The Majority Report with Sam Seder

The Nation's Ari Berman explains why the Republicans backing down on their latest extortion efforts is not a big victory for Democrats, why Republicans only cater to the far right extreme, the southern domination of the modern Republican Party, why modern conservative politics is all about fighting demographics, how Arizona and Kansas are expanding voter suppression tactics and why the Supreme Court made the burden of proving voter discrimination harder.

On The Better Half: what's inside the deal that reopened the government and raised the debt ceiling, the Cat Food caucus reemerges, Ezra Klein writes an absurd column, Fox News wonders if House stenographer who want on a rant about God on the floor of the House faced religious discrimination and your IMs and phone calls.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-17-13-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

Huffington Post Congressional reporter, Michael McAuliff explains what the likely bill to avert the default will look like, the dangers of a "Grand Bargain" why the Democrats what budget negotiations, how the Democrats folded on the sequester, how conservatives lose the battle but are still winning the war and why Republicans in the House could still lead us to default.

Demos Senior Fellow, Sasha Abramsky explains why he wrote his new book theAmerican Way of Poverty, the stunning range of poverty in America, why poverty hits people in all demographics, why poverty is about inequality not scarcity and why we don't address the poverty crisis in America.

On The Better Half: Glenn Greenwald to launch his own journalism venture with backing from Pierre Omidyar, JP Morgan spends most of its money protecting itself from the law, Random Rush, people in countries with more social spending are happier and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-16-13-Michael_McAuliff-Sasha_Abramsky-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:43pm EDT

The New Republic's journalist Jonathan Cohn explains the Senate bill that almost was, why Republicans and some Democrats are shilling for the medical device industry, the need for reforms across the healthcare industry, how healthcare reform lowers costs and expands care, why mostly people won't be impacted by health care reform, understanding the glitches on the Obamacare websites and all the ways Republicans are trying to sabotage the bill.

On The Better Half: kindergarteners forces into high stakes testing as part of the testing obsession, Congressman Chris Van Hollen exposes how the Republicans rigged the rules of Congress to insure a shutdown,all the ways defaulting on the debt would cause massive catastrophe and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-15-13-Jonathan_Cohn-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm EDT

Journalist Daniel Goleman author of Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence explains why focus is vital in our lives, the different types of focus and there importance, attention and empathy, why inequality hurts empathy, the emotional impact of wealth and poverty and what we can do to create a more attentive and empathic society.

On The Better Half: a strategist for Cory Booker's Republican opponent goes an an amazing sexist and homophobic rant, David Gregory says something insane about Social Security and Medicare, reports from the Value Voters Summit, why some Republican bloggers think the government shutdown polls need to be "unskewed" the Tea Party, Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin stage a stunt and exploit Veterans and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-14-13-Daniel_Goleman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

Rolling Stone contributor Guy Lawson explains his upcoming book on two stoners who entered the global arms trade, how the military used the stoners as patsies to violate the law, why the elite have no accountability, why the elite hate Edward Snowden for calling them to account, Obama's awful record on journalism, why you should read Murray Sayle, why we are losing the rule of law in press freedom and how Canada got universal healthcare.

Film Guy Matthew Weiss explains "Mumblecore" film making, how Sam won a Prestigious Black Diamond and Matthew recommended the Iranian film A Separation.

And your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-11-13-Guy_Lawson-Matthew_Weiss-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:07pm EDT

Ian Millhiser of the Center For American Progress  explained why the McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission case could destroy what little remains of real campaign finance reform, what plutocrats want to give unlimited money into political campaigns, what is the distinction between Super PAC funding rules and money laundering, how money laundering schemes work in campaign finance, why looking at corruption narrowly is a problem and why Chief Justice Roberts is the Justice to watch in this case.

On The Better Half: Fox News bashes people on disability insurance and NPR and 60 Minutes lie about disability fraud, students dies in PA because of school budget cuts, how the Koch Brothers corrupt government and society and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-10-13-Ian_Millhiser-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:31pm EDT

Credo Action Political Director Becky Bond, explains the long term dangers of the Republican extortion on the Debt Ceiling, the danger of cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, will President Obama be the President to slash the American social safety net? the importance of grassroots progressive politics, how Credo organizes, why Credo is working hard against construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and how Credo wins.

On The Better Half: a Salmonella outbreak due to government shutdown, Republican Congressman says "dang straight" he is gonna take his paycheck during the shutdown, Janet Yellen gets the FED chair nomination, Alex Jones shills for the Koch Brothers and lies about the Keystone Pipeline, Michele Bachmann thinks we are in "end times" and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-9-13-Becky_Bond-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

Climate scientist Michael E. Mann, explains why the IPCC's new report on climate change is more conclusive evidence on the climate crisis, why we should think of acting on climate change as planet insurance, why the IPCC reports set the scientific standard, how fossil fuel interests distort science, the importance of electing pro science candidates, how climate change deniers lie about science, understanding climate change through the metaphor of a hockey stick and why natural gas isn't a salvation.

On The Better Half: Republicans push new debt ceiling lies, why the "Grand Bargain" is lurking again, why innovation comes through regulation, Random Rush, Cokie Roberts says Democrats should give Republican extortionists what they want and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-8-13-Michael_E._Mann-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT

Blogger Digby explains, why the government shutdown was long planned by the Republican Party, why the mainstream media and establishment Democrats keep deluding themselves about the true nature of the Republican Party, what GOP voters really believe, why modern Republicanism is a money making venture and why the Republicans are winning the war to destroy government and make America even more unfair.

On The Better Half: Stuart Varney of Fox Business says he wants to "punish federal employees" the Republican Party of California rebrands itself by selling sexist buttons attacking Hilary Clinton, the Republican civil war and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-7-13-Digby-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Political strategist Cliff Schecter, explains why the Republicans have no long term strategy, why John Boehner won't just take a corporate lobbying job and let the government restart, why Republican sociopaths keep paying themselves while the government shutdown costs people their lives and why we need to make sure the Republicans don't extort us into a "Grand Bargain."

Political satirist and Mayoral candidate Randy Credico, talked about why he is running for Mayor of New York City, how Randy got two percent of the vote in the Democratic Party without having any real campaign funds, Bill de Blasio's time with the Sandinistas, why New York needs a "Paris Commune" movement, Randy's proposal for a Wall Street tax and Sam Recommended the documentary about Randy called 60 Spins Around the Sun

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, needs to be paid while she shuts down the government and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett compares marriage equality to incest.

And keep the conversation going on our 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: 10-4-13-Cliff_Schecter-Randy_Credico-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm EDT