The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Jacobin online editor, and author of the new book Strike for America: Chicago Teachers Against Austerity Micah Uetricht explains what led the Chicago teachers to strike in 2012, why the strike was not about pay, why the teachers won the strike, the conflicts within the Chicago Teachers Union that led to the 2012 strike, the insurgent progressives who took the union in a more bold direction, how organizers connected the assault on Chicago public schools with the broader neo liberal attack on public institutions, how union organizers built relationships with stakeholders across the city of Chicago, how the reformers took over the teachers union, the importance of the involvement of rank and file union members, the importance of independence sustaining union organizing, what other unions can learn from the Chicago teachers strike and how unions should deal with the Democratic Party.

On The Fun Half: Sam finally leaves his apartment, Pat Robertson misses the days when you could stone Gay people, more debating the social insurance system, President Obama defends the invasion of Iraq? Bill O'Reilly goes on racist rant, right wing hack Jennifer Stefano makes a spectacle of herself on Chris Hayes, a Libertarian defends the Hobby Lobby and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 03-27-14-Micah_Uetircht-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:40pm EDT

Politico senior education reporter Stephanie Simon explains how much tax payer is going to teach creationism in the classrooms, the voucher loophole, attacks on science in religious schools, how anti science bias influence the entire curriculum of some religious schools, what policies make tax payers pay for these programs? How corporations are rewarded by state tax policies for giving money to private schools, what groups are behind the voucher push, the voucher success myth, how religious schools are allowed to discriminate, the assault on history and how it all fits into the broader neo-liberal attack on public education.

Its a freebee Wednesday! You get the the Fun Half freebee listeners!

On The Fun Half: the Sam Seder Libertarian Learning Annex is back in session with a debate on welfare, debunking welfare myths, what poverty actually means, how the social safety net helps us all and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 03-26-14-Stephanie_Simon-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:03pm EDT

Slate contributing writer Dahlia Lithwick explains the origins of the hobby lobby case before the Supreme Court, the companies behind the hobby lobby case, why the ACA does not mandate birth control specifically, the specific language of the ACA on reproductive coverage, Justice Scalia's contradictory history on religious freedom, the role of the corporate personhood in the lead up to the case, the tension between religious rights and the general public, why everyone is watching Chief Justice Roberts and the broad public health implications of the hobby lobby case.

On The Fun Half: the activism of the judicial right, more Bitcoin failure, why Democrats have freaked out about Nate Silver's Senate prediction, Alaska Senator Mark Begich campaigns on increasing Social Security, why its political and policy malpractice to not support increasing Social Security, the Sam Seder Learning Annex returns to session, the role of welfare 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: 03-25-14-Dahlia_Lithwick-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:20pm EDT

Journalist Rafia Zakaria explains how why simplistic narratives of human suffering in developing countries can undermine political progress, the problems with foreign aid, the link between US foreign aid and military strategy, how women's rights are harmed can be harmed by western advocacy, the women's rights crisis in Pakistan and an aid policy built on fighting the causes of poverty.

In The Fun Half: Jimmy Carter thinks he may be being monitored by the NSA, Turkey's Prime Minister shuts down Twitter and Turks still Tweet, creationist demand equal time on the new Cosmos series, David Vitter says the Koch brothers are great patriots 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: 03-24-14-Rafia_Zakaria-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:11pm EDT

Journalist Guy Lawson explains how the Bush Administration's Afghanistan arms purchasing policies helped shape the modern crisis with Russia, how the Pentagon relied on Miami Beach stoners for arms purchases, the domestic politics of Russia and America, how the United States circumvented their own laws on arm sales, Bernie Madoff's shocking new prison interview, the differences and similarities between Wall Street fraudsters Bernie Madoff and Sam Israel and who Madoff's favorite and least favorite politicians are.

Michael Ian Black explains why the Malaysia flight was a false flag carried out by CNN, what CNN's next false flag will be, Michael's new National Geographic show, why his podcast is "hard", the advantage of working on garbage and Michael told everybody to watch Airplane, again.

On The Fun Half: Catholic League President Bill Donohue, wants to march with "straight is great" sign at the summers NYC Pride parade, is Libertarianism a religion? How Ezra Klein's new media venture is going 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: 03-21-14-Guy_Lawson-Michael_Ian_Black-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45pm EDT

Hey folks, today is a Members only show, but we still wanted to give you Freebies a teaser from today’s show. Listen to Sam explain what it was like to oppose the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Thomas Friedman's "suck on this comment" and CNN still grasping for straws on the Malaysia flight. 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: 03-20-14-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm EDT

Roosevelt Institute fellow Mike Konczal, explains the conservative myth of pre New Deal and Great Society America, the delusion that civil society took care of poverty, why the state had always played a role in addressing poverty, why before New Deal government policy was demeaning to the poor and favorable to the corporate sector, how social insurance supports risk, why Churches were forced by the State to provide services to the poor, the role of "automatic stabilizers" in saving the economy from going into full depression, why charitable giving falls during economic downturns, why the right pushes the volunteerism myth, how Harry Truman defined charity and why the left needs to be more bold.

On The Fun Half: more reactions to Ken Langone's insane Nazi and inequality comments, declining religion leads to more libertarians? Republicans target young voters with hilarious and awful new ads, the Sam Seder Libertarian Learning Annex returns 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: 03-19-14-Mike_Konczal-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:37pm EDT

Writer Matt Stoller explains origins of free trade deals and why they are not going away, why modern free trade had its start in the 1930s, the utopian desire for a one world government, who is George Ball and why he matters the roots of a common market and governance, the evolving elite view of the middle class, why we have allowed America's industrial base to erode, the myth of frictionless world of capital, why the threat to America is our loss of manufacturing not in debt, how trade agreements impact sovereignty and what we need to learn from Alexander Hamilton.

On The Fun Half: CNN asks if God is involved in the Malaysia flight mystery, new discoveries on the Big Bang, the climate crisis accelerates, demented rich person  Ken Langone compares fighting inequality to Nazism, why do crazy wealthy people keep talking about Nazism, was JFK trying to halt the Cold War? 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: 03-18-14-Matt_Stoller-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:07pm EDT

Nation magazine senior editor, Sarah Leonard explains why the work cultures of Wall Street and Silicon Valley matter to all of us, new reforms in Wall Street work hours, the cult of "smartness", how Silicon Valley disguises its work culture through the rhetoric of passion, how Wall Street and Silicon Valley work to avoid regulation and how we need to start thinking about the technology sector as a whole.

And the great St Patty's Day gets boycott.

On The Fun Half: the roots of the crisis in Ukraine, anti reproductive rights extremists threaten activists online, Abby Huntsman's absurd argument for slashing Social Security, what millennials need to actually worry about, the failure of the "White Pride" demonstrations, Rupert Murdoch tweets crazy things and your 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: 03-17-14-Sarah_Leonard-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:29pm EDT

Political maestro Cliff Schecter explains the insane new pro gun law that the Georgia House just passed, why the Georgia Senate may need to block the bill, what Democratic candidate Alex Sink's loss in the Florida 13th District special election means, how the Obama White House does not know how to sell healthcare, the problem with how Democratic candidates run, the House Progressive Caucus releases a smart budget and gets no attention, how Rob Portman was backed into supporting an unemployment insurance extension and the Obama Administration reconsiders deportation policy.

Andy Kindler objects to being called an Obamabot, Sam reviews more of his ill advised decisions in his entertainment career, Kindler is sick of the "New Atheists", Bill Maher praises Jay Leno and Kindler responds with disgust, why Kindler also hates Fallon, Kindler's favorite Holocaust and Kindler suggested the movie Friends with Money.  

Lindsay Graham Senate challenger calls Graham ambiguously gay 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: 03-14-14-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT