The Rick Smith Show

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Philly Inquirer national columnist Will Bunch about his recent newsletter article, “It Didn’t Take a Reichstag Fire to Burn Down Congress.” Bunch examines how democratic institutions are being eroded without an overt crisis, comparing the paralysis and partisan obstruction in Congress to authoritarian tactics, including Speaker Johnson’s shut...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes Monica Cary, Pennsylvania State Director of Solar United Neighbors. Monica explains why electricity prices are surging and households are seeing a massive spike, adding to their monthly bills and emphasizes the need for smarter energy policies and better access to community solar solutions for Pennsylvanians. Later, Alex Lawson, Executive Direc...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes labor historian Erik Loomis to discuss Project Firewall and the disturbing, retro-styled images recently released by the Department of Labor. Loomis critiques the images as eerily nostalgic for a 1940s–1950s America that never existed, reflecting a vision that excludes people of color and marginalizes today’s diverse working class. Later, Sam N...

In this Rick Smith Show episode, Rick discusses a new Rutgers Policy Lab study exposing how corporate ownership of residential rental properties is surging in cities like Trenton, transforming neighborhoods into digital company towns and squeezing renters. Bucknell economics professor Matias Vernengo joins to analyze the return of these “company town” dynamics, revealing how corporate consolidatio...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes author Chuck Collins to discuss his new book Burned by Billionaires, exposing how extreme wealth concentrations destabilize democracy and working communities. AFGE District 3 Vice President Phil Glover then joins to unpack President Trump’s recent federal worker firings and their impact on public service morale. Finally, Rick examines Senator J...

Rick dives into labor and politics in this episode of The Rick Smith Show. He talks with Jackson Potter, Vice President of the Chicago Teachers Union, about the “No Kings Rally” and the growing worker led pushback against corporate greed. Then, Eugene DePasquale, Chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, joins to discuss the upcoming PA Supreme Court retention vote and what Democrats must do, po...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick breaks down the “No Kings” Rally with Richard Hooker, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 623, who shares how working people are powering a nationwide movement demanding economic justice and democracy over greed and monarchy-style politics. Hooker spotlights the solidarity, struggle, and hope fueling union action coast to coast. Later, John Logan, Professor of Labor...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with labor attorney David Borer about the “No Kings” Rally—where working people, unions, and democracy defenders unite to reject authoritarianism and corporate greed. Borer breaks down the legal and moral stakes of protecting worker power in the face of rising inequality. Later, Raw Story reporter Sarah Burris joins to unpack the political shockwaves following Ge...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers and author of Why Fascists Fear Teachers, about the “No Kings” Rally, an urgent call to defend democracy, public education, and the power of collective action. Later, Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of SEIU 32BJ, joins to discuss airport workers’ historic push for livable wages and...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Guardian labor reporter Michael Sainato about the major court ruling halting the Trump administration’s mass firing of federal workers, a decision the judge called “likely illegal.” Sainato explains how the case challenges Trump’s sweeping executive order, which aimed to dismantle key agencies and gut collective bargaining rights, and what the fight means fo...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First, about 10 years of tracking corporate greed and their new study highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of a “Fix It First” infrastructure policy and investment in urban density. LeRoy explains how repairing existing infrastructure creates more jobs, saves taxpayer money, and curbs sprawl. Later,...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick dives into the real toll of Trump’s war on government with Mother Jones reporter Julia Métraux, discussing her latest piece, “The Human Costs of Trump’s War on Government.” Métraux exposes the suffering of disabled federal workers and families caught in the chaos of shutdowns, layoffs, and dismantled public services. Later, Raw Story reporter Sarah Burris joins to unpa...

Rick Smith talks with Will Rice, policy consultant for Americans for Tax Fairness, about how the Trump administration’s shutdown is deepening inequality while corporate America rakes in billions from Trump’s “Big Billionaire Bailout.” Rice explains how the wealthy thrive as essential federal workers and services are left hanging. Later, Monica Cary, Pennsylvania State Director of Solar United Neig...

