It's Hump Day! Sam speaks with Alex Press, staff writer at Jacobin, to discuss her recent piece entitled "In 2023, the US Working Class Fought Back." Then, they speak with Bill McKibben, contributing writer at The New Yorker and founder of ThirdAct.org, to discuss how 2023 was the hottest year on record. First, Sam runs through updates on Israel’s direct statements of ethnic cleansing in front of Secretary Blinken, Trump’s attempted immunity case, tonight’s GOP debate, the government shutdown, Mayorkas’ potential impeachment, labor action, and free lunch, before listening to Trump’s attorney’s desperation in the face of literally any line of actual legal questioning. Alex Press then joins, diving right into the numbers behind 2023’s labor boom which saw some 500k workers striking – doubling 2022’s numbers (which doubled those of 2021) – with a particular boom in action in the union-sparse private sector. After walking through the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on inspiring this post-crisis wave of labor action, Press steps back to explore the massive influence of the Chicago Teachers Union strike on the evolution of the US labor world, alongside movements like Occupy, Bernie Sanders’ 2016 campaign, and the 2020 uprisings, in shaping the current organizing movement. Next, Alex and Sam touch on the incredible moves made by the NLRB in 2023 – including Card Check lite – and what they’d like to see from the board moving forward, before wrapping up with her expectations on major strikes (and the influence of Shawn Fain’s UAW) heading into 2024. Then, Bill McKibben and Sam tackle the complete silence following 2023’s record-setting heat numbers, the overwhelming influence of “climate delayers” in US politics, and the fossil fuel industry’s 8-figure ad campaign to keep the US population on their side. After briefly expanding on the growth of both renewable energy and the extreme impacts of climate change in 2023, McKibben dives into the massive growth of US oil production and natural gas, the greenhouse explosion it has been causing, and the pressing need for Biden to make choices beyond the important changes in 2022’s Inflation Reduction Act. Wrapping up, Bill emphasizes the threat of growing US industry and the influence of Big Oil heading into 2024.

And in the Fun Half: Sam watches as Blinken continues to bend the knee to Israel on the world stage, Gideon Levy unpacks the horrors Israel is currently inflicting on Gaza, and Tim Pool goes to bat for Boeing and the private plane industry as they remain under threat by DEI. Tony from California discusses using the blueprint of the Dobbs decision to undermine the right, Elliot from Washington dives into Epic Games’ destruction of Bandcamp, and Tulsi endorses the ‘Free’ Speech of Twitter. Dave Rubin asks if it’s racist to be racist if they’re immigrants, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out Alex's work here: https://jacobin.com/author/alex-press

Check out "The Crucial Years", Bill's newsletter on SubStack: https://billmckibben.substack.com/

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It's News Day Tuesday! Sam and Emma break down the biggest headlines of the day. We'll also be joined by Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_dc). First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Donald Trump’s ballot appeal, Blinken’s visit to Israel, the mass arrest at Pro-Palestine protests in NYC, GOP infighting and a looming government shutdown, global warming, Nikki Haley’s rise, the battle over Mayorkas, and Twitter’s journalist purge, before diving into Biden supporters’ problematic response to a Pro-Palestine protest. Mark Joseph Stern then joins, diving right into the focus on the 14th Amendment’s Section III in Donald Trump’s ongoing ballot-access case, with both Colorado and Maine citing it for their exclusion of him from both primary and general election ballots, parsing through the details of the clause, and the dependence of a congressional vote to reallow any insurrectionists to run for office. Expanding on this, Stern parses through the various legal (and more likely, political) avenues Trump’s legal team could take, and where the various conservative – yet supposedly originalist – Supreme Court justices might land. Next, they look into the ongoing Supreme Court case around Idaho’s near-total abortion ban, including SCOTUS overturning a stay on the ban, and how the ban weaponizes punitive measures against both doctors and patients. Sam and Emma also cover Mike Johnson’s total ripoff of Kevin McCarthy’s speakership, a new ruling on the gig economy, and Twitter’s most recent round of anti-journalist suspensions.

