The Rick Smith Show

John Neurohr on #PABudget Insanity

John Neurohr, Communications Director for Keystone Progress joins Rick to discuss the latest news on the Pennsylvania budget standoff and what the most recent vote in the house means moving forward.

Full Three Hour Show for October 5, 2015

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk budget and preview the week ahead as the PA GOP attempts another Washington DC stop gap budget gimmick.

Celeste Drake, Trade & Globalization Policy Specialist with the AFL-CIO is back, and so is the dreaded TransPacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.  Celeste lays out what we know, what we need to know, and what needs to be done to stop another job killing FTA from becoming the law of the globe.

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to report on last week’s week of action in Allentown that saw students take to the streets to highlight their concerns over an education system they believe is not working for them.

Karran Harper Royal, New Orleans parent and public education activist joins Rick to share her personal experiences with the corporate education system that has taken over the New Orleans, LA schools.

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and the Director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University Sacramento joins Rick to discuss the “Slave” Market Education Deform that has gripped policymakers, and the moneyed special interest seeking more, and more profit.

Abe Amoros talking Reality about Corbett Era budget tactics

Abe Amoros, Pennsylvania Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk budget and preview the week ahead as the PA GOP attempts another Washington DC stop gap budget gimmick.

Celeste Drake Exposing it All on TPP

Celeste Drake, Trade & Globalization Policy Specialist with the AFL-CIO is back, and so is the dreaded TransPacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement.  Celeste lays out what we know, what we need to know, and what needs to be done to stop another job killing FTA from becoming the law of the globe.

Kevin Mahoney talks Building a Movement in Allentown

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at the Raging Chick Press joins Rick to report on last week’s week of action in Allentown that saw students take to the streets to highlight their concerns over an education system they believe is not working for them. 

Karran Harper Royal Shares her Horror Story in Private/Public Schools of New Orleans

Karran Harper Royal, New Orleans parent and public education activist joins Rick to share her personal experiences with the corporate education system that has taken over the New Orleans, LA schools.  

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig Talks "Slave" Market Education Deform

Dr. Julian Vasquez Heilig, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and the Director of the Doctorate in Educational Leadership at California State University Sacramento joins Rick to discuss the “Slave” Market Education Deform that has gripped policymakers, and the moneyed special interest seeking more, and more profit. 

Full Three Hour Show for October 2, 2015

Katie McGinty, Pennsylvania Democratic Senatorial Candidate joins Rick to talk about her campaign and highlight the differences between her views and incumbent Senator Pat Toomey's record on jobs and trade.

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the economy, the economy, the economy.  Yes, an actual economist talking about the how to get the economy back on the right track.

Dave Johnson, Fellow with the Campaign for America's Future joins Rick to talk trade, 2016 Presidential race, and more on the privatization efforts to steal the US Postal Service.

John Neurohr Communications Director for Keystone Progress joins Rick to discuss PA Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of the latest PA GOP budget stunt and answer, “What is it about Republicans and White Supremacists?”

Katie McGinty, PA US Senate Candidate Talks Trade, Jobs, and Opponent.

Katie McGinty, Pennsylvania Democratic Senatorial Candidate joins Rick to talk about her campaign and highlight the differences between her views and incumbent Senator Pat Toomey's record on jobs and trade. 

Matías Vernengo, It's Still the Economy Stupids

Matías Vernengo, Professor of Economics at Bucknell University joins Rick to talk about the economy, the economy, the economy.  Yes, an actual economist talking about the how to get the economy back on the right track.

Dave Johnson on Bad Trade Deals and USPS Corporate Theft Scheme

Dave Johnson, Fellow with the Campaign for America's Future joins Rick to talk trade, 2016 Presidential race, and more on the privatization efforts to steal the US Postal Service.

John Neurohr on PAGOP Insanity

John Neurohr Communications Director for Keystone Progress joins Rick to discuss PA Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of the latest PA GOP budget stunt and answer, “What is it about Republicans and White Supremacists?”

