The Majority Report with Sam Seder (general)

David Dayen (@ddayen) joins us to discuss bipartisan attacks on Wall Street reform.

On today's show: Updates on how the West Virginia teacher strike is developing. Will Oklahoma teachers be next? And Sam Nunberg's origin story involves meeting Trump at Wrestlemania.

Journalist David Dayen (@ddayen) of The Intercept joins us to discuss the latest bipartisan attack on Wall Street reform. While Congressional bill S.2155 was pitched as a way to relieve community banks and credit unions from the more onerous and expensive parts of Dodd-Frank, Citigroup and other "stadium banks" have been successfully lobbying to build in as many shelters for themselves as possible. 13 Democratic senators support the bill, including Jon Tester, Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Donnelly, and Mark Warner. Dayen discusses Democrats' political rationalizations for supporting the bill as well as the nuts and bolts of how it will promote bank consolidation, hamper regulation, and increase the risk of another financial crisis. For more on the topic, check out Dayen's latest article here and keep up with his work here.

On the fun half: Why you should stop calling conservative Democrats "moderate Democrats." Greg from OK on the potential strike brewing in his state. Would the MR crew eat lab meat? John from San Antonio with an encouraging update on early voting results in TX. Sam Nunberg's strange day of press. A caller degrades sacred plant medicine by accusing Jimmy Dore of being on it. Jim Bakker claims his apocalypse food bucket biz is "a coop." NY Congresswoman Claudia Tenney claims most mass shooters are Democrats. What's making the DCCC so unresponsive to regular people? Michael explains why he'd vote for Dennis Kucinich.

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Direct download: 3-06-18-David_Dayen-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Ryan Grim (@RyanGrim) of The Intercept joins us to talk about the tightening legal net around Jared Kushner and why the DCCC is attacking progressive candidates. 

Brian Kilmeade tells Ainsley Earhardt if she's worried about he pay at Fox News she should be glad she isn't in Hollywood.

The, a look a the Kushner family's business practices and what a failed loan deal with the Qataris tells us about the sort of legal trouble Jared may be in. Why democratic strategists are still stuck in the 'have no position' style of politics, now regarding the emerging consensus for universal healthcare coverage.

On the fun half - Trump jokes about wanting to be President for Life like Xi, Mike from PA calls in to talk DCCC shenanigans, Mike Cernovich thinks christians are being persecuted by tech companies, how to talk about Obama without being glib or racist, and your calls and IMs!

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Direct download: 3-05-18-Ryan_Grim-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:03pm EDT

On today's show: The West Virginia teacher strike and how it relates to the Janus case. School child owns Governor James Justice on the topic of education funding. Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us for a weekly politics rundown. What's different about the Parkland shooting that will actually inspire change? The state of Georgia's extortion of Delta over the NRA discount. How gun control will impact youth voting patterns. The latest on Jervanka.

Sam re-plays a 2015 interview with the legendary Barry Crimmins, who sadly passed away this week. Crimmins talks political comedy, refusing to shake Henry Kissinger's hand, and "Call Me Lucky," the documentary film Bobcat Goldthwait made about his life. He also discusses the abuse he suffered as a child and its effects on him as an adult, and the complicity of the Catholic church in covering up abuse.

On the fun half: Laura Ingraham claims Trump isn't racist. Tucker Carlson criticizes Trump re: gun control. A caller plugs Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive who is running for Congress in New York. Dissident Peasant talks union organizing and the WV teacher strike. A caller on the liberatory potential of technology. Mindy will have none of her Republican neighbor running for office. Alex Jones claims Youtube suspended him because he's exposing pedophiles, but he's recently been accused of sexual harassment and discrimination. Rush Limbaugh thinks the teacher who brought a gun to school is a "radical leftist" plant. A delightful call from Jordan Peterson. Sam and Jamie discuss their relationship to Marxism.

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Direct download: 3-02-18-Cliff_Schecter-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:32pm EDT

Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (@rdunbaro) joins us to discuss her new book, Loaded, A Disarming History of the Second Amendment.

On today's show: Sam remembers Barry Crimmins, a pioneer of political comedy who died on Wednesday at the age of 64.

Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz (@rdunbaro), author of Loaded, A Disarming History of the Second Amendment, joins us to discuss the history of gun rights in America. How Dunbar Ortiz first discovered the addictive power of guns when living in 1970s New Orleans. The connection between our militaristic culture and violence at home. How gun rights made it into the constitution. The history of gun rights in America as a means of killing Native Americans and enslaving Africans. Guns as currency of U.S. expansion. How the NRA was taken over by right-wing groups in the 1970s. How minorities and communists scared the right into becoming gun nuts. Reagan's connection to the reactionary John Birch society. How arming themselves backfired on the Black Panthers.

On the fun half: Trump tells senators they're afraid of the NRA, says he wants to seize guns without due process. John from San Antonio on what early voting results in Texas mean for the Democrats. Jeff in Georgia ties gun culture to evangelical Christianity's worship of power. Nobel peace prize committee receives not one but two forged nominations for Donald Trump. John Kelly misses his reign of terror at the DHS. The Mooch takes Kelly to task for Porter abuse scandal. Mnuchin gets heckled at UCLA speaking engagement, reportedly doesn't want anyone to see the video. Josh tells a gun story from his childhood, talks Jumaane D. Williams' chances at beating Cuomo's lt. governor in the primary. Bernie Sanders pushes to end U.S. involvement in Yemen war. Trump advisor Sam Numberg says he thinks Russia offered Don Jr. dirt on Clinton. Ajit Pai is still the worst. The absurdity of thinking guns will protect us from the government.

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Direct download: 3-01-18-Rosanne_Dunbar_Ortiz-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:40pm EDT

Murtaza Hussain joins us to discuss his latest piece from The Intercept where he details the skyrocketing civilian death toll in the U.S.-led war against ISIS and whether our political changes may be influencing the conduct of this war.

First, Gorka wants teachers to lay down suppressing fire in event of shootings while Hannity wants guards on every floor.

What is the contrast between the Obama and Trump administrations regarding rhetoric, policy, and personnel? Understanding how counterinsurgency (COIN) strategies have worked and not worked in Iraq and Afghanistan. The defeat of ISIS and remaining conditions for insurgency. What the left positions should be on the Assad government and foreign interventionism.

On the fun half - Ben Carson is spending $30k on dining sets for HUD, where the Left should focus gun control efforts, Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity have to apologize for spreading lies about the CNN gun town hall, Laura Ingraham wants kids to shut up and stop playing victims, Wayne LaPierre and the NRA are concerned about the DSA.

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Direct download: 2-28-18-Murtaza_Hussain-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:19pm EDT

Ann Hodges, a Professor of Law at the University of Richmond, joins us to discuss the implications of the Janus case.

On today's show: The NLRB throws out an anti-labor ruling due to a Trump appointee's conflict of interest. Donald Trump won't share his umbrella with his wife and child. A brief introduction to the Janus case.

Ann Hodges, a Professor of Law at the University of Richmond, joins us to discuss the Janus case and what it could mean for public sector unions. As per the Abood decision of 1977, it's legal to have a union shop in the public sector, which means every worker whose interests a union represents is required to pay dues whether or not they want to join the union. However, the union may not use objectors' dues for political purposes. The argument currently being made in the Janus case is that money is political speech, and all union activity is political. Hence, requiring dues of union-averse workers infringes on their first amendment rights. Hodges goes over the basics, the politics, the response of unions, and the effect of the 2016 election. She also goes over some of the absurd suits that could be brought based on Janus' legal precedent.

On the fun half: North Korea point man Joseph Yun resigns from the state department. Trump talks tough about China. PA gets a better district map. The leftist potential of billboards and video games. MAGA fan paints portrait of Trump respecting the flag. Paul Ryan claims tax cuts are helping small businesses, but they're actually going to stock buybacks. Democratic lawmaker/former Verizon exec Mark Keam flashes hammer and sickle behind DSA State Senate rep. Lee Carter while Carter is talking about poverty. Trump claims he would have rushed the Parkland shooter. Ben Carson on having a gun pulled on him. Vice roundtable of current and former NRA members sound off on gun control. GORKA RETURNS. More black bloc talk. Are conservatives under-represented in academia? Ronald Raygun fills in on the Rodriguez case, which will deny detained immigrants the right to bond hearings.

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Direct download: 2-27-18-Ann_Hodges-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:44pm EDT

On today's show: Gorka menaces Mediaite reporter at CPAC, public sector unions under attack, judge blocks part of Trump's efforts to end DACA, Dianne Feinstein loses the support of the California Democratic Party, CNN's Erick Erickson says Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg is a "bully." Spotlight on James Dabney, the Smith and Wesson CEO making piles of money off gun sales.

On the fun half: John from San Antonio talks gun control's potential effect on elections. Dana Loesch says "many in legacy media love mass shootings," lies about being attacked by a mob at town hall. Trump says a school is "no different" than a military base and we need to arm teachers. The iron pipeline that brings guns from the U.S. to Canada. Former Trump U professor "Fat Tony" calls in to clear his name. Eric Trump emits word salad about Russiagate, blames Obama for...something? Former CIA head James Woolsey admits to tampering with other countries' elections. CPAC comms director says RNC elected Michael Steele because he's black, Michael Steele responds. How much of the Bernie bros' antipathy towards Hillary was a psy op by Russia?

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Direct download: 2-26-18-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:22pm EDT

Aviva Chomsky joins us to talk about immigration and her book "Undocumented: How Immigration Became Illegal." The myth that there are a finite number of jobs in the US and immigrants take away opportunities from natural-born citizens. Our history of settler colonialism and slavery. How the Hart-Celler Act of 1965 opened up immigration from Asia but restricted it from Mexico for the first time, creating the concept of the Mexican "illegal" immigrant. The history of "chain migration." How the militarization of the border contributed to the professionalization of smuggling and the takeover of drug traffickers. How nativist immigration policies have hurt workers and helped bosses. How Democratic lawmakers fail to fight for the big picture.

For members, Naomi Klein on The Majority Report on September 21, 2005 talking about the Argentine workers struggle.

Direct download: Aviva_Chomsky_Show_Last_Friday_Off.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Shane Burley (@shane_burley1) joins us to talk about his book, 'Fascism Today: What It Is and How to End It.' The fascist reverence for "natural" hierarchies as justified by racial pseudoscience and gender essentialism. The attractive-to-some notion that white men aren't doing well because the system supports the wrong people. The taxonomy of the modern right and how people with a variety of passions come together under "alt-right" and "alt-lite" banners. How the alt-right coopts left concerns like colonial struggles, "identity politics" and foreign interventionism. The alt-right's critique of capitalism. How to fight fascism using a diversity of tactics, from electoral politics to direct action.

Then, Matt Taibbi on The Majority Report on February 3, 2006

Direct download: Shane_Burley_Show_Feb_22.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

Sam Rosenfeld joins us to talk about his new book, 'The Polarizers: Postwar Architects of Our Partisan Era.' The New Deal and when American politics lacked polarization. What are the problems of too much bipartisanship? The problem posed by the conservative/white supremacist southern democrats. How patronage and historical legacies were more important than ideological and material concerns. The decline of party machines and emergence of an important national government. The assymetry of polarization with Goldwater-type Republicans in the 1960s. The response of conservative/market-based democras to the GOP's partisan success. The dangers and opportunities that emerge when polarization intensifies.

And for members, Saddam Hussain/Fred Armisen calls into the Majority Report on October 12, 2004

Direct download: Sam_Rosenfeld_Show_Feb_21.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Famed whistelblower Daniel Ellsberg joins us to discuss his new book on the 'omnicidal' dangers of nuclear weapons, 'The Doomsday Machine.' Ellsberg's personal history, including his father's connection to the US military-industrial complex and Daniel's time at RAND. How Ellsberg took more classified material than the Pentagon Papers as insurance. The Strangelovian reality of 'Dead Hand' mechanisms and how they could spell global apocalypse. The shocking casualness Ellsberg noticed in his time as a nuclear war planner. What Ellsberg would say to Trump or any president could he brief them. The change needed in our collective consciousness in addressing the proliferation of nukes and decommissioning of doomsday machines.

