Rick Smith welcomes Rutgers lecturer Mark Weber, who analyzes Oklahoma superintendent Ryan Walters’ dramatic push to put Turning Point USA chapters in every school—a move hailed as a major MAGA initiative but fraught with controversy over politicizing education in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s death. Weber highlights resistance from local educators and questions the long-term impact. Brent Booker, president of LIUNA, joins to discuss the Revolution Wind decision and its importance for union labor, environmental standards, and job creation, illustrating ongoing fights for worker rights and the complex future of American infrastructure.

 

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Rick Smith sits down with Stuart Appelbaum, president of RWDSU, to unpack the impact of President Trump’s inflationary spiral and flawed tariff policy on working families. Appelbaum addresses the White House’s latest anti-labor moves and highlights how solidarity helped return Jimmy Kimmel to late-night TV. Rick reflects on Trump, the “unitarian executive” racing toward unprecedented attacks on independent agencies. Rick calls for urgent action to defending democracy, worker rights, and unity as workers faces constant political and economic challenges in a divided America.

 

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Rick Smith talks with Raw Story’s Sarah Burris about the packed, emotional Kirk memorial, where conservatives, led by President Trump, hailed Charlie Kirk as a martyr and vowed to carry his work forward. Burris explores the right’s push to make Kirk an enduring symbol of their movement. Then, Randi Weingarten, president of AFT, joins to discuss her new book “Why Fascists Fear Teachers: Public Education and the Future of Democracy,” highlighting education’s crucial role in defending democracy, and why organized educators remain a thorn in the side of authoritarian politics.

 

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Rick is joined by Jon Schleuss, President of The NewsGuild-CWA, and Matthew Cunningham-Cook, reporter with the Center for Media and Democracy, to examine the Trump administration’s ongoing assault on journalism and the free press. Schleuss highlights the heightened threats facing reporters, the erosion of press freedoms, and the dangers posed to democracy when truth-tellers are targeted. Cunningham-Cook digs into the coordinated efforts to delegitimize journalists, silence watchdogs, and shield power from accountability. Together, they discuss why defending a free and independent press is critical in this moment, and how citizens can push back against this authoritarian trend.

 

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Rick speaks with Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, about Trump allies exploiting Charlie Kirk’s murder to silence dissent and weaponize grief against perceived enemies. Alex unpacks how this moment reveals the right’s broader strategy to intimidate opposition while avoiding accountability. Later, Pennsylvania State Representative Napoleon Nelson, Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, joins to discuss the caucus’s stance on lowering flags in Kirk’s honor. Nelson explains the nuanced position of balancing respect for tragedy with the responsibility to honor shared civic values. Together, these conversations expose the politics behind mourning and manipulation.

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On today’s Rick Smith Show, Rick covers the top stories affecting working people, exposing political and economic challenges in real time. With expert guests and direct, honest analysis, Rick highlights major headlines often neglected by corporate media. The show gives working-class listeners the news and perspective they need to navigate complex issues and fight for their rights.

 

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On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick calls for refocusing the conversation on a working-class message as mainstream media fixates on division, especially in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder. Will Rice, Policy Consultant with Americans for Tax Fairness, joins to break down the coming introduction of the Billionaire Income Tax Act and what it means for economic fairness. Later, Sara Steffens, Worker Power Director at the Progressive Caucus Action Fund, discusses strategies for building worker power, strengthening organizing, and ensuring working people, not billionaires or corporations, drive the nation’s economic and political future in this turbulent and divided moment.

 

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On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick explores the fallout from the death of Charlie Kirk and how the reaction is shaping discourse across America’s college campuses. Raw Story reporter Sarah Burris joins to discuss the media narratives and the political exploitation surrounding the tragedy. Bucknell University Professor Matias Vernengo provides perspective on how campuses, already battlegrounds for freedom of speech and rising extremism, are responding to the polarization and grief. Together, they unpack what this moment reveals about the intersection of politics, higher education, and the ongoing struggle for open dialogue in a divided nation.

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On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick reflects on the shocking tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s murder and how moments of violence deepen America’s divides. He shares memories of 9/11, recalling the horror of that day and how the aftermath reshaped the nation, fueling extremism and pushing the country down a darker path. Rick also opens up about the approaching anniversary of his wife’s near-fatal motorcycle accident, recounting the terrifying moment after the crash and the incredible compassion of the community who rallied to help, ultimately saving her life and reminding us of the power of shared humanity.

 

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On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick digs into the latest jobs numbers revision with Sara Estep, economist at the Center for American Progress, who explains what the data reveals about the sinking Trump economy and the widening struggles for working families. Together, they uncover how the administration’s rosy rhetoric hides deep economic pain. Later, Jill Manrique, Executive Director of Chicago Jobs with Justice, joins the conversation to discuss grassroots responses to Trump’s so-called “Operation Midway Blitz” and how workers are turning backlash into organizing strength to confront authoritarian attacks and reclaim power in their workplaces and communities.

 

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