The Majority Report with Sam Seder

From August 2017:

Best selling author Naomi Klein, author of, No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need, explains the history of modern branding. The formation of the Trump brand. The liberals who helped create the CEO myth of leadership. Why Trump can’t be worked with. Why labor unions should fight Trump on all fronts. Why the climate crisis needs to remain central to our politics. What to learn from Jeremy Corbyn. Why the Left needs to synchronize race, class and gender and what comes next in Left politics.

 

Also, a few conversations on Seb Gorka and Sam has a Gianforte-style meltdown.

Direct download: 12-29-17-Naomi_Klein-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:00am EDT

Best of from April 2017,

Chris Hayes, host of the Chris Hayes Show and author of, A Colony in a Nation, explains Richard Nixon’s role in the creation of the modern law and order state. Colonialism and American revolution. Why smugglers were popular in early American history. Colonial era smuggling and the modern drug war. The murder of Eric Garner and Jefferson’s attack on the crown. Policing and revenue and Ferguson. Police as occupying forces. White fear and American history. Police violence, African Americans and recurring themes in American history. What changed in 1968. Jeff Sessions unshackles police departments and the return of private prisons. What fuels change? Is there a way to change white fear and pathology? Understanding Trump’s mind and American bigotry and The what people are missing about the Nunes story.

 

Also, Ivanka loves board games so much they've never been unboxed and Alex Jones gets frustrated with Mike Cernovich.

Direct download: 12-28-17-Chris_Hayes-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:30am EDT

An interview from May 2014:

Professor Stephanie Kelton explains the Bretton Woods System and the end of the Gold Standard in the 1970s, why comparisons to the Weimar Republic and Zimbabwe made by austerity promoters are wrong, high inflation does not happen in well functioning democracies, why we think about the deficit in the wrong way, the smart way to think about the Simpson Bowles austerity plan, the purpose of taxes, Hillary Clinton running on bringing down the debt and addressing the inequality crisis, Social Security and inequality, what Thomas Piketty misses, why labor needs to make a comeback and why fighting inequality must go beyond raising taxes at the top.

Also, a best of compilation of some of our Alex Jones coverage from the year.

Direct download: 12-27-17-Stephanie_Kelton-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

From February 8th:

Eric Foner, DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University, explains what is radicalism. Why radicalism is different from liberalism and incrementalism. Has America always had radicals. The 1990s and the “end of history”. Tom Paine, America’s original radical. Radicalism in times of crisis. The opportunities the Left has today. Why are people marching against Trump? How radicalism moves from saying no to articulating what it wants. The old order is dying, what about the next one? Organic movements and the importance of Black Lives Matter. Why we are behind the curve on inequality and basic social benefits. Long term strategy for radical change. Where Europe is further ahead and further behind and what we need to learn from reconstruction.

Then, Michael takes down Ben Shapiro and David Rubin, and Sam argues with a libertarian about the Bell Curve.

Direct download: 12-26-17-Eric_Foner-BestOf-Comp.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:30am EDT

For the best-of today, an interview from April 14th:

Ganesh Sitaraman (@GaneshSitaraman) is an Assistant Professor of Law at Vanderbilt Law School. He joins us to discuss his new book, “The Crisis of the Middle-Class Constitution: Why Economic Inequality Threatens Our Republic.”

Direct download: 12-25-17-Ganesh_Sitaraman-BestOf-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:00am EDT

It's the last live Majority Report of 2017, and have we got a star-studded line-up for you! First, cultural critic Fran Lebowitz joins us to discuss the rise of Trump, what it means about America, and what happened to our class consciousness. Next, our old pal Cliff Schecter breaks down the GOP tax bill and the shifting political ground with his trademark wonkishness. Then Isabel Gillies and Film Guy Matthew stop by to recommend uplifting and depressing movies, respectively. Finally, we close out the year with a viewing of Weird Mike's live Reddit AMA session.

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Direct download: 12-22-17-Fran_Liebowitz-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:21pm EDT

On this episode of MR, Travis L Dixon (@Dr_TLDixon), a professor of communication at the University of Illinois, discusses his new report for Color of Change, A Dangerous Distortion of Our Families: Representations of Families, By Race, in News and Opinion Media. Drawing on data from 2015-2016, Dixon outlines how African American families are over-represented in the media's reporting on crime and poverty, and discusses how politicians from Reagan to Clinton have used those perceptions to shred the social safety net in a racialized way. Read the full report here.