And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma tackle the importance of voting this year – with a shout to Olayemi Olurin’s recent video – Missouri’s Secretary of State attempts to turn whataboutism into a legal argument to ban Biden from the ballot, and the crew tackles Israeli politician Ofer Cassif joining South Africa’s case charging Israel with crimes of genocide. Alex Jones, Jimmy Dore, and Eric Adams give their low-level supervillain takes on immigration, and Donald Trump goes on Lindell TV to take down the idea of climate change. Miguel from Arkansas discusses the role of Kamala Harris moving forward, Mel from Texas gives some updates on the evolution of college admissions amidst attacks on higher education, and Jon Does from Tampa and Michigan tackles military service and Biden’s electoral problems, respectively. The Tim Pool compound goes Neverland Ranch, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out Mark's work here: https://slate.com/author/mark-joseph-stern

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Happy Monday! Sam and Emma speak with Neil Kraus, professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, to discuss his recent book The Fantasy Economy: Neoliberalism, Inequality, and the Education Reform Movement. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Israel’s continuing strikes in Lebanon, the growing death count in Gaza, Congress averting a government shutdown and funding wars, Medicare, Wayne LaPierre’s reign over the NRA, and another brewing Boebert scandal, before parsing through the new footage from January 6 (now three years out), and the evolution of the GOP’s attempt to spin it. Neil Kraus then joins, diving right into the fantasy of the neoliberal consensus that has reshaped the economy, and our education system, in the interests of corporations and the wealthy, exploring, in particular, how it has manufactured an antagonistic relationship between the public and our education system. Expanding on this, Professor Kraus tackles the myths that the political class has perpetrated against education, pinning the blame on the system for everything from employment and wages to failing industry, before stepping back to tackle the failures of these myths, and how they obscure the role of general economic conditions. After assessing the neoliberal-libertarian coalition in the attack on public and higher education, Neil, Sam, and Emma discuss whether we are at the end of the neoliberal consensus, and what it will take to swing the political fight over education.

And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma discuss Donald Trump’s theories on magnets, Obamacare, and the Civil War – each growing in concern – watch Mehdi Hasan’s final sign-off on NBC, and get another British masterclass on the weaponization of white feminism. Brett Weinstein and Dave Rubin discuss the trauma of being blocked by Elon Musk, Cory from Branton breaks Sam’s heart, and Rocko in the UK expands on the implications of insurrection, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out Neil's book here: https://tupress.temple.edu/books/the-fantasy-economy

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It's Casual Friday, the first of 2024! Sam and Emma round up the short week in news, joined by Ryan Grim.

First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Israel’s expanding war ambitions, evolving US involvement (and the potential for conditioned aid), the US economy, Elon Musk’s lawsuit against the NLRB, the GOP impeachment bit, and the trillions in untaxed profits among the country’s capitalist, before parsing through the right’s continued commitment to the anti-covid schtick. Ryan Grim then joins, as he reflects on US State Department Spox. Matthew Miller’s response to Grim’s recent questions on South Africa’s suit against Israel over their crimes of genocide in Gaza, and the likelihood of State Department officials becoming implicated, before they step back and walk through the greater basis for South Africa’s case, and where the US' complicity comes into play. Expanding on this, they walk through the cratering opinion of Israel both domestically and internationally, the incredible media bubble that the Israeli population lives under, and the intense sphere of IDF control around any news coming out of Israel or Palestine, before briefly touching on the extent of the political cost Biden is willing to acknowledge (much less respond to). Wrapping up, they tackle the future of GOP Congressional control amid their impeachment proceedings and discuss the ongoing democratic crisis in Pakistan.

And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch Dave Rubin latch onto the right’s current anti-Ivy League moment in the media, unpack Jimmy Dore’s most recent attempt to kill people, and tackle Nikki Haley’s ongoing struggle with “answering questions.” Christian from Grand Rapids discusses Hill Harper’s senate campaign, Danny in Texas dives into MR’s evolution, and Chris from Northern VA challenges Sam and Emma over their electoral stances heading into 2024. Plus, your calls and IMs!

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It's an EmMajority Report Thursday, the first of 2024! She speaks with Dr. Sydney Calkin, senior lecturer in the School of Geography at Queen Mary University in London, to discuss her recent book Abortion Pills Go Global: Reproductive Freedom across Borders. Then, she speaks with Francis Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois, to discuss South Africa filing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel over its actions in Gaza.

