Firing Line with Margaret Hoover: Season 4
Season 4 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Firing Line with Margaret Hoover Season 3.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 4 Progress Shield
Mike Gallagher
Jan 8, 2021
Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher discusses the storming of the U.S. Capitol, President Trump's role in inciting the insurrection, and where the country and the GOP goes from h
Joe Manchin
Jan 15, 2021
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) discusses the Capitol attack and the historic second impeachment of President Trump. As an influential moderate in the Senate, he talks about how to brin
Mary Frances Berry and Douglas Brinkley
Jan 22, 2021
American historians Mary Frances Berry and Douglas Brinkley discuss the inauguration of President Joe Biden at a time of national crisis and the legacy of President Trump.
Tim Kaine
Jan 29, 2021
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) discusses former President Trump’s looming impeachment trial, President Biden’s COVID-19 stimulus plan and why he is optimistic for bipartisanship under the n
Charles Blow
Feb 5, 2021
Charles M. Blow, NYT columnist and author of “The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto,” discusses his plan for Black Americans to amass political power by reverse migration to
Jaime Herrera Beutler
Feb 12, 2021
Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach President Trump, discusses her vote, the impeachment trial, whether there is any chance of co
Michael Osterholm
Feb 19, 2021
Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm says new COVID-19 strains will likely cause cases to surge in March. Osterholm, who was on Biden's transition task force, says the U.S. needs t
Bari Weiss
Mar 12, 2021
Former New York Times editor and “How to Fight Anti-Semitism” author Bari Weiss joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the rise of Anti-Semitism and intolerance across the political spec
Jennifer Granholm
Mar 19, 2021
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm tells Margaret Hoover how the Biden administration plans to achieve clean energy goals, create new jobs and protect the power grid while facin
Yo-Yo Ma
Mar 26, 2021
World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma performs for “Firing Line” and joins Margaret Hoover to discuss the impact of the pandemic on the arts and his belief that music can comfort people
Anne Applebaum and David Frum
Apr 2, 2021
Pulitzer Prize winning historian Anne Applebaum and former White House speechwriter David Frum join Margaret Hoover to discuss strengthening American democracy and the future of th
Maya MacGuineas and Robert Reich
Apr 9, 2021
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich and federal budget expert Maya MacGuineas discuss America’s staggering national debt and what should be done about it.
Kirsten Gillibrand
Apr 16, 2021
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) discusses why paid family leave should be part of President Biden’s infrastructure legislation, working across the aisle to protect veterans and the
Adam Kinzinger
Apr 23, 2021
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) discusses what it means to be a Republican in the post-Trump era, what’s next for police and gun reform and President Biden’s plan to withdraw American t
Mazie Hirono
Apr 30, 2021
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) discusses her recent bipartisan bill addressing anti-Asian hate crimes, how her immigrant experience informs her legislative priorities and what caused her
Amy Klobuchar
May 7, 2021
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) discusses the explosive growth of big tech and corporate mergers. She outlines her proposed antitrust reforms to fight back against monopolies and expl
Garry Kasparov
May 14, 2021
Chess grandmaster turned democracy advocate Garry Kasparov, who chairs the Human Rights Foundation, warns about the rising tide of authoritarianism worldwide. He discusses bringing
Irshad Manji
May 21, 2021
The New York Times bestselling author Irshad Manji discusses how she thinks diversity should be defined and taught, the divisiveness of labels and why moral courage — not cancel cu
Lawrence Summers
Jun 12, 2021
Former Treasury Secretary and Harvard economist Lawrence H. Summers discusses his concerns about an overheated post-pandemic economy leading to inflation and what he believes the W
Don Lemon
Jun 18, 2021
CNN anchor Don Lemon discusses his new book on racism in America’s past and present, his own experiences dealing with prejudice, and bringing his point of view to cable news.
William McRaven
Jun 25, 2021
Four-star Admiral William H. McRaven discusses the imminent withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the current threat level from Iran, and the heroic virtues he details in his
William McRaven
Jul 2, 2021
In a special edition celebrating Independence Day, four-star Admiral William H. McRaven shares stories of heroism from his 37 years of service to America, including details behind
Bill Nelson
Jul 9, 2021
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson discusses America’s mission to return to the moon and reach Mars, billionaires in space, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) sightings, and NASA’s se
John McWhorter
Jul 16, 2021
Columbia University linguist and race commentator John McWhorter explains the origins of critical race theory, what the decades-old legal concept has become in today’s national deb
Mario Diaz-Balart
Jul 23, 2021
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL—whose family fled Fidel Castro’s communist revolution in Cuba—discusses the ongoing oppression on the island, historic protests calling for freedom and
Celine Gounder and Ashish Jha
Jul 30, 2021
With a summer COVID surge, epidemiologist Dr. Celine Gounder and Brown University Dean of Public Health Dr. Ashish Jha discuss the dangers of the Delta variant, breakthrough cases,
Elissa Slotkin
Aug 6, 2021
Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin, D-MI, discusses representing a district that voted for Trump, the investigation into the attack on the Capitol, and voting rights. The former CIA anal
David Petraeus & H.R. McMaster
Aug 27, 2021
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster responds to the suicide attack that killed at least 13 U.S. service members outside the Kabul airport; Gen. David Petraeus discusses the U.S. withdrawal from
Peter Meijer
Sep 10, 2021
As America marks the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, Rep. Peter Meijer, R-MI, discusses the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, his decision to fly into Kabul amid the evacuation and who sho
George Will
Sep 17, 2021
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist George Will discusses the conservative movement from William F. Buckley Jr. to the present, why he says many modern Republican politicians are not
Mohamed El-Erian
Sep 24, 2021
Economist Mohamed A. El-Erian outlines his concern that inflation will persist and urges the Federal Reserve not to miss the window to act. He discusses how the pandemic has altere
Frank McCourt
Oct 1, 2021
Billionaire Frank McCourt discusses his venture to overhaul the internet and create social media alternatives. He says blockchain is the key to protecting personal data and answers
The Oslo Freedom Forum
Oct 8, 2021
Firing Line interviews three dissidents at the Oslo Freedom Forum in Miami: Hatice Cengiz, fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi; Uyghur activist Jewher Ilham; and Venezue
John Lithgow
Oct 15, 2021
Actor, author and illustrator John Lithgow discusses his new collection of poems satirizing America’s “scoundrels,” his take on contemporary politics, and getting into character fo
Fiona Hill
Oct 22, 2021
Russia expert Dr. Fiona Hill, a former senior official in Trump’s National Security Council and 2019 impeachment witness, discusses the rise of populism in the U.S. and why she bel
Bob Menendez
Oct 29, 2021
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-NJ, discusses his immigration reform plan and protecting Americans against floods. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair outlines how the U.S. should pr
Andrew Sullivan
Nov 5, 2021
Author and political commentator Andrew Sullivan, a self-described small-c conservative who opposes Trump, says this week’s election signals a backlash to woke culture and discusse
Ai Weiwei
Nov 12, 2021
Artist, activist and former political prisoner Ai Weiwei discusses resisting authoritarianism in China and beyond,
Tim Scott
Nov 19, 2021
Rising GOP star Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, discusses growing up in poverty in South Carolina and outlines his policy vision for opportunity zo
Chris Christie
Dec 10, 2021
Republican Chris Christie says the GOP needs to renounce conspiracy theories and Trump’s election fraud lies. The former New Jersey governor discusses whether he is planning a 2024
Dana Canedy
Dec 17, 2021
Dana Canedy discusses “A Journal for Jordan”—her book about the late 1st Sgt. Charles M. King and the words of wisdom he left for their son—now a major movie directed by Denzel Was