The Rick Smith Show

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with DaMareo Cooper, Executive Director of Popular Democracy, about a day of action in Washington, DC marking the 158th anniversary of the ratification of the 14th Amendment and defending equal protection as the backbone of every civil rights victory in American history. Later, UFCW 3000 President Faye Guenther joins to discuss how to close the ma...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Aurelia Glass, Policy Analyst with the American Worker Project, about Trump’s NLRB and courts throwing out key remedies in unfair labor practice cases and what that means for workers trying to hold union busters accountable. Later, former OSHA official Jordan Barab explains the Supreme Court’s Trump v. Slaughter decision and how a patronage g...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Jacob Thomas, Communications Director at Common Defense, about why Americans should be worried that the U.S. military is being turned into Trump’s branded fan club after his latest Fourth of July spectacle. Later, education policy expert Mark Weber joins to explain why Trump’s calls for “patriotic education” are a dangerous attempt to sanitiz...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with AlterNet’s Sarah Burris about Trump’s Fourth of July debacle, where extreme heat, storms, evacuations, and sparse crowds turned his “great” America 250 celebration into a weather‑cursed flop. Later, Bucknell economics professor Matias Vernengo joins to explain why workers are now getting the smallest share of the economic pie on record and wh...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director at the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, asking whether liberals are really “coming for your AC” and if our planet can survive the next 250 years. Later, Eric Schultz, President of USW Local 7-1, joins to discuss BP’s illegal lockout, how to support locked-out oil workers, and why their fight matters fo...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with labor lawyer David Borer and AFGE District 3 Vice President Phil Glover about the Supreme Court’s latest rulings and what they mean for federal workers, voting rights, and the balance of power in America. They dig into how the court has effectively said “destroy democracy but save capitalism,” and what unions and working people can do to push...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Lewis Crawford, Lead Negotiator for the Texas City Metal Trades Council, about the strike at Ashland Specialty Chemical and workers’ fight for real safety on the job. Later, Ready Frost from Carpenters Local 82 joins to discuss how young workers are organizing, demanding better standards, and changing America’s future by bringing new energy a...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with IUPAT General President Jimmy Williams Jr about the Great American DC State Fail and what the recent Supreme Court decision on Temporary Protected Status means for his members and their families. Later, Veronica Goodman, Senior Director for Workforce Development Policy at the Center for American Progress, joins to discuss their article “6 Thi...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about why Democrats need to put the spotlight squarely on billionaires instead of cutting deals that hurt workers and retirees. Later, AlterNet’s Sarah Burris breaks down Trump’s latest stunts, from “Making DC Golf Course Great Again” to his failed attempt at a DC state fair in a city...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan and veteran labor reporter Steven Greenhouse about what it will take to rebuild a prosperous working class in America. They dig into policy ideas, organizing strategies, and the role of unions in raising wages, restoring worker power, and strengthening democracy so that working families can share in the wea...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Charlotte Brody, VP of Health Initiatives at the BlueGreen Alliance, about New York City’s new executive order establishing essential heat protections for workers and what it means for safety on the job. Later, Doug Pasternak, Research Director at the Trump Accountability Project, breaks down a Public Citizen report alleging Trump spent $11 b...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Acting VP of Policy and Government Affairs at POGO, about Trump’s reflecting pool debacle as the canary in the coal mine for disastrous policies and incompetent governance. Later, Guardian labor reporter Michael Sainato joins to share what he found on a recent trip to Toledo, Ohio, and Dearborn, Michigan, where workers...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with AlterNet Senior Editor Sarah Burris about Trump’s latest failures, from “Making Algae Great Again” to renewed tensions as the Strait of Hormuz closes once more. Later, Bucknell economics professor Matias Vernengo joins to discuss strategies for fighting inequality and what policies can rebalance the economy for working people facing rising co...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about the Trump administration’s so-called “winning” losses, from making algae great again to escalating conflicts abroad. Later, Drill Sgt. Doug joins to discuss the 7DaysInDC week of action and the organizing effort to mobilize people, build power, and defend democracy through collec...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Sam Ratner, Policy Director at Win Without War, about why Trump’s Iran deal is a dangerous loss that undermines diplomacy and stability. Later, Chris Jones, candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, joins to discuss rural priorities, food systems, and what’s at stake for farmers and working communities in today’s political and economic lan...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Gabe Levitt, Founder and President of Prescription Justice, about Colorado’s drug importation plan and what it could mean for lowering prescription costs nationwide. Later, investigative journalist Greg Palast weighs in on Trump’s UFC stunt, calling it political genius, and argues Democrats need to learn how to communicate, organize, and comp...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with IUPAT President Jimmy Williams Jr about his recent Facebook post asking whether the Trump presidency is making workers’ lives better and the nonunion patronage hire who botched the Reflecting Pool repair as algae quickly returned. Later, Mallory Miller of Hands Off the Arts discusses a Kennedy Center victory and organizing to resist Trump-era...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with AlterNet Senior Digital Editor Sarah Burris about Trump’s bizarre pay-per-view “Bloodsport” birthday lawn fights and broader administration failures. Later, comedian and social disrupter Chelsea Gods joins to preview 7DaysInDC, a week of actions beginning June 28, and what organizers hope to build through protest, pressure, and collective act...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Congressman John Larson and Jessica LaPointe, President of AFGE Council 220, about the recent House Ways and Means Subcommittee hearing on Social Security. They break down what’s at stake as projections warn of possible benefit reductions by 2032, and what it means for workers, retirees, and the future of a program millions rely on. Don’t mis...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Harrison Mann of Win Without War about Donald Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a deal to end conflict with Iran, and how those claims hold up under scrutiny. Later, Ben Delman of Solar United Neighbors joins to break down Pennsylvania’s proposed virtual power plant program and what it could mean for homeowners, energy costs, and local pow...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alani Bankhead, candidate for U.S. Senate in Montana, about her campaign, priorities, and the challenges facing working families in a changing political landscape. Later, Nathan Smith of Stewards of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, joins to discuss grassroots organizing efforts to push for a data center moratorium and what it means for local...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alternet Senior Digital Editor Sarah Burris about Kristen Welker’s Meet the Press interview finally pressing Donald Trump with real accountability, and Trump’s self-centered birthday rally overshadowing the nation’s 250th celebration. Later, Dillon Sarb of Catalyst Montana explains how Trump’s Medicaid cuts will hit working-class Montanans ha...

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 we...

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 we...

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 we...