The Hartmann Report

Nick Cordero, 41 years old and a major Broadway star, went to the hospital with Covid and ended up intubated for weeks during which time his leg was amputated. He's now recovering, but as he and many other Americans struggle to survive the corona virus, why are Rupert Murdoch's Fox News anchors telling everybody to get back to work... while they themselves stay safely at home?And how can we stay motivated and hang on to a sense of purpose during lockdown? If you've always meant to be writer, Thom's shares his methods on how to get yourself writing. Plus - can we trust any advice from a government that put a lobbyist for the chemical industries in charge of consumer protection and has worked to loosen rules on things like asbestos? Why are the latest CDC guidelines so lax?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sara Miller of the Economic Liberties Project, and the co-chair of 'Freedom From Facebook' thinks it's time to break up predatory large corporations who are using the pandemic to dominate our country even more than they already do. Richard Wolff thinks Washington is too afraid of the Fed to have any real oversight. Are the banksters and hedge fund guys now in charge of the Federal Reserve running amok?And Pat McGee tells Thom about his new movie on ViceTV, 'Bernie Blackout'. Did the corporate media conspire to bring Bernie down essentially to protect the wealthy?Plus - Fox News has their employees and talent working from home, but is telling everyone else to get back to work! And how do Democratic states subsidize the governments of red states?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Congressman Mark Pocan joins Thom for a town hall of listener questions ranging from the upcoming HEROES Act relief package to the ways representatives are moving to push implementation of the Defense Production Act for essential materials in the national crisis.Environmental scientist, Dana Nuccitelli on Michael Moore's 'Planet of the Humans' documentary peddles dangerous climate denial.For the Book Club, Thom reads from the chapter Green Revolution in his book "Crash of 2016" and "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom" by David W. Blight.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Laurie Wallach of Global Trade Watch educates us on the economics behind what Trump has really been up to in his international trade strategies- if you can call them that.World-renowed climate change expert Dr. Michael Mann discusses with Thom the reasons why the lockdown has only cut 6-8% of carbon emissions worldwide, and what it will really take to stop the loss of large parts of the earth's habitable zones.Plus -- what is the status of Gilead Sciences distributing their antiviral Remdesivir?... Why the latest Michael Moore produced movie makes a terrible argument... Is inequality the natural outcome of the last 500 years of capitalism?.. Why has the death rate numbers from Covid gradually increased the suddenly dropped off?.. And conservatives v. birth control... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have we reached the peak of Reaganism stupidity when we're unable to use large-scale testing to handle the problem, as Trump falls back onto blaming Obama instead? We need the leadership of good government, but instead we have Republicans in charge trying to prove that government doesn't work so they can continue to cut taxes for the very rich.Commentator David Sirota joins Thom to remark on the attempt to cover up our fumbling of the corona virus disaster. Is this situation being mismanaged?- or maliciously un-managed?If Trump and Brian Kemp think everybody should open up and get back to work, why aren't their offices open? Why aren't they out there meeting with the public?Will a second stimulus package make it to law as Mitch McConnel pushes to get permanent protection for corporations from ever being sued for any form of damages, and Trump tries to cut Social Security funding?Plus - does time pass faster in quarantine? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

