The Rick Smith Show

#PeoplesTour: Richard Koritz from the APWU and International Civil Rights Center and Museum Talks About Family History and Worker Equality in the South

Richard Koritz, Solidarity Representative for APWU and a Board Member at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum joins Rick to talk about the Civil Rights Center and Museum and shares his family’s history of standing up for workers and equality. 

#PeoplesTour: Claude Barnes was Beaten and Tear Gassed for Winning a Student Solidarity Write-In Campaign in 1969

Claude Barnes, Researcher at the Jubilee Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina joins Rick to talk about his being elected to student body president as a write-in candidate and how that event turned into he and his classmates being tear gassed and some arrested.

State and Federal Legislators Using Planned Parenthood Investigations for Fundraisers? IT CAN'T BE TRUE?!?!?!?!?!?!

John Neurohr, Communications Director for Keystone Progress joins Rick to talk Harrisburg nonsense from attacks against Planned Parenthood to representatives not passing a budget, and to preview the upcoming North By Northwest Progressive Summit

A Three Month Extension on the Highway Trust Fund? Really? Plus the Closing of the Ex-Im Bank.

Isaiah Poole, On-line editor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to transportation bill, the Ex-Im bank fiasco, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what Ronald Reagan said would be "a short step to all the rest of socialism" in America.

Listen to How Verizon is Trying to Break Their Unions in Latest Contract Battle

Edward Mooney, Vice President of CWA Districts 2-13 joins Rick in advance of a potential strike by workers or lockout by manage to talk about the tense situation as workers stand up for good jobs and fair compensation to a multi-billion dollar profit company. 

Why is Medical Marijuana Facing So Many Legislative Hurdles In the House?

Patrick Nightingale, Executive Director of Pittsburgh NORML joins Rick to update where the Medical Marijuana legislation is and what is holding up its passage.

The Rick Smith Show - 7/31/2015

Patrick Nightingale, Executive Director of Pittsburgh NORML joins Rick to update where the Medical Marijuana legislation is and what is holding up its passage.

Edward Mooney, Vice President of CWA Districts 2-13 joins Rick in advance of a potential strike by workers or lockout by manage to talk about the tense situation as workers stand up for good jobs and fair compensation to a multi-billion dollar profit company. 

Isaiah Poole, On-line editor at the Campaign for America’s Future joins Rick to transportation bill, the Ex-Im bank fiasco, and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of what Ronald Reagan said would be "a short step to all the rest of socialism" in America.

John Neurohr, Communications Director for Keystone Progress joins Rick to talk Harrisburg nonsense from attacks against Planned Parenthood to representatives not passing a budget, and to preview the upcoming North By Northwest Progressive Summit

Listen to How the Legislature is Trying to Rescind Some Awful Unemployment Insurance Changes

Irwin Aronson, labor lawyer and friend of the program, joined Rick to talk about Act 60 and how the Republican Legislature under Governor Tom Corbett attacked workers' paychecks by changing Unemployment Insurance rules.

Listen to How the Pentagon is Influencing Your TV Viewing Pleasures

Zaid Jilani, contributor at AlterNet, explains how the Pentagon is influencing our TV viewing pleasures

Teachers Rack Up Huge Win in Connecticut by Getting Labor History in the Classroom!

Ed Leavy, Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut Federation of Teachers, joined Rick to talk about the recent victory that brings labor history to the classrooms

#WorkersWednesday: Bruce Rauner Calls the National Guard after AFSCME Strike Illinois and More on The Donald's Pension

Doug Cunningham from Workers Independent News joins the program for our weekly Worker's Wednesday segment

The Rick Smith Show - 7/29/2015

Irwin Aronson, labor lawyer and friend of the program, joined Rick to talk about Act 60 and how the Republican Legislature under Governor Tom Corbett attacked workers' paychecks by changing Unemployment Insurance rules.

Doug Cunningham from Workers Independent News joins the program for our weekly Worker's Wednesday segment

Ed Leavy, Secretary Treasurer of the Connecticut Federation of Teachers, joined Rick to talk about the recent victory that brings labor history to the classrooms

Zaid Jilani, contributor at AlterNet, explains how the Pentagon is influencing our TV viewing pleasures

Women's Law Project Weighs in on Minimum Wage & How It's a Women's Issue & Why We Should #StandWithPP

Carol E. Tracy, Executive Director  of the Women's Law Project joins Rick to discuss what an increase in the minimum wage would mean for women and to talk about the recent right wing attacks on Planned Parenthood.

House Republicans Tip Toeing to the Edge of Disaster Without Highway Funding Bill

 Abe Amoros, PA Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the Transportation bill moving through the US Senate possibly only to die in the US House and what that means for his members.

Retired Biologist Makes the Conservative Argument for Supporting Clean Air and Clean Water

Ed Perry, a retired aquatic biologist who retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 30 years of service joins Rick to talk about protecting Pennsylvania’s streams and wetland as an advocate for the National Wildlife Federation’s global warming campaign.

How is the GOP Using their "Working Class" Rhetoric to Fool Voters in 2016?

Anna Chu, Vice President of Policy and Research at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about her recent report comparing GOP campaign rhetoric to their actual policies and what those policies mean for workers.

The Rick Smith Show - 7/28/2015

Carol E. Tracy, Executive Director  of the Women's Law Project joins Rick to discuss what an increase in the minimum wage would mean for women and to talk about the recent right wing attacks on Planned Parenthood.

Anna Chu, Vice President of Policy and Research at the Center for American Progress Action Fund joins Rick to talk about her recent report comparing GOP campaign rhetoric to their actual policies and what those policies mean for workers.

 Abe Amoros, PA Legislative Director for LIUNA joins Rick to talk about the Transportation bill moving through the US Senate possibly only to die in the US House and what that means for his members.

Ed Perry, a retired aquatic biologist who retired from the US Fish and Wildlife Service after 30 years of service joins Rick to talk about protecting Pennsylvania’s streams and wetland as an advocate for the National Wildlife Federation’s global warming campaign.

#BlackLivesMatter & #SayHerName Have Always Made Economic Inequality a Movement Platform

Kevin Mahoney, Editor Zero at Raging Chicken Press joins Rick to talk about presidential candidate Bernie Sanders shutting down his attackers on race and to talk about how the budget will impact higher education.

440,000 Pennsylvanians Have Healthcare Because of Governor Wolf's Medicaid Expansion

Antoinette Kraus, executive director of Pennsylvania Healthcare Access Network joins Rick to talk about recent reports of Governor Wolf’s Medicaid Expansion working.

A Higher Minimum Wage Would Bring Families Together But Family Values Conservatives Don't Want to Hear That!

Craig Harrington, Economic Researcher at Media Matters for America joins Rick to examine media attacks on raising the minimum wage.