The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Michael Powell's role in undermining Net Neutrality, the distinction between common carrier services and information services, the growth of concentration on the Internet, Barack Obama's former commitment to Net Neutrality, why all problems are solved by classifying the Internet as a common carrier, why the new FCC rules will lead to a two tier Internet, how the FCC keeps moving the goal posts, the distinctions between the coalition that stopped SOPA and what is needed to save Net Neutrality, what needs to happen to save Net Neutrality and why the consumer will pay more on the path we are on.

On The Fun Half: Supreme Court upholds EPA rules on coal fire power plants pollution, Antonin Scalia makes a stunning blunder in his dissent by getting his own previous decision wrong, Wisconsin Judge rules against voter ID laws, armed militia supporters of Cliven Bundy set up armed check points, Donald Sterling's NBA ban, debating what to call Libertarians, Oklahoma's horrific death penalty disaster, why the death penalty is a barbaric act, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin ignores that state's Supreme Court on staying executions and your calls and IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 04-30-14-David_Dayen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:43pm EDT

Journalist Matt Taibbi explains what drove him to write his new book The Divide: American Injustice in the Age of the Wealth Gaphow Wall gets away with criminality, how the poor are treated in today's criminal justice system, the systemic abuse of the poor, statistic based policing policies and Stop and Frisk, the story of Andrew Brown, why is the prison population going up when crime is going down, bailouts and how Wall Street is never held accountable, the Barclays' and Lehman Brothers deal, HSBC's drug cartel money laundering, finance and "crimes of intellectual choice",  the Holder Memo,  how Obama's Department of Justice allows for Wall Street criminality, how American justice is resembling Soviet era justice and our hatred for those at the bottom of society.

On The Fun Half: Kindergartener performance is cancelled because of standardized testing, mass shooting in a "must carry" town in Georgia, Random Rush, Obamacare hater becomes advocate after Obamacare saves his life and your IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 04-29-14-Matt_Taibbi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:13pm EDT

Professor and author of  Seventeen Contradictions and the End of Capitalism David Harvey explains the main contradictions in capitalism, the Neo Liberal counter attack against workers power, the move from demand side theory to supply theory, when demand side economics get into trouble, the distinction between the use and exchange value of a commodity, universal human alienation, how money stops circulating in the economy, how capitalism is exhausting itself, Thomas Piketty's work on income inequality, why Picketty's book isn't about capital, the importance of Picketty's book, what type of society do we actually want to live in? Housing, education and healthcare as universal human rights, the absolute need for a popular movement to reign in capital and tips for how to debate a libertarian.

On The Fun Half: Tea Party groups raise lots of money to pay themselves, Sarah Palin says water-boarding terrorists is like "baptising" them, advice to Sam on debating Libertarian, Andrew Cuomo's far right record, Republican Congressman Michael Grimmnow in custody, Georgia man terrifies little league game with gun and its all legal thanks to Georgia's new insane gun law, Donald Sterling's the racist and plutocratic comments and your calls and IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 04-28-14-David_Harvey-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:37pm EDT

Political strategist Cliff Schecter explains Cliven Bundy's new mishaps, Bundy's shocking racism and ignorance, what Bundy "wonders" about slavery, why he thinks Martin Luther King Jr. would be on his side, the conservative victim mindset, how Bundy gets everything backwards, how is what Cliven Bundy said different from what Paul Ryan said about the social safety net? Is Cliven Bundy on welfare, Libertarians and Neo-Confederates, why Bundy matters to the right, Georgia passes new insane gun law, why guns can be carried in Churches bars and airports in Georgia now, Gun culture and race, the Obama Administration's cave and failure on Net Neutrality and the absurd justifications for not reclassify Internet Providers as "commons carriers."

