The Majority Report with Sam Seder

Through a computer glitch the Majority Report was replaced by the Ken, Ken & Ken show, we heard about the war on Halloween candy, spoke with Tin Dupuy about why we should shame poor people, more Benghazi, Matt Lauer crosses dresses and upsets Ken and a lot more right wing craziness.

On The Better/Normal Half: NYC Police Commissioner Ray Kelley booed off stage at Brown, Renee Ellmers crazy attack on maternity care, the real problem with Obamacare implementation are Republican governors refusing Medicaid funding,  amazing "conservative" IMs, RandomRush and your sane IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-31-13-Halloween_Show-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:02pm EDT

Credo Action's political director, Becky Bond explains how Credo is fighting against cuts to Social Security and Medicare, how Bernie Sanders is standing up for real Americans, the Obama Administration's zombie commitment to cutting Social Security, why Congress is moving to reign in the NSA, supporting real NSA reform bills in Congress and how Credo is fighting for taking back our civil liberties. On The Better Half: the NSA broke into Google and Yahoo to monitor private accounts, did the NSA spy on the Pope? House Republicans vote for financial service firms to able to lie to their customers, Random Rush Democratic Rep Bill Pascrell calls out Republicans on healthcare lies and obstruction and your phone calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-30-13-Becky_Bond-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:07pm EDT

Jeffrey Rosen the President of the he President And CEO of the National Constitution Center explains the depth and range of NSA spying on Europe, how the new revelations could change the legal standing of those challenging the spying programs, will the broad use of surveillance change American public opinion, why Smith V Maryland does not cover what we are seeing now, how the FISA court has grown in power and prospects for reform.

On The Better Half: a Texas Judge sides with Wendy Davis, flood insurance rates climb, when Hedge Funds become slum lords, debunking new healthcare reform lies, Food Stamps set to be cut, victims of drone attacks in Pakistani testify at a hearing set up by Congressman Alan Grayson, and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-29-13-Jeffrey_Rosen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

Mark Leibovich the Chief National Correspondent of the New York Times Magazine, author of This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral-Plus, Plenty of Valet Parking!-in America’s Gilded Capital, explains the subculture of the Washington village establishment, the shocking explosion of money in America's political system, the problem with the Washington correspondence Dinner, how Chris Dodd became Hollywood's top lobbyist and the importance of holding a mirror to the villages culture.

On The Better Half: medical device companies are making record profits, how the far right benefited from the government shutdown, Random Rush and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-28-13-Mark_Leibovich-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30pm EDT

Cliff Schecter explains why the Obamacare healthcare sites failures is a real problem, why the ACA's problems highlight the need for public healthcare, the roots of government outsourcing, why government is more efficient, the myth of corporate efficiency, why the problems with health care reform implicate neo-liberalism not liberalism, why Medicare for all is the real healthcare solution, is the "Grand Bargain" finally dead? Harry Reid says so.

Andy Kindler plugged his standup gig in Portland Oregon, talked about the healthcare website, why the left needs to stop complaining about the website, Kindler compares notes with Rick Santorum on Satan's control of Hollywood and Kindler suggested people watch Teen Wolf and Enough Said.

On The Better Half: Michigan Governor Rick Snyder refuses to say Gay people shouldn't be discriminated against and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread 

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Direct download: 10-25-13-Cliff_Schecter-Andy_Kindler-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm EDT

Jacobin contributing Editor and  writer Peter Frase, explains the politics of "tech bros" in Silicon Valley, what the BART strike showed us about the ugly side of tech politics, what flexibility really means, why labor unions support innovation, Denmark's distinct approach to flexible labor markets and why technology plutocrats are a lot like other plutocrats.

On The Better Half: Pakistan backed CIA drone strikes, Russell Brand's amazing rant, Republican Rep has her gun stolen, police arrest a black teenager for shopping and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-24-13-Peter_Frase-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:45pm EDT

Jim Bruce the writer/director of the new documentary Money For Nothing explains how the FED was created, why the FED plays such a large role in so many different parts of our economy, how the Alan Greenspan myth was created, how our economy has been distorted by the financial sector, the role of massive fraud in the financial sector in the lead up to crisis and a Jim and Sam debate the best ways to boost the economy.

The Better Half: Sheldon Adelson says we should nuke Iran, how the Koch brothers will profit from the climate destroying Keystone Pipeline, Random Rush with Dick Cheney and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-23-13-Jim_Bruce-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm EDT

Journalist Max Blumenthal explains why he wrote his new book Goliath: Life and Loathing in Greater Israel, understanding the key institutions of Israeli society, Israeli education, what drives Benjamin Netanyahu, the human rights crisis in Israel Palestine now, why so many Israeli's live abroad, the rise of the far right in Israel and why it dominates and the danger of redefining Judaism globally.

On The Better Half: a Tea Party leaders plan to sue "Gayness" Maine Governor Paul Lepage says 47 percent of able bodied people in the state of Maine don't work, Ohio Republican Governor John Kasich takes Medicaid expansion funds from the Federal government, Senator Jim Inhofe says he would have died because of Obamacare and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-22-13-Max_Blumenthal-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:40pm EDT

Sam Seder celebrates New Jersey's move to marriage equality,  explains why corporate education "reform" is hurting children and disrupting learning, Dick Durbin pushes anti progressive agenda on Fox News Sunday, why we are still living under a partial government shutdown, why establishment Democrats are still buying into failed austerity policies, why do Democrats keep repeating Social Security falsehoods? the Republican implosion during the government shutdown and why the Wall Street Republicans will still keep backing the Tea Party.

On The Better Half: the NSA spies on French citizens and the former President of Mexico, former NSA head Keith Alexander is crazy and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-21-13-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:35pm EDT

Political strategist Cliff Schecter, explains the fallout from the government shutdown, why progressive priorities are still not at the forefront, why the austerity fetish still reigns, why we are still losing jobs because of austerity, the agenda to cut Social Security and Medicare, how Harry Reid sidelined Biden in the shutdown negotiations and that's a great thing, why Democrats should be pushing hard on progressive economic policies and how the Fix the Debt austerity q&a was destroyed on Twitter.

Comedian Dave Anthony explains why stopped political blogging, what its like to write with Marc Maron, Sam and Dave talked about having young children in the face of the climate crisis, just how crazy Republicans have become and suggested everybody see the western Ain't Them Bodies Saints.  

And your IMS.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-18-13-Cliff_Schecter-Dave_Anthony-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

The Nation's Ari Berman explains why the Republicans backing down on their latest extortion efforts is not a big victory for Democrats, why Republicans only cater to the far right extreme, the southern domination of the modern Republican Party, why modern conservative politics is all about fighting demographics, how Arizona and Kansas are expanding voter suppression tactics and why the Supreme Court made the burden of proving voter discrimination harder.

On The Better Half: what's inside the deal that reopened the government and raised the debt ceiling, the Cat Food caucus reemerges, Ezra Klein writes an absurd column, Fox News wonders if House stenographer who want on a rant about God on the floor of the House faced religious discrimination and your IMs and phone calls.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-17-13-Ari_Berman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

Huffington Post Congressional reporter, Michael McAuliff explains what the likely bill to avert the default will look like, the dangers of a "Grand Bargain" why the Democrats what budget negotiations, how the Democrats folded on the sequester, how conservatives lose the battle but are still winning the war and why Republicans in the House could still lead us to default.

Demos Senior Fellow, Sasha Abramsky explains why he wrote his new book theAmerican Way of Poverty, the stunning range of poverty in America, why poverty hits people in all demographics, why poverty is about inequality not scarcity and why we don't address the poverty crisis in America.

On The Better Half: Glenn Greenwald to launch his own journalism venture with backing from Pierre Omidyar, JP Morgan spends most of its money protecting itself from the law, Random Rush, people in countries with more social spending are happier and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-16-13-Michael_McAuliff-Sasha_Abramsky-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:43pm EDT

The New Republic's journalist Jonathan Cohn explains the Senate bill that almost was, why Republicans and some Democrats are shilling for the medical device industry, the need for reforms across the healthcare industry, how healthcare reform lowers costs and expands care, why mostly people won't be impacted by health care reform, understanding the glitches on the Obamacare websites and all the ways Republicans are trying to sabotage the bill.

On The Better Half: kindergarteners forces into high stakes testing as part of the testing obsession, Congressman Chris Van Hollen exposes how the Republicans rigged the rules of Congress to insure a shutdown,all the ways defaulting on the debt would cause massive catastrophe and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-15-13-Jonathan_Cohn-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:57pm EDT

Journalist Daniel Goleman author of Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence explains why focus is vital in our lives, the different types of focus and there importance, attention and empathy, why inequality hurts empathy, the emotional impact of wealth and poverty and what we can do to create a more attentive and empathic society.

On The Better Half: a strategist for Cory Booker's Republican opponent goes an an amazing sexist and homophobic rant, David Gregory says something insane about Social Security and Medicare, reports from the Value Voters Summit, why some Republican bloggers think the government shutdown polls need to be "unskewed" the Tea Party, Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin stage a stunt and exploit Veterans and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-14-13-Daniel_Goleman-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:12pm EDT

Rolling Stone contributor Guy Lawson explains his upcoming book on two stoners who entered the global arms trade, how the military used the stoners as patsies to violate the law, why the elite have no accountability, why the elite hate Edward Snowden for calling them to account, Obama's awful record on journalism, why you should read Murray Sayle, why we are losing the rule of law in press freedom and how Canada got universal healthcare.

