Good morning, Eric Levitz joins the Majority Report to discuss his essay in New York, "The Bernie vs. Warren Debate We Need," and provide some clarity to the intra-left "Bernie or Warren" discourse. Sam and Levitz begin their conversation exploring the idea that "the American left's bark is louder than its bite." The left has helped shift the country's political discussion in the past several years and has gotten the ear of mainstream political elites and media, but it does not have the institutional power held by centrist Democrats like Schumer, Manchin, and Tester. Levitz argues that there's a gulf between the elite media discourse (which is young and left) and institutional power (which is old and rural) in terms of their desired goals and deliverable actions. Shifting gears, Sam and Levitz discuss the apparent differences between Sanders and Warren. For Levitz, it's not apparent that Sanders would stretch executive power more than Warren. The distinction worth making is that the two progressive frontrunners will push progressive policies through executive action more so than the leading centrist candidate Joe Biden. Sam also explains the political stakes of a Bernie Sanders presidency, and its commitment to a principled policy like Medicare for All. Calling for a vote on real progressive policy will draw more apparent distinctions within the Democratic party. Sam and Levitz conclude their conversation considering what constitutes the Democratic party now and what it would take to build a broader coalition of Democratic voters moving beyond 2020. 

And in the Fun Half: we have the president of Finland ask him a question, Trump would investigate the Bidens if he were Zelensky, Trump has decided his foreign policy actions in the Ukraine are now perfectly lawful, Corey Lewandowski is drunk on Fox Business News, the Blaze's Dave Rubin defends Jordan Peterson's enforced monogamy, the courtroom scenes from the Amber Guyger sentencing, the Ghost of Retroactively Classified documents calls from San Antonio, Ken Langone thinks Bernie Sanders wants to shoot him, Beto goes after Mayor Pete, but Yang is now the premier skater in the Democratic field, plus your calls and IMs!

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Get your tickets to the Goth Socialist Variety Hour w/ The Antifada and Pod Damn America featuring guests Matt Christman, Virgil Texas, Leslie Lee III & more at Littlefield NYC on Saturday, October 12 here!

Get your tickets to the Michael Brooks live show in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 23rd (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with special guests Krystal Ball and Emma Vigeland! Get your tickets here.

Check out Michael’s latest piece in Jacobin, “How Bernie Sanders Should Talk About Venezuela and US Intervention in Latin America”

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes.

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Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop

Reminder, this is the last week you'll find the AM Quickie in your Majority Report feed. So go to AMQuickie.com and subscribe today!

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

It was only a matter of time! Trump’s loyal number 2, Mike Pence, finds himself caught up in impeachment.

Meanwhile, House Democrats threaten to subpoena the White House as they get ready to launch a new phase of the impeachment inquiry. 

And lastly, the cruelty is the point; Trump considers making it nearly impossible for unaccompanied children to apply for asylum in the United States. 

And our QUICKER QUICKIES HEADLINES:

A new USA Today poll finds that Americans now support impeaching Trump by 45% - 38%, and, more interestingly, 45% of Americans now support Trump’s conviction and removal by the Senate while just 35% do not. 

New York Times reports that the White House is moving to begin collecting DNA samples from hundreds of thousands of people booked into federal immigration custody each year for entry into a national criminal database.

A 37-year-old man from Cameroon died in US Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody Tuesday after suffering a brain hemorrhage, according to Congressional documents obtained by BuzzFeed News.

And some very important breaking news from The Wrap dot com; Conservative commentator Todd Starnes’ contract at Fox News is not being renewed. Starnes removal comes a few days after he said on his radio program on Monday that Democrats do not believe in the Christian God and instead may worship Moloch, a pagan god often associated with child sacrifice.

On today's show: Bernie campaign announces his stent procedure. Sunday: Pompeo says he didn't hear Trump's call with Ukraine president Zelensky. Tuesday: Pompeo admits he was on the call with Zelensky. Gorka is in Rome with Pompeo, reveals the Obamagate house of cards is collapsing. Kevin McCarthy gives GOP's worst defense of Trump's convo w/ Zelensky. Ainsley Earhardt says Americans can't follow how Trump, Giuliani and Bill Barr are connected.

