Sam Seder Posts

Time Magazine's Michael Grunwald explained why all Americans are "on the dole" from tax credits to public tennis courts, why so many of us are in denial about how much we benefit from government spending across the economic spectrum,how the affluent gain from incentives in the tax code and why even though he hasn't worked in six years Mitt Romney pays a lower tax rate than middle class Americans.

Also Tim Pawlenty got a lobbying gig he simply couldn't wait to take. So good in fact that he quit his position as co-char of the Romney campaign weeks away from the election day so he could start lobbying for Wall Street as quickly as possible.

On the Better Half: Sam highlights sections of the Romney tapes that have received less attention but further reveal how delusional he is, also in a surprise development the author of PA's voter ID law thinks voting shouldn't be easy and many are to lazy to deserve the right to vote and Sam does an epic George W Bush impression that sheds light on success and luck.

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On today's show Kristina Rizga of Mother Jones Magazine, talked with Sam about her reporting on Mission High School San Francisco, what makes a school successful, how the high stakes testing regime advocated by corporate reformers is hurting vulnerable students and why its better to look for best practices instead of one size fits all rules for education.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Majority Report producers Matt & Michael reported from Occupy Wall Street's one year anniversary and found an energetic group of protesters committed to getting Occupy back in the center of American politics.

They also spoke with several Occupy protesters including Allison Kilkenny from Citizen Radio, freelance journalist and our Occupy Wall Street guy Jeff Smith, and retired Philly Police Captain Ray Lewis and others.

Also in a pre-recorded interview Sam spoke with economist and author Jeff Faux about his new book the Servant Economy on why America's middle class is hollowing out and why we are turning into a servant driven economy.

On today's show Sam was joined by Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald to discuss the Justice Department’s decision not to prosecute murder cases related to the Bush Administration’s torture program in Afghanistan and Iraq.Glenn explained that this investigation was the last remaining opportunity that the Obama Administration had to bring some accountability to those involved in the torture program and Sam wondered if it would take another couple of decades for a real reckoning the crimes of the Bush era.

But, first Occupy activist Jeff Smith talked with Sam about the events planned for next week to mark the one year anniversary of Occupy, how the mainstream media coverage of Occupy often ignored the issues that drove the movement, the ongoing police efforts to disrupt people’s right to peacefully protest and why he feels Occupy should stay independent  as a movement.

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On today's show Sam and Rick Perlstein discussed the Teacher's strike happening right now in Chicago. Rick explained how effective the Chicago Teacher's Union has been in gaining public support, the corporate special interests funding the "education reform" movement and how Rahm Emanuel's disdain for unions is driving Chicago city politics. Sam focused on the ideological nature of the attack on public schools and Rick said that universal education has always been vital to our economic societal success.

On the Better Half: a Libertarian caller sounded a bit confused but definitely loved Gold, Sam went over Kurt Eichenwald's new reporting on the Bush Administration stunning negligence before September 11th, Pat Robertson is confused as to whether men can be beat their wives in America but knows they can in Saudi Arabia and Sam shared his memories of September 11th.

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On today's show Harper's Magazine's dynamic duo Jack Hitt & Kevin Baker called in from Charlotte and discussed Michelle Obama's successful speech, how forgiving and organized the Democratic Party base is and how the bear hug between Bill Clinton and Barack Obama represented the cultural bestof the Democratic Party. Sam noted that Elizabeth Warren's speech could be seen as an implicit critique of Bill Clinton and he agreed with his guests that Clinton is turning into a Democratic Reagan, even though his Presidency was problematic from a progressive perspective. A deeply disillusioned Kevin said that the Republican Convention was so disturbing that he was almost ready to campaign for and contribute money to Obama again.

Comedian Dean Obeidallah let Sam know about his new comedy tour, why he wants to be Vice President, how the Republican Convention "looked like an early bird special at Cracker Barrel." And Dean spoke about the real world consequences of the anti Muslim hate speech of Michelle Bachman, Joe Walsh and Allen West.

