Unanimous Dissent: Recent Episodes
Radio Sputnik
Unanimous Dissent is a progressive news show covering US policy and legislation from Washington, DC. It is produced by Sam Sacks and Sam Knight, the co-founders of the District Sentinel News Co-op. Join us in dissent every Monday through Friday.
Members of Congress are declaring there is a “Constitutional Crisis” in the wake of Trump’s Executive Order banning Syrian refugees and travelers from six majority-Muslim nations in the world. We breakdown the chaos of the weekend.
And, it’s not just protests at airports around the country that are capturing the unrest toward President Trump’s executive order. So, too, are dissent memos coming out of the State Department. Trump’s own administration is already turning on him. That story coming up later.
Also, we’re going to get Donald Trump’s first Supreme Court nomination soon….and that could be paired with some uncharacteristic courage from Democrats. Some Senate Dems are already threatening to give Trump’s pick the Merrick Garland treatment. We’ll tell you who, later in the show.
With the Trump presidency comes several power struggles. The White House versus the intelligence agencies. The intelligence agencies versus themselves. And the White House versus themselves. We chat with Alternet’s Washington Correspondent, and author, Jefferson Morley about it all.
Plus, the first full week of the Trump Presidency means we have a full Garbage Can line-up today. From high ranking officials to an angry traveller, we run-down the worst of the worst in humanity this week. Stick around until the very end because you won’t want to miss who goes in…..the Garbage Can.
Mystery solved! We know where Trump got the idea of millions voting illegally in the last election. It was from a German golfer. No joke.
Also there’s a very real assault on the Freedom of the Press underway during these early days of the Trump administration: the jailing of journalists. Oddly though, mainstream news media outlets are hesitant to even cover the story. We talk with media writer Adam Johnson about it later in the show.
And, the Labor Department released data today, which gives us a better picture of the Obama administration legacy; specifically, why it lead to President Donald Trump. We’ll explain later, in a People’s Bulletin.
Trump’s cabinet nominees are sailing through the Senate, and you can thank Democrats for it. Can the Democratic Party really lead the resistance to Trump when it approves all of his nominees.
Coming up, DC is still recovering from inauguration, Disrupt J20 and the Women’s March. We sift through the wreckage with our favorite local reporter. DCist’s Rachel Kurzius stops in, to chat about the inaugural clean-up.
And with the stroke of his pen, President Donald Trump gave a big F-you to tens of thousands of environmentalists that worked to defeat pipeline projects like Keystone XL and DAPL. We’ll break down the latest executive orders that could leave the planet even more vulnerable to climate change
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer had press briefing number two on Monday. It was his first time facing the press since Saturday when he uttered five lies in five minutes about Trump’s inauguration attendance.
Trumponomics are shaping up, as the President discussed his plans for the US economy, this morning, before a meeting with a dozen CEOs. We’ll let you know what Trump said, and what the reaction was, later in the show.
Also, Trump had to have known this was coming. He’s been in office just a few days and he’s already facing a lawsuit alleging he’s in violation of the US Constitution. It’s that pesky emoluments clause. We’ll discuss the lawsuit and the possible release of Trump’s tax returns later.
Coming up, dissent and pepper gas clogged the streets and air of DC, today. We couldn’t leave the content factory, but we chat to two people who were there. The Street Fight Radio Boys….Brett Pain and Bryan Quinby….join us.
Also, just because it’s inauguration day doesn’t mean we’re not taking out the trash. Our Garbage Can will be in studio. Our Garbage Candidates will be named...and one of them will get tossed in. Stick around until the end of the show to find out who.
A new report outlines massive cuts to the federal government, including critical programs run out of the Departments of Justice and State. Even the National Endowment of the Arts might get the axe. Also, Rick Perry said he regrets calling for the elimination of the Energy Department, which he will soon be heading up.
Muh-NUTCH-en? Munchkin? M’nuchhhin. Well, his confirmation hearing was today and we can confirm it's Steve Mnuchin (hard “CH). That’s how it’s pronounced. Anyway, Trump’s pick to be next Treasury Secretary had anything but a smooth hearing. We fill you in on the drama, which included one senator offering another some benzos. Bring enough for the whole class, Sen. Roberts?
Also, keeping up with our show’s theme of dissent---we break down another inauguration event planned for Friday for those who want to protest Donald Trump by occupying Washington, DC. Activist and Miss New Jersey, Sameera Khan joins us on the show later to talk about it.
As Trump’s nominees get grilled on Capitol Hill, President Obama speaks to the press once last time, and lays out scenarios in which he might get back involved in politics.
Coming up…Trump’s pick for Secretary of State, if confirmed, will be overseeing a department that the oil conglomerate he used to run has relied on to advance its business interests. Oil and water might be kept separate, but oil and diplomacy are certainly not. The Intercept’s Lee Fang joins us to discuss the issue.
Also, we talk with Abe Marquez, one of the organizers behind a massive rally set to take place in Washington, DC on Inauguration Day to protest the incoming administration. All the details of that coming up for those who want to actually resist instead of just adding the word “resist” to the Twitter pics...We see you, Neera.
Some late breaking news regarding Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning. President Obama has decided to commute her sentence.
Also, Inauguration woes continue for the President-elect, as Trump can’t even get cover bands to perform at the ceremony. But the bigger headache for the Donald? His ongoing dust-up with ethics watchdogs.
And writer Eoin Higgins joins us later to talk about a cornucopia of stories that surround the President-Elect: from how he and Republicans will go about repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act to how mainstream news agencies are preparing to cover the Trump era. And if you’re still not sold in this upcoming interview, then...ok, fine...we’re going to talk about the Golden Showers memo, too.
The Chicago Police Department becomes the latest police force reviewed by the Department of Justice. We’ll go over some of the disturbing findings in the report.
You might feel like you’re in the grips of a cartel, every time you take an airplane. And with good cause--80 percent of the airline industry is controlled by four companies. But President Obama’s Justice Department concluded otherwise, we’ll explain, in just a bit, in our people’s Bulletin.
Plus, we’re gonna chat with Ryan Cooper from The Week, about President Obama’s legacy, and on a completely unrelated note, we’ll throw someone in the garbage can...since it’s Friday and all.
Thirteen Democrats helped kill a measure in the Senate that could have led to cheaper prescription drugs for Americans. We single them out, particularly one Senator who’s positioning himself for a 2020 presidential run.
Meltdowns, these days, tend to be of the social media variety. But if there is another major nuclear disaster with fallout spread around the world, like there was after the Fukushima catastrophe, will the EPA ensure that your drinking water is safe? Truthout’s Mike Ludwig just wrote about the issue. He joins us to discuss his story.
Also, the man tapped by Donald Trump to be the next Director of the CIA, Congressman Mike Pompeo, had his confirmation hearing today. And he was asked about a creepy op-ed he wrote a year ago calling for a massive new surveillance program. He still stands by it. We explain in a Classified Session.
We break down the Trump press conference, which, like everything else we’ve seen the last 18 months, was bizarre. It was supposed to be about conflicts of interests, but ended up being dominated by the infamous “Golden Showers” memo.
Also, some additional insight into how the Trump administration might shape up. Former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson appeared earlier today before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his Secretary of State Confirmation Hearing. But confirmation is far from assured. We explain later.
And, one of the members of the dirtbag left is on the show to talk about failson’ing. Matt Christman from the hit podcast Chapo Trap House joins us to discuss the appointment of Jared Kushner to a job in the White House.
Senators were in agreement Tuesday that the intelligence report alleging Russian interference in last November’s election was spot-on. So then why were so many lawmakers reading stats from it that were factually inaccurate?
Also, a surprising twist during the Jeff Sessions Attorney General Nomination hearing. Trump’s pick to serve as top US prosecutor says he’ll consider re-establishing an anti-obscenity Division.
And, we’ve got our ol’ friend Rachel Kurzius, the associate editor at the DCist, on the show to talk about inauguration festivities and protests. You might hate Trump, but you might also score free weed by attending the inauguration, so stay tuned to hear all about that.
Last week’s ODNI release described critical reporting as a form of election interference. That’s just one of many bone-headed calculations by the intelligence community.
No time to breathe after the holidays. The Trump cabinet is being rammed through the Senate this week; possibly illegally.
Also, free money for just being alive? That’s the way it should be! We talk to writer and welfare researcher Matt Bruenig later in the show about a little proposal called Universal Basic Income. It might sound radical now, but it could be the only way to defend against total social upheaval in our robot-dominated future.
And finally, looks like millennials might soon be more capable of bonding with their Baby Boomer Parents. For we, too, look to be on the verge of fearing nuclear annihilation. Just kidding. Or are we? Check out the latest Classified Session to find out.
The new intelligence report on alleged Russian interference strangely focuses on old television programming instead of hacking.
Also, Jennifer Briney, the host of the Congressional Dish podcast, is on to talk about the first week of the 115th Congress, including some rather eyebrow-raising rules House Republicans approved of.
And, it’s Friday which means it’s time to toss one particular bad-taker into the garbage can. Find out who it is at the end of the show.
Spy chiefs descended on Capitol Hill for a hearing on alleged Russian interference in last November’s election. But they were short on specifics as they await the release of a final report on the matter next week.
One of the most predatory industries out there, the credit reporting agencies, just got slapped with a major fine from the federal government. We’ll go over some changes that could be coming to the industry as a result of their years of abuse.
Also, it was only a matter of time, but an over-sized depiction of a Donald Trump tweet has made it to the Senate floor. I’ll explain who's responsible for it, and why it was absolutely necessary.
And, if Donald Trump is actually planning to purge civil servants when he comes into office, then House Republicans just made his job a lot easier. I’ll break down some new rules that were quietly passed that could spell doom for some government workers.
For the second day in a row to start the 115th Congress, House Republicans completely embarrass themselves. They’ve had seven years to prepare for this moment, so why don’t they have any specific on how they intend to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.
And, researcher and policy analyst with Demos Action Sean McElwee comes on to talk about six specific policy proposals that Democrats should focus on, and fight for over the coming years of Republican rule in this country. It’s a really informative discussion that party leadership should pay attention to (but probably won’t).
Unified Republican Rule arrives in Washington as the new session of Congress gavels in. But things go off the rails immediately.
Labor reporter Mike Elk joins is on to look back at the last eight years of the Obama presidency and what it meant for organized labor. We also talk about the fight for DNC chair between Congressman Keith Ellison, and the White House’s hand picked candidate, Labor Secretary Tom Perez.
Plus, the Washington Post is guilty of spreading more fake news over the holiday. The hysteria around Russian hacking claims is leading to bad journalism and absurd beliefs among the electorate.