On the fun half: Warren vs. Bernie on taking corporate PAC money. Sam reveals the Crowder files! Jake Tapper alludes to Ohio state pedophile coach when discussing facts with Jim Jordan. Anand Giridharadas says taking back power is a zero sum game. Chris Coons says history won't look back fondly on a diverse democracy. The crew gives Jeff in Georgia tips on middle class values.

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Get your tickets to the Goth Socialist Variety Hour w/ The Antifada and Pod Damn America featuring guests Matt Christman, Virgil Texas, Leslie Lee III & more at Littlefield NYC on Saturday, October 12 here!

Get your tickets to the Michael Brooks live show in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 23rd (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with special guests Krystal Ball and Emma Vigeland! Get your tickets here.

Check out Michael’s latest piece in Jacobin, “How Bernie Sanders Should Talk About Venezuela and US Intervention in Latin America”

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes.

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

Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter:

@SamSeder

@_michaelbrooks

@MattLech

@jamie_elizabeth

@Bf1nn

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop

Reminder, this is the last week you'll find the AM Quickie in your Majority Report feed. So go to AMQuickie.com and subscribe today!

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

ecretary of State Mike Pompeo reject Democrats demands for State Dept. officials’ testimony in impeachment depositions scheduled for this week.

Meanwhile, billionaire Tom Steyer launches a $3 million pro-impeachment ad campaign that will target vulnerable Republican Senators running for reelection in 2020. 

And lastly, the New York Times reports that Trump has suggested shooting migrants in the legs and filling a moat with snakes or alligators to help stop immigration.

And our QUICKER QUICKIES HEADLINES:

Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee raised a massive $125 million in the third quarter. For perspective; over the equivalent period in 2011, President Obama raised nearly $70 million for his re-election campaign. 

Politico reports that House investigators are looking into an allegation that groups — including at least one foreign government — tried to ingratiate themselves to President Trump by booking rooms at his hotels but never staying in them.

Three House committee chairmen sent a letter addressed to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan on the grounds that the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo “now appears to have an obvious conflict of interest,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

Pompeo’s participation in the call between President Trump and the Ukrainian president, the lawmakers wrote, renders him a witness in the congressional impeachment inquiry, and as a result, “he should not be making any decisions regarding witness testimony or document production in order to protect himself or the president.

And finally, Rudy Giuliani wants to sue congress. That’s right, Trump’s bumbling lawyer told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham that he wants to bring a lawsuit against House Democrats for investigating the president in the wake of revelations involving Trump's interactions with Ukraine. 

Ingraham called Giuliani’s proposal “novel” before ending Rudy’s legal fantasy when she reminded the former Associate Attorney General that members of Congress have immunity for anything they say on the floor.

Marshall Steinbaum (@Econ_Marshall), assistant professor of economics at the University of Utah, joins Sam to discuss his latest piece in Current Affairs, "Cancelling Student Debt Reduces the Racial Wealth Gap." Michael Brooks hosts the fun half.

On today's show: Worker says he's going broke due to healthcare costs on his union plan, Amy Klobuchar responds that it's most important to let workers keep the plans they fought for.

Marshall Steinbaum (@Econ_Marshall), assistant professor of economics at the University of Utah, joins Sam to discuss his latest piece in Current Affairs, "Cancelling Student Debt Reduces the Racial Wealth Gap." In this piece, he lays out what student debt cancellation would mean for the economy and why progressives should be suspicious of anyone who calls it "regressive."

On the fun half: Yang's antiracist message and appeal to material interests are convincing 2016 Trump voters. Ro Khanna explains the difference right now between Bernie and Warren. A plug for the "1 million calls for Bernie" campaign. Get involved at berniesanders.com/call! Jamie answers a question on libertarian socialism. Bernie calls on young voters to change the course of the country. Pelosi backs Henry Cuellar over Justice Democrats' candidate Jessica Cisneros. James Mitchell, architect of CIA torture, says Trump is getting a raw deal like he did.

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Get your tickets to the Goth Socialist Variety Hour w/ The Antifada and Pod Damn America at Littlefield NYC on Saturday, October 12 here!

