The Rick Smith Show

Rick Bloomingdale talks PA Pension Plan

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to discuss the potential changes to the state’s pension system and what those changes will mean for taxpayers, and past, current, and future workers.  

Shai Akabas lays out Bipartisan Retirement Plan

Shai Akabas, Associate Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the Center’s recently released report on how policymakers and workers should to deal with the coming retirement crisis titled, “Securing Our Financial Future.”

Maggie Thompson talks For-Profit College Ripoff

Maggie Thompson, Executive Director of Generation Progress at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the recent announcement by the Obama administration giving students fleeced by for-profit college scammers a streamlined path to debt forgiveness. 

Andy Hoover talks Anti-Discrimination Bill in PA

Andy Hoover, Legislative Director ACLU of Pennsylvania joins Rick to discuss the upcoming committee hearing on SB 1307 that will make discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal.  Discrimination in employment and services would still not be covered. Andy also gives an update on pot legislation designed to lower the crime but hike the fine.  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-14-2016

Rick Bloomingdale, President of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO joins Rick to discuss the potential changes to the state’s pension system and what those changes will mean for taxpayers, and past, current, and future workers.  

Shai Akabas, Associate Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center joins Rick to discuss the Center’s recently released report on how policymakers and workers should to deal with the coming retirement crisis titled, “Securing Our Financial Future.”

Maggie Thompson, Executive Director of Generation Progress at the Center for American Progress joins Rick to talk about the recent announcement by the Obama administration giving students fleeced by for-profit college scammers a streamlined path to debt forgiveness. 

Andy Hoover, Legislative Director ACLU of Pennsylvania joins Rick to discuss the upcoming committee hearing on SB 1307 that will make discrimination in housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity illegal.  Discrimination in employment and services would still not be covered. Andy also gives an update on pot legislation designed to lower the crime but hike the fine.  

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show 6-13-2016

Cole Stangler, In These Times staff writer joins Rick to talk about his recent article titled, “How the Left Can Stop Trump”and to discuss the age old question of why working class voters vote against their own best interests.  

Thomas Bishop, Associate Research Director at Media Matters for America joins Rick to discuss the media coverage of the horrific mass murder in an Orlando bar and what, if any, responsibility our media has in these atrocities.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press and host of Out d’ Coup radio joins Rick to talk about the all-out attack on higher education as funding levels have been slashed through the bone and what it means for faculty members trying earn a living. 

Sue Goncarovs, Badass Teachers Association Meme Team Director joins Rick to explain how she came to request a White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what she see as a value going forward.

 

Michael Flanagan, Badass Teachers Association Action Team Director joins Rick to talk about a potential White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what it would mean for students, parents, educators, and education as a whole.

Cole Stangler talks Stopping Trump Article

Cole Stangler, In These Times staff writer joins Rick to talk about his recent article titled, “How the Left Can Stop Trump”and to discuss the age old question of why working class voters vote against their own best interests.  

Thomas Bishop talk Media Coverage of Horrific Mass Murder

Thomas Bishop, Associate Research Director at Media Matters for America joins Rick to discuss the media coverage of the horrific mass murder in an Orlando bar and what, if any, responsibility our media has in these atrocities.

Kevin Mahoney Raging about Attack on Higher Education

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press and host of Out d’ Coup radio joins Rick to talk about the all-out attack on higher education as funding levels have been slashed through the bone and what it means for faculty members trying earn a living. 

Sue Goncarovs On Proposed White House Conference

Sue Goncarovs, Badass Teachers Association Meme Team Director joins Rick to explain how she came to request a White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what she see as a value going forward.

 

Michael Flanagan talks Organizing a Movement

Michael Flanagan, Badass Teachers Association Action Team Director joins Rick to talk about a potential White House Conference on EDUCATION & EQUITY and what it would mean for students, parents, educators, and education as a whole.  

Marlon Marshall on Hillary Clinton coming to PA

Marlon Marshall, our Director of State Campaigns and Political Engagement joins Rick to talk Hillary campaign outreach in Pennsylvania and fighting for every voter in the commonwealth.

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show

Vonda McDaniel, president of the Nashville and Middle Tennessee Central Labor Council joins Rick to talk about her recent op-ed exposing the US Chamber of Commerce Xmas wish list of anti-worker legislation they are funding across the nation.

Anthony Jackson, fired Nabisco- Mondelez worker joins Rick to talk about some of the American Icon Oreo cookie production leaving America only to return with a Made in Mexico label and what he and his co-workers are doing to fight back.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics Bucknell University joins Rick to lay out the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers on productivity and discuss how Hillary or Donald will change or make things worse.

Marlon Marshall, our Director of State Campaigns and Political Engagement joins Rick to talk Hillary campaign outreach in Pennsylvania and fighting for every voter in the commonwealth.

Isaiah J. Poole, Director of Online Communications with the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to celebrate good news on the minimum wage front in Washington DC and explain how the Koch Brothers care about the nation’s political divide. 

Joshua Holland, Writing Fellow with The Nation Institute and Host of Politics and Reality Radio joins Rick to talk about the presidential campaign and what he finds interesting, funny, and just plain sad. 

Vonda McDaniel Exposes US Chamber Agenda

Vonda McDaniel, president of the Nashville and Middle Tennessee Central Labor Council joins Rick to talk about her recent op-ed exposing the US Chamber of Commerce Xmas wish list of anti-worker legislation they are funding across the nation.

Anthony Jackson Fighting for Jobs as the Oreo Crumbles

Anthony Jackson, fired Nabisco- Mondelez worker joins Rick to talk about some of the American Icon Oreo cookie production leaving America only to return with a Made in Mexico label and what he and his co-workers are doing to fight back.

Matias Vernengo on Latest Economic News

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics Bucknell University joins Rick to lay out the recent Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers on productivity and discuss how Hillary or Donald will change or make things worse.

Isaiah J. Poole Fighting for $15 and Pushing #Demplatform

Isaiah J. Poole, Director of Online Communications with the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to celebrate good news on the minimum wage front in Washington DC and explain how the Koch Brothers care about the nation’s political divide. 

Joshua Holland on #DeadBeatDonald

Joshua Holland, Writing Fellow with The Nation Institute and Host of Politics and Reality Radio joins Rick to talk about the presidential campaign and what he finds interesting, funny, and just plain sad.

The Rick Smith Show Full Three Hour Show

PA State Representative Kevin Schreiber joins Rick to discuss the passage of what is being described as an historic, bi-partisan liquor modernization law passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Wolf to make alcohol more easily accessible. 

John Meyerson, Political Consultant and former Organizer with UFCW Local 1776 joins Rick to discuss the potential ramifications of the recently signed liquor legislation and attempt to answer the plethora of questions on what the future holds for the commonwealth.

Frank Clemente, Executive Director of Americans for Tax Fairness joins Rick to discuss his testimony before the Democratic Platform Committee and his call for a progressive tax system to help address income inequality, and creating an economy that works for everyone.

Rebecca Vallas, Managing Director of the Poverty to Prosperity Program at the Center for American Progress joins Rick in light of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s “A Better Way” propaganda release to talk about a truly better way to fight poverty and create an economy that works for all.  

Robert Weiner, former Clinton White House spokesman and current consultant with Robert Weiner and Associates joins Rick to talk about his recent op-ed on House Speaker Paul Ryan’s “A Better Way” propaganda and refocus what is at stake in this presidential election cycle. 

Rep Kevin Schreiber rolls out Liquor Plan

PA State Representative Kevin Schreiber joins Rick to discuss the passage of what is being described as an historic, bi-partisan liquor modernization law passed by the Pennsylvania General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Wolf to make alcohol more easily accessible.