The Rick Smith Show

John Logan on how the PRO Act can be a Game-Changer

Professor John Logan finishes the show with a discussion about the recent Amazon unionization vote, and how it might have gone differently if the PRO Act were the law of the land.

John Logan is a Professor and the Director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University.

Lies and Nonsense | 4-28-21 (1st Hour)

Rick opens the show with commentary on some of the recent and utterly ridiculous lies being pushed on right-wing corporate media in the past week, and why they’re being created. Then author Pat Garafolo 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, and then 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.

Lies and Nonsense | 4-28-21 (2nd Hour)

John See starts the hour talking about his new article on the union-busting ideology being pushed by Qanon crackpots and other fascist groups, and then Professor John Logan finishes the hour with a discussion about the recent Amazon unionization vote, and how it might have gone differently if the PRO Act were the law of the land.

John See Talks About Qanon Union Busters

John See talks about his new article on the union-busting ideology being pushed by Qanon crackpots and other fascist groups.

"The Union-Busting Consultant Spreading Far-Right Conspiracy Theories" by John See.

https://inthesetimes.com/article/kulture-consulting-union-busting-qanon-trump

 

Pete Dominick Helps us Laugh at GOP Silliness

Comic and Radio Host Pete Dominick joins us for an interview and a few laughs about "Joe Biden stealing our meat" and Larry Kudlow's outrage over "plant-based beer."

Sometimes, you just gotta laugh at the insanity.

Voting Rights and A New Senate Candidate in Ohio

David Pepper joins to discuss Ohio’s upcoming battle over voting rights, and also today’s announcement that Congressman Tim Ryan will be running for Senate in 2022.

David Pepper is the former Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party.

 

Max Richtman on Seniors and Infrastructure

Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare stops by to talk about how the Biden infrastructure plan helps seniors.

Working People’s President | 4-27-21 (1st Hour)

Rick begins the show talking about President Biden’s Executive Order creating the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, and what that means for working families in America. Next, comedian and talk show host Pete Dominick joins us for an interview and a few laughs, and then former Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper jumps in to discuss Ohio’s upcoming battle over voting rights, and also today’s announcement that Congressman Tim Ryan will be running for Senate in 2022.

Working People’s President | 4-27-21 (2nd Hour)

Max Richtman, President and CEO of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare stops by to talk about how the infrastructure bill helps seniors, and then friend of the show and former Congressman Bob Ney joins to discuss a bunch of new policy proposals and all the backroom drama going on in DC because of them.

The Panel on the Week that Was | 4-26-21

This week’s panel exchanges a variety of opinions on Covid, police accountability, & anti-protest laws among other topics, but they universally agree that Senator Ted Cruz of Texas is the absolute worst. This week’s panelists are Treasurer of the DNC Black Caucus Khary Penebaker, Journalist Sarah Burris of RawStory, and our very own executive producer Brett Pransky.

Weekly Wrap-Up | 4-24-21

At the end of a massive news week, Rick does his best to apply a working-class lens to the tops stories and present them as they are, not as they are spun. Then frontline ER Dr. Keith Pochick and Dr. Kelly Sennholz stop by to talk about vaccine progress and vaccine hesitancy, and how we’re going to navigate the anti-vax fringes to make America safe from Covid.

Climate Expert Aimee Barnes on Sensible Green Policy

Climate Expert Aimee Barnes joins to talk about a number of policies that have a good track record for success, and how we should implement them going forward.

Aimee Barnes is the Senior Advisor at the California-China Climate Institute and Founder of Hua Nani Partners.

Brad Friedman on Biden's Ambitious Climate Agenda

Brad Friedman of the Green News Report discusses Biden’s ambitious plan to cut US emissions in half by 2030.

Brad Friedman is an Investigative blogger and journalist at Bradblog.com and host of the nationally syndicated daily BradCast.

Journalist Sarah Burris on This Week's Madness

Sarah Burris of RawStory joins the show to discuss what most would call the news cycle that never ends, and what she thinks of current stories and those she thinks may be on the horizon.

Sarah Burris is a reporter and political analyst at RawStory

Tax the Rich, Save the Planet | 4-23-21 (1st Hour)

Rick begins the show with a few thoughts on Earth Day, the virtual climate summit held at The White House on Thursday, and how infrastructure needs to be at the forefront of our climate action plan. Then Climate Expert Aimee Barnes joins to talk about a number of policies that have a good track record for success, and how we should implement them going forward, and then Brad Friedman of the Green News Report discusses Biden’s ambitious plan to cut US emissions in half by 2030.

Tax the Rich, Save the Planet | 4-23-21 (2nd Hour)

Sarah Burris of RawStory joins the show to discuss what most would call the news cycle that never ends, and what she thinks of current stories and those she thinks may be on the horizon. Then friend of the show and former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney brings his brand of no-nonsense political analysis to a number of current debates going on in and around the Capitol.

Good Cop, Bad Cop | 4-22-21 (1st Hour)

Rick opens the show with analysis of the seemingly never-ending series of police shootings all over the country. Then Columnist Josh Holland joins to discuss the Chauvin verdict and the growing calls to fundamentally change the way our police protect and serve. To close the hour, journalist and former union organizer Kelly Candaele gets into the details behind the Amazon unionization vote, and how the corporation bent, broke, and twisted the law to win.

Good Cop, Bad Cop | 4-22-21 (2nd Hour)

Rick begins with our weekly conversation with the Badass Teachers Association, and then we get a visit from Bob Ney, former Ohio Congressman and perhaps the last sane conservative in America. Bob and Rick break down the goings-on in DC, and what we need to look out for in the coming weeks and months.

A Moment of Justice | 4-21-21 (2nd Hour)

Treasurer of the DNC Black Caucus Khary Penebaker shares his reaction to the Chauvin verdict and the role it could play in the fight for a more just America. Then, Director Arthur Kanegis joins us to discuss his new biopic “The World is my Country” about the interesting life and times of Garry Davis. Rick closes the show with thoughts on a monumental day in the history of American justice.

 

A Moment of Justice | 4-21-21 (1st Hour)

Rick opens the show with reaction to the Chauvin verdict, and how it is just a first step in a long journey toward real justice for all in America. Then West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword joins us to discuss the Pro Act and WV Senator Joe Manchin’s recent support for it, and Manufacturing Expert Scott Paul shares some thoughts on the competitive advantages of modernizing our crumbling infrastructure.