The Rick Smith Show

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick discusses the troubling rise of authoritarianism in America and sheds light on “Operation Midway Blitz,” a push that threatens working people and democracy alike. Lisa Graves of True North Research joins to expose the dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of accountability under Trump. Later, Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, breaks down the absurdity of the so-called “Trump Bump” to Social Security, pointing out the cruel reality that, instead of benefits being strengthened, most Americans would ultimately be bumped off the program they worked for and earned. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick breaks down Trump’s so-called “winning economy” as job numbers continue to collapse since his so-called “liberation day,” exposing a reality far from the promises. Rick examines the administration’s desperate distractions, from bizarre conspiracy claims that Trump once snitched for the FBI in the Epstein case to inflammatory memes portraying an “Apocalypse Now” showdown with Chicago. Later, John Logan, Professor and Director of Labor and Employment Studies at San Francisco State University, joins to discuss labor’s response to creeping fascism and why worker solidarity is essential in this dangerous political moment.Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by veteran labor reporter Steven Greenhouse to discuss the state of work and organizing in America after Labor Day, as Donald Trump attacks unions while claiming to champion American workers. LIUNA Vice President Mike Hellstrom previews the upcoming New York City Labor Day Parade and highlights labor’s broader push to restore power to working people. Later, Teamsters Local 776 Business Agent Mark Cicak checks in live from the Rise Dispensary picket line, where striking workers are fighting for fair treatment, respect, and a stronger voice on the job. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with historian Peter Cole, Ph.D., Professor at Western Illinois University and Co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project, about Donald Trump’s deployment of troops in Washington, D.C., and threats to send them to Chicago and Baltimore. Cole lays out the troubling historical parallel of National Guard units breaking strikes and suppressing workers’ rights. Later, AFGE District 3 Vice President Phil Glove joins the conversation to explore what federal workers must do in the Trump era to defend their rights, workplaces, and futures. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Army veteran and Common Defense Political Director Naveed Shah to discuss the deployment of the National Guard in Washington, DC, highlighting concerns over militarization and the message it sends to American citizens. Shah draws on his experience to critique the use of soldiers for political purposes. Later, Raw Story reporter Sarah Burris returns to break down the latest chaos and scandals coming from the Trump administration, unpacking the impact of policy moves and distractions on working families across the nation. Thoughtful, no-nonsense analysis for working listeners. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick marks Labor Day with a hard look at Trump’s relentless attacks on working people and unions, highlighting how his policies undermine jobs, wages, and worker protections. Rick also calls out the shortsightedness of Trump’s decision to stop the Revolution Wind project and stall other clean energy investments that created thousands of good-paying union jobs. Joining the conversation, Jim Williams Jr., General President of IUPAT, and Brent Booker, General President of LIUNA, share how labor is fighting back and why workers’ voices are essential to building a stronger, cleaner future. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with David Madland, Senior Fellow at the American Worker Project, about Trump’s abysmal record on labor, from attacking collective bargaining to siding with corporate interests while workers bear the costs. Madland highlights how these policies weaken unions and strip away protections for working families. Later in the show, former NLRB General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo joins Rick to discuss the escalating assault on the National Labor Relations Board by Trump and Republicans, exposing how their efforts aim to dismantle decades of worker rights and silence organizing on behalf of working people. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with retired Army Major and NC-9 Congressional candidate Rich Ojeda about Trump’s controversial executive order criminalizing flag burning and the President’s unsettling decision to deploy National Guard soldiers into U.S. cities. Ojeda underscores the dangers these actions pose to constitutional freedoms and democracy. In the second half, economics professor Matías Vernengo joins the conversation to examine the firing of Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook and why expanding working-class representation on the Fed Board is vital to ensure economic policy reflects the needs of ordinary Americans instead of only corporate interests. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick is joined by Guardian labor reporter Michael Sainato to discuss Trump’s shutdown of the Revolution Wind project, his broader assault on the National Labor Relations Board, and how these actions further enrich the CEO class, which already enjoys a staggering 632-to-1 pay advantage over workers. The conversation underscores corporate power’s tightening grip at the expense of labor. Later, Elon University Associate Law Professor Eric Fink breaks down the recent Fifth Circuit decision declaring the NLRB’s structure unconstitutional and explores what this attack on decades of legal precedent signals for future lawyers. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with labor attorney David Borer about the recent 5th Circuit Court decision declaring the National Labor Relations Board’s structure unconstitutional after 90 years, a ruling with major implications for workers’ rights and union protections. The conversation underscores the assault on institutions meant to safeguard the working class. Later, Sarah Burris of Raw Story joins Rick to cover a wide range of headlines, including Cracker Barrel controversies, the FBI raid of John Bolton’s home, signs of an increasingly insecure Donald Trump, and revelations from the latest Jeffrey Epstein files. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick highlights James from Seven Hills, Ohio, who was fired for eating leftover chicken and a fruit cup on the job, an act monitored, likely by AI, until it reached a threshold for criminal charges. Rick stresses how this harsh treatment reflects the double standard working people face, punished for salvaging food destined for the trash while CEOs and corporate criminals rob workers’ wages, healthcare, and pensions without consequences. Later, Rick welcomes Mary Cathryn D. Ricker, Executive Director of the Albert Shanker Institute, to discuss the back-to-school season. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Rick speaks with labor attorney David Borer about the recent 5th Circuit Court decision declaring the National Labor Relations Board’s structure unconstitutional after 90 years, a ruling with major implications for workers’ rights and union protections. The conversation underscores the assault on institutions meant to safeguard the working class. Later, Sarah Burris of Raw Story joins Rick to cover a wide range of headlines, including Cracker Barrel controversies, the FBI raid of John Bolton’s home, signs of an increasingly insecure Donald Trump, and revelations from the latest Jeffrey Epstein files. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the Rick Smith Show, Amy Hanauer, Executive Director of the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, discusses how Trump’s tax law slashes essential public spending, reduces federal support to states, and benefits the wealthy at the expense of everyday families. She outlines urgent state-level options for offsetting cuts. Scott Paul, president of the Alliance of American Manufacturing, joins to address the implications of China’s military parade with Putin, potential involvement of Trump, and America’s vulnerability due to reliance on Chinese supply chains, emphasizing the need for resilient domestic manufacturing. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On The Rick Smith Show, Rick talks with Raw Story’s Sarah Burris about Trump and Putin’s Alaska encounter, a heavily militarized Washington, DC, and new revelations from the Epstein files. Investigative journalist Greg Palast joins to discuss his latest special, All Washed Away: Trump drowns FEMA, uncovering how Trump's FEMA dealings fueled disaster profiteering and tragic consequences, as exposed in Texas and New Orleans. Palast explores the deadly failures and political maneuvers impacting hurricane response. The episode dives deep into corruption, cover-ups, and the consequences for ordinary Americans. Don’t miss our daily TV show on Free Speech TV: www.freespeech.org Find us on: · DirecTV (Channel 348) · Dish (Channel 269) · Sling · Roku · Apple TV · Amazon Fire TV · Get the FSTV iOS app HERE Did you miss last night’s show? Miss part of the #RickShow on your local radio station? Want to listen at work, or around the house? Download the podcast on our website at: https://www.thericksmithshow.com Want Merch? Check out our store HERE Questions or comments? Email Rick@thericksmithshow.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-rick-smith-show419/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy