The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show 4-11-2018

Katie Hancock, Kentucky State Employee and member of Kentucky United We Stand joins Rick to explain what is happening in Kentucky as public sector workers and supporters plan to rally on Friday against what the state’s Republican governor and general assembly has done to their pensions.

David Yankovich, digital strategist and former congressional candidate in Paul Ryan’s home district joins Rick to talk about the news announcement that Speaker Ryan has decided not to seek reelection and what that means for the Democratic Party working to regain control of the US House of Representatives.

Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to discuss pushing policies for Fair Overtime Pay for Salaried Workers and what it would mean for workers and their families. 

Katie Hancock talks Workers Uprising in Kentucky

Katie Hancock, Kentucky State Employee and member of Kentucky United We Stand joins Rick to explain what is happening in Kentucky as public sector workers and supporters plan to rally on Friday against what the state’s Republican governor and general assembly has done to their pensions.

David Yankovich talks Paul Ryan Quitting

David Yankovich, digital strategist and former congressional candidate in Paul Ryan’s home district joins Rick to talk about the news announcement that Speaker Ryan has decided not to seek reelection and what that means for the Democratic Party working to regain control of the US House of Representatives.

Stephen Herzenberg talks Returning Reward to Work with Overtime Rule

Stephen Herzenberg, Executive Director of the Keystone Research Center joins Rick to discuss pushing policies for Fair Overtime Pay for Salaried Workers and what it would mean for workers and their families.

The Rick Smith Show 4-10-2018

Sarah Burris, reporter at Rawstory joins Rick to discuss the top stories of the day at RawStory and share her thoughts on Michael Cohen’s offices being raided by the FBI.

Shilpa Phadke is the vice president of the Women’s Initiative at American Progress joins Rick to discuss Equal Pay Day and how to push for policies to ensure equal pay for equal work.

Scott Dworkin, co-founder of The Democratic Coalition joins Rick to discuss the raid on Michael Cohen’s offices, Stormy weather for the President, and whether or not Democrats should run on and pursue impeachment.

Sarah Burris talks Story of the Day and Stormy Weather in DC

Sarah Burris, reporter at Rawstory joins Rick to discuss the top stories of the day at RawStory and share her thoughts on Michael Cohen’s offices being raided by the FBI.

Shilpa Phadke on Equal Pay Day

Shilpa Phadke is the vice president of the Women’s Initiative at American Progress joins Rick to discuss Equal Pay Day and how to push for policies to ensure equal pay for equal work.

Scott Dworkin on FBI Raid and Trump's Reaction

Scott Dworkin, co-founder of The Democratic Coalition joins Rick to discuss the raid on Michael Cohen’s offices, Stormy weather for the President, and whether or not Democrats should run on and pursue impeachment.

The Rick Smith Show 4-9-2018

Brian Flynn, activist, small business owner, and Democratic Congressional candidate in New York 19th district joins Rick to discuss his historic campaign as the first in New York history to unionize campaign staff, the issues he finds most passionate, and why not is the time for working people to rise up. 

 

Adam Parkomenko, political strategist and Hillary Clinton advisor joins Rick to discuss the breaking news of the day surrounding the FBI serving a search warrant on Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen and what Wednesday’s testimony by Facebook head Mark Zuckerburg might bring force with regard to there failure to stop their platform from being abused.

Propane Jane, Psychiatrist and political commentator joins Rick to talk about the breaking news of the day and how the press Donald Trump is under could predictably cause increasingly erratic behavior.    

Brian Flynn talks Congressional Campaign in NY-19

Brian Flynn, activist, small business owner, and Democratic Congressional candidate in New York 19th district joins Rick to discuss his historic campaign as the first in New York history to unionize campaign staff, the issues he finds most passionate, and why not is the time for working people to rise up. 

Adam Parkomenko on FBI Raiding Michael Cohen's Offices

Adam Parkomenko, political strategist and Hillary Clinton advisor joins Rick to discuss the breaking news of the day surrounding the FBI serving a search warrant on Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen and what Wednesday’s testimony by Facebook head Mark Zuckerburg might bring force with regard to there failure to stop their platform from being abused.