The Better Half: Sam spoke about the DNC amending its Platform on Jerusalem and the word God and contrasted the platform with official US policy on Jerusalem. Mentioned good news from Michigan on collective bargaining and took your calls and IMS.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Matt Taibbi called in to discuss his new Rolling Stone feature story: Greed and Debt. The True Story of Mitt Romney and Bain Capital. He and Sam talked about how Bain Capital and Mitt Romney exemplified the shift from an industrial economy based on making things to a economy run on speculation, how Bain moved away from investing start up capital to simply loading existing companies with debt and stripping their assets and how the restaurant scene in Goodfellas is the best way to understand how Bain's business model works. Sam lamented that the Democrats haven't followed up on Newt Gingrich's attacks on Bain he made during the primary and he and Matt agreed that the Democrats are still committed to making nice with Wall Street.

Better Half: What Sam liked and didn't like about the DNC. The worlds richest woman had some more inspiring things to say about how people move up the economic ladder, the Ted Kennedy tribute at the DNC was great and Sam thinks Teddy would love that he is getting to destroy Mitt Romney post posthumously and Sam outlined three scenarios for what happens to Medicare and Social Security after the election.

On today's show the Nation's Ari Berman spoke with Sam about some recent encouraging Court decisions at the state level against voter suppression, described how the GOP is attempting to politically re-segregate the south and he and Sam debated the merits of holding the Democratic Convention in North Carolina. Tina Dupuy the editor-in-chief of TheContributor.Com described a pleasant atmosphere in Charlotte and said the DNC had less of a police state feel than last week's RNC. John Knefel, co-host of the podcast Radio Dispatch, gave an update on the many different protests and outside pressure groups meeting in Charlotte to fight for labor rights and genuine immigration reform.

On the Better Half:
Sam continued the Grand Bargain watch and highlighted David Koch's new generous offer to possibly accept some small tax increases in exchange for gutting Medicare and Social Security, a caller from North Carolina explained the power of the Occupy in NC and we discover the incredible danger that Mitt Romney placed himself in during Vietnam War (hint he did not experience this danger in Vietnam).

On today's Casual Friday, weekly guest and political maven Cliff Schecter, joined Sam to review this past weeks RNC. Both Cliff and Sam were angry at what the Republicans let Clint Eastwood do to himself.Although they both agreed that Eastwood best represented the wounded psyche of the Republican Party. Cliff thought the overall message of the convention was disjointed and contradictory and both him and Sam thought that Romney did a decent job.

Andy Kindler gave Eastwood some comedy coaching, described what it was like covering the convention for the Dave Letterman Show, told a great Herman Cain story and morphed into a full Obamabot, which was incredibly funny and we will have to wait until next time for Andy's movie recommendations.

Sam shared heartwarming quotes from the world's wealthiest woman (who inherited all of her money) telling working people to work even harder, played a sweet new song from Jimmy Reefercake and took your calls and IMS.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Sam caught up with Jack Hitt and Kevin Baker who are in Tampa covering the RNC for Harper's Magazine. Jack and Kevin discussed the many types of lies in the Ryan speech and how even the mainstream media is now finding it impossible to ignore how dishonest he was. Sam noticed that Paul Ryan ran away from his ultra right wing politics and that the speech didn't sound substantively conservative.

Abi Hassen, with The National Lawyers Guild explained that the city of Tampa was onlockdown and looked as if it already had been the victim of a terrorist attack. Sam and Abi discussed how the media always creates a a fear frenzy before protests and how the shutdown of downtown Tampa is impacting the promised economic benefits of hosting the RNC.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Sam spoke with Tina Dupuy, Editor of The Contributor.com and Michael Tracey a contributing writer for Salon, both live from the RNC. Sam and his guests discussed the heavy law enforcement presence in Tampa, the Ron Paul supporters rebellion and why the Tea Party is still so afraid of President Obama.

On the Better Half: Sam reviews last nights RNC speeches and says it was mostly everyone out for themselves, decodes Ann Romney's attempt to humanize her husband and explains Mitt Romney's range of facial expressions. Also Where was Dubya?

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show author Jack Hitt and historian Kevin Baker called in from Tampa where they are covering the RNC for Harper's Magazine.Sam talked with them about the most important speeches to be listening to at the convention and all three wondered if Chris Christie and Paul Ryan are assuming a Romney loss. Hitt and Baker also ran into a Wisconsin delegate who didn't believe in pension plans public or private and that led to a discussion of the modern conservative movements historical illiteracy.

