The Rick Smith Show

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Guardian labor reporter Michael Sainato to discuss Trump’s shutdown of the Revolution Wind project, his broader assault on the National Labor Relations Board, and how these actions further enrich the CEO class, which already enjoys a staggering 632-to-1 pay advantage over workers. The conversation underscores corporate power’s tightening grip at the expense of labor. Later, Elon Unive...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with labor attorney David Borer about the recent 5th Circuit Court decision declaring the National Labor Relations Board’s structure unconstitutional after 90 years, a ruling with major implications for workers’ rights and union protections. The conversation underscores the assault on institutions meant to safeguard the working class. Later, Sarah Burris of Raw Story joins Rick to cover a w...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick highlights James from Seven Hills, Ohio, who was fired for eating leftover chicken and a fruit cup on the job, an act monitored, likely by AI, until it reached a threshold for criminal charges. Rick stresses how this harsh treatment reflects the double standard working people face, punished for salvaging food destined for the trash while CEOs and corporate criminals rob workers’ wages, healthcare,...

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with labor attorney David Borer about the recent 5th Circuit Court decision declaring the National Labor Relations Board’s structure unconstitutional after 90 years, a ruling with major implications for workers’ rights and union protections. The conversation underscores the assault on institutions meant to safeguard the working class. Later, Sarah Burris of Raw Story joins Rick to cover a w...

On the Rick Smith Show, Amy Hanauer, Executive Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, discusses how Trump’s tax law slashes essential public spending, reduces federal support to states, and benefits the wealthy at the expense of everyday families. She outlines urgent state-level options for offsetting cuts. Scott Paul, president of the Alliance of American Manufacturing, joins to address the implications o...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Raw Story’s Sarah Burris about Trump and Putin’s Alaska encounter, a heavily militarized Washington, DC, and new revelations from the Epstein files. Investigative journalist Greg Palast joins to discuss his latest special, All Washed Away: Trump drowns FEMA, uncovering how Trump's FEMA dealings fueled disaster profiteering and tragic consequences, as exposed in Texas and New Orleans. Pala...

Rick opens The Rick Smith Show by examining the challenges teachers face prepping for the new school year often doing so in their own time and buying classroom supplies on their own dime. He discusses what Democrats need to do to win back working class voters, emphasizing policy changes and authentic outreach. Later, Rick welcomes Robert Benson, associate director at American Progress, to analyze the upcoming Trump-Putin Anch...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with Bill Scher, Politics Editor at Washington Monthly, about the escalating redistricting battles, Trump’s increasing militarization of Washington, D.C., and the negative impact of tariffs on American workers. Later, Rick is joined by Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, to discuss the Protect Our Checks tour in Montana. Lawson explains how Trump’s major legislative bill thr...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Max Moran, Sr. Fellow at The Revolving Door Project, to discuss Moran’s provocative article “The Democrats Were Designed For An America That No Longer Exists.” Moran argues the Democratic Party must reinvent itself to survive in a rapidly changing America, urging both politicians and voters to choose and shape the future they want. Later, author Joe Allen shares insights from his new ...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with AFT President Randi Weingarten about the rising attacks on labor by the Trump administration and discusses what Democrats must do to support American workers. Later, Raw Story reporter Sarah Burris joins to cover the controversial “Big Balls beating,” Trump’s move to deploy the National Guard, and the latest developments in the Epstein saga. Tune in as the show tackles the week’s most ...

Marty Perlmutter, Exec. Dir., Nuclear Disarmament Renewal, Carpenter Institute of Progressive Democrats of America

@martyp1.bsky.social

nukewise.org

In this episode of The Rick Smith Show, guests Deepak Puri, Co-Founder of The Democracy Labs, and Marty Perlmutter, Executive Director of Nuclear Disarmament Renewal at the Carpenter Institute of Progressive Democrats of America, discuss the missions of their organizations. Democrac...

On The Rick Smith Show, Hallie Shoffner, a sixth-generation Arkansas farmer who recently lost her family farm and is now running for U.S. Senate shares her personal story of hardship and determination, vowing to fight for working people against a rigged economic system and restore hope for struggling families. Also joining the show is Jasmine Leli, a Buffalo Starbucks barista and Workers United bargaining delegate, who recoun...

On The Rick Smith Show, Jennifer Sherer, Deputy Director of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN), discusses their new report “Holding the Line: State Solutions to the U.S. Worker Rights Crisis.” Sherer details how states are stepping up to protect worker rights in the face of federal rollbacks—highlighting innovative policies to defend collective bargaining, wages, and workplace safety. Natalie Baker, Director of...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick discusses a recent Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decision that empowers President Trump to fire federal employees under the guise of national security—a move that strips collective bargaining rights from hundreds of thousands and makes it easier to alter working conditions or terminate staff. Labor attorney David Borer (Gilbert Employment Law) unpacks the legal and constitutional stakes, warning ...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with Dave Demas, President of AFGE Local 3003, about Trump’s sweeping attacks on federal workers’ collective bargaining rights, highlighting how these rollbacks threaten the safety, representation, and well-being of union members working in America’s federal prisons. Sarah Burris, reporter for RawStory, joins to break down the latest chaos in Texas, as the GOP aggressively gerrymanders more...

On The Rick Smith Show, Victoria Baranetsky, general counsel at the Center for Investigative Reporting, explains a landmark Ninth Circuit Court decision requiring the federal government to release diversity (EEO-1) data on contractors. The court narrowly interpreted Exemption 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, affirming the public’s right and journalists’ access to review workforce demographics of federal contractors—boosting tra...

On The Rick Smith Show, Patrick Carolan, Co-Chair of Catholics Vote Common Good, explores the dynamic influence of the Catholic vote in shaping America’s moral and political direction, emphasizing shifting demographics and values as seen in recent elections. Jason Walsh, Executive Director of the BlueGreen Alliance, confronts the Trump administration’s aggressive rollback of critical regulations protecting worker...

On The Rick Smith Show, Chuck Collins, Director of the Program on Inequality and the Common Good at the Institute for Policy Studies, introduces his forthcoming book, Burned by Billionaires, exposing how the ultra-wealthy endanger American democracy, the economy, and the environment by concentrating power and rigging the system. Former Alabama Senator Doug Jones joins to discuss Trump’s attempt to steamroll Senat...

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick explores the state of freedom as Trump cements his authoritarian grip over America. Ken Mash, President of APSCUF, joins to discuss Trump’s escalating assault on public education—warning of deep threats to academic freedom and institutional independence. Alexandra Thornton, Senior Fellow in Financial Regulation at the Center for American Progress, exposes the dangers of unregulated cryptocurrencie...