The Rick Smith Show

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about the devastating consequences of Speaker Mike Johnson blocking a vote to extend ACA subsidies and why it could hit working families hardest. Lawson also reacts to Donald Trump’s vile, tone-deaf response to the murder of Rob Reiner. Later, Aurelia Glass, policy analyst with the American Worker Project, joins R...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick calls out the disgraceful response from Donald Trump following the death of Rob Reiner and his wife, exposing a complete lack of decency and reminding listeners that the GOP continues to mirror his cruelty and moral collapse. Later, Lori Wallach, director of Rethink Trade, joins Rick to break down Trump’s economic failures, soaring trade deficits, crumbling promises, and 49,000 los...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick sits down with Morris Pearl, Chair of the Patriotic Millionaires, to unpack how private equity is dismantling America’s economy from the inside out, destroying jobs, gutting communities, and enriching a powerful few. They explore what real reform could look like and how policy can protect workers instead of profit hoarders. Later, Sarah Burris, Senior Editor at AlterNet.org, joins ...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Laura Packard, founder of Voices of Health Care Action, about the Senate’s failure to act as millions brace for massive spikes in health insurance premiums. Packard lays out what rising costs will mean for working families and why lawmakers are ignoring a looming crisis. Later, Rick Heldreth, Mid-Atlantic Region Vice President of the AFGE Council of Prison Locals, joins ...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Will Bunch, national columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the growing resistance to ICE raids and the fear, disruption, and community pushback unfolding across the country as federal agents escalate harassment tactics. Later, Randy Landreneau, President of US Inventor, joins Rick to explain how America’s patent system—originally designed to empower small invent...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick reflects on his weekend trip to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania, a deep-red, Trump-voting region where candid conversations with working-class rural residents revealed both their struggles and the huge opportunity for outreach. Rick describes how Trump’s policies are quite literally harming the very communities that support him—and why Democrats must show up and speak to economic reality. ...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Ed Wytkind, Interim Director of the AFL-CIO Technology Institute, about Elon Musk’s claim that work will be “optional” in 20 years. Wytkind breaks down what AI and automation really mean for workers, warning that without strong labor standards and worker voice, tech could accelerate inequality rather than progress. Later, Renee Saldana, Press Secretary for SEIU-UHW, join...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Saru Jayaraman, president of One Fair Wage, about the growing national demand for a true living wage. Jayaraman highlights new polling showing overwhelming, cross-demographic support for raising the minimum wage—with a majority of workers backing $25 an hour as the standard needed to keep up with real costs. Later, John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director at Greenpeace, jo...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick digs into what everyone is getting wrong about the affordability debate with Heidi Shierholz, president of the Economic Policy Institute. Shierholz cuts through political spin to explain how it's the wages stupid. Later, Michael Negron, senior fellow for economic opportunity at American Progress, breaks down their new report, “Build, Baby, Build: A Plan to Lower Housing Costs for All...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Gabe Hagen, owner of Brick Road Coffee, about Small Business for America’s Future’s new survey, “Is Christmas Cancelled?” Hagen describes how affordability pressures, shrinking customer spending, and rising costs are squeezing Main Street from every direction. Later, Naveed Shah, Political Director at Common Defense, joins the show to discuss reports that Trump bombed Ve...

On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with author and watchdog expert Lisa Graves about her powerful new book, Without Precedent. Graves unpacks the hidden networks of influence shaping the Supreme Court and reveals how decades-long campaigns by wealthy special interests have quietly reshaped American law. Rick guides a fast-moving, accessible conversation that exposes how corruption, dark money, and partisan man...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by NC-9 congressional candidate and 24-year Army veteran Rich Ojeda to discuss the Pentagon’s investigation into Senator Mark Kelly and other Democrats over a video reminding soldiers they must refuse illegal orders, and what that means for civil-military relations in a second Trump term. Ojeda warns that weaponizing the chain of command against lawful dissent endangers democracy and ser...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes Dr. Keith Pochick to examine the Trump Department of Education’s controversial move to exclude nursing from the list of “professional degree” programs, a change that threatens advanced loan access for nursing students and risks deepening the nation’s nursing shortage. Guardian Labor Reporter Michael Sainato joins to expose growing reports of a hostile work environment under Trump’s DOE an...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick welcomes Guardian labor reporter Steven Greenhouse to unpack Trump’s “affordability week” a campaign push to claim credit for falling prices and economic relief. Greenhouse fact-checks Trump’s economic promises and spotlights ongoing cost-of-living concerns for working families. Rick and Steven challenge political spin and highlight real solutions to make life genuinely more affordable.​

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick addresses Trump’s latest outburst calling for Democrats to be charged with sedition and even executed, following their video urging troops to reject illegal orders. WI-1 congressional candidate Randy Bryce joins Rick to condemn this dangerous rhetoric and discuss the broader threat to democracy and working people when dissent is criminalized. Rick also breaks down what Democrats must do to seize t...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick dissects Trump’s Oval Office theatrics with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), spotlighting Trump’s warm praise and dismissive remarks about Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, calling Khashoggi “not well liked” and minimizing Saudi responsibility. With guests Pat LaMarche, journalist, and Jon Schleuss, NewsGuild-CWA president, Rick highlights the implications for press...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick first welcomes Labor Attorney David Borer to analyze Trump’s OPM rebranded Schedule F policy, which threatens federal workers by stripping collective bargaining rights, making thousands vulnerable to arbitrary firing and weakening protections for whistleblowers and workplace safety. Rick spotlights a rare bipartisan moment, as five Republican lawmakers sign on to defend collective bargaining right...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick engages former NLRB chair Lauren McFerran, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation, to discuss her explosive report, "Trump’s Assault on Independent Agencies Endangers Us All." McFerran exposes how Trump’s unprecedented efforts to politicize federal agencies threaten their ability to serve the public and hold corporations accountable. With mass firings, installation of political loyalists, and n...