On the Better Half: Sam stayed on the Grand Bargain beat and played some disappointing clips of President Obama still seeking compromise on Social Security and Medicare. Another Republican senate candidate shared some incredibly disturbing, crazy and just sexist views on rape. And much more!

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Sam hosted Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein. Stein outlined her proposals for a "Green New Deal" and explained why she thought Democratic Party was a dead end for progressive politics. But, Sam wondered if she was missing the lessons of the Bush era and wanted to know what the Green plan was for after the election.

In the Better Half: Sam reviewed Chris Matthew's epic take down of RNC chair Reince Priebus on Morning Joe and also noted some dull and disconnected conventional wisdom offered by Tom Brokaw and took your calls and IMS.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  And don't forget Sam is live every week day at noon. Thanks!

On today's show Sam and Cliff talked about the shooting outside of the Empire State Building, agreed that the NRA had more blood on its hands and discussed the need to get serious about Gun control. And poor Mitt Romney, Gawker now has their hands on his Bain documents and he can't get Todd Akin to drop out of his race.

Isabel Gillies and Sam talked about Elvis movies and she recommended the French film Un Secrete for our viewing pleasure.

And Sam went to your calls and IMS

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  Thanks!

On today's show Sam talked with Educators Sarah Knopp and Jeff Bale, editors of the anthology Education and Capitalism: Struggles for Learning and Liberation, about the corporate assault on public on public schools, testing, class and social mobility and what the true purpose of education really is.

On the Better Half: Gawker gets its hands on troves of Bain documents detailing Romney's shady tax schemes, will a hurricane hit Tampa during the RNC? Sam drops a Barry White impression and also does a Random Rush.

Members make the Majority Report possible.  Please join us by becoming a MEMBER.  You can also show your support by clicking thru to the DONATE button for a one-time donation — anytime.  Thanks!

On today's show The Nation's Ari Berman joined Sam to discuss the latest news out of Pennsylvania where a state Judge has uphold the voter ID law and movement to protect voter rights is growing. Sam and Ari agreed that Democrats need to spend political capital on this issue for both moral and political reasons.

Sam was then joined by Slate and Pandagon contributing writer, Amanda Marcotte who explained that Todd Akin's rape comments are reflective of the thinking of the anti choice movement. She and Sam also noticed the disturbing new usage of the term "forcible rape" as if there was any other kind and Amanda chalked it up to the Christian Rights "magical" worldview.

And Sam reported on the latest finding on the CIA/NYPD Muslim surveillance program. One big takeaway: all that spying did not produce a single lead!

On today's show Sam reviewed the latest from the ongoing crises in the UK over the Assange extradition. The UK's threatens to invade the Ecuadorian embassy and a insightful New York Times piece focuses on the burning question of how Julian Assange was as a roommate.

We also heard an interview with the late David Rakoff right before the 2008 election and learned David's farsighted thoughts on poverty and homophobia in modern America.

On the Better Half: more on why Paul Ryan is good for the left, Hedge Fund manager John Taylor supports the Ryan budget but says Republicans should not talk about it in public in an amazing CNBC clip and Rand Paul is not a bright guy.

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On today's Show, Sam discussed a disturbing new referendum that could allow thousands of students to skip out on there science education in Missouri. Also a Pennsylvania Judge will notgrant
an injunction against the states voter ID laws and other news in voter suppression. Speaking of which a new Tufts University study shows that white people think they are more discriminated against than black people

On the Better Half:
Anne Romney gets a little edgy and says that we will not see anymore of Mitt's taxes and that her husband has "golden integrity." Mitt reaffirms in any interview that he approves of what comes out his mouth and Sam gets pretty deep into the wilderness with a Libertarian caller.

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On today’s show Sam talked about new research showing that banning junk in schools actually helps kids stay healthier (shocker). He also spoke with with progressive talk show host and anti mountain top removal activist Bob Kincaid, about the health and social justice crises in Applachia and the importance of getting Congress to act against mining interests.

In the Better Half: More on why Romney would actually pick Paul Ryan, the golden opportunity for progressives in the Ryan pick and Mitt Romney left his young ward in the Midwest and went to Florida to have a fundraiser with a convicted drug trafficker and much more.