In the fun half: The first six Disrupt J20 defendants are found not guilty, Roy Moore thinks Muslims and Marxists worked together to defeat him and delight Doug Jones' gay son, Trump's politics re: taxes, drilling in the Arctic, etc. are just the same old Republican garbage, Nikki Haley delivers some tough talk on Israel at the UN, immigration courts show children no mercy, and the crew goes back and forth some more about the effects of classist snobbery.

 

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Direct download: 12-21-17-Travis_Dixon-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:48pm EDT

On this episode of the Majority Report, Paul Ryan does his smarmy best to pretend the GOP tax bill will help the 99% and not add to the deficit (not that the latter matters), animatronic William Howard Taft calls in to praise Donald Trump, banks plan to proceed with mortgage payments and foreclosures in Puerto Rico despite the ongoing crisis, Wyatt Koch peddles terrible shirts to his fellow failsons, and Rachel in Queens sparks a discussion on classist attitudes held by coastal elites.

After the break: Susan Collins blames sexism for tax bill backlash, Cenk recaps his bet with Jimmy Dore, Donald Trump Jr. does a fake TED talk on how the system is rigged against his dad, MN lawmaker and transphobe Mary Franson is scared to meet with high school students, the Department of Defense releases a UFO video, Sam tackles a random Rush clip, and Jeff in GA elicits further discussion on how the Democrats should (and should not) convince people to vote for them.

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Direct download: 12-20-17-Sam_Seder-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT

This episode of the Majority Report begins with a viewing of the newly unveiled animatronic Trump at Disney World. Will it bring on the robot revolution? Then journalist David Dayen (@ddayen) joins us to discuss the Republican tax bill and the political history of 2017. With 83% of gains going to the top 1%, the GOP plan is unlikely to win favor with voters. But if and when the Democrats get back into power, we must pressure them to re-allocate the funds to social programs, rather than the deficit.

On the fun half: The Mooch says Trump is too smart to fire Mueller, "firefighter prophet" Mark Taylor says Trump is set to release cures for cancer and Alzheimer's, a caller reminds us of the importance of local races in pushing Democrats to the left, former Fox News employee Tamara Holder is released from her NDA, Alex Jones doesn't want Trump to get assassinated (but if he does, it'll be great for his numbers), listeners tell us about VA healthcare headaches and organizing in Florida, and Ronald Raygun calls in with a special, Cernovich-related offer.

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Direct download: 12-19-17-David_Dayen-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:23pm EDT

Steven A Cook (@StevenACook), Senior fellow of Middle East and North African studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins Michael Brooks to talk about our relationship with Turkey since Trump became president. Why is Turkey upset with the United States? The obsession with Fethullah Gulen by Erdogan's supporters.

Why the 'new' Jerusalem policy is just an acknowledgment of the reality that the peace process and two-state solution are no longer possible. Why it benefits those in power to pretend like the two-state solution is still viable. The generational divide re: Israel politics and why mainstream Dems continue to close ranks around the issue.

On the fun half: Judge Jeanine "doubles down" on apocalypse of the republic record against the FBI, Alex Jones needs your prayers, Pharma company McKesson killed americans with opioids but our justice system is too weak to punish them, what's the lesson from Alabama, and your calls an IMs.

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Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

Direct download: 12-18-17-Steven_A_Cook-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:21pm EDT

Paul Ryan wants us to make more babies and Heather Digby Parton (@digby56) joins us to discuss the implications of the AL election, whether Trump is going to fire Mueller, Trump's chances of impeachment, the Trump admin's terrifying foreign policy, and police violence in America. Judy Gold then joins us for a Two Minutes Hate sesh on Omarosa, Roy Moore, Orrin Hatch, Israel, net neutrality, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders. A new Jimmy Reefercake song is played.

On the fun half: Dennis Miller tries out a new comedy routine on us, Trump wants to end the immigration lottery, Trump judicial nominee Matthew Petersen is hilariously under-qualified, the crew outlines leftist positions on gun control, Mindy calls in to commiserate about how fucked we are, and Mike Cernovich is the new Baked Alaska.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

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Direct download: 12-15-17-Digby-Judy_Gold-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT

Today on the Majority Report, we're joined by Ryan Singel to discuss the implications of Ajit Pai's decision to overturn Net Neutrality safeguards and how Congress will pay a hefty price as a result. What exactly is Ajit Pai undoing? How this represents a taking of the commons. What will the next phase of the internet look like after the changes, and how quickly will the internet change?

