Robert Reich

Acclaimed political economist, Robert Reich, appeared at the Progressive Forum to discuss his #1 New York Times bestseller, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America. The event took place at Congregation Emanu El, Houston, Texas on August 21, 2025. This page also features a livestream interview with Reich that took place on October 1, 2020.

SHORT: It’s not appropriate to be cynical, because a cynic says nothing can be done! For many of us, this is the fight of our lives. (3:06)

More Robert Reich Videos

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Robert Reich Full Q&A | August 21, 2025 (1:20:10)

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SHORT: Advice on maintaining your fizz! Our most valuable resource is our passion. We are the leaders we’ve been waiting for. (3:01)

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SHORT: The only way to deal with a tyrant is to not appease them. More institutions like law firms and universities need to stand up to Trump by banding together, rather than giving in. (3:32)

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SHORT: Trump has zero respect for democratic institutions. He’s engaged in a systematic campaign to intimidate voters. We can fight back with court and legislative actions, boycotts, and decentralized protests. (7:29)

Background

Robert Reich is Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He has served in three presidential administrations, Republican and Democratic, as well as Secretary of Labor under Bill Clinton. He has written 18 books including The Work of Nations (translated into 22 languages), Locked in the CabinetThe System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It, and most recently, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America. He is co-creator of the award-winning film, Inequality for All, and the Netflix original, Saving Capitalism. He is co-founder of Inequality Media. 

Generously sponsored by Mary Cubanski and Don Griffin and Margery and Robert Loeb.

The October 2020 livestream event was sponsored by Mary Cubanski and Don Griffin

 

Thanks to videographer BEND Productions

Thanks to photographer CJ Martin
 
For citing this website as a source: ProgressiveForumHouston.org
 
Thanks to Robert Reich for permission to post the full event on this page. We welcome visitors to share this exciting educational material.