Film Guy Matthew Weiss explains "Mumblecore" film making, how Sam won a Prestigious Black Diamond and Matthew recommended the Iranian film A Separation.

And your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-11-13-Guy_Lawson-Matthew_Weiss-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:07pm EDT

Ian Millhiser of the Center For American Progress  explained why the McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission case could destroy what little remains of real campaign finance reform, what plutocrats want to give unlimited money into political campaigns, what is the distinction between Super PAC funding rules and money laundering, how money laundering schemes work in campaign finance, why looking at corruption narrowly is a problem and why Chief Justice Roberts is the Justice to watch in this case.

On The Better Half: Fox News bashes people on disability insurance and NPR and 60 Minutes lie about disability fraud, students dies in PA because of school budget cuts, how the Koch Brothers corrupt government and society and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-10-13-Ian_Millhiser-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:31pm EDT

Credo Action Political Director Becky Bond, explains the long term dangers of the Republican extortion on the Debt Ceiling, the danger of cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, will President Obama be the President to slash the American social safety net? the importance of grassroots progressive politics, how Credo organizes, why Credo is working hard against construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and how Credo wins.

On The Better Half: a Salmonella outbreak due to government shutdown, Republican Congressman says "dang straight" he is gonna take his paycheck during the shutdown, Janet Yellen gets the FED chair nomination, Alex Jones shills for the Koch Brothers and lies about the Keystone Pipeline, Michele Bachmann thinks we are in "end times" and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-9-13-Becky_Bond-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

Climate scientist Michael E. Mann, explains why the IPCC's new report on climate change is more conclusive evidence on the climate crisis, why we should think of acting on climate change as planet insurance, why the IPCC reports set the scientific standard, how fossil fuel interests distort science, the importance of electing pro science candidates, how climate change deniers lie about science, understanding climate change through the metaphor of a hockey stick and why natural gas isn't a salvation.

On The Better Half: Republicans push new debt ceiling lies, why the "Grand Bargain" is lurking again, why innovation comes through regulation, Random Rush, Cokie Roberts says Democrats should give Republican extortionists what they want and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-8-13-Michael_E._Mann-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT

Blogger Digby explains, why the government shutdown was long planned by the Republican Party, why the mainstream media and establishment Democrats keep deluding themselves about the true nature of the Republican Party, what GOP voters really believe, why modern Republicanism is a money making venture and why the Republicans are winning the war to destroy government and make America even more unfair.

On The Better Half: Stuart Varney of Fox Business says he wants to "punish federal employees" the Republican Party of California rebrands itself by selling sexist buttons attacking Hilary Clinton, the Republican civil war and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-7-13-Digby-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Political strategist Cliff Schecter, explains why the Republicans have no long term strategy, why John Boehner won't just take a corporate lobbying job and let the government restart, why Republican sociopaths keep paying themselves while the government shutdown costs people their lives and why we need to make sure the Republicans don't extort us into a "Grand Bargain."

Political satirist and Mayoral candidate Randy Credico, talked about why he is running for Mayor of New York City, how Randy got two percent of the vote in the Democratic Party without having any real campaign funds, Bill de Blasio's time with the Sandinistas, why New York needs a "Paris Commune" movement, Randy's proposal for a Wall Street tax and Sam Recommended the documentary about Randy called 60 Spins Around the Sun

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, needs to be paid while she shuts down the government and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett compares marriage equality to incest.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-4-13-Cliff_Schecter-Randy_Credico-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm EDT

Sam Seder explains, why republican "moderate" Devin Nunes is a coward, why the "Hastart Rule" is not a real rule, debated a former Libertarian presidential candidate on what society is, the real problem with the government shutdown, why Republican governors refusing Medicade has left millions of poor Americans without health insurance, all the ways the shutdown will hurt the poor, the danger of a reemerging "Grand Bargain."

On The Better Half: how President Obama let this happen, Random Rush, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell talk strategy on a hot mic and sound like annoying high school debaters and your calls and IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-3-13-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:29pm EDT

Mother Jone's Tim Murphy, explains why the Republicans are committed to shutting down the government, why representing small districts feeds Republican radicalism, why Democrats are "slow walking the Ryan budget", the danger of getting used to austerity and will Republicans destroy America's faith and credit?

On The Better Half: People sign up for Obamacare across the country, slave labor builds world cup stadiums, did Rick Perry's wife come out as pro choice and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-2-13-Tim_Murphy-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:00pm EDT

Princeton Professor Martin Gilens explains 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, how this undermines government regulation and fighting poverty, will campaign finance reform help restore American democracy?The real reasons Americans hate welfare, race and welfare and where the shutdown and deal ceiling will go from here.

On The Better Half: John Boehner, contradicts himself on government shutdown, how the government shutdown will affect everyone and your IMs.

And keep the conversation going on our morning thread

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Direct download: 10-1-13-Martin_Gilens-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:09pm EDT

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