On the fun half: Do even dum dums get the importance of Moore losing? Omarosa gets dragged by TV hosts after firing, how can we nationalize all these tech companies, Rush has to corral his confused sheep after the Roy Moore loss, are we going to live in an episode of Black Mirror soon, and your calls and IMs!

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Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

Direct download: 12-14-17-Ryan_Singel-Pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:15pm EDT

On today's show, The Atlantic's Julia Ioffe joins us to discuss joins us to discuss her recent article in The Atlantic, What Putin Really Wants. While many Americans view Putin's government as a powerful, well-oiled machine, Ioffe says it's more like a messy, corruption-riddled bureaucracy with its various factions not always working together. "The Sopranos" is referenced.

On the fun half: Mike from PA calls in with detailed analysis of what drove Jones' win in the Alabama election, Weird Mike tries and fails to mess with another alpha cuck Jew, Jake Tapper schools a Roy Moore spokesman on the constitution, Alex Jones says Trump's accusers are not attractive enough for him to molest, and the gang takes on right-wing asshat "Sargon of Akkad" a.k.a. Carl of Youtube.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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

On today's show, author Malcolm Harris (@BigMeanInternet) joins us to discuss his new book, Kids These Days: Human Capital and the Making of Millennials. While their elders often blame the problems of the millennial generation on millennials themselves, Harris debunks that idea with a structural analysis of the political and economic factors driving their behavior and development.

On the fun half: More people call in to discuss Al Franken, Roy Moore's war buddy makes an excellent case for him, a father and son explain their different reasons for voting for Doug Jones, a grieving father calls out Moore's homophobia, Nikki Haley thinks Trump's accusers deserve to be heard, Nomiki Konst calls out DNC waste and incompetence, and Sam schools a ring-winger on rape apologia (and plays a clip of Trump accuser Jessica Leeds).

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-12-17-Malcolm_Harris-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:06pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Alabama voters explain why they're sticking by Roy Moore, Republicans perpetrate voter suppression in AL, the GOP continues to attack institutions devoted to the public good, the right wing media is suddenly skeptical of the FBI, and Carl Bernstein thinks there was a cover-up in the Trump White House.

On the fun half: Roy Moore wants to get rid of all the amendments after #10 and implement Christian theocracy, "Sheriff" David Clarke throws shade at John Lewis, Laura Ingraham thinks the #metoo movement is ruining office holiday parties, Alex Jones details his plans to buy a sex robot, Sam gets a hideous gift in the mail, a caller in AL shares some thoughts on the election, Sam schools a caller on corporate profits, and Jamie calls out bad faith libs re: Al Franken and sexual harassment.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

 

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Direct download: 12-11-17-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:18pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Mike Cernovich flails in an NPR interview, and Cliff Schecter joins us to discuss Al Franken's resignation. Also: Comedian Andy Kindler joins us to talk Weird Mike and the GOP tax cuts (with some Jew jokes thrown in for good measure), the gang enjoys a video of Christian Youtuber Jim Beckwith trying to take us down, and Sam threatens our audience with a talking Dennis Miller doll.

On the fun half: A man with ALS grills Jeff Flake (of the performative bullshit fake resistance) on his handling of DACA, a homophobic state lawmaker freaks out at a Democrat for touching his arm, Papadopoulos' fiance inflates his role in Russiagate, Roy Moore thinks America is evil because we promote same-sex marriage, a bro speaks out on his right to party, Mike Pence snitched on his frat in college, Addison in Ohio pushes back on some things Cliff said about Franken, and a disabled veteran describes his struggle to get adequate mental healthcare.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brendan Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-8-17-Cliff_Schecter-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:15pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Michael Brooks hosts New York Magazine's Eric Levitz to discuss the GOP tax bill. As Levitz notes, it's one of the least popular tax bills in US history, and it is (technically) a tax cut. Unlike prior measures, this bill does not even have the fig leaf of fiscal responsibility; it's blowing up the deficit as an excuse to impose (further) austerity measures. Time to make life harder for any politician who supports it.