Propane Jane on the Walls Closing In on Donald Trump

Propane Jane, Psychiatrist and political commentator joins Rick to talk about the breaking news of the day and how the press Donald Trump is under could predictably cause increasingly erratic behavior.    

The Rick Smith Show 4-7-2018

Jason Griffith, Kentucky Public School Teacher joins Rick to discuss why teachers in his state are in the streets and rallying in the state’s capital.

Noah Karvelis, Arizona K-8 Music Teacher and one of the leaders of Arizona Educators United joins Rick to talk about the massive organizing efforts going on in Arizona where public school teachers are the lowest paid in the nation.

The Rick Smith Show 4-6-2018

Sarah Kendzior, Political Commentator and Journalist joins Rick to discuss the recent news that the Trump administration is imposing sanctions on a number of Russian oligarchs and top government officials over interference in the 2016 election and other Russian aggressions and to talk about what this means for the Mueller investigation in a week that saw the first person with ties to the Trump campaign sentenced to jailtime.

Kris LaGrange, Head of the UCOMMBlog joins Rick to talk about the top labor stories of the week that saw thousands of people in the streets fighting for better wages, hours, and conditions and remembering the legacy of murdered civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing joins Rick to defend the concept of the trade actions taken by the White House in placing tariffs on steel and aluminum and why it’s about time the United States finally took a stand against China’s predatory trade practices. 

Neal Bisno, SEIU Executive Vice President joins Rick to discuss the 50^th Anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., what it was like growing up in Memphis in the years after King’s death, and what lessons he hopes today’s activists will learn from King’s legacy.

Sarah Kendzior on Trump's Russia Sanctions

Sarah Kendzior, Political Commentator and Journalist joins Rick to discuss the recent news that the Trump administration is imposing sanctions on a number of Russian oligarchs and top government officials over interference in the 2016 election and other Russian aggressions and to talk about what this means for the Mueller investigation.

Kris LaGrange talks Labor News of the Week

Kris LaGrange, Head of the UCOMMBlog joins Rick to talk about the top labor stories of the week that saw thousands of people in the streets fighting for better wages, hours, and conditions and remembering the legacy of murdered civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr..

Scott Paul makes the Case for Tariffs

Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing joins Rick to defend the concept of the trade actions taken by the White House in placing tariffs on steel and aluminum and why it’s about time the United States finally took a stand against China’s predatory trade practices. 

Neal Bisno on Legacy of the 50th Anniversary of MLK's Murder

Neal Bisno, SEIU Executive Vice President joins Rick to discuss the 50^th Anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., what it was like growing up in Memphis in the years after King’s death, and what lessons he hopes today’s activists will learn from King’s legacy.

The Rick Smith Show 4-5-2018

Scott Dworkin, Co-Founder of The Democratic Coalition and host of The Dworkin Report joins Rick to talk about the recent revelations in the Mueller investigation and to discuss the future of EPA head Scott Pruitt.

Kristina Costa, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress where she focuses on domestic and international climate change and energy policy joins Rick to dissect the recent scandal clad news coverage of EPA head Scott Pruitt as he wastes tax dollars on paranoia, phonebooths, and new doors.

David Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13 joins Rick to share his experience of being in Memphis, TN for the 50^th Anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to discuss what lessons the next generation of activists and labor leaders can learn from King’s life.

Erica DuBois, New Jersey Public School Teacher and Springfield Township New Jersey Deputy Mayor joins Rick to talk about the recent strike in her Jersey City district, why a strike was necessary, and to discuss the recent uprising of fed up teachers across the nation.

Scott Dworkin talks Trump/Mueller and How Pruitt Blew It

Scott Dworkin, Co-Founder of The Democratic Coalition and host of The Dworkin Report joins Rick to talk about the recent revelations in the Mueller investigation and to discuss the future of EPA head Scott Pruitt.