The Majority Report with Sam Seder

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