Happy Friday! On today's show, Benjamin Dixon (@BenjaminPDixon), host of the Benjamin Dixon Show. Sam and Ben begin their conversation considering the conclusion of the "Clinton Investigation," which will end in the coming weeks "with no criminal charges or other known impacts," according to the Washington Post. Switching gears to material and present issues, Dixon and Sam switch gears to the Congressional proposals from Elisse Slotkin, Barbara Lee, and Tim Kaine aimed at limiting the White House's military powers. The two then describe the tick-tock of how the Trump administration further destabilized US diplomatic relations in both Iraq and Iran after using faulty intelligence to deploy rash military actions. These developments alone are grounds for impeachment. With that in mind, McConnell's decision to endorse legislation that would dismiss articles impeachment means nothing; Pelosi can send new articles based on this week's actions alone. Considering the stakes in the Senate, where has minority leader Chuck Schumer been in all of this? Dixon and Sam conclude their conversation reflecting on billionaire ad spending in the 2020 election and Steyer's massive leap to 15% in the latest South Carolina Democratic primary poll.

And in the Fun Half: some positive veganism, ending the Hillary Clinton DOJ investigation once and for all, Sam agrees with Trey Gowdy's assessment that impeachment will hurt vulnerable GOP senators, Trump is back out on the campaign trail to sell the Suleimani assassination, Biden's history shows he's stuck in the era of bipartisanship and cutting social services, plus your calls and IMs!

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Happy Thursday, Michael Brooks is joined by Djene Bajalan to discuss the state of affairs in the Middle East and the United States' history of interference in Iran. Starting in 1953, Brooks and Bajalan discuss the CIA's role in removing Mohammed Mossadegh from power. Mosadegh was a staunch nationalist whose primary goal in office was to nationalize Iran's oil reserves, which at the time was under the control of the British Empire. Bajalan takes a broader view of Persia before the 1950s and Mosadegh's rule and the region's history with reclaiming its natural resources before foreign powers who were colonizing or warring in neighboring areas. Brooks and Bajalan also explore the Shah's role in disposing of Mossadegh and the monarchy's interests and its intersection between both domestic needs and international pressure. Bajalan then describes the developments which led to the overthrow of the Shah in 1979 and the coalition between Iranian leftists and Islamists leading the revolution behind the Ayatollah's rise. Bajalan and Brooks conclude the interview discussing the Iraq-Iran conflict of the 80s, Iranian President Mohammad Khatami's efforts to improve relations with America in the 90s, and the contemporary state of affairs between the US and Iran.

And in the Fun Half: Pence pushes the "sources and methods" defense as reason for not sharing any intel to Congress, Rand Paul and Mike Lee on yesterday's inadequate intel hearing from the White House, KT McFarland and Pete Buttigieg give boths sides of American ahistorical understanding of Islam and Iran, considering the Elizabeth Warren's campaign heading into the Iowa caucus, addressing the real concerns of anti-semitism from within the Jewish community, on providing healthcare to undocumented immigrants, plus your calls and IMs!

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The MR crew breaks down the news.

On today's show: Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrck says Trump is a multi-dimensional chess player. Time Magazine publishes consent-manufacturing piece on how to talk to kids about the Iran conflict. General McChrystal says Soleimani isn't that different from him in BBC documentary. Sunday: Pompeo avoids specifics of imminent threat, says it's Soleimani's history. Tuesday: Mike Esper says Soleimani threat was days away. Tuesday: Pompeo claims he's answered the "imminence question." Steve Schmidt claims that a hot war with Iran is now inevitable. Sam says all Democrats need to back checks on executive war powers.

On the fun half: A vegan libertarian calls in to debate Sam, combining two of his favorite flavors. Bloomberg judges hot dogs, women's looks on "The Apprentice." A caller updates us on the situation in Kashmir, the Farmington University scam. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) calls the White House's Iran briefing "sophomoric and utterly unconvincing." CBP officer speaks out about the horrors of family separation.

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Nathan J. Robinson (@NathanJRobinson), editor of Current Affairs, joins us to discuss his book, Why You Should Be a Socialist.