And later, new stats from US prisons reveal some good news about the nation’s incarceration rate, so will someone please inform Donald Trump that we don’t a crime crisis in this country.
Like a lot of TV and radio shows do at the end of the year, we’re gonna have a bit of a look back. Most of us can’t wait for 2016 to end—though, I do have some bad news for you, folks: by the looks of it, 2017 will be even worse than 2016.
We want to spend a little more time with it...thinking about it…So for today’s show we’re gonna look back on the year, and discuss some of the most important news threads that took hold this year, but didn’t get near the attention they should have.
A holiday special for you! Hope you are enjoying your gifts and/or things are just generally well.
Today, on the show...we’ll be previewing the 115th Congress. Dropping names of some freshman lawmakers you might want to look out for in the new year. And quite possibly….you will see them in one of our weekly Garbage Can segments...sometime in 2017.
Also, writer and journalist Eoin Higgins joins us to talk about some silver linings of the Trump presidency.
Stand up comedian and co-star of Redacted Tonight, John F. O'Donnell joins the two Sams to recap the year that was, and the state of the political satire.
Also, a special present for our listeners who love the Garbage Can segment.
CIA Director John Brennan thinks that interfering in foreign election is beneath the US. Clearly he hasn’t brushed up on his own agency’s history.
Also, we talk resistance. By Any Means Necessary host Eugene Puryear is on to talk about how best to confront the incoming Trump administration through mass movements and actions in the streets.
And then, we’re still 8 days from the New Year and the big Ball Drop in Times Square….but we have another momentous dropping for you to report today…..the last hot taker of the year is being dropped into the Garbage Can. That’s coming at the end of the show.
One bombshell of a story about Goldman Sachs alleged involvement in a massive corruption scandal in Southeast Asia. Looking like Trump’s election and the cabinet he is assembling couldn’t have come at a better time for the bank.
And our man on the ground in North Carolina, Paul Blest, is back on the show to talk about the dysfunction underway in the North Carolina state legislature. What are state Republicans up to this week to destroy democracy. That story coming up.
Plus...nevermind the discourse over Trump’s campaign promises: we already have a Muslim Registry. Although it’s dormant. And, actually, it will soon be scrapped. Some good news about NSEERS to report later….in a Classified Session.
A new report from the US House of Representatives says strong encryption is vital to national security. Take that, FBI Director James Comey!
Also, we might have to stop making the Drain the Swamp, folks, and it’s not because President-elect Trump has suddenly decided that Goldman Sachs is actually bad. We’ll explain later.
And reporter and writer Eoin Higgins is on to talk about the Clinton campaign’s digital security...or lack thereof. If you thought it was easy for hackers to gain access into the DNC or John Podesta’s emails, it would have been even easier for them to break into the campaign’s most coveted data. That story coming up.
Also, we noted yesterday how the student debt crisis is increasingly hurting the most vulnerable….today we chat about how the education pipeline is being squeezed on the other end. That is coming up in the latest edition of the People’s Bulletin.
As Democrats focus on how the Trump presidency will benefit Vladimir Putin, one of America’s most notorious banks is profiting in a “big league” way off Trump’s election.
Also, the DOJ issues an internal report on private prisons, which highlights why Donald Trump’s election is awful.
Plus, DCist Associate Editor Rachel Kurzius stops by to talk about Muslims in Washington, DC are organizing and sharing information about how to resist the incoming Trump administration, and it’s troubling proposals to reinstate a Muslim registry.
Finally, the GAO releases a study which offers new details on how the US economy is failing its most vulnerable, enumerating some of the grim ways in which the student debt crisis has impacted the old and disabled.
Sam Kriss joins us to discuss a bizarre Twitter rant that is being exalted by members of the liberal establishment. Is our interview the real Federalist Paper? Stick around to find out.
Also, President Obama is continuing on issuing new environmental regulations. But like Sisyphus at this point, all his work may be for not, since President-elect Trump has already promised to undo the latest bit of rulemaking aimed at protecting our planet. That story coming up in our Sludge Report.
And the long-arm of deregulation has its claws poised to sink into rulemaking at every level of the US government. Plus, federal workers might be at the center of a Scott Walker-style assault on their rights. We’ll tell you all, in a wonky edition of the People’s Bulletin.
Heading into the Republican National Convention in July, Donald Trump’s campaign pushed for a measure in the GOP platform to break up the big banks. If Trump’s still up for it (which we can assume he’s not), Wells Fargo would make a pretty good subject for cleavage.
Also, Facebook has unveiled a new plan to fight so-called “fake news.” But is this just an underhanded effort by mainstream news outlets to smear their independent rivals? ShadowProof’s Daniel Wright joins us to talk about it.
And, it’s Friday. You know what time it is. At the end of the show, we’ll be analyzing the week’s worst takes, and throwing the week’s worst taker straight into the Garbage Can. And folks, it already stinks of used adult diapers and rain water. Stick around, you won’t wanna miss.
The Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is casting doubts on anonymous claims coming out of the CIA regarding Russian election interference.
Trump’s pick for education secretary played hooky, when a group she helped finance and run was ordered to pay millions in fines for breaking Ohio election law. Looks like someone failed Swamp Draining 101.
And, perhaps the craziest stuff happening this week isn’t going down at Trump Tower amid visits from Kanye West and Leo DiCaprio. It’s what’s happening in North Carolina, where the state’s GOP is taking extreme steps to disempower the incoming Democratic governor. Reporter Paul Blest joins us from on the ground in Raleigh with the story.
Plus, more updates on tensions between the US and China sparked by Trump’s questioning of a key policy. We’ll tell you all about later in the show.
Blame the Kremlin, blame the FBI. But a new Politico piece reveals where blame for Hillary Clinton’s loss should really be placed: At the doorstep of her campaign headquarters in Brooklyn
Obama thinks the drone program has enough safeguards to hand the thing over to Trump, unchanged. So it’s awkward for him, then, that the DC Circuit Federal Appeals court is hearing a lawsuit brought by Yemenis who claim relatives were wrongfully assassinated by the US military.
Also, we discuss a novel way to tackle Trump’s many conflicts of interest. Never has just straight up handing $15 billion dollars to an oligarch sounded so smart. The Week’s national correspondent Ryan Cooper joins us to explain.
And, sound the monetary policy siren: the Fed met today. Bad news if you owe anyone money. Interest rates are going up.
The show at Trump Towers continues with Kanye West stopping by to visit the President-elect. But the celebrities can’t hide the truly nefarious things Trump’s transition team is doing in the background.
Also, the contest to become DNC Chair is heating up. We got news this week that in will step a challenger to Keith Ellison: who has friends in high places. We discuss Tom Perez’s announcement later in the show.
And just what is the significance of Donald Trump’s criticism of the long-held “One China” policy? John Feffer, the director of Foreign Policy in Focus, joins us to chat about the issue.
The Obama administration looks more or less ready to hand President Trump the keys to the security state--drones and all. But the White House is reportedly uncomfortable with at least one program existing next January: an immigration surveillance scheme, that was almost fully scrapped in 2011.
Also, Republicans in Congress have unveiled their plans to cut Social Security--precisely the thing that President-Elect Donald Trump campaigned on not doing. So will he go to war with Paul Ryan or retiring seniors when he’s take the oath of office?
Plus, did Carly Fiorina reveal how Trump is planning to spin stories about Russian hacking? Either way, she was at Trump Tower on Monday, where her and the President-elect discussed China, which should be of concern to all voters worried about the Prospect of World War III.
It’s being reported that Donald Trump only receives one intelligence briefing a week, while his Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, is receiving as many as six briefings a week. Yep, Pence will be our behind-the-scenes President.
Also, The Intercept’s Zaid Jilani joins us to talk about a handful of folks who were #ImWithHer, but are now advising the Trump transition team. Heads they win, tails we lose.
Plus, it’s Friday so we’ve got another segment of the Garbage Can ready for you. We have bad takes on the Fight for Fifteen, government ethics, fake news, and Ohio’s draconian anti-choice legislation. And only one of the bad takers will end up in the can. Stick around, you won’t want to miss who takes the plunge.
The Carl’s Jr.-Hardees debate that has been raging on this show isn’t going anywhere. Donald Trump looks set to name the grease-peddler’s CEO, Andrew Puzder, to Labor Secretary. We’re gonna have a fast food guy enforcing workplace laws.
Then, we take the long view of recent environmental victories: blows against the Keystone XL, Sandpiper, and Dakota Access pipelines. Journalist Steve Horn from DeSmogBlog joins us to preview the green fights on the horizon, including battles on turf that we thought we already won.
Also, sticking with the conversation on Green issues….we Drill Baby, Drill into Trump’s team on environmental regulations, or the impending lack thereof. Naomi Lachance from the Intercept drops by to talk about Trump’s EPA pick and more.
And we tune into Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s final speech, which included a glimpse into his social life.
The AT&T/Time Warner merger could offer us our first glimpse into just how the Trump administration plans to rein in the power of big business in the US. But already one Senator is skeptical, noting Trump’s animosity toward Time Warner’s news assets.
Also, a development to report in the jostling for control over the Democratic Party. Keith Ellison silences some of his critics, with a major announcement about the race for DNC chair.
Also, a ranking Democrat on the House Oversight Committee is accusing Republican leadership of blocking an investigation to determine if the Russian government actually did interfere in the US elections. That story coming up later in a classified session.
Finally, what is a Hillary Man doing making a Twitter Enemies List? We bring on journalist and historian Eoin Higgins to talk about everyone’s favorite account, Al Giordano. Welcome to Blockville, Dudebros. Eoin also chats to us about a recent article he wrote, taking a closer look at Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
The two Sams discuss the new daily rituals emanating from Trump Tower.
The State Department’s human trafficking report came under fire, last year, when it was revealed political appointees interfered with the process like never before--in part, to help grease the wheels of the TPP. Now, a watchdog report sheds light on how the entire process is vulnerable to White House manipulation.
Also, we bring back onto the show the DCist’s Rachel Kurzius for the latest on the Pizzagate disease that is affecting the brains of so-called internet sleuths. The whacked out conspiracy theory is motivating the deranged toward violence.
Then, the Internet of Things is vulnerable to hackers. And it will be left to Donald Trump to protect it. Lord help us.
Following the Army Corps of Engineers decision not to grant easement to finish the Dakota Access Pipeline, fossil fuel groups are hoping for an ally on the incoming Trump administration.
Wouldn’t it be nice if we got along with China? Hillary Clinton should be kicking herself, for allowing Donald Trump to portray her as the candidate who was most enthusiastic about conflict. We explain in a Classified Session.
