The Majority Report with Sam Seder

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!

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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

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, explained the chances of gun control passing through the Senate, why he opposes chained CPI, why we need more revenue to close the budget gap, why House Republicans will own the sequester and why Senator Whitehouse thinks filibuster the reforms agreed to by the Senate leadership are significant.

Insurance industry Whistle blower Wendell Potter explained how insurance companies are planning on ruining Obamacare's health care exchanges, how the insurance industries profit from selling high premium low benefit policies, what health care reform got right, why the federal government does not have the power to control rate increases, why Obamacare is the end of the beginning of reform and how industry favors get into Congressional bills.

Ari Rabin-Havt, co-host of The Agenda, explained what happened with filibuster reform, why the Senate will probably run a bit better, why progressives may be well positioned, the three groups in the House Republican Caucus and why Republicans are terrified of negotiating.

On The Better Half: top executives at bailed out firms receive government approved bonuses, more thoughts on filibuster reform, Tennessee pushes "don't say Gay bill", law school applications plummet 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: 01-31-13-Senator_Whitehouse-Wendell_Potter-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:49pm EDT

Investigative report, Will Potter explained why the FBI is monitoring non-violent activists, how corporations created the eco-terror scare, Will's own experience being harassed by FBI agents for passing out leaflets and who the major corporations behind environmental group targeting.

On The Better Half: what's really happening with today's GDP numbers, Gabby Giffords moving Senate testimony, Sam talks with an undocumented immigrant protected by President Obama's deferred action order and Fox News ratings lowest since 2001.

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: 01-30-13-Will_Potter-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:59pm EDT

David Brooks has delusional hopes for the Republican Party, Senate leaders unveil an immigration plan, as immigration reform moves forward, Rush sounds more and more depressed, Fox News, oppressed by President Obama?!, new studies destroy right wing myths about Hispanic immigration and Sarah Palin from irrelevance to oblivion.

On The Better Half: how Boeings anti-union policies grounded the Dreamliner Jet, why its so hard to unionize, the latest on the NLRB ruling, Random Rush 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: 01-29-13-Sam_Seder_Immigration-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:42pm EDT

Author, Arthur Goldwag, explained the history of conspiracy culture on the right, the two fears that drive conservative conspiracy culture, the enduring importance of the Protocols Of The Elders of Zion in conspiracy culture, he global distribution of conspiracies, how mainstream Right-wing organizations use conspiracy theories and the dangerous mix of rising inequality and conspiracy culture.

On The Better Half: new Senate immigration reform proposal ultra right-wing circuit court rules Obama recess appointments to NLRB are unconstitutional, why Filibuster reform faltered in the Senate and a callerdebates gun control in New York state.

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: 01-28-13-Arthur_Goldwag-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:55pm EDT

Cliff Schecter, eviscerated the Senate Democrats for backing down on Filibuster reform,  explained the selfishness of the Senate, Rand Paul's absurd questioning of Hillary Clinton during the Benghazi hearings, why those hearings are preview of 2016 if Hillary runs, the new rhetorical stance from Democrats, and Republicans facing electoral oblivion aggressively push new policies to steal elections.

And Film guy, Matthew Weiss, recommended the movie Compliance, called out Isabel Gillies for picking a Justin Beiber movie and Sam promised that Gillies V Weiss 2 is coming up soon.

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: 1-25-13-Cliff_Schecter-Film_Guy_Matthew-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:20pm EDT