On today's show: An update on the fires in Australia. US government may start collecting people's DNA at borders. Kellyanne Conway spins Trump's tweet threatening to destroy Iranian cultural sites.

Nathan J. Robinson joins us to discuss his book, Why You Should Be a Socialist. Social democracy vs. democratic socialism. How utopian visions of a better world can be useful to those trying to make change. The "human nature" critique. The inhumanity of social Darwinism. Workplace tyranny vs. democracy. What's conservatism? What's liberalism? "What if the social safety net becomes a hammock?" and other critiques of socialism. The need to change the nature of work. The effects of Occupy Wall Street and Bernie Sanders. Why Bernie is a more "electable" candidate than both Biden and Warren.

On the fun half: WH press secretary Stephanie Grisham says Americans should trust our intelligence agencies now. Ron Johnson laments impeachment process, says relationships with foreign leaders will be impossible. Bernie goes after Biden directly for his role in Iraq War, the bankruptcy bill, cutting social security. Biden says nobody understood how Obamacare was going to work. Jon from San Antonio calls in with promising poll results for Bernie. Daily Wire host can't stand Netflix show where women fight with swords. Evangelical pastors perform laying of hands for Trump at rally. Trump takes a War on Christmas victory lap Jan 3rd. Warren shuts down Meghan McCain's defense of Trump on Iran on the View, still calls Soleimani a terrorist. Bernie compares current situation with Iran to the lead up to 2003 Iraq War. Pete Hegseth says he'd destroy Iranian cultural sites.

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Andrew Bacevich, the President of the Quincy Institute For Responsible Statecraft, joins us to discuss his book, 'The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory.'

On today's show: After Soleimani killing, Fox and Friends are cool with the deep state again.

Andrew Bacevich, the President of the Quincy Institute For Responsible Statecraft, joins us to discuss his book, 'The Age of Illusions: How America Squandered Its Cold War Victory.' The history of the United States' militarized hegemony in the world following the Cold War. How the Carter Doctrine ensured America's access to oil. The bipartisan cowardice associated with Congress's deference to the president's powers of war. The effect of the Afghan papers. The post-Cold War belief that nat sec experts were 1.) correct, and 2.) repping our interests. The effect of Trump's purported isolationism on the 2016 election.

On the fun half: Hassen Nasrallah says Hezbollah doesn't want to kill American civilians. Ayatollah clarifies: death to America means death to Trump and Bolton and Pompeo. Bloomberg gets pissed when asked about Soleimani, maybe doesn't know who he is? Chairman joint chief of staff Milley skeptical of conspiracy in Afghan papers. Bari Weiss uses anti-Semitism march to highlight Linda Sarsour relationship with Farrakhan. Friday: Ro Khanna says legislature needs to take control of war powers act. Voter explains his medical horror story to Bernie and the humiliation of being poor in America. Guaido gets Guaido'd: can't jump the fence at Venezuelan National Assembly.

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The New Republic's Alex Pareene (@pareene) and author/academic Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr) join us to break down the news.

On today's show: Flashback to 2015: Trump has no idea who Soleimani or Quds forces are.

Vali Nasr (@vali_nasr), Professor of Middle Eastern studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, joins us to discuss the Trump administration's pre-emptive strike against Iran. Who was Qasem Soleimani and why was he important in Iran? The reasons Soleimani is popular in Iran. How will Iran be compelled to respond? What responses are on the table?

November 2011: Trump says Obama will start a war with Iran to get re-elected. Pete Hegseth busts his load for tough leader Trump. Bernie's principled anti-war tweets. How would a war with Iran affect 2020? Ari Fleischer says Soleimani assassination could be a catalyst for Iranian freedom. Pompeo explains White House reasoning behind Soleimani assassination. DOD statement misnames Iranian Revolutionary Guard. Stuart Varney wonders if Congress can impeach a commander-in-chief at war. Australia is on fire, Cobargo residents upset with treatment by PM Scott Morrison.