Also, we try to get to the bottom of a lingering mystery concerning a guy who could be the next Homeland Security Secretary: Kris Kobach. What exactly did he talk to Trump about with regard to voting reform? If Kobach detailed all the instances of on voter fraud that have occurred on his watch, the conversation would last about a minute. Journalist Spencer Woodman joined us to explain.
Plus, a new political crisis grips Europe after yet another national referendum ends in defeat for the establishment. Italy serves up a fresh pie of instability. What does it mean? Is this another victory for the far-right? We discuss later on in the show.
It’s Friday. That means someone is going in the Garbage Can at the end of the show. We’ve got plenty of Can Worthy nominees. From people in Trump’s inner circle….to a group of twenty house Democrats. Stick around until the end of the show….if you want to know who will be wiping banana peels and dirty diapers off their face.
And, the Iran Deal didn’t get a great amount of attention during the presidential campaign, but it got some this week, from a top Obama administration official. We’ll bring you up to speed shortly.
Also, Congressman Keith Ellison’s bid to be DNC Chair is coming under assault from smear artists on the Right, the Left, and the weird. Staff Writer at Jezebel, Brendan O’Connor joins us to break down those forces that are taking aim at the guy who’s got the best chance of turning around the Democratic Party.
The Trump cabinet is starting to take the form of notorious presidential administration during the 1920’s that produced economic policies that led to the Great Depression. We’re in trouble.
Also, we chat again with investigative journalist Greg Palast. Before the election, Greg warned us that Republican operatives were trying to steal the vote. We caught up with him to discuss just how successful they were at doing that.
Plus, Trump’s Swamp Draining is going as well today as it was yesterday--terribly. We’ll tell you about the George W. Bush-era financial regulator that Trump has chosen...to help him set up banking regulatory agencies. Fox guarding the henhouse, much?
And, we chat again with investigative journalist Greg Palast. Before the election, Greg warned us that Republican operatives were trying to steal the vote. We caught up with him to discuss just how successful they were at doing that.
Also, small government Republicans in Congress just approved of new rules that will expand FBI hacking powers. That story coming up later in the show, in a Classified Session.
Plus, Trump’s Swamp Draining is going as well today as it was yesterday--terribly. We’ll tell you about the George W. Bush-era financial regulator that Trump has chosen...to help him set up banking regulatory agencies. Fox guarding the henhouse, much?
Democrats are organizing Electoral College members to go against their state results, and vote their conscience next month to deny Donald Trump the presidency. We discuss the consequences of such a maneuver.
Plus, we talk with one national security researcher who is trying to get ahead of the incoming Trump administration. FOIA guru Ryan Shapiro joins us to talk about Project 45, and the threats to transparency posed by the president-elect.
And, elections have consequences. And some of those could fall on the most vulnerable people in the world--children seeking asylum here, from violence in Central America. We’ll tell you about a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing that took aim at our humanitarian mission on the Southern border.
Plus, no one believes Trump will actually drain the swamp. But Congress could give the Executive Branch the tools it needs to shed light on malfeasance. We discuss that in a Classified Session.
President-Elect Donald Trump’s early morning tweets have people concerned he is planning to crack down on the First Amendment with regard to flag burning. Unfortunately, his troubling ideas have long been political consensus in Washington.
The Trump Era is starting to resemble the Reagan era in more ways than one. A bunch of far-right lunatics have started a Satanic Ritual Panic, and are targeting a Pizza Place in Northwest DC, with their venom. DCist Associate Editor Rachel Kurzius brings us up to speed.
Also, Trump said during the campaign that wages are too high. Well, the Fight for 15 is ready to convince him otherwise. Today marked the first major labor actions since Trump was elected to call for a 15 dollar an hour minimum wage. We’ll have that story in our People’s Bulletin.
And finally, Trump’s narrative of being opposed to the Iraq War is looking more and more obscene, now that he’s putting together his cabinet. Democratic Lawmakers are calling him out on this. Sadly, only four of them.
A Mainstream media outlet and prominent liberal journalists are losing their minds, alleging Russian interference in just about everything. Now, they’re drawing up blacklists of independent news outlets that should be investigated.
Also, keep the phone books close, Democrats. The filibuster looks safe for now. Good news for anyone fearing the ascendant right.
Plus, news broke over the weekend that Cuba’s revolutionary leader Fidel Castro--a man that CIA tried to kill hundreds of times--finally has died, but of old age. We talk to a man who knew Castro, the Institute for Policy Studies’ James Early, about what his death means for the island and for future relations with the US.
And President Obama continues to show no concerns about handing over a fully-armed military state over to Donald Trump….a man he called unfit for office just weeks ago. We’ll bring you some of the latest news about US operations in Somalia.
Plus, some updates about the Trump Transition. The “Drain the Swamp” farce continues, as Trump touts an elitist Christian fundamentalist as Education Secretary.
Then, a conversation with activist and journalist Jesse Myerson. We discuss left-wing strategy, over the next few years.
Finally, the two Sams share some of the things they're thankful for, to help you prepare for Thanksgiving. Gobble Gobble!
They shouldn't be too bummed about Chuck Schumer's rise to Senate Minority Leader, however. Though he has had some questionable ties to Wall Street, Schumer sounded the alarm, after the 2014 midterm, about Dems' abandonment of working and middle class Americans. Will the party listen this time?
Also, how will Washington--the city itself--deal with the Trump administration? DCist's Rachel Kurzius talked about that with us, in the latest of our weekly chats.
Finally, Trump abandons a major campaign promise, to the consternation of conservatives. And his AG pick comes under the microscope, again--for that time he was too racist to be a federal judge.
We put on our flannel shirts and keds, and talk about how to improve our democracy with former Nirvana bassist, and now Chairman of the Board at FairVote, Krist Novoselic.
And, neo-nazis descended on DC over the weekend. But they were met in the streets by anti-fascists.
Also, the most prominent Respectable Republican on Trump’s team has no problem parroting far-right talking points. Reince Priebus might have been the Yacht Club’s towel boy for years, but he apparently has no trouble fitting in with GOP extremists.
It keeps getting worse, folks. We break down the people who have already been named to a future Trump administration….and some of the deplorables still floating around with journalist and writer Derek Davison.
And, it’s Friday, so we toss someone in the garbage can. We also give props to someone who was throwing nerds in the garbage can long before us. We’ll tell you who that is later.
Looking at all the banksters Trump is considering for top posts in his administration, Wall Street couldn’t be more delighted.
Also, Who’s excited about the next Census?! I’ll tell you who: hackers. A government watchdog is warning that new census technology could be vulnerable to cyber attack.
And, the election is over, now it’s time for the candidates to pay for the laws they broke during it, right? We talk to Brendan Fischer with the Campaign Legal Center to go over what was one of the more corrupt elections in memory.
Senate Democrats have announced their new leadership team and committee assignments, and the two Sams play Monday morning quarterback.
It couldn’t happen in Britain. It couldn’t happen in the United States. Except, the far-right recently pulled off stunning victories in both countries. Can the same happen to France next year? We talk to Cole Stangler, an American journalist in Paris to discuss the possibility of a National Front Victory in 2017.
And, some of Trump’s darkest campaign promises may actually come true. Members of his transition team are speaking out about what the new administration is planning, and it’s hella grim, folks.
Also we do have a bit of good news to discuss later regarding the Dakota Access Pipeline, and the nationwide protests against it. That story coming up in our Sludge Report.
President Trump is bringing neocons into his administration, and looks set to inherit a national security apparatus that could enable him to commit atrocities--as promised overtly on the campaign trail. President Obama wants to hand Trump the drone program without tightening the rules. And last week, Obama was saying Trump was too dangerous to be Commander-in-Chief!
Plus, Americans don’t like to think of their own country as a place that jails political prisoners. But I’ve got some bad news. We are. Former Congressman Parker Griffith joins us later to discuss the case of jailed former Alabama Congressman Don Siegelman.
Then, Paul Ryan pivoted from being totally humiliated by a demagogue to brown-nosing one faster than you can say “no one cares anymore about your plan to privatize Medicare, Paul.” We’ll explain the latest way Paul Ryan has disgraced himself, at the very end of the show.
We were hoping this unprecedented election might cause leading Dems to rush to hand in their resignations. Surprise--that hasn’t happened.
Also, Donald Trump had a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday. And Trump basically sounded like every other president that has come before him. Then, The Donald might not like talking about how he has had trouble paying back debts, but financial markets might be. We’ll explain in People’s Bulletin.
Plus, Trump was a white nationalist and a fascist two weeks ago. So, shouldn’t it be troubling that now, politicians and the media are working so hard to normalize him? Writer Adam Johnson with Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting joins us later...
Four years ago, GOP operative Karl Rove was embarrassing himself on TV refusing to believe the election results showing that Barack Obama was re-elected President. Today, Democrats realize they could have learned a lot from Mr. Rove’s confusion.
Also, where should the Left focus its political activism now? Against Trump or against Senate Democrats to make sure they don’t give an inch to the racist real estate mogul. We discuss with By Any Means Necessary host Eugene Puryear and Bob Schlehuber.
And it’s Friday, so someone is getting trashed. We present a special Trump cabinet-themed Garbage Can segment.
The two Sams try to bite their tongue, and not say, “I told you so,” upon news that Trump defeated Clinton in an historic election Tuesday night.
Also, Our first post-election People’s Bulletin features crucial economic news. Markets are reacting to Trump’s victorious message against “the rigged system.” Investors think this means high profits for banks, pharmaceutical companies, weapons manufacturers and the Private Prison industry.
And one way to deal with the Trump presidencies is to just get really high. Luckily a lot of states can accommodate that now. We’ve got a run down of ballot measures from Tuesday night, including the ones that legalized pot.
Finally, to tie up other election-related loose ends, we’ll be bringing back The Week’s national correspondent, Ryan Cooper, for a discussion on our future. Spoiler: it’s grim.
Miss the election already? Hungover and simply wanting to make sense of the mess that was 2016? Good news: The Two Sams did their BuzzFeed impression, and assembled the 20 Best Moments from the 2016 election.
From Birdie Sanders, to Trump talking about the size of his weiner at the primary debates, to Hillary actually making promises to the left that will be very difficult to break. Find out which moment makes number one on the list.
Two big questions are on the nation’s mind this election day: Who will win? And what does Donald Trump conceding look like?
Also, a last minute campaign ad blitz is hitting the nation's capitol, and is aimed at driving a wedge between Hillary Clinton and racist football fans. The DCist’s Rachel Kurzius is on with that story.
And, spooked by election insecurities, the Justice Department announced they would indeed be sending poll observers around the country, but a low fewer overseers than in previous years. That story coming up.
