The Hartmann Report

Bill Barr has hoodwinked the media with his tweet that appears to defend judicial independence- but this is another hoax from the Coverup King. And -- these are the tricks by which democracy is transformed into fascism. Trump has no respect for tradition and is scornful of values, so he has little stopping him from grabbing more and more power. Now Trump is holding the State of New York hostage fo...

As Trump and the Republicans continue to dismantle our Republic and the rule of law, are we slipping into fascism as many other democracies have before us? Thom says we are already at full-on oligarchy- the question is- can we pull ourselves back? What will we have to do and who will it take to save the American democratic experiment? Plus Thom reads from 'Defying Hitler' by Sebastian Haffner. See...

Donald Trump has officially ended one of the most important parts of the American experiment by demanding that an independent Department of Justice go easy on one of his buddies. By taking on the judicial powers of convicting and sentencing, Trump has turned our “system of laws, not men“ on its head. This is the sort of thing you see in Erdogan’s Turkey, but never in an advanced democracy. Bill Ba...

Trump said he wouldn't cut Medicare and other popular program in his speech, then the very next day asked Congress to pass a budget with massive cuts to Medicare and the rest of the social safety net. How can Democrats get through to people who believe such blatant lies? And as Reaganism causes inequality to continue to increase, why do we have to cut support for the most vulnerable to fund taxes...

Can A Disruptor Win Against Trump? This election is not about left or right, socialism or capitalism, or any other of the conventional wisdom. It is about status quo versus disruptors. And a disruptor will win against Trump. Greg Palast reports on a major court victory for voters' rights. For the Book Club Thom reads from "Fight for the Four Freedoms: What Made FDR and the Greatest Generation Trul...

Once more into the breach with guest host Jefferson Smith! With redistricting, and therefore seats in Congress on the line in 2020, how crucial will the national contest be between Trump's Republican party and the Democrats? Which are the battleground districts to watch, or even support? And diverse topics of discussion include- Is Donald Trump on drugs?.. How many wild animals are left out there?...

Guest host, Jefferson Smith recaps the sobering recent events in Washington and beyond, encouraging listeners to call in with their own stories of hope and participation. Jeff recalls his own organizing of the Oregon Bus Project which later evolved into the Next Up action fund for mobilizing change.  Lee Fang of the Intercept joins Jefferson Smith to discuss the delayed vote results in I...

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith digests the weeks historic news with insightful callers.  Huffington Post reporter Paul Blumenthal joins Jefferson Smith to discuss how a radical new theory, that no president can be removed for abuse of power, has broken our checks and balances and let Donald Trump off. Reading from "The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the...

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, Jefferson Smith speaks about the healing power of being thankful and the courage of Mitt Romney and especially Doug Jones. Plus - we meet Jefferson's dog, and consider how the response to Trump's absurd State of the Union could have been more effective. Emily Cherniak of NEW POLITICS explains why we focus too heavily on the presidential race when boosting candidates f...

What sort of man is Rush Limbaugh that he deserved a Medal of Freedom? What has been the real long game of the billionaire propaganda network over the last 50 years? Guest host Jefferson Smith says he will not dance on Limbaugh's grave, but he does mourn the way that he has lived his life. Author John Nichols of the Nation magazine reports in- what did we learn from the caucuses?- and what would w...

Today, esteemed guest host Jefferson Smith confronts a big news week- we've got the Iowa Caucus, the state of the Union speech, and closing arguments in the Senate for removing or keeping Donald Trump in the White House. How should Progressives respond to the case Lamar Alexander and others are making for keeping Trump in office? On the Democratic side, is it enough to mock Trump and call him stup...

Progressive gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith is taking on a billionaire standing for election as governor in West Virginia. He joins Thom to discuss his platform of 32 different policies. Listeners call-in with ideas about the Democratic Presidential candidate. For the Book Club Thom reads from "Repeal the Second Amendment: The Case for a Safer America" by Allan Lichtman. Author Allan Li...

Thom Hartmann examines the economic impact that may occur from ongoing coronavirus outbreak. A recent study finds that Americans are at the peak of feeling that our democracy has failed us. Will a progressive president be able to turn things around and give people hope again? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

Today, veteran radio host Shawn Taylor fills in for Thom, leading a thoughtful town hall with callers on a variety of questions-- Could 'We The People' sue Congress for not doing their job?.. Is Putin ultimately pulling the strings of all the oligarchs?.. Why don't the Democrats filibuster the impeachment over calling witnesses?.. And what kind of public official asks for foreign governments to he...

Donald Trump just told a rally in Iowa that Democrats want to kill them and wipe Iowa off the map. Woah!- How dangerous is this kind of talk? Is it possible Trump will move from being acquitted in the Senate by cowed Republicans to postponing the election like so many strongmen before him? Are Republican Senators who believe Trump is guilty actually afraid of armed Trump supporters threatening to...

Julio Vs Thom - Do You Want to Live In A Country Where President Bernie Sanders Can Do Anything He Wants? With Mitch McConnell promoting Dershowitz’s idea that a president can commit any kind of crime he wants so long as it gets him reelected because he “believes his reelection is in the public interest,“ we are about to see our American democratic republic transformed into an oligarchic semi-dict...

Why did a group of Democrats just put 700 thousand dollars worth of ads on in Iowa to attack Bernie Sanders? And how will internet ad buys targeting the 'persuadables' sway our upcoming election? Are we in a fundamentally different media universe now? Thom is joined by Ramesh Srinivasan- the author of "Beyond the Valley: How Innovators Around the World are Overcoming Inequality and Creating the Te...

As the Senate trial grinds forward, Republican Senators scramble to explain why not to hear John Bolton's testimony. Progressive California Congressman Ro Khanna joins Thom to discuss and take listener questions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Will The GOP Hold to the Impeachment Coverup Just Like They Did with Justice Beer Bong? The revelations in John Bolton's book, reported in today's New York Times, bring to mind the previous scandal surrounding a White House cover-up. Thom analyses the new questions on the John Bolton book and also recent strategies for Progressives supporting Sanders or Warren. Economics Professor Richard Wolff jo...

Today, Professor Cornell William Brooks begins an hour-long discussion of the living legacy of racial inequality in today's America. Could a commission to consider reparations and solutions to voter suppression create a chance for our country to come to grips with the truth of its past and present? Can we ever right the long term consequences of the wealth stolen from people of color both before a...

As more of Trump's crimes are revealed and the chances for a successful impeachment wane, Thom engages callers to stay in the fight for democracy. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Thom wonders whether having Hunter Biden testify before Congress might actually help a Democrat be elected to president- and could impeaching Trump also make a Republican win more likely in the form of President Pence? But will Trump's threat to have Republican Senators' heads "on a pike" keep the jury in line? Are some of Trump supporters finally starting to peal off as the corruption becomes mor...

As the impeachment trial rolls on, Thom reveals the origins of the Wuhan Coronavirus and how animal cruelty so often leads to zoonotic diseases. Reading from "Animalkind: Remarkable Discoveries About Animals and Revolutionary New Ways to Show Them Compassion" by Gene Stone and Ingrid Newkirk. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr...

Thom catches us up with the fun and the fury of the impeachment trial so far- as the Democrats catch the Republicans unprepared to answer to the truth of Trump's crimes. But will there be a fair trial with witnesses, or will Trump continue to 'have all the material' hidden away from the light of day? Thom adds his insight as we hear briefly from Adam Shiff's powerful indictment of Donald Trump's c...

While Donald Trump is on trial in the Senate impeachment hearings, many commentators are pointing out that the Senate is also at trial. Thom Hartmann reveals the Constitutional foundation and necessity for impeachment of a rogue executive. We listen to the erudite opening speech by Congressman Adam Schiff in the Senate impeachment trial which started today. Thom analyses a weakening in t...