First, Emma runs through updates on the US taking actions against the Houthis over the conflict in the Red Sea, Israel’s mounting death toll in Gaza, the US’ reaction to South Africa’s charge of Genocide against Israel, the murder of a New Jersey Imam, Ilhan Omar’s attempt to block Saudi and UAE arms sales, the Epstein files, Donald Trump’s corruption, Lina Khan’s FTC, the DOJ vs. Texas, and DeSantis anti-vax administration, before parsing through Joy Reid’s recent interview with a Palestinian American member of the Biden Admin who resigned in protest. Sydney Calkin then joins, diving right into general perceptions of the illegal abortion industry, with generally violent pictures coming to mind, and how that contrasts with the reality of countries where black market access to abortion pills like Mifepristone and Misoprostol allows women to rely on restricted drugs to perform generally safe, at home abortions. Calkin then walks through the role of the abortion pill in a post-Roe v. Wade United States, playing a major role in states both with and without abortion access, before expanding the picture as she looks to the pill’s role in recent reforms in Poland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Next, Sydney walks Emma through her particular interest in the illegal cross-border dealing of this drug, before analyzing the central role it played in redefining what abortion could look like, and wrapping up with a quick assessment of the continuing fight for reproductive rights. Francis Boyle then runs through a quick background on the UN’s International Court of Justice and the criminal suit South Africa has brought against Israel over their genocide of Palestinians, exploring his personal history as the first lawyer to win a case on genocide at this court, and why precedent suggests South Africa has a strong chance of winning. After parsing through the difference between the ICJ and the ICC – the latter of which has a history of failing Palestinians – and what this suit means for both Israel and South Africa, Francis and Emma discuss John Kirby’s diminishment of the case, and explore the active complicity of the US government per the ICJ’s statutes. Boyle wraps up with a quick analysis of the relevant legal text and assesses the expected timeframe of the case.

And in the Fun Half: Emma is joined by Brandon Sutton and Matt Binder as they tackle the recently released Epstein documents, including a feature of fan-favorite Alan Dershowitz, watch Pope of the Jews go after President Gay, and listen to Dan from Oceanside discuss the future of Baby Boomer politics. Dave from Jamaica calls in for his takes on Ben Shapiro’s attacks on former Harvard president Claudine Gay, Tim Pool revises Nikki Haley’s Civil War revisionism, and the MR Crew reflects on the absurdity of caring about citation practices as a proxy for genocide, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out Sydney's book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520391987/abortion-pills-go-global

Check out Francis's appearance on Democracy Now! here: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/2/south_africa_israel_genocide_icj

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Check out Sydney's book here: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520391987/abortion-pills-go-global

Check out Francis's appearance on Democracy Now! here: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/1/2/south_africa_israel_genocide_icj

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It's Hump Day! Sam and Emma speak with Trita Parsi, executive vice president at the Quincy Institute, to discuss the state of play in Israel/Gaza nearly 3 months after October 7th. Then, they're joined by Paul Ortiz, professor of history at the University of Florida, to discuss how unions in Florida have been pushing back against Gov. Ron DeSantis's draconian anti-labor policy in the state.

First, Sam and Emma run through updates on the recent attack on Iran’s memorial for General Soleimani that killed 100, Israel’s drone strike in Beirut, Bernie’s call to block additional funding for Israel, the Fed’s case against Menendez, the House GOP’s consolidation around Trump as their majority thins, Texan fascism, and the Ivy president debacle, before parsing through Israel’s absurd escalation of their ongoing conflict to the wider region of the Middle East. After briefly tackling the growing indictments against Senator Bob Menendez, Trita Parsi joins to discuss Israel expanding its offensive to Beirut and Damascus alongside the unclaimed terror attack, all serving to reinforce Israel’s desire to bring this conflict onto the regional stage. Expanding on this, Parsi discusses Israel’s apparent tact of provoking a military response from Iran, or a greater escalation from Hezbollah, and why that hinges on the US’ unconditional support for Israel’s disproportionate responses. Next, Trita, Sam, and Emma parse through what this potential escalation means for direct US military action, including the clear alignment of Houthi attacks on US troops with Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Gaza, and what it means for Israel’s multi-decade attempt to inspire war between the US and Iran. Wrapping up, Parsi looks at the Biden Administration’s unwavering support for this conflict, and whether there’s any hope for his electoral coalition moving forward. Paul Ortiz then joins, as he walks through the history of the United Faculty of Florida, formed in the 1970s in response to decades of attacks against Floridian educators over criticizing the American right or supporting progressive causes, and contextualizes their current work within the Florida Education Association. After expanding on the ongoing bout of attacks against educational freedom by Ron DeSantis’ administration, with help from Chris Rufo, Ortiz dives into the union’s emphasis on the social justice model of organizing, using community ties and interaction to bolster their intersectional approach to supporting their teachers amid ongoing attacks, before wrapping up with an assessment of UFF’s incredible success in fighting back against fascism, and the hope that lies in the students they support.  