There has been a lot of talk about what legal troubles might follow Clinton into the White House. But how about Trump? His business practices came under fire from labor regulators last week. And his likely-Attorney General might find himself threatened with the slammer soon. More on that soon.
Plus, James Comey’s FBI just keeps embarrassing itself. But it's important to remember that the bureau has a long history of embarrassments even before Mr. Comey showed up--and after he did, too. The ACLU’s Kade Crockford joins us to explain.
Finally, if you think Public Relations fluff online is unbearable, then I’ve got some bad news for you. According to a survey,the lobbying industry thinks that the future is meme-able. We’ll explain in our People’s Bulletin.
Our preview of election issues this week takes us to the state of Wisconsin. Ruth Conniff, the editor of the Madison-based Progressive Magazine talks to us about the battle between incumbent Ron Johnson and former Senator Russ Feingold.
Then, the Paris Climate Agreement takes effect today. Humanity is saved! Well...not quite. We’re still doomed, and we’ll explain why in our Sludge Report.
Also, we’re making some damn history on the show. Today is the last edition of the Garbage Can before the 2016 Presidential Election. And like every Friday, we’ll be casting our votes to see who goes in the can this week. Stick around until the end of the show….you won't wanna miss it.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board delivered once of the worst takes of the election--accusing President Obama of vote-buying as his administration tries to help indebted students of for-profit colleges.
Also, we mentally took you to North Carolina yesterday, when we interviewed Paul Blest, a journalist based in Raleigh. Today, we bring you insight from another swing state, Ohio. Chapo Trap House co-host and Buckeye State resident, Matt Christman (@cushbomb) bring us up to speed.
And, AT&T and Time Warner want to merge. We’ve talked about how that could negatively impact consumer choice and privacy. Today, we’ll tell you about a US senator who believes the deal would also undermine Net Neutrality.
Donald Trump’s ghostwriters want to remind everyone that the GOP nominee “will ban all Muslims, believes Mexicans are rapists, pays no taxes, feels free to assault women, and lies compulsively.” Unfortunately that message is being lost under an avalanche of conspiracy theories coming out of the Clinton campaign.
Also, we might be confined to the noose that is the Beltway, but today we talk to a guy who lives in a real-live Swing State, folks! Paul Blest, a journalist based in Raleigh, North Carolina, will join us to talk about politics in the Toss-Up Tar Heel State.
And, Trump has ragged on China quite a bit during this election. Well now the East Asian Power had a few choice words for Trump, over the GOP nominee’s commitment to killing a climate treaty. We’ll recap the dustup in our sludge report.
After FBI Director James Comey updated Congress on the Clinton email investigation last week, Democrats are accusing the G-Man of breaking the law. They were singing his praises just two months ago, when he exonerated their nominee.
Also, America’s overseas military adventures might not be getting the attention they deserve this election cycle. Fortunately, our man the Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction never sleeps. News from SIGAR later in the show.
And the DCist’s Rachel Kurzius stops by to talk beer and presidential politics. One lager maker is facing a backlash after jumping aboard the Trump train.
Finally….God Created Adam and Eve…He did not create Atoms to Cleve. We bring you an update on the decline of the Nuclear Power Industry later in the show.
Facing down an assured loss in a week, Trump is still picking up support from fellow Republicans--even those who claimed they’d never support the troublesome real estate mogul.
Also, a shock verdict in the trial of the Bundy boys, as the occupants of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge are found not guilty, in a federal trial. Jeff Ruch, from Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility comes on to discuss the case.
And, Hillary Clinton has finally weighed in on the ongoing protests against the constriction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. And environmentalists are disappointed. That story in a sludge report later.
Approving the AT&T and Time Warner merger could be a task that falls to the next presidential administration. And whether it’s Clinton or Trump, you can expect one Independent Senator from Vermont to give them hell over it.
What will Senate Republicans do if their Supreme Court obstructionism backfires on Nov. 8? Dave Weigel from the Washington Post just broke a story about that….involving one Ted Cruz. He joins us to discuss the Junior Senator and the High Court in just a bit.
And folks….we’ve got such a jam-packed Garbage Can segment this week. Put on your Trash Water glasses….someone is making the splash into the Can….at the end of the show.
Trump arrived in Washington, DC on Wednesday for a ribbon cutting ceremony at his new hotel. But if the protests that greeted him are any indication, his brand may be permanently damaged.
Also, Arn Menconi, the Green Party’s candidate for US Senate in Colorado returns to the show. We would have had him in studio, but the Capitol Police had other ideas. That interview, coming up.
And, Republican Senators are feeling the pressure for backing Trump. Marco Rubio, however, appears to be reaping the benefit of staying loyal….despite getting utterly pantsed by the Donald during the primary. Now, that might be changing, though. We’ll bring you the latest on Little Marco’s troubles later on.
Good news for Trump, after he loses the election he can fall back on a media venture. Bad news, it looks like that media venture will be awful.
Also, did we wake up in 2012? Obamacare suddenly becomes an election issue, after the Department of Health and Human Services releases a report, warning of a sharp rise in insurance premiums.
Plus, AT&T needs all the good press it can get as it tries to convince regulators to OK its buyout of Time Warner. Unfortunately for the company--there’s a new report that the company is conducting mass spying on the American people for hefty profits. Journalist Kevin Lipp is on to talk about it...
And later, a massive scandal in the automotive industry heads towards the home stretch, after a federal judge signed off on a settlement between Volkswagen and car owners who got shafted by the company’s emissions test cheating. That story in a Sludge Report.
The Donald Trump presidential campaign has adopted a singular strategy as of late: accusing the media of rigging the election. But that conspiracy theory falls apart after it’s revealed the campaign was caught partying with members of the media at a Vegas strip club.
Also, a viral video from the nation’s capitol revealed metro police roughing up a teenage girl for carrying a lollipop on the public metro. We have the latest on the incident, and other happenings around the capital, with DCist’s Rachel Kurzius.
And, can we start seriously scrutinizing Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy already, without being accused of supporting Trump? The Washington Post reported that President Obama’s successor is likely going to be left with a big decision on Syria. That story coming up in a classified session.
From Customs and Border Patrol perusing Twitter to the NSA trying to understand how a hoarder compromised security, we’ve got a a chock-full classified session.
Also, A disagreement among labor unions? But in-fighting is so unlike the left! We’ll tell about a schism forming over the Dakota Access Pipeline.
And President Obama has charged more people with espionage than any other president in history, combined. And now he’s adding to his total. Though it doesn’t seem like this one is in trouble for talking to journalists. That story in a classified session.
Finally, who says Class Struggle isn’t fun and games? We’ll be talking about the radical history of board games with Brian Van Slyke, co-founder of the TESA Collective, and author of a recent Truthout article on the subject.
The US media and Clinton supporters are worried about comments GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump made during the debate, suggesting he won’t accept the election results is he loses. The two Sams explain why there’s nothing to fear.
Then, we talk about the latest election drama and all things Nov. 8 with a guy you might know from The Intercept and Twitter dot com: Zaid Jilani.
And it’s Friday. So we do what we always do on Fridays, which is throw someone in the dang garbage can. Will it be a CNN anchor? The Kansas Attorney General? Or the DC Metro Police? The suspense nearly killed us. Honor our sacrifice by finding out who went in the can!
Republicans praising Wikileaks in 2016? What a difference six years make. We’ll explain in a Classified Session.
Also, yes...we’re all looking forward to the end of this godawful election, but a lot of us are also looking forward to the end of this godawful Congress. We take a look ahead at what’s in store in the lame duck session and what the 114 Congress actually accomplished with Jen Briney, the host of the Congressional Dish podcast.
Also, the pundits are all talking about cybersecurity, amid claims about the election. Banking regulators are joining in the general chatter, proposing new rules for the largest banks.
Baseball Hall-of-Famer Curt Schilling announced he would run for US Senate and challenge Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in 2018. He’s likely the first of many to come out of the woodwork seeking to emulate Trump in future elections.
Plus, John Podesta emails published by Wikileaks confirms what we all expected: Hillary Clinton’s campaign is working with a nominally independent pro-Hillary Super PAC. Maplight’s Andrew Perez helped break the story, and he returns the show to discuss.
And, Donald Trump’s feud with the New York Times is now well known. But the paper also has a beef with the Obama administration over the prosecution of an alleged source. That story in a Classified Session.
Trumps has outraged political observers with claims that the election is being rigged by forces working on behalf of his opponent Hillary Clinton. He’s wrong. But in a way, he’s also right, too.
A Wall Street firm, whose CEO has close ties to the Democratic Party, is gearing up exploit a loophole in a Dodd-Frank rule designed to stamp out toxic financial products. We explain in a People’s Bulletin.
Plus, Rachel Kurzius joins us to talk about how Donald Trump has fueled the--quite frankly, bizarre and sad--Men’s Rights movement.
The latest batch of Podesta emails released by WikiLeaks contains a bit of information showing Clinton campaign officials conspiring to whitewash what their candidate actually told banksters behind closed doors.
Elizabeth Warren unloads on one of President Obama’s key regulators, sending a warning to a possible Hillary Clinton administration, about nominees who are too close to Wall Street.
Also, Donald Trump has called for his supporters to keep watch over polling stations in November. That’s troubling, but just as troubling is the fact that the DOJ won’t have anybody keeping watch of our elections this year to make sure everything is on the up and up. Danielle Lang with the Campaign Legal Center joins us to discuss.
And speaking of the DOJ, if they’re actually interested in investigating Wells Fargo, the New York Times gave them some interesting info, about the scope of the account fabrications scandal. That story and Sen. Warren’s ongoing struggle with industry hacks, in our People’s Bulletin.
Several women have come forward alleging GOP nominee Donald Trump sexually abused them, prompting the campaign to go to war with the press.
Also, talk of criminal justice reform and an end to the War on Drugs appears woefully insufficient. How are officials missing the point, in their bid to finally consider addiction a public health crisis? Truthout Editor-in-Chief Maya Schenwar joins us to explain.
And, It’s Friday so we’ll be throwing someone in the Garbage Can today. And, folks, the odor of the can is already wafting into the studio. It’s gonna be a smelly one.
The latest news coming out of John Podesta’s emails, courtesy of Wikileaks, including revelations that could harm the Clinton campaign if it wasn’t running against the complete disaster that is the Trump campaign.
Then, we have a special extended interview with Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, Intercept Co-founding Editor and known dog owner, Glenn Greenwald. The two Sams and Glenn chat about the election, foreign policy, the state of journalism and how we proceed in 2017, when this nightmare ends and the nightmares of tomorrow approach.
Members of Congress were briefed last week on the procedures of replacing a presidential nominee on the top of the ticket, and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is growing more concerned that his majority could be lost in November. We talk to The Week’s Ryan Cooper to sift through the recent GOP wreckage.
