The Rick Smith Show

The Clown Bus is Filling up. Hear Terrance Heath talk about the Election Industrial Complex

Terrance Heath, Online Producer at Campaign for America's Future blog jois Rick to talk the filling of the clown bus as this week saw the announcements of former NY Governor George Pataki and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

Will the PA Budget take all summer? Hear Eric Epstein give his prediction.

Eric Epstein, Contributor at Rock the Capital joins Rick to talk about the upcoming budget battles in the Pennsylvania House and Senate over Governor Wolf’s proposed budget.  Where are the battles? Will it take all summer? Or is it just a show?  

Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch explains the sad hilarity of his song, "I Saw it Fox News"

Dr. Andrew Rindfleisch, Musician, Composer and Cleveland State University professor joins Rick to talk about his recently released satirical compositions I saw it on Fox News and Conservatives United and answer the question why there isn’t more social commentary in mainstream song. 

What! Nebraska killed the Death Penalty? Here Diann Rust Tierney tell why

Diann Rust-Tierney, Executive Director of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty joins Rick to talk about the Nebraska Legislature overriding their conservative GOP governor’s veto to abolish the state’s death penalty.

Our Future Friday: Dave Johnson Discusses More #fightfor15 & #TPP & #NoFastTrack

Dave Johnson, Fellow at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the Fast Food Fight for $15 movement and workers attending the McDonald’s shareholder meeting.  

Joel Westheimer Talks Education and defends students and teachers from the corporate takeover

Joel Westheimer, Author of the book, “What Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good” joins Rick to discuss public education and the attacks on teachers.  

Sarah Jones talks Duggar coverup & deeper problems within the movement

Sarah Jones, Communications Associate with the Americans United for Separation Between Church and State. Sarah joins Rick to talk about the hypocrisy plaguing family value conservatives like the Josh Duggar.

5-22-2015 Full 3 hour program

Admiral Joe Sestak joins Rick to talk about his run for the US Senate and his recently released book on what he experienced walking across Pennsylvania.

Sarah Jones, Communications Associate with the Americans United for Separation Between Church and State. Sarah joins Rick to talk about the hypocrisy plaguing family value conservatives like the Josh Duggar.

Dave Johnson, Fellow at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the Fast Food Fight for $15 movement and workers attending the McDonald’s shareholder meeting.  

Joel Westheimer, Author of the book, “What Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good” joins Rick to discuss public education and the attacks on teachers.  

#PASen: Admiral Joe Sestak Visited the Studio to Talk About His 400 Mile Walk, Crumbling Infrastructure and the Job Killing TPP

US Senate candidate Joe Sestak was in Harrisburg talking about his 400 plus mile walking tour of Pennsylvania and he took the time to join Rick inside the studio.  They talked about the walking tour, Pennsylvania's lowzy infrastructure, public broadband and the job killing Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Throwback Thursday! Home Health Care Workers Join the Fight For 15, Important Issues on Fast Track and TPP and More!

Hey Everyone!

We did not have a live show today because we were getting some house cleaning done.  Here's a throwback from last month.  We talked about home health care workers joining the call for $15 an hour and more!  Enjoy

Abe Amoros, is the Policy Director for LiUNA here is Harrisburg.  Listen to Abe's Interview HERE

Celest Drake, is a trade and globalization policy specialist with the AFL-CIO.  Celest is talking about the trade implications of fast trace and the Trans-Pacific Partnership.  Listen to Celest's interview HERE

Richard Fiesta, is the Executive Director at the Alliance for Retired Americans and he joins the program to tells us what will happen to our medicine if the TPP was to go through.  Listen to Richard's interview HERE

Brenna Mills and Yetta Oktoh, are home healthcare workers who are joining the call for a $15 an hour minimum wage.  They took part in a demonstration in Harrisburg and is telling us why they are joining this fight! Listen to Yetta's interview HERE and listen to Brenna's interview HERE

How Did an Obamacare Hatin Tea Partier Turn Into an Advocate for Single Payer Healthcare?

Hint:  He was blinded by the light.

#PaPolitics - Irwin Aronson Discusses the Silver Lining In Pennsylvania's Abysmal Turnout in a Historic Primary

Irwin Aronson, Labor Attorney and Rick Smith Show regular joins Rick to analyze Tuesday’s primary results and talk about the historic opportunity to seat three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices in November.

Wisconsin Labor Historian Talks About the 1886 Bay View Massacre

Kenneth A. Germanson, Editor and President Emeritus of the Wisconsin Labor History Society joins Rick to talk about the 1886 Bay View Massacre and why it is an important part of American history.

Author Lou Ureneck Discusses The Fire of Smyrna and the Armenian Genocide

Lou Ureneck, author of The Great Fire joins Rick to discuss his latest work and what drew him to this topic.

The Rick Smith Show - 5/20/2015

Irwin Aronson, Labor Attorney and Rick Smith Show regular joins Rick to analyze Tuesday’s primary results and talk about the historic opportunity to seat three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices in November.

Kenneth A. Germanson, Editor and President Emeritus of the Wisconsin Labor History Society joins Rick to talk about the 1886 Bay View Massacre and why it is an important part of American history.

Lou Ureneck, author of The Great Fire joins Rick to discuss his latest work and what drew him to this topic.

#BernieSanders2016: Bernie Wants to Make College Free By TAXING Wall Street Profiteers!

Ken Zinn, National Nurses United Political Director joins Rick to talk about Senator Bernie Sanders rolling out the Robin Hood Tax to help pay for students to go to college.

#WacoShooting: How Come Good Guys With Guns Didn't Prevent Biker Shooting?

Chelsea Parsons, Vice President of Guns and Crime Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk GUNS, the shootout in Waco, TX and why the ATF should be under the control of the FBI.

Listen to the 100th Person to Be Released from Death Row to Talk About Tom Wolf's Death Penalty Moratorium

Ray Krone, a man who was on death row for a decade tells his story of being railroaded onto to death row and how he became the 100^th man freed from prison for a crime he did not commit.

What Actions Could Have Been Taken to Prevent the #Amtrak188 Derailment?

John Risch, SMART Union’s Transportation Division National Legislative Director joins Rick to talk about the AMTRAK derailment.  How it happened, why, and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again.

The Rick Smith Show - 5/19/2015

John Risch, SMART Union’s Transportation Division National Legislative Director joins Rick to talk about the AMTRAK derailment.  How it happened, why, and what needs to be done to prevent it from happening again. 

Ken Zinn, National Nurses United Political Director joins Rick to talk about Senator Bernie Sanders rolling out the Robin Hood Tax to help pay for students to go to college.

Chelsea Parsons, Vice President of Guns and Crime Policy at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk GUNS, the shootout in Waco, TX and why the ATF should be under the control of the FBI.

Ray Krone, a man who was on death row for a decade tells his story of being railroaded onto to death row and how he became the 100^th man freed from prison for a crime he did not commit.