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San Francisco Chronicle
a day ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
From 'Crossfire' to 'CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground
For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of 'Crossfire,' the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts 'CeaseFire' this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host. 'At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree,' said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. 'We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that.' 'Crossfire' aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud — and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated. It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done. That was the view of comic Jon Stewart, who effectively killed 'Crossfire' with a 2004 appearance where he told then-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were hurting America. Begala later called it a 'disemboweling.' Three months later, CNN canceled the show. Losing the 'sugar high' of partisan conflict From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television — a dissonance, she suggests, that 'CeaseFire' can tap. 'I think there is a secret yearning for this among a lot of people,' said Burns, Politico Playbook author and chief White House correspondent, who will hold onto those roles. 'Obviously there is a reason why shows that have a lot of conflict get a lot of views, but I also think there is a part of the country that is really tired of the sugar high from conflict and polarization.' Burns said she works hard to cultivate a nonpartisan approach in her job so she can report equally well on what is happening with Democrats and Republicans in Washington. 'My moderating style does tend to be very personal and conversational, and I want to bring some fun and charm and levity to the show,' she said, 'but also really push people and get people out of their comfort zones of partisan acrimony and into a zone that may be less comfortable for them in the public eye.' Feist said Burns was chosen for the job because she's both a good interviewer and a good conversationalist, as well as being plugged into the Washington scene. He said he got the idea for 'CeaseFire' years ago from Michael Kinsley, a former 'Crossfire' co-host, and is hoping it can become a signature show. A time slot, premiere date or early guests have not been announced yet. Friends from across the aisle Since getting the job at C-SPAN, Feist said he has talked to more than 100 members of Congress about whether they had friends across the aisle and, to a person, each one gave him a name of a political opposite they enjoyed spending time with. If only half of those pairings agreed to come on 'CeaseFire,' he said, he'd have enough programming for a year. C-SPAN takes pride in appealing in equal numbers to Democrats, Republicans and independents. They are people who want to watch politics and government in action, and not just people talking about it, he said. Still, there's a need to show something during the nights and weekend when Congress is not in session. 'When I got here we started talking about new programming and what we could do that was different, where there was a need in the television landscape,' Feist said. 'Over and over, I heard from people on the inside and the outside: 'Can't you even have a civil conversation in Washington?'' ___
Winnipeg Free Press
a day ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
From ‘Crossfire' to ‘CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground
For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of 'Crossfire,' the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts 'CeaseFire' this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host. 'At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree,' said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. 'We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that.' 'Crossfire' aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud — and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated. It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done. That was the view of comic Jon Stewart, who effectively killed 'Crossfire' with a 2004 appearance where he told then-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were hurting America. Begala later called it a 'disemboweling.' Three months later, CNN canceled the show. Losing the 'sugar high' of partisan conflict From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television — a dissonance, she suggests, that 'CeaseFire' can tap. 'I think there is a secret yearning for this among a lot of people,' said Burns, Politico Playbook author and chief White House correspondent, who will hold onto those roles. 'Obviously there is a reason why shows that have a lot of conflict get a lot of views, but I also think there is a part of the country that is really tired of the sugar high from conflict and polarization.' Burns said she works hard to cultivate a nonpartisan approach in her job so she can report equally well on what is happening with Democrats and Republicans in Washington. 