The Majority Report with Sam Seder (general)

2/3 Jane Mayer: Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right

The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer author of Dark Money: The Hidden History of the Billionaires Behind the Rise of the Radical Right, explains 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.

-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.

-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.

-Koch money and global warming denial and when the Kochs targeted Jane Mayer for a smear job.

"Kasich Thinks He Schools Jewish Scholars on Bible Basics"

Published on Apr 14, 2016
John Kasich manages to have literally no self-awareness whatsoever as he sets a new bar for arrogance whilst explaining Bible stories to Talmudic scholars—in this case, ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jews in Borough Park, Brooklyn. Talmudic scholars devote their lives to studying scripture. John Kasich seems to have a cursory knowledge of a children's Bible, or something along those lines. It would be embarrassing to watch if he wasn't such a terrible person.

And for members, from the archives: Sam spoke with Lewis Lapham on the characteristics of fascism.

Direct download: Pub_Edit_BestOf_Jane_Mayer_Lewis_Lapham.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30am EDT

6/28 Mark Blyth: Brexit & the Global Failure of the Elite

Mark Blyth of the Watson Institute at Brown University explains why the Brexit is the chickens coming home to roost on austerity and inequality. How Brexit and Donald Trump show the failure of austerity, Right Wing politics and Neoliberalism. Why the public does not and should not distrust the elite. Why the Euro is awful and the EU is good and why the UK had the best of both worlds. What happened to the Greek economy and the stupidity of Eurozone economics. The failure of UK’s political class. Is the UK doomed? The politics of Europe. Where is the positive agenda. What’s disturbing about the Hillary Clinton candidacy and is there a positive agenda for the future?

Fox 'Meets the Trumps': The ULTRA-LUXURIOUS D.C. Hotel Tour

Published on May 27, 2016
In this Majority Report clip, Andy Kindler joins us as Greta Van Susteren "interviews" Donald and Melania Trump, for a segment that causes Upworthy's Parker Molloy to wonder, "Is [Van Susteren] being paid by the number of times she can say 'Trump?'" Indeed, Miss Molloy! Please do join us, there are three of these wonderfully illuminating clips.

3/15 Amanda Taub: Donald Trump & the Rise of American Authoritarianism

How do you measure authoritarian attitudes? The four parenting questions that reveal the authoritarian mindset. The Republican Party’s anxiety about social change and what voters that appeals to. How crisis can activate the authoritarian value society. Vox’s polling and fear of threats from foreign sources. Race and measuring response to authority. How many Democrats are authoritarian and what do we do about authoritarian politics?

And for Members: Sam talks with Thomas Frank (who joined us in 2016 to talk about his book "Listen, Liberal") to talk about his book "What's the Matter with Kansas?"

Direct download: Pub_Edit_BestOf_Blyth_Taub_Thomas_Frank.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:30am EDT

8/16 Carol Anderson: White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide

Carol Anderson a Professor of African American Studies at Emory University and author of White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide,explains the roots of the racial crisis in Milwaukee. The history of progress and blowback against African American human rights. The “Black Codes” the laws against the Great Migration. Racism South and North. How White Rage works. How states responded to Brown v Board of Education. Public school funding and property taxes and what that tells us about race. The legal structure of second class citizenship for African Americans. Why class and race are connected but not the same issue and why the Right wants America to look like Apartheid South Africa.

Then, Jeb's son George, the current Texas land commissioner, endorses Donald Trump at an event. Published on Aug 9, 2016

And from the archives for members only, Sam and Jeanine talk to Jared Diamond on his book, "Collapse."

Direct download: Pub_Edit_BestOf_Carol_Anderson_Jared_Diamond.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

Political strategist Cliff Schecter talks about Michael Flynn'e meeting with Austria's Neo Nazi Party. The Russia connection and Donald Trump. Where is Hillary Clinton? President Obama's failing leadership. The Dangers of Trump and the disaster Cabinet. Chuck Schumer's flawed approach. The Republicans war against democracy. Why Democrats have no strategy. The value of the fight and what Democrats need to do.

Isabel Gillies and Film Guy Matthew Weiss present their thoughts on the year. Worries about the dangers of the Trump era and are we losing our world? Will the Trump Presidency change culture. Why Matthew and Isabel are both gloomy. And fear makes you more ruthless and Isabel said we should watch Planet Earth and Matthew suggests we watch  L'Argent.