Comedian and Veep actor Matt Walsh explains that he is on Veep and not House of Cards, Sam says something inappropriate in front of Matt's son, who is the real star of Veep? Matt hosts the American Comedy Awards, why Veep is shot in Baltimore, what its like working with Armando Iannucci, Matt's upcoming appearance on Fox & Friends, rivalries on the Veep set and Matt suggested Enders Game and the The Counselor.

On The Fun Half: And your calls and IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

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: 04-25-14-Cliff_Schecter-Matt_Walsh-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:35pm EDT

Time Magazine political Correspondent and former Washington Monthly Editor Haley Sweetland Edwards, explains the roots of corporate "free speech" rights, how the corporate sector sought opportunities to devolve Free Speech law, the corporate sectors attack on the NLRB, the role of the assault on organized labor, the "Free Speech" rights of corporations, higher and lower standards of scrutiny in legal decision making, how corporations are using speech law to undermine all government regulation, how corporations are dodging public disclosure, Ralph Nader's unwitting role in expanding commercial corporate speech, does the First Amendment provide rights to people or does it include corporate speech? Where corporations want speech rights to go and the problem with free speech purism.

On The Fun Half: Cliven Bundy with new pro slavery comments, Dana Loesch says Bundy suffered from lack of media training, how do hate groups form, Random Rush and your IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

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: 04-24-14-Haley_Sweetland_Edwards-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:25pm EDT

Digby and Jonathan Cohn win Hillman Prizes, the Supreme Court sides with Michigan against Affirmative Action, the importance of the political process doctrine, the Supreme Court's slow motion move against Affirmative Action, Tim Wise explains that whites have benefited from Affirmative Action throughout American history, legacy applicants, Sonia Sotomayor's dissent, Robert's absurd anti Affirmative Action self esteem argument, Thomas Piketty's inequality manifesto surges in sales, more evidence that top rate tax cuts increases inequality and slows growth, Princeton research shows we are living in a economic and political plutocracy and America's Middle Class no longer the most wealthy.

On The Fun Half: Cliven Bundy a liar, right wing hack Dinesh D'souza knew he was breaking campaign finance laws, taxes and inequality, Singapore's social policies and your calls and IMs.

Also take a look here for all of the links for today’s show here!

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: 04-23-14-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

On today’s best of, Princeton Professor and author of Affluence and Influence: Economic Inequality and Political Power in America and Why Americans Hate Welfare Martin Gilens explained how public policy in America have been distorted by income inequality, the shocking lack of influence middle class and poor Americans have in public policy, will campaign finance reform help restore American democracy? And the real reasons Americans hate welfare, race and welfare.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 04-22-14-Martin_Gilens-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:18pm EDT

On today’s best of, Jacobin founding editor, Bhaskar Sunkara, explained the distinction between liberal and socialistic politics, the modern delusions of liberalism, the disconnect between the elite and grassroots of the Democratic Party, the political success of neo-liberalism and how the left can renew itself. Also for members only! An interview from the Air America days with on the dangers posed by John Robert’s with Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick.

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: 04-21-14-Bhaskar_Sunkara-Dahlia_Lithwick-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:42pm EDT

On today's best of, Author of Lawrence In Arabia, Scott Anderson, explained: the slow death of the Ottoman Empire, the four distinct forces driving western intervention in the region, what compelled Lawrence of Arabia to turn against the British, and the line of delusional thinking that helped shape American foreign policy. Also for Members Only! A conversation with Janeane Garofalo had in the Air America days with Ben Stiller and Anne Meara.

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: 04-18-14-Scott_Anderson-Ben_Stiller-Anne_Meara-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:10pm 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, how mainstream Right-wing organizations use conspiracy theories and the dangerous mix of rising inequality and conspiracy culture. 

Also for Members only! An interview from the deep archives from the Air America days with one of America's leading trial lawyers Martin Garbus on the danger that the nomination of John Roberts to Supreme Court posed to America.

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: 04-17-14-Best_of-Arthur_Godlwag-Martin_Garbus-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:50pm EDT