On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Bobby Kogan, Senior Director of Budget Policy at the Center for American Progress, about the looming government shutdown and how Trump’s promises now lack credibility for working families. Later, Virginia Burger, Senior Defense Policy Analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, reacts to the spectacle of the Trump-Hegseth Quantico military event, raising alarms about the normalization of authoritarian displays and the real dangers of unchecked executive power in a divided nation, with both guests calling for vigilant, democratic action.

 

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On the Rick Smith Show, Rick discusses the backdrop of a looming government shutdown and a military pow wow at Quantico, spotlighting national uncertainty. Rhode Island AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley joins to celebrate a historic labor peace agreement between SouthCoast Wind and New England unions—the first of its kind for U.S. offshore wind operations. Crowley highlights the 2.4-gigawatt project’s promise of thousands of good union jobs, better wages, family security, and lower energy bills across three states, while addressing political resistance to renewables and labor’s resolve to champion working communities.

 

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On The Rick Smith Show, Raw Story’s Sarah Burris explains President Trump’s sweeping order giving the War Secretary “Full Force” authority in Portland, fueling aggressive crackdowns. She discusses how the administration’s push to prosecute James Comey signals an escalation in targeting political opponents. Burris also breaks down the “shock” resignation of Oklahoma Education head Ryan Walters amid mounting lawsuits and political fallout. Later, AFGE District 3 VP Phil Glover joins Rick to assess the impact of Trump’s removal of collective bargaining rights for Federal Prison workers, warning of dire consequences for safety and fairness on the job.

 

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On The Rick Smith Show, Lisa Graves, founder of True North Research, tackles the historic indictment of ex-FBI Director James Comey, warning it signals Trump’s turn to open political retribution and a slide toward authoritarianism at the federal level. Graves calls for grassroots vigilance to protect constitutional principles in the face of escalating propaganda and voter suppression. Then, Michael Sainato of The Guardian details the gutting of the Department of Labor under Trump chronic understaffing, lost worker protections, regressive tariffs, and historically low union membership underscoring the urgent need for state-led resistance and collective action to defend workers’ rights.

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On this episode of The Rick Smith Show, Rick dives into the politics of posthumous martyrdom with congressional candidate Rich Ojeda, who takes aim at the push to canonize Charlie Kirk with commemorative coins and warns against opportunistic, divisive legislation. Mary Cathryn Ricker, executive director of the Albert Shanker Institute, joins to dissect Oklahoma’s mandate for Turning Point USA chapters in every high school, defending the professionalism and student-centered focus of America’s educators. Together, their perspectives call for unity, practical reform, and a renewed commitment to students and honest public policy.

 

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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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