'My moderating style does tend to be very personal and conversational, and I want to bring some fun and charm and levity to the show,' she said, 'but also really push people and get people out of their comfort zones of partisan acrimony and into a zone that may be less comfortable for them in the public eye.' Feist said Burns was chosen for the job because she's both a good interviewer and a good conversationalist, as well as being plugged into the Washington scene. He said he got the idea for 'CeaseFire' years ago from Michael Kinsley, a former 'Crossfire' co-host, and is hoping it can become a signature show. A time slot, premiere date or early guests have not been announced yet. Friends from across the aisle Since getting the job at C-SPAN, Feist said he has talked to more than 100 members of Congress about whether they had friends across the aisle and, to a person, each one gave him a name of a political opposite they enjoyed spending time with. If only half of those pairings agreed to come on 'CeaseFire,' he said, he'd have enough programming for a year. C-SPAN takes pride in appealing in equal numbers to Democrats, Republicans and independents. They are people who want to watch politics and government in action, and not just people talking about it, he said. Still, there's a need to show something during the nights and weekend when Congress is not in session. 'When I got here we started talking about new programming and what we could do that was different, where there was a need in the television landscape,' Feist said. 'Over and over, I heard from people on the inside and the outside: 'Can't you even have a civil conversation in Washington?'' And that, he said, is precisely what 'CeaseFire' will try to do. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
From ‘Crossfire' to ‘CeaseFire': C-SPAN executive launches program that promotes common ground
For several years when he was at CNN, Sam Feist was in charge of 'Crossfire,' the show that set a template for televised political combat. Now that he runs C-SPAN, Feist is going in another direction. The public affairs network debuts 'CeaseFire' this fall, described as an attempt to bring political opposites together to find common ground, and on Wednesday announced that Dasha Burns of Politico will be its host. 'At the end of the day, Americans and members of Congress agree more than they disagree,' said Feist, C-SPAN CEO. 'We just never see that on television, and you rarely see that on the floor of Congress. And I wanted to change that.' 'Crossfire' aired on CNN from 1982 until 2005. It featured a conservative and liberal host, with guests, debating a contentious issue. It often got loud — and sometimes personal. Conflict sells, and as cable television evolved into more often talking about the news than reporting it, the formula was widely imitated. It arguably influenced politics as well. Being argumentative and taking no prisoners were more effective ways of getting attention than trying to find common ground and get things done. That was the view of comic Jon Stewart, who effectively killed 'Crossfire' with a 2004 appearance where he told then-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson that they were hurting America. Begala later called it a 'disemboweling.' Three months later, CNN canceled the show. Losing the 'sugar high' of partisan conflict From traveling the country reporting, Burns said she also feels there is a disconnect between how people think of politics and how it is portrayed on television — a dissonance, she suggests, that 'CeaseFire' can tap. 'I think there is a secret yearning for this among a lot of people,' said Burns, Politico Playbook author and chief White House correspondent, who will hold onto those roles. 'Obviously there is a reason why shows that have a lot of conflict get a lot of views, but I also think there is a part of the country that is really tired of the sugar high from conflict and polarization.' Burns said she works hard to cultivate a nonpartisan approach in her job so she can report equally well on what is happening with Democrats and Republicans in Washington. 'My moderating style does tend to be very personal and conversational, and I want to bring some fun and charm and levity to the show,' she said, 'but also really push people and get people out of their comfort zones of partisan acrimony and into a zone that may be less comfortable for them in the public eye.' Feist said Burns was chosen for the job because she's both a good interviewer and a good conversationalist, as well as being plugged into the Washington scene. He said he got the idea for 'CeaseFire' years ago from Michael Kinsley, a former 'Crossfire' co-host, and is hoping it can become a signature show. A time slot, premiere date or early guests have not been announced yet. Friends from across the aisle Since getting the job at C-SPAN, Feist said he has talked to more than 100 members of Congress about whether they had friends across the aisle and, to a person, each one gave him a name of a political opposite they enjoyed spending time with. If only half of those pairings agreed to come on 'CeaseFire,' he said, he'd have enough programming for a year. C-SPAN takes pride in appealing in equal numbers to Democrats, Republicans and independents. They are people who want to watch politics and government in action, and not just people talking about it, he said. Still, there's a need to show something during the nights and weekend when Congress is not in session. 'When I got here we started talking about new programming and what we could do that was different, where there was a need in the television landscape,' Feist said. 'Over and over, I heard from people on the inside and the outside: 'Can't you even have a civil conversation in Washington?'' And that, he said, is precisely what 'CeaseFire' will try to do. ___ David Bauder writes about the intersection of media and entertainment for the AP. Follow him at and .