House Progressive leader Ro Khanna holds a town hall meeting with Thom's callers on wide variety of questions. What are the chances that the U.S. could catch up with the successful policies of countries like Australia that have crushed the virus while supporting their people?And- a payroll tax won't save our economy. Why do ordinary people, who pay the highest proportion of their wages in taxes, get so little of the tax-funded bailouts? And will Progressives be able to save our Post Office?And what does the latest videotaped lynching say about what is really going on in our country?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. Why are former banksters and hedge fund guys running the Fed without even a veneer of impartiality? Professor Wolff says it's a fox-guarding-the-henhouse situation. Will throwing in 'unspeakable amounts of money' fix the problem? Plus - The employer as emperor... Trump's fires more vaccine experts... What's broken with Congressional oversight?.. Who owes who reparations- China??. Why don't Democratic presidenta prosecute former Republican presidents for their crimes?- should the next one make an exception?.. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bill Press joins Thom to survey the voting landscape in pandemic-stricken America. And, could a Justin Amash libertarian ticket take votes from Biden and throw the election to Trump? If enough states cancel the Democratic primary could we see another candidate, like Andrew Cuomo? Does Biden need to pick a VP who can quickly hit the campaign trail? Who should be Biden's VP pick? Thom's listeners join in the discussion from a diversity of backgrounds from across the country.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 for a national town hall of listener questions ranging from the next Congressional relief package to the ways representatives can participate digitally in the dangerous times of the pandemic.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steve Hassan, author of 'The Cult of Trump' considers the psychology of the devotees of Donald Trump. What are they likely to do if Trump does not win reelection? Trump's valet has tested positive for Covid. But what is up with a man who tests everyone around him, but won't help the rest of America have access to testing? Maybe we shouldn't be surprised this is how grifters do things. Why can't much of America recognize Trump's sociopathy and respond accordingly? Are we even in a Manchurian candidate situation, but can't recognize it? Or will America join Trump's call for us all to become warriors, and risk our lives going back to work to get the money machine running again for the billionaires? What can we do? Let's all be infectious and help spread Progressive media!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How do we quantify the cost of slowing the economy to protect our vulnerable people from the disease? Does it have to be a choice between harming the economy and killing people? Or is there a third way already demonstrated in other places? And as to the harm to the economy, will we see substantial inflation, or a deflationary spiral?And how can we manage feelings of rage and powerlessness as this all develops? What are the roots of the so-called libertarianism that really supports a corporate plutocracy? And from road rage to spitting conservatives- as anger flares, what could be the future of the partisan divide in this country?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alex Lawson from Social Security Works joins Thom, to ask if Medicare should be paying for everything.We are in the endgame of the billionaires takeover of the Republican Party and the subsequent destruction of America. As Steve Bannon said, their goal is to “deconstruct the administrative state,“ and taking down Social Security under the guise of helping the states is perhaps their biggest shot at that.For the Book Club Thom reads from "When the Tea Party Came to Town: Inside the U.S. House of Representatives' Most Combative, Dysfunctional, and Infuriating Term in Modern History" by Robert Draper.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Who has been the worst president of the United States? Has Trump's incompetence, xenophobia, and law breaking eclipsed the damage done by G.W. Bush by killing at least 15,000 Americans by invading Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing back torture, and taking away many of our civil liberties? And can compacts between the states fill the gap in leadership and responsibly re-open the country without soaring death rates? Or will Trump's bias against the blue states start to take its own toll?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can we harness people-power to defend Democracy against the naked greed and lies of Trump and the Republicans? Ezra Levin of Indivisible joins Thom to talk Progressive strategy in the time of Covid. And House Progressive Caucus leader Mark Pocan takes listener calls on questions ranging from the CARES-2 package... forgiving student loans... programs saving food from being dumped for food pantries... families with an immigrant denied the $1200 payments... Nancy Pelosi's love of ice cream and what she has already done for the common person... and Progressive legislative priorities for CARES-2-- when is it likely to be passed?Plus - remembering the human cost of the 1918 pandemic... learning from history... rolling back workplace law... and training kids to be resilient.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the Fed loans hundreds of billions of dollars to major US corporations, has the performance of the stock market largely decoupled from the American economy? Economist Richard Wolff shares his views with Thom. Would it have been better to have given the same money to the people to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars each, or will trickle-down economics work this time? Or can we find leaders who are capable of admitting to our economic failures and correcting them?Meanwhile, could it be for the sake of their financial interests that the billionaires are using their propaganda groups like so-called "Freedom Works" to push people to protest public health lockdowns? And would the Michigan police have allowed a crowd of black people with guns to storm the statehouse? (hint: no)Plus- Pinning the numbers to Trump... When did it become almost impossible to opt-out of the internet?.. How is Trump coercing the slaughterhouse workers back to the kill floor?.. What are the Swedes up to?.. Plus!- astrology, aliens, and a virus creation conspiracy...See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is rushing to reopen the states the latest Republican scam to save fat cat corporations having to pay for unemployment? But if it really isn't safe to return to your job then aren't Republicans forcing workers to choose between risking their lives and poverty? And as Trump tries to send slaughterhouse employees back into their virus-infested workplace, is meat really a necessity in the first place- or would you, the animals, and the world be better off the less we eat of it? But are Republicans willing to essentially kill to get the money flowing again?Plus Thom reads from 'Animal Kind', a book by Ingrid Newkirk.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Richard Clarke, former chief anti-terrorism advisor to the National Security Council- How Trump Wasted the Best Tool He Had to Fight the Coronavirus.Sylvia Albert of Common Cause examines what you need to know about mail in voting?This deadly virus is here, now, among us and Americans want our government to provide widespread infection and antibody testing so we can get it under control. In this, Trump continues to fail. He was able to walk away from blame for all his many business failures through bankruptcy, and now he’s bankrupting America to try to avoid blame for his incompetence killing so many of us. This time, it’s not gonna work. Or will it?For the Book Club Thom reads portions from "The Fifth Risk" by Michael Lewis, "The Hermit King: The Dangerous Game of Kim Jong Un" by Chung Min Lee, and "Let the People Pick the President: The Case for Abolishing the Electoral College" by Jesse Wegman.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

California progressive Congressman Ro Khanna joins Thom for a national town hall to examine the recent relief package. The congressman explains how to improve the stimulus to struggling citizens and resist the greedy grifters trying to line their pockets as the nation gropes through the Corona crisis. Vote by Mail in Oregon and the rest of the US, may be the only safe way to vote nationally in 2020. Does it favor one party over the other? Jefferson Smith joined Thom about vote by mail and whether it is workable for the 2020 presidential election.For the Book Club Thom reads portions from "In Hitler's Bunker: A Boy Soldier's Eyewitness Account of the Führer's Last Days" byArmin Dieter Lehmann & Tim Carroll, "Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America" by Nancy MacLean.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom reviews mental health and self care in a time when isolation and the economic crisis can be overwhelming.For the Book Club, Thom reads from his book "The Prophet's Way: A Guide to Living in the Now" and "Moving Forward: