DAVID SIROTA On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power

DAVID SIROTA On George W. Bush, Reagan and The Rise of Presidential Power

Author: Bruce Carlson April 1, 2026 Duration: 54:34
Have we forgotten about George W. Bush and how much today's politics were defined during his administration? Does Congress have any role anymore? Have we reached a point where Congress not only has less power but doesn't want to use what it has? Over the years, federal power has shifted from Congress to the President, with particular acceleration since Reagan and George W. Bush's Presidencies. David Sirota of The Lever Podcast and Master Plan Podcast joins us to talk about this trend and how it is a planned effort with people of both parties involved. His podcast, Master Plan, is available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/br/podcast/master-plan/id1723377799 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Podcast Episodes
RONALD REAGAN PART ONE: "RAWHIDE IS OK" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
Replay from 2016 First in our series on Ronald Reagan that will have twelve episodes. The Presidency we discuss almost didn't happen. A look at the attempt on Reagan's life, his first year and why the shooting was not an…
IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART TWO - "THIS WAR WILL NOT BE IGNORED" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:54
Stalemate breaks in a surprise operation. An apathetic America gets involved on both sides. The fighting stops, but nothing is the same after 1988. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THE IRAN-IRAQ WAR - PART ONE "THIS WILL BE EASY" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:16
This terrible war, fought in the 1980's, changed everything. Both in the Middle East, and America. We tell the story in two parts. We are part of Airwave Media network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm…
MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's Year One (2nd part) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:36
Healthcare, Bosnia and Belief In The President. All are in doubt. The second part of our series on Bill Clinton's first year, 1993. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
MCMXCIII: Bill Clinton's 1993 - Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:40
It's 1993. A new President jogs through his first year, with an unexperienced staff and a hostile White House press corps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
THOMAS WOLFE TURNS AGAINST TOTALITARIANISM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
The writer Thomas Wolfe, known for his large novels and spewing prose, was a fan of Germany. On a trip there for the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he found joy and worry. Initially he admired the changes, but would soon change h…
LBJ 's "CELL PHONE" AND HIS DECISION TO JUMP ON THE TICKET IN 1960 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:20
In answering a question about JFK's health and its role in Lyndon Johnson's decision to accept the Vice Presidency, Bruce takes a look at the people and factors surrounding Johnson's decision, Kennedy's motivations, Eise…