The Majority Report with Sam Seder

The Progressive Campaign Change Committee's Adam Green, explained why he is still worried about Social Security, why progressive "sacred cows" are better than Republican sacred cows, where Obama pushed the agenda in the right direction and where he pushed it in the wrong direction, Obama's powerful moment on gun violence, President Obama's call for a higher minimum wage and Bold Progressives push against Mitch McConnell.

Crooks And Liars, founder John Amato, explained why President Obama helped the Democratic cause with this SOTU, how Chris Matthews  destroyed Rubio's response and why Republicans are deluded about Obama's talent.

On The Better Half: The gulp heard around the world, Marco Rubio reminds Sam of a infomercial pitch man, a Libertarian responds to Obama's SOTU and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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Direct download: 02-13-13-Adam_Green-John_Amato-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:02pm EDT

Blogger and USA Today contributor Atrios (Duncan Black), explained what a true cost of living adjustment for the elderly would look like, the evolution of pension plans, the false promise of retirement plans, new retirees facing poverty, why politicians won't run on increasing Social Security benefits, the assumption that life should be an eternal struggle, and the Republicans singular policy focus on cutting taxes for rich people.

On The Better Half: the Sam Seder Learning Annex continues with a new Libertarian caller, the revolutionary implication of the Kill List on Due Process, MSNBC's Toure makes a case for drone strikes and brings back memories of bad country music and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-12-13-Atrios-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:02pm EDT

Filmmaker Benny Brunner, discussed his new film The Great Book Robbery, explained how the Palestinian rare books were lost during the formation of Israel, how his film undercuts the myths surrounding the founding of the state of Israel, why we need to acknowledge that the Palestinians had a thriving culture, why recognizing the real history will help everyone and what Benny hopes his film will accomplish.

KC Boyd, author of Being Christian, explained the fundamentalist drive to control government, what is Dominionism, why the Chuck Hagel confirmation hearings reveal fundamentalist thinking, Boyd's introduction to Christian extremist code language, how fundamentalists play politics and what the Christian Zionist movement wants.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-11-13-Benny_Brunner-KC_Boyd-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:58am EDT

Chris Hayes, explained why the Brennan hearings focused so heavily on institutional jockeying, the policy consensus on targeted killing, the subjective reasoning behind the targeted killing program, how and when could the "War on Terror" end? The importance of defining peace time counter terrorism and the austerity caucus have lost some of their power but economic liberalism still lags behind social liberalism.

Frank Conniff, talked about his memories of working on Mystery Science Theater 3000 and his time working with Sam at Air America, the comedy pitches he is presenting to Al Jazeera, the writing he is doing for Current and he recommended the science fiction movie Looper.

On The Better Half: Fox Business says solar works in Germany because of how sunny Germany, the Bush family email accounts have been hacked, John Brennan won't say whether or not water boarding is torture, Senator Richard Burr, takes the Brennan hearing as an opportunity to make a water boarding joke, the insights of a Fox News "Strategic Analyst" and your calls and IMS.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-08-13-Chris_Hayes-Frank_Conniff-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:42pm EDT

Ari Berman, explained the history of voter disenfranchisement, what states are covered by the Voting Rights Act, is there a federally guaranteed right to vote?, the collapsing bipartisan support for the Voting Rights Act and the financier behind the push to overturn the Voting Rights Act and Chief Justice John Roberts long strong opposition to section five of the Voting Rights Act.

On The Better Half: Marcio Rubio plays to the base and gets absurd on climate change, Idaho lawmaker wants every kid to read Ayn Rand, New York Times reveals drone site in Saudi Arabia, more on the right-wing conspiracy mind and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-07-13-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

Harper's Magazine's,Scott Horton, explained what is in the Justice Departments white paper on drone policy, why the definition of imminence in the memo is crucial, what government officials have legal authority to order drone strikes according to the memo, how the memo reads as a retroactive justification of policy and Will the John Brennan nomination hearings bring out more information?

On The Better Half: we hear from a recovering Libertarian, Sam talks about the new documentary The Great Book Robbery, a libertarian caller has problems with trains and health care and wants a "fierce argument" from Sam and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-06-13-Scott_Horton-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45pm EDT

David Dayen, explained how extreme anti tax policies destroyed California's finances, how California progressives changed the shape of the electorate and what's next in California's budget battles. The Justice Department's case against S&P, why credit ratings agencies are driven by conflict of interest and good signs from Elizabeth Warren.

On The Better Half: new revelations on the Obama Administration's drone program, the precedent that BushAdministration's torture program set for targeted killings and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-05-13-David_Dayen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:35pm EDT

The Electronic Frontier Foundation's Julie Samuel's explained how patent trolls work, why podcasts are threatened by the troll business, how patent rules don't reflect technological changes and the best ways to protect businesses from trolls.

The President and CEO of Common Cause, Bob Edgar, explained ALEC's attempt to establish itself as a charity and why he is so disappointed in the Senate's filibuster reform agreement.

On The Better Half: New York politicians threaten to cut funding for Brooklyn College for holding an event on the BDS movement, lots of Harvard students cheat, Maine Governor Paul Lapage does not want kids reading newspapers and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks!

Direct download: 02-04-13-Julie_Samuels-Bob_edgar-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:55pm EDT

Cliff Schecter explained how the NRA was taken over by extremists, the embarrassing arguments presented by pro-gun advocates to the Judiciary Committee, Ted Cruz's ludicrous questioning of Chuck Hagel, John McCain's bullying and why McCain has a grudge against Hagel.

Comedian Matt Graham, told Sam about his new show, This Too Shall Suck, why Matt tried to play college basketball in his mid thirties, how Matt became a Scrabble champion, his role in the movie movie, Word Warsand Matt recomended the Heart is a Lonely Hunter and the Triplets of Belleville.

On The Better Half: who made the NRA enemies list? the push for immigration reform, the NYPD arrest and handcuff a seven year old and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on the morning thread!

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.  Thanks! 

Direct download: 02-01-13-Cliff_Schecter-Matt_Graham-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:44pm EDT