Get your tickets to the Michael Brooks live show in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 23rd (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with special guests Krystal Ball and Emma Vigeland! Get your tickets here.

Check out Michael's latest piece in Jacobin, "How Bernie Sanders Should Talk About Venezuela and US Intervention in Latin America"

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes.

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

Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter:

@SamSeder

@_michaelbrooks

@MattLech

@jamie_elizabeth

@Bf1nn

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop

Reminder, this is the last week you'll find the AM Quickie in your Majority Report feed. So go to AMQuickie.com and subscribe today!

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

Bernie Sanders raises a massive $25.3 Million in the third quarter - - possibly the largest haul from any 2020 candidate so far.

Meanwhile, CNN and The New York Times report that AG Bill Barr actually asked Trump to get Australia to help him review the origins of Special Council Mueller’s probe.

And lastly, a bunch of new polls are out and they’re showing a net 20-point swing in favor of impeaching and removing the Mad King from office.

And our QUICKER QUICKIES HEADLINES:

Michigan Live reports that negotiations on a new contract for hourly General Motors workers restarted Monday after “positive signs.”

GM workers continued pickets and became eligible to collect strike pay as well on Monday, Sept. 30, the fifteenth day of a nationwide strike by more than 49,000 union members against automotive giant.

A report by ABC News found between 2013 and 2017 more than 25,000 children under the age of 10 were arrested in the United States. 

That number skyrockets for children between the ages of 10 to 12, to over 225,000 arrested during the same five-year time span.

And Republican Congressman Chris Collins is resigning his House seat ahead of guilty plea to insider-trading charges

The New York Republican, among Trump’s earliest endorsers, called the charges against him ‘meritless’ but is scheduled to change his plea Tuesday afternoon.

Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann), progressive radio host and author, joins Sam to discuss his latest book, The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America. Michael Brooks hosts the Fun Half for members.

On today's show: Robert De Niro says "fuck em" to Fox News.

Thom Hartmann (@Thom_Hartmann), progressive radio host and author, joins Sam to discuss his latest book, The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America. While the Supreme Court frequently strikes down laws, that power was not part of its originally intended purview. In this book, Hartmann traces the history of the SCOTUS and "judicial review" as a concept, and argues why and how the citizens of the US should take back this power for themselves.

Tulsi talks with Modi. How should Bernie's latest polls make us feel at this point in the primary? Emily Tisch Sussman says supporting Bernie over Warren shows your sexism. Harvey Weinstein calls Bernie sexist during 2016 campaign. Barbados PM calls for Venezuelan autonomy. The crew advises a caller on dealing with a neoliberal professor. Pete Buttigieg goes to UAW picket, totally blending in. Plus, your calls and IMs!

Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com

The AM Quickie has its own feed! Add it to your podcast library now!

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Get your tickets to the Goth Socialist Variety Hour w/ The Antifada and Pod Damn America at Littlefield NYC on Saturday, October 12 here!

Check out Michael's appearance on the Hill TV here!

Get your tickets to the Michael Brooks live show in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 23rd (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with special guests Krystal Ball and Emma Vigeland! Get your tickets here.

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes.

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

Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter:

@SamSeder

@_michaelbrooks

@MattLech

@jamie_elizabeth

@Bf1nn

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop

Reminder, this is the last week you'll find the AM Quickie in your Majority Report feed. So go to AMQuickie.com and subscribe today!

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

Trump quotes a mega-church pastor on Fox News who warned of civil war if the President is impeached.

Meanwhile, a new study warns that big banks are offloading risky mortgages onto taxpayers as the climate crisis threatens to put many of those homes literally underwater.

And lastly, a federal judge blocks a Trump administration regulation would that keep migrant families to be detained for lengthy periods of time.

And our QUICKER QUICKIES HEADLINES:

A new poll released by CBS News shows a majority of Americans and a supermajority of Democrats surveyed support an impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump.

The poll shows 55% of respondents approve of the impeachment inquiry, while 45% disapprove. 

