The Hartmann Report

Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works joins Thom to caution that the Trump administration has made several last ditch efforts to hobble social security and that Joe Biden needs to thououghly clean house when he comes into office.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ralph on his new family cookbook- and how what's on the table is connected to corporate and monopoly corruption. From private information being used to manipulate the vulnerable to endless robo-calls, corporations are learning to manipulate your behavior with surveillance capitalism. And Evan Greer of 'Fight For the Future' wants us to roll back Trump's elimination of Net Neutrality and reinstate protections against internet providers selling our search history. What can we all do to help?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

THIS IS BEYOND GRIFTT.S. Eliot famously said that the world will end "not with a bang, but a whimper." It's also how strongman dictator reigns typically end, and Trump is no exception. He's having his "Downfall bunker moment," and it could be very dangerous. In the next month, Trump could start a war to try to provoke an emergency that might keep him in office. He could order the military to occupy the swing states to overturn the election results. Will Mike Pence have to step in and invoke the 25th amendment?Meanwhile, proof of the treason and corruption of Michael Flynn and Jared Kushner and of Trump himself are coming to the surface. Are they all getting away with treason?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The soulless, sellout GOP must either reform itself or die. Investigative journalist Greg Palast reports that despite desperate suppression attempts, Georgia voters are more enthusiastic than ever to show up to the polls and for mail in balloting. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progressive Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan joins Thom to answer listener questions. What are the chances for Progressive policies under the upcoming Biden administration? Will the common person see any relief from the Covid crisis before the year is out?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why do countries depreciate their currencies over time?  Prices are set by the final seller, but there are limits. The seller works out through economics, the maximum price they can change for the item. Dr. Richard Wolff joins Thom for a deep dive on the impact of economics.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republicans have taken over Talk Radio. If Democrats want to win the American people, they need to get on the air. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Calvinistic worldview and the massive inequality it’s brought America over the last 40 years is a cancer destroying our republic. America once had the world’s strongest middle class and widespread social stability. While it didn’t extend to all Americans, we had a formula that worked and needed to be extended. We must drive a stake through its heart and this poisonous ideology altogether.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, Thom takes a deep dive into understanding authoritarianism with scholar Ruth Ben-Ghiat, author of 'Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present', followed by a fascinating discussion with Meagan-Hatcher Mays of the activist group Indivisible, on the problems we must tackle if we are to keep our republic. Was Trump practicing the use of the military and secret police to establish a strongman dictator? What stopped him? How can we avoid another lying con-man taking over our nation who, like Trump, truly doesn't care if Americans live or die? Must we rein in Facebook to protect Democracy? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's time to fight back. If corporate media continues to refuse to discuss McConnell's blackmail, we must individually speak up among friends and communities, and also let our lawmakers know what we think. It's time to raise some hell.One Fair Wage, a national nonprofit representing subminimum wage workers, released a new report detailing the shocking experience of service workers experience in arenas of public health and harassment during the pandemic. President of One Fair Wage, Saru Jayaraman joins Thom to explain. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progressive leaders Ro Khanna and Mark Pocan join Thom today for topics including... the likelihood of consequences for the Senators who supported Trump's conspiracy to overturn the election... the alternate reality created by right wing propaganda... Progressives running in 2021... Democrats getting their message across... being clear-eyed on confronting a Republican party that cynically only cares about power... and what the chances of another stimulus deal getting out during this session?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Richard Wolff kicks off a fascinating discussion- do recessions result when we drop the taxes on the very rich? Why haven't incomes for the bottom half of our population kept up with the cost of things even while the riches at the top have skyrocketed? Why did our government give a thousand billion dollars to the rich to bail them out- and far less to ordinary people- and now Republicans won't even spend a pittance to support those who are hungry and out of work due to this crisis?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why did Republican Senators sign on to Trump's bid to overthrow the duly certified president-elect of the United States?- was that sedition and a crime worthy of expulsion from the Senate? Is our government and system strong enough to avert disorder or even civil war in the long run? Thom says we have some serious house-cleaning to do. Plus- What is the Q conspiracy really inspired by? Does a perceived loss of status drive Trump's supporters? When did this all really get started and what can Progressive do to fight back?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Psychoanalyst and Clinical Professor, Dr. Justin A. Frank joins Thom for a deep dive into the dangerous psychology of Donald Trump and how he has avoided dealing with his election loss. Also plant-based Dr. Michael Greger, MD shares advice on increasing health and shedding pounds after so many months locked down due to the pandemic with his new book, The How Not to Diet Cookbook.