The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich
by Robert Reich
Latest episode
What We Must Do Now | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, November 7, 2026
What We Must Do Now | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, November 7, 2026
About this podcast
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich exposes where power lies in our system — and how it's used and abused.
robertreich.substack.com
Episodes
The newest 50 of 484 episodes
- What We Must Do Now | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 1 h 7 minFriends, Today we celebrate, toast America, and try to explain what happened this week. It wasn’t the inevitable midterm swing of the pendulum against the party in power, or the…
- The Day After the Midterms: What's Next for America? · 1 h 7 minFriends, It’s the day after a historic midterm election. I took some time with my colleagues Heather Lofthouse and Vishal Shankar to debrief, unpack the election results, and…
- Trump Hits Bottom | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, October 31, 2026 · 45 minFriends, Three days before the beginning of the end of Trump and all he stands for — let us hope and pray — Heather and I take a close look at what the midterm elections hold…
- In Conversation with Anand Giridharadas · 36 minMy good friend Anand Giridharadas is out with a wonderful new book, Man in the Mirror, and today I had an opportunity to talk with him about it. One of the things I enjoy most…
- Defund Musk and Impeach Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, October 24, 2026 · 47 minFriends, Ten days away from the midterms, the two most vile people in the United States (in the world?) — Elon Musk and Donald Trump — are plotting how to take over the…
- Trump’s Midterm Madness | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 40 minFriends, Today, with just over two weeks to go until the midterm elections, Michael, Kamau, and I take stock of where we are: Trump is acting weirder than ever (which is saying…
- Trump’s Midterm F*ck-up | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, October 10, 2026 · 44 minFriends, Today, Heather and I are joined by our colleague Vishal Shankar to review where the midterm elections now stand and the issues emerging from them. We take a deep dive…
- Is a Reckoning Coming? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, October 3, 2026 · 41 minFriends, Today, Heather and I take a hard look at the allegations over what occurred in a Cornell fraternity and explore why they’re sending tremors across America. Do they have…
- In Conversation with Timothy Snyder: On Tyranny, Trump, and the Midterms · 36 minFriends, Five weeks from today, America will make a choice about the future of our democracy. Today I talk about tyranny, Trump, and the upcoming midterm elections with Professor…
- Trump’s a Lame D*ck | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, September 26, 2026 · 49 minFriends, Today, Heather and I examine Trump’s efforts to silence criticism — not only by banning CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House this week, but, even more…
- In Conversation with Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor · 32 minFriends, Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor are two of my favorite thinkers who see the large patterns of wealth and power in our world, and the consequences for our daily lives. Their…
- He’s Out of His Gourd | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, September 19, 2026 · 51 minFriends, Today, Heather and I take a deep dive into the debate over AI, why Trump is so against regulating it, and whether the CEOs of giant AI corporations who have called for…
- Trump’s Phony $5,000 Bribe | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, September 12, 2026 · 45 minFriends, I’m taking the day off, and Heather, Kamau, and Michael are taking the reins. As you’ll see, they keep our klatch as lively, informative, and enjoyable as ever. They…
- The Biggest Loser in the World | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, September 5, 2026 · 45 minFriends, Today, W. Kamau Bell and Michael Lahanas Calderón join me to take a deep dive into the economy on this Labor Day weekend — which marks the start of the midterm…
- Trump’s War on Iran, Canada, and Us | The Coffee Klatch for August 29, 2026 · 59 minFriends, Today Heather and I examine what Trump is doing as his war on Iran — which he promised would be over in “four to five weeks” — now exceeds six months, with no end in…
- In Conversation with Heather Cox Richardson · 36 minFriends, Here’s my conversation today with Heather Cox Richardson, in which we examine the origins of Trumpism. Professor Richardson is, of course, a major resource to all of us…
- My Feud with Trump’s Brainless Treasury Secretary | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 22, 2026 · 49 minFriends, Today Heather and I take a deep dive into the wacko views and decisions of Trump’s treasury secretary, Scott Bessent — whose attempts to reduce long-term interest rates…
- How to Dump the Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 15, 2026 · 48 minFriends, Today I’m taking a vacation. (It’s the second Klatch I’ve missed out of 230 since Heather and I began them on March 19, 2022.) But I’ve left you in good hands! Our good…
- Big Money Loses | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 8, 2026 · 39 minFriends, Today, Heather and I take a deep dive into the so-called “civil war” inside the Democratic Party, between corporate Dems who keep spending enormous sums on primary races…
- It's Still The Economy, Stupid | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 1, 2026 · 51 minFriends, Today, Michael and I delve into Trump’s plummeting approval ratings and ask whether they’re due to the economy, Trump’s war (which obviously affects the economy), the…
- What the Hell Is Trump Doing in Iran? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, July 25, 2026 · 38 minFriends, Today, Heather and I take a dive into the muck of Trump, 101 days before the midterm elections. His war in Iran is worsening, with no end in sight. His economy is…
- Trump's Midterm Election Plot | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, July 18, 2026 · 49 minFriends, Today, Michael and I take a close look at the sharp contrasts between artificial problems dreamed up by Trump (such as voter fraud) and real problems the nation is…