For members: Journalist James Risen on The Majority Report on Feb 22, 2006.

Direct download: Daniel_Ellsberg_Show_Feb_19.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EDT

Authors and academics Daniel Ziblatt & Stephen Levitsky join us today to discuss their new book, 'How Democracies Die.' The pre-Cold War coup-centric deaths of democraceis, and how elections ended democracies during the cold war. The importance of institutions to making democracies last long. The gatekeeping capacity of political parties. How the GOP has abdicated responsibility for maintaining democracy and became a white identity party. What happens when it's one side breaking the norms? Does the GOP need to be met with its own tactics? Why the GOP becoming more diverse is the simplest available option.

Direct download: Levitsky_Ziblatt_Friday_16_Show.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

On today's show: Sam addresses the horrific school shooting in Florida. Teenage survivors of the massacre speak to local news about the need to take action on gun control. Ted Cruz claims Democrats are trying are trying to "politicize" a tragedy. Chris Murphy speaks on Senate floor: "this happens nowhere else." Marco Rubio claims "we need to know all the facts" before we can formulate a political response to the eighth shooting to have resulted in death or injury during the first seven weeks of 2018.

Daniel Marans (@danielmarans) of The Huffington Post joins us to discuss his latest article, What A Battle Over Virginia’s Most Powerful Monopoly Can Teach Democrats Everywhere. Fueled by massive donations, Virginia Democrats have long tolerated the monopolistic business practices of Dominion Energy, "a longtime foe of state consumer advocates, anti-corruption activists and environmentalists." Recently elected Governor Ralph Northam did not make the company an issue in his campaign. But an up-and-coming group of progressive Democrats like Sam Rasoul have pledged not to take any money from the company and fight back against predatory practices, like double-charging customers for the same service, and winning state-level elections. Marans breaks down what this shift in local politics can teach the Democratic Party going forward.

On the fun half: Josh in Chicago shares his experience of living in London where guns are banned, ICE issues a fascistic statement on a preliminary version of an immigration bill a group of Senators are working on, students in Austin protest to free their classmate from ICE, Trump says he's "totally opposed" to domestic violence, Jeff in GA on Meghan McCardle and the capitalist roots of the gun problem, Ben Shapiro triggered by the "identity politics" of Black Panther, Bari Weiss gets in trouble for a tweet, basketball coach Steve Kerr says "nothing has been done" to protect us from gun violence, Ronald Raygun on ICE's terrorism, some callers from Florida lend their perspective on the tragedy, and a Kansas politician is doing an AR-15 giveaway.

Direct download: 2-15-18-Daniel_Marans-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:15pm EDT

On today's show: Mitt Romney will announce his Senate run on social media. Democratic gains in VA and FL state houses. Trump ignores questions about Rob Porter. Trey Gowdy says the House Oversight Committee has opened an investigation into Porter's security clearance, but former FBI director Chris Wray contradicts his timeline. More stories of ICE terrorism. Jimmy Dore walks back his Seth Rich conspiracy theories but insists Hillary "was not the lesser of two evils" and even Jamie gets annoyed.

On the fun half: Kristen Gillibrand bends the knee, takes corporate PAC money out of her fundraising. Queer and trans POC activists arrested at Columbus Pride for protesting police violence. Mindy tells tales from the racist suburb she's moving out of. Alex Jones thinks Kehinde Wiley painted Obama with sperm on his face for Satanic reasons. Fox attacks a high school for opposing the national anthem's pro-slavery verse. A caller educates the MR crew on how to protect online privacy. Sam gives a caller tips on running for state office. A caller has obscure left-criticism of the push for Medicare-for-all. Confronting ICE agents in public about what they are doing to people. How to push the concept of debt resistance in the mainstream media.

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Direct download: 2-14-18-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:14pm EDT

Eric Levitz from New York joins the Majority Report to talk about his latest report on why canceling the country's $1.4T student debt would increase the purchasing power of a broad, and growing, part of the American labor force.

First, Maria Bartiromo and Paul Ryan choreograph concern about the national debt in order to gut social benefits. 

Then, Eric Levitz on the depressive economic impact of student debt. Navigating the resentments that a student debt jubilee could engender. What sort of students would debt relief help most? How student debt exacerbates the racial wealth gap. The interaction between the declining middle class and need for a college degree to avoid economic precariousness. How does a student debt jubilee become politically feasible.

On the fun half - Megan McArdle has a new job, Gregg Popovich is America's wisest basketball coach, NRATV impresses with a tv smashing commercial, Trump is mentally ill-equipped to care, Jeff Sessions gives a shout out to America's white sheriffs, the perils of calling state constitutions for money in politics.

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Direct download: 2-13-18-Eric_Levitz-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:55pm EDT

Aziz Rana, constitutional law professor at Cornell, joins us to discuss his latest piece in n+1 Magazine, Goodbye, Cold War.

On today's show: The Boston PD does a most Boston thing and honors a white guy for Black History Month. Aziz Rana joins us to talk about the end of the Cold War era in politics, which he places in 2016. Prior to the Cold War, U.S. politics were marked by class conflict, union power within the Democratic Party, and open white nationalism among Republicans. Both the rise of the USSR and World War II ushered in a new era where both major parties held up an increasing commitment to racial equality, just institutions, national identity, and middle class prosperity as reasons American capitalism was better than Soviet communism. During this time, unions went from true organs of class power to special interest groups defending the narrow interests of their members, and social goods began to to get privatized and tied to employment. Taft Hartley didn't help. The fall of the USSR further ensconced the triumph of neoliberalism. As the Obama era showed, legal equality was a step forward but did little to solve deeper economic problems. From growing class consciousness to grassroots movements, Rana draws parallels from the 1930s to the present and warns us against the mistakes of the past.

Good news: The Teamsters become a sanctuary union, and a California court rules against ICE for detaining people without probable cause.

On the fun half: Meghan McCain is sick of hearing Republicans are racist. John from San Antonio wants Democratic candidates to adopt a progressive program. WV state house candidate Lissa Lucas gets dragged off the house floor for reading a list of oil and gas donors. (Go here to donate to her campaign.) Kellyanne Conway claims Donald Trump helps women "privately." Judge Jeanine blames Obama for the Rob Porter scandal and Sebastian Gorka blames the CIA. Is Jimmy Dorr the Jeanine Pirro of the left? A call from Ronald Raygun. Andy Ternay wears "fuck Trump" shirt to Home Depot. Former Reagan advisor Lee Atwater explains the evolution of the southern strategy on his deathbed. The role of imperialism in U.S.-Taiwan relations. The left-criticism of student debt forgiveness is garbage. How Obama should have handled the Supreme Court. Is Pelosi the right messenger for the Democrats' "crumbs" message? Josh from [redacted] calls Jamie "Hymie."

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Direct download: 2-12-18-Aziz_Rana-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:28pm EDT

On today's show: Mike Pence won't comment on Rob Porter, says "it's a great honor to serve." Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us to discuss the latest news from the Trump administration. Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis and John "not a general" Kelly might seem like the adults in the room, but they're guilty of atrocities and shouldn't be glorified. Nobody is surprised the Trump administration harbored a known abuser. Did Trump and Pence know about Porter? Some good news from Ohio. John Kasich 2020?

Rand Paul's shutdown speech elicits tough talk from Charlie Dent (R-PA) re: the time he got beaten up by his neighbor, which in turn elicits movie ideas from the MR crew. Omarosa says she regrets everything on Celebrity Big Brother and the White House is forced to respond. Corey Pein (@coreypein), host of News From Nowhere and author of the forthcoming Live Work Work Work Die: A Journey into the Savage Heart of Silicon Valley, joins us to talk tech and movies. Silicon Valley is no longer being valorized in our culture. Why superhero franchises are tiresome. Corey recommends Werner Herzog's 1972 film "Aguirre, the Wrath of God," a fictional story about a doomed Spanish conquistador expedition starring Klaus Kinski. More fun with Jordan Peterson.

On the fun half: Gabe in Chicago talks ADHD, Justice Democrats, and the IL governor's race. Trump sticks up for Rob Porter. Porter's ex-wife Jennifer Willoughby details the abuse she suffered. A ribald joke about Meghan McCain. More on why Jimmy Dorr is the worst. Brenda has the best idea yet for a Rand Paul beatdown flick. Fox News gets upset that writer Jesse Farrar wants to waterboard conservative students, never mind giving them bad grades. The other problem with campus culture. How do we fix the opiate epidemic? Trump blames Hope Hicks for the Rob Porter scandal.

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Direct download: 2-9-18-Cliff_Schecter-Corey_Pein-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:57pm EDT

David Golumbia (@dgolumbia), English professor and faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University joins us to discuss his book Politics of Bitcoin: Software as Right Wing Extremism.

On today's show: Scott Dworkin's scammy #resistance PAC, and a literal Nazi is running for Congress in Illinois. David Golumbia (@dgolumbia) joins us to discuss crypto-currencies: What a crypto-currency is, how Bitcoin is "mined," and the economic principles at play. Golumbia breaks down some of the criticisms of Bitcoin, from the contradictions embedded within it to its association with far-right politics. Could anything created by libertarians really be that good? He explains why we might want to have some centralized regulations on our currency and makes a case for a democratic economy, rather than one created by a shady hacker class.

Nancy Pelosi says she won't whip the House to vote against the DACA-free budget deal. Look up your representative here and do it for her.

On the fun half: Kyle Shank provides further info on crypto-currencies and Sam makes a plan to start one of his own. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis tries to explain why we need low yield nuclear missiles to keep us safe. Jordan Peterson defends "daddy daughter" dances from cultural Marxists and claims men and women can't work together. Pastor Paul Begley claims Melania ordered the White House exorcised before she'd move in. Man quits Department of Labor in protest of its collaboration with ICE (donate to him here). A caller's personal take on NATO, Putin, and Latvia. Mike Pence rebuffed by gay Olympic figure skater. Jeff Sessions promotes aspirin as opiate alternative. Never Trumper Patrick Ruffini misses the cultural cachet (and war crimes) of the Bush II administration. Josh in Chicago breaks down the IL governor's race, encourages support of Daniel Bliss. The crew re-watches the Trump scalp reduction video. Sam offers encouragement to an aspiring academic.

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Direct download: 2-8-18-David_Golumbia-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:17pm EDT

On today's show: Trump "would love to see a shutdown" if border security isn't strengthened, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly thinks people who didn't sign up for DACA are lazy, a Kansas professor was seized by ICE for minor infractions, Disney will save $1.2 billion/year in taxes and spend just $125 million on one-time bonuses for workers, and partisan gerrymandering could be declared unconstitutional in WI.

On the fun half: Josh in Chicago thinks Jeff Merkley would make a good Senate leader, Addison in Ohio fills us in on why Laci Green is bad, former Evergreen State College professor Bret Weinstein says he was "ejected from the left" by student protests, a caller shares his experience with Medicaid work requirements, the smoking gun on Trump's scalp reduction, Jeff Sessions' nonsensical insistence that marijuana leads to opiate addiction, Gorka still totally in touch with Trump, racist asshole harasses Korean-American woman on camera, a caller on how Ursula K. Le Guin's work helps people envision a world without capitalism, progressive MI gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed is getting smeared by his primary opponents, should Cenk Uygur be purged from the left, Jeff in GA tells a parable about how everyone deserves cornbread, Philly city council votes to end cash bail, and a caller asks how to deal with sexual assault on campus.

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Direct download: 2-7-18-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:28pm EDT

On today's show: The stock market is down but it matters not, Trump tells factory workers the Democrats have "bad energy" and are committing "treason," and the secretary referenced in Paul Ryan's infamous "$1.50" tweet responds.

The Intercept's Ryan Grim (@ryangrim) joins us to discuss how Democrats get picked to run for office. As Grim explains, the DCCC is the House campaign arm of the DNC, ostensibly tasked with helping Democrats win nationwide. But faced with an unprecedented array of viable left-populist candidates, the DCCC has been endorsing establishment candidates in primaries even when they have a poor track record, like Angie Craig, the medical device executive who underperformed every Democrat including Hillary Clinton when she ran for Congress in MN in 2016. Grim breaks down the reasons for this, including reliance on big donors, tactical misunderstandings of the political terrain, the nepotistic way contracts are awarded to consultants, and of course, ideology (which is shaped by all the aforementioned things). Despite all this, Grim sees hope in a new generation of progressive Democrats who are raising money from small donors, creating their own grassroots institutions, and abandoning the goal of the "permanent majority" in favor of bold, popular programs that actually improve people's lives. Read his piece on the subject here.