The New York Times reports that Joe Biden’s presidential campaign has sharply scaled back his online advertising, cutting spending so severely since August that he is now investing only a fraction of what his top rivals are on Facebook and Google, the two dominant internet platforms.

From Politico: A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s effort to expand use of a process that fast-tracks undocumented immigrants for deportation without the involvement of immigration courts.

And the AP reports that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is denying a journalist’s claim that Johnson grabbed her thigh at a private lunch two decades ago. 

Sunday Times columnist Charlotte Edwardes says the incident took place when she worked at The Spectator, a conservative newsmagazine, while Johnson was its editor. 

Johnson also is under scrutiny for claims that an American businesswoman, Jennifer Arcuri, received money and perks from London coffers while Johnson was mayor of the British capital.

Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan), columnist and senior contributor at The Intercept, joins us.

On today's show: Schiff asks why WH saw whistleblower complaint first, Maguire says it's unprecedented situation.

Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan), columnist and senior contributor at The Intercept, joins us to talk impeachment: The Democratic base wants it, but Pelosi and co are trying to rush it after fighting against doing it at all. Why are the Democrats being so squeamish? Some possible explanations. The political and moral case for impeachment. The role of Barr in covering up corruption. The role of Kurt Volker. The political perils of not impeaching.

Mitch McConnell stands in the way of marijuana banking bill.

On the fun half: Schiff characterizes Trump Ukraine transcript. Trump tells audience at UN that whistleblower should be punished for treason. Mike Quigley asks why State Dept. deputized Rudy Giuliani to handle Ukrainian diplomatic contact. Laura Ingraham asks Rudy why the State Dept. deputized him to deal with Ukraine. Dem Peter Walsh asks about the problem of Barr being at center of investigation. Tucker Carlson makes fun of Shep Smith, "dayside" Fox News. Imran Khan calls out US war efforts in Middle East, says US infrastructure sucks. How Bernie supporters should talk to Yang and Warren supporters. Plus, your calls and IMs!

Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com

Check out today's sponsor: Visit www.movaglobes.com/majority and use the code majority for 10% off your purchase

Get your tickets to the Goth Socialist Variety Hour w/ The Antifada and Pod Damn America at Littlefield NYC on Saturday, October 12 here!

Get your tickets to the Michael Brooks live show in Philadelphia on Saturday, November 23rd (the weekend before Thanksgiving) with special guests Krystal Ball and Emma Vigeland! Get your tickets here.

Check out The Michael Brooks Show at patreon.com/tmbs, and the new TMBS YouTube channel for all short TMBS clips

Check out Matt’s podcast, Literary Hangover, at Patreon.com/LiteraryHangover, or on iTunes.

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

Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter:

@SamSeder

@_michaelbrooks

@MattLech

@jamie_elizabeth

@Bf1nn

Welcome to Majority.FM's AM QUICKIE! Brought to you by justcoffee.coop

TODAY'S HEADLINES:

Trump is caught on tape suggesting that the whistleblower who filed a complaint against him should be executed.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means is reportedly sitting on another explosive whistleblower complaint - - this one alleging that Trump attempted to influence an IRS audit of his tax returns.

And lastly, chaos at Fox News, where management is divided over whether to stay loyal to Trump heading into impeachment.

And our QUICKER QUICKIES HEADLINES:

A new Morning Consult poll finds 43% of Americans support the start of an impeachment in inquiry, up 7 points from a weekend survey.

The New York Time reports the Trump has decided to slash the American refugee program by almost half. The administration said it would accept 18,000 refugees during the next 12 months, down from the current limit of 30,000 and a fraction of the 110,000 President Barack Obama said should be allowed into the United States in 2016, his final year in office.

Also from the Times; Allies of Joe Biden, reportedly concerned about his slipping poll numbers, are weighing whether to mobilize a super PAC supporting Mr. Biden and have held conversations with wealthy donors to gauge their interest in contributing money. 

A new study from Science Advances warns that severe climate related droughts could threaten 60% of the global wheat crop by 2100. 

And finally, a new LA Times poll finds that Trump is on track for the poorest showing by a Republican presidential candidate in California since the Civil War. According to the poll, just 29% of likely California voters say they plan to vote for Trump, compared with 67% who say they do not.