Also, no banksters are in jail yet for the role in the 2008 crisis, but the Securities and Exchange Commission released new data this week that could be a bit of a consolation for those of us who really want to see Jamie Dimon in an orange jumpsuit.
Finally, don’t tell the judicial system about the brief, slight lull in the election campaign. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled that the CFPB is structured unconstitutionally. We’ll tell you what that means, later.
The Campaign Legal Center is sounding the alarm over decreasing poll observers, and increasing campaign finance violation by both campaigns.
The Justice Department announced an investigation into Alabama’s prison system, in the wake of the nationwide prison strike that hit the state’s detention facilities--including its staff.
Also, the government has spent roughly a billion dollars a year on public relations, according to a new report. We’ll tell you which department is responsible for the bulk of that spending, though it shouldn’t be too surprising.
And finally, there is another “flash crash” to report--this one on foreign exchange markets. We’ll tell you which currency got pounded (though you might be able to guess).
Heading into the second presidential debate, Donald Trump makes an appeal to a voting bloc of terminally ill Americans.
Also, Some unironically good news about the 2016 election. One quarter of the country looks set to fully legalize marijuana in November. So if you’re bummed about the outcome, at least you can still get stoned.
And we recap the week’s big intelligence news, including what could be a new surveillance program being run out of Yahoo, and the arrest of spy contractor accused of stealing government secrets. Investigative reporter Marcy Wheeler is on to discuss.
Finally, it’s Friday, folks, so that means the Garbage Can is ready….filled to the brim with banana peels, chicken carcases and bags of doo-doo that dog walkers have thrown in. It’s extra stinky this week, and so our candidates. You won’t wanna miss it.
Vice Presidential nominee Mike Pence is receiving high marks after his debate performance Tuesday night, which means he was quite effective at suppressing his own Trump-like extremism.
The Justice Department drops charges against a guy who had been accused of selling arms to Libyan Rebels. Do as I say, not as I do...amirite? We’ll be talking about it in a Classified Session.
Also, there may be a chance for humanity to survive after all. This week the Paris Climate Agreement was ratified in enough countries for it to formally kick into effect. The news comes just as a new report dropped showing just how expensive runaway global warming will be to deal with. It makes the 2008 financial crisis look like pocket change.
And, finally, another rule by the CFPB takes aim at market that has grown by a factor of 60 in under ten years. We’ll explain in our People’s Bulletin how users of prepaid debit cards and services are being protected.
Following last weekend’s New York Times report on Trump’s tax returns, the GOP should be feeling regret for nominating another guy who wants to run the government like a business, but has done a really crummy job at running his own business.
The court system rules in favor of Defense Department secrecy that harkens back to Ronald Reagan’s Dirty Wars in Central America. We’ll explain in a Classified Session.
Also, got some news about former President Bill Clinton. He made some comments that are actually good and correct, but that will undoubtedly give his wife more headaches on the campaign trail. Not the first time, not probably not the last time.
And with the vice presidential debate in the bag, we take a look at the longview, and how Mike Pence has had a long history of flouting pay-to-pay laws, that calls into question his integrity--and his cred as a social conservative. Andrew Perez, an investigative reporter from MapLight.org joins us to explain.
Passage of JASTA triggered a debate about sovereign immunity and Saudi Arabia. Now the Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could affect the sovereign immunity of Native Americans.
Headlines about Deutsche Bank briefly roiled financial markets late last week--they went from troubled by a Bloomberg story, to saved by an AFP wire story, in the span of less than 24 hours. We chat about in today’s People’s Bulletin.
Plus, new polling since last week’s debate has Donald Trump getting creamed in several battleground states. We discuss that, and take a moment to dump on MSNBC’s poll guru, Mr. Chuck Todd.
The DEA is running a confidential sources program that is vulnerable to abuse and fraud. Meanwhile, the FBI has decreased its use of a certain surveillance authority since the Edward Snowden revelations. Those stories in a Classified Session
An update on the status of every American leftist’s favourite Englishman. Jeremy Corbyn won the challenge to his leadership, and we’ll be talking about the Labour Party with British Writer and Journalist, Sam Kriss.
And it’s Friday, so someone is going in the Garbage Can. This week’s edition has a special theme related to the Wells Fargo scam. A Republican Member of the House Financial Services Committee is going in the Can.
An FBI oversight hearing in the House Judiciary Committee was completely derailed by politics as lawmakers put aside pressing criminal justice issues to instead focus on the presidential campaign.
Then Congress makes history by overriding the first veto of the Obama Presidency. Legislation that would make it easier for 9/11 families to sue Saudi Arabia is now law, despite the White House’s objections. That story in a classified session.
And finally, another story on the legislative branch, as it crams in items on the agenda before its campaign recess. Lawmakers look set to avoid a government shutdown by doing what they’ve done best over the past few years: kicking the can down the road for a few weeks.
The two Sams offer their final thoughts on Monday night’s presidential debate, including a discussion about just how wise it is for Clinton surrogate Howard Dean to be accusing Donald Trump of doing cocaine during the debate.
Then, we discuss a story that would almost certainly get ignored, even without the campaign frenzy: the ongoing nationwide prison strike that was launched earlier this month. Alex Friedmann, the managing editor of Prison Legal News, brings us up to speed.
Finally, the government could be headed for another shutdown, as Republicans still refuse to help the residents of Flint. We also discuss how the DEA’s kratom ban could be ruled illegal, because the agency may have not followed proper rulemaking procedures. Plus, a mail surveillance program is questioned by Ron Wyden.
Trump hammered Clinton on Trade, but couldn’t put to rest his birther past. The two Sams offer up a full recap of the first presidential debate.
And, DCist Associate Editor Rachel Kurzius joins us to talk about a move to undo restrictive anti-choice amendments in Congress. She also dissects that now infamous photo of Michelle Obama hugging former President George W. Bush.
Then later, the intelligence community has either seen the light or it’s playing a cruel joke. We’ll inform you of a new policy among spy agencies to honor whistleblowers who speak to truth to power.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are set to square off in the first presidential debate of the election. The two Sams chat with political satirists Lee Camp and John F. O’Donnell from the comedy news show Redacted Tonight, airing on RT America.
Also, a rundown of some big stories that haven’t received enough attention, including a Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling that affirmed what minorities fear about police encounters. And, the latest on whistleblower Chelsea Manning’s conditions in prison.
President Obama has sold more arms to Saudi Arabia than any other president in US history. But some lawmakers are growing wary of the weapons shipments--particularly in light of alleged war crimes being carried out by the Saudi military in Yemen.
Also, Charlotte is just the latest city on edge following the shooting death of another black man at the hands of police. But we take a look at a new effort launched this week to keep the police in check by requiring the community’s approval before certain surveillance technologies are deployed. We speak to the ACLU’s Chad Marlow on the initiative.
And finally, it’s Friday, which means someone is going in our damn disgusting garbage candidates. We got seven nominees for you. Find out who gets punished for delivering the worst take of the week.
Trump proposes eliminating due-process for terror suspects causing liberals to freak out. They seem unaware that other Republicans have pushed this same idea, and the Obama administration has also flirted with it.
Then, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) is setting up a showdown between Congress and the White House. But even if the legislative branch overrides the veto, 9/11 victims don’t seem likely to get justice, under the law. Just Security’s Steve Vladeck joins us to discuss the matter.
And, one Democratic lawmaker has introduced legislation to force the Department of Homeland Security to designate voting machines as “critical infrastructure”--we discuss in a classified session.
Aides of Gov. Chris Christie are on trial this week for their role in the politically-motivated lane closure of the George Washington Bridge, and already Christie has been fingered for his role in the scandal.
Congressional hearings can be boring as hell, but not when Senator after Senator is owning the head of a major bank. We breakdown Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf’s appearance before the Senate Banking Committee.
Finally, the HRC Email story is leading officials to Reddit. Did one of Clinton’s IT staffers use the social networking website to seek advice on data scrubbing? It is a question you can expect from House Republicans in the next few months.
Both President Obama and Hillary Clinton pointed to the US bombing campaign against the Islamic State as a strategy to prevent terrorism stateside. And although their statements were more coherent than the GOP nominee, Donald Trump, they still miss the mark on what’s actually motivating domestic attacks.
Also, DCist’s Rachel Kurzius stops by to discuss dealings in the nation’s capital--including a number of business that have popped up to cater exclusively to the lazy stoner. We also talk life imitating art as a comedy show about politics picks up an Emmy Award.
Donald Trump is trying to put his birther past behind him now that he’s tantalizingly close to winning the White House. The best way to do that might be by starting a new scandal. Also, what should Hillary Clinton do now that she’s losing voters to far-right Libertarian Gary Johnson.
And we report on a bit of good news. Migrant farmworkers in Washington State won recognition of their union last week. We discuss it with Maru Mora Villalpando, communications coordinator of their union, Familias Unidas Por La Justicia.
Finally, John Boehner is loving life right now: drinking wine, chain-smoking cigarettes and taunting his enemies on Twitter for their embarrassing failures. He’ll have less time to do that, however, now that he has taken a job as a tobacco lobbyist. At least he’s practicing what he preaches!
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is demanding that the Department of Justice Inspector General launch an internal investigation into why the DOJ never prosecuted people who were accused of wrongdoing in the run up to the financial meltdown. One of the accused is Bill Clinton’s former Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin.
Then, Wells Fargo could be cruisin’ for a bruisin’. Though the bank settled with the CFPB--for opening 2 million fake accounts, to pad performance numbers--the Justice Department said that it is looking into the matter. And it hasn’t taken criminal prosecution off the table.
Finally, folks, Friday means it’s Garbage Can Day. If you’ve been frustrated by the Clinton campaign’s tendency to react with indignation to credible claims of unethical behavior, you might like this one.
There are reports that Trump doesn’t really want to win the White House. A new examination of his international business dealings around the world, however, does provide one reason why he might want to be victorious in November: to boost his family’s wealth.
Also documents released to The Guardian appear to show Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker engaged in illegal campaign activity. We discuss the matter with the Campaign Legal Center’s Brendan Fischer.
And later, We break down a government watchdog report that has some surprising news about at least one component of the national security state that is shrinking.
Alas, the Two Sams never received their invitation to the preview for Oliver Stone’s Edward Snowden movie. This could be evidence that the US Postal System is broken. Either way, the ACLU of Massachusetts’ Kade Crockford got a sneak peak, and talked to us about this movie--and the related campaign to have Snowden pardoned.
Then, investigative reporter Greg Palast joins us to chat about how Republicans are trying to steal the election--again. Remember Florida 2000? It’s deja vu all over again--all around the country.