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Republicans are not patriots: they are traitors to reason, science, education, human rights, democracy and now, unbelievably, public health. They are traitors to humanity itself. The only way to deal with a death-dealing cult is to end it. Defund the Republican Party!!Laura Packard of Health Care Voices joins Thom to reveal what as been cut for promotion of the ACA by Trump’s administration.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Republican Party neither represents law nor order. Since Reagan's election, they've exclusively represented the interests of giant corporations and billionaires, while using racism, regionalism and misogyny to manipulate working class voters. The question our republic now faces is, "When will the people wake up?"See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After Donald Trump blocked travel from many Muslim nations, why did 30-35% still vote republican? Ani Zonneveld, Founder & President of Muslims For Progressive Values joins Thom to discuss human rights and authoritarianism. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Howard Polskin has collected the craziest right-wing headlines from the mad month of November- his newsletter TheRighting regularly takes the heartbeat of billionaire propaganda. How and why are so many shills out there still claiming Biden is not the president-elect?Also, Progressive leader Mark Pocan takes listener calls- will Biden put any solid Progressives in his cabinet? Is Mitch scared of Trump?.. And will the Democrats learn to talk back to the many lies of fascism?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Georgia voters may find themselves unable to vote unless they register to vote again right now, as efforts to take voters of color off the voter rolls increase. Investigative journalist Greg Palast joins Thom Hartmann to discuss why Georgia voters need to check their registration right now or risk being turned away. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can Biden rescue the economy from the Trump disaster? Economic downturns are circular, but with the current pandemic a solid recovery is going to need serious radical change. Is mass public employment the solution? Professor Richard Wolff joins Thom to discuss what is needed for 2021 and beyond.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Suitcases of cash delivered to Nixon's White House and massive tax cuts for the billionaires under Reagan, Bush and Trump.. what is the basis of Republican grift? In general Republicans think fear is what motivates people, and most Democrats believe in nurturing our people. So will Democrats choose to punish Trump's people for his massive grift and wholesale corruption? What is the deep difference between Republicans and Democrats? Can Biden succeed with an agenda to give Americans a strong foundation on which to thrive?Plus - Thom reads from the book 'When the Tea Party Came to Town' by Robert DraperSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After his blatant crimes, will Trump be put on trial as soon as he leaves office? If the state of New York prosecutes him, could Trump be protected from extradition by the Republican governor of Florida?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Prof. Gar Alperovitz is one of the great minds of our time- He is Co-Founder of the Democracy Collaborative, longtime activist, author, and public intellectual. He says it's time for us to create the next generation political-economic system. What form might that take, and what can we ourselves do right now to make it happen?Also, Thom welcomes Kenny Ausubel, journalist/filmmaker/author to discuss the Bioneers- this year an online conference that hopes to keep us from driving off a cliff both environmentally and civilizationally. What are the problems and solutions in front of us? And Dr. Mark Plotkin, author and co-Founder & President-the Amazon Conservation Team is on the show- how are the massive fires in the Amazon connected with massive fires in the United States? Should we be listening to indigenous peoples?And Cole Stangler, Paris-based journalist covering labor & politics joins the show to bring us news of the citizen's movement taking the streets in France right now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The vice president is according to the Constitution also the president of the Senate, and can do more than just break a tie. Can the Democrats take the Senate with a bold but justified move from Kamala Harris? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fascists and oligarchs within the Republican Party are already beginning preparations to steal the 2024 presidential election. Trump, it turns out, was just a dry run for them. Fascists often seem, in the beginning, like nice guys who just want to change the world for the better. They just think that things need to be more orderly and tidy, and that a small number of very smart, very wealthy people need to be in charge to ensure social and political stability. And it always ends the same way: in tragedy.Dr. Trita Parsi joins Thom to analyze Trump's moves in the middle east. Will he still get his war with Iran? And Progressive leader Ro Khanna answers listener calls- how can the Democrats organize to effectively counter Republican fascism?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progressive Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan joins Thom to discuss with callers the political strategies available contingent on the Georgia Senate runoff races and the political futures they predict. Will Kamala Harris be the first Vice-President in many decades to assume her Constitutional position of President of the Senate and overrule Mitch McConnell's perpetual obstruction?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Howard Polskin is helping the world understand the propaganda coming from the right wing with his online newsletter TheRighting.com, which summarizes right-wing headlines. How does the billionaire-funded infrastructure, from Fox News to AM hate radio to extremists online exploit resentments in our country to promote their billionaire agenda? What is that message, and why does it appeal to certain segments of our population? How can Progressives get their message out as effectively?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Economist Richard Wolff joins Thom on the state of the economy and the likely impact of the ongoing Covid crisis. Bernie Sanders is calling for America's corporations to get off welfare by paying a living wage rather than relying on the government to feed and house many of their employees- is America capable of taking care of our own?Plus - defining what socialism really is...the history of the right-wing crackpots who took over the Republican Party- how far have they dismantled our government? Are Trump and his followers- from the White House to the Fed- salting the fields and poisoning the wells before Joe Biden can become president?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

