The Majority Report with Sam Seder

On today's show Bronwen Dickey (@BronwenDickey) a Contributing Editor for the Oxford American and author of the forthcoming book: Pit Bull: The Battle over an American Icon. (10:45)

Bronwen's experience on a conspiracy theorist cruise. Conspiracy theories and science communication: why do people come to believe what they believe. How the cruise ship added to the conspiracist paranoia. The suspicion Bronwen was a plant by the pharmaceutical industry. How to differentiate between true conspiracies from frivolous conspiracy theories. Social and political distrust of scientific arguments. The difficulty of reasoning people out of positions they didn't arrive at with reason.

Bronwen's book, Pit Bull: An American Icon. The baggage and demonization of pit bulls and how the racial composition of the owners of demonized dog breed creates these myths. The origins of the word "race" from the language of breeding. The linkage of pit bulls with "thugs" as a proxy cultural struggle.

On the Fun Half: What Bernie needs to do better, how dangerous do Trump's reasonable statements on issues like healthcare and the Iraq war make him, more on pit bulls, Vicente Fox uses the f-word on Fox Business. Also your calls and IMs.

 

Direct download: 02-29-16-Bronwen_Dickey-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:28pm EDT

Cliff Schecter explains the hilarious and disturbing debacle of the latest Republican debate. The stunted emotional development of the Republican candidates. The Republicans do not debate policy. Why Trump's wall fantasy tells us everything we need to know about the GOP and mainstream media. The one more Marco Rubio attack on Donald Trump might work. How you can beat Trump and what Bernie and Hillary need to do to beat Trump. (8:45)

Christopher Rosen continues his rise and is now in charge of Entertainment Weekly Online. What does Rosen think of the Best Picture nominations. Why the Revenant will win according to Rosen. Where does Rosen get his info? Sam dismisses Steven Spielberg. Who Rosen thinks will win. Rosen does not documentaries and what is Rosen doing for EW. (49:45)

Chris Christie endorses Donald Trump. The IRS investigates Trump because he is a big Christian. Chris Matthews try to grill Bernie Sanders and your IMs.

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Direct download: 02-26-16-Cliff_Schecter-Christopher_Rosen-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:48pm EDT

Jacobin Magazine founder and coeditor of The Future We Want: Radical Ideas for the New Century, Bhaskar Sunkara, explains the dynamic of President Obama's leadership. Contradictions of the Democratic Party. The difference between the Democratic Party and European Social Democratic parties. Why Bernie Sanders comes from the socialist tradition. How Sanders is educating the public. Why Sanders is the political realist. We are in a class war and the rich are waging it. Why socialists want to expand democracy. Eliminating the wrong kind of risk in American society. Why liberals lose and why radicals need to get politically real. What we can learn from Britain's NHS. Why technocratic policy proposals are wrongheaded and why Sanders is getting his arguments right. Federalizing the anti austerity cause and the long term prospects for social democracy. (11:30)

On The Fun Half: How to cap CEO pay. How to make real progressive change happen. Black Lives Matter activist confronts Hillary Clinton on using the term "super predators" in the 1990s and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-25-16-Bhaskar_Sunkara-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:24pm EDT

Professor and author of Crowds and Party Jodi Dean explains how individualism undermines modern organizing. Why the problem is bigger than neoliberalism. The left and discipline. How we can have collective politics and why we need it. The distinction between liberalism and the left from the perspective of political theory. Is the individual a fiction? How Capitalism relies on the myth of the individual. What are crowds and why they matter. How the left can and should push the crowd. Do we need a Communist Party? Why the real Left does exist and the Bernie Sanders opportunity. (9:15)

On The Fun Half: Donald Trump loves the "poorly educated". Why the Republicans can't stop Trump. Why the MSM still does not get it. A Nevada Caucus crowd blows off Glenn Beck for Donald Trump. Alex Jones thinks Trump is in danger and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-24-16-Jodi_Dean-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:56pm EDT

On today’s show journalist Bill Fletcher Jr. (@BillFletcherJr) joins us to discuss his most recent piece in the Jacobin Bernie and the Movement. How does Bernie’s campaign fit into building a larger movement for the future. Comparisons with the Jesse Jackson “Rainbow Coalition” campaign. Bernie as “movement-exciter” rather than “Bernie-creator.” Jackson’s relationship with the Democratic establishment. The fact that elections focussed on individuals do not necessarily lead to ongoing movements. The difference in the political environment the Jackson and Sanders campaign. How to bridge between Sanders’ rhetoric and policies: energizing the base. Hillary Clinton’s fluency in discussing racial politics. The importance of electoral, mass movements, and legal considerations in winning power for progressive people. (5:30)

On the Fun Half: Gerrymandering, the Movement for Bernie, Ben Carson is obstinate on Bill O'Reilly, why Baby Boomers don’t get Bernie, and your calls and IMs. 