Finally, John McCain is mad. While this might not be news, the subject of his anger is: the President is considering separating Cyber Command from the National Security Agency.
The White House issued a formal veto threat against recently-passed legislation that would allow the family of 9/11 victims to sue the government of Saudi Arabia for complicity in the attacks. Also, new reporting shows just active President Obama was in defending the CIA during its battle with the Senate investigators proving the agency’s use of torture.
Then, Rachel Kurzius joins us to talk about Hillary Clinton’s collapse on Sunday, at the memorial service at Ground Zero. Is Clinton’s health now a legitimate campaign issue?
Finally, the Federal Reserve proposes ways for Congress to strengthen oversight of the banking system. Recommendations included the revocation of special ownership privileges for Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. We explain in the People’s Bulletin.
Republicans in Congress are already telegraphing their plans for a Clinton presidency. They will jam up the gears by launching endless investigations into her dealings. We explain why that might, actually, be a good thing.
Then, the Two Sams get caught up on the Iran Deal. Can you blame us for not following it closely, though? It’s been non-story after non-story about the agreement, all year! Foreign Policy Journalist Derek Davison breaks down what has been rattling around the Right-Wing Echo Chamber for us.
Finally, the rise of Wells Fargo, in the past few years, has been upheld as an example of Washington regulators winning the fight against reckless Wall Street firms. Unfortunately for that narrative, the bank was just caught fabricating over 2 million false accounts for customers--a fraud encouraged by compensation packages. Sound familiar?
The man in charging of getting Democrats elected to the Senate, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) is sounding the alarm, claiming that if the election were held today, Republicans would retain their majority. Find out how an influx of oligarch cash may save the GOP in November.
And, the two Sams details a Department of Justice Inspector General report knocking the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for how it conducts certain sting operations.
Finally, “What is Aleppo?” Gary Johnson got roundly mocked for asking that, in response to a policy question on the Syrian Civil War flashpoint. Although he was nominated for our Garbage Can segment for that gaffe, someone else related to the story got the toss. Kick off your shoes and find out who, folks: Friday is Garbage Can Day!
A political contribution GOP nominee Donald Trump made to a Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2013 is receiving scrutiny in the media as charges fly that it was evidence of a quid pro quo.
Then, updates on the fight over the Dakota Access Pipeline: Security Guards sicced dogs on protesters, Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein vandalized some oil company equipment, and a judge stops part of the pipeline ahead of a final decision. Steve Horn joins us again to talk about Republican operatives’ financial ties to the project, and Democrats’ wishy-washiness.
And later we mourn the death of for-profit college giant ITT Tech by predicting which predatory corporation will be the next to shutter. Also, what’s the deal with Conservative Never-Trumpers getting stuck in elevators?
On this episode of "Unanimous Dissent," the two Sams examine the state of the election after Labor Day, and what Congress has on its plate in the waning months of 2016, including trying to avoid a government shutdown.
Then, Prof. Richard Wolff joins the show to discuss Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump’s economic solutions--or the woeful lackthereof. “Trickle-up” is needed, he says, not “trickle down.”
Finally, the Two Sams talk about one of the greatest dunks in Basketball History, and how they were reminded of it by the Twitter reaction to a recent Matt Yglesias’ blog post, entitled “Against Transparency.” Frederic Weis lives!
President Obama last week hailed Lake Tahoe as “sacred” to the Washoe, a nearby American Indian Tribe. So it’s awkward, then, that his administration refusing to back down from approving of the construction of a pipeline that goes through Sioux lands described in the same terms. We discuss the Dakota Access Pipeline in the latest edition of The Sludge Report.
Also, journalist and filmmaker Robbie Martin is on to react to the Drug Enforcement Administration’s decision to list kratom as a Schedule 1 substance--deeming the much safer opioid alternative to be more dangerous than opioid medication that kills thousands of people every year.
Then, we’re joined by the host of a self-described “Anarcho-Comedy show,” Street Fight Radio. We talk to Bryan Quinby about Conservative Facebook, Flat-Earthers, and, sadly, the damn election.
Good news, bad news in the courts. Bad news: medicinal marijuana users don’t have Second Amendment rights. Good News: Scalia being dead means North Carolina’ Voter ID law will remain voided.
Also, Americans’ hopes of an alternative to ISP conglomerates took a blow this month, after a federal appeals court ruled against an FCC municipal broadband initiative, and then commission said it wouldn’t appeal. Chris Mitchell, the Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self Reliance explains to discuss the issue.
And, it’s Friday, which means someone is going in the Garbage Can. Those vying for the dishonorable tossing include the Bloomberg Editorial Board, NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, and the Federal Elections Commission.
More hacked documents from within the Democratic Party were released by Guccifer 2.0. The latest batch includes a memo informing Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) staff how to handle the Black Lives Matter movement. Depressingly, it informs staff to not endorse any specific policy situations called for by the civil rights group.
And Americans view labor unions more positively. That’s good news for non-union workers who, according to a study, would see their pay increase if more Americans were unionized. We talk with one of the co-authors of that study, Washington University Sociologist Jake Rosenfeld.
Finally, the Fifteenth anniversary of 9/11 is around the corner. And--just in time for it--President Obama extended the State of Emergency declared by George W. Bush in September 2001. We discuss the extension in a Classified Session.
Hillary Clinton’s bid to paint Donald Trump as a unique evil already appears to be paying off….for Republicans. The Sams take a look at the Democrats’ chances of taking back the Senate, in the wake of Clinton’s “Alt-Right Speech.”
Then, the FCC recently announced that it won’t be changing rules governing media ownership. While industry lobbyists decried the move, activists, too, had criticism of the FCC--for not analyzing the impact of rules on minority media ownership. Jessica Gonzalez from the National Hispanic Media Coalition joins us to discuss.
Also, the FBI Director noted that the encryption debate has been put on ice until next year. And, a federal immigration agency is being sued for violating FOIA laws. Those stories coming up in a Classified Session.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is catching a lot of flack for his decision to not stand for the national anthem ahead of a recent preseason game. The two Sam’s defend the footballer, pointing out how creepy and vapid the nationalist recitations are anyway.
Also, an extended People’s Bulletin to breakdown the latest news on Mylan, the Department of Homeland Security’s review of private prisons, and the downfall of another for-profit college.
And later, there are, actually, a few shreds of good news in the latest Anthony Weiner sexting scandal. Find out what they are in Devil’s Advocate.
Although Hillary Clinton supporters made the case during the primary that she’d be the best candidate to help down-ballot Democrats retake the House and the Senate, leaked emails showes her campaign isn’t living up to that promise.
Then, the two Sams have an extended conversation about the Clinton Foundation with the International Business Times’ David Sirota.
David has done extensive investigative reporting on the foundation. We talk about the inherent conflict of interest, the idea that a “quid-pro-quo” must be demonstrated for this story to be newsworthy, and liberal pundits tacit defense of “Citizens United” in their ho-humming over the Foundation.
Hillary Clinton addressed the fringe, internet-based ideology known as the “Alt-Right” in a speech Thursday, but does she run the risk of actually promoting the group’s retrograde ideology? Also, by attaching Trump to the Alt-Right, Clinton may actually be giving cover to traditional Republicans who’ve also peddled the same garbage.
Also, the TPP looks dead! For now. We talk about what Mitch McConnell said on Thursday about the agreement and the Lame Duck Session.
Then, Conservative Review’s Brian Darling joins us to make the argument that Trump is actually running for president, and not just positioning himself to launch a media enterprise or fatten his bank account. We’ll see about that.
And finally, what better use of newly-unfrozen waters in fragile arctic territory than a luxury cruise? We talk about the opening of the Northwest Passage, in the Sludge Report. Then, it’s Friday, so we throw someone in the garbage can.
The Clinton campaign is instructing fundraisers to tap into donor networks associated with failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Of course, one reason GOP donors may be reluctant to give to Trump at this point is because he appears to be running his campaign solely to increase his own personal wealth.
Then Stefan Borst-Censullo, a.k.a. The Weed Lawyer, joins us to talk about the state of the marijuana gray market in the US, the DEA’s decision not to re-schedule, and the situation in his home state, California. Puff, puff, pass, y’all!
And later, environmental groups say that Florida can’t be trusted to ensure its drinking water is safe. I guess that could explain the whole “Florida Man” phenomenon.
An investigation by the Associated Press finds that more than half the people representing private interests that Hillary Clinton met with as Secretary of State were donors to the Clinton Foundation, raising more pay-for-access allegations. Also, Trump is busy making money off his own presidential campaign.
Bad news about the healthcare system keeps rolling. The life-saving drug Epipen now costs more than four times what it did in 2008, and lawmakers aren’t happy.
And North Dakota is currently the site of a major environmental protest. But if the Governor had his way, it might also be the site of a confrontation between Native American protesters and the federal government. We explain in our Sludge Report.
Evidence is mounting that Donald Trump really isn’t interested in winning the White House. What does he really want then? To build a media empire.
Also, Uber enticed drivers to join them and become independent contractors. But the sharing economy giant has other plans for its workforce now, and invisible hands might soon drive Uber cars. DCist’s Rachel Kurzius breaks it down.
And finally, the insurance landscape is becoming more clear, following the decision by Aetna to pull out of 11 state exchanges. That, plus a separate piece of healthcare news that has captured the attention of Bernie Sanders, in our People’s Bulletin.
Donald Trump’s campaign is a mess, illegally soliciting funds from foreign lawmakers. Meanwhile, foreign donations are flowing to SuperPACs, despite Republicans’ prior claims about the impact of Citizens United. So it’s good that the FEC is taking action...by cracking down on fake candidates like Deez Nuts and Harambe.
Then, we take a break from the Presidential Race to talk to Arn Menconi, running for US Senate in Colorado as a member of the Green Party. He talks about his David vs. Goliath struggle, and explains why this could be the year for a Third Party to make waves.
And finally, a whistleblower exposes the sorry state of the SEC by refusing millions he was entitled to for tipping off the commission about Deutsche Bank fraud. We take a spin through the revolving door to discuss this story in our People’s Bulletin.
Bad day Thursday, if you were an investor in private prisons. The Justice Department said that it is looking to phase-out the use of for-profit correctional facilities. Will it make a dent in the prison industrial complex? Either way, prison corporations saw their stocks plummet and we’re loving it.
Also, Breitbart political report Neil McCabe is in studio to discuss what’s next for the Trump campaign after the leadership team shake up this week.
And, Electronic Intifada’s Rania Khalek joins us to talk NeoMcCarythism, and then sticks around to throw someone in the garbage can.