New York Post
22-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
To plug New York's massive budget gaps, Gov. Hochul should focus on growing the economy for a change
Here's a novel idea for Gov. Kathy Hochul: Focus on growing the state's economy — keeping taxes low, unleashing fracking, easing regulations — and generating new revenue to avoid painful cuts and tax hikes as she closes her massive budget gap. President Donald Trump's federal budget restructuring popped a hole Hochul's own $254 billion spending plan, so she's already directed state agencies to cut $750 million. She'll have to come up with another $3 billion in savings, or new revenue, next year. And the Citizens Budget Commission flags a $22 billion long-term structural imbalance. One way to plug the hole is to supercharge the economy. A growing economy means a growing tax base. This week, Politico Playbook declared that 'Wall Street could be the state budget's savior next year — or a major headache.' But it's dangerous for the state's economic fortunes to be dependent on the ebb and flow of the financial markets. (Wall Street provides about a fifth of state tax revenue.) New York has so much more to offer: Tech companies, like AI, are certainly growing. But energy-intensive industries and large companies won't locate here unless New York offers reliable, reasonably priced energy. And Hochul, pandering to green extremists, has been downright hostile to traditional sources of energy, particularly natural gas. The state's climate law, which then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo put in place and Hochul adopted, sets all kinds of rules for emissions that discourage new tech business. And renewables, like wind and solar, won't cut it. Contrast that with the way investors view Pennsylvania: Just last week, they — along with Trump — announced a whopping $90 billion injection of funds to turn Pittsburgh into a major AI hub. Meanwhile, another economic-bonanza-in-waiting in New York is the Southern Tier's Marcellus Shale Formation, with its massive quantities of natural gas. That gas has sat idle ever since Cuomo banned fracking (the process of extracting the gas) about a decade ago. Hochul has zero interest in lifting the ban, but if she did it could jumpstart the region — kicking off a new flow of revenues to help with her budget woes. In Pennsylvania, fracking has been a major boon — for jobs, businesses and the state's balance sheet. Hochul can also boost New York's economy by making the state more business friendly overall. That means lowering taxes, not raising them. And scrapping many of the state's endless regulations; its minimum-wage laws alone are surely deterrents to businesses. Such steps will help the state in countless ways. They'll open up more jobs to New Yorkers (and the rise in demand for labor will itself push up wages). They'll boost economic activity, creating more prosperity for everyone. And they'll generate new revenue to help close the state's budget gap, reducing the need for cuts or tax hikes. Hochul can stick to the old ways — laying off workers, reining in spending (both of which are necessary, in any case) and/or hiking taxes. (How she'll justify her $400-a-family refunds, meant to goose her reelection chances, is beyond us.) Or she can make New York a pro-growth state, by lifting the fracking ban, holding down taxes, promoting new energy production and relaxing regulations. We won't hold our breath waiting for that, but when her budget cuts and tax hikes hit, just remember: She had other options.
The Hill
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Biden aides pushed for early debate with Trump: Memo
Then-President Biden's top aides urged him to take part in the debate against President Trump last summer that ultimately drove Biden to drop his reelection campaign last year, a newly released memo shows. 'The earlier YOU are able to debate the better, so that the American people can see YOU standing next to Trump and showing the strength of YOUR leadership, compared to Trump's weakness and chaos,' a group identified as senior advisors wrote in an April 15 memo to Biden that was published Monday via Politico Playbook. 'After further discussion, YOUR Senior Advisors, including Ron and Cedric, continue to believe it is important to move forward with a plan that supports YOUR participation in debates as early as possible.' Former Biden chief of staff Ron Klain led Biden's debate prep before he faced Trump in the disastrous July 2024 head-to-head, while former White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond was a 2020 and 2024 Biden campaign co-chair. Both have been close political confidants of Biden for years. 'YOUR Senior Advisers think strategically holding these debates in the fall, after many of the battleground states have already begun their early voting process and voter registration deadlines have passed is too late,' the advisers wrote in the memo. But rather than fortifying Biden's reelection chances, the debate jumpstarted questions about his fitness to serve another four years and calls for him to step aside. The White House said at the time that Biden, who was 81 years old, had a cold, but his close supporters feared that his wavering voice, halted speaking and meandering answers doomed his reelection chances. He withdrew from the race the following month and supported then-Vice President Kamala Harris to move to the top of the Democratic ticket to face Trump. Trump won both the popular vote and the Electoral College to secure the White House for a second, nonconsecutive term. The memo was obtained by journalists Josh Dawsey of The Wall Street Journal, Tyler Pager of The New York Times and Isaac Arnsdorf of The Washington Post, while reporting their book, '2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America,' which will be released Tuesday.
