The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Digby (@digby56) and Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler) join us for Casual Friday.

On today's show: Trump likes Gary Cohn even though he's a "globalist." Trump's awkward press conference with steel workers.

Digby (@digby56) of Salon.com updates us on what the hell Trump thinks he is doing with North Korea. Hannity's absurd "rocket man blinked" segment. More theories on the Stormy Daniels situation. A pee-themed performance Trump might have watched in Moscow. A brief explanation of the Seychelles story.

Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler) joins us to talk masculinity and drag some right wing bozos. Chad Prather's ode to the alpha male. Dennis Miller's depressing comedy. Adam Carolla's documentary on campus snowflakes. Miller's attempts to take down Kathy Griffin. Maybe he's just not that smart? A new Jimmy Reefercake song is played.

On the fun half: Parkland High School student Sarah Chadwick's parody video of Dana Loesch's NRA ad. A caller recommends the BBC series "North South," about industrialization in England, and the Left Flank Gam1ng Youtube channel. Greg's uncle calls in from Nebraska. The Yakubian left defines neoliberalism. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's very expensive door. Sen. Dean Heller tries to boost re-election bid with Justice Kennedy retirement rumors. A caller reports back from Dave Rubin's "free speech" event sponsored by the Ayn Rand Institute. A caller relates how Sam inoculated him against libertarianism.

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Direct download: 3-09-18-Digby_Andy_Kindler-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:57pm EDT

Professor Richard D. Wolff (@profwolff), of U Mass Amherst and The New School, joins us to discuss the failure of capitalism and what socialism in the US could look like.

On today's show: Sam Nunberg changes course on complying with Mueller's subpoena. Professor Richard D. Wolff (@profwolff) returns to talk Marxism, crisis, and economic democracy. How the financial crisis of 2008 awoke many Americans to the fatal flaws of capitalism and made them curious about socialism. How globalization and the credit industry have harmed the working class. The Corbyn-led Labour Party's plan to democratize the economy via worker coops. A brief analysis of MMT. The past failures and future potential of unions. For more Richard D. Wolff, check out Democracy at Work and Economic Update.

On the fun half: Florida state rep. Elizabeth Porter says children have no right to influence gun control policy. Dana Loesch responds (sort of) to CT governor calling the NRA terrorists. Jeff Sessions suddenly cares about states' rights. Susan Page and Jeremy Peters unwittingly contradict each other re: microaggressions. Some Puerto Ricans critical of San Juan mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz. NRA TV chuds angry you can wear a Colin Kaepernick jersey to vote. Trump claims he'll build the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem for $250k. Anthony in Miami questions the blue wave. How to make sure you haven't been purged from the voter rolls. Jamie's dad calls in to wish her a pre-emptive happy birthday, and another quality Raygun call.

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Direct download: 3-07-18-Richard_Wolff-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:17pm EDT

Labor reporter Mike Elk (@MikeElk) joins us to discuss the teachers' strike in West Virginia.

On today's show: The GOP's fake mailer about Democrat Conor Lamb's support of gun rights. Ted Cruz's hackish attack ad against Beto O'Rourke.

Labor reporter Mike Elk (@MikeElk) of The Guardian and Payday Report joins us to talk about the West Virginia teachers' strike. The issues that led up to the strike and why the striking teachers had the support of their communities. The role of union leadership and why they accepted a deal the rank and file rejected. An explanation of the deal that ended the strike for real. Under what circumstances will the teachers and other state workers' 5% raise be funded by cuts to Medicaid? The strike's ripple effect on other states. The history of militant labor in West Virginia and how that squares with the state's drift toward the Republican Party. The significance of having a majority-female teachers' union and the value of emotional labor.

On the fun half: The GOP's creepy attack ad against Conor Lamb. Ted Cruz's hackish attempts to make fun of Beto O'Rourke's name. Chuck Schumer makes a lackluster case for Israel at AIPAC. John from San Antonio updates us on voting patterns in Texas. Dissident Peasant critiques Ted Cruz's country song and offers his perspective on solidarity in red states and eroding confidence in Trump. White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn pretends to quit over trade tariffs but it's probably for his own personal enrichment. Sam challenges (more) libertarians to come on the show and debate him. A caller details the dire pollution situation in Missouri, recommends the documentary "Atomic Homefront." Sam plays clips from his "Sex and the City" appearance and talks about Cynthia Nixon's primary chances against Cuomo. The bottomless cynicism of Pennsylvanians. What is left-libertarianism? Sean Hannity cucks Roger Stone.

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Direct download: 3-07-18-Mike_Elk-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:11pm EDT

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