The Hartmann Report

Thom says American billionaires may be giddily imagining that the shut down will result in federal employees never returning to their jobs, derailing democracy and moving us towards an oligarchic state. Marxian economist, Professor Richard Wolff explains how the government shutdown increases economic instability and that the longer it lasts the worse it will affect the economy as a whole...

Presidential candidate and author Andrew Yang argues that a universal basic income (UBI) is the solution to many of our basic economic problems. He and Thom have a fascinating discussion. ---In today's book club, Andrew Yang's 'The War on Normal People. ---The feasibility of autonomous trucks from the perspective of Bryan in Connecticut, a truck driver. And the discussion continues with our insigh...

Trump's latest candidate for attorney general goes before Congress, but who is this guy? Thom reminds us of Bill Barr's history as the former CIA lawyer and Bush insider who was the coverup artist for Iran/Contra. And how does rampant federal corruption tie into Pompeo and Pence seriously expecting Jesus to make all things new? ----- The Brexit deal is heating up, Luke Vargas has the scoop on...

We now know the FBI has had reason to investigate Trump's financial obligations to the Russian government since at least 2016. And, financial ties have been demonstrated between foreign governments and some key Republican players in Congress. Thom asks who is really pulling the strings? Could it be oligarchs abroad, and/or at home? Does the federal shutdown further the mission of billionaires to c...

Thom reflects on the 75th anniversary of FDR's 2nd Bill of Rights of considers that vision versus the conditions of today and more news stories. Thom holds a spirited discussion with thoughtful listeners while discussing that Trump lied on TV and made no real effort to compromise with Congress. Professor Richard Wolff shares his insight on what chance Democratic proposals to require...

Thom explores the potential dangers if Trump succeeds at gaining emergency powers and where it will end. Mark Pocan, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus takes listener calls on the politics of the government shutdown. Former Republican congressman Bob Ney of Talk Media News briefs Thom on the history of presidential use of Emergency Powers, and they consider the state of play of the e...

In Thom's take today: Brazenness is a leadership quality shared by many great presidents. Although, as Trump scores high on brazenness, yet Trump doesn't have the rest of the presidential toolkit including morality, intelligence, introspection, empathy, and foresight. Thom looks at how this deficit may be a threat to us all. Caller Paulette adds the word 'indifference', which Thom says is the oppo...

Thom introduces the idea that most of our media is fundamentally corrupt, and the way they misreported OAC's tax ideas is a clear example of this. --------- George in Illinois adds that the major corporate Spanish networks also skew the news.------ Thom welcomes Pulitzer-winning Art Cullen, a small town reporter in Iowa. A discussion on the fact that the national media barely reported the unp...

0:00 - Thom welcomes Greg Grandin, author of 'The End of the Myth from the Frontier to the Border Wall'- a fascinating description of the way both secret and overt American intervention in Latin America has created the flow of refugees that Trump is exploiting for his own purposes. Listeners add their own fascinating dimensions as they chime in. ----16:02 - Thom reads from 'Confessions of a R...

Despite cable media's piling-on of criticism of Elizabeth Warren's ancestry test, it turns out that no Native American elected leaders were asked in the national coverage. When leaders were asked, all supported Warren and yet consensus of the so called debacle continues. Thom continues the conversation on gender and race with his brilliant callers. ---------- Marxist economist...

Ass-kicker Nancy Pelosi is now officially the Speaker of the House, and prepared to go toe-to-toe with Trump. And while the partial government shutdown drags on, the president worries he might look foolish. ------- Peter Beinhart joins Thom, his article in The Atlantic considers the degree of bias against Elizabeth Warren in the media, and how she might be considered more fairly. -------...

Elizabeth Warren appears ready to toss her hat in the ring with a campaign issues video. Thom considers her as the first authentically progressive candidate since Jimmy Carter. ------- Thom reads from 'Playing with Fire' by Lawrence O'Donell. ------- Will Elizabeth Warren be able to run on the issues, or will she be judged superficially? Thoughtful callers respond. And, how can...

Thom calls out Trump for flagrantly violated the Hatch act by using a photo-op with the troops to trash talk the Democrats' lack of support for building a wall. But is this giant project practical or worth the effort? Callers, including a Texas rancher with waterfront on the Rio Grande respond thoughtfully on what impact this proposed project would really have. And Thom shows how Ronald Reagan's u...

Climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann is back with the current science, and also specifics on what we need to do to avoid catastrophe.--------- Thom runs us through the state of the world as climate change has already started to bite into the world economy. - Lisa in Ohio wonders if we are witnessing the fall of our civilization. John in Vancouver wonders if we are capable of shifting enough to save...

Thom speaks with Economics Professor Richard Wolff on whether a worldwide recession or depression is likely. Dr. Wolff points out that the capitalist economy crashes every eight to ten years, and although there have been many proposed solutions over the years. nothing seems to be working. Thom and the professor speculate on what might done to fix it. ------------ After an injury makes Thom spend e...

Thom reviews Thomas Friedman's recent opinion piece in The New York Times, "Time for G.O.P. to Threaten to Fire Trump" and ponders what's worse- Trump's crimes or his temperament? Why aren't Republicans outraged? A Democratic Prez could not get away with behaving the same way. And what happened to "Politics Stops at the Water's Edge?" Is Trump violating the Hatch Act? ----...

What's the Price Americans Pay for Privatization of the Commons? Did Romans "The Fall of the Roman Empire" Pay the Same Price? Thom gives his take on the recent news including the more important impact of Donald debunking Santa to children and a new report which indicates that Trump's bone spurs were a lie all along. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at...

Thom looks carefully at the science and evidence that we are watching a crash of insect populations around the world. But is this part and parcel with the decline of all life on earth? What is the real cause? -------- Climatologist Dr. Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center speaks with Thom about the recent scientific studies on global climate change and the stark choice be...

Fascinating episode. Merry XMAS! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Dr Richard Wolff and Thom think the crash made inevitable by the Great Recession bailout may be upon us. Evidence is given. -------- Turkey's dictator says he will delay his planned slaughter of the Kurds. What does this mean for the region? And as Trump is willing to partially shut down the government, supposedly for his border wall dream- Thom thinks this is all distraction from the way Trump's...

Congresswoman and deep thinker Maryann Williamson is with Thom on her possible run for the president. Her view is that we need to have a much wider discussion than just hating on Trump - we need to fight the re-establishment of an economic aristocracy that constantly works against true democracy. And Madison in Portland chimes in. ------- Lisa Graves, author and legal scholar, makes the...

Thom discusses the new bump stock ban with Craig DeLuz, Director of Legislative & Public Affairs at the Firearms Policy Coalition.------Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan joins Thom to answer listener calls about the remaining session of Congress and upcoming transition, the threat of government shut down, health care legislation and more. ------Listeners call-in on subjects including guns an...

Seven year old Jakelin Caal's death was brought about from dehydration after being denied water in ICE custody. Her death brings a human face to Donald Trump and Stephen Miller's inhuman border policies. How Neoliberal Economics are Creating a Financial Freeze. 2018 ends with the first month since November 2008 where not a single company has borrowed money from the United States high yield corpora...

Thom looks at signs that we may be on the verge of a re-run of the 2008 financial crisis. David Dayan, author of 'Fat Cat- The Steve Mnuchin Story' has been studying the scam banker who has become fabulously rich exploiting tricks of the financial industry. A man called 'The Foreclosure King' is now the president's Treasury Secretary as the economy begins to tank. What could go wrong? Thom present...

Professor Richard Wolff analyzes the French yellow vest protests and points out that resentment over financial insecurity is unfairly placed on immigrants. Thom explains the triple threat of the looming financial crisis, the political crisis from criminals in the White House, and the climate crisis which may devastate all. Thom reflects on the news of the day including the economic revelation...