The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Cliff Schecter, explained the politics of the Supreme Court, Scalia's laughable dissent on DOMA, why tv has played a major role in the advancement of Gay Rights, the evolution of support for Marriage Equality and why women's rights will continue to drive progressive politics.

On The Better Half: how Obama positioned himself on Keystone XL, the Pentagon blocks access to the Guardian, why art has been corrupted by an unending focus on money and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-28-13-Cliff_Schecter-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:29pm EDT

The Nation's Richard Kim, explained what DOMA did legally, the equal protection and state rights component of the decision ending DOMA, the strategy moving forward for national marriage equality, the incredible heroism of Edith Windsor, Bill Clinton's record on DOMA, what happened with in the Prop 8 ruling and the role popular culture has played in supporting Gay Rights.

On The Better Half: Rick Perry gets lucid for one minute to launch a disgusting attack on Wendy Davis, Random Rush, Pat Robertson wants to know if Anthony Kennedy has "Gay Clerks"?, Chris Christie thinks Gay People should be discriminated against, Obama's ambiguous stance on Keystone and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-27-13-Richard_Kim-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:13pm EDT

Salon contributing writer, Rebecca Traister explained Texas's draconian new reproductive laws, Wendy Davis's unexpected and amazing filibuster and how galvanizing will this moment be?

Ari Berman, explained how the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, why the ruling helps southern states recreate segregation in Congressional districts, how Justice Roberts "imagined" his way to a ruling and how Justice Kennedy has disgraced himself in his votes on healthcare reform and Voting Rights.

On The Better Half: DOMA overturned, the fake IRS "scandal" dies again, Glenn Beck and Rand Paul wonder if ending DOMA could lead to more Muslims!? And your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-26-13-Rebecca_Traister-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:07pm EDT

Sam broke down the Supreme Court's gutting of key provisions of the Voting Rights Act.

Shayana Kadida, an attorney with The Center For Constitutional Rights , explained his work against NSA surveillance, why lawyers may be targeted under the NSA spying program, The problem with the term metadata and the Obama Administration's stunning lack of transparency.

On The Better Half: more on conservatives judicial activism, the Supreme Court punts on Affirmative Action, Andrew Ross Sorkin provides a disingenuous apology for almost calling for Glenn Greenwald's arrest, Louie Gohmert says that Sex Ed is just like the Soviet Union and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-25-13-Shayana_Kadidal-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:11pm EDT

Nikolas Kozloff, explained the politics of driving the Ecuadorian governments providing safe haven for Julian Assange and Edward Snowden, President Correas's populist policies, the successes and failures of the new Latin American's new left and what comes next.

On The Better Half: does reading Salon make you a security threat, Paula Deen's insane defenders, David Gregory asks Glenn Greenwald if he should go to jail, Georger Zimmerman's lawyer tells an awful joke and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-24-13-Nikolas_Kozloff-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:14pm EDT

On today's extended show from Netroots Nation:

Think Progress's Matt Duss, explained the roots of Turkey's protest movement, and what a progressive foreign policy.

Cliff Schecter, explained why Netroots its no longer an insurgency, Immigration reform maybe closer to passing and more reactions to the tragic death of Michael Hastings.

Ari Berman, explained the recent history of voting rights, how the Supreme Court may strike down an essential aspect of The Voting Rights Act and what will the immigration reform bill ending looking like.

Congressman Bruce Braley, explained why he was running for an open Senate seat in Iowa, how he hopes to build on Senator Tom Harkin's progressive legislative legacy and Keystone XL and Climate change.

The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkal and Ryan Grim, explained how Republicans destroyed the Farm Bill and are attempting to decimate food stamps and just how insane are the House GOP.

John Amato & Gaius Publius, explained how Unions could exert more power of the Democratic Party  and how the right has demonized Unions.

And Lizz Winstead, talked about breaking new research on reproductive health and abortion rights, Matthew Filipowicz talked about his epic new Ayn Rand satire and Lizz and Matthew gave movie recommendations.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-21-13-Day_2-Live_From_Netroots_Nation_2013-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:39pm EDT

On today's show Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, explained why demographics and cultural trends favor progressive politics.

David Dayen & Digby discussed the landscape of Netroots politics, how Twitter and Facebook disrupted the blogging model, the NSA scandal and why the institutions of Washington fail in monitoring the military industrial complex.

Credo's Political Action Director Elijah Zarlin brought us up to date on Credo's campaign of civil disobedience against the Keystone Pipeline.

The Contributor's Editor-in-Chief Tina Dupuy, explained how the Republican's War on Women and choice is now focused on embryonic masturbation.

And Sam pays more tribute to the great Michael Hastings.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-20-13-Live_From-Netroots_Nation_2013-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:32pm EDT

On today's show, David Dayen explained the student loan crises and why the student loan industry is uniquely unfair and corrupt. Investigative journalist explained the massive role that private contractors play in NSA surveillance and the Nation's George Zornick explained where immigration reform stands in Congress now.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-19-13-David_Dayen-Tim_Shorrock-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:35pm EDT

Bill Scher debated Matt & Michael on NSA data mining, is the NSA's surveillance legal?whether or not the program has been effective, has the monitoring been abused? and the role of private contractors in gathering intelligence.

