The Rick Smith Show

Bill Scher on the Consequences of Ending the Filibuster

Bill Scher, Contributing Editor at Politico closes the first hour with his thoughts on the filibuster and why it still exists, and why that should worry us.

@billscher @POLITICOMag

JJ Abbott on Local Issues with National Implications

J.J. Abbott of Commonwealth Communications joins us to discuss a number of local policy issues that look very much like the policies being proposed all over the country at the same time.

 

@jjabbott @Comms2PA

Cereal Box Historians | 5-4-21 (1st Hour)

Rick starts the night answering some listener mail and contemplating the ridiculousness of the term “vaccine hesitancy.” Then Jeff Hauser of The Revolving Door Project explains a bit about how Biden’s policies are a needed reset, are not remotely radical by historical standards. Bill Scher, Contributing Editor at Politico closes the first hour with his thoughts on the filibuster and why it still exists, and why that should worry us.

Cereal Box Historians | 5-4-21 (2nd Hour)

J.J. Abbott of Commonwealth Communications joins us to discuss a number of local policy issues that look very much like the policies being proposed all over the country at the same time and then we close the show with Political Analyst and former Ohio congressman Bob Ney, who will help us understand the inner workings of Washington DC and just how broken our system has become.

"The Path to Free College" with Dr. Miller-Adams

Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams discusses her new book “The Path to Free College: In Pursuit of Access, Equity, and Prosperity.”

 

Miller-Adams offers a comprehensive analysis of the College Promise movement—its history, impacts, and unintended consequences—and its relationship to access, affordability, and workforce readiness.

HuffPost Reporter Travis Waldron Talks Labor and Sports

Travis Waldron of The Huffington Post stops by to talk labor, organizing, and the impact of a strike taking place at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

www.huffpost.com

 

 

The Panel on the Week that Was | 5-3-21

This week’s panel covers the spiraling descent of the Republican Party, including all the impending indictments, raids, warrants, and the general grossness of Matt Gaetz. This week’s panel includes Scott Dworkin from the Democratic Coalition, Teacher and Activist Kristin Mink, and Rich Ojeda, National Spokesman for No Dem Left Behind.

A History of Corporate Power | 5-1-21 (1st Hour)

Rick starts the night talking about trickle down power grabs and how they have immiserated the working class for decades. Then Dr. Michelle Miller-Adams discusses her book “The Path to Free College” and Travis Waldron of The Huffington Post stops by to talk labor, organizing, and the potential of a strike taking center stage at this year’s Kentucky Derby.

Jesse Lee on Jobs Jobs Jobs

Jesse Lee of the Center for American Progress joins in to highlight some key policies and accomplishments of Biden's first 100 days, and discuss how those proposals become law, or don't, in the next few months.

What it's Like Fighting the Biggest Corporation in the World

Max Berger of More Perfect Union tells us some stories from his experiences on the ground fighting for a union at Amazon, and what it’s like taking on the biggest corporation in the world.

 

Max Berger is Editorial Director at More Perfect Union. For more information visit: www.perfectunion.us

Clinton Speechwriter on Biden's First Major Address

Author and former presidential speechwriter David Kusnet talks about Biden’s address to Congress – what it did well, and what it could have done better.

David Kusnet is a former Speechwriter for President Bill Clinton and author of "Love the Work, Hate the Job."  For more information visit: www.davidkusnet.com

Biden’s 100th Day | 4-30-21 (1st Hour)

Rick opens the show reflecting on the first 100 days of the Biden administration, and all the surprises it has contained. Jesse Lee of the Center for American Progress joins in to highlight some key policies and accomplishments, and then Max Berger of More Perfect Union tells us some stories from his experiences on the ground fighting for a union at Amazon, and what it’s like taking on the biggest corporation in the world.

Biden’s 100th Day | 4-30-21 (2nd Hour)

Rick opens the show reflecting on the first 100 days of the Biden administration, and all the surprises it has contained. Jesse Lee of the Center for American Progress joins in to highlight some key policies and accomplishments, and then Max Berger of More Perfect Union tells us some stories from his experiences on the ground fighting for a union at Amazon, and what it’s like taking on the biggest corporation in the world.

Jim Williams of IUPAT Joins us on Workers Memorial Day

Union leader Jim Williams (IUPAT) joins us to discuss Workers Memorial Day and share a few thoughts on what’s next for the labor movement in America.

 

Jim Williams is the General Vice President at Large of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)

@Jimmy_iupat @GoIUPAT
www.iupat.org

Jared Yates Sexton on What is and is not RADICAL

Author and Professor Jared Yates Sexton talks about the Biden agenda and how silly it is to attempt to define any of it as "radical."

 

Jared Yates Sexton is a political analyst, host of the Muckrake Podcast, and author of “American Rule: How A Nation Conquered The World But Failed Its People.” @JYSexton

 

Harvey J Kaye Offers a Progressive Critique of the Biden Agenda

Harvey J Kaye is a Professor of Democracy at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.

 

Harvey is the author of “Thomas Paine & Promise of America,” “Fight for the Four Freedoms,” “Take Hold of Our History,” and “FDR on Democracy.” @harveyjkaye

Workers Memorial Day | 4-29-21 (1st Hour)

Rick opens the show talking about Workers Memorial Day and all those who have lost their lives fighting for our rights in the workplace. Then union leader Jimmy Williams (IUPAT) joins us to expand on that discussion and share a few thoughts on what’s next for the labor movement, and then author, professor, and podcaster Jared Yates Sexton rounds out the hour with a little history, a little policy, and his typical expert analysis.

Biden Good, Rudy Bad | 4-29-21 (2nd Hour)

The second hour starts with Author and Professor of Democracy Harvey Kaye on what he hopes for, and what he expects from Biden’s first major address to Congress, and then we close the show with former congressman and reformed Republican Bob Ney, who will walk us through some of the GOP craziness, from the Rudy Raid to yesterday’s Red Meat madness.

 

Pat Garafalo on the Corporate Welfare System

Pat Garafalo joins us to talk about how companies like Apple and Amazon use our corporate welfare system to steal billions of tax dollars from working families.

Scott Paul on Building Back Better with American Manufacturing

Scott Paul of the Alliance for American Manufacturing discusses how Biden’s policies and appointments are cause for optimism among those who want to bring back American industry.