And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch Israel’s telling response to South Africa initiating a suit against them over crimes of genocide in the International Criminal Court, Michael Knowles pleads with his followers to make Nazi propaganda out of beloved animated children’s characters, and Tim Pool reflects on the pre-Mohammad era of humanity. Aaron Rodgers puts his bad foot in his mouth over the Epstein list, Nick from Michigan discusses pressuring Biden from the left (and the importance of the Democratic primaries in doing so), Aaron from Texas dissects the hypocrisy of Bill Maher, and Nick from Winnepeig on talking with conservatives, plus, your calls and IMs!

Check out the Quincy Institute here: https://quincyinst.org/

Check out an interview Paul did with Bill Fletcher Jr. here: https://inthesetimes.com/article/united-faculty-of-florida-paul-ortiz-bill-fletcher-ron-desantis

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FUN HALF LINK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16t0oK4wZX4&ab_channel=TheMajorityReportw%2FSamSeder

It's the first News Day Tuesday of 2024! The MR Crew is back to catch up on the biggest headlines of the last week. First, Sam and Emma run through updates on Israel’s continuing siege on Gaza, the Israeli government’s open admittance of ethnic cleansing, Biden’s bypassing of Congress in weapons sales to Israel, Biden’s low polling numbers, Donald Trump’s appeal of Colorado’s ballot ban, Kathy Hochul’s veto, the Epstein docs, NLRB rulings, and 2023’s dropping homicide rates, before tackling Trump’s fascist agenda and watching Fox’s take on the GOP nomination if Trump is indicted. After briefly running through the escalation of Israel’s war on Gaza to a regional conflict, they watch Nikki Haley attempt to toe the line between being an overt racist and insinuating the Civil War was about slavery, and Steve Bannon and Jack Posobiac tackle why the far-right won’t ever accept her (she’s a woman). Next, they parse through Biden’s incredibly poor polling numbers heading into 2024, what that means heading into the election, and why an electorally-focused agenda would focus more on economic policy rather than funding a genocide, before parsing through Israeli officials’ recent statements highlighting their overt policy of ethnic cleansing. Wrapping up, the MR team tackles the repressive media bubble inside Israel, the genocidal perspective of the Israeli public, and highlights the recent arrest of Tal Mitnick over his refusal to serve Israel’s genocidal regime.

And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma watch Seth MacFarlane calmly parse through Bill Maher’s insane anti-vax rhetoric, Scott from Denver dives into voting for Marianne, and Karima, a Palestinian-American from Chicago, parses through the deep despair among the Palestinian diaspora and the devastating developments in Israel’s apartheid rule over the West Bank. Johnny from Melbourne dives into the Murdoch legacy, plus, your calls and IMs!

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's the 5th and FINAL day of the Majority Report's Best Ofs of 2023. First, the MR Crew revisit their interview with Ilan Pappe, professor of history at the University of Exeter and Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, to discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. Then, comedian David Feldman of The David Feldman Show (or is it?)

Find out more on Ilan here: https://arabislamicstudies.exeter.ac.uk/staff/pappe/

Check out the David Feldman Show here!: https://www.youtube.com/c/DavidFeldman/featured

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It's day 4 of the Majority Report Best Ofs of 2023! First, the MR Crew revisit their interview with Jane McAlevey, Senior Policy Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley's Labor Center, to discuss her recent book Rules to Win By: Power and Participation in Union Negotiations. Then, Emma revisits her conversation with Camille Rey, a mother of a trans child who left Texas and moved out of state due to Texas's extremely restrictive anti-trans laws. And THEN, H. Jon Benjamin calls into the program to discuss Sam's future with Bob's Burgers.

Check out Jane's book here: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/rules-to-win-by-9780197690468?cc=us&lang=en

Find out more about Camille's story here: https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-family-is-leaving-texas-because-of-anti-trans-bills

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It's Day 3 of the Majority Report Best Ofs of 2023! First, the MR Crew revisits their interview Gerald Horne, Professor of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston, to discuss his recent book The Counter-Revolution of 1836: Texas Slavery & Jim Crow and the Roots of U.S. Fascism. And then, they revisit an interview from all the way back in December of 2022 with Adam Hochschild, lecturer at the University of California, Berkeley School of Journalism, to discuss his recent book American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy's Forgotten Crisis.

Check out Gerald's book here: https://www.intpubnyc.com/browse/the-counter-revolution-of-1836-texas-slavery-jim-crow-and-the-roots-of-u-s-fascism/

Check out Adam's book here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/american-midnight-adam-hochschild?variant=41003534123042

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