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Direct download: 02-23-16-Bill_Fletcher_jr-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:58pm EDT

Huffington Post's Senior Political Editor Sam Stein joins us to discuss his new podcast, Candidate Confessional, and the 2016 race. Jeb drops out. Why the hesitation by the GOP establishment to fall behind Marco Rubio? What’s up with Marco’s medical and birth history? What to make of the Nevada results for Bernie and Hillary. (10:00)

Sam discusses the primaries: what to make of the turnout and demographic trends.

On the Fun Half: The super delegates issue as a red herring. Who is more attractive to independents between Hillary and the GOP candidates? A call for the legalization of drugs. The virtue of the Bernie Sanders campaign when it comes to highlighting issues. What to make of Krugman’s assertion Bernie’s is engaging in “voodoo economics.” The “no free lunch” arguments coming from establishment Dems.

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Direct download: 02-22-16-Sam_Stein-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:54pm EDT

Robert Smigel on Triumph and insult comedy in 2016. Mocking the left vs mocking the right. On comedy's relationship with social progress. The bias-free language guide. On working with Hulu. The beauty of covering the presidential primaries. On the abilities technology gives to creative people. Robert's perspective on the Donald Trump phenomenon. (6:00)

Lily Geismer, author of Don't Blame Us: Suburban Liberals and the Transformation of the Democratic Party on her Jacobin piece "Atari Democrats." The McGovern campaign and the shift from labor to white-collar professionals. The "Massachusetts Miracle." The "creative class," and wine and beer tracks. The apparent impossibility of change within the Democratic establishment. (42:30)

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Direct download: 2-19-16-Robert_Smigel-Lily_Geismer-MEM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee is on to discuss the PCCC's success in getting a pledge from Hillary Clinton to not cut social security. Adam's appearance on Fox & Friends. The media/campaign strategy behind the timing of the pledge challenge. The theory of change employed by the PCCC. Hillary's attempts to muddy the waters on issues like the social security cap. Presidential Appointments Matter: The new push to have the candidates give specific examples of people they would consider for key posts standing up to Wall Street power. (9:00)

Informationer - Nixon and the Pentagon Papers (28:00)

On Saturday, June 12th, 1971, President Nixon enjoyed one of his happiest days in the White House, celebrating the wedding of his daughter Tricia in the Rose Garden. A little after noon the following day, he received a call from his deputy National Security advisor Al Haig informing him of the Pentagon Papers leak, a major blow to the already unpopular Vietnam War.

Three calls included:

1. Deputy NSA Advisor Al Haig and Nixon, 6/13/71. (WHT 005-050)

2. Domestic Advisor John Ehrlichman the following day (WHT 005-068). Ehrlichman tells Nixon to send a warning to the NYT, advises him to call Attorney General John Mitchell who is anxious to do so.

3. Minutes later, Nixon calls Mitchell. National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger joins the call as well. (WHT 005-070)

Music: "Holes" by Mercury Rev

FOR MEMBERS: 7/6/2005 - Sam is joined by Slate Supreme Court reporter Dahlia Lithwick to discuss Sandra Day O'Connor's resignation, the politicization of the Supreme Court, Roe v Wade, judicial activism, Robert Bork, and John Roberts. 

 

 

Direct download: 2-18-16-Adam_Green-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am EDT

Lester Spence, Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University and author of Knocking the Hustle: Against the Neoliberal Turn in Black PoliticsWhat is Neoliberalism? Jay-Z's "I'm not a business man, I am a business, man." The history of the term "hustle." How do the effects of neoliberalism change across racial lines? The "prosperity gospel." (8:40)

Hustle as theft of labor. Creflo Dollar. What is the ongoing conversation about this within black intellectual circles. The neglect of considerations of political economy. The growing activity within black intellectual discourse. The cultural turn against political economy. Class bifurcation within identity politics. (21:00)

Critiques of Cornel West's "Race Matters," and Barack Obama's "My Brother's Keeper." Michael Nutter's troublesome reaction to Problems as mayor of Philadelphia. The importance of speaking truth to power. A critique of David Harvey's views on Neoliberalism neglecting race. Racialized populations as the locus for the neoliberal turn. Racial resentment in policy. (29:10)

And for members: June 16, 2005, Sam has then-Congressman Bernie Sanders on to discuss his amendment blocking Patriot Act surveillance.

Direct download: 2-17-16-Lester_Spence-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:56am EDT

On today's show Benjamin Dixon, host of the Benjamin Dixon Show, joins us to discuss the GOP's brawl of a debate in South Carolina (11:30), approaching Bernie Sanders as a black voter (23:30), and the developing conversation on class in America (32:00).