On the fun half:  The MR team runs a victory lap over Sam's re-instatement by MSNBC and makes outlandish speculations about Trump's health. Also: Mike from PA questions the legitimacy of pollsters in Alabama, Weird Mike tries to turn a loss into a win, Cenk Uygur supports the show, activist Luke Mayville campaigns for Medicaid expansion in Idaho, Ben Shapiro says racist things about Arabs, an MP proposes to his boyfriend on the floor of Australian parliament, and Newt Gingrich claims the Democrats are "losing their minds" because they pressured Al Franken to resign.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brenden Finn (@BF1nn)

 

 

Direct download: 12-7-17-Eric_Levitz-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:49pm EDT

The Washington Post's Dave Weigel, explains why Doug Jones might pull off an upset in Alabama. Roy Moore's strength of support and what it reveals about Alabama and Republicans. What can Doug Jones do now? And does Steve Bannon wear so many clothes?

And depression historian does the perfect Cable news segment.

On The Fun Half: Atlanta reporter does a perfect takedown of a racist twitter troll, the team breaks it down. How to get on Dave Rubin's email. Joe Rogan backs Seder, but in an odd way. Joe Rogan and Sam Harris's bad ideas. State Rep comes out for rent control and your calls and IMs.

Cast: Sam Seder (@samseder), Michael Brooks (@_michaelbrooks) Matt Lech (@mattlech), Jamie Peck (@jamie_elizabeth), Brenden Finn (@BF1nn)

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Direct download: 12-6-17-Dave_Weigel-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:44pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, South Asian history professor Tithi Bhattacharya joins us to discuss her new book "Social Reproduction Theory: Remapping class, recentering oppression." After laying out the basics of social reproduction theory, she discusses how it can help us understand our nightmarish present moment, as well as what kind of hope it offers for the future.

On the fun half: Mike Cernovich gloats over getting Sam fired from MSNBC, Vic Berger remixes 60 Minutes' #pizzagate segment (feat. Cernovich), the RNC still backs child molester Roy Moore, a listener in Poland asks if he should vote for a neoliberal party out of fear, Mike Pence once considered a coup against Trump, the mainstream media is total garbage, and many, many callers express their support for show. Thank you!

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Direct download: 12-5-17-Tithi_Bhattacharya-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:08pm EDT

Good afternoon. On today's show, Sam sees his skepticism of Brian Ross's Michael Flynn source validated, the Cernovich "controversy" continues, Bernie points out how bad the GOP tax bill is, Orrin Hatch attacks the un-deserving poor, Joe Manchin is sad he couldn't work with the Republicans to shred the safety net like Democrats did under Reagan, and Sam reads the names of vulnerable lawmakers who voted for this monstrosity.

On the fun half: Chuck Grassley thinks the "death tax" incentivizes people to spend all their money on booze, women and movies (lit!), Thomas Friedman thinks the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia is going to save the Arab world from itself, and a caller worries the Mueller investigation is distracting people from the GOP tax cuts. Also: Jamie's husband calls in to talk about unions, a caller discusses mental healthcare programs in Germany, everyone hates Thomas Friedman, Ronald Raygun gets serious, Tony in Miami humanizes the issue, and Tim from New Paltz urges grad students to contact their unions and fight for their rights.

 

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Direct download: 12-4-17-Sam_Seder-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:33pm EDT

Good morning. On today’s show, Cliff Schecter (@cliffschecter) joins us to talk about Michael Flynn flipping on Trump, Jared Kushner's involvement in the Russia scandal, and the indefensible Republican tax bill, which is clearly a precursor to cutting social security and other services.

On the fun half: Matt Lauer was once quite creepy to Anne Hathaway, Trump can no longer use Kathryn Steinle's death to attack undocumented immigrants, Jamie shares a personal story about how our country fails people with mental illness, and Paul Ryan dodges a question about Roy Moore.

Also: Jimmy Kimmel challenges Roy Moore to a talk about Christian values, Lindsey Graham contradicts himself, Sam addresses Mike Cernovich's attempts to cook up a rape joke controversy, NRA TV baselessly attacks the CFPB, a caller educates Sam on twinks and other types of fellows, Alex Jones has a bizarrely specific fantasy about what liberal lesbians are into, and many callers express support for the show and disgust at the Republican tax bill.

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Direct download: 12-1-17-Cliff_schecter-pub.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:20pm EDT

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