The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show for 3-17-2017

Will Fischer, Director of Government Affairs at VoteVets.org joins Rick to discuss how the massive cutting of a wide range of social and economic development programs being slashed by the Trump administration’s America First Budget will affect veterans and their families and what needs to be done to raise awareness.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to hike interest rates and how the combination of rates hikes and an austerity budget could lead to very troublesome economic times in the months ahead.

Isaiah J. Poole, Communications Director with People’s Action and the People’s Action Institute joins Rick to discuss the massive redistribution of wealth scheme being peddled by the radicals leading the Republican Party as their 30-year war on the poor reaches new heights.  

Will Fischer explains How Trump's Budget Harms Vets

Will Fischer, Director of Government Affairs at VoteVets.org joins Rick to discuss how the massive cutting of a wide range of social and economic development programs being slashed by the Trump administration’s America First Budget will affect veterans and their families and what needs to be done to raise awareness.

Matias Vernengo explains Concerns with Fed Rate Hike

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to hike interest rates and how the combination of rates hikes and an austerity budget could lead to very troublesome economic times in the months ahead.

Isaiah Poole talks Latest War on the Poor

Isaiah J. Poole, Communications Director with People’s Action and the People’s Action Institute joins Rick to discuss the massive redistribution of wealth scheme being peddled by the radicals leading the Republican Party as their 30-year war on the poor reaches new heights.  

The Rick Smith Show for 3-16-2017

Lori Lodes, Campaign Manager for Protect our Care and former Director of Office of Communications at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services joins Rick to discuss the Republican “repeal and replace” plan and what the “replace” plan means for workers, seniors, and taxpayers across Pennsylvania and the nation.

Marcy Goldstein Gelb, co-executive director, National COSH joins Rick to discuss their new platform agenda “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs” and how to strengthen workplace protection workers at a time when regulations are under assault.  

Harry Stein, Director of Fiscal Policy at American Progress joins Rick to discuss the anticipated release of President Trump’s Skinny budget and to share the 5 Things to Watch in President Trump’s Skinny Budget that he is paying attention to and why everyone else should be watching too.

Lori Lodes talks Horrible AHCA Realities

Lori Lodes, Campaign Manager for Protect our Care and former Director of Office of Communications at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services joins Rick to discuss the Republican “repeal and replace” plan and what the “replace” plan means for workers, seniors, and taxpayers across Pennsylvania and the nation.

Marcy Goldstein Gelb rolls out Worker Safety Plan

Marcy Goldstein Gelb, co-executive director, National COSH joins Rick to discuss their new platform agenda “Protecting Workers’ Lives and Limbs” and how to strengthen workplace protection workers at a time when regulations are under assault.  

Harry Stein talks Trump Starvation Budget

Harry Stein, Director of Fiscal Policy at American Progress joins Rick to discuss the anticipated release of President Trump’s Skinny budget and to share the 5 Things to Watch in President Trump’s Skinny Budget that he is paying attention to and why everyone else should be watching too.

The Rick Smith Show for 3-15-2017

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show regular guest joins Rick to discuss the Republican plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and replace it with massive tax breaks for the wealthy and painful cuts to Medicaid for the poor and elderly.                                                                          

Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin joins Rick to talk about his organization’s recent event in front of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s district office in Racine, WI and what the message was for the speaker.                                                                                                        

John Neurohr, Communication Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to share his thoughts on the Republican “Replace” plan and what the massive funding cuts to Medicaid will mean to states like Pennsylvania.                                                                                                   

Irwin Aronson on GOP Replacement Plan

Irwin Aronson, labor attorney and Rick Smith Show regular guest joins Rick to discuss the Republican plan to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and replace it with massive tax breaks for the wealthy and painful cuts to Medicaid for the poor and elderly.    

Robert Kraig tells “Paul Ryan, Kill Your Bill before It Kills Us!”

Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin joins Rick to talk about his organization’s recent event in front of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s district office in Racine, WI and what the message was for the speaker.  

John Neurohr talks Major Trouble Ahead for Pennsylvania

John Neurohr, Communication Director of the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to share his thoughts on the Republican “Replace” plan and what the massive funding cuts to Medicaid will mean to states like Pennsylvania.  

The Rick Smith Show for 3-14-2017

David Yankovich, writers and political commentator joins Rick to talk about the growing threat to our national security by the Trump administration as they cut the budget of Coast Guard and make the world less safety and stable by having a climate denier as head of the EPA.

Luz Christina Ramirez Mooney, New York Teacher and Badass Teachers Association member joins Rick to talk about the March for Education Justice in New York state, what Governor Cuomo is peddling in the state as education reform, and teachers and advocates are doing to stand up for public education.

Melissa Marini Svigelj-Smith, Cleveland Teacher and Badass Teachers Association member joins Rick in light of US Department of Education Secretary Billionaire Betsy’s recent wise crack at CPAC to talk poverty and the high costs of “Free Lunches” on students in poverty that the Secretary doesn’t seem to understand.

David Yankovich talks Misguided Trump Priorities

David Yankovich, writers and political commentator joins Rick to talk about the growing threat to our national security by the Trump administration as they cut the budget of Coast Guard and make the world less safety and stable by having a climate denier as head of the EPA.

Luz Christina Ramirez Mooney on NY's March for Education Justice

Luz Christina Ramirez Mooney, New York Teacher and Badass Teachers Association member joins Rick to talk about the March for Education Justice in New York state, what Governor Cuomo is peddling in the state as education reform, and teachers and advocates are doing to stand up for public education.

Melissa Marini Svigelj-Smith talks High Costs of Free Lunch

Melissa Marini Svigelj-Smith, Cleveland Teacher and Badass Teachers Association member joins Rick in light of US Department of Education Secretary Billionaire Betsy’s recent wise crack at CPAC to talk poverty and the high costs of “Free Lunches” on students in poverty that the Secretary doesn’t seem to understand.

The Rick Smith Show for 3-13-2017

Propane Jane joins Rick for a weekly dose of sanity in a world full of delusion and dysfunction as she reassures Americans that the microwave is not watching their every move and what is coming out of the White House is not normal.

Larry I. Willis, Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Dept., AFL-CIO (TTD) joins Rick to talk American Society of Civil Engineers report card on the dilapidated state of America’s Infrastructure and needs to be done immediately to get the nation on the right track.

Propane Jane on a World Where the Microwaves are Watching

Propane Jane joins Rick for a weekly dose of sanity in a world full of delusion and dysfunction as she reassures Americans that the microwave is not watching their every move and what is coming out of the White House is not normal.

 

Larry Willis talks America's Near Failing Infrastructure

Larry I. Willis, Secretary-Treasurer of the Transportation Trades Dept., AFL-CIO (TTD) joins Rick to talk American Society of Civil Engineers report card on the dilapidated state of America’s Infrastructure and needs to be done immediately to get the nation on the right track.

The Rick Smith Show for 3-10-2017

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics Bucknell University joins Rick to discuss how much of an effect President Trump has had on the recent jobs numbers that have seen 77^th consecutive months of positive growth and to talk about the many and varied concerns we should be focusing on with the administration. 

Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of LOWER ED: The Troubling Rise of For-Profit Colleges in the New Economy joins Rick to discuss her experience and research in the world of For-Profit higher education and share her thoughts and findings for taxpayers, policymakers, and students.

Isaiah J. Poole, Communications Director with People’s Action and the People’s Action Institute joins Rick to talk how the GOP put horrible in the ACA by rolling out the AHCA and to call people to action with #ResistTrumpTuesdays events going on across the nation to push back against the GOP lead attacks on workers, health insurance, the environment, the 20^th century, you name it.