On the Fun Half - Scalia's death, "constitutionalism," Donald Trump says we were lied into Iraq, and your calls and IMs! 

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Direct download: 02-15-16-Benjamin_Dixon-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:13pm EDT

Ian Millhiser joins Sam for a special episode to discuss the legal and political ramifications of the death of Antonin Scalia.

For Members: Foreshadowing the current GOP dumpster fire, Glenn Greenwald joined Sam and Janeane a decade ago on February 12, 2006 to discuss the ideological rift forming in the GOP.

Direct download: 02-15-16-Ian_Millhiser-Scalia-Special-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:34pm EDT

Cliff Schecter reflects on how disheartening the 2008 Democratic Primary. Sam and Cliff gloat about the failure of Chris Christie. Chris Christie a failure of media vetting. Why Christie is the worst. Why John Kasich is a radical right and anti women candidate. Why the Republicans Party is all about resentment. Marco Rubio implodes and Sam and Michael called it. Who won the Hillary Bernie debate? How Clinton can sharpen her message.

Marc Maron joins us possibly from his bathroom. Maron describes the new phones set up in his house in anticipation of Obama's visit. Was 2015 the best year of Marc Maron's life? Maron reflects on the experience of getting somewhere. Will Sam and Marc ever work together again? Tension with Joe Rogan? Maron's resentments and how Marc relates to Bernie Sanders.

Hillary Clinton's confused foreign policy stance and your IMs.

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Direct download: 02-12-16-Cliff_Schecter-Marc_Maron-MEM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:31pm EDT

Jennifer Mittelstadt an Associate Professor of History at Rutgers University and author of The Rise of the Military Welfare State explains the social welfare state of the United States Military. The end of the draft and the free market makeover of the military. How the draft became politically impossible at the end of the Vietnam era. The challenges of a all volunteer military service. (10:10)

General Westmoreland and Milton Freidman debate the draft. The growth of Military benefits and the difference between the all volunteer army and the GI era. The class and gender dimensions of the military welfare state. The United States and the social welfare state. How social welfare is a military comparative advantage and how the Military hid the nature of its welfare state. (22:00)

On The Fun Half: Jeb Bush told to stop talking at Rotary Rotary luncheon. Voter disenfranchisement and the Democratic primary. Bernie Sanders and the African American vote. Ted Cruz launches a shrewd attack on Donald Trump. Alex Jones liberal women love Jihadis. One last occupier in Oregon threatens to kill himself and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-11-16-Jennifer_Mittelstadt-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:51pm EDT

Ken Ken & Ken take over. The Huffington Post's Ryan Grim joins us with his libturd bullshit. The K team schools Chris Matthews. Donald Trump Jr. is awesome and Random Hartmann.

How many people will Clinton kill if she is elected President and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-10-16-Ken_Ken_and_Ken-Ryan_Grim-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:23pm EDT

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi and Sam discuss Donald Trump calling Ted Cruz a "pussy". Why Donald Trump is a good campaigner. John Kasich doing well in New Hampshire is bad for the Republican establishment and why that is goo for Trump. What's the problem with Marco Rubio besides being a robot. How Trump has remade the Republican Primary. Trump's anti PC angle. How is Trump's ground game. The real issue with Hillary's Wall Street speeches. Is the public starting to wake up to how corporate power is ruining America? And the weak Republican bench. (10:45)

The MR staff predictions for the New Hampshire results.

On The Fun Half: A libertarian caller wants fascism. The depths of Libertarian insanity. Does Donald Trump have policies ideas? The Marcobot strikes again. Ted Cruz epically prank. Fox News freaks out on Beyonce's Halftime show and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-09-16-Matt_Taibbi-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:50pm EDT

On today's show the South African freedom fighter and former Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils joins us to talk about the new film project London Recruits and the current state of South Africa.

-Using activism to break the silence of the police state. How the activists were able to maintain their cover as tourists. Denny Schecter’s expression of humanity by helping black cleaners mop up. (6:00)

-Smuggling pamphlets and leaflets into South Africa and using stunts to get people’s attention with messages of liberation. “London Recruits,” as a project of internationalism and the importance of the film. (22:20)

-Kasrils’ critique of the ANC. The achievement of toppling Apartheid. Kasrils’ belief they could have asked for more concessions especially on the economic front. The need for to challenge the current ANC from the left. Kasrils’ perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict as reminiscent of apartheid. (35:00)

And on the fun half: GOP debate recap, Christie makes Marco Robio malfunction, Trump makes Cruz look totally weak, Bill Clinton attacks Sanders, and your calls and IMs!