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Direct download: 12-23-16-Cliff_Schecter-Isabel-Matthew-MEM.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:00pm EDT

The ethics free Trump transition. Corey Lewandowski says "drain the swamp" is chronologically low on the Trump priority. Donald Trump reverses himself on rigging the system and draining the system. President Obama takes steps to block Trump from creating a Muslim registry program. North Carolina Republican power grab and transgender discrimination. Can Trump's private security be reign in? Republicans will roll over for Trump. Maine Governor Paul Lepage works to undermine the will of the people for a minimum wage increase. Will Obamacare be saved? Random Rush. Newt Gingrich backs down and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 12-22-16-Sam_Seder-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:06pm EDT

Hopefully Michigan's Governor is on the verge of getting indicted for his role in the Flint water crisis?

Digby explains, explains the FBI's reckless role in the 2016 election and why it's so dangerous. The absurd pick of James Comey as FBI Director by Barack Obama. Why there are no excuses for Comey's conduct during the election. The FBI and the far right infrastructure. Trump's private security force and the danger to democracy. The biggest dangers of the Trump Presidency. The terrifying Richard Branson interview about Trump's pathology. Democrats delusions about Republicans ruthlessness. Why the Press folds for authority and why are we still ignoring issues and focusing on Trump the person.

On The Fun Half: Newt Gingrich is tired of the "drain the swamp"phrase. Bill O'Reilly has a new theory about race. Why conservatives don't care about conservative principles and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 12-21-16-Digby-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:56pm EDT

On today's show Samuel R. Bagenstos (@sbagen) talks about his new article, "Civil Rights Déjà Vu, Only Worse." The playbook Trump's admin will use to attack government agencies once they're in charge. The perspective from career civil servants. How presidencies outlast their time in office through the bureaucracy, and how long it takes to deprogram damage by previous administrations, like George W Bush's. The GOP's pathological and insidious obsession with non-existent voter fraud.

On the fun half - Rep. Bill Huizenga unwittingly demonstrates why GOP health insurance plans are nonsense. Alex Jones tries to keep his audiences eye on the ball with regard to Obama's birth certificate. Scott Brown's daughter on CNN for some reason, on how she was able to look beyond Trump's racism. Trump concerned about Russian hacking... in 2014.

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Direct download: 12-19-16-Samuel_Bagenstos-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:02pm EDT

Today: Ben Mankiewicz (@BenMank77) on Jerry Brown and the "fighting spirit" liberal democrats need.  How we'll never know how Hillary would've governed.The decline of the political class. What makes democratic leaders? The insidious effect television has had on our politics. Hunter S Thompson's lessons from the Hell's Angels and Trump's America. Making an aggressive case for progress.

On the fun half - Ed Miliband continues his career in stock photography, a reformed libertarian calls in, Ted Koppel takes on Alex Jones, a Russian ambassador is killed in Turkey, John McCain goes soft on Trump, and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 12-19-16-Ben_Mankiewicz-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:54pm EDT

Journalist Guy Lawson explains why we are moving into another level of post-truth politics. How to think about the Donald Trump disaster. Why the Trump's conflicts of interest are a distraction from the decline of American Empire. The anger of Trump supporters. How can journalists cover Trump? When I dictator says something believe them. George W Bush and taking fundamentalism seriously. Making Trump own his many, many failures. Why Americans are not removed from geo-politics and history. Jared Kushner is dangerous. Taking Trump's language seriously.  Why didn't the Clinton campaign want to talk politics? The failure of the Democratic Party and why the press needs to step up.

On The Fun Half: The many, many reasons why Hillary Clinton lost. Protests meet the North Carolina Republican coup. Pat Robertson disses Sarah Palin. How to protest a racist. Trump thanks African Americans for not voting and our new Trump policy. Lindsey Graham says we need to do something about Russia hacks and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 12-16-16-Guy_Lawson-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:46pm EDT

Attorney and writer, Thomas Geoghegan, explains why the election was rigged for Trump and why the Constitution itself is rigged. Why the Presidency, Senate, House and Supreme Court are rigged. How the system is designed to benefit the rich and powerful. The Electoral College and undermining Trump. Why we need to get rid of the Electoral College. Moral authority and protest. Why Congress should object to counting votes from each state where the vote was suppressed. Why Democrats need to widen the divide. Why California and New York need to make voting mandatory and the only way to save the Democratic Party and the Country?

On the Fun Half: Keith Ellison makes the case to lead the DNC. The Republican coup in North Carolina. Rev. William Barber, breaks down what is happening in North Carolina. Tech titans bow down to Trump and Twitter is excluded. Journalist loses the job over and your calls and IMs.

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Direct download: 12-15-16-Thomas_Geoghegan-PUB.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:05pm EDT