On the fun half: Joe Rogan shouts out MR and says we're "close minded" because we don't give a platform to racists like Steven Crowder, John from San Antonio criticizes Our Revolution's treatment of progressive candidates in TX, Trump responds to Nancy Pelosi's "crumbs" comment with "she's a rich lady who wants to give all of your money away," Donald Trump Jr. says his dad can't be racist because he's friends with rappers, Carter Page tries to explain why it's okay that he advised both the Kremlin and the Trump campaign and does such a bad job that Jamie starts caring about #Russiagate, and a caller un-ironically bitches about "social justice warriors."

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Direct download: 2-6-18-Ryan_Grim-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:03pm EDT

On today's show Alyona Minkovski, (@AlyonaMink) of Salon.com joins us. What we can learn from the transparently propagandistic motivations for the Nunes memo. The democrats unsurprisingly cozying up to the national security state and what's troubling about that. What is actually worrying about domestic spying policies that have bipartisan support.

On the fun half - Paul Ryan wants you to be happy with $1.50 more a week, IQ and the sociologists that promote it, Gorka challenges warnings of white supremacy on CSPAN, PA loses its gerrymandered districts, Dodge Ram Trucks are the modern MLK, Trudeau loses his cool at a town hall protested by pipeline opponents, plus your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 2-5-18-Alyona_Minkovski-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:06pm EDT

Michael Shure, of i24NEWS and TYT, and Matt Binder (subscribe to Matt's new show here), join us for Casual Friday.

On today's show: Jesse Waters compares FBI agents investigating Russia-gate to racist cops patrolling black neighborhoods. Journalist Michael Shure joins us to discuss his latest report from Trump country. As it turns out, Trump's supporters in Florida still think he's doing a great job, from protecting their "first amendment rights" to his quixotic quest to "lock her up." What are we supposed to do with these people? What impact did Trump's SOTU have? Should we kick Pelosi and Schumer out of the Democratic Party because they're bad at strategy? Plus, Shure breaks down the potential repercussions of the de-classified Nunes memo. Will it prove the deep state is out to get Trump & co., or backfire spectacularly? Stay tuned!

Former MR crew member Matt "old Matt" Binder makes his triumphant return. Fresh off predicting the rise of Mike Cernovich, Binder breaks down QAnon, a new vector for right-wing conspiracy theories birthed in the bowels of 4chan. While the faithful believe those who post as "QAnon" have inside intel on the government, anyone can take up the mantle and spread breadcrumbs for #Pizzagate rubes to eagerly gobble up (and for Alex Jones to cover on Infowars). Some of this may be the result of late capitalist dissatisfaction, but there have always been charlatans seeking to profit off of offering simple answers in a complex world. It would be funnier were it not actually influencing policy at the highest levels of our current administration.

Check out Matt's debate with "men's rights activist" Paul Elam.

On the fun half: John from San Antonio talks Bernie's potential presidential run and urges him to start early, ICE continues to terrorize immigrants by asking to see people's papers on an Amtrak train, Jimmy Kimmel makes MAGA chuds confront a family that could get broken up by the DACA repeal, Jesse Waters has thoughts on the piss tape, Don Shooter makes a defiant, Michael Scott-like speech upon being expelled from the Arizona House of Representatives for sexual harassment, a caller takes Judy Gold to task for spreading ableism and fatphobia, Ronald Raygun talks ICE's dirty immigration court tactics and suggests picketing their offices, and Jeff from Georgia (Dissident Peasant) has an incrementalist awakening.

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Direct download: 2-2-18-Michael_Shure-Matt_Binder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:30pm EDT

Ari Berman (@AriBerman) joins us to discuss his latest piece in Rolling Stone about how a combination of gerrymandering, voter-ID laws, and dark money, Republicans have tipped the political scales in their favor. Court decisions on racial and partisan gerrymandering. Why Justice Kennedy is an important bellwether. The response to "If voting mattered wouldn't they make it illegal?" is: they are. Why photo ID laws are designed and implemented in ways to disenfranchise voters. Wisconsin as anti-democratic testing ground.

On the fun half - Why do people flock to centrists? Do consumers have a role in fixing american healthcare? Tomi Lahren freaks out about Joe Kennedy, Alex Jones thinks They may nuke DC, a DACA recipient calls in and talks about being an American, the irritation of Pod Save America, and Michael Wolff defends his Nikki Haley rumor mongering.

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Direct download: 2-1-18-Ari_Berman-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:55pm EDT

On today's show: Mike Cernovich wants to buy Gawker for $500k, and his stooge Jack Posobiec's marriage is totally not on the rocks. We revisit some of the lowlights of Trump's SOTU: In an address that garnered the lowest net positive ratings since 1998, Trump attacked public sector unions under the guise of helping the VA, took credit for a long term trend in black unemployment rates, lied about "chain migration" and the visa lottery to whip up anti-immigrant sentiment, and mentioned the MS-13 gang about a million times. We break down what Joe Kennedy got wrong in his response and what Bernie Sanders got right.

On the fun half: Ronald Raygun points out Trump fabricated his gang and crime factoids and explains how nativist immigration policy actually worsens the problem. Congressman Jeff Duncan (R-SC) gets Trump to say on a hot mic that he will "100%" release the Nunes memo. Sam tells a story about a woke biker gang he met in Australia. Ryan in Ohio says Ohioans are on the side of the Palestinian man who got deported after 40 years in the US. Are liberal elites being hypocrites when they call working class people racists? Meghan in NJ says the Dems could have done more to protest during the SOTU and tells us Trump's hidden history as an anchor baby. Mr. Jamie Peck calls in to talk direct action and take Sam to task for focusing so much on electoral politics. Mindy defends Joe Kennedy. Should millennials be bringing children into this messed up world?

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Direct download: 1-31-18-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Join us for a special edition of the Majority Report as we watch Donald Trump's first State of the Union address with our old friend, the hilarious Judy Gold (@jewdygold). Afterwards, Judy responds with her own SOTU, then we watch responses from Joseph Kennedy III and Bernie "only guy who gets it" Sanders.

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Direct download: 1-30-18-Judy_Gold-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:26pm EDT

On today's show: SNL reminds everyone that Bush was actually a terrible president. Christian Picciolini, a reformed white supremacist turned peace activist, joins us to discuss his new book, "White American Youth: My Descent into America's Most Violent Hate Movement--and How I Got Out," and explain how the white supremacist movement has grown and thrived in the age of Trump. From his own experiences as a member of a neo-Nazi skinhead gang, he concludes the white power movement preys on people's need for community, targeting disaffected, insecure, or otherwise marginalized youth. He traces his journey from when he first joined CASH (Chicago Area Skin-Heads) to when he exited the group years later after making personal connections with black and Jewish customers at his record store. He discusses the connections between American neo-Nazis and Islamist groups like ISIS. Finally, he breaks down what's going on with so-called "alt-right" groups and offers suggestions for how to combat their influence through empathy. (We're probably still going to make fun of their leaders, but it's food for thought.)

On the fun half: Donald Trump tries to explain climate change (or "heating and cooling") to Piers Morgan, Jeb Bush takes some weak shots at Rubio and Trump and is generally miserable, a caller says Americans need to stop letting the aristocracy divide us, a caller shares firsthand knowledge of the Hell's Angels, why are the Democrats so committed to bipartisanship when their base DGAF, is Obama to blame for rehabilitating Bush II's image? (yes), the connection between right-wing libertarianism and the alt-right, Stephanie Hamill whines about fake news re: Mueller and gets called out for her #Pizzagate tweet, has Sam ever been in a fist fight?, and Sam reminisces about the time he got yelled at by Carl Bernstein.

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Direct download: 1-29-18-Christian_Picciolini-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:31pm EDT

Cliff Schecter (@CliffSchecter) and Isabel Gillies (@IsabelGillies) join us for Casual Friday.

On today's show: ICE strikes a deal to track people's license plates, Sean Hannity backs off his claim that Trump trying to fire Mueller is "fake news," and Cliff Schecter (@CliffSchecter) joins us to talk Mueller, government shutdown, cowardly Democrats, and more. After taking Chuck Schumer to task for his poor negotiation skills, Cliff and Sam posit some ideas for who might do a better job as Senate minority leader in the age of Trump. Next, Isabel Gillies (@IsabelGillies) calls in to talk star sightings, the Oscars, and #metoo's effect on Hollywood. Is Casey Affleck's stepping down from presenting the "best actress" award a sign things are changing? Isabel shares a personal story that relates to the current conversation.

On the fun half: John from San Antonio talks Medicare for All, DACA, and how nobody cares about the stock market, Chris Lapakko wonders if Democrats should skip the state of the union, Ron Johnson backs off his "secret society" claim, Trump claims at Davos "the best anti-poverty program is a paycheck" (will this lead him to a federal jobs guarantee?), Republicans refuse to say they find Mike Pence more credible than Stormy Daniels, can we shame lawmakers and gun manufacturers by naming mass shootings after them?, a caller breaks down a Senate race in FL, more commie talk, and a caller wants help getting through to his centrist liberal friends (hint: send them to JoinTheMajorityReport.com).

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Direct download: 1-26-18-Cliff_schecter-Isabel_Gillies-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:21pm EDT

David A. Ansell (@DrDavidAnsell) is a Chicago-based physician, social epidemiologist and author, most recently of "The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills." His efforts at both the national and local levels have advanced concerns about health inequities and the structure of the US health care system.
 
On today's show: Pizzagater Jack Posobiec thinks someone hacked his Bumble account to make it look like he was cheating on his pregnant wife, Senator Ron Johnson claims he has an FBI informant with info on the agency's "secret society," and Lou Dobbs thinks it's "time to declare war" against the "deep state."
 
David A. Ansell (@DrDavidAnsell) joins us to discuss his new book "The Death Gap: How Inequality Kills." In this book, Ansell breaks down how economic inequality reduces the life expectancy of people in poor neighborhoods. It's not simply that low-income people lack access to healthcare; growing up in an environment of stress and depravation has also been shown to worsen health outcomes. And when people die younger, they have less time to create wealth, creating a feedback effect that further exacerbates the problem. Ansell then tells some personal stories from his time as a doctor in Chicago to hammer the point home: We live in a violent healthcare apartheid state fueled by racism, exploitation, and un-fettered capitalism.
 
On the fun half: A caller fills us in on what's going on with the Brazilian election, a caller recommends the book "American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America" by Chris Hedges, Trump "can't wait" to testify in the Mueller investigation, Trey Gowdy has questions about the FBI's secret society, a caller asks where his money will make the most difference, Sam and Jamie discuss whether or not social democracy is a sufficient solution to the problems created by capitalism, Ronald Raygun talks immigration and how he's come around on the points Jamie made about the Aziz Ansari story, and Tim from New Paltz offers scientific support for the idea that humans are a communally-inclined species. (For more on hunter-gatherer societies, check out "Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What it Means for Modern Relationships" by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha.)
 

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Direct download: 1-25-18-David_Ansell-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:38pm EDT

On today's show, James Risen joins us to discuss his piece at the Intercept, My Life as a New York Times Reporter in the Shadow of the War on Terror. When he first uncovered a scoop on warrantless wiretapping of US citizens during the Bush years, it was an uphill battle to get the New York Times to publish it. The Bush administration told them to keep it under wraps for national security reasons, and NYT executive editor Bill Killer obeyed. When Risen threatened to put his reporting in a book instead, the paper still tried to suppress information in the name of national security. Risen's bravery in moving forward with the project — which was published in 2006 under the title "State of War: The Secret History of the CIA and the Bush Administration" — as well as protecting his sources in the face of a subpoena from the Obama administration and potential jail time, helped raise standards for how the media reports on national security matters.