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Direct download: 02-08-16-Ronnie_Kasrils-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:13pm EDT

It's casual friday and Cliff Schecter explains why Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders pound on each other in last night's debate. How big of a deal are Hillary Clinton's Goldman Sachs speeches? Was Bernie Sanders a flop on foreign policy?. Why the Sanders campaign is focused on the wrong part of the Goldman Sachs speech controversy? Clinton's corporate connections are a problem. The time Elizabeth Warren explained Hillary Clinton's reversal on the bankruptcy bill. Where Hillary Clinton is failing in her attack on Bernie's  gun record. How much does foreign policy matter in the Democratic Primary? And Hillary's disturbing reference to Henry Kissinger. (13:00)

Film Matthew Weiss talks like Trump now as well. The uncomfortable closeups in the Democratic debate. The Film Guy's new project. Matthew's beef with Just Coffee. Jeb Bush was probably abused by Barbara Bush and Matthew says we should watch The Firm and read Alice Miller's Drama of the Gifted Child. (57:30)

On The Fun Half: The Democrats show some unity. Should Bernie Sanders being talking about the military industrial complex? Jeb Bush tries to sound hard.

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Direct download: 02-05-16-Cliff_Schecter-Film_Guy_Matthew_Weiss-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:20pm EDT

Susan Eaton Director of the Sillerman Center at the Heller School at Brandeis University and author of Integration Nation Immigrants, Refugees, and America at Its Best explains the distinction between integration and assimilation. How American culture is enriched by immigration. Why integration is better for everyone. Exclusion policies don't work and why we need to know what inclusion really means. What Fort Wayne has got right in its treatment of immigrants and refugees. Repairing the mess of anti immigration measures. Busing in Boston and how to transform values. The inspiring story of Mississippi's Civil Rights movement fighting for immigrant rights and class consciousness and overcoming racial division. (13:00)

On The Fun Half: the CEO of Goldman Sachs says Bernie Sanders has the potential to be "dangerous".  Hillary Clinton explains why she spoke at Goldman Sachs and misses the bigger point. Jeb Bush is so sad. This Donald Trump supporter is the best thing ever. President Obama visits the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Marco Rubio is disgusting in his comments on Islam and your calls IMs.

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Direct download: 02-04-16-Susan_Eaton-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT

The New Yorker's Jane Mayer author of Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Rightexplains and the new role of oligarchs in American politics.

-The difference between now and the robber baron era. More people work for the Koch Brothers than the Republican National Committee. The Koch's cultural project. The Powell Memo and the deep history of the American Right. (9:40)

-How the actual "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" works. The war on academics and objective science.  How we subsidize the Kochs and their toxic industries. Why the Kochs backed the bank bailouts. (18:00)

-The influence of this money in the 2016 election season on the GOP side. How Donald Trump is the only Republican who they can't control. (32:00)

-Koch money and global warming denial and when the Kochs targeted Jane Mayer for a smear job. (36:00)

On The Fun Half: Knives come out for Marco Rubio. Chris Christie unleashes on the sweaty young Senator. Fox News morons want Hillary to be indicted really badly. Right Wing Mandela torches Ted Cruz. Rand Paul drops out. Marco Rubio is a mess and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-03-16-Jane_Mayer-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:46pm EDT

Ted Cruz wins the Iowa Caucus and Ben Carson accuses him of dirty tricks. Bernie Sanders ties Hillary Clinton in Iowa. The Clinton campaign is not going well. Why the Bernie Sanders insurgency should wake up the Democratic establishment. Bernie Sanders incredible fundraising and why the Democratic establishment needs to smarten up.

On The Fun Half: Marco Rubio is still a weak candidate. What Trump did to Rubio in the summer and what he needs to do again. Ted Cruz fires a shot at Rubio. An amazing comedy duo called the Good Liars perfectly troll Bush and Trump and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 02-02-16-Sam_Seder-Iowa_Caucus-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

On today's show Tony Karon the Editorial Director of Al Jazeera America online joins us to talk about why America's age of turbulence has just begun. Read his his latest here. The history of right wing militia politics. The resonance of militia ideology in mainstream conservative politics. Ideology doesn’t need to be coherent. (8:50)

The Difference between European and American populist movements. Nations as “Imagined Communities.” The difficulty experienced by the GOP in controlling its candidates compared to recent elections. (17:10)

The disintegration of national identity. Karon’s perspective on our current political climate and how it relates to popular movements in South Africa. White fear in the age of non-white political power. (26:50)

Iran and the nuclear bomb. The Non-Proliferation Treaty and how the lack of movement toward disarmament encourages proliferation. How Iran used the threat of developing nuclear weapons in order to be taken seriously internationally. (32:40)

On The Fun Half: Bernie Bros, Trump Bros, a libertarian caller and your calls and IMs! 

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Direct download: 02-01-16-Tony_Karon-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:56pm EDT

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