The Rick Smith Show

The Friday News Dump | 7-24-21

Rick starts the show with commentary on the news of the day, and then we are joined by Sina Nemazi, Co-Chair of United Students for America to discuss the GOP threat to voting rights, and then Alex Press of Jacobin stops by to discuss the Frito-Lay strike in Topeka, Kansas, and how employees are quite literally working themselves to death.

The Panel Returns | 7-26-21

The Panel is back, and we’re talking infrastructure, tax credits for working people, GOP voter suppression efforts, the 1/6 commission, and lots of other topics. This week’s panelists are:

 

Scott Dworkin of the Democratic Coalition

Rich Ojeda of No Dem Left Behind

Sarah Burris of RawStory

Conservative Joe Walsh on GOP Madness

Former Congressman Joe Walsh joins us to discuss the GOP acting as a support group for insurrectionists. @WalshFreedom

Joe Walsh is a Former IL Congressman and 2020 Republican Candidate for President  For more information on what Joe Walsh is doing visit: joewalsh.org

Democratic Strategist David Yankovich

Democratic Strategist David Yankovich tells us a bit about how Democrats plan to get their infrastructure bills passed, and how they intend to deal with all the obstruction the GOP will certainly attempt. @DavidYankovich

Sarah Burris of RawStory

The second hour begins with Sarah Burris of RawStory for our weekly roundup of news and spin from DC and beyond. @SarahBurris @RawStory

GOP Flip-Floppery | 7-23-21 (1st Hour)

Rick kicks things off with commentary on the sudden and odd flip-flop by the GOP on vaccines, and what probably generated the reversal, and then former Congressman Joe Walsh joins us to discuss the GOP acting as a support group for insurrectionists, and then Democratic Strategist David Yankovich tells us a bit about how Democrats plan to get their infrastructure bills passed, and how they intend to deal with all the obstruction the GOP will certainly attempt.

 

GOP Flip-Floppery | 7-23-21 (2nd Hour)

The second hour begins with Sarah Burris of Rawstory for our weekly roundup of news and spin from DC and beyond, and then we close the night with former GOP Congressman Bob Ney, who will offer us his no-nonsense brand of political analysis and help us separate the real from the spin.

Max Burns of The Daily Beast

Max Burns of The Daily Beast joins to discuss his new column on the infrastructure negotiations, and the cost of reaching too far right looking for cooperation that will never come. @themaxburns @thedailybeast

Olympic Chaos with Timothy Noah of The New Republic

Timothy Noah of The New Republic closes the first hour with his new article about the massive challenges at this year’s Olympic Games. @timothynoah1

Maria Freese of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

The second hour begins with Maria Freese of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. @NCPSSM #NCPSSM

Politics and Pro Wrestling | 7-22-21 (1st Hour)

Rick starts off the program with commentary on the GOP’s performative anger over their 1/6 commission clowns being rejected by Speaker Pelosi. Then Max Burns of The Daily Beast joins to discuss his new column on the infrastructure negotiations, and the cost of reaching too far right looking for cooperation that will never come. Then Timothy Noah of The New Republic closes the first hour with his new article about the massive challenges at this year’s Olympic Games.

Politics and Pro Wrestling | 7-22-21 (2nd Hour)

The second hour begins with Maria Freese of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, and then we close the night with former GOP Congressman turned political analyst Bob Ney, who will help us understand today’s right-wing tantrum over their 1/6 committee choices being rejected, and how that might affect other negotiation in DC.

Climate Crisis Update

The second hour begins with Max Moran of the Revolving Door Project for a discussion about the climate crisis and our collective unwillingness to properly deal with it. @revolvingdoorDC @MaxMoranHi  ​

Talking PRO Act with the AFL-CIO

Tim Schlittner of the AFL-CIO stops by to discuss The PRO Act and its inclusion in the infrastructure package being negotiated in DC. @timschlittner @AFLCIO #PROAct  ​

Scott Paul on China's Espionage Efforts

Scott Paul, President of The Alliance for American Manufacturing joins us to talk about Chinese espionage and the US stand against criminal hacking bought and paid for in Beijing.

Rand Wilson, Union Organizer @randwilson

Space Farce | 7-21-21 (1st Hour)

Rick starts off the program with commentary on the Bezos vanity space ride, and how billions are wasted on billionaires. Then Tim Schlittner of the AFL-CIO stops by to discuss The PRO Act and its inclusion in the infrastructure package being negotiated in DC. Then Scott Paul, President of The Alliance for American Manufacturing joins us to talk about Chinese espionage and the US stand against criminal hacking bought and paid for in Beijing.

Space Farce | 7-21-21 (2nd Hour)

The second hour begins with Max Moran of the Revolving Door Project for a discussion about the climate crisis and our collective unwillingness to properly deal with it, and then we end the night with union organizer Rand Wilson and a conversation about worker rights in Massachusetts, and what the staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester are doing to fight for better hours, wages, and conditions.

Fewer Options for College Students

Jamie Martin of The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) stops by to discuss a recent scheme to deprive young people in the state of their access to university education. @jmartin_iup @APSCUF

How We End Childhood Poverty

Arohi Pathak of The Center for American Progress join us to talk about the Child Tax Credit, and why we need to make it permanent. @ArohiPathak74 @amprog @CAPPoverty @CAPAction