The Hartmann Report

White supremacists have gagged teachers, and now even kids are afraid to bring up the topics or complain when they’re harassed by Christian nationalist bullies. Also once public schools are largely dead, here's what happens next... Leonard Leo and his "Christianist" fellow travelers are setting up a new case to fund religious schools with taxpayer money. Plus Geeky Science: Why do we procrastinate and how to overcome it? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When are you taking down your Christmas tree and decorations? Should be in March, right? Should Trump be held accountable or defeated at the ballot? Why pardoning Trump by his GOP challengers would shorten our democracy. Dean Obeidallah - Don't count on the courts to save us from Trump, it's up to you and me. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did Clarence Thomas effectively extort the rich to keep a conservative majority on the court? And why are the billionaires willing to fly federal judges to Maui, Italy, and Rocky Mountain resort destinations?Plus- Thom reads from "Flipped: How Georgia Turned Purple and Broke the Monopoly on Republican Power" by Greg Bluestein.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith speaks with Kareem Crayton the Senior Director for Voting Rights and Representation at the Brennan Center for Justice. Callers share poetry and reflect on artificial intelligence with an eye to its influence on the future of humanity and space exploration. Jeff's wife calls Joe Biden Captain America as the guy who is trying to save America.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has the time come for pro-democracy people to lean into patriotism as we teeter on the brink of losing it all? Sitting-in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith explains why the Democratic Party has become America's party. Listeners call-in to continue the dialogue on the concerns over Artificial Intelligence, Canadian healthcare, and whether Ebenezer Scrooge was an environmentalist. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why are we increasingly putting greedy corporations in charge of what life-saving health care our elderly are allowed to have? Plus - new evidence that people in Republican majority regions are more likely to die young just because they can't afford to see a doctor.Plus - Thom reads from 'Drugs, Money, and Secret Handshakes: The Unstoppable Growth of Prescription Drug Prices' by Robin Feldman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Author Yascha Mounk has deep doubts about the way identity and social justice is being fought for in society today. He joins Thom challenges him in a fascinating discussion.Plus - Thom reads from 'Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End' by Anita Hill and 'Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America' by Martha S. JonesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Immigration is likely to be the top issue in the next election. Thom asks- should Democrats get out in front of it by taking the deal Republicans are offering to shut down migration in exchange for funding the defense of democracy in Ukraine? An intense hour of conversation with Thom's callers follows. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 40 years into the Reagan experiment in neoliberalism, how is that working out for us? Was it all based on a lie all along?Plus - Thom reads from 'Tell the Bosses We're Coming: A New Action Plan for Workers in the Twenty-First Century' by Shaun Richman. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can a Supreme Court decision over state resolutions passed as far back as 1891 be enough to trigger a new constitutional convention that makes all the crazy extremist right wing dreams come true? Plus - Thom read from "The Constution Today" by Akhil Reed AmarSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith turns the discussion to mindful thoughts and intentional words to navigate the sometimes stressful self-reflection that comes with holiday gatherings. Listeners call-in with questions on the meaning of rhetoric, the impact of right-wing propaganda, and the horror of violence in the Israeli-Gaza conflict. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Will a real democracy movement emerge to take on the growing forces of fascism? Are progressives capable of the required sacrifice?Plus - Thom read from "The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh's Race-Baiting Rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Way for Trump" by Ian Reifowitz.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we once again wait for the seasons of warmth and illumination to return- where do you find the light amid the darkness? And then- can we track down the most basic form of energy behind everything in the universe?Thom reads from "The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe" by Jeremy Lent, and also 'The Division of Light and Power' by Dennis Kucinich'.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Now that Donald Trump is openly calling for fascism in the United States, complete with concentration camps “for millions” including “Democrats” and “the media,” it’s a good time to look at how the GOP became so badly corrupted. Understanding how they got here — and dragged the rest of us with them — may give us some clues to how to get out of this mess.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Epidemiologist and Health Economist from the New England Complex Systems Institute, Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding joins Thom to caution listeners of the contagious diseases on the increase for the festive season. Plus Geeky Science: New studies reveal astonishing benefits from Matcha Green Tea.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At least never in the lifetime of anybody around today. Trump’s stink is a tragic part of American history that will last generations… But none stink as bad as this miserable cartoon of a man, with his bizarre orange spray-tan, absurd comb-over, and compensatory phallic-length red ties. America is not going to forget, and many Americans will never forgive. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Taking bribes, destroying files, using the federal government to go after your enemies?.. the "New Nixonians" don't see a problem here. Plus - Thom reads from "Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics" by Lawrence O'Donnell.And why did we just discover an ancient stone circle underwater near northern Michigan?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is going on in American society that is leading some men toward retrograde attitudes against women? Meanwhile, anti-abortion media is getting nasty- is there a connection?Plus - Thom reads from "Seek and Hide: The Tangled History of the Right to Privacy" by Amy Gajda.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The head of the Republican party in Florida has become a toxic embarrassment- and he says he'll gladly go away for only two million dollars... Plus - the legal battle over Presidential immunity continues- will Clarence Thomas recuse himself?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has the war between Israel and the Palestinians sucked all the oxygen out of reporting the fight for democracy in Ukraine? Veteran war correspondent Phil Ittner kicks off an hour-long deep discussion on the ongoing conflicts and our best hopes for peace and justice.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investigator Jack Smith has petitioned SCOTUS about Immunity: Is this the Nixon rule? Texas refugee, Kate Cox, at the center of the abortion ban is fleeing the state to save her life - will she survive the conservative men of Texas? While Zelensky was away - Russia had a night of hell in Kviv even while the Heritage Foundation was meeting with GOPers and dictator Orban's crew about ending support for Ukraine.  Netanyahu is pulling a "George Bush" after Biden warned him. How's that going to work out? And, Hunter Biden summed up perfectly what the GOP is doing- they are trying to dehumanize him in order to hurt his dad - Joe Biden.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Representative Ro Khanna gives us a reality check from the halls of Congress. Will the urgently needed war funding make it to the front lines of Democracy?Plus - Thom reads from "How Wealth Rules the World: Saving Our Communities and Freedoms from the Dictatorship of Property" by Ben G. Price.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The bottom line here is that Republicans in the House and Senate who are dancing to Trump’s pro-Putin tune are playing a dangerous game that could lead to unimaginable disaster. Interview: Peter Montgomery, Senior Fellow-People for the American Way on Moses Mike Johnson and his ties to Christian Nationalist groups. Plus, why the conservative/poltical witch hunts at Harvard and other colleges will harm education.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Attorney General of Texas, disgraced and impeached Ken Paxton has threatened to prosecute any doctors who perform an abortion on a woman after a state judge ruled her life is in danger. Also Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer repeals the only immunity law that shielded drug makers from liability. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republican Sen. J.D. Vance wants the DOJ to investigate op-ed writers...say what?! Is this a test for what happens if Trump becomes Prez? Is the GOP trying to destroy Hunter in order to betray the Biden presidency? Something weird happened on the way to medicare advantage health care nirvana. Whitmer repeals country's only immunity law that shielded drug makers from liability. TX AG threatens to prosecute doctors who perform an abortion on woman after judge ruled she could.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

War correspondent Phil Ittner shares with Thom how Ukrainians are feeling about the chaos created by the pro-Putin crazies in the House of Reps. Will America show its resolve, or will Putin's propaganda win in the end?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom does his duty and dissects the latest Republican presidential debate. Will anyone emerge to challenge the Führer?Plus - Trump's cabinet picks agree- job one will be to create internment camps and arrest members of the media, Democrats, immigrants and criminals. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Radio star Dean Obeidallah joins Thom- and he says Trump is once again bringing in the rubes by flying the racism flag. --- Progressive leader Mark Pocan joins Thom with the latest from Congress- Did Kevin McCarthy just give his caucus the finger?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can anyone- even right-wing royalty- rescue the Republican party from Trump's authoritarian takeover of democracy? Also- why is the G.O.P. trying to keep Zoomers away from the polls? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom Hartmann Returns! From Antarctica! What ??!!! Also Trump‘s solution to Obamacare were a 30 day emergency high deductible policies being extended for three years! That’s where they want to go... COP28: another rigged game for the fossil fuel industry? Will VP Harris drawing line In the sand for a Two-State Solution hold?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest-host Jefferson Smith bids farewell as Thom returns on Monday. As we go into the 2024 campaign cycle, we can't let a desired authoritarian who has tried to overturn an election be considered a reasonable candidate. Report from Mark Taylor Canfield of Democracy Watch News. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest-host Jefferson Smith sits in for Thom Hartmann. A Trump-Loving Canadian calls in to throw shade on socialized medicine. Progressive and Libertarian listeners respond with passion. Thoughts on Henry Kissinger and The Iroquois, also known as the Five Nations or the Six Nations. Also the dog-lovers phone in to reflect on the alternative canine championships. Plus a who-done-it arises as the crew's brunch order is stolen before the show begins. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith reviews the fiery Ron DeSantis-Gavin Newsom debate on Fox News. Also did Melania violate polite norms at the memorial service for Rosalynn Carter? And by popular demand Jeff's dad, Joe Smith returns for 'News With My Dad.' See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith challenges listeners to invite new people to hear the show whether they agree or disagree with progressive politics. Also Jeff conducts a straw poll with callers on what would be their prediction of Donald Trump's choice of a running mate for the 2024 Election and why.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest-host Jefferson Smith sits in for Thom Hartmann today. Covering the important news stories and good news stories that we sometimes forget. Jeff's dad Joe Smith makes a long awaited return to the show and shares little known anecdotes about recently departed first lady Rosalynn Carter along with other noteworthy news. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith starts with a poem by Louisa Fletcher and asks listeners to share how they managed conversations during the holiday weekend. The topic of artificial intelligence returns and Jeff attempts to create a robot generated poem with input from the callers.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sitting in for Thom Hartmann, guest-host Jefferson Smith speaks with Professor Michael Kazin, Dept. of History, Georgetown University / Expert in U.S. politics & social movements - 19th & 20th centuries. His most recent book is What It Took to Win: A History of the Democratic Party.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Matt Robison Co-Host of the Beyond Politics podcast gives tips for getting along with Trump-loving relations during holiday gatherings. Guest-host Jefferson Smith sitting in for Thom Hartmann asks callers to share what they are thankful for during difficult times. Plus: How would you rate the worst presidents in order? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Guest-host Jefferson Smith sitting in for Thom Hartmann interviews Jonathan Nagler, Director, New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics, Co-Author - Who Votes Now? Demographics, Issues, Inequality, and Turnout in the United States. Defenders of truth and democracy have our work cut out for us in regards to battling online misinformation as we head into the 2024 presidential election. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our society takes action to protect us all from danger- why is it impossible to do anything at all about easy access to lethal weapons of war?Plus - Thom reads from 'The Hidden History of Guns and the 2nd Amendment'.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After all these years, what have we learned? Thom takes a deep dive with JFK Historian and author Lamar Waldron, author of numerous books including "The Hidden History of the JFK Assassination".Plus - Thom reads from "The America Syndrome: Apocalypse, War, and Our Call to Greatness" by Betsy Hartmann.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There are so many parallels between Trump's movement and Hitler- are we hearing a re-run of the same old song?Plus - Thom reads from 'Preparing For War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism--and What Comes' by Bradley B. Onishi See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If Americans saw the photos of children being ripped to pieces by school shootings… would not gun control happen almost immediately. Do you agree? Also National Progressive Town Hall with US Rep Ro Khanna from California answers questions from listeners.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Climate scientist Dr Michael Mann is back- to what extent are aerosols protecting us from carbon heating? What happens if we continue on the same path as today?Plus - Thom reads from "The Web of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place in the Universe" by Jeremy Lent.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

War correspondent Phil Ittner reports from Ukraine as air raid sirens still scream even as another dismal winter looms. Is Putin's investment in Hamas paying dividends? Plus- a National Progressive Town Hall with US Rep from Wisconsin Mark Pocan. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A national survey of Gen Z-ers found that more than half of them were seriously interested in- or actively considering- permanently moving out of America. Plus, the GOP has a new January 6th conspiracy theory: deep state “ghost buses”.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and professor David Pepper joins Thom for a deep dive on what's going on with the vote to keep abortion legal in Ohio.Plus - Thom reads from "Mortal Republic: How Rome Fell into Tyranny" by Edward J. WattsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If Medicare Advantage, the profit-driven entity that is decidedly NOT part of REAL Medicare, could be summed up in three words, they might be: deny, deny, deny. That’s no real surprise given that the one thing Medicare Advantage companies. care about most isn’t your health (hint: it’s your money). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump allies are pre-screening a list of 50,000 loyalists for federal jobs if he gets elected in an unprecedented power grab. Can they pull it off?Also, Dean Obeidallah, author and host of the Dean Obeidallah show joins Thom. Is Trump's dangerous mental decline a threat to America?Plus Thom reads from 'Shielded: How the Police Became Untouchable' by Joanna Schwartz See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.