-government reactionaries who despise the agencies they’d run. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/bsn-podcast-121016.mp3…

Bob Shrum & Ron Christie debate whether Trump’s a sore winner for his tweet-storms against the Stein-Clinton recount in WI/MI/PA or whether Hillary’s a sore loser — the conclusion being that recounts are legal and this was very close election. Ron, however, defends Trump’s claim that he won a “landslide”, despite losing the popular vote by some 2.5 million. Plus, it’s an indication how he might govern — all presidents lie occasionally (Ike-U2, LBJ-Tonkin Gulf, W-Iraq), though none have done so most of the time. Ron rejects “fascist” label from Brian Williams after flag-burning tweets and other howlers. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/bsn-podcast-120316.mp3…

https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/bsn-podcast-111916.mp3 Our panel of Ron Reagan & Ron Christie deplore the appointment of Steve Bannon, the tip of the Alt-White spear, as the President-Elect’s top strategist. Ron Reagan:“Let’s stop pretending that this will be a normal administration. Instead of being ready months ago, for example, they now have five people — Trump, Bannon, Priebus, Ivanka and Kushner — who have a combined zero public experience among them” Ron Christie, a veteran of the Bush-Cheney White House, is offended by the intermingling of family interests and public roles in the Trump Team. We discuss three ways that this president-elect may be especially powerful — and one way he won’t be. First, he’s a natural bully even before he gets the Bully Pulpit — and having the budget, army, and veto pen, that’s alot of leverage. Second, his base — largely people infuriated by class and/or race — won’t much care his policies so long as he keeps tickling their itch. Third, while there were eight congressional investigations into Hillary and Benghazi, it’s unlikely there will be any into President Trump’s eventual mistakes or misconduct given GOP control of both chambers of Congress. Still, we concur that while 100% the president because of the Electoral College, he lost the popular vote 48-46 [by the time all of California is counted] — the largest gap between electoral and popular vote ever — and while Clinton, Bush43 and Obama had net favorables of plus 27, 27 and 40 percent two weeks into their transitions, Trump today is at an astonishing minus 11 percent. “You can do anything with public opinion,” said Lincoln, “but nothing without it.”…

In our post-election program, David Frum — a conservative who abhorred Trump and endorsed Clinton — argued that it was the buckraking of Clinton Inc. that did her in. Jonathan Alter laid blame on several causes – race, gender, Comey, where was Clinton’s strong economic message? — as he subsequently explained in a smart Daily Beast piece . The show’s humble host reminded all that, especially as California numbers trickle in, HRC will win the popular vote by probably 48-46, which should be more than a moral victory when Trump’s agenda gets to Congress: he represents the Electoral College, Schumer — with the leverage of the filibuster — the majority of America. Will Dems cooperate, resist? Will marching millennials vote in the mid-terms and 2020? TBD. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/bsn-podcast-r-111216.mp3…

Rich Lowry and Gara Lamarche discuss, of course, not only the Cubs but also next Tuesday’s election, looking back and forward. First, what were the biggest variables moving votes? They agree that if she won it’d be because of his disgusting comments about women in particular and unfit temperament in general…as well as tidal trends from ’60s to ’16, demographic and political. If he should win, Lamarche & Lowry concur that it’d be because Trumpians convinced a majority that she was a “corrupt liar” (which is untrue, for those keeping score). And on Nov. 9th ? There’s again agreement that we’ll either witness a GOP civil war or a run on psychiatrists by distraught Democrats. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/bsn-podcast-110516.mp3…

Shrum & Cooke discuss if the ’16 election is being “rigged” and by whom. They agree that it’s another ridiculous Trump exaggeration…but rigging by onerous Voter ID laws is threatening the franchise to millions. There’s also a consensus that Obamacare’s problems are probably coming too late to be a voting issue this year but, predicts Charles, “it’ll haunt Democrats for years”. As for Trump’s Access Hollywood tape + a dozen women claiming assault, Shrum-Cooke concur that will have a big impact because it’s so visceral and insulting. Best Guesses: that alone probably will net HRC 5-7 points…while her emails overall will likely cost her at least as many. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/bsn-podcast-102916.mp3…

Randi Weingarten & Ron Chrisite — labor leader & Bush-Cheney aide — largely agree when it comes to Trump’s poor 3d Debate performance. Both regard it as an absurd alibi that he’d lose the election because it was “rigged” but split on whether the GOP is indeed “rigging” votes in red states by enacting voter suppression laws. We all marvelled at how viral “bad homre” and “nasty woman” went, especially with Hispanic & Women’s constituencies and how shrewd it was for Clinton to parry embarrassing Wikileaks disclosures with saddling Trump again with being “Putin’s puppet.” Then: Police chiefs apologize to young minority men for their mistreatment by cops. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/bsn-podcast-102216.mp3…

David Corn (Mother Jones ) and Charles Cooke ( National Review ) agreed broadly that while Pence helped Pence in the veep debate, the Kaine-the-Interrupter helped Clinton by reminding all of his ticket’s key arguments concerning latinos, women, nukes, Putin. A curious new poll pitting Obama against Trump showed POTUS 44 doing only a couple of points better than Hillary — how come? On Syria, it turns out at this point that there’s not that much difference between the nominees other than Pence except leaning toward challenging the Russians with ground troops (which DJT dismissed a week later). https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/bsn-podcast-100816.mp3…

Shrum & Christie concur post-first debate that, in Bob’s phrase, “Hillary killed him and he committed suicide.” The question now is whether he can stop talking disparagingly about womens’ weight & looks (‘fat chance’). Ron thinks it amazing that, unlike Kennedy, Reagan, Obama, Clintons, Trump thought he could just wing it and not prepare. Wrong! How could he not better anticipate Qs on birther-ism, tax returns, Machado? Ron also doubts that Trump will raise Bill’s infidelties at next debate because of his own history as a serial adulterer and how it elevates Hillary to appear the victim. But with “Mr. 3am Tweeter”, ya never know. https://bothsidesradio.files.wordpress.com/2016/10/bsn-podcast-1001161.mp3…