Rick Smith talks with Graham Trainor, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, who debunks media myths about “war-torn” Portland, describing a peaceful, united city resisting Trump’s attempted militarization. Trainor explains how Oregon’s labor movement and local leaders are standing firm against federal overreach and fighting to protect jobs, rights, and democracy. Later, comedian and podcaster Pete Domi...

Rick Smith speaks with labor attorney David Borer of Gilbert Employment Law about troubling news that the Office of Management and Budget has quietly removed from its shutdown guidance all references to the 2019 law guaranteeing back pay for federal workers. Later, Johnny Jones, President of AFGE Local 1040 and a TSA officer in Dallas, describes how “payless paydays” devastate families, forcing fe...

Rick Smith speaks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about how the Trump administration’s government lockout is being used to undermine and ultimately dismantle Social Security under the guise of saving it. Later, Patrick Crowley, President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, discusses his organization’s lawsuit against the Trump EPA, aimed at restoring funding for the Solar f...

On The Rick Smith Show, LIUNA President Brent Booker blasts the Trump administration’s attack on working families but using the government shutdown to defund, cancel, and pause critical infrastructure projects in states like NY and Illinois that voted against Trump in 2024. Booker details how these political tactics directly harm construction workers and communities by freezing billions for transi...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Dave Demas, President of AFGE Local 3003, who details the immense strain placed on federal correction officers during the government shutdown. Officers are forced to work without pay, worsening understaffing, financial pressures, and dangerous working conditions in prisons, all while union contract protections have been stripped away, a blow to safety and...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Greg LeRoy, Executive Director of Good Jobs First, about 10 years of tracking corporate greed and their new study highlighting the economic and environmental benefits of a “Fix It First” infrastructure policy and investment in urban density. LeRoy explains how repairing existing infrastructure creates more jobs, saves taxpayer money, and curbs sprawl. Later,...

On The Rick Smith Show, ironworker and congressional candidate Randy Bryce discusses his campaign to challenge Trump-aligned incumbent Bryan Steil, emphasizing the need for real working-class representation and critiquing Trump and Hegseth’s political theater at Quantico as performative distraction from issues facing labor and families. Debbie White, RN and president of the Health Professionals an...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Bobby Kogan, Senior Director of Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress, about the looming government shutdown and how Trump’s promises now lack credibility for working families. Later, Virginia Burger, Senior Defense Policy Analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, reacts to the spectacle of the Trump-Hegseth Quantico military event, raising...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick discusses the backdrop of a looming government shutdown and a military pow wow at Quantico, spotlighting national uncertainty. Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley joins to celebrate a historic labor peace agreement between SouthCoast Wind and New England unions—the first of its kind for U.S. offshore wind operations. Crowley highlights the 2.4-gigawatt proje...

On The Rick Smith Show, Raw Story’s Sarah Burris explains President Trump’s sweeping order giving the War Secretary “Full Force” authority in Portland, fueling aggressive crackdowns. She discusses how the administration’s push to prosecute James Comey signals an escalation in targeting political opponents. Burris also breaks down the “shock” resignation of Oklahoma Education head Ryan Walters amid...

On The Rick Smith Show, Lisa Graves, founder of True North Research, tackles the historic indictment of ex-FBI Director James Comey, warning it signals Trump’s turn to open political retribution and a slide toward authoritarianism at the federal level. Graves calls for grassroots vigilance to protect constitutional principles in the face of escalating propaganda and voter suppression. Then, Michae...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick dives into the politics of posthumous martyrdom with congressional candidate Rich Ojeda, who takes aim at the push to canonize Charlie Kirk with commemorative coins and warns against opportunistic, divisive legislation. Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive director of the Albert Shanker Institute, joins to dissect Oklahoma’s mandate for Turning Point USA chap...