The Rick Smith Show

Sundrop Carter talks SCOTUS Decision

Sundrop Carter, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Immigration & Citizenship Coalition joins Rick to talk about today’s US Supreme Court decision, or tied decision on the Obama Administrations immigration plan and what this decision means for immigrants and their children.

Tara Culp-Ressler talks Another GOP Propaganda Piece

Tara Culp-Ressler, Senior Editor at ThinkProgress joins Rick to talk about Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s publicity stunt to “repeal and replace” Obamacare and to examine his leadership, or lack thereof. 

Dave Jamieson talk Sandwich Freedom

Dave Jamieson, Labor Reporter at The Huffington Post joins Rick to talk about sandwich chain Jimmy John’s dropping their controversial mandate that workers sign a lengthy “Non-Compete” agreement as a condition of employment and Hillary Clinton recently picking up the AFL-CIO’s endorsement.  Does this mean labor is falling in line behind her campaign? 

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show June 22, 2016

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to dissect recent developments in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and to raise awareness to the very real possibility of another budget season without substantial increases in education funding and what that means for our children.

 

Noah Bookbinder, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) joins Rick to explain why CREW filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and criminal complaints with the Department of Justice against a number of “social welfare” groups.

 

Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the looming budget deadline, share his thoughts on the rumors being thrown around, and explain why some things are worse than a late budget.

 

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and Clinton campaign surrogate joins Rick to talk about recent polling numbers showing Donald Trump tied with Hillary in PA and why is organization has chosen to endorse Hillary Clinton for President. 

Irwin Aronson on Fire

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to dissect recent developments in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and to raise awareness to the very real possibility of another budget season without substantial increases in education funding and what that means for our children.

Noah Bookbinder talks Transperancy for Political Front Groups

Noah Bookbinder, Executive Director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) joins Rick to explain why CREW filed complaints with the Internal Revenue Service and criminal complaints with the Department of Justice against a number of “social welfare” groups.

Marc Stier on Austerity Budget IV

Marc Stier, Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the looming budget deadline, share his thoughts on the rumors being thrown around, and explain why some things are worse than a late budget.

Rick Bloomingdale talks Taking Down the Donald in PA

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO and Clinton campaign surrogate joins Rick to talk about recent polling numbers showing Donald Trump tied with Hillary in PA and why is organization has chosen to endorse Hillary Clinton for President. 

Irwin Aronson talks Pension Deform

Irwin Aronson, Labor attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to discuss the recent pension plan making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly and what these “reforms” will mean for taxpayers and past, present, and future workers. 

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman talks Common Sense on Guns

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman joins Rick to discuss extreme reactions from the Orlando shooting and bring some common sense to the gun debate based on what he sees everyday as the mayor of a community struggling with poverty and inequality.

Mark Price lays out path to end Inequality

Mark Price, Labor Economist with the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to give a sneak peek at a study he has co-authored on inequality in America set to be released on June 16 and what needs to be done to close the gap.

Stephen Franklin talks War on Worker's Comp

Stephen Franklin, former labor and workplace reporter for the Chicago Tribune joins Rick to talk about his latest article titled, “The War on Workers’ Comp” and to expose the political long game of the incremental destruction of a prosperous working class into a desperation class.  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-15-2016

Irwin Aronson, Labor attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to discuss the recent pension plan making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly and what these “reforms” will mean for taxpayers and past, present, and future workers. 

Braddock Mayor John Fetterman joins Rick to discuss extreme reactions from the Orlando shooting and bring some common sense to the gun debate based on what he sees everyday as the mayor of a community struggling with poverty and inequality.

Mark Price, Labor Economist with the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to give a sneak peek at a study he has co-authored on inequality in America set to be released on June 16 and what needs to be done to close the gap.

Stephen Franklin, former labor and workplace reporter for the Chicago Tribune joins Rick to talk about his latest article titled, “The War on Workers’ Comp” and to expose the political long game of the incremental destruction of a prosperous working class into a desperation class.  

Rick Bloomingdale talks PA Pension Plan

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to discuss the potential changes to the state’s pension system and what those changes will mean for taxpayers, and past, current, and future workers.  

Shai Akabas lays out Bipartisan Retirement Plan

Shai Akabas, Associate Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the Center’s recently released report on how policymakers and workers should to deal with the coming retirement crisis titled, “Securing Our Financial Future.”

Maggie Thompson talks For-Profit College Ripoff

Maggie Thompson, Executive Director of Generation Progress at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the recent announcement by the Obama administration giving students fleeced by for-profit college scammers a streamlined path to debt forgiveness. 

Andy Hoover talks Anti-Discrimination Bill in PA

Andy Hoover, Legislative Director ACLU of Pennsylvania joins Rick to discuss the upcoming committee hearing on SB 1307 that will make discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal.  Discrimination in employment and services would still not be covered. Andy also gives an update on pot legislation designed to lower the crime but hike the fine.  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-14-2016

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to discuss the potential changes to the state’s pension system and what those changes will mean for taxpayers, and past, current, and future workers.  

Shai Akabas, Associate Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the Center’s recently released report on how policymakers and workers should to deal with the coming retirement crisis titled, “Securing Our Financial Future.”

Maggie Thompson, Executive Director of Generation Progress at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the recent announcement by the Obama administration giving students fleeced by for-profit college scammers a streamlined path to debt forgiveness. 

Andy Hoover, Legislative Director ACLU of Pennsylvania joins Rick to discuss the upcoming committee hearing on SB 1307 that will make discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal.  Discrimination in employment and services would still not be covered. Andy also gives an update on pot legislation designed to lower the crime but hike the fine.  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-13-2016

Cole Stangler, In These Times staff writer joins Rick to talk about his recent article titled, “How the Left Can Stop Trump”and to discuss the age old question of why working class voters vote against their own best interests.  

Thomas Bishop, Associate Research Director at Media Matters for America joins Rick to discuss the media coverage of the horrific mass murder in an Orlando bar and what, if any, responsibility our media has in these atrocities.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press and host of Out d’ Coup radio joins Rick to talk about the all-out attack on higher education as funding levels have been slashed through the bone and what it means for faculty members trying earn a living. 

Sue Goncarovs, Badass Teachers Association Meme Team Director joins Rick to explain how she came to request a White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what she see as a value going forward.

 

Michael Flanagan, Badass Teachers Association Action Team Director joins Rick to talk about a potential White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what it would mean for students, parents, educators, and education as a whole.

Cole Stangler talks Stopping Trump Article

Cole Stangler, In These Times staff writer joins Rick to talk about his recent article titled, “How the Left Can Stop Trump”and to discuss the age old question of why working class voters vote against their own best interests.