On the fun half: Tomi Lahren is outraged black players aren't standing for the national anthem, a DSA member asks what white gentrifiers should consider when organizing tenants' unions in their communities, "steak doctor" Willie Degel cries about how the minimum wage increase is hurting small business owners, more discussion of DACA, the wall, and spineless Chuck Schumer, Alex Jones thinks he has the real Nunes memo, Senator Ron Johnson claims to know of an FBI "secret society," Mindy shares a dispatch from the Women's March, and how do Christians rationalize voting for Trump?

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Direct download: 1-24-18-James_Risen-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:35pm EDT

On today's show, Devin Nunes claims to have a memo about the FBI and DOJ abusing FISA but won't release it, and the Democrats have no strategy in the government shutdown.

Suja Thomas (@sujathomas3) discusses her new book, Unequal: How America's Courts Undermine Discrimination Law. While discrimination is technically against the law, there are many barriers to bringing claims. Thomas goes over some examples of egregious cases that were nonetheless dismissed, then explains some of the institutional barriers that prevent people from getting justice in these cases, from precedent and doctrine to the relative privilege of the judges making the decisions.

On the fun half: A member of Generation Z calls in to question whether his generation is actually more conservative, a caller discusses the Polish doctor detained by ICE, Gavin McInnes is a sad widdle baby throwing temper tantrums about his ever-decreasing relevance, Mike from PA breaks down his state's anti-gerrymandering decision, Lyin' Ted Cruz is caught being a hypocrite about the shutdown, a carpenter shares a story of a co-worker being turned over to ICE, are police unions always bad?, Dissident Peasant takes Senate Democrats to task, a brief discussion of Chelsea Manning, and Ronald Raygun fills us in on all the ways the GOP can terrorize immigrants.

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Direct download: 1-23-18-Suja_Thomas-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:05pm EDT

Hello everyone. Today, journalist Corey Pein (@CoreyPein) joins us to discuss the brutal crackdown on immigrants and the state of the government shutdown.

First, a Steakhouse CEO is upset waitstaff no longer act like servants.

Then, Corey and Michael talk the state of play on the government shutdown. Then, the onslaught against immigrant families and sanctuary cities carried out by ICE. The role of faith groups in defending immigrants from the ICE terror campaign.

On the fun half - Joe Scarborough continues subjecting America to his lame protest tunes, Alex Jones says Trump officially not illuminati, a return of Sassy Trump, Mike Pompeo says the CIA is being less 'risk averse.' Chelsea Manning crashes alt-right party but should skip the photo ops, plus your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 1-22-18-Corey_Pein-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:22pm EDT

On today's show: Mark Steyn says "at least white supremacists are American citizens." Heather Parton a.k.a. Digby (@digby56) joins us to talk government shutdown. Will Democrats hold the line on DACA, or will they cave like they always do? The extreme unpopularity of GOP policies, especially re: immigration, gives Digby reason to be hopeful. She then lays out a theory as to why Trump's tryst with Stormy Daniels supports the existence of a Russian piss tape. The truth is out there!

Next, Judy Gold (@JewdyGold) comes on for her patented two minutes' hate on topics including: Trump's abortion hypocrisy, the government shutdown, the New York Times' elevation of pro-Trump voices, tragic figure Chris Christie, and Trump's soft, repulsive body. Is it cool to fat-shame a monster? Roxane Gay's not willing to scold people for it, so maybe it's okay.

The family of deported father Jorge Garcia appear on "The View" to send a message to Trump.

On the fun half: Dave in Chicago plugs this weekend's protests and urges us to use encrypted messaging services, a caller talks conservatism in Hispanic communities, Carl Higbie thinks blacks see having kids "a form of employment," gun nuts think they're being persecuted like Jews during the Holocaust, and Bernie Sanders calls in to talk DACA, the shutdown, and Medicare for all. How will progressives take back the House in 2018? Via grassroots action, increased turnout, and a 50 state strategy, of course! With broad, inspiring messages like Medicare for all and a $15 minimum wage (plus increased transparency and democracy), Sanders says the party is poised to make major gains in 2018 and beyond.

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Direct download: 1-19-18-Digby-Judy_Gold-Bernie_Sanders-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:42pm EDT

On today's show: Fox News' Bob Massi thinks the Democrats boycotting Trump's state of the union are the real racists, Senator Ed Markey says Dems are "not going to blink" without DACA, General John Kelly says Trump's views on the wall have "evolved" and gets reamed out on Twitter by Boss Baby himself, Trump's policies and the El Salvador government are working together to force refugees into slave labor in Qatar. 

On the fun half: Greg in OK plugs progressive Tom Guild's 2018 congressional campaign, James in Brussels breaks down how lobbying and campaign finance work in Europe, AZ governor Doug Ducey is offended the media would tie his "school choice" campaign to the Koch brothers just because they're funding it, we discuss the Aziz Ansari story with multiple callers, Kyle Stephens confronts her rapist, former USA Olympic team doctor Larry Nassar, in court, Sam tries to bro down with a caller about carpentry, can social movements change policy or must we engage in bourgeois electoralism, Jeff Sessions spreads misinformation about the education levels of immigrants (not that it should matter; let's not play respectability politics), why is the Democratic Party so beholden to purple states, a Canadian talks about US immigration policy's effects on Canada, Ronald Raygun delivers the funny once more, and a DACA recipient calls in to share his story.

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Direct download: 1-18-18-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:11pm EDT

Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) joins us to talk about the changing political tide.

On today's show: Trump paid adult performer Stormy Daniels $150k for mysterious reasons but nobody cares because it's Trump, and Eric Trump goes on Fox and Friends to claim his dad is too greedy to be racist.

Journalist David Weigel joins us to discuss "the Wisconsin surprise." Is it a sign that districts all over the country will switch from "R" to "D" in 2018? While wealthy exurbs will benefit most from the Trump tax cuts, dissatisfaction with other Trump policies led these districts to lean toward Democrat Patty Schachtner in Tuesday's special state Senate election. With rising backlash to Trump and ad hoc groups all over the country contributing money and people power to defeating the GOP, it's possible Democrats will continue to see victories.

On the fun half: Trump's homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen isn't sure that Norway is mostly white people, Tucker Carlson and his crazy friend Heather MacDonald think feminists brought rape upon themselves via the sexual revolution, Dave Rubin uses MLK Day to remind viewers he understands neither MLK, economic systems, nor the meaning of life, a caller accuses the left of supporting Chelsea Manning's Senate run for id-pol-related reasons, Steve Bannon calls in with a question about Bitcoin, Victor in VA wonders what the Democrats' immigration policy actually is, are bad faith actors using the Aziz Ansari story as an excuse for #metoo backlash? (duh), White House doctor Ronny Jackson claims Trump has "great genes," Jamie upsets Michael with a theory on Trump's kinks, Senator Jeff Flake compares Trump to Stalin, and Republicans steal valor from Abe Lincoln.

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Direct download: 1-17-18-Dave_Weigel-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:39pm EDT

Iowa voters openly laugh at State Senator Joni Ernst when she suggests Trump is "standing up" for certain countries, Tom Cotton thinks the Democrats will be punished politically if they shut down the government over DACA, KY governor Matt Bevin defends Medicaid work requirements, a woman bids a tearful farewell to her husband who's being deported after 30 years in the US, and Sam says the f-word, with good reason: Trump's attack on immigrants is racism, pure and simple.

On the fun half: Jon from San Antonio breaks down the Democrats' 2018 chances, Ronald Raygun thinks the media has failed us by reporting more on the word "shithole" than Trump's actual immigration policy, Rand Paul thinks we are the problem for calling Trump a racist, S.E. Cupp has some interesting metaphors for Trump's defenders, Project Veritas "uncovers" well-known facts about social media, Ben Shapiro finally gets shoved in a locker, UK politician Emily Thornberry throws shade on Trump's attempted visit, a caller plugs Edwards for PA, a caller makes Sam an offer he can't refuse, Gorka tries desperately to hold onto relevance, and Dissident Peasant explains why we must un-couple work from our value as people.

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Direct download: 1-16-18-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00pm EDT

Dr. King’s first tv “interview” from the show "The Open Mind – The New Negro" in 1957, hosted by Professor Richard D. Hefner.

Beyond Vietnam, delivered on April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York City.

MLK’s last speech “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution“ delivered at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., on 31 March 1968.

Walter Cronkite reports King's assassination.

Nina Simone "Why?" live, 3 days following MLK's assassination.

Telephone Conversation between President Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., August 20, 1965 Time: 5:10 PM 

Topics: Close Votes On Poverty Bill; Thomas Kuchel's Letter On Watts Riots; MLK's Meetings With California Leaders; Need For Federal Programs To Alleviate Poverty; WH Civil Rights Conference; Howard University Speech; MLK's Views On Vietnam Policy; Peace Efforts

Direct download: 1-15-18-MLK_Day-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:54am EDT

David Dayen (@ddayen) joins us to discuss the evils of Aflac and Film Guy Matthew Weiss (@langdonboom) drops some quality movie recommendations.

On today's show: Dick Durbin is outraged that Trump called countries "shitholes," ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra can't name a single Dutch politician burned alive by Muslims, and Jesse Waters defends Trump's remarks. Journalist David Dayen discusses his new series at The Intercept, Behind the Duck, in which he exposes the wild abuses and hyper-exploitation operating at every level of the company. As it turns out, the blatantly illegal misclassification of workers is only the tip of the iceberg. Next, Film Guy Matthew stops by to recommend some movies everyone should check out: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, a 1969 British coming-of-age drama set in an all-girls school, and Errol Morris' mind-bending new series "Wormwood," which explores the fallout of the US government's MK Ultra program. He also recommends a few things to watch while enjoying psychedelics, as does Jamie.

On the fun half: Steve Mnuchin says Davos is not a "globalist hangout," a caller breaks down why shitcoin is the best cryptocurrency, #NeverTrump conservative Rick Wilson threatens to gut Jonathan Frederick "like a fish," Don Lemon calls out Trump's racism, what's the deal with Slavoj Zizek, and the crew discusses problematic favs not limited to but including: T.S. Eliot, Swans, D.H. Lawrence, virtually all music enjoyed by Michael, and Michael himself.

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Direct download: 1-12-18-David_Dayen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:16pm EDT

Trita Parsi, the founder and president of the Iranian American Council, joins us to discuss the recent Iran protests. Parsi explains how the country's government's leaked budget, with cuts to entitlements, and new taxes enraged its citizens and led them to protest. Cronyism, economic inequality, and state religious repression in Iran. Outside agitation by the US and others and Rouhani's acknowledgment of protester rights. The red line ruling-class conservatives crossed in letting political conflict disrupt everyday life against Rouhani. Rouhani's untimely neoliberal leanings. What is and is not working about the Iran deal, particularly how it serves Trump as a periodic reminder of an Obama accomplishment. The role of sanctions in depressing Iran and stoking frustration, and how Trump admin instability makes it worse.

On the fun half - Steve Bannon calls in as candidates begin to distance themselves from him, Carrier workers getting laid off again, Arpaio is back on his birther, more on BitCoin, Laura Ingraham's right wing listeners aren't happy with Trump saying DACA recipients may not be kicked out.

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Direct download: 1-11-18-Trita_Parsi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:17pm EDT

Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) joins us to discuss his new book, I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street.

On today's show: Infamous former sheriff Joe Arpaio thinks he's qualified to be a senator, and click here to win a ticket to see Dennis Miller live. Let's fill the front row with MR listeners saying "bap bap bap" in unison!

Journalist and author Matt Taibbi provides background and context to the police killing of Staten Island man Eric Garner. As gentrification crept into Garner's Tompkinsville neighborhood, the police became an occupying force, targeting Garner and others for small offenses under the as-yet-unproven "broken windows" theory. Garner was not even selling cigarettes on the day he died, but the cops targeted him anyway. Taibbi breaks down the flaws in our criminal justice system that allowed Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who killed Garner, to evade accountability. He also remembers Garner's daughter Erica as a promising young activist whose life was cut tragically short.

On the fun half: We continue our east coast/north coast beef over New York vs. Chicago pizza, Dianne Feinstein tricks Trump into supporting a "clean DACA" act, Oprah's pro-war propaganda, a parochial school asks kids to come up with arguments in favor of slavery, Dissident Peasant laments how much power the police and military have, the Mercers throw Steve Bannon under the bus over a $7 billion tax bill, and a caller predicts Oprah will win the Democratic nomination.

