The Rick Smith Show

Listen to How the Legislature is Trying to Rescind Some Awful Unemployment Insurance Changes

Irwin Aronson, labor lawyer and friend of the program, joined Rick to talk about Act 60 and how the Republican Legislature under Governor Tom Corbett attacked workers' paychecks by changing Unemployment Insurance rules.

Listen to How the Pentagon is Influencing Your TV Viewing Pleasures

Zaid Jilani, contributor at AlterNet, explains how the Pentagon is influencing our TV viewing pleasures

Teachers Rack Up Huge Win in Connecticut by Getting Labor History in the Classroom!

Ed Leavy, Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut Federation of Teachers, joined Rick to talk about the recent victory that brings labor history to the classrooms

#WorkersWednesday: Bruce Rauner Calls the National Guard after AFSCME Strike Illinois and More on The Donald's Pension

Doug Cunningham from Workers Independent News joins the program for our weekly Worker's Wednesday segment

The Rick Smith Show - 7/29/2015

Irwin Aronson, labor lawyer and friend of the program, joined Rick to talk about Act 60 and how the Republican Legislature under Governor Tom Corbett attacked workers' paychecks by changing Unemployment Insurance rules.

Doug Cunningham from Workers Independent News joins the program for our weekly Worker's Wednesday segment

Ed Leavy, Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut Federation of Teachers, joined Rick to talk about the recent victory that brings labor history to the classrooms

Zaid Jilani, contributor at AlterNet, explains how the Pentagon is influencing our TV viewing pleasures

Women's Law Project Weighs in on Minimum Wage & How It's a Women's Issue & Why We Should #StandWithPP

Carol E. Tracy, Executive Director  of the Women's Law Project joins Rick to discuss what an increase in the minimum wage would mean for women and to talk about the recent right wing attacks on Planned Parenthood.

House Republicans Tip Toeing to the Edge of Disaster Without Highway Funding Bill

 Abe Amoros, PA Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the Transportation bill moving through the US Senate possibly only to die in the US House and what that means for his members.

Retired Biologist Makes the Conservative Argument for Supporting Clean Air and Clean Water

Ed Perry, a retired aquatic biologist who retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 30 years of service joins Rick to talk about protecting Pennsylvania’s streams and wetland as an advocate for the National Wildlife Federation’s global warming campaign.

How is the GOP Using their "Working Class" Rhetoric to Fool Voters in 2016?

Anna Chu, Vice President of Policy and Research at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about her recent report comparing GOP campaign rhetoric to their actual policies and what those policies mean for workers.

The Rick Smith Show - 7/28/2015

Carol E. Tracy, Executive Director  of the Women's Law Project joins Rick to discuss what an increase in the minimum wage would mean for women and to talk about the recent right wing attacks on Planned Parenthood.

Anna Chu, Vice President of Policy and Research at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about her recent report comparing GOP campaign rhetoric to their actual policies and what those policies mean for workers.

 Abe Amoros, PA Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the Transportation bill moving through the US Senate possibly only to die in the US House and what that means for his members.

Ed Perry, a retired aquatic biologist who retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 30 years of service joins Rick to talk about protecting Pennsylvania’s streams and wetland as an advocate for the National Wildlife Federation’s global warming campaign.

#BlackLivesMatter & #SayHerName Have Always Made Economic Inequality a Movement Platform

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk about presidential candidate Bernie Sanders shutting down his attackers on race and to talk about how the budget will impact higher education.

440,000 Pennsylvanians Have Healthcare Because of Governor Wolf's Medicaid Expansion

Antoinette Kraus, executive director of Pennsylvania Healthcare Access Network joins Rick to talk about recent reports of Governor Wolf’s Medicaid Expansion working.

A Higher Minimum Wage Would Bring Families Together But Family Values Conservatives Don't Want to Hear That!

Craig Harrington, Economic Researcher at Media Matters for America joins Rick to examine media attacks on raising the minimum wage.

Listen to How YOU Can Still Stop the Trans Pacific Partnetship in its Tracks

Kathryn Johnson, Field Organizer, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch joins Rick to talk about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement and what can be done to stop it in its tracks.

The Rick Smith Show - 7/27/2015

Antoinette Kraus, executive director of Pennsylvania Healthcare Access Network joins Rick to talk about recent reports of Governor Wolf’s Medicaid Expansion working.

 Craig Harrington, Economic Researcher at Media Matters for America joins Rick to examine media attacks on raising the minimum wage.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk about presidential candidate Bernie Sanders shutting down his attackers on race and to talk about how the budget will impact higher education.

Kathryn Johnson, Field Organizer, Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch joins Rick to talk about the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement and what can be done to stop it in its tracks.

"Karen" from No Rights at Work Virginia

"Karen," a teacher from the No Rights at Work state of Virginia joins rick to talk about her experiences is a fear and intimidation state and what it's like for teachers who struggle with walking the tightrope of advocating for kids and not getting fired for speaking up.  

Mike Selk at the BAT Congress

The Ox Mike Selk, retired NYC teacher joins Rick to talk education and BAT movement 

Terri Michal Talks Community Involvement

Terri Michal, activist from Alabama and BAT member joins Rick to talk outrage of school cover-up in her hometown as a student is attacked in the restroom and the long journey toward justice that never really came.  A horror story every parent fears. 

Rosalie Friend Not Setting Herself on Fire at BAT Congress

Rosalie Friend, a dedicated member of the National Save our Schools organization and the  Information coordinator for its NYC chapter discusses her involvement in the movement and her optimism for the future of education while NOT setting herself on fire. 

Bob George National Director of Save our Schools at BAT

Bob George, National Director of Save our Schools joins Rick to talk about his organization's work to save Chicago's neighborhood schools one community at a time and why BAT is an important part of that fight.