Robert Reich on U.S. Politics

Public disputes concerning political parties, public officials, institutions, political conduct, and governance in the United States.

How we classify topics

Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.

Statement history

2 statements on this page. Dates: February 25, 2026 to September 3, 2026

2 matching statements. Dates: February 25, 2026 to September 3, 2026

2 published statements. Dates: February 25, 2026 to September 3, 2026

Condemned

2 published statements. Dates: February 25, 2026 to September 3, 2026

2 statements on this page. Dates: February 25, 2026 to September 3, 2026

Robert Reich

Role at the time: Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and public-policy professor, writing in his own Substack newsletter

September 3, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

In a September 3, 2026 post on his own newsletter, twelve days before Massie’s notice of intent, Robert Reich called Hegseth incompetent and a danger to security and wrote that if Trump would not fire him, Democrats should impeach him after taking the House in January and two-thirds of the Senate should convict him.

“Pete Hegseth is the most incompetent person in the Trump regime — with the exception of Trump himself — and a clear and present danger to the security of the United States and the world. If Trump won’t fire him, Democrats should impeach him when (hopefully) they take over the House next January, and two-thirds of the Senate should convict him.”

Open sourceHegseth Must GoClosing section; the paragraph beginning “Pete Hegseth is the most incompetent person in the Trump regime”.

Opinion post on Robert Reich’s own Substack newsletter, subtitled “If Trump won’t fire him, Congress must impeach him.” Published September 3, 2026, twelve days before Rep. Massie’s notice of intent. The post’s factual assertions about Hegseth’s tenure, including Dan Driscoll’s resignation and Iran war claims, are the author’s and are not verified by this record; it is cited here for the author’s stated position on impeachment.

Why we used this label

Relative to whether the House should impeach Hegseth, Reich expressly calls for impeachment and conviction. The timing he proposes, after Democrats take the House, conditions who acts and when rather than whether removal is warranted, so this is a clear condemnation rather than a mixed or conditional position. The post predates the Massie resolution and does not address any specific article.

Read statement Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?

Robert Reich

Role at the time: Former U.S. labor secretary and political commentator

February 25, 2026Condemned

Statement summary

Reich criticizes Citizens United and argues that states could limit corporations' power to spend in elections. He urges California and Montana to lead that effort.

“It’s time to make Citizens United history. California (and Montana) can lead the way.”

Open sourceReich criticizes Citizens United and proposes limits on corporate powersExhibit 2, PDF pp. 65-70; reprinted article pp. 1-5

The Minnesota House committee exhibit reproduces Reich's February 25 article in full. Reich criticizes Citizens United and proposes state limits on corporate political powers; the article does not establish that courts would uphold that approach.

Archived copy

Why we used this label

The ruling protecting corporate independent spending is the action under scrutiny. Reich explicitly calls for making it history and argues for limiting its practical effect. His support for an alternative state-law approach is grounded in opposition to the ruling.

Read statement Citizens United: Corporate election spending and free speech