On today's show Sam epically tears apart Paul Ryan for his epically cynical visit to a soup kitchen. Sam also broke down Wall Street's latest theatrics, Andrew Ross Sorkin wants us to know that if Wall Street needs to be bailed out again it might not be so generous as to save itself without as many pre conditions. And in other Wall Street news Sam is puzzled by the former Morgan Stanley executive who stabbed a cab driver and won't be charged.

On the Better Half: Ezra Klein argues that it actually isn't brave for affluent, air conditioned room dwelling policy wonks to advocate raising the retirement age, Sam concurs and elaborates, Sam explains what Obama needs to do in tonight's debate and connects that to why he thinks that someone from the Romney campaign leaked the debate agreement between the two campaigns and much more.

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Labor journalist Josh Eidelson, caught us up on the latest news on the Walmart strikes, explained Walmart's history of aggressive anti unionism, how its business modelis based on keeping people in poverty, why Walmart's tactics have depressed wages across the service sector and what strikers are planning for Black Friday.

Also the Koch Brothers have sent out a helpful letter to their employees "suggesting" how they should vote in the coming election and Sam wonders what Libertarian would make of this corporate infringement on liberty.

On the Better Half:
Sam says don't worry about the polls Obama is still probably going to win, Jason Thompson may have put the final nail in the coffin of his father Tommy Thompson's WI Senate campaign bid with a birther joke, Billy Graham endorses Romney and scrubs all anti Mormon references from his website, Sam debates a friendly Libertarian, coaches President Obama on what to say in the next debate and George W Bush is now painting dogs, Dubya explains his creative process.

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It's Casual Friday! Cliff Shecter and Sam take a look at last night VP debate and discuss how the right wing loves Republican bullies but then blast Joe Biden for being "a meanie" to Paul Ryan, how Conservatives pundits are fixated on Joe Biden's "smile" (because they know they lost), some of the topics from the Vice Presidential debate last night: Medicare, Social Security, and more. They also discuss good times in Vegas over the past few days!

In the better half (but it's a Freebie Friday, so you all get it!), Sam and Cliff continue their conversation. They discuss Darrell Issa's planned hearings on Septembers jobs numbers. Sam AND Cliff take your calls and IMs, Cliff Schecter and listener BushInChainz go at it over IMs! and more...

First up Sam spoke with Cliff Schecter about why democrats struggle with messaging, what cutting social security will do to the American worker and how Joe Biden can win his debate with Paul Ryan tonight.

Remember when the big telecoms worked with the Bush Administration to illegally spy on Americans? Now the Supreme Court has joined Congress and the Executive Branch in insuring that those companies will never be held accountable for breaking the law, Virginia Senate Candidate Tim Kaine says he won't cut Social Security and a Paul Ryan endorsed State Rep says "some girls, they rape so easy." Sam digests this latest bit of horrible from a Republican elected official.

And Sam caught up with former Mississippi Supreme Court Judge Oliver Diaz. Sam and Judge Diaz discussed the Chamber of Commerce's campaign to destroy judicial integrity state by state and what "Tort Reform" would mean for Judaical Independence and how the Chamber worked to destroy Judge Diaz's career and reputation.

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Former Washington lobbyist and policy advisor Jeff Connaughton author of The Payoff, explained why Washington never takes on Wall Street, how careerism shapes law enforcement decisions in Washington, the failure of the regulatory apparatus and why aggressively reigning in the major banks would help the economy as a whole. Sam and Jeff also discussed the "Blob" and how there is no two party system when it comes to the financial sector.

And Ron Seifert, of tarsandsblockade.org explained his groups work in direct action against construction of the Keystone XL pipeline in Texas, how police are engaging in major acts of brutality against demonstrators and the misuse of Imminent domain in seizing private land for the pipeline.

Better Half: Paul Ryan gets testy but makes some good points about crime and poverty and admits that President Obama isn't proposing any new gun laws, why would ask me that question, Paul Broun, ranking Republican on

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Author Kevin Baker discussed his new Harper's story Why Vote? Kevin noted the steady erosion of democracy and some of the political myths that Americans cling to, why this Presidential election matters, the extremism of Romney's agenda and how the push for right-wing austerity economics is not isolated to the United States.

Cliff chronicled his many many moments of frustration with Obama's debate performance, why the Social Security response was Obama's weakest moment and the debate reminded Cliff of the mistakes President Obama made when he first came into office, the expected failure of Jim Lehrer, the many, many, many ways to mock Mitt that Barack missed.

Also Producers Matt and Michael gave out some movie recommendations

On the Better Half: Sam was name dropped by Louie CK, he praised Sam glowingly but spoke about him like he was dead, more reactions to the debate when will the Democrats get a clear position on social Security? and maybe the debate was not so much of a disaster for Obama.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

Author Ari Berman and Sam agree-Romney won last nights debate, Obama looked and sounded tired and unfocused and didn't take advantage of numerous opportunities to push back against Mitt, Ari wanted to know where the aggressive Obama was last night? Meanwhile, Mitt basically renounces his entire campaign to this point and moves to the center, all the while lying about his centerpeice economic proposals.

Ari than brought us up to date on the latest news in voter rights, on a positive note state courts have been overturning voter ID laws across the country, but the Supreme Court may reverse parts of the Voting Rights Act.

On the Better Half: Sam took Jim Lehrer to task for being terrible at moderating, Romney won the debate by swinging back to the middle, Mitt Romney thought that 47 percent of Americans were moochers, Paul Ryan only thinks its thirty percent, a Cornell study finds that nearlyall of us have benefited at one time or another from government programs and much more!

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

Nan Aron, President of the Alliance for Justice explained why the next Supreme Court term matters so much, the future of affirmative action and the voting rights act and Justice Robert's troubling history of hostility to civil rights. How the Supreme Courts decisions on CitizensUnited and the Affordable Care have reminded people of the Court's power and the broader implications of the Roberts Courts strikingly pro corporate stance.

On The Better Half: Noam Chomsky on who he will be voting for and why, free medical clinics in LA lead to overnight waits, Libertarians are creating a feudal paradise in Honduras, Scott Brown slips up in a major way in his last debate with Elizabeth Warren and Sam does his Masshole voice. Also Mayor Bloomberg says something awful no matter what way you interpret it.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki, discussed his new documentary on the war on drugs The House I Live In.  Jarecki, explained the origins of his commitment to social justice, how the business of the drug war works, why politicians from both major parties have internalized the idea that they always need be "tough on crime", the roots of racial targeting in drug sentencing laws and why good police work is degraded by drug policies.

On the Better Half: California becomes the first state to ban "homosexual conversation therapy" for teenagers, Sam explained how George Soros bribes his daughter, Romney practices zingers, Krugman is on the grand bargain watch and Paul Ryan cannot explain Mitt Romney's tax plan to Chris Wallace because he does not have enough time.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!