The Rick Smith Show

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, digs into the affordability crisis with CAP’s Natasha Murphy on a Patients’ Bill of Rights to Lower Health Care Costs and Trevor Higgins on A Plan for American Electricity Affordability. They break down why prices are rising, who’s responsible, and what it will take to protect working families’ wallets. Got thoughts on rising electricity costs? Email Rick at Rick@theri...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Rutgers education lecturer Mark Weber about robo-sex-doll teachers in classrooms and what it says about how poor kids are taught and the deprofessionalization of teaching. Later, Annie Norman of Americans for Financial Reform joins the show to rally support for “Save the Post Office,” making the case that the postal service is a public good worth defending for work...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with veteran labor organizer Rand Wilson about his recent writing on how workers can organize Amazon and build lasting power inside the company. Later, labor and employment professor John Logan examines Trump’s failure to save Conn-Selmer jobs and the larger collapse of his promises to revive American manufacturing, underscoring the need for real industrial policy and stronge...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes Bowzer of Sha Na Na fame to talk about who is really fighting to protect Social Security and who is not, cutting through the spin around the program’s future. Later, Andrew Haley of Union One joins to explain how his company works to protect union families with practical support, solidarity, and services designed to meet the needs of working people.

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Joe Spielberger of POGO about National Whistleblower Day and why whistleblowers matter in exposing corruption and protecting the public. Later, Rick takes on the growing influence of billionaires in the 2026 midterms and calls out Spotify’s chief for saying the quiet part out loud about who should be allowed to vote and who should be shut out of democracy.

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick takes aim at Trump’s latest distractions, suggesting a political motive behind the delayed Gordie Howe Bridge opening while firing back at the new buzzword “communinism” with his own “Commonism” retort. Then Brent Booker, General President of LIUNA, joins to discuss the union’s historic agreement with IUPAT and what coordinated organizing can mean for ...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, to make the case for a true living wage and a fairer future for working people. Later, Veronica Goodman of the Center for American Progress breaks down career and technical education policy, using fresh multistate evidence to show how stronger workforce pathways can connect students to good jobs and rebuild opportunity.

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick first talks with Sarah Burris of Alternet about the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner and the political theater around it. Later, Mary Okin of Living New Deal discusses Trump’s D.C. “Indy race” and the fight to protect the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building, a New Deal landmark known as the Social Security Administration Building and the “Si...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick Smith opens with Alex Lawson of Social Security Works, asking what kind of future today’s politics are leaving the next generation and why protecting Social Security matters for working families. Later, AFGE District 3 Vice President Phil Glover joins to discuss how federal workers can organize, push back, and defend labor rights amid Trump’s ongoing attacks on unions, public...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Sarah Austin, Senior Analyst at ITEP, about the latest report showing how states shift taxes away from corporations and the wealthy while raising sales taxes on working families. Later, Pamela Smith, President and CEO of Verified Voting, joins to debunk voting-fraud conspiracy theories and explain what actually protects elections from misinformation and partisan panic.

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with union organizer and author Phil Cohen about his new book Maximum Leverage and the lessons it offers for building worker power on the ground. Later, Stephen Schneck, President of Catholics for the Future, joins to discuss his article “American Unions & the Catholic Church” and why Catholic social teaching still makes a strong case for unions today.

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Ryan Mulholland, Senior Fellow for International Economic Policy at the Center for American Progress, about Trump’s bizarre threat to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney over “poisoned” air from wildfires and his floated plan to slap tariffs on Canada for smoke damage. Later, Guardian labor reporter Michael Sainato joins to discuss Bronx nurses being re...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with John Logan, Professor and Director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, about how Trump is laying the groundwork for a new Red Scare, and what a fresh wave of red‑baiting could mean for unions, organizers, and the broader labor movement. Later, AlterNet Senior Digital Editor Sarah Burris joins to break down the latest news from Trump’s...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about Trump’s national address, his escalating declaration of war on democracy, and how attacks on elections and Social Security fit the broader authoritarian project. Later, Margaret Poydock, Senior Policy Analyst at the Economic Policy Institute, joins to discuss EPI’s new report “The case for tripli...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Rebekah Caruthers, President and CEO of Fair Elections Center, about Trump’s latest primetime speech to the nation, why his ranting about “free and fair elections” is really about sowing doubt, and what she expects his whining to focus on. Later, Rachel Peace, Democratic congressional candidate in New Jersey’s 4th District, joins to talk about her...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with LIUNA organizer Taf Sourov about the East 42nd Street high rise in New York City that was at risk of collapsing after buckled columns and sagging floors exposed how an anti‑union developer and nonunion contractor cut corners and put workers’ lives in danger. Later, Mother Jones contributor Anna Rogers joins to discuss her recent article on fired federal workers sti...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Sam Ratner, Director of Policy at Win Without War, about the death of Trump’s Iran ceasefire, why the fragile truce finally collapsed, and what renewed escalation means for troops, civilians, and global stability. Later, Rich Ojeda, Democratic candidate for Congress in North Carolina’s 9th District, joins to talk about his campaign and how a district that cal...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with AlterNet Senior Digital Editor Sarah Burris about the sudden passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham at 71, his long role as a Trump ally, and what his death means for Republican politics and foreign policy going forward. Later, investigative journalist Greg Palast joins to dissect Graham’s legacy and connect it to the imploding Graham Platner saga and the broader crisis of...