The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) joins us to talk about the changing political tide.

On today's show: Trump paid adult performer Stormy Daniels $150k for mysterious reasons but nobody cares because it's Trump, and Eric Trump goes on Fox and Friends to claim his dad is too greedy to be racist.

Journalist David Weigel joins us to discuss "the Wisconsin surprise." Is it a sign that districts all over the country will switch from "R" to "D" in 2018? While wealthy exurbs will benefit most from the Trump tax cuts, dissatisfaction with other Trump policies led these districts to lean toward Democrat Patty Schachtner in Tuesday's special state Senate election. With rising backlash to Trump and ad hoc groups all over the country contributing money and people power to defeating the GOP, it's possible Democrats will continue to see victories.

On the fun half: Trump's homeland security secretary Kirstjen Nielsen isn't sure that Norway is mostly white people, Tucker Carlson and his crazy friend Heather MacDonald think feminists brought rape upon themselves via the sexual revolution, Dave Rubin uses MLK Day to remind viewers he understands neither MLK, economic systems, nor the meaning of life, a caller accuses the left of supporting Chelsea Manning's Senate run for id-pol-related reasons, Steve Bannon calls in with a question about Bitcoin, Victor in VA wonders what the Democrats' immigration policy actually is, are bad faith actors using the Aziz Ansari story as an excuse for #metoo backlash? (duh), White House doctor Ronny Jackson claims Trump has "great genes," Jamie upsets Michael with a theory on Trump's kinks, Senator Jeff Flake compares Trump to Stalin, and Republicans steal valor from Abe Lincoln.

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Direct download: 1-17-18-Dave_Weigel-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:39pm EDT

Iowa voters openly laugh at State Senator Joni Ernst when she suggests Trump is "standing up" for certain countries, Tom Cotton thinks the Democrats will be punished politically if they shut down the government over DACA, KY governor Matt Bevin defends Medicaid work requirements, a woman bids a tearful farewell to her husband who's being deported after 30 years in the US, and Sam says the f-word, with good reason: Trump's attack on immigrants is racism, pure and simple.

On the fun half: Jon from San Antonio breaks down the Democrats' 2018 chances, Ronald Raygun thinks the media has failed us by reporting more on the word "shithole" than Trump's actual immigration policy, Rand Paul thinks we are the problem for calling Trump a racist, S.E. Cupp has some interesting metaphors for Trump's defenders, Project Veritas "uncovers" well-known facts about social media, Ben Shapiro finally gets shoved in a locker, UK politician Emily Thornberry throws shade on Trump's attempted visit, a caller plugs Edwards for PA, a caller makes Sam an offer he can't refuse, Gorka tries desperately to hold onto relevance, and Dissident Peasant explains why we must un-couple work from our value as people.

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Direct download: 1-16-18-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00pm EDT

Dr. King’s first tv “interview” from the show "The Open Mind – The New Negro" in 1957, hosted by Professor Richard D. Hefner.

Beyond Vietnam, delivered on April 4, 1967 at Riverside Church in New York City.

MLK’s last speech “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution“ delivered at the National Cathedral, Washington, D.C., on 31 March 1968.

Walter Cronkite reports King's assassination.

Nina Simone "Why?" live, 3 days following MLK's assassination.

Telephone Conversation between President Johnson and Martin Luther King, Jr., August 20, 1965 Time: 5:10 PM 

Topics: Close Votes On Poverty Bill; Thomas Kuchel's Letter On Watts Riots; MLK's Meetings With California Leaders; Need For Federal Programs To Alleviate Poverty; WH Civil Rights Conference; Howard University Speech; MLK's Views On Vietnam Policy; Peace Efforts

Direct download: 1-15-18-MLK_Day-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:54am EDT

David Dayen (@ddayen) joins us to discuss the evils of Aflac and Film Guy Matthew Weiss (@langdonboom) drops some quality movie recommendations.

On today's show: Dick Durbin is outraged that Trump called countries "shitholes," ambassador to the Netherlands Pete Hoekstra can't name a single Dutch politician burned alive by Muslims, and Jesse Waters defends Trump's remarks. Journalist David Dayen discusses his new series at The Intercept, Behind the Duck, in which he exposes the wild abuses and hyper-exploitation operating at every level of the company. As it turns out, the blatantly illegal misclassification of workers is only the tip of the iceberg. Next, Film Guy Matthew stops by to recommend some movies everyone should check out: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, a 1969 British coming-of-age drama set in an all-girls school, and Errol Morris' mind-bending new series "Wormwood," which explores the fallout of the US government's MK Ultra program. He also recommends a few things to watch while enjoying psychedelics, as does Jamie.

On the fun half: Steve Mnuchin says Davos is not a "globalist hangout," a caller breaks down why shitcoin is the best cryptocurrency, #NeverTrump conservative Rick Wilson threatens to gut Jonathan Frederick "like a fish," Don Lemon calls out Trump's racism, what's the deal with Slavoj Zizek, and the crew discusses problematic favs not limited to but including: T.S. Eliot, Swans, D.H. Lawrence, virtually all music enjoyed by Michael, and Michael himself.

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Direct download: 1-12-18-David_Dayen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:16pm EDT

Trita Parsi, the founder and president of the Iranian American Council, joins us to discuss the recent Iran protests. Parsi explains how the country's government's leaked budget, with cuts to entitlements, and new taxes enraged its citizens and led them to protest. Cronyism, economic inequality, and state religious repression in Iran. Outside agitation by the US and others and Rouhani's acknowledgment of protester rights. The red line ruling-class conservatives crossed in letting political conflict disrupt everyday life against Rouhani. Rouhani's untimely neoliberal leanings. What is and is not working about the Iran deal, particularly how it serves Trump as a periodic reminder of an Obama accomplishment. The role of sanctions in depressing Iran and stoking frustration, and how Trump admin instability makes it worse.

On the fun half - Steve Bannon calls in as candidates begin to distance themselves from him, Carrier workers getting laid off again, Arpaio is back on his birther, more on BitCoin, Laura Ingraham's right wing listeners aren't happy with Trump saying DACA recipients may not be kicked out.

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Direct download: 1-11-18-Trita_Parsi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:17pm EDT

Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) joins us to discuss his new book, I Can't Breathe: A Killing on Bay Street.

On today's show: Infamous former sheriff Joe Arpaio thinks he's qualified to be a senator, and click here to win a ticket to see Dennis Miller live. Let's fill the front row with MR listeners saying "bap bap bap" in unison!

Journalist and author Matt Taibbi provides background and context to the police killing of Staten Island man Eric Garner. As gentrification crept into Garner's Tompkinsville neighborhood, the police became an occupying force, targeting Garner and others for small offenses under the as-yet-unproven "broken windows" theory. Garner was not even selling cigarettes on the day he died, but the cops targeted him anyway. Taibbi breaks down the flaws in our criminal justice system that allowed Daniel Pantaleo, the officer who killed Garner, to evade accountability. He also remembers Garner's daughter Erica as a promising young activist whose life was cut tragically short.

On the fun half: We continue our east coast/north coast beef over New York vs. Chicago pizza, Dianne Feinstein tricks Trump into supporting a "clean DACA" act, Oprah's pro-war propaganda, a parochial school asks kids to come up with arguments in favor of slavery, Dissident Peasant laments how much power the police and military have, the Mercers throw Steve Bannon under the bus over a $7 billion tax bill, and a caller predicts Oprah will win the Democratic nomination.

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Direct download: 1-10-18-Matt_Taibbi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:10pm EDT

Author, labor organizer and scholar Jane McAlevey (@rsgexp), author of "Raising Expectations (and Raising Hell): My Decade Fighting for the Labor Movement" joins us to discuss union organizing in the age of Trump.

On today's show: Trump's HHS nominee Alex Azar once extended Cialis' patent by testing it on kids. KS state Rep. Steve Alford thinks blacks are especially susceptible to marijuana abuse. McAlevey breaks down the potential fallout from the Janus and Murphy Oil cases, gives tips for building solidarity even in right to work states, and explains why the women's and labor movements must get better at working together. Could the "free riders" imposed by anti-union decisions be an opportunity to build working class solidarity?

On the fun half: Ivanka tweets about Oprah's speech, Ainsley Earhardt says it's "not fair" that immigrants get to "live here for free," a caller is sorry he ever liked Sam Harris or Dave Rubin, THE RETURN OF DUG, Alex Jones takes on Oprah, an Australian caller hates on Tony Blair, and Mindy rails against Democratic incompetence in her state.

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Direct download: 1-9-18-Jane_McAlevey-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:51pm EDT

Dr. Kimberly Mehlman-Orozco (@MehlmanOrozco) joins us to discuss her new book Hidden in Plain Sight: America’s Slaves of the New Millennium. Drawing on a large volume of research, Mehlman-Orozco debunks some of the preconceived notions people hold about trafficking victims, traffickers, and clients, who are often unaware they're employing trafficking victims. She critiques counterproductive policy like the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act, which targets websites like Backpage.com, and lays out a case for comprehensive decriminalization of sex work as advocated by Amnesty International.

On the fun half: Ronald Raygun tries to bang Sam's wife and updates us on one of his immigration cases, Rep. Don Shooter gets weird in response to a question about the sexual harassment allegations against him, Alex Jones has an anti-Semitic ragegasm over "demonic" journalist Brian Stelter, a caller delivers some left crit of Oprah, Trump needs his "executive time," Boris thinks Trump is doing a great job handling North Korea, how do we move the Democrats to the left, and Gabe from Chicago notes the Republican psyche is all projection.

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Direct download: 1-8-18-Kimberly_Mehlman_Orozco-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:51pm EDT

On this Casual Friday episode, Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us to discuss the Democrats' chances of re-taking the Senate, Jeff Sessions' racist war on pot, the electoral impact of Puerto Ricans moving to Florida, and why the Democrats refuse to run on extremely popular issues like marijuana legalization. Next, Andy Kindler (@AndyKindler) comes on to discuss Michael Wolff's book and Trump's cognitive capacity for trying to bang his friends' wives. Is he an idiot savant? Then Sam breaks out his talking Dennis Miller doll and everyone marvels at the comedic tragedy of it all.

On the fun half: Sam's avatar does Dance Dance Revolution to the Euro disco version of La Poupee, Michael Wolff discusses his book on TV, Alex Jones calls Bannon a traitor, the Mooch angles for a return to the White House, "Carl in NH" complains about reverse racism, the Mooch praises Michael Wolff's giant DSL, and a caller explains the origins of the word "libtard."

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Direct download: 1-5-18-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:53pm EDT

On this episode of The Majority Report, Cas Mudde (@CasMudde), an assistant Professor of International Relations at University of Georgia and author of The Far Right in America (Extremism and Democracy), joins us to discuss far right movements in Europe and the United States. How are these movements different in the US vs Europe? How reliant are they on shady rich people's money? Whatever happened to the Tea Party? And the five stages of liberal denial!

On the fun half: Gavin McInnes thinks Michael Wolf wrote a mean book about Trump because he's a closeted gay, Newt Gingrich disses Bannon, Tucker Carlson is upset about The Root being mean to white people, Jeff Sessions rescinds Obama's policy on legal pot, Ben Carson fails at rolling back a voucher program, a caller outlines the need for a unified left, more callers discuss ethnocentricity, and will the bitcoin bubble burst? (Yes.)

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Direct download: 1-4-18-Cas_Mudde-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:39pm EDT