Full Three Hour Show September 30, 2015

Irwin Aronson, Labor Attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to talk about the recent report by State Rep. James Roebuck on Pennsylvania charter schools and what Rep Roebuck calls the "Wild West" spending or borrowing practices and lack of transparency by privately run schools with taxpayer dollars.

Daisy Cruz, Mid Atlantic Director of 32BJ SEIU joins Rick to talk about why in the aftermath of Pope Francis and the #walkwithfrancis visit thousands of workers are in the streets of Philadelphia #walkingforalivingwage. 

Doug Cunningham, Reporter at Worker’s Independent News joins Rick to raise awareness to the most important worker stories of the day from Detroit to talk about the UAW’s contract fight, to Cleveland for the AFL-CIO kicking off its Race Commissions, to Chicago as nursing home workers Fight For $15 and a union. 

John Dodds, Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project joins Rick to talk about today’s minimum wage event at the capital in Harrisburg and lay out why the minimum wage needs to be increased now. 

Irwin Aronson exposes the Wild West of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in the PA Charter School funding scheme

Irwin Aronson, Labor Attorney and Rick Smith Show contributor joins Rick to talk about the recent report by State Rep. James Roebuck on Pennsylvania charter schools and what Rep Roebuck calls the "Wild West" spending or borrowing practices and lack of transparency by privately run schools with taxpayer dollars.

Daisy Cruz on why workers are taking it to the streets of Philadelphia

Daisy Cruz, Mid Atlantic Director of 32BJ SEIU joins Rick to talk about why in the aftermath of Pope Francis and the #walkwithfrancis visit thousands of workers are in the streets of Philadelphia #walkingforalivingwage. 

Doug Cunningham Brings the Labor News to Life

Doug Cunningham, Reporter at Worker’s Independent News joins Rick to raise awareness to the most important worker stories of the day from Detroit to talk about the UAW’s contract fight, to Cleveland for the AFL-CIO kicking off its Race Commissions, to Chicago as nursing home workers Fight For $15 and a union. 

John Dodds calling for an increase in the Minimum Wage

John Dodds, Director of the Philadelphia Unemployment Project joins Rick to talk about today’s minimum wage event at the capital in Harrisburg and lay out why the minimum wage needs to be increased now.  

Full Three Hour Show for September 29, 2015

Ian Millhiser, Editor of ThinkProgress Justice joins Rick to discuss the 10 year anniversary of the Robert Court and what a decade of Balls and Strikes have looked like for consumers, workers, and democracy. 

David Yankovich, Huffington Post reporter joins Rick to discuss what John Boehner’s departure means for the GOP.  Is this the end of the Grand Old Party?  Also, David shares his thoughts from a recently published article on the privatized prison system.

Harry Stein, Director of Fiscal Policy at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to examine the Tax Plans of GOP presidential candidates, The Donald and Jeb! And what those plans mean for workers, their families, and the nation. 

Mitchell Robinson, an associate professor and chair of music education at Michigan State University. Robinson taught music for 10 years in the Fulton (NY) City School District, and held collegiate appointments at the University of Connecticut and the Eastman School of Music. He’s written extensively about TFA:

T. Jameson Brewer is an advanced PhD student of educational policy studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He earned a M.S. in social foundations of education from Georgia State University and a B.S.Ed. in secondary education from Valdosta State University. His research focuses on the impact(s) of privatization/marketization of public schools by way of charters, vouchers, and Teach for America. More at www.tjamesonbrewer.com 

Ian Millhiser On the 10th Anniversary on John Roberts Confirmation. The Not-So Good, The Bad, and The Are You Kidding?

Ian Millhiser, Editor of ThinkProgress Justice joins Rick to discuss the 10 year anniversary of the Robert Court and what a decade of Balls and Strikes have looked like for consumers, workers, and democracy. 

David Yankovich On the end of the Grand Old Party.

David Yankovich, Huffington Post reporter joins Rick to discuss what John Boehner’s departure means for the GOP.  Is this the end of the Grand Old Party?  Also, David shares his thoughts from a recently published article on the privatized prison system.