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Direct download: 1-10-18-Matt_Taibbi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

Author, labor organizer and scholar Jane McAlevey (@rsgexp), author of "Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell): My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement" joins us to discuss union organizing in the age of Trump.

On today's show: Trump's HHS nominee Alex Azar once extended Cialis' patent by testing it on kids. KS state Rep. Steve Alford thinks blacks are especially susceptible to marijuana abuse. McAlevey breaks down the potential fallout from the Janus and Murphy Oil cases, gives tips for building solidarity even in right to work states, and explains why the women's and labor movements must get better at working together. Could the "free riders" imposed by anti-union decisions be an opportunity to build working class solidarity?

On the fun half: Ivanka tweets about Oprah's speech, Ainsley Earhardt says it's "not fair" that immigrants get to "live here for free," a caller is sorry he ever liked Sam Harris or Dave Rubin, THE RETURN OF DUG, Alex Jones takes on Oprah, an Australian caller hates on Tony Blair, and Mindy rails against Democratic incompetence in her state.

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Direct download: 1-9-18-Jane_McAlevey-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:51pm EDT

Dr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco (@MehlmanOrozco) joins us to discuss her new book Hidden in Plain Sight: America’s Slaves of the New Millennium. Drawing on a large volume of research, Mehlman-Orozco debunks some of the preconceived notions people hold about trafficking victims, traffickers, and clients, who are often unaware they're employing trafficking victims. She critiques counterproductive policy like the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which targets websites like Backpage.com, and lays out a case for comprehensive decriminalization of sex work as advocated by Amnesty International.

On the fun half: Ronald Raygun tries to bang Sam's wife and updates us on one of his immigration cases, Rep. Don Shooter gets weird in response to a question about the sexual harassment allegations against him, Alex Jones has an anti-Semitic ragegasm over "demonic" journalist Brian Stelter, a caller delivers some left crit of Oprah, Trump needs his "executive time," Boris thinks Trump is doing a great job handling North Korea, how do we move the Democrats to the left, and Gabe from Chicago notes the Republican psyche is all projection.

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Direct download: 1-8-18-Kimberly_Mehlman_Orozco-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:51pm EDT

On this Casual Friday episode, Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us to discuss the Democrats' chances of re-taking the Senate, Jeff Sessions' racist war on pot, the electoral impact of Puerto Ricans moving to Florida, and why the Democrats refuse to run on extremely popular issues like marijuana legalization. Next, Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler) comes on to discuss Michael Wolff's book and Trump's cognitive capacity for trying to bang his friends' wives. Is he an idiot savant? Then Sam breaks out his talking Dennis Miller doll and everyone marvels at the comedic tragedy of it all.

On the fun half: Sam's avatar does Dance Dance Revolution to the Euro disco version of La Poupee, Michael Wolff discusses his book on TV, Alex Jones calls Bannon a traitor, the Mooch angles for a return to the White House, "Carl in NH" complains about reverse racism, the Mooch praises Michael Wolff's giant DSL, and a caller explains the origins of the word "libtard."

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Direct download: 1-5-18-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:53pm EDT

On this episode of The Majority Report, Cas Mudde (@CasMudde), an assistant Professor of International Relations at University of Georgia and author of The Far Right in America (Extremism and Democracy), joins us to discuss far right movements in Europe and the United States. How are these movements different in the US vs Europe? How reliant are they on shady rich people's money? Whatever happened to the Tea Party? And the five stages of liberal denial!

On the fun half: Gavin McInnes thinks Michael Wolf wrote a mean book about Trump because he's a closeted gay, Newt Gingrich disses Bannon, Tucker Carlson is upset about The Root being mean to white people, Jeff Sessions rescinds Obama's policy on legal pot, Ben Carson fails at rolling back a voucher program, a caller outlines the need for a unified left, more callers discuss ethnocentricity, and will the bitcoin bubble burst? (Yes.)

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Direct download: 1-4-18-Cas_Mudde-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:39pm EDT

Trita Parsi calls out William Kristol for his calls to bomb and kill Iranians.

Healthcare journalist Suzanne Gordon (@suzannecgordon) : "The Battle for Veterans’ Healthcare: Dispatches from the Frontlines of Policy Making and Patient Car", explains the importance of VHA's public scientific health innovation. Why Veterans health is a nationalized public health system.Why public healthcare works better. The distinctions between treating veterans and civilians. Why socialized medicine works best in treating people based on evidence? The Bush Administration and the undermining of VA healthcare. The astroturf group targeting the VA. The failures of media coverage of the VA. How privatizing the VA hurts service. The Bernie Sanders bill that would have saved the VA and Republican bill that ended up creating a funding gap in the VA. The Charter school strategy of starving public services so they can be privatized and why the Kochs and other market fanatics want to destroy the VA because of its success as government run healthcare.

On The Fun Half: The Moore's Jewish lawyer is apparently not really their friend after all. North Dakota state rep likes calling people libtards on Twitter. South Carolina Republican state lawmakers try to create a monument to honor black confederate war veterans and discover there were none. Andrew Cuomo is awful. Former Nazi explains how the Trump Adminstration uses massaged Nazi language and Megyn Kelly plays dumb on her role in normalizing this language on Fox News. Michelle Malkin and Sean Hannity talk aggressive and stupid on Fox. Should we be more serious about Bitcoin. Steve Bannon talks treason, money laundering and the Trump Administration. Debunking confederate/libertarian myths about the Civil War and the Civil Rights and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 1-3-18-Suzanne_Gordon-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Fox & Friends freaks out about California decriminalizing weed and making itself a sanctuary state. The Trump Administration makes it easier for Oil companies to create another Deep Water Horizon spill. Also nursing homes will be less safe thanks to Republicans. The Australian roots of the Russia investigation. Milo's editor notes.  All the many, many, many ways that Trump and the Republicans are destroying America.

On The Fun Half: a delusional caller debates Sam and Michael about the campus free speech debate. Remembering Erica Garner. What's driving protests in Iran? Peace between Mike Cernovich and Sam? The worst people in America threatening Iran. The MR community made Cernovich late to an Alex Jones appearance.

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Direct download: 1-2-18-Sam_Seder-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

Best of from November 2016:

Zack Exley (@zackexley) and Becky Bond (@bbond) on their new book on lessons from their time on the Bernie Sanders campaign: Rules for Revolutionaries: How Big Organizing Can Change Everything (Paperback – November 18, 2016). “Distributed Organizing” and using technology to actually make contact with voters. How important an earlier start to the Bernie campaign could have been. Giving volunteers more responsibility, along with structure and accountability. Hillary’s flawed data-driven get-out-the-vote efforts. How to counter Trump by going on the offensive on the left.

Then, a selection of conversations about Bill O'Reilly, featuring Andy Kindler.

Direct download: 1-1-18-Becky_Bond-Zach_Exley-BestOf-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

From August 2017:

Best selling author Naomi Klein, author of, No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need, explains the history of modern branding. The formation of the Trump brand. The liberals who helped create the CEO myth of leadership. Why Trump can’t be worked with. Why labor unions should fight Trump on all fronts. Why the climate crisis needs to remain central to our politics. What to learn from Jeremy Corbyn. Why the Left needs to synchronize race, class and gender and what comes next in Left politics.

 

Also, a few conversations on Seb Gorka and Sam has a Gianforte-style meltdown.

Direct download: 12-29-17-Naomi_Klein-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Best of from April 2017,

Chris Hayes, host of the Chris Hayes Show and author of, A Colony in a Nation, explains Richard Nixon’s role in the creation of the modern law and order state. Colonialism and American revolution. Why smugglers were popular in early American history. Colonial era smuggling and the modern drug war. The murder of Eric Garner and Jefferson’s attack on the crown. Policing and revenue and Ferguson. Police as occupying forces. White fear and American history. Police violence, African Americans and recurring themes in American history. What changed in 1968. Jeff Sessions unshackles police departments and the return of private prisons. What fuels change? Is there a way to change white fear and pathology? Understanding Trump’s mind and American bigotry and The what people are missing about the Nunes story.

 

Also, Ivanka loves board games so much they've never been unboxed and Alex Jones gets frustrated with Mike Cernovich.

Direct download: 12-28-17-Chris_Hayes-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EDT

An interview from May 2014:

Professor Stephanie Kelton explains the Bretton Woods System and the end of the Gold Standard in the 1970s, why comparisons to the Weimar Republic and Zimbabwe made by austerity promoters are wrong, high inflation does not happen in well functioning democracies, why we think about the deficit in the wrong way, the smart way to think about the Simpson Bowles austerity plan, the purpose of taxes, Hillary Clinton running on bringing down the debt and addressing the inequality crisis, Social Security and inequality, what Thomas Piketty misses, why labor needs to make a comeback and why fighting inequality must go beyond raising taxes at the top.

Also, a best of compilation of some of our Alex Jones coverage from the year.

Direct download: 12-27-17-Stephanie_Kelton-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

From February 8th:

Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, explains what is radicalism. Why radicalism is different from liberalism and incrementalism. Has America always had radicals. The 1990s and the “end of history”. Tom Paine, America’s original radical. Radicalism in times of crisis. The opportunities the Left has today. Why are people marching against Trump? How radicalism moves from saying no to articulating what it wants. The old order is dying, what about the next one? Organic movements and the importance of Black Lives Matter. Why we are behind the curve on inequality and basic social benefits. Long term strategy for radical change. Where Europe is further ahead and further behind and what we need to learn from reconstruction.

Then, Michael takes down Ben Shapiro and David Rubin, and Sam argues with a libertarian about the Bell Curve.

Direct download: 12-26-17-Eric_Foner-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

For the best-of today, an interview from April 14th:

Ganesh Sitaraman (@GaneshSitaraman) is an Assistant Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School. He joins us to discuss his new book, “The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution: Why Economic Inequality Threatens Our Republic.”

Direct download: 12-25-17-Ganesh_Sitaraman-BestOf-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EDT

It's the last live Majority Report of 2017, and have we got a star-studded line-up for you! First, cultural critic Fran Lebowitz joins us to discuss the rise of Trump, what it means about America, and what happened to our class consciousness. Next, our old pal Cliff Schecter breaks down the GOP tax bill and the shifting political ground with his trademark wonkishness. Then Isabel Gillies and Film Guy Matthew stop by to recommend uplifting and depressing movies, respectively. Finally, we close out the year with a viewing of Weird Mike's live Reddit AMA session.

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Direct download: 12-22-17-Fran_Liebowitz-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:21pm EDT

On this episode of MR, Travis L Dixon (@Dr_TLDixon), a professor of communication at the University of Illinois, discusses his new report for Color of Change, A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families: Representations of Families, By Race, in News and Opinion Media. Drawing on data from 2015-2016, Dixon outlines how African American families are over-represented in the media's reporting on crime and poverty, and discusses how politicians from Reagan to Clinton have used those perceptions to shred the social safety net in a racialized way. Read the full report here.

In the fun half: The first six Disrupt J20 defendants are found not guilty, Roy Moore thinks Muslims and Marxists worked together to defeat him and delight Doug Jones' gay son, Trump's politics re: taxes, drilling in the Arctic, etc. are just the same old Republican garbage, Nikki Haley delivers some tough talk on Israel at the UN, immigration courts show children no mercy, and the crew goes back and forth some more about the effects of classist snobbery.

 

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Direct download: 12-21-17-Travis_Dixon-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:48pm EDT

On this episode of the Majority Report, Paul Ryan does his smarmy best to pretend the GOP tax bill will help the 99% and not add to the deficit (not that the latter matters), animatronic William Howard Taft calls in to praise Donald Trump, banks plan to proceed with mortgage payments and foreclosures in Puerto Rico despite the ongoing crisis, Wyatt Koch peddles terrible shirts to his fellow failsons, and Rachel in Queens sparks a discussion on classist attitudes held by coastal elites.

