From the Left: A Life in the Crossfire

by Bill Press

THE WASHINGTON POST BESTSELLER"Bill Press has done it all. He was the Chair of the California Democratic Party, he has been involved in numerous campaigns, he has been a prolific writer, and has worked as a host and commentator on radio and TV. In other words, he knows politics inside and out. This is the tale of an engaged and often outraged citizen who loves his country and wants to see it move forward in a progressive direction." —Senator Bernie SandersA memoir of talk radio host and political commentator Bill Press.The name Bill Press is synonymous with honest journalism, intelligent commentary, and progressive politics.But based on where he came from, it's a wonder he didn't end up a Trump voter. He grew up in a blue-collar family in a small town in Delaware south of the Mason-Dixon line, where segregation was the rule. As a Catholic, he was taught that abortion, divorce, sex outside of marriage, and homosexuality were morally beliefs later reinforced in ten years of seminary studies for the priesthood. He was on his way to be a rock-ribbed conservative.So what went right for him that he swerved so far to the left? In From the Left, Press shows this gradual transformation, starting with two years of studies in Europe and a providential escape to California. From Sacramento he made his way to Southern California television and talk radio as a political commentator and liberal talk show host. Jumping to Washington and national cable TV, Press hosted Crossfire and The Spin Room on CNN, and Buchanan and Press on MSNBC. A member of the White House Press Corps and columnist for Tribune Media Services and The Hill, Press was an early supporter of Bernie Sanders and hosted two of the Senator's first presidential strategy sessions in his living room.If you're already on the left, you'll cheer a fellow traveler. If not yet there, you soon will be.

Genres: Nonfiction

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 16, 2025

About the author

Bill Press began his career as a political insider and media commentator on KABC-TV and KCOP-TV, both in Los Angeles. Over the years, he has received numerous awards for his work, including four Emmys and a Golden Mike Award.

The former co-host of MSNBC's Buchanan and Press, CNN's Crossfire and The Spin Room, Press has built a national reputation on thought-provoking and humorous insights from the left side of the political aisle.

Press is the author of six books: Spin This! (Atria, 2002), Bush Must Go! (Dutton Books, 2004), How The Republicans Stole Christmas (Doubleday, 2005), Trainwreck (Wiley, 2008), Toxic Talk (Thomas Dunne Books, 2010), and his latest, The Obama Hate Machine (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012).

The host of radio’s nationally syndicated Bill Press Show (Monday-Friday from 6-9am ET), Press attends the daily White House press briefing and writes a syndicated newspaper column, distributed weekly by Tribune Media Services.

Press resides in the nation’s capital with his wife Carol.

Reviews

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enlightening. I'd never heard of Bill Press before I picked this up off the New Books shelf at my library. I'm not a big fan of biographies, but this intrigued me. More than his memoirs, it offers common sense comments on BOTH parties. He also included quotes from past politicians that are still relevant today: “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” --Reihold Niebuhr.
Although he almost entered the priesthood, remaining a devout Catholic, Press is capable of keeping religion and politics separate. He is also capable of letting fellow Christians know when they are wrong: I don’t see how you can be pro-war, anti-gay rights, anti-woman’s rights, anti-environment, anti-programs to help the poor, or pro-discrimination of any kind – and still call yourself a Christian. Jesus Christ was a liberal. All Christians should be liberal, too.
Finally, his patriotism is stated by a quote from a cohost whom he loved and admired:“Always love your country, but never trust your government.” –Bob Novak.
"You can love your country, but still disagree with the politics of your president and other elected officials – and say so openly. You can love your country and still oppose certain actions your country takes today or has taken in the past. You can love your country and still admit that, in some areas, other countries do better than we do, that we could actually learn from them. They don’t always have to take lessons from us." Thank you Mr. Press, I could not have said it better myself.

[David Kirtley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a pretty interesting and engaging autobiography. I only knew Bill Press as the host of Crossfire, and honestly that's what I was really interested in, but more than half the book relates Press's early years running political campaigns and studying for the priesthood. These sections aren't bad, but I was impatient to get to Crossfire. One problem is that Press seems to have had consistent good fortune throughout his life and to have basically gotten along with everyone he's ever met, which probably makes for a pretty pleasant life but isn't always all that interesting to read about. But by far the biggest issue with this book is that Press takes the time to name and thank everyone he's ever worked with or had dinner with, and these long lists of (to me) random names get pretty tedious after a while. For me the book got a lot more interesting once Press got to the Crossfire years, and these sections didn't disappoint in terms of colorful anecdotes and an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the media world.

[Jennifer Maloney · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are some books that you can’t put down, and others that you pick up because you feel you have to finish it. For me, This is one of the latter. Bill Press has led an interesting and charmed life. I was expecting something insightful, but this memoir was breezy and episodic.

One comment really made me take notice. He was friends with Roger Ailes. Press wrote, “But I was as surprised as anybody when Gretchen Carlson filed her sexual harassment lawsuit against him in July 2016. There must have been truth behind her charges, and those of several other female Fox employees, because I never saw anyone topple from power as fast as Ailes did.” Really?

[Łukasz Gąsior · Rating 3 out of 5]

It take a some naiveté to write a book where you wax sentimental about Tucker Carlson, insisting he was a great cohost and is still a great guy, despite some political differences of opinion, which can surely be resolved if we only sit down and debate them. It takes a *very special* kind of naiveté to write this book *after* the 2016 election. Also, the anecdotes aren't even that interesting. Not everybody who's been on TV has to write a book.

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodreads Giveaway winner. As a Southern Californian this memoir by Bill Press was a walk down memory lane for me but with a lot more insight. Great book on an amazing life of a true progressive. I appreciated his straight-forward honesty, intelligence,clarity and transparency.

[T.J. Burns]

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.