The Rick Smith Show

Full Show for October 30, 2015

Mark Bortman, business owner of Exact Solar joins Rick to discuss his support for raising the minimum and why other business leaders should support a livable minimum.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the recently passed budget deal and what the potential consequences are for failing to raise the debt limit.

Terrance Heath, contributor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the recent Our Future Gala from Washington DC and to look back at the Wing Nut Week in Review.

John Neurohr, Political Strategist joins Rick to discuss the importance of the upcoming November 3rd election in Pennsylvania and discuss the messaging coming out of the latest GOP Debacle. 

Mark Bortman talks Minimum Wage & Cashing in on the Sun

Mark Bortman, business owner of Exact Solar joins Rick to discuss his support for raising the minimum and why other business leaders should support a livable minimum.

Matías Vernengo talks Debt Deal Pros and Cons

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the recently passed budget deal and what the potential consequences are for failing to raise the debt limit.

Terrance Heath talks Wing Nut Week in Review.

Terrance Heath, contributor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to talk about the recent Our Future Gala from Washington DC and to look back at the Wing Nut Week in Review.

John Neurohr on November 3rd Election

John Neurohr, Political Strategist joins Rick to discuss the importance of the upcoming November 3rd election in Pennsylvania and discuss the messaging coming out of the latest GOP Debacle. 

Full Show for October 29, 2015

Rachel Calvert, Researcher at Media Matters for America joins Rick to explore the good, the bad, and the ridiculous during the third Republican Debate.  Is this the end of Jeb?  Did the people of Florida find Marco? Marco? So much to find out.

Scott Klinger, Director of Revenue and Spending Policies at the Center for Effective Government joins Rick to talk about their new report on CEO retirement packages and the lack of retirement security for everyone else.

Matt Lee-Ashley, Director of Public Lands at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about the enormous costs of inaction on Climate Change in light of the extended and deadly Western US Fire Season that has destroyed thousands of homes, cost lives, and has families displaced. 

Joshua Holland, Writing Fellow with The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute joins Rick to discuss the insanity of the GOP’s third Presidential Debate and examine the lack of working class priorities in the policy positions of the GOP field. 

Rachel Calvert on 3rd GOP Debacle

Rachel Calvert, Researcher at Media Matters for America joins Rick to explore the good, the bad, and the ridiculous during the third Republican Debate.  Is this the end of Jeb?  Did the people of Florida find Marco? Marco? So much to find out.

Scott Klinger on Out of Control CEO Retirement Schemes

Scott Klinger, Director of Revenue and Spending Policies at the Center for Effective Government joins Rick to talk about their new report on CEO retirement packages and the lack of retirement security for everyone else.

Matt Lee-Ashley On the Costs of the Recent Deadly Fire Season

Matt Lee-Ashley, Director of Public Lands at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about the enormous costs of inaction on Climate Change in light of the extended and deadly Western US Fire Season that has destroyed thousands of homes, cost lives, and has families displaced. 

Joshua Holland on Third GOP Debate

Joshua Holland, Writing Fellow with The Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute joins Rick to discuss the insanity of the GOP’s third Presidential Debate and examine the lack of working class priorities in the policy positions of the GOP field. 

Megan Tracey on Why She Wants to be a Teacher

Megan Tracey, an early education major at Bowling Green State University in Ohio joins Rick to talk about her what she is seeing in the classrooms where she learns how to be an effective educator and the one where she helps young children begin their educational journey, and her work as a public school advocate. 

Polly Yukevich on the Importance of Music Education

Polly Yukevich, Educator and PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska joins Rick to discuss her creative work getting music into the lives of students and the work of her non-profit organization that teaches kids how to build and play a ukulele.   

Jake Long on the Minimum Wage

Jake Long, Former Democratic House candidate and Minimum Wage activist joins Rick to discuss the latest news on what’s holding up even the most modest of increase in worker’s paychecks and what workers need to do to push back.

Jerry Oleksiak Talks Budget and Mounting Education Crisis

Jerry Oleksiak, PSEA President joins Rick to talk about the PA GOP led budget impasse, the continued War on Worker’s Rights, and how these actions are affecting working families across Pennsylvania. 

Jason Stanford Gives His Take On Benghazi Marathon

Jason Stanford, Columnist and Democratic consultant joins Rick to discuss yesterday’s 11 hour Benghazi fiasco.  Did the GOP Crazy faction just hand Hillary the White House in 2016?  Or have they succeeded in putting the American people to sleep? 

Isaiah J. Poole Talks Benghazi and Previews Upcoming Gala

Isaiah J. Poole, On-Line editor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to look back on the week that was from Mr. Family Values (Paul Ryan) job demands to Benghazi fiasco to the 2016 Presidential race Isaiah covers it all. Get your discount Gala Tickets here

Eric Epstein talks Harrisburg News

Eric Epstein, writer at Rock the Capital joins Rick to catch up on everything going on in Harrisburg from the budget debacle to the insanity filling the halls of the General Assembly. 

Full Show for October 22, 2015

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is back on the program to talk about another #PAGOP attack on worker’s rights and the apparent political tactic of using workers and their families as leverage and bargaining chips in the budgeting process that is now more than 100 day overdue.

Joe Strupp, Investigative Reporter with Media Matters For America joins Rick to talk Benghazi Select Committee’s special place in history as one of the most political and one of the longest investigation in our nation’s history without an end in sight. 

Angelic Young, leader of the Frontline Civilians Initiative for the Truman National Security Project joins Rick to discuss the Benghazi Select Committee’s Bread and Circus style grilling of Hillary Clinton and refocus the discussion to what should be investigated.  

Deirdre Fulton, Staff Writer with Common Dreams joins Rick to discuss her recent article on the waste, fraud, and abuse seen in charter schools as highlighted by the Center for Media and Democracy report, “Charter School Black Hole.”

Rick Bloomingdale Talks PA GOP's Orwellian Language and Attacks on Workers

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is back on the program to talk about another #PAGOP attack on worker’s rights and the apparent political tactic of using workers and their families as leverage and bargaining chips in the budgeting process that is now more than 100 day overdue.

Joe Strupp Talks Historical Significance of Benghazi Hearings

Joe Strupp, Investigative Reporter with Media Matters For America joins Rick to talk Benghazi Select Committee’s special place in history as one of the most political and one of the longest investigation in our nation’s history without an end in sight.