QANON, once just yet another internet conspiracy story has morphed into a dangerous cult- even with believers inside Congress. How in the world did this happen, and where may it be heading? Dr. Jack Bratich is Associate Professor at the Dept. of Journalism & Media Studies, School of Communication & Information Rutgers University.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump is going, but why did he arise in the first place? What do Democrats need to learn from him? And how can we make a democracy that works for everyone? Indivisible's Megan Hatcher-Mays joins Thom on how Democrats need to represent Progressive positions which most Americans already agree with, and not allow Republican propaganda to dominate the conversation.Plus - this is what happens when you elect a grifter and a mob boss president.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Conservative Republicans have done so much damage to this country over the past 40 years of neoliberal Reaganism. Step one is winning Georgia, and step two is pushing the new Biden administration to restore America with bold actions like the New Deal and the Great Society. As the monster leaves, the real work begins. The election was important, but restoring the American working class and rebuilding our nation over the objections of greedy billionaires and their Republican lapdogs will be the biggest challenge of this generation.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The GOP is no longer a legitimate political party: it’s a cult. It’s becoming increasingly clear to Americans that the Republican Party only stands for one thing: the privilege and power of wealthy white men. Over the last 40 years they have devised increasingly byzantine rules to prevent low income whites and people of color from voting and are now trying to outright throw out ballots in Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta. They’ve worked for decades, at both the state and federal level, to make it harder for women to get access to birth control, women’s health services, and abortion. When the coronavirus hit, most developed countries made direct payments to unemployed workers; Republicans only tolerated that here for a few months, and the price was trillions, which continue to flow, to fat cats and big corporations.Now, to hang on to enough suckers to keep them in power, the GOP has resorted to embracing Nazis, religious fanatics and conspiracy theorists.Investigative Reporter Greg Palast joins Thom- is Georgia trying to stop anyone who doesn't own a car from registering to vote?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do all of the lawsuits and court claims by Donald Trump show about the man? A bully for the most part. Will Trump commit treason to make himself dictator or will we have a return to democracy by inauguration day?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Media and social media have separated Americans by our politics, and now many liberal and progressives are unaware of just how far right wing media is taking things. Howard Polskin founder of The Righting wants you to be aware of what the right wing is saying, and why people on the far right act how they do! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Republican party has abandoned the responsibility to take care of the American people in the face of the pandemic and economic crisis. How can we best stand up to their insanity? Are we already in a hostile transition or could Trump just maybe pull off becoming a dictator? If not, what is he really trying to do?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Fed has created money to prop up Wall Street. Congress appropriates money from the Treasury to help working class Americans. What's the difference between these two types of money and why won't the Fed intervene to help anybody other than banks and publicly traded companies? Professor Richard Wolff joins Thom to hash it out.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Does the idea of freedom pushed by the billionaires and their propaganda mean anything if you can't afford health care and a quality education? While the rich keep themselves safe, why are they really pushing everyone else to go out and risk their lives? Can we escape debt peonage and build a society that really benefits us all? Meanwhile billionaire freedom is literally killing hundreds of thousands of people.Also, Marissa Lee, of Nation Nurses United shares her front-line view on the consequences of people being unable to access health care. And nurse Teresa Brown noticed Biden hasn't yet put any nurses on his Covid task force. What is she doing to change that?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

America is figuring out that Donald Trump has spent his entire life as a criminal and a grifter. Some even suggest that the modern Republican Party has been reshaped in his image. But the simple truth is that, since the 1980s and the Reagan Revolution, the Republican Party has been one long racist grift that only serves the rich and the very rich.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Trump a modern day Herbert Hoover, doing nothing in the face of a crisis? Or was his attention focused on rigging the election by kneecapping the Post Office? Will Donald Trump be able to hang on to his fan club when he's no longer president, or will the Covid disaster be his legacy?Plus- dealing with people who don't believe Covid is real who catch Covid.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Now that Trump has lost his bid for the presidency, Americans are looking at how to come together. However social media, particularly Facebook, could be a stumbling block in our way. The algorithms used to make the website so addicting, also have the effect of group polarization, could social media divide America further? Is your news feed filled with people who agree with you? People who share the same opinions? Do you get into heated debates online? Is Facebook setting us up for more division even after we get Trump out - and how can we stop it? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How much damage will Trump do in his remaining weeks in office? What is he planning and why are so many top government officials visiting Israel, Saudi, and UAE right now? Author and activist Trita Parsi joins Thom- how is Trump trying to make it difficult for Biden to rejoin the Iran-nuclear deal and keep the bomb out of Iran?In the battle between autocracy and democracy around the world, can we once again become a positive example by healing America? Plus- clawing back America from the right-wing billionaires and corporations... would Trump steal Air Force One?.. And why do we have such a long transition of power in the first place? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Progressive leaders Ro Khanna and Mark Pocan share their views in a weekly national town hall meeting with Thom and his callers. Will we get Progressive representation in Biden's cabinet? How can Democrats stand up powerfully to McConnell's bullying in the Senate? But before we get there- what are the chances of a successful Trump coup, and what are Democrats doing to avert it?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Founders greatest fear, when it came to the president, was that a man would be installed in the office who was in debt to, or loyal to a foreign government. It’s why they put the Foreign Emoluments ban in the Constitution. Now, Trump is about to leave office with debts exceeding $1 billion, over $400 million of them personally guaranteed. So, what does he have or know that a foreign government might be willing to pay him $1 billion for?Clinical Professor, Dr. Justin A. Frank, MD joins the program as Thom asks if the GOP will embrace or throw out the Trump cultists?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Should we accept Trump-Humpers into polite society? How many of Trump's voters are racist, and how should we be treating them? Is there any valid reason to have voted for Trump- or is there no redemption for those who are still working to dismantle our democracy?Is it even possible to reach the people who have been manipulated by the right wing media's fake sense of shared grievance?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Either he is dragging this out so he can raise money to line his own pockets, or he is coordinating with the billionaire donors who largely own a number of Republican state legislatures to steal the election. Or both. Trump has strong reasons to push both: he is hundreds of millions of dollars in debt, and the day he leaves the presidency several states will probably begin prosecuting him for numerous crimes ranging from bank fraud to tax evasion to rape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump's hiding out scarfing hamburgers, but what's with his announcement to continue fundraising and holding rallies? Once Trump's crimes catch up to him, will his lawyers keep him out of jail? Or is he a flight risk?Also, Thom and his callers express their relief and joy at dodging Trump's fascist bullet! But how much damage could Donald still do in the next two months?Thom reads from "All Politics Is Local: Why Progressives Must Fight for the States" by Meaghan Winter.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was just 20 years ago that the IPCC- the intergovernmental climate change group- rolled out the concept of global weather tipping points. And a few years ago they warned we had about 10 years left to drastically reduce emissions. As natural disasters become more frequent, are we approaching that tipping point now? Dr. Ben Strauss joins Thom- he's been studying accurate new information from NASA on the ground height along the coast around the world- it turns out many more areas are at risk from sea level rise than we thought. Can we change to a green economy to save our cities?Plus Thom reads from 'On Fire: The Burning Case for the Green New Deal' by Naomi Klein'.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After voters in California chose to exempt Uber and Lyft drivers from hard-won worker protections, Dr Richard Wolff wonders whether a Biden administration will champion the working person, or support the wealthy who the Democratic party still go to for money. Can Joe Biden overcome this contradiction? If the Democrats had spent a billion campaign dollars promoting the Green New Deal and expanding Medicare, would have this election have been a blowout? Does it still work to be a milk-toast Democrat? And what media should Democrats be spending their money on?Did the horror show of the last four years show us all who the Republicans really are, or will Democrats have to learn how to get their message across? Plus- the religious broadcaster who just died of Covid after endorsing the so-called herd immunity policy of Donald Trump. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr Justin Frank, author and psychologist analyzes Donald Trump's behavior- is it his deep-seated hatred of reality that makes it impossible for Trump to take responsibility? Is this why he always blames other people?Plus.. who made 300 million robo calls on election day warning people to stay home and not vote?.. Also, Thom reviews what brought us up to this point and how Trump may be planning to leave the White House. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Investigative reporter Greg Palast explains why the pollsters were right after all, when you consider the people whose votes were not counted.Meanwhile, are Republicans trying to get armed poll watchers into vote-counting facilities?.. Is it possible that some of the vote tallies were fudged?.. Did the Post Office slow down the mail in swing states?.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.