The neocons are poised to have their “best year ever” (since George W. Bush left office, at least). The two Sam’s discuss Hillary Clinton’s rehabilitation of the prominent neocons, and the GOP primary victory Tuesday night for Liz Cheney in Wyoming, which all but assures there will be another Cheney serving in Congress next year.
Plus, Aetna was caught lying. The company’s claims, about not pulling out of Obamacare as retaliation against the Justice Department, can’t withstand the 24 hour news cycle. We explain that and other stories in the latest edition of The People’s Bulletin: Economic news for the 99 percent.
And some of the NSA’s most-prized hacking tools have wound up on the internet. What does the leak say about the spy agency’s ability to keep its own secrets?
The Trump campaign claims that it isn’t illegally soliciting donations from parliamentarian in Australia and England--it swears that it’s being victimized by “scammers.” Who is dumb enough to believe that and does it matter?
And, The Week’s National Correspondent Ryan Cooper joins us in studio to breakdown what’s driving Donald Trump’s support--beyond all the nasty racism and xenophobia and stuff.
Then, a major insurance giant throws coverage for hundreds of thousands of Americans into disarray. Bernie we need you and are still thinking about you, baby. We long for healthcare as a right.
The New York Times reported that Paul Manafort received $12.7 million in payments from former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich. Clinton allies are saying this proves Manafort was an agent of the Kremlin. So why aren’t they saying the same thing about Tony Podesta?
And Rachel Kurzius joins us to talk about an entrepreneur testing the waters of Washington DC, after it rolled back marijuana prohibition last year. We discuss how his new commodity could help congressional staffers get lifted on slow work days.
Also, Members of Congress are questioning US support for Saudi Arabia’s bombing campaign in Yemen, which has killed thousands of civilians. In our Classified Session, we discuss charges that the Saudi kingdom is engaged in war crimes.
Hillary Clinton releases her tax returns putting more pressure on her GOP opponent to do the same. But Donald Trump might actually have bigger problems--his supporters are dropping like flies. The two Sams examine a report showing that people who supported Trump in the primary are very much having second thoughts now during the general.
Financial reform might be off the agenda, in the general election battle between a Fake Populist and a Wall Street Ally. But we’re still worried about financialization, so we brought on journalist and author David Dayen to talk about two pieces he recently wrote for The Intercept.
And, President Obama hasn’t given up on passing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, despite the deal getting beaten up pretty badly on the campaign trail. We’ll talk about the White House latest maneuvering to pass the trade deal in our People’s Bulletin.
Remember a couple of months ago when Hillary was calling herself a progressive? Now she’s trying to get conservative support at the “grassroots.” Time makes fools of us all--but especially the liberal hacks, who were fully on the Clinton Progressive Train, and are now silent about her rightward tack.
And a new Department of Justice Inspector General report finds that private prisons are less safe and less secure than their government-run counterparts. We speak with activist and author James Kilgore on the problems with for-profit incarceration and the broader social ill of mass incarceration.
Finally, the Two Sams discuss the latest report on intelligence doctoring to paint the war against the Islamic State in a more positive light. This time, the investigation came from Congress. And, it’s Friday, so we throw someone in the Garbage Can.
The Department of Justice released a scathing report on Baltimore police tactics, finding gross violations of individuals constitutional rights. The two Sams break down the DOJ’s grim findings.
Then, the LA Times veteran Brazil correspondent Vincent Bevins joined us. We talk about what it’s like being in Rio during the Olympics--especially given the ongoing political scandal, involving Dilma Rouseff, Michel Temer, and, now….Bernie Freakin’ Sanders!
And, we still give a damn about Hillary Clinton’s emails. Newly released correspondences reveal what could be improper favors doled out to donors and officials within the Clinton Foundation while Clinton served as Secretary of State. We discuss it in a classified session.
New numbers are out showing how much the presidential campaigns have spent on ads so far during the general election. And in what is perhaps the oddest statistic of the election, the Trump campaign has spent zero dollars. Yes, he’s currently being outspent on ads by both the Green Party and Libertarian Party’s candidates.
And there was another disturbing revelation about the FBI’s activities leading up to last year’s failed terrorist attack in Garland, Texas. The Intercept’s Murtaza Hussein called into the show to tell us what he found out.
Finally, foreign policy has led to a pair of outcries about US posture toward Yemen and Brazil--and no, we’re not talking about Michael Phelps’ cup marks.
Trump talked up his economic agenda, and boy does it sound like the same sludge that House Republicans have peddled for years. Despite that, the Never Trumpers are back and have a new spoiler candidate to run in November.
Also, with the election season in full-swing, it’s time for bizarre political ads. One GOP Gubernatorial candidate in Missouri has already set the bar pretty high. The DCist’s Rachel Kurzius is on to break it all down.
And speaking of economic agenda, the Washington Post revealed how Hillary’s senate record should raise a few questions about her ties and credibility. We discuss in our People’s Bulletin.
Thanks to a Freedom of Information Act request by the ACLU, the public has more insight into exactly what the FBI was up to last year when it was flying spy planes over Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray. The two Sam’s break down what’s inside more than 18 hours of newly-released surveillance footage taken over the city.
Also, former Bush officials are lining up to support Hillary Clinton. Lifelong CIA operative Michael Morell endorsed Hillary Clinton last week, praising her foreign policy credentials. Journalist Robbie Martin joins us to discuss why Bush’s war architects are flocking to the Clinton campaign.
And then, the Conservative Review’s John Gray stops by to talk about Trump’s awful week. Can the real estate mogul get his act together, or should the GOP find someone else to lead the ticket?
The news media is now focused on one thing and one thing alone this election: GOP nominee Donald Trump. And the lack of attention on the Democratic candidate is providing cover for Hillary Clinton to behave in ways that might make her voter base uncomfortable, like hitting up fundraisers with fracking magnates.
Then, the killing of Korryn Gaines has brought renewed scrutiny to police tactics--especially in light of the fact that Facebook shut off a livestream of the standoff that led to her death. Journalist Kenneth Lipp joins us to discuss.
And reporter Brendan James stops by to talk about Cindy Sheehan, a Gold Star mom who was abandoned by the Democratic Party after she spoke out against the war in Iraq. Brendan also sticks around to throw someone in the garbage can!
Recent comments by Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson suggest that the department may soon classify our nation’s election systems as “critical infrastructure.” It would allow the federal government to provide enhanced cybersecurity assistance. The two Sam’s ask, “What the hell took so long?”
Then, we bring you an update on the status of Chelsea Manning. The Army whistleblower has been callously threatened with more punishment, after attempting suicide. Evan Greer, Fight for the Future Campaign Manager and friend of Chelsea, joins us to discuss.
And, the host of the radio show By Any Means Necessary, Eugene Puryear, stops by to discuss the intra-left wars triggered by the grueling Democratic Primary, and where the Left should go now that Hillary Clinton is the nominee.
Although one Republican member of the House is ditching Trump and supporting Hillary Clinton in November, the Donald still has a firm grasp on most of the rest of the GOP. That’s because he’s not some unique force within the Republican Party, but actually a product of it.
Also Will Menaker, the final third of Chapo Trap House, graced us with his vast knowledge of cinema. He let’s us know what movies you should watch if you’re struggling to make sense of 2016.
And later, the two Sam’s give a shout-out to Rep. Barbara Lee who’s taken her consistent anti-war message and applied it to the recent airstrikes in Libya. Also, the climate receives its annual report card--and it’s not good.
Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton reminded voters last weekend why they are the least popular candidates in modern history. And the New York Times reaffirmed that point, reporting that only 9 percent of the country actually voted for them in the Primary. We hash things out at the top of the show.
Then, global warming is already affecting Washington DC in demonstrable ways. DCist Associate Editor Rachel Kurzius joins to discuss our rapidly growing “Mosquito Seasons,” the freak rainstorm in Ellicott City, Md. that killed two people, and sweltering conditions inside of DC jails.
Finally, corporate lobbyists are pushing President Obama’s Net Neutrality initiative closer to the Supreme Court. And although the withdrawal timetable keeps getting pushed back and although 2016 seems to be driving everyone mad, the Pentagon isn’t keen on drumming up the threat of ISIS in Afghanistan. Nice!
The Two Sams come to terms with the General Election. Better the devil you know than the slightly more fascist devil you don’t. We discuss.
And, despite support for the TPP waning in Congress and on the campaign trail, the Obama administration is still pushing for the sweeping trade deal. We’ll break down the US Trade Representative's latest appeals.
And later cops are also using Pokemon Go to catch them all...criminals that is. Find out more on the latest honey trap by police to catch people with outstanding warrants.
The Democrats wrapped up their convention in Philadelphia, and they ended things by making a naked appeal to the center. We discuss the wretched cast of characters that the DNC featured for this play.
Also, Sam Knight chats with journalist Abby Martin, who was in Philly and arrested trying to cover a protest.
And later, we give a shout out to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for cracking down on debt collectors. And since it’s Friday, we throw someone in the dang garbage can--a special DNC tweets-themed edition.
While the #DNCleak is still being investigated, Trump gave the pundits a gift on a silver platter, when he asked Russia to hack Hillary Clinton. We sift through the mess.
And picking up on our coverage of the DNC in Philadelphia, we hear from journalist Emmett Rensin about just how divided the convention hall is, and demonstrations from Bernie Sanders supporters outside.
Also later, a federal court rules that it’s cool with the FBI placing bugs outside courthouses, but could that implicate attorney-client privileges in the US. Also, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said something stupid, and the Clinton campaign is trying to put out the flames.
The #DNCleak continues to raise questions about improper behavior at the DNC. The latest focus is on how DNC staffers stonewalled reporters who were trying to uncover if the committee and the Clinton campaign were flouting campaign finance laws.
Also, the Democratic Convention in Philly has been described as a logistical nightmare. We talk to Felix Biederman from Chapo Trap House about what it’s like on the ground in the city of Brotherly Love. He also discusses the “birth” of his child, Carl Diggler--”Love that boy.”
Then, the Two Sams discuss how Brexit has impacted President Obama’s trade agenda, and an impending fine for Goldman Sachs. Plus, the EPA finally decides that airplane emissions count, too.
DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz is run out of the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia following more revelations from the Wikileaks email dump. Meanwhile, Clinton supporters want to focus less on the emails, and more on potential foreign influence in US elections.
And, The DCist’s Rachel Kurzius is back to talk talk about Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who was chosen to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate. His spotty record on reproductive rights could leave some women worried.
And finally, the Two Sams take a wider look at Wikileaks. The organization isn’t without fault, by any means, but the US government’s rough treatment of Wikileaks is awful. And it colors the reaction to DNCLeaks.
