The Rick Smith Show

In this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Colin Seeberger of the Center for American Progress examines the most harmful provisions of Trump’s OBBBA, highlighting threats to public services and economic fairness. Analilia Mejia, Executive Director of Popular Democracy, shares her organization’s mission and details the Defend the 14th campaign, which mobilizes grassroots action to protect the 14th Ame...

On this episode of  The Rick Smith Show , Laura Packard, founder of Voices of Health Care Action, joins us to break down the dangers of Trump’s “one big beautiful” health care bill—and what it means for future cancer patients like her. Later, Dr. Keith Pochick shares insights from his upcoming book  Tickled Soul , reflecting on his bold journey from emergency room physician to middle school teache...

This episode of The Rick Smith Show features  Alex Lawson , Executive Director of Social Security Works, who discusses the devastating impacts of  Trump and the GOP's "One Big Nightmare" bill  on  rural hospitals  and the broader  health care industry .  Samantha Sanders , Director of Government Affairs, joins to explain how  GOP gig worker portability bills  would loosen independent c...

In this episode of The Rick Smith Show, AFT President Randi Weingarten joins to discuss the dangers of the Supreme Court allowing Trump to dismantle the Department of Education, emphasizing its impact on opportunity and fairness for students. Reporter Sarah Burris from Raw Story talks with Rick about the latest news from the Epstein files, the implications of six months of Trump back in the White...

Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV:  www.freespeech.org Find us on: ·       DirecTV (Channel 348) ·       Dish (Channel 269) ·       Sling ·       Roku ·       Apple TV ·       Amazon Fire TV ·       Get the FSTV iOS app  HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our...

On the Rick Smith Show, journalist Pat LaMarche from Bucks County Beacon discussed devastating new Medicaid cuts and the Grants Pass Supreme Court decision, highlighting their disproportionate harm to poor and working-class Americans. She described how changes will strip coverage and critical care from thousands, especially in rural and marginalized communities. Stacy Shorter, President of AFGE Lo...

On the Rick Smith Show,  Jordan Barab , former acting OSHA head under Obama, discussed how the  Trump administration reduced OSHA fines and gutting funding for OSHA , weakening workplace safety deterrents .  Rich Ojeda , a 24-year Army veteran and NC-9 congressional candidate, weighed in on  Trump’s reversals regarding Ukraine policy  and addressed the emerging  Jeffrey Epstein files scandal , hig...

On the latest Rick Smith Show, Joe Hughes, Senior Analyst at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), breaks down how Trump’s “Big Ugly Nightmare Bill” overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy while leaving working-class families behind. Hughes explains that the bill extends massive tax cuts for the top 1%, while cutting critical programs that support workers and communities . Margaret Coo...

On today’s Rick Smith Show, reporter Sarah Burris from Raw Story talks Epstein Files and the resulting MAGA freakout, highlighting right-wing outrage over revelations and their attempts to deflect blame. Rick also addressed the devastating Texas flood, framing it as yet another example of Republican anti-government ideology failing communities in crisis, and emphasizing the need for public investm...

On today’s Rick Smith Show, labor reporter Michael Sainato discussed the profound impact of recent ICE raids on workers, highlighting the fear and economic instability these operations create for immigrant communities and their employers. Investigative journalist Greg Palast then explored the fallout from the Trump-Musk breakup, analyzing its political and social implications, and what it reveals...

On today’s Rick Smith Show, labor reporter Michael Sainato discussed the profound impact of recent ICE raids on workers, highlighting the fear and economic instability these operations create for immigrant communities and their employers. Investigative journalist Greg Palast then explored the fallout from the Trump-Musk breakup, analyzing its political and social implications, and what it reveals...

The Rick Smith Show features Phil Glover, AFGE Vice President, and Sam Newton, communications director of the Democratic Governors Association, discussing Donald Trump’s attacks on workers and the poor. Guests highlight threats to federal worker protections, union rights, and essential public services under Trump’s policies.  Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV:  www.freespeech.org Fin...

Rick talks Trump overreach and bad trade policy Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rick talks One Big Beautiful Nightmare bill with Bobby Kogan from the Center for American Progress and Trump DOL Apprenticeship funding with LIUNA's John LeConche. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rick Smith shares a working-class perspective on America’s unraveling social safety net. He recounts encounters with homeless individuals, highlighting how government cuts to Medicaid, housing, and food assistance leave vulnerable people behind. Smith blames decades of pro-wealthy policies, urging collective action to restore dignity and support for struggling Americans. Advertising Inquiries: htt...

So it looks like the next mayor of New York City is going to be a Democratic Socialist, and everyone who does politics for a living is freaking out about it. We discuss the campaign that brought us Zohran Mamdani and the policies and energy that he's promising to bring to NYC. Our guests are comedian and podcaster Pete Dominick and Scott Paul of The Alliance for American Manufacturing. Don’t m...

He doesn't know what he doesn't know. That may be the best way to describe Trump "discovering" that Middle East conflicts are complicated, and you can't just waltz in and drop a few bombs and change the dynamics. But this is what happens when the president watches Fox News - Fox News becomes US foreign policy, and that should scare us all. Veteran and podcast host Rich Ojeda is...

Some may have missed Trump's odd rant against national holidays, when he said that there are too many holidays and that all of us need to work more than we already do. But the fact he said this on Juneteenth isn't a coincidence. And while Trump's racism is pretty easy to see these days, it should not be missed that he also seems to think that working people have it too easy. Like we al...

After campaigning as the "no more wars" candidate, Trump has just started another foreign war. That makes his promise worth the same as his promise to bring down prices, or the promise to end the Ukraine War in 24 hours. Literally nothing he promised has happened, and in most cases, he did the opposite of what he said he would do. Is this enough to break MAGA? Maybe. We spend some time dis...

While our media is busy ranting about Iran, the GOP is busy doing what they do best - stealing. The new crypto bill moving through Congress is set to do exactly what every GOP bill does, make it easy for rich people to make money and even easier for working class folks to lose money. We discuss this and much more with special guest Morris Pearl of The Patriotic Millionaires. Don’t miss our daily T...

It seems that our wealth class will never run out of ways to steal from the rest of us. Their latest legislative nightmare is about crypto currency, and it is sure to do what every other GOP law does - remove money from working people and put it in the hands of the immorally rich. Meanwhile, the rest of us get cuts and a loss of the benefits our hard work pays for. We discuss this and more with Al...

Unfortunately, cruelty is now commonplace in America, and we start today's show with an example of it in our healthcare system. Then we are joined by two special guests - Marcus Chambers of The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Daniel Rangel of Rethink Trade. Join us as we try to sort out the policy, make sense of the lies and deception, and find our way back to some sense of communi...

Many in America are actively looking for ways out of the mess we have created for ourselves, and we should be looking to labor for the answers. Today we speak to two union leaders - John Schleuss of Newsguild and Josh Zivalich of the Teamsters - about where we are, and about how solidarity is the way back to the America we remember. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV:  www.freespeech.o...

After yet another act of hate by the right-wing hate machine, lawmakers are beginning to endorse the violence. At least two US Senators are blaming the death of Minnesota legislators on Democrats, even though the perpetrator is a lifelong Republican and avid Trump supporter. Unfortunately, the lack of any condemnation of the acts means that more violence is almost certainly on the way. Our guests...

The Trump Administration may is trying to look tough by assaulting a US Senator, but their weakness is on full display now that Israel has defied the regime by attacking Iran and killing any chance of a nuclear deal that Trump thought would bring him a Nobel Prize. This clown car of an administration just can't seem to do anything right ... and working families are the ones paying the price. O...