Guest: John Nichols, The Nation

Unionized Kellogg's workers approved a new contract after a lengthy strike. The Nation's John Nichols explains how workers achieved several labor victories this year, and legislation boosting workers' rights pending in Congress. Nichols also discusses his new article on the FBI's weird scrutiny of the holiday classic, 'It's a Wonderful Life,' Sen. Joe Manchin's betrayal of Biden's Build Back Better Act, and much more. Trump gets caught doing the right thing on COVID vaccines. Exxon squeezes in one last disaster before year's end. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Heather 'Digby' Parton, Salon

The House Select Committee investigating the Jan.6 Capitol Insurrection is reportedly shifting focus to criminal offenses, and seeking testimony from far right House Republicans, including key Trump ally Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). The Wall Street Journal reports the U.S. economy is booming by all measures - yet the corporate media is downplaying or ignoring positive economic news. Opinion columnist Heather 'Digby' Parton offers incisive analysis on this tumultuous year, the corporate media's unbalanced coverage, accountability for Trump and his friends, the future of Biden's agenda, and a look ahead to the political landscape in 2022...

United Mine Workers union calls on Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) to support miners in Coal Country by voting for Biden's Build Back Better Act, but Manchin seems to care more about his coal profits. The highly transmissible Omicron variant is now the dominant variant in the US, and is already overwhelming hospitals. Even Donald Trump got a vaccine booster (secretly, of course). President Biden outlined steps the federal government is now taking to combat the Omicron surge, reiterating the need for everyone eligible to get vaccinated ASAP. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

CDC says theOmicron variant of COVID now dominates all new US infections, with guidance how to assess the changing risk profile of COVID and keep your family safe over the holidays. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) dropped bombshell, saying he won't support Biden's historic Build Back Better Act, with limp justifications about 'cost' repeatedly debunked by economists. Donald Trump sues NY Attorney General to delay corruption investigation into his company. Lively callers weigh in all of the above.

Guest: Marilyn Marks, Coalition For Good Governance

GOP dirty-trickster Roger Stone invokes his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination to House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. Judge rejects bid by Fox 'News' to dismiss $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. In Georgia, judge allows 8 lawsuits to proceed brought by voting and civil rights groups challenging the state's draconian SB202 voter suppression law. Coalition For Good Governance's Marilyn Marks explains those lawsuits and another challenging SB202's provisions blocking press freedom (Brad is a plaintiff, representing media) and allowing election subversion, along with new developments in several lawsuits defending non-partisan election administration and security.

The CDC says vaccines + boosters provide the best protection against the fast-spreading Omicron variant. New data suggests the US will see a massive surge of new COVID infections and hospitalizations in 2-4 weeks, engulfing the already-overwhelmed healthcare system. Sen. Elizabeth Warren pens blistering op-ed making the case for re-balancing the GOP's stolen and packed US Supreme Court to protect basic liberties. CA Gov. Newsom proposes gun law to test SCOTUS ruling allowing an unconstitutional Texas anti-abortion law to evade judicial review, and NY State may follow suit. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

Guest: Helen Butler, Former GA election official

Helen Butler, voting rights expert and recently purged county election official, explains how Georgia Republicans are systematically removing black Democratic election officials from formerly bipartisan county election boards and replacing them with white Republican majorities. Butler details chilling maneuvers underway by GA Republicans to 'control the outcome of all elections' in the state and all aspects of government just in time for the crucial 2022 midterm elections. Butler also details, with infectious optimism, specific actions that every citizen can take to protect voting rights and free and fair elections in every community. Plus: Astute comments from our listeners...

Guest: Ron Fein, Legal Director, Free Speech For People

House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6th Capitol attack released a treasure trove of text messages revealing more 'evidence' of Trump's 'supreme dereliction of duty,' exposing the involvement of GOP officials, Fox 'News' personalities, and more, and referred Trump's former Chief of Staff Meadows for criminal contempt charges. RON FEIN of good government group Free Speech For People explains their new lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission for failing to act on a complaint alleging multiple campaign finance violations by the Trump Campaign, how to reform the dysfunctional FEC, and US Attorney General Garland's inertia. Judge again rejects Trump's bid to block release of his tax returns. Plus Desi Doyen has our latest 'Green News Report.'

The latest on the massive, deadly tornado outbreak that struck 6 states, and the influence of climate change. New 'smoking gun' document spells out the road map of the criminal conspiracy launched by Donald Trump and his minions to steal the 2020 election from the American people. We debunk the false, assertions in the document that was turned over by Trump's former White House Chief of Staff to the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Also: CA reinstates indoor mask mandate.

Guest: Diane Archer of JustCareUSA.org, Medicare expert

Guest host Nicole Sandler welcomes Diane Archer of JustCareUSA.org to tell us everything we need to know about Medicare, Medicare Advantage and the new privatization scheme known as direct contracting.