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Check out Jamie’s podcast, The Antifada, at patreon.com/theantifada, on iTunes, or the new Antifada Youtube channel

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Happy New Year! The MR crew is back to catch you up on the headlines of the past ten days. Sam opens 2020 with a look ahead of what to expect from the Majority Report before the November's general elections, including live coverage of debates, the Iowa caucus, and Super Tuesday. In Washington, while Pelosi and McConnell remain at loggerheads with impeachment proceedings, vulnerable Republicans in purple states are hedging on a "no witness" trial. Meanwhile, Democrats in red states are standing their ground and publicly supporting a full trial in the Senate. Switching gears to the 2020 campaign, Sam looks at a Biden clip from a recent speech in New Hampshire where the former Vice President shares his feelings on running on a split ticket with a GOP running mate. Looking at the broader 2020 Democratic field, the crew breaks down Andrew Yang's commitment to Medicare for All, which doesn't offer something as meager as a public option. Sam closes out the free half of the show analyzing how Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran functions as war hawk virtue signaling.

And in the Fun Half: Mindy gets the first call of 2020 and wants to talk about Bernie's fundraising! Exploring the relationship between Bernie and MSNBC "road warrior" Vaughn Hillyard, a question about animal ethics puts Sam "in a bit of a corner," seems like Mike Bloomberg doesn't remember the Central Park Five and their lawsuit he fought while NYC Mayor, Ivanka Trump gets a holiday fluff interview on Face the Nation, Sam explains his Twitter back-and-forth with Norm Ornstein, plus your calls and IMs!

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Matthew Blackwell (@Matt_Blackwell), Associate Professor of Government at Harvard University, joins us to discuss his co-authored book, "Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics."

Why do certain parts of the US seem to be particularly "conservative" when it comes to race? "Behavioral path dependence" and the effects of institutions on behavior. How the growth of US slavery centuries ago still affects politics today. The linear relationship between the increase in enslaved people in an area to current racist political attitudes today: The more the whites were outnumbered by slaves, the more racist they became. The extreme reaction by white southerners to emancipation. The persistence of racist attitudes that originated during slavery and emancipation/reconstruction.

On the Fun Half Best Of:

#ColdfeetCrowder Steven Crowder Runs Away From Sam Seder Debate?!; Oct 2019

Kevin Sorbo Calls Out #ColdFeetCrowder For Running Away From Sam Seder; Oct 2019

Scaramucci Calls Out #ColdFeetCrowder For Hiding From Sam; Oct 2019

Gavin McInnes Uses Fake Name To Trick David Pakman On Show!!??; July 2019

Author and documentary filmmaker Astra Taylor (@astradisastra), joins us to discuss her new book, Democracy May Not Exist, but We'll Miss It When It's Gone.

Despite having existed for a long time as a concept, true democracy has rarely been put into practice. Capitalism is inherently undemocratic and other truths popularized by Occupy Wall Street. Why OWS happened when it did. What kinds of lessons and political organizations came out of Occupy? What should have been done differently? Why the left can and should change the rules of the system to benefit the 99%.

On the Fun Half Best Of:

Candace Owens Forgets Her Own History During Bizarre Interview, Nov 2019

Ben Shapiro's Grift Falling Apart Before Our Eyes; Aug 27, 2019

Fake IRS Scam Caller Accidentally Calls A Talk Show Host, Feb 2019

Author Johann Hari (@johannhari101 ) joins us to discuss his new book, “Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions.”

Author Johann Hari (@johannhari101 ) joins us to discuss his new book, “Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions.” The biological makeup of humans has not changed for many centuries, but depression, anxiety and addiction are on the rise. For this book, Hari traveled around the world and interviewed experts to identify the sources of our pain, including: Lack of control over one’s work conditions, childhood trauma, and the isolation of modern life. He traces many of these problems back to neoliberal capitalism, as well as forward to antisocial behavior as it manifests in the political sphere.

Best of Fun Half

Dave Rubin's Total Cluelessness Shocks Marianne Williamson, July 2019

Hollywood Didn't Care About Young Ben Shapiro's Feelings, Scripts, July 2019

And BullProg tells us where the MR FUN fun half break came from