Just ahead of this week’s Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Wikileaks released a trove of internal DNC emails. The two Sams breakdown what’s in them: including plans to attack Bernie Sanders, Cozy relations with MSNBC, and close ties with lobbyists.
And in the wake of and Donald Trump’s “Law and Order” convention, expect conservatives in Congress to get behind an effort to make attacks on cops a hate crime. Journalist Kenneth Lipp discusses.
Also, some news that the political conventions have pushed to the back pages, including a potential Senate run for white supremacist David Duke and new statistics about how many undocumented immigrants in the US are still facing deportation.
We take a look back at the RNC. Special thanks to Ted Cruz for the laughs.
And helping us recap everything that went down, we’re joined by a member of the Chapo Trap House podcast, Matt Christman. Matt spent the week in Cleveland and tells us all about it
Plus, in the People’s Bulletin we examine recent trust-busting actions by President Obama. And since it’s Friday, the two Sams throw someone in the garbage can.
The GOP nominee who loves to fire people is reportedly compiling an enemies list, and considering asking Congress to pass legislation so that, should he win the White House, he’ll be able to fire government employees hired under President Obama a lot easier. Seems like Trump is channeling his inner Erdogan.
And Robbie Martin stops in the studio to talk about his new movie: A Very Heavy Agenda, which documents the Neoconservative fall from grace--and their ploy to reclaim power with the help of the Democrats.
Finally, the two Sams discuss the scourge of trolling (patent trolling) in a conversation that includes the word “teledildonics.”
The Republican Convention is underway. While the overt racism was expected, the Michelle Obama plagiarism wasn’t. We hack through it, and also discuss Donald Trump’s legally questionably campaign financing.
Also, anti-fracking activists are just trying to save the planet by limiting how many fossil fuels are ripped out of the ground. So then why is the government conducting surveillance on them? Environmental Journalist Steve Horn is on to explain.
And later, an extended classified session to talk about baseball and computer hacking, and a tin-foil hat plan to monitor a foreign news outlets for secret messages from Osama bin Laden.
Following the failed coup attempt in Turkey, the US is dealing with some thorny foreign policy questions. The two Sams examine one posited by journalist Glenn Greenwald: Can Turkey drones the man they allege was behind in the coup, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania?
And, the DCist’s Rachel Kurzius is on the show to talk about domain-squatting and the 2016 election. Find out how you can get rich by purchasing political website addresses.
Finally, the Two Sams hash through more of the reaction to the release of the 28 pages of the 9/11 Commission Report--on allegations of Saudi involvement in the attacks. Most of Washington wasn’t prepared for the Friday News Dump.
Following last week’s attack on Nice, France, the two Sam’s highlight some particularly awful comments made by Newt Gingrich, a guy once considered to be Donald Trump’s VP pick.
Also, the ACLU’s Kade Crockford joins in to breakdown a crucial federal court ruling that could limit how police use cell phone surveillance technology.
And later, author and activist David Swanson takes on the legality of President Obama’s war against the Islamic State, and what the American people have learned about 9/11 following the release of a classified annex from the official Congressional report on the attacks.
Trump is reportedly picking Mike Pence as his running mate--a decision that is not very Trump-esque. The two Sam’s try to break down what exactly the Donald is trying to accomplish with the pick.
Also, Breitbart Political Correspondent Neil McCabe comes behind enemy lines to give us a preview of next week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Then, the Obama administration said it would soon allow the release of the 28 Pages--the classified section of the 9/11 Commission Report that could raise questions about official Saudi involvement. We go into a Classified Session to explain.
Bernie Sanders supporters are finding their own ways of coping with seeing their candidate endorse Hillary Clinton. One group is planning to digest it all by eating a lot of beans and stinking up the convention. With Farts. Ugh.
Then, the Two Sams add a third Sam to the mix. Sam Kriss, a UK-based freelance journalist joins us to talk about the post-Brexit dust settling. We chat about the new British PM, Theresa May, and Jeremy Corbyn’s future.
And later, an extended classified session to talk about a brand new government surveillance program set to be “fully operational” at the end of the year, and a federal court ruling that could ground one of police’s favorite spy tools.
There is no joy in Bernie-ville, the mighty Sanders has endorsed Hillary Clinton. The two Sams break down the maneuvering that went into Tuesday’s unity rally for Democrats, and talk with writer and activist Jesse Myerson about where the Sanders revolution goes from here.
Also, a new report from Congressional Republicans suggests that former Attorney General Eric Holder lied to Congress about why the DOJ didn’t prosecute a notorious mega-bank. It’s yet another story of elites getting off easy for their crimes.
And finally, Senators are still beefing with the State Department over the release of the annual Trafficking in Persons report. We break down the latest on the situation in Malaysia.
It appears the police have learned nothing since Ferguson. In reaction to peaceful protests in response to the death of Alton Sterling over the weekend, Baton Rouge cops militarized and took over the streets like an occupying army. Why are lawmakers silent about the most recent show of excessive force?
Then, we have a riveting discussion about--what else?--Pokemon Go. The game has swept the country by storm, and portends possible changes for the way we view public space and data security. Rachel Kurzius and Connor Southard join us for a Pokemon Master round table.
And, the Obama administration announced the deployment of an additional 560 troops to Iraq. In a classified session, the two Sams examine increasing troop levels abroad and a dwindling Guantanamo population.
Americans witnessed acts of traumatic violence this week: two killings of innocent black men by police officers, caught on video, and the fatal mass shooting of Dallas cops, during a demonstration against police impunity. Global Grind's Brittany Lewis helps us try to put the events in context.
Then, The Donald clashed with members of the #NeverTrump movement on Capitol Hill, and came out of the tussle looking incompetent as hell. We explain, and discuss the ongoing GOP power struggle.
And we discuss why the Obama administration's new finalized rules on Arctic Drilling are getting something of a chilly reception from environmentalists.
James Comey’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee on the Hillary Clinton email scandal left us with more questions than answers. One thing is for sure, though: the Clinton Campaign should be worried.
Then, Bernie Sanders called on the big banks to be broken up. Alexis Goldstein joins us to talk about how that process is, kind of, underway. We also chat about House Republicans’ efforts this week to stop recent regulations proposed to safeguard financial consumers.
And later, we explain how Democrats are co-opting the GMO-labeling movement by supporting legislation that would hide GMO labeling behind complex digital codes. Oh, and at the end of the show, someone gets thrown in the garbage can.
The Department of Justice has opened a probe into the death of Alton Sterling, who was killed by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana this week. The two Sams discuss how Congress could do a lot more to pass measures to crack down on trigger-happy cops.
Also, The Intercept’s Lee Fang joined us to talk about 2016, and the many ways through which corporations try to get their way in Washington.
And, Hillary Clinton released a plan on college debt that isn’t a total joke. We chat to progressive journalist Paul Blest about it. Plus, the latest on troop withdrawals in Afghanistan--or lack thereof.
The FBI has recommended that Hillary Clinton face no charges stemming from her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State. The two Sams explain why this decision won’t sit well with whistleblowers and others who’ve leaked classified information.
The Obama administration approved of hundreds of offshore fracking permits in the Gulf of Mexico between 2010-2014, despite the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Truthout’s Mike Ludwig broke the story. He joined us to talk about the situation..
And finally, there’s a lot of speculation about who Donald Trump might pick as his Vice Presidential nominee. In the Devil’s Advocate segment, the Sams explain why all the top candidates would make good choices, actually.
The State Department is seeking to delay the release of a batch of emails from Hillary Clinton’s tenure that could reveal a conflict of interest that benefited the Clinton Foundation. The two Sam’s run down the list of other records waiting to see the light of day before the upcoming general election.
Also, details about National Security Letters just hit the public domain. We talked to Alison Macrina, Library Freedom Project Director and Tor Project member, to discuss the latest in surveillance news.
And the White House is no longer returning the calls of a prominent former senator who wants a classified chapter of the 9/11 Commission Report made public.
In this episode, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson testified before the Senate and displays a shocking lack of knowledge on the government’s terror watch lists. The two Sams explain why this doesn’t bode well for the Democrats’ latest gun control proposals.
Also, the State Department released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report, and it’s hoping to avoid the same controversy and charges of politicization that plagued the report last year.
Finally, Ryan Cooper, a columnist at The Week is on to talk about the complicated relationship the US has with its own antitrust laws. Plus, at the end of the show, someone gets thrown in the garbage can.
In this episode, Hillary Clinton’s ongoing FBI investigation is preventing her campaign from hitting Donald Trump on his many transgressions. Should Democrats be experiencing buyer’s remorse? Plus, the two Sams discuss the possibility of a Puerto Rexit.
Also, a new study shows that Washington, DC local politics are dominated by rich, white people. The author of that report, Sean McElwee, a policy analyst at Demos Action, is on to talk about unequal influence in the nation’s capital and all around the country.
And, Ted Cruz gives Trump a run for his money in the race to be the most Islamophobic politician in the US. Imraan Siddiqui, CAIR Arizona’s Executive Director comes on to discuss a conspiracy-mongering congressional hearing held earlier this week by Cruz.
As the two most unpopular candidates for president in American history get set to square off, the two Sam’s wonder what the country did to deserve such weak choices.
Also, International Business Times reporter Brendan James stops by to discuss the latest Never Trumpers, including a former bigwig Republican who has turned toward Hillary Clinton. Should Democrats worry about warmongers and corporatists supporting their candidate?
And finally, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) is taking a stand against Senators who want to expand the surveillance power of the NSA. He claims a certain measure under consideration in the upper chamber would allow the feds to spy on our thoughts.
In this episode, the two Sams take a look at how the Democratic Party platform is coming together, and how Bernie Sanders is trying to drag the party to the left.
Also the Supreme Court struck down a Texas anti-abortion law. Associate Editor at the DCist Rachel Kurzius explains what this means for womens’ access to reproductive health services.
The Unanimous Dissent team also tackles the Puerto Rico debt crisis, stolen CIA arms shipments, and the corporatization of the US National Park Service.
In today’s episode, Sam Sacks and Sam Knight digest what just happened with the Brexit vote in the UK. Economist Mark Weisbrot with the Center for Economic and Policy Research joins in to offer some insight on what lies ahead.
Questions linger over what sort of interactions the FBI had with Orlando mass shooter Omar Mateen. Author and journalist Max Blumenthal is on to discuss the bureau’s counter-terror tactics, and speculate whether agents may have helped radicalize Mateen.
And finally, Democrats staged a 25-hour sit-in last week to get a vote on gun control. But have they undercut their efforts by hitching their proposals to secret terrorist watch-lists? There used to be a time when Democrats opposed the trappings of the national security state, when George W. Bush was president.