The Rick Smith Show

Justice System on Trial | 4-20-21

First Hour: Rick opens the show with some thoughts on how opportunity can bring people together, and what we need to do to create it. Then Columnist Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Inquirer discusses his new piece on the escalating police violence against protesters and journalists, and Dr. Robert Kraig explains why Kenosha, Wisconsin is the new “Murder Capital of America.”  Second Hour: Max Moran of The Revolving Door Project talks about how Big Pharma’s control over vaccine science can affect us in ways we haven’t thought much about yet, and then Analyst and former Congressman Bob Ney closes the show with thoughts on what the big stories of the week are likely to be.

 

Will Bunch on Escalating Police Violence

"We need someone investigating crime, whether we call them the police or the department of public safety."

Will Bunch is a National Columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

@Will_Bunch

Robert Kraig on the Foxconn Fiasco

"Modern right-wing ideology has become malignant to the point that pluto-fascism is a nice thing to say about it."

Robert Kraig is the Executive director at Citizen Action of Wisconsin

@RKraig1912
@CitizenActionWI

Max Moran on Big Pharma's Vaccine Power Play

"I got one of the very last Johnson & Johnson vaccines right before they put the temporary hold on them."

Max Moran is the Research Director at the Revolving Door Project

@revolvingdoorDC

@MaxMoranHi

Bob Ney Breaks Down the DC Madness

"The infrastructure bill is one that the President cannot lose."

Bob Ney is a Political Analyst and former Congressman from Ohio.

@bobney

STOP SHOOTING US! | 4-19-21

First Hour: Rick opens the show with a story about yet another mass shooting, and a few thoughts on the forces that are turning America into one big live-target shooting gallery. Then Scott Dworkin joins to share a number of new revelations in the ongoing cesspool of criminality that is the Matt Gaetz story, and then we get to hear from some hard-working union folks about a steelworker strike going on in multiple cities. Second Hour: This week’s Panel breaks down the week, including the neck-snapping hypocrisy of the GOP’s new “anti-corporation” spin, Fox News sorting boys and men based on race instead of age, and the news about a Proud Boy insurrectionist who isn’t too proud to rat out his fellow traitors to save himself some much-deserved jail time. This week’s panelists are: Rich Ojeda, National Spokesman for No Dem Left Behind; Writer, Professor and former Ohio Statehouse candidate Brett Pransky; and Sarah Burris, everyone’s favorite reporter Reporter at RawStory.

Scott Dworkin with the latest on GAETZGATE

Scott Dworkin  joins to share a number of new revelations in the ongoing cesspool of criminality that is the Matt Gaetz story.

 

@funder @TheDemCoalition

Teamster Dan Brush and Steelworker Dan Olivera

On March 29th, the @steelworkers went on strike against Allegheny Technologies at 9 locations across the country for unfair labor practices. They haven't had a raise since 2015.

@Steelworkers

@Teamsters

#1u

THE PANEL on HYPOCRISY and INSURRECTION

This week’s Panel breaks down the week, including the neck-snapping hypocrisy of the GOP’s new “anti-corporation” spin, Fox News sorting boys and men based on race instead of age, and the news about an Oath Keeper insurrectionist who isn’t too proud to rat out his fellow traitors to save himself some much-deserved jail time. This week’s panelists are: Rich Ojeda, National Spokesman for No Dem Left Behind; Writer, Professor and former Ohio Statehouse candidate Brett Pransky; and Sarah Burris, everyone’s favorite reporter Reporter at RawStory.

 

@SarahBurris @RawStory @Ojeda4America @NoDemLeftBehind @BrettPransky

Limbaugh is Dead | 4-16-21

First Hour: Rick begins the night with commentary on the cavalcade of right-wing loons trying to replace Rush Limbaugh. Then Sarah Kendzior of Gaslit Nation joins to discuss new revelations on Russia and the GOP, and Morris Pearl of Patriotic Millionaires shares excerpts from his new book, “Tax the Rich.” Second Hour: Journalist Sarah Burris of RawStory breaks down the week’s stories, and “The Last Sane Conservative” and former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney closes the show with an insider’s understanding of our dysfunctional Congress.

Sarah Kendzior on the Russia/GOP Alliance

"The Cold War ended 30 years ago. Russia has been a hyper-capitalist country for 30 yrs, & that's what Republicans like about it, making tons of money without regulation."

Sarah Kendzior is a writer and the co-host of the Gaslit Nation podcast.

@sarahkendzior

@gaslitnation

Patriotic Millionaire Morris Pearl Says "Tax the Rich"

Morris Pearl is the author of "Tax the Rich: How Lies, Loopholes, and Lobbyists Make the Rick Even Richer"

@morris_pearl

@PatrioticMills

#TaxTheRich

Sarah Burris on the Week That Was

"This is a system-wide issue. As a country, we're not prepared. It'll be a heavy lift to handle elder care for the Baby Boomers, & they're the largest generation we've had so far."

Sarah Burris is a journalist at RawStory.

@SarahBurris

@RawStory

"The Last Sane Conservative" Bob Ney

"We don't need to add people to the system; we need the system to react."

Bob Ney is a Political Analyst and a former Congressman from Ohio.

@bobney

Historical Gun Nuts and Congressional Frat Boys | 4-15-21

First Hour: On the anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination, Rick discusses the irony of historical gun nuts becoming famous, and Scott Dworkin of the Democratic Coalition joins us to discuss his new op-ed, and also Matt Gaetz and the endless stream of Republican scandals in DC. Second Hour: Treasurer of the DNC Black Caucus Khary Penebaker talks about the Chauvin trial and the charges in the Daunte Wright killing. Rick discusses the recent epidemic of gun violence, and then our good friend and former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney stops by to untangle some of the latest nonsense coming out of the Capitol. Rick closes the show with a local story about nursing home privatization.

Scott Dworkin on GaetzGate

"There are a lot of credit card payments for hotel charges, many of which are resorts not related to any official campaign activities. There are also hundreds of thousands in legal fees."

Scott Dworkin is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Democratic Coalition

@funder

@TheDemCoalition

Khary Penebaker on the Staggering Lack of Police Accountability

"I'm not excited that Kimberly Potter was charged with the death of Daunte Wright; I'd much rather that young man still be alive."

Khary Penebaker is Treasurer of the DNC Black Caucus

@kharyp

Bob Ney Makes Sense of the GOP Circus

"I got the Moderna vaccine. I had a reaction after the 2nd shot. That reaction was much better than being on a ventilator, & fortunately it was short-term."

Bob Ney is a Political Analyst and a former GOP Congressman from Ohio

@bobney

Comedy as an Act of Patriotism | 4-14-21

First Hour: Comedian Trae Crowder joins the show to talk about how comedy is necessary in difficult times, and Manufacturing Expert Scott Paul visits to talk trade and infrastructure. Second Hour: Diallo Brooks of People for the American Way on the Chauvin Trial, gun violence, and our inability to “protect and serve.” Also, journalist Bill Scher talks about getting his J&J vaccination appointment canceled, and what that might mean for Americans like him.

Trae Crowder Brings the Funny | 4-14-21

Comedian Trae Crowder stops by the show and delivers a chunk of good old fashioned sense wrapped in his trademark "Liberal Redneck" brand of humor.