- Trump's Downward Escalator | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, July 11, 2026 · 48 minFriends, Welcome back to our 250th-plus-one-week anniversary edition! Hope you have had a good week, despite the cacophony out of Washington. Today, Heather and I try to…
- Reading the Declaration of Independence on America's 250th · 9 minI appreciate the active vocal participation of my neighbors, the organizing ability of Sally Baack, and excellent filming by Tia Liddell Ivery. RR This is a public episode. If…
- The Truth About America at 250 Years | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, July 4th, 2026 · 44 minFriends, Today marks 250 years since we declared our independence from a vile, arbitrary, impulsive, capricious, greedy, selfish, narcissistic authoritarian. Oh, wait. Sorry…
- Trump's Strait of Warm Ooze | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, June 27, 2026 · 40 minFriends, Today, Heather and I examine all sorts of things that went wrong this week for Trump, starting with Iran’s attack on an oil tanker moving through the Strait of Hormuz…
- President CHUMP! | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, June 20, 2026 · 32 minFriends, On today’s episode of the Coffee Klatch, Heather and I discuss Trump’s outright surrender to Iran, his algae-infested Reflecting Pool, Democrats’ plan to tackle his…
- Live w/ Robert Reich · 24 minThis 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
- Trillionaire Testosterone | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, June 13, 2026 · 44 minFriends, Today Heather and I take a deep dive into Elon Musk’s new status as America’s first trillionaire — worth one thousand billion dollars — and its meaning for the future of…
- Trump Gets Screwwormed | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, June 6, 2026 · 42 minFriends, Today’s weather is so beautiful that Heather and I decided to have our coffee klatch outside on the Berkeley campus. Much to talk about — including the giant initial…
- Trump's Department of Injustice | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 30, 2026 · 46 minFriends, Heather is back (after a grueling week; we wish her mother a speedy recovery). Today we take a deep dive into Trump’s Department of Injustice, now headed by Acting…
- Trump's Gush of Slush | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 23, 2026. A bit late this morning! · 39 minFriends, Sorry for being a bit late this morning. Today Michael and I take a deep dive into Trump’s corruption — beginning with CBS’s merger deal with Skydance that was…
- Bullsh*t in the China Shop | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 16, 2026 · 37 minFriends, To say Trump’s trip to China was underwhelming is to give it even more credit than it deserves. In fact, Trump’s main purpose for making the trip probably wasn’t to…
- Desperate Donald's Debacle | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 9, 2026 · 49 minFriends, 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…
- Is This the Shittiest Supreme Court in History? | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, May 2, 2026 · 53 minFriends, 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…
- Live with Joyce Vance, on today's shameful and dishonest Supreme Court decision · 54 minJoyce 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…
- Trump's Dire Straits: The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, April 25, 2026 · 37 minFriends, 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…
- The Good Pope vs. The Shitty President | The Saturday Coffee Klatch for April 18, 2026 · 38 minFriends, 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…
- War Criminal-in-Chief | The Coffee Klatch, April 11, 2026 · 48 minFriends, 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…
- What Planet Is Trump Now On? The Saturday Coffee Klatch for April 4, 2026 · 41 minFriends, 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…
- Sending a Message to Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, March 28, 2026 · 37 minFriends, 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…
- “He’s a Worthless Pile of S**t” | The Coffee Klatch for March 21, 2026 · 47 minFriends, 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…
- Who’s America’s Abuser-in-Chief? | The Coffee Klatch for March 14, 2026 · 47 minFriends, 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) ……
- Unconditional Surrender? Really? | The Coffee Klatch for March 7, 2026 · 43 minFriends, Heather is traveling. I’m delighted that our friend Kamau Bell has stepped into the breach. Today, Kamau and I take a deep dive into Trump’s War — his shifting…
- The State of the Trump | The Coffee Klatch for February 28, 2026 · 43 minFriends, Today, Heather and I ask and try to answer: Why is Trump attacking Iran? Also: Why is he so gracious to Mayor Mamdani? Why does ICE continue to be so out of control? Why…
- King Trump, Prince Andrew, and the Supreme Court | The Coffee Klatch for February 21, 2026 · 48 minFriends, A big week, including the arrest of Prince Andrew, the best of the Supreme Court, and the stress of the sociopath in the Oval Office. We get into all of this, along with…
- Trump, Epstein, and America’s Ruling Class | The Coffee Klatch for February 14, 2026 · 50 minFriends, Happy Valentine’s Day. Thanks for joining us. Today, Heather and I delve into the extremely un-Valentine-like world of Trump, Jeffrey Epstein, and America’s ruling…
- Bad Bunny’s Backlash Against Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, February 7, 2026 · 42 minFriends, Today Heather and I examine the unchecked power that now pervades our political system — starting with the Justice Department’s (and Trump’s) unwillingness to turn over…
- In conversation with Julie Su, Deputy Mayor of New York · 17 minFriends, Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Julie Su, former Secretary of Labor and current Deputy Mayor of Economic Justice in New York City. I hope you enjoy the…
- Making Sense of Trump’s Mess | The Coffee Klatch for January 31, 2026 · 42 minFriends, Today, Heather and I try to unravel some tricky questions: Will Democrats rein in ICE? What’s behind the sham arrests of Don Lemon and other journalists? Will…
