The Majority Report with Sam Seder

2/29/12

Dave Weigel from Slate on Mitt’s Michigan victory, the media’s control of the contest message and the ruin of the GOP.  Author Michael Hastings on Department of Homeland Security monitoring of Occupy Wall Street.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-29-12-Dave_Weigel-Michael_Hastings-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:02pm EDT

2/28/12

"Rupert Murdoch" calls in and throws son James under the bus.  Bribery, government and police officials on the take, mass cover ups; Sam digs in to culture of corruption at the Murdoch empire.  California AG puts pressure on Fannie & Freddie. Plus, Majority Report's Chastity reporter calls Senator Santorum's office looking for hard data.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-28-12-Murdoch_Setting_Sun-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm EDT

2/27/12

Blogger, professor and Middle East specialist, Juan Cole on the regime crackdown in Syria, expulsion of Hamas and Afghanistan reaction to Qur’an burning US Military.  Plus, Wikileaks’ massive email dump.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-27-12-Juan_Cole-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:41pm EDT

It’s our final day of vacation — we wouldn’t let you down with a recycled show!  Here’s fascinating conversation with author and environmentalist Derrick Jensen.  The discussion looks into the concept of dominant culture, how it informs the system we live in,  and what it means to all the systems of the planet.  Jensen talks about strategies for rebellion, black bloc tactics and Occupy Wall Street.   His most recent book is Deep Green Resistance: Strategy to Save the Planet.  Learn more about Deep Green Resistance here. 

Direct download: 02-24-12-Derrick_Jensen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:20pm EDT

2/23/12 

More NEW, FRESH content!  Harvard Professor Lawrence Lessig (@lessig) talks about the ideas in his new book One Way Forward: The Outsiders Guide to Fixing the Republic.  The problem today is not Right vs. Left, it’s Insider vs. Outsider.  We have a system of government utterly corrupted by the influence of money and a Congress consumed by it’s donors rather than focused on the work of the people.  So what is the answer to fixing the system?  Lessig presents his fix.

And Matt Earley (@mateotemprano), co-founder and farmer relations manager of Just Coffee, joins Sam to talk about fair trade coffee, running a co-op and the mission behind this employee owned and operated fair trade pioneer.

Direct download: 02-23-12-Lawrence_Lessig-Matt_Earley_Just_Coffee-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:41am EDT

2/22/12

We're still on vacation but here's more fresh content!  We are joined by Harvard Astrology Professor,  Dimitar Sasselov for a scientific look at how the life of Planet Earth and human existence are interconnected.  And a discussion about the possibility of finding life in the universe beyond earth.  His book is The Life of Super Earths.

Plus...after the interview, a special Oscar-related bonus! (Hint: It's something we'd usually do on Casual Friday.)

Direct download: 02-22-12-Dimitar_Sasselov-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:59am EDT

2/21/12 

On today’s show, interviews conducted at the Health Action 2012 Conference in D.C.  Sam talks to Congressman John Sarbanes of Maryland, Valerie Arkoosh and Timothy Jost.   Use this post as today’s thread.  Click thru for links and details.  

Sam talks to Congressman John Sarbanes (@JohnSarbanes) from Maryland’s Third District about the SOPA/PIPA black out, the corruption of democracy by special interests and the formation of the American People’s Super PAC.

Valerie Arkoosh (@VAArk), President of the National Physicians Alliance discusses ways her organization is educating doctors and working to reshape relationships they have in the health care system — including setting new boundaries between physicians and pharmacutical companies.  Read about their UnBranded Doctor campaign here.

And Timothy Jost, professor at Washington Lee University Law School examines the up coming Affordable Health Care Act Supreme Court litigation, which could set dangerous precedent effecting the relationship between States and the Federal Government for years to come.

Direct download: 02-21-12-_John_Sarbanes-Valerie_Arkoosh-Timothy_Jost-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:36am EDT

2/20/12 

Writer, consultant and Senior Fellow with Campaign for America’s FutureRichard Eskow reveals on how the Federal Housing Finance Agency is crippling America’s recovery and why Acting Director Edward DeMarco is at the center of the problem.  Eskow explains why Obama can’t (or won’t) get rid of him.

And from the Health Action 2012 Conference, Ron Pollack the Founding Executive Director ofFamilies USA, talks about the new health care marketplace created by the Affordable Care Act.  How will the new system work, who will regulate it and who will benefit.

Direct download: 02-20-12-Richard_Eskow-Ron_Pollack-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:39am EDT

Friday brings Cliff Schecter from Libertas LLC.  Topics this week include the GOP’s onslaught on women’s reproductive rights, Romney’s standing in Michigan and the economic effects of warmer weather.  Plus, comedian Eddie Pepitone joins us with movie reviews and Jimmy Reefercake delivers the song of the week.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-17-12-Cliff_Schecter-Eddie_Pepitone-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:49pm EDT

2/16/12

David Dayen, Firedoglake, dissects Romney's managed-bankruptcy "solution" to Auto Bailout, addresses attack on unions and comments on Mortgage Fraud Settlement.  Jeff Smith talks Occupy Wall Street and black bloc tactics.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-16-12-David_Dayen-Jeff_Smith-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:59pm EDT

Sam debates Libertarian Peter Schiff over the Contraception Mandate.  Plus, postmortem conversions by the Mormon Church.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-15-12-Peter_Schiff-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:07pm EDT

2/14/12

Stories on today's show: the Libertarian anti-woman pro elite class philosophy, the "expanding" social Safety Net, Marijuana and tax revenues, updates on Occupy news from around the country and more.  

Direct download: 02-14-12-Sam_Valentines_Day-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:06pm EDT

2/13/12

Michelle Alexander, civil rights lawyer, advocate and legal scholar on her book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.

  In the better half, discussion of violence and black bloc tactics in context of Occupy movement continues, Breitbart unglued and Santorum in WA on day of marriage equality signing.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-13-12-Michelle_Alexander-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:54pm EDT

2/10/12 

Casual Friday brings Cliff Schecter from Libertas LLC.  Up today, shocking liberal support for Guantanamo, the contraception mandate and gun sales gone wild.  Matthew Weiss has movie recommendations and Jimmy Reefercake with his song of the week.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-10-12-Cliff_Schecter-Matthew_Weiss-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:46pm EDT

2/9/12

Sarah Posner, Religion Dispatches magazine, on contraception coverage controversy. From the Occupy Wall Street bus tour, Jeff Smith on Black Bloc tactics and the movement.  In the better half, the Mortgage Fraud Settlement, a rip-off for the American people.   Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-09-12-Sarah_Posner-Jeff_Smith-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:06pm EDT

Ari Berman from the Nation on how the GOP is adeptly maneuvering Congressional and state legislative maps to their benefit, wresting control of voting districts away from Democrats, resegregating the South.  In the better half, Catholic bishops continue their stink over contraception coverage, Santorum on keeping prescription drugs affordable (no iPads!) and Ron Paul’s white supremacist ties.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-08-12-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:06pm EDT

2/07/12

Sara Robinson from Alternet on the shifting political paradigm issuing in new era of political rules and standards. Plus, the mortgage foreclosure settlement still in negotiation and in the better half, White House's changing tune on debt deal would increase deficit, Obama backing down on birth control access,  Anonymous hacks President of Syria and Senate sells out Unions.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-07-12-Sara_Robinson-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:26pm EDT

2/06/12

Robert Kuttner from The American Prospect magazine on status of proposed multi-billion dollar settlement in mortgage meltdown; will Obama's Financial Fraud Unit have teeth? Will Big Banks see criminal prosecution?  And behind AG Schneiderman's deal.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-06-12-Robert_Kuttner-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:22pm EDT

2/3/12

Cliff Schecter and Sam talk the week’s news; the Susan G. Komen fiasco looms large and what it means for the GOP if Romney loses the general election.  Isabel Gillies with impassioned movie reviews, songs of the week (Reefercake has a new CD and we say good-bye to the Screaming Majority!). Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST).

Direct download: 02-03-12-Cliff_Schecter-Isabel_Gillies-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:10pm EDT

2/2/12 

Director of the Academy Award Nominated, Gasland, hot off his arrest at a public, Congressional hearing on fracking.. Josh Fox on his First Amendment rights, the sequel to Gasland and his status as persona non grata on the Hill.  Also, dems in Indiana add poison pill to bill on creationism in schools, Alabama senator says Bible is anti-teacher pay raise and Washington State, close to marriage equality. Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-02-12-Josh_Fox-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:19pm EDT

2/1/12

Citizen Journalist Spencer Mills, aka OakFoSho, reports on Saturday’s march and arrests in Oakland. And Jeff Smith on the Occupy message and the future of OWS.  In the better 1/2, Oakland occupier Alyssa on her arrest, being denied medication and her 18 hour detention.  Plus, Romney’s not worried about the poor and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure drops funding of Planned Parenthood.  Listen LIVE at Majority.fm 11:30 am (EST)

Direct download: 02-01-12-OakFoSho-Jeff_Smith-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:43pm EDT

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