Michael explained the new spying revelations, Iran's presidential election results and what arming the Syrian rebels means.

On The Better Half: Rick Scott fights paid medical leave in Florida, George Zimmerman's father is not surprisingly racist and crazy, Rick Perry signs a Christmas bill, vetoes equal pay and makes a factual mistake that is embarrassing even for him and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-17-13-Bill_Scher-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:21pm EDT

Sam and Cliff Schecter explained the enduring importance of the NSA scandal, the incompetence of the intelligence apparatus, the straw man arguments against pushing for transparency, the endless historical examples of abuse of surveillance and a Supreme Court ruling update.

Andy Kindler, explained what its like to work with Marc Maron, Kindler gave his perspective on NSA monitoring, he admits to have some tension with Louis C.K. and recommended the Richard Pryor documentary Omit The Logic.  

And your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread 

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Direct download: 06-14-13-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:26pm EDT

Labor historian and journalist Richard Yeselson explained how labor militancy drove labor rights in the 1930s, how the passage of Taft-Hartley Act attacked the organizing and cultural power of labor, why the Congressional backlash against labor was connected with opposition to civil rights, what caused union decline and the best way for unions to move forward.

On The Better Half: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez says NSA disclosures are "the tip of the icebirg" Sean Hannity's stunning hypocrisy on NSA monitoring and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-13-13-Richard_Yeselson-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:22pm EDT

6/12/13

Sam explained the absurd reactions from Thomas Friedman and David Brooks to the Edward Snowden disclosures, why establishment journalists defend themselves by attacking whistle blowing, Senate coalition pushes for more transparency in the surveillance program and how private companies are abusing intelligence to target the public.

On The Better Half: Immigration Reform moves forward in the senate, Random Rush, Peter King calls for Glenn Greenwald to be prosecuted,  and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-12-13-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:14pm EDT

Sam went solo today and explained why Edward Snowden isn't the main story, the market for private spying and data collection, why the Patriot Act's implementation is a fundamental challenge to democratic culture, how the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper lied the Senate and how corporations profit from the military industrial complex.

On The Better Half: the Obama Administration finally backs down on Plan B and Laura Ingraham has something insane to say about it, Michael Isikoff thinks the government may have a hard time prosecuting Edward Snowden and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-11-13-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:24pm EDT

Professor Juan Cole, explained the corporate distortion of the Constitution, why NSA whistle blowers are turning the tables on the surveillance state, why data mining is a flawed counter terrorism strategy, the origins of Turkey's recent protests and the youth driven global backlash against neo-liberalism.

On The Better half: who is the NSA whistle blower Edward Snoden? Arizona police pull over and arrest a sober man for drunk driving, an atheist prayer needs a Christian "redo and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-10-13-Juan_Cole-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:26pm EDT

Cliff Schecter, explained the new revelations of NSA data mining and surveillance, how the Obama Administration has codified a deeply invasive framework for monitoring Americans, will Glenn Greenwald be prosecuted? Is the "Grand Bargain" dead? and is Immigration Reform going to be killed by the GOP?

Film Guy Matthew Weiss, talked about President Obama fighting Patent Trolls, what he has been up to and he recommended the classic comedy A New Leaf.

On The Better Half: one incredibly crazy call, Mitt Romney wishes Hurricane Sandy didn't happen when he was running for President and your normal calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-7-13-Cliff_Schecter-Matthew_Weiss-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:31pm EDT

Blogger Marcy Wheeler explained the meaning of the NSA's mass surveillance of Verizon phone customers, why the NSA's monitoring focuses on Americans, the problem with data mining in terrorism investigations, why it is alarmingly easy to become a terrorism suspect and why the programs secrecy is aimed at Americans asserting their civil liberties.

On The Better Half: Jeremy Schahill schools Toure,  the Grand Bargain maybe mercifully dead, The IMF admits that it damaged the Greek economy with austerity, Random Rush, George W Bush bikes with vetrans of his wars and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 06-6-13-Marcy_Wheeler-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:21pm EDT

Terrorism Factory, author Trevor Aaronson explained the absurd case of the Liberty City Seven, why only a small fraction of recent terror arrests have actually posed real threats, how FBI paid informants drive frivolous cases and why these cases distract law enforcement from real terrorism threats.

On The Better Half: the problem with testing culture, Chris Christie is a liar, Donal Rumsfeld says Obama might be on the terrorists side and Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss blames military rapes on hormones and your calls and 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: 06-5-13-Trevor_Aaronson-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:50pm EDT

Filling in for Thom Hartmann, Sam discussed the Social Security Trustees new report on the solvency of the program with Alex Lawson of Social Security Works, looked at how dangerous the proposed TPP trade bill is with Melinda St. Louis, of Global Trade Watch, discussed the backlash against Monsanto with journalist Aviva Shen, how the Electronic Frontier Foundation is fighting back against Patent Trolls and much more!

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: 06-3-13-Sam_Seder_Fills_In_For_Thom_Hartmann-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:22pm EDT

Sam explained Frank Lautenberg's legacy, the Bradley Manning trial begins today, the unique dangers of the espionage charges levelled against Manning, The Tea Part is on to Grover Norquist being a secret Muslim and protests continue across Turkey.

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: 06-3-13-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:37pm EDT

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