After the break: Susan Collins blames sexism for tax bill backlash, Cenk recaps his bet with Jimmy Dore, Donald Trump Jr. does a fake TED talk on how the system is rigged against his dad, MN lawmaker and transphobe Mary Franson is scared to meet with high school students, the Department of Defense releases a UFO video, Sam tackles a random Rush clip, and Jeff in GA elicits further discussion on how the Democrats should (and should not) convince people to vote for them.

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Direct download: 12-20-17-Sam_Seder-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

This episode of the Majority Report begins with a viewing of the newly unveiled animatronic Trump at Disney World. Will it bring on the robot revolution? Then journalist David Dayen (@ddayen) joins us to discuss the Republican tax bill and the political history of 2017. With 83% of gains going to the top 1%, the GOP plan is unlikely to win favor with voters. But if and when the Democrats get back into power, we must pressure them to re-allocate the funds to social programs, rather than the deficit.

On the fun half: The Mooch says Trump is too smart to fire Mueller, "firefighter prophet" Mark Taylor says Trump is set to release cures for cancer and Alzheimer's, a caller reminds us of the importance of local races in pushing Democrats to the left, former Fox News employee Tamara Holder is released from her NDA, Alex Jones doesn't want Trump to get assassinated (but if he does, it'll be great for his numbers), listeners tell us about VA healthcare headaches and organizing in Florida, and Ronald Raygun calls in with a special, Cernovich-related offer.

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Direct download: 12-19-17-David_Dayen-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:23pm EDT

Steven A Cook (@StevenACook), Senior fellow of Middle East and North African studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Michael Brooks to talk about our relationship with Turkey since Trump became president. Why is Turkey upset with the United States? The obsession with Fethullah Gulen by Erdogan's supporters.

Why the 'new' Jerusalem policy is just an acknowledgment of the reality that the peace process and two-state solution are no longer possible. Why it benefits those in power to pretend like the two-state solution is still viable. The generational divide re: Israel politics and why mainstream Dems continue to close ranks around the issue.

On the fun half: Judge Jeanine "doubles down" on apocalypse of the republic record against the FBI, Alex Jones needs your prayers, Pharma company McKesson killed americans with opioids but our justice system is too weak to punish them, what's the lesson from Alabama, and your calls an IMs.

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Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

Direct download: 12-18-17-Steven_A_Cook-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:21pm EDT

Paul Ryan wants us to make more babies and Heather Digby Parton (@digby56) joins us to discuss the implications of the AL election, whether Trump is going to fire Mueller, Trump's chances of impeachment, the Trump admin's terrifying foreign policy, and police violence in America. Judy Gold then joins us for a Two Minutes Hate sesh on Omarosa, Roy Moore, Orrin Hatch, Israel, net neutrality, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. A new Jimmy Reefercake song is played.

On the fun half: Dennis Miller tries out a new comedy routine on us, Trump wants to end the immigration lottery, Trump judicial nominee Matthew Petersen is hilariously under-qualified, the crew outlines leftist positions on gun control, Mindy calls in to commiserate about how fucked we are, and Mike Cernovich is the new Baked Alaska.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

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Direct download: 12-15-17-Digby-Judy_Gold-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT

Today on the Majority Report, we're joined by Ryan Singel to discuss the implications of Ajit Pai's decision to overturn Net Neutrality safeguards and how Congress will pay a hefty price as a result. What exactly is Ajit Pai undoing? How this represents a taking of the commons. What will the next phase of the internet look like after the changes, and how quickly will the internet change?

On the fun half: Do even dum dums get the importance of Moore losing? Omarosa gets dragged by TV hosts after firing, how can we nationalize all these tech companies, Rush has to corral his confused sheep after the Roy Moore loss, are we going to live in an episode of Black Mirror soon, and your calls and IMs!

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Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

Direct download: 12-14-17-Ryan_Singel-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:15pm EDT

On today's show, The Atlantic's Julia Ioffe joins us to discuss joins us to discuss her recent article in The Atlantic, What Putin Really Wants. While many Americans view Putin's government as a powerful, well-oiled machine, Ioffe says it's more like a messy, corruption-riddled bureaucracy with its various factions not always working together. "The Sopranos" is referenced.

On the fun half: Mike from PA calls in with detailed analysis of what drove Jones' win in the Alabama election, Weird Mike tries and fails to mess with another alpha cuck Jew, Jake Tapper schools a Roy Moore spokesman on the constitution, Alex Jones says Trump's accusers are not attractive enough for him to molest, and the gang takes on right-wing asshat "Sargon of Akkad" a.k.a. Carl of Youtube.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-13-17-Julia_Ioffe-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

On today's show, author Malcolm Harris (@BigMeanInternet) joins us to discuss his new book, Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials. While their elders often blame the problems of the millennial generation on millennials themselves, Harris debunks that idea with a structural analysis of the political and economic factors driving their behavior and development.

On the fun half: More people call in to discuss Al Franken, Roy Moore's war buddy makes an excellent case for him, a father and son explain their different reasons for voting for Doug Jones, a grieving father calls out Moore's homophobia, Nikki Haley thinks Trump's accusers deserve to be heard, Nomiki Konst calls out DNC waste and incompetence, and Sam schools a ring-winger on rape apologia (and plays a clip of Trump accuser Jessica Leeds).

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-12-17-Malcolm_Harris-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Alabama voters explain why they're sticking by Roy Moore, Republicans perpetrate voter suppression in AL, the GOP continues to attack institutions devoted to the public good, the right wing media is suddenly skeptical of the FBI, and Carl Bernstein thinks there was a cover-up in the Trump White House.

On the fun half: Roy Moore wants to get rid of all the amendments after #10 and implement Christian theocracy, "Sheriff" David Clarke throws shade at John Lewis, Laura Ingraham thinks the #metoo movement is ruining office holiday parties, Alex Jones details his plans to buy a sex robot, Sam gets a hideous gift in the mail, a caller in AL shares some thoughts on the election, Sam schools a caller on corporate profits, and Jamie calls out bad faith libs re: Al Franken and sexual harassment.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

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Direct download: 12-11-17-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:18pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Mike Cernovich flails in an NPR interview, and Cliff Schecter joins us to discuss Al Franken's resignation. Also: Comedian Andy Kindler joins us to talk Weird Mike and the GOP tax cuts (with some Jew jokes thrown in for good measure), the gang enjoys a video of Christian Youtuber Jim Beckwith trying to take us down, and Sam threatens our audience with a talking Dennis Miller doll.

On the fun half: A man with ALS grills Jeff Flake (of the performative bullshit fake resistance) on his handling of DACA, a homophobic state lawmaker freaks out at a Democrat for touching his arm, Papadopoulos' fiance inflates his role in Russiagate, Roy Moore thinks America is evil because we promote same-sex marriage, a bro speaks out on his right to party, Mike Pence snitched on his frat in college, Addison in Ohio pushes back on some things Cliff said about Franken, and a disabled veteran describes his struggle to get adequate mental healthcare.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-8-17-Cliff_Schecter-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:15pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Michael Brooks hosts New York Magazine's Eric Levitz to discuss the GOP tax bill. As Levitz notes, it's one of the least popular tax bills in US history, and it is (technically) a tax cut. Unlike prior measures, this bill does not even have the fig leaf of fiscal responsibility; it's blowing up the deficit as an excuse to impose (further) austerity measures. Time to make life harder for any politician who supports it.

On the fun half:  The MR team runs a victory lap over Sam's re-instatement by MSNBC and makes outlandish speculations about Trump's health. Also: Mike from PA questions the legitimacy of pollsters in Alabama, Weird Mike tries to turn a loss into a win, Cenk Uygur supports the show, activist Luke Mayville campaigns for Medicaid expansion in Idaho, Ben Shapiro says racist things about Arabs, an MP proposes to his boyfriend on the floor of Australian parliament, and Newt Gingrich claims the Democrats are "losing their minds" because they pressured Al Franken to resign.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brenden Finn (@BF1nn)

 

 

Direct download: 12-7-17-Eric_Levitz-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:49pm EDT

The Washington Post's Dave Weigel, explains why Doug Jones might pull off an upset in Alabama. Roy Moore's strength of support and what it reveals about Alabama and Republicans. What can Doug Jones do now? And does Steve Bannon wear so many clothes?

And depression historian does the perfect Cable news segment.

On The Fun Half: Atlanta reporter does a perfect takedown of a racist twitter troll, the team breaks it down. How to get on Dave Rubin's email. Joe Rogan backs Seder, but in an odd way. Joe Rogan and Sam Harris's bad ideas. State Rep comes out for rent control and your calls and IMs.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brenden Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-6-17-Dave_Weigel-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, South Asian history professor Tithi Bhattacharya joins us to discuss her new book "Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping class, recentering oppression." After laying out the basics of social reproduction theory, she discusses how it can help us understand our nightmarish present moment, as well as what kind of hope it offers for the future.

On the fun half: Mike Cernovich gloats over getting Sam fired from MSNBC, Vic Berger remixes 60 Minutes' #pizzagate segment (feat. Cernovich), the RNC still backs child molester Roy Moore, a listener in Poland asks if he should vote for a neoliberal party out of fear, Mike Pence once considered a coup against Trump, the mainstream media is total garbage, and many, many callers express their support for show. Thank you!

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Direct download: 12-5-17-Tithi_Bhattacharya-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:08pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Sam sees his skepticism of Brian Ross's Michael Flynn source validated, the Cernovich "controversy" continues, Bernie points out how bad the GOP tax bill is, Orrin Hatch attacks the un-deserving poor, Joe Manchin is sad he couldn't work with the Republicans to shred the safety net like Democrats did under Reagan, and Sam reads the names of vulnerable lawmakers who voted for this monstrosity.

On the fun half: Chuck Grassley thinks the "death tax" incentivizes people to spend all their money on booze, women and movies (lit!), Thomas Friedman thinks the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is going to save the Arab world from itself, and a caller worries the Mueller investigation is distracting people from the GOP tax cuts. Also: Jamie's husband calls in to talk about unions, a caller discusses mental healthcare programs in Germany, everyone hates Thomas Friedman, Ronald Raygun gets serious, Tony in Miami humanizes the issue, and Tim from New Paltz urges grad students to contact their unions and fight for their rights.

 

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Direct download: 12-4-17-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:33pm EDT

Good morning. On today’s show, Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us to talk about Michael Flynn flipping on Trump, Jared Kushner's involvement in the Russia scandal, and the indefensible Republican tax bill, which is clearly a precursor to cutting social security and other services.

On the fun half: Matt Lauer was once quite creepy to Anne Hathaway, Trump can no longer use Kathryn Steinle's death to attack undocumented immigrants, Jamie shares a personal story about how our country fails people with mental illness, and Paul Ryan dodges a question about Roy Moore.

Also: Jimmy Kimmel challenges Roy Moore to a talk about Christian values, Lindsey Graham contradicts himself, Sam addresses Mike Cernovich's attempts to cook up a rape joke controversy, NRA TV baselessly attacks the CFPB, a caller educates Sam on twinks and other types of fellows, Alex Jones has a bizarrely specific fantasy about what liberal lesbians are into, and many callers express support for the show and disgust at the Republican tax bill.

To donate to the Voyageur Outward Bound School in memory of Jamie's brother-in-law Justin Broesler, visit https://www.vobs.org/donate.

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Direct download: 12-1-17-Cliff_schecter-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:20pm EDT

Today, writer and editor David Klion (@DavidKlion) joins us to discuss how the left should orient itself to the Trump/Russia investigation. The thriving ecosystem of russia conspiracy theory and disinformation. What's 'real' with the Russia story with regard to both 'collusion' and money-laundering? How the real story should be focused on the anti-democratic nature of global neoliberalism.

On the fun half - Joe Scarborough is finally saying Trump has dementia, Roy Moore blames pedophilia accusations on leftists and LGBT people, The Federalist says vote for him, Trump is easily distracted by his own personality while discussing tax policy and nuclear war, and your calls and IMs!

Direct download: 11-29-17-David_Klion-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:32pm EDT

On today's show, Sam speaks with Michael Hardt, author of the book 'Assembly (Heretical Thought)' about how grassroots, non-hierarchical movements like Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter could become more politically effective and what lessons we can take from them as we fight for everything from daily survival to the abolition of capitalism. Sam also addresses Mike Cernovich's attempts at cooking up a scandal based on an old tweet of his.

On the fun half: A caller reminds us the moon landing was faked, Senator Lindsey Graham threatens to nuke all of Asia if we get into a war with North Korea, Bernie pwns Ted Cruz on the Republican tax bill, a tech CEO says corporate tax cuts do NOT create jobs or raise wages, Sean Hannity whines about the terrible pictures of him that New York Magazine used, and alt-righter Lucian Wintrich tackles a woman for stealing his notes.

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Direct download: 11-29-17-Michael_Hardt-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:21pm EDT

On today's Majority Report, Jack Schneider, a professor of education at College of the Holy Cross, joins us to discuss why test scores alone are not a good indicator of school quality. After growing weary of seeing state data used improperly, he came up with a new metric that takes into account many factors including a school's teachers, culture, academics, resources, and services geared towards students' character and well being. Schneider also explains why some charter schools produce better test scores, yet see larger numbers of their students drop out once they get to college.

On the fun half: Ronald Raygun critiques Sam's looks, Tammy apologizes to Janeane, SNL is fomenting a "leftist" revolution to bring back President Obama, Greg complains about our unfair treatment of libertarians, Jeff from GA is opening a library in Sam's name, more on the downsides of charter schools, Sam debunks the notion that raising taxes on grad students will drive down tuition, and James O'Keefe tries to "gotcha" WaPo with a fake Roy Moore accuser and fails miserably.

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Direct download: 11-28-17-Jack_Schneider-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:51pm EDT

Good day! On today's Majority Report, the MR crew breaks down the news, including: The archbishop of Canterbury doesn't understand why American evangelicals support Trump, Bill Kristol finds his inner careerist on Twitter, Ben Wittes of the Brookings Institute figures out Trump is bad, and neocon David Frum is equally disingenuous. Come back and talk to us when you #NeverTrumpers bring something to the table.

On the fun half: John from San Antonio thinks the Democrats can overcome gerrymandering, Sam will win the lottery before Trump is impeached, Ronald Raygun bemoans the low bar for entry into #theresistance (and workshops an idea for a movie), Mulvaney is going to "drain the swamp" by destroying the CFPB, Breitbart's Joel Pollack defends Roy Moore with an analogy to Ringo Starr, Jamie discusses socialist feminism with Tammy from Texas, Geraldo thinks Trump is "punching down" at Time Magazine, and the gang discusses the false dichotomy between class and identity.

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Direct download: 11-27-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:46pm EDT

Today, historian William Hogeland joins us to discuss his book "Autumn of the Black Snake: The Creation of the U.S. Army and the Invasion That Opened the West."

Also, a sample of The Michael Brooks Show members' only content: 'Illicit History - 5 - The Crushing Of Manley's Socialism In Jamaica' originally uploaded Sunday, 8 October, 2017.

Become a member at patreon.com/tmbs

For members, Bernie Sanders once again joins Sam on Air America to talk about GOP plans to repeal the estate tax, from 6-7-06.

Direct download: William_Hogeland_Nov_24_PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:30am EDT

Christopher Glazek (@SeeGlazek) joins us to talk about his article in Esquire, 'THE SECRETIVE FAMILY MAKING BILLIONS FROM THE OPIOID CRISIS.'

For members, segments from Air America archives episode 8-17-04, Bernie Sanders talks with Sam and Jeanine about GOP tax cruelty followed by Reverend Billy of the Church of Stop Shopping.

Direct download: Chris_Glazek_Nov_22_PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30am EDT

On today's show, Sam addresses an investigation into Matt Taibbi that seems to totally exonerate him of Sexual harrassment charges, the crew discusses Charlie Rose's grossness, John Conyers pays off his harassment victims with taxpayer dollars, the gang mocks and sounds alarm bells over census bureau nominee Thomas Brunell and his awful book, the FCC is going to hell and taking net neutrality with it, and the Republicans threaten the role of blue slips in blocking judicial nominees.

On the fun half: More discussion of sexual harassment, a caller wonders if the Democrats will learn all the wrong lessons from Ralph Northam's victory, Alex Jones is breeding an army of conspiracy theorist super soldiers, a homophobic group invites a rainbow flag dancer to perform, congressman Greg Gianforte assaults a reporter and lies to the cops about it, Stephen Moore defends Roy Moore, and the Simpsons predicted Dennis Miller's descent into madness. Also: Trump wants to end a work program for Haitians devastated by the 2010 earthquake, Ray from Westchester defends his county's liberal-ness, the government is taking people's driver's licenses away for unpaid student loans, an IMer writes a Yelp review of Matt, and another IMer explains why anarcho-communism is the only solution to the violent contradictions of late capitalism.

 

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Direct download: 11-21-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:27pm EDT

On today's show, labor historian Jefferson Cowie joins us to talk about his book "The Great Exception: The New Deal and the Limits of American Politics." While the New Deal is often held up as the model for progressives to shoot for, it came out of an exceptional period from the 1930s to the 1970s when politics were focused on collective, economic well being. It was also the result of a compromise that excluded African Americans from most of its benefits. In this interview, Cowie describes the 20th century trajectory from collectivism to individualism and posits new tactics for the future.

On the fun half: Jon from San Antonio discusses the effect the Republican tax plan will have on rents, Senator Lamar Alexander defends trickle down economics against all evidence, Ronald Raygun conveys critiques received via Twitter, homophobic lawmaker Wes Goodman is a huge hypocrite, Bill Kristol pretends to be offended by Trump's racism, people celebrate Mugabe's ousting, and the crew ponders whether or not we're headed for revolution. Also: the crew discusses Al Franken and rape culture, and a caller tells us about the first woman mayor of New Orleans.

 

Direct download: 11-20-17-Jefferson_Cowie-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:20pm EDT

Good morning everyone, on today’s show Digby (@digby56) joins us to discuss the Republicans' tax plan, which would actually raise taxes on families making less than $75,000/year and give those ill-gotten gains directly to Ivanka Trump. Then, comedian Judy Gold (@JewdyGold) joins us to let it all out regarding the Al Franken story, Trump's absurdly hypocritical tweet, Christian hypocrisy on Roy Moore, sexism in the comedy world, and more. Also: Disgraced former DHS official Jamie Johnson's not-at-all novel take on why the blacks hate the Jews, and Jim Bakker tries in vain to stop the war on Christmas, which we have basically won already.

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Direct download: 11-17-17-Digby-Judy_Gold-MEM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:45pm EDT

On today's show, the one and only Janeane Garofalo joins us to talk about how to deal with your conservative family at Thanksgiving...or not! Plus: Al Franken's sexual harassment allegation, that story about the "fuck Trump" bumper sticker, Trump's dry mouth, Sean Hannity's attempts to save face over his treatment of Roy Moore, Janeane and Michael argue about Ayn Rand, and Janeane and Jamie argue about the media's coverage of sexual misconduct. Oy!

On the "fun" half: Senator Chris Murphy discusses the crisis in Yemen, more on how to spend Thanksgiving with assholes, Janeane critiques Sam's sartorial choices, some callers get froggy, and a brief nod to the idea of changing hearts and minds.

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Direct download: 11-16-17-Jeanine_Garofalo-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:03pm EDT

Good morning. On today's show, author Maryn McKenna joins us to discuss how the humble chicken went from a household egg producer/occasional meal to a grotesque, antibiotic-laden frankenfood foisted on the U.S. population. To wit: In 1977, the government issued dietary guidelines telling people to eat less saturated fat, which led to a bump in demand. After WW2, a scientist from Lederle Laboratories had the bright idea to sell an excess supply of antibiotics to the meat industry to make chickens grow faster. They even dipped the meat in antibiotics before packaging it for sale. This gave rise to strains of antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Whoops! Thankfully, there are now some regulations around antibiotic use in animal agriculture and a growing movement against things of that nature, but factory farmed meat is still problematic in all sorts of ways and will probably kill you. Why, it's almost like treating food and medicine as commodities for exchange, rather than goods produced to fulfill basic human needs, can lead to widespread problems!

On the fun half: Callers discuss Our Revolution/DSA/Berniecrat wins around the country, Republicans send out hilarious robocalls impersonating Jewish journalists seeking dirt on Roy Moore, Sean Hannity bends over backwards to save face w/r/t that perv, ABC chases Rep. Mo Brooks down infinite stairs, Tammy in Texas explains how to run for state office, Mariana from Twin Cities provides additional background on the meat industry, Roy Moore's attorney says some racist shit to MSNBC's Ali Velshi, Alex Jones rails against PC culture, and Jamie and Mindy discuss what's wrong with the ruling class. (Check out Jamie's op-ed on the trouble with framing the 1% in an individualistic, moralizing way here.)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/sep/22/1-percent-uncomfortable-wealth-rachel-sherman

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Direct download: 11-15-17-Maryn_McKenna-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:39pm EDT

Branko Marcetic from Jacobin magazine joins us to discuss his article on the Ricketts family, the billionaires that has worked tirelessly to crush unions across their investment portfolio.

And on the fun half - A new accuser goes on record with troubling detail and evidence of Roy Moore's sexual alleged sexual predation. Don Jr. and Wikileaks slid into each other's DMs. And Your calls and IMs!

 

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Direct download: 11-14-17-Branko_Marcetic-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

Donald Trump looks awkward at a summit photo for a meeting of ASEAN. The Saudis on the verge of creating the largest famine in the world in Yemen. The Republican tax plan is massive class warfare agains toms too America. Why giving rich people money does not help the economy. Ivanka Trump tries to talk about taxes. Sean Hannity gets particular about sex with teenagers.

On The Fun Half: how the Republican tax plan will devastate those with health problems. Steve Bannon says that Roy Moore is facing the politics of personal destruction. Trump has appointed more Judges than any President since Nixon. DSA Pittsburgh offers broken brake lights in Pittsburgh. Time for a Sam Harris style "thought experiment" and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 11-13-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:08pm EDT

Republicans have nothing to say about Roy Moore probably being a pedophile.

Cliff Schecter explains the importance of Tuesdays wins for Democrats and holding back Republicans. The most satisfying wins from Tuesday. The blue wall in the West. Why Democrats need to run in every district. Republicans are still going to support Roy Moore despite pedophilia allegations. Sean Hannity apologizes for "not being totally clear" in defending Roy Moore's misconduct. Moore's predatory behavior pattern and will Republicans pass a massive regressive tax giveaway to the wealthy?

Andy Kindler joins us to talk about the allegations of sexual misconduct by Louie CK. Power and sexual kinks. Dennis Miller and Bill O'Reilly whine about late night and Dennis Miller is more depressed as ever.

Republican Congressman calls for Mueller firing.

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Direct download: 11-10-17-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:20pm EDT

Journalist David Dayen explained the roots of regulation of mass travel in the United States going back to the railroad industry. Why cities need airports and how the airlines used to be regulated. Why did Democrats in the 1970s deregulate the industry? The civil Aeronautics Board and why it worked well. The miscalculation that Ralph Nader and other liberals made in the 1970s. the 1970s focus on "regulatory capture" and how it led to corporate friendly policy. How to think about anti trust. Whats happening with the AT&T deal. The Trump Justice department is right on the merger and Trump is blowing it and the Wilbur Ross and the Paradise Paper revelations.

New allegations of Alabama Republican Roy Moore accused of being a child sexual predator.

On The Fun Half: Carter Page calls in. Who is worse Bush or Trump? Plutocrat Democratic donor whines about Democrats talk about class and threatens to cut funding. Sheldon Whitehouse humiliates a Trump nominee. Steve Bannon, rambles on and on and wants Mitch McConnell to resign and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 11-9-17-David_Dayen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:25pm EDT

Fox News tries to pretend last night's Democratic blowout didn't happen and Tucker Carelson is depressed.

The Washington Post's Dave Weigel, explains why Democrats performed so well last night. The anti Obama effect. Democrats fears and anxiety. Not every Democrat is Hillary Clinton and why Republicans should be afraid. The results and the block against the next round of gerrymandering. Democrats can put more seats into play. Bernie Sanders help local progressives win across the county. The role of outside groups and the DNC. The DNC's toxic brand and the incredible results for Socialism.

And rundown of last night's results.

On The Fun Half:  Steve Doocey wonders why Republicans who don't embrace Trump even want to win. A Democratic wave coming after a crushing defeat on a referendum for Donald Trump. Danica Roam, talks to her constituents after defeating her transphobic opponent. Corey Lewandowski, gets caught in a pretty hilarious lie and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 11-8-17-David_Weigel-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

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On today's show, journalist David Neiwert joins us to discuss Donald Trump and the rise of the radical right. From his years spent reporting on the topic, Neiwert concludes this sentiment has been building for years and Trump is only the most recent apotheosis of it. While some people trace upticks in hate crimes to economic shifts, Neiwert holds that they rise due to demographic shifts that bring whites into contact with unfamiliar people and cultures. He next discusses the components of right wing authoritarianism, or RWA, a variable used to describe authoritarian and/or fascist behavior based on a multi-factor personality type. Finally, he explains the difference between the "alt-right" and straightforward neo-Nazis.

On the fun half: Callers describe the level of voter turnout in their various locales, Carter Page calls in to defend himself, Congressman Jim Himes discusses Carter Page on "Morning Joe," Ed Gillespie positions himself as the anti-pedophilia candidate in Virginia, Trump refuses to apply "extreme vetting" to those seeking to buy guns, Ainsley Earhardt thinks church is the best possible place to get murdered, and we discuss whether Tim Black was really hacked. Don't forget to vote, folks!

From a listener:

"Hello! We call ourselves the International Polling Superfecta. We are a collection of MR supporters who are interested in data analytics. After compiling a poll of the Virginia governors race from October 30th to November 1st, we have the following results. Northam leads Ed Gillespie 55% to 45%. It was collected from a 666 Google opinion survey conducted on Android. We weighed the results based on the turnout of different ages from the 2013 governor's election provided by the CNN exit poll to compensate for age biases that could be contained in the results. When results say "Democrat", note that it refers to respondents who selected Northam, and Republican refers to Gillespie. One final warning: Both the last governor and senate elections saw the Democrats severely under perform their polling. One should keep that in mind when viewing these results."

Check out the data here.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XfSjrjL4J2B2fDWop5ODZ4sNBQANmmpUS6lSNRXAk2g/edit#gid=1734894587

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Direct download: 11-7-17-David_Neiwert-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:27pm EDT

On today’s show, journalist Alyssa Battistoni, (@alybatt), joins us to discuss working-class movements and their responsibility to champion social alongside ecological progress. You can read her piece in Jacobin here.

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/08/living-not-just-surviving

On the fun half - more demented response to another mass shooting, Fox News runs obviously fake story on Antifa SuperSoldier Day, Richard Spencer's booking agent scares self in latino neighborhood.

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Direct download: 11-6-17-Allisya_Battistoni-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:20pm EDT

Cliff Schecter, joins Sam to dissect the Republicans cruel, stupid and classist new tax plan. What Republicans might object to the House Republicans tax plan. Tax free private school accounts. No more tax deductions for public school teachers who buy their own supplies. Why Republicans can attack teachers now. Why Democrats need to stop talking about deficits. And what will happen in the New Jersey and Virginia campaigns next week?

Larry Murphy from Bob's Burgers speculates as to what comes next in the Russia probe and he and Michael and Sam do impressions.

On The Fun Half: More fallout from the DNC role in the 2016 primary. Donald Trump says no one in government matters besides him. Elizabeth Warren calls out the DNC and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 11-3-17-Cliff_Schecter-Larry_Murphy-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:18pm EDT

On today's show, Sam speaks with journalist Katie Gilbert about Chokwe Lumumba, a human rights attorney and politician who was involved with the Republic of New Afrika movement and black cooperatives in the 1970s, then went on to be elected mayor of Jackson, Mississippi in 2013. He succeeded at passing a 1% sales tax to support infrastructure, but his work was cut short when he died of heart failure in 2014.

On the fun half: Donna Brazile surprises everyone, the crew discusses the DNC's incompetence and argues with callers over whether the primary was rigged, Jim Bakker thinks Trump is a good Christian, a caller recommends the book "Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of Psychopaths Around Us," Peter Thiel puts a caller in his place, Tucker Carlson thinks the people who died in Tuesday's van attack in NYC are "martyrs to diversity," Bob Mercer divests himself from Breitbart, and Sean Hannity is mad at CNN for correctly translating "Allahu Akbar."

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Direct download: 11-2-17-Katie_Gilbert-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm EDT

On today's show, Michael speaks with Milton Allimadi, publisher of Black Star News, about just what the hell the United States is doing in Africa. (Spoiler alert: nothing too good!) From helping France fight Al Qaeda in Mali (which just happens to have a lot of uranium and oil) to supporting  problematic neoliberal president Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, the U.S. has made it clear it's motivated more by economic interests than anything having to do with human rights in its foreign policy towards the countries of Africa.

On the fun half: Trump might not be getting the full briefings anymore, Gorka thinks "political correctness kills," Sarah Huckabee Sanders thinks we should honor our confederate history, George W. Bush is a hypocrite who supports Trump-lite candidate Ed Gillespie in Virginia, the Duck Dynasty guy wants to have sex with Beyonce, Bill O'Reilly gets rejected by Sinclair Media, a caller espouses evo-psych theories of conservatism, the MR crew muses on what they've un-learned, and an extremely high person calls in.

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Direct download: 11-1-17-Milton_Allimadi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:59pm EDT

On today's show we experienced some technical difficulties, with interesting results.

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Direct download: 10-31-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm EDT

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Direct download: 10-30-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:17pm EDT

Happy Casual Friday! On today's show, Heather Digby Parton stops by to lend her expert commentary on Senator Jeff Flake's resignation, Gorka's accusations against Hillary, and more. Film Guy Matthew also comes by to discuss his sick Ebay lots, what movies we should watch, and a TV clip of Isla Fisher saying she owes her career in the U.S. to Sarah Silverman and Sam. A new Jimmy Reefercake song is debuted!

In the fun half: Trump discusses his specs for the wall, a caller wonders if we're headed for civil war, the MR crew discusses Mark Ames and Matt Taibbi, and more on how Senator Flake should not be elevated.

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Direct download: 10-27-17-Digby_Film_Guy_Matthew-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

On today’s show, Steve Clemons (@SCClemons) of The Atlantic joins us to discuss foreign policy with regards to North Korea. In many ways, Clemons says, the U.S. has become the rogue nation in the equation. Trump is dismantling the diplomatic options and leaning on military power, possibly in an effort to distract us from the Russia investigation. Yikes!

In the fun half: Whitefish Energy picks a Twitter fight with San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, Trump complains some more about how unfairly the fake news media is treating him, Trump brags about his excellent "president president" relationship with China's president Xi Jinping, George H.W. Bush gropes women from his wheelchair, Mark Halperin's pervy behavior and weaksauce apology, and a ten-year-old girl with cerebral palsy got caught by ICE on her way to the hospital.

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Direct download: 10-26-17-Steve_Clemons-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

On today's show, Sam speaks with Ari Berman (@AriBerman) of Mother Jones about the voter suppression that helped throw Wisconsin to Trump.

On the fun half: Sam doesn't want to run for president, Sean Hannity hates never Trumpers, Tomi Lahren on the Steele dossier, the US ambassador to Canada believes "both sides" of climate change science, Alex Jones will never lie to you on purpose, Walter Block's "rate my professor" page, and Scott Brown's lewd comments.

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Direct download: 10-25-17-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:34pm EDT

Happy Monday! On today's show, Sam recaps his trip to Vegas and updates us on the situation in Puerto Rico. Also: The Trump administration denies a teenage immigrant the right to an abortion, and Bill O'Reilly blames God for his problems.

In the "fun" half: Jamie discusses her experience modeling for Terry Richardson, Ben Carson is bad at his job, cable news has no class analysis, the DNC is bungling everything, shady corporations like Sinclair Media control the news, Michael defends the Kurds from idiot tankies, Sam schools a caller on Trump's tax cuts.

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Direct download: 10-24-17-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:50pm EDT

Marshall Steinbaum (@Econ_Marshall) joins us to discuss how we should discuss taxes. The New Deal origins and mythology behind the "tax revolt," and the danger of being to comfortable with individuals getting obscenely wealthy, and what Trump's hesitation to shamelessly pass tax cuts for the wealthy signifies.

And on the fun half - Pompeo promises a "vicious CIA," Trump sees a psychiatrist, Turning Point USA wears diapers at Kent State, Fox News thinks the Weinstein Company should shut down due to sexual harassment, and Tom Price's wife wants to quarantine the HIV positive, and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 10-23-17-Marshall_Steinbaum-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

Attorney Mike Burg, talks about a very disturbing case involving BRC Arizona and BRC Illinois on body snatching for snatching. The FBI criminal investigation into companies illegally taking bodies for research. When people think their bodies are being used for science, but are being used instead for army training exercises and why selling body parts is a multi billion dollar business.

Attorney Burton Leblanc, explains, the control substance act and the role of drug companies in the opioid crisis. The crisis in West Virginia and what companies need to do in order to address the crisis. The similarity to the Tobacco case. How do you hold the industry to account? And why southern Ohio matters in the case.

Activist Jared Johnson, explains taking on debt collectors. The telephone consumer protection act and why debt collectors could owe you money. Why Sue the Collector helps you take on debt collectors and other abusers and why are you might be in luck if you have student debt and go to sue the http://www.suethecollector.com to find out your rights.

Cenk Uygur, explains the mess of the Trump Administration, why establishment Republicans are untrustworthy. George W Bush was horrible don't forget it. Why the establishment led to Trump and why did Russ Feingold lose his race in Wisconsin.

Direct download: 10-20-17-Mass_Torts-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm EDT

Attorney Peter Mougey, explains how the pharmaceutical industry profits from the opioid crisis. The revolving door and how the DEA and Congress are compromised by industry interests. Where money is lost in the process and where money should be spent? And how Wall Street exploits Puerto Rico.

Attorney Micah Adkins, explains he is working on equifax cases related to identity theft and the ongoing screw ups and public abuse by credit and identity companies and why you should never buy life lock.

Corporate abuse and why trial lawyers are an essential bulwark against corporate abuse and oligarchy.

Direct download: 10-19-17-Mass_Torts-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm EDT

On today's show, Corey Robin, (@CoreyRobin) joins us to discuss his piece in n+1 "Triumph of the Shill" on the political dead end the GOP finds itself in now that they have consolidated power.

On the fun half - Trump says Obamacare doesn't exist and is terrible and needs to be sabotaged, Seb Gorka not happy McCain bashed nationalism, Bill O'Reilly drank last summer and talked about Kushner, are cops workers or instruments of state oppression?, and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 10-17-17-Corey_Robin-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:51pm EDT

Steve Bannon brags about destroying healthcare and the Iran deal.

Health industry whistleblower and founder of Tarbell.org, Wendell Potter explains what Trump's new executive order on the insurance exchanges does. Reopening the door to insurance scams. Buying insurance across state lines and lowering standards. Junk plans and why they will be made even worse if Trump's plan goes through. Why the Affordable Care Act did not go far enough. Why is our health system so ridiculous? Corporate corruption and our dangerous and unjust healthcare system and how the media needs to cover healthcare.

On The Fun Half: Gorka threatens the left and loves Steve Bannon. Steve Bannon totally not drunk on Sean Hannity. Internal Left debates. The head of the Panama Papers investigation is killed in a car bomb. Nikki Haley talks nonsense about the Iran deal. Donald Trump makes fun of Mike Pence and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 10-16-17-Wendell_Potter-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:04pm EDT

Cliff Schecter (@CliffSchecter) joins us to discuss the ongoing degeneration of the GOP and what to make of the apparent Bannon/McConnell split.

Then, Vic Berger (@VicBergerIV), video maven at Super Deluxe joins us to discuss his rise as the internet's premier video editing satirist.

On the fun half - A Louisiana sheriff wants to stop freeing good laborers from his prison, Social Security is incapable of ever being insolvent, Emma Thompson on the iceberg of sexual harassment in Hollywood, Mattis lays out obvious Iran Deal logic so even Trump can understand, and your calls and IMs.

 

Direct download: 10-13-17-Cliff_Schecter-Vic_Berger-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45pm EDT