The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show Full Three hours for 8-30-2016

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale joins Rick to discuss Pennsylvania Charter School laws being featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as being the worst in the nation and to discuss allegations of charter schools waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars.

Nikki Budzinski, Director of Labor Outreach for the Hillary Clinton campaign joins Rick to discuss the Democratic candidate’s positions on the minimum wage, labor law reform, and trade policy and how her policies are better for working people.

Karla Walter, Director of the American Worker Project at Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to explain President Obama’s recent Executive Order to reward good employers and punish bad employers and how the Executive Order will accomplish that task.

Tom Kochan, Professor and Co-Director of the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research joins Rick ahead of the Labor Day holiday to congratulate workers across the nation for forcing politicians to talk about real economic issues and to give direction to where the conversation needs to continue. 

PA Auditor General talks Worst Charter School Laws in the Country

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale joins Rick to discuss Pennsylvania Charter School laws being featured on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as being the worst in the nation and to discuss allegations of charter schools waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars.

Nikki Budzinski on Hillary Clinton Labor Vision

Nikki Budzinski, Director of Labor Outreach for the Hillary Clinton campaign joins Rick to discuss the Democratic candidate’s positions on the minimum wage, labor law reform, and trade policy and how her policies are better for working people.

Karla Walter talks Accountability Executive Order

Karla Walter, Director of the American Worker Project at Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to explain President Obama’s recent Executive Order to reward good employers and punish bad employers and how the Executive Order will accomplish that task.

Thomas Kochan talks Labor's Future

Tom Kochan, Professor and Co-Director of the MIT Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research joins Rick ahead of the Labor Day holiday to congratulate workers across the nation for forcing politicians to talk about real economic issues and to give direction to where the conversation needs to continue. 

The Rick Smith Show Full Three hours for 8-29-2016

Cherrie Bucknor, Research Assistant at the Center for Economic and Policy Research joins Rick to discuss her recent study on the benefits of unionization for workers in the African-American community and how unions can be the vehicle by which the nation can close the inequality gap.

Jess McIntosh, Hillary Clinton’s director of communications outreach joins Rick to talk Presidential election as the Immigration issue moves center stage with GOP candidate Donald Trump’s scattering of ideas and the Alt-Right campaign pivot kicks into high gear. 

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick with updates from the front lines as the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education continue their negotiations in the hopes of averting a strike at the 14 PASSHE institutions.

Mark Hall, director of the documentary film "Killing Ed." Joins Rick to exposes the shocking truth behind of one of the largest networks of taxpayer-funded charter schools in the nation and how Pennsylvania is at the center.

Dr. Eunice Han, economics Prof at the University of Utah, joins Rick to discuss his new study, "The Myth of Unions Overprotection of Bad Teachers" and to explain why this frame has become so popular in the mainstream media. 

Cherrie Bucknor talks Who is Doing Better in the Black Community and Why

Cherrie Bucknor, Research Assistant at the Center for Economic and Policy Research joins Rick to discuss her recent study on the benefits of unionization for workers in the African-American community and how unions can be the vehicle by which the nation can close the inequality gap.

Jess McIntosh talks Hillary Camp's Vision

Jess McIntosh, Hillary Clinton’s director of communications outreach joins Rick to talk Presidential election as the Immigration issue moves center stage with GOP candidate Donald Trump’s scattering of ideas and the Alt-Right campaign pivot kicks into high gear.  

Kevin Mahoney talks Ticking Clock on Strike Vote

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick with updates from the front lines as the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education continue their negotiations in the hopes of averting a strike at the 14 PASSHE institutions.

Mark Hall talks Killing Ed. the Movie

Mark Hall, director of the documentary film "Killing Ed." Joins Rick to exposes the shocking truth behind of one of the largest networks of taxpayer-funded charter schools in the nation and how Pennsylvania is at the center.

Dr. Eunice Han Myth-busting Right Wing Attack on Teachers

Dr. Eunice Han, economics Prof at the University of Utah, joins Rick to discuss his new study, "The Myth of Unions Overprotection of Bad Teachers" and to explain why this frame has become so popular in the mainstream media. 

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 8-25-2016

Isaiah Poole, editor of OurFuture.org, a project of People's Action joins Rick to discuss the passing of the torch as the Bernie Sanders #OurRevolution launched across the nation and what the next steps and important issues are for the movement.

Ken Mash, President of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) joins Rick to report on the strike authorization vote results undertaken by his union as part of the ongoing contract deadlock. 

Caitriona Fitzgerald, State Policy Coordinator at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) joins Rick to expose the enormous risks associated with Internet Voting, explain why experts think online voting is a bad idea, and suggest how we protect our democracy.

Kathleen Lucas, Executive Director of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty joins Rick yet again with another death penalty case being overturned because of an system riddled with opportunities for error.

Marc Mondor, AIA, Managing Principal, and Cofounder of evolveEAjoins Rick to talk about saving the world through smart investment and renewable technology and why now is the time to make these valuable investments. 

Isaiah J. Poole talks #OurRevolution

Isaiah Poole, editor of OurFuture.org, a project of People's Action joins Rick to discuss the passing of the torch as the Bernie Sanders #OurRevolution launched across the nation and what the next steps and important issues are for the movement.

Ken Mash on Unanimous First-Step Strike Authorization

Ken Mash, President of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) joins Rick to report on the strike authorization vote results undertaken by his union as part of the ongoing contract deadlock. 

Caitriona Fitzgerald talks Saving the Secret Ballot

Caitriona Fitzgerald, State Policy Coordinator at the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) joins Rick to expose the enormous risks associated with Internet Voting, explain why experts think online voting is a bad idea, and suggest how we protect our democracy.

Kathleen Lucas on Another #DeathPenaltyFail

Kathleen Lucas, Executive Director of Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty joins Rick yet again with another death penalty case being overturned because of an system riddled with opportunities for error.

Marc Mondor LEEDing to Save the Planet

Marc Mondor, AIA, Managing Principal, and Cofounder of evolveEAjoins Rick to talk about saving the world through smart investment and renewable technology and why now is the time to make these valuable investments

Rick's Opening on the Coming Revolution

It's Bernie's Revolution Roll-out.  Where will you be?  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 8-24-2016

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show regular joins Rick to discuss Pennsylvania’s deplorable charter school laws that many consider the worst in the nation and what it will take to turn things around for students, parents, communities, and taxpayers.

Jeff Rininger, President of United Steeworkers Local 2632 and PA Fair Trade Coalition Members joins Rick to talk revolution on trade issues explaining why the TransPacific Partnership Free (TPP) Trade Agreement is not going to create jobs or help American workers and what must be done to stop its passage.

Nate Quarry, Retired UFC title challenger and original cast member of the ultimate fighter joins Rick to talk about the working conditions in the fight game and why it’s time for union representation of fighters.

Jeff Garis, Outreach and Engagement Director at the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center (PBPC) joins Rick to discuss the absurdity of Donald Trump's comments regarding the potential for large-scale, coordinated in-person voter impersonation fraud in PA and to refocus Voting Rights for ALL Pennsylvania’s.

Larry F. Myers, Northeast Sales Team Leader for Schneider Electric, Energy & Sustainability Services Global Solutions joins Rick to talk about growing and sustaining a renewable energy revolution in Pennsylvania and across the nation to stimulate our economy, put people to work, and save the world.  

Irwin Aronson explains Horrible PA Charter Flaws

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show regular joins Rick to discuss Pennsylvania’s deplorable charter school laws that many consider the worst in the nation and what it will take to turn things around for students, parents, communities, and taxpayers.