The Rick Smith Show

Leo Gerard talks Hillary for President

Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers (USW) joins Rick to talk about GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s economic speech and why his union has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

Irwin Aronson talks Huge Announcement for PA Workers

Irwin Aronson. Labor attorney and Rick Smith Show regular joins Rick to discuss Pennsylvania becoming the 32nd state in the nation to sign an agreement to work with the federal government to work together to combat worker mis-classification abuses.

Jocelyn Frye talks Paid Family Leave

Jocelyn Frye, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress, where her work focuses on a wide range of women’s issues, including work-family balance, pay equity, and women’s leadership joins Rick to discuss the recent grant issued to Pennsylvania to conduct a feasibility study on paid family policies in the commonwealth.  

John Neurohr talks Trump Insanity

John Neurohr, Communication Director for the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center joins Rick to discuss GOP Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s comments on the “second amendment people” taking care of Hillary Clinton and examine his economic reset speech. 

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

Braddock PA Mayor John Fetterman joins Rick to look back at the conventions and forward to November as election season heats up and hits full stride.  John brings the class war as only he can going after Trump's thin skin and childish behavior.  

Brian Tashman, Senior Research Analyst at People For the American Way joins Rick to explain how extremist right wing conspiracy theories find their way into mainstream media and how that infrastructure has created the Trump monster. 

Chris Ellis, fast food worker and Pittsburgh Fight for $15 leader joins Rick to preview the upcoming National Fight for $15 convention and to talk about what it’s like attempting to provide for a family on $8 an hour and what led him to join the Fight for $15 movement.  

Julian Vasquez Heilig, California NAACP Education Chair, professor, researcher, and blogger joins Rick to discuss the recently proposed NAACP resolution calling for a moratorium on Charter Schools and question where there is any choice for parents in the school choice rhetoric.  

Chuck Pascal, Non-teaching BAT, Bernie delegate, Education advocate joins Rick to talk about the Democratic Party platform and how he and other Sander's delegates fought for sound education reform language to push back against the privatization wing of the party platforms of the past. 

John Fetterman brings the Class War

Braddock PA Mayor John Fetterman joins Rick to look back at the conventions and forward to November as election season heats up and hits full stride.  John brings the class war as only he can going after Trump's thin skin and childish behavior.  

Brian Tashman on the Power of Conspiracy Media has over the GOP

Brian Tashman, Senior Research Analyst at People For the American Way joins Rick to explain how extremist right wing conspiracy theories find their way into mainstream media and how that infrastructure has created the Trump monster. 

Chris Ellis on the Struggle for $15 and a Union

Chris Ellis, fast food worker and Pittsburgh Fight for $15 leader joins Rick to preview the upcoming National Fight for $15 convention and to talk about what it’s like attempting to provide for a family on $8 an hour and what led him to join the Fight for $15 movement.  

Julian Vasquez Heilig talks Real Charter School Reform

Julian Vasquez Heilig, California NAACP Education Chair, professor, researcher, and blogger joins Rick to discuss the recently proposed NAACP resolution calling for a moratorium on Charter Schools and question where there is any choice for parents in the school choice rhetoric.   

Chuck Pascal talks Moving a Progressive DNC Education Platform

Chuck Pascal, Non-teaching BAT, Bernie delegate, Education advocate joins Rick to talk about the Democratic Party platform and how he and other Sander's delegates fought for sound education reform language to push back against the privatization wing of the party platforms of the past.  

DNC Convention Coverage Thursday 7-28-2016

Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego joins Rick to discuss his convention speech and Donald Trump’s immigration policy.

Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty joins Rick to talk about how important her home state of Ohio is going to be in the upcoming election and shares what she expects from Ohio Governor John Kasich.

Hunter Scarborough, founder of the APP Voter joins Rick to talk about how his new APP is revolutionizing political information for millennial voters and the magic behind the curtain.

Laura Epstein, Press Secretary People for the American Way joins Rick to talk crazy GOP convention and how the RNC and DNC events match up on the crazy scale.

Jane Fleming Kleeb, newly elected State Chair of Nebraska and key organizer against the Keystone Pipeline joins Rick to talk about what the woman known as the "Keystone Killer" sees as important in the upcoming elections.

Kevin Washo, executive director of the DNC Host Committee talks about the work that went into such a massive undertaking as the DNC Convention and takes heat over transportation shortfall.

Michael Smith, laid off Nabisco worker joins Rick to talk about his national tour to educate consumers on the BCTGM’s Flip the Bag campaign to make consumers aware where their cookies are made.   

J. David Cox, National President of AFGE joins Rick to discuss the positive tone of the Democratic Party’s convention and the harsh negativity of the Republican message and how it effects workers.

Tonia McMillian, Child Care worker from CA SEIU joins Rick to talk about her profession and discuss why home health care and child care workers are demanding respect on the job.

Paul Booth, Executive Assistant to AFSCME President Lee Saunders joins Rick to share his convention thoughts and discuss the Uber scheme at both the RNC and DNC conventions. 

AZ Rep Ruben Gallego talks Trump & Immigration

Arizona Representative Ruben Gallego joins Rick to discuss his convention speech and Donald Trump’s immigration policy. 

OH Rep Beatty on Kasich and Ohio

Ohio Representative Joyce Beatty joins Rick to talk about how important her home state of Ohio is going to be in the upcoming election and shares what she expects from Ohio Governor John Kasich. 

Hunter Scarborough talks Revolutionary Voter APP

Hunter Scarborough, founder of the APP Voter joins Rick to talk about how his new APP is revolutionizing political information for millennial voters and the magic behind the curtain. 

Laura Epstein talks GOP Crazy Train

Laura Epstein, Press Secretary People for the American Way joins Rick to talk crazy GOP convention and how the RNC and DNC events match up on the crazy scale.

Jane Fleming Kleeb talks Environment at DNC

Jane Fleming Kleeb, newly elected State Chair of Nebraska and key organizer against the Keystone Pipeline joins Rick to talk about what the woman known as the "Keystone Killer" sees as important in the upcoming elections. 

Michael Smith Educating Workers on Corporate Greed

Michael Smith, laid off Nabisco worker joins Rick to talk about his national tour to educate consumers on the BCTGM’s Flip the Bag campaign to make consumers aware where their cookies are made.   

J. David Cox Stands Up for Public Sector Workers

J. David Cox, National President of AFGE joins Rick to discuss the positive tone of the Democratic Party’s convention and the harsh negativity of the Republican message and how it effects workers.

Tonia McMillian Demanding Respect for Care Workers

Tonia McMillian, Child Care worker from CA SEIU joins Rick to talk about her profession and discuss why home health care and child care workers are demanding respect on the job. 

AFSCME's Paul Booth on DNC and Uber

Paul Booth, Executive Assistant to AFSCME President Lee Saunders joins Rick to share his convention thoughts and discuss the Uber scheme at both the RNC and DNC conventions.