The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show - Full 3 Hours - February 26, 2016

Rick Bloomingdale,President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to report on the latest news around the PA Budget and talks about the coming attacks on workers returning to the states in the wake of SCOTUS Justice Scalia’s passing.

MatíasVernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to discuss the recent economic news of a strong finish to 2015, examine the future possibilities of 2016, and talk about what the political class needs to do to help workers.

Isaiah Poole,Director of Online Communications at Campaign for America's Future joins Rick to talk about the #TickettoEndAmerica of Donald Trump and Chris Christie as the New Jersey governor endorses The Donald.

Thomas Bishop,Associate Research Director at Media Matters for America joins Rick to recap the 10^th WWGOP (World Wrestling Grand Old Party) debate. The fun, the scary, and the OMG we’re screwed. 

Talking GOP Hypocrisy with PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale

Rick Bloomingdale,President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to report on the latest news around the PA Budget and talks about the coming attacks on workers returning to the states in the wake of SCOTUS Justice Scalia’s passing.

Matias Vernengo warns against austerity in the 2016 economy

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to discuss the recent economic news of a strong finish to 2015, examine the future possibilities of 2016, and talk about what the political class needs to do to help workers.

Isaiah Poole talks The Donald and Christie ... The Ticket to End America

Isaiah Poole,Director of Online Communications at Campaign for America's Future joins Rick to talk about the #TickettoEndAmerica of Donald Trump and Chris Christie as the New Jersey governor endorses The Donald.

Thomas Bishop reviews the latest GOP Debate and the End of the World

Thomas Bishop,Associate Research Director at Media Matters for America joins Rick to recapthe 10^th WWGOP (World Wrestling Grand Old Party) debate. The fun, the scary, and the OMG we’re screwed. 

Rick Smith Show - Full 3 Hours, Feb. 25 2016

Christine Stone, Vice Chair of Why CourtsMatter-PA joins Rick to demand Senate Republicans and Pennsylvania Senator PatToomey #DoYourJob to fill the open US Supreme Court vacancy left due to JusticeScalia’s death.

Daniel Loeb, publisher and founder ofthe Philadelphia Jewish Voice and member of Fair Districts PA joins Rick totalk about the recent unveiling of a 3-state redistricting reform plan toreturn voters the power to choose their representatives and not the other wayaround.

Harvey J. Kaye, Professor of Democracy& Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and author of The Fightfor the Four Freedoms joins Rick to discuss the rise of Donald Trump, hisextremist rhetoric, and whether or not we are seeing a new phenomenon, or arepeat of days gone by. 

 Robert Weissman, president of PublicCitizen joins Rick to roll out the Democracy Awakening event April 16-18 in thenation’s capital to call on the U.S. Senate to #DoYourJob and fill the USSupreme Court vacancy. It’s time for voters to demand a democracy that worksfor we the people, not the rich and powerful.

Christine Stone from Why Courts Matter PA tells Senator Toomey, "DO YOUR JOB"

Christine Stone, Vice Chair of Why Courts Matter-PA joins Rick to demand Senate Republicans and Pennsylvania Senator Pat Toomey #DoYourJob to fill the open US Supreme Court vacancy left due to Justice Scalia’s death.

Dan Loeb calls for fair redistricting and an end to gerrymandering

Daniel Loeb, publisher and founder of the Philadelphia Jewish Voice and member of Fair Districts PA joins Rick to talk about the recent unveiling of a 3-state redistricting reform plan to return voters the power to choose their representatives and not the other way around.

Harvey Kaye talks the Rise of Donald Trump from Extremism...& David Duke

Harvey J. Kaye, Professor of Democracy& Justice at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and author of The Fight for the Four Freedoms joins Rick to discuss the rise of Donald Trump, his extremist rhetoric, and whether or not we are seeing a new phenomenon, or a repeat of days gone by. 

Robert Weissman announces Democracy Awakening action in Washington DC

Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen joins Rick to roll out the Democracy Awakening event April 16-18 in the nation’s capital to call on the U.S. Senate to #DoYourJob and fill the US Supreme Court vacancy. It’s time for voters to demand a democracy that works for we the people, not the rich and powerful.

The Rick Smith Show - Full 3 Hours - February 24th, 2016

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and RickSmith Show regular guest joins Rick to talk the possibility of a PresidentTrump, what might it mean for workers and to discuss the recent move WIGovernor Scott Walker to dismantle the Civil Service system.  Are we goingback to the days of political pay for play patronage?  

Alex Lantsberg, researcher with SmartCities Prevail and co-author of the first of its kindreport on prevailing wage laws joins Rick to expose the anti-worker attackmachines rhetoric on prevailing wage and give the straight honest facts aboutwhat prevailing wage laws do, and do not do for workers, taxpayers, andcommunities.

John Neurohr, Communication Director forthe PennsylvaniaBudget and Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the latestnews on the PA budget and to expose the GOP attacks on Governor Wolf’s visionfor Pennsylvania.

Khari Mosley, Pennsylvania RegionalPrograms Manager for the BlueGreen Alliance joins Rick to talk about the needto invest in the nation’s infrastructure. In light of the events in Flint, MIKhari focuses on the need to protect our nation’s water supply and build aninfrastructure that delivers clean, affordable water to its citizens.

Irwin Aronson Talks RealityTV's President Trump

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and RickSmith Show regular guest, joins Rick to talk the possibility of a PresidentTrump, what might it mean for workers and to discuss the recent move WIGovernor Scott Walker to dismantle the Civil Service system.  Are we goingback to the days of political pay for play patronage?  

Alex Lantsburg Debunks Myths about Prevailing Wage

Alex Lantsberg, researcher with SmartCities Prevail and co-author of the first of its kindreport on prevailing wage laws joins Rick to expose the anti-worker attackmachines rhetoric on prevailing wage and give the straight honest facts aboutwhat prevailing wage laws do, and do not do for workers, taxpayers, andcommunities.

John Neurohr reminds us: It's 2016... and still no Budget for Pennsylvania

John Neurohr, Communication Director for the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the latest news on the PA budget and to expose the GOP attacks on Governor Wolf’s vision for Pennsylvania.

Khari Mosley Cautions: Crumbling Infrastructure and Clean Water Don't Mix

Khari Mosley, Pennsylvania RegionalPrograms Manager for the BlueGreen Alliance joins Rick to talk about theneed to invest in the nation’s infrastructure. In light of the events in Flint,MI Khari focuses on the need to protect our nation’s water supply and build aninfrastructure that delivers clean, affordable water to its citizens.  

The Rick Smith Show - Full 3 Hours - February 23, 2016

Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First joins Rick to expose the massive welfare handed out to Indiana companies Carrier Corporation and United Technologies Electronic Controls as these companies abandon their workers and the taxpayers that subsidized them in search of cheap exploitable labor and higher profits.  

Ronald Baker, Strategic Campaign Coordinator BCTGM International Union joins Rick to talk about the latest developments from Chicago as Mondolez workers fight to save their jobs from being outsourced to Mexico. 

Rachel West, Associate Director of Poverty to Prosperity at Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss their new report, Poverty and Opportunity in the States: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and what needs to be done to close the inequality gap.

Erika Thi Patterson, Researcher and Policy Analyst for Job 2 Move America joins Rick to discuss what is currently going on in Chicago and Indiana what can we do as taxpayers, what can communities do to hold companies accountable.   

Greg LeRoy talks Exploitable Labor and Higher Profits

Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First joins Rick to expose the massive welfare handed out to Indiana companies Carrier Corporation and United Technologies Electronic Controls as these companies abandon their workers and the taxpayers that subsidized them in search of cheap exploitable labor and higher profits.  

Ronald Baker talks outsourcing and Protect American Jobs

Ronald Baker, Strategic Campaign Coordinator BCTGM International Union joins Rick to talk about the latest developments from Chicago as Mondolez workers fight to save their jobs from being outsourced to Mexico. 

Rachel West discusses The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Reality of Poverty

Rachel West, Associate Director of Poverty to Prosperity at Center for American Progress joins Rick to discuss their new report, Poverty and Opportunity in the States: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and what needs to be done to close the inequality gap.

Erika Patterson on Public Transit and Accountability

Erika Thi Patterson, Senior Policy Coordinator for Job 2 Move America joins Rick to discuss what is currently going on in Chicago and Indiana what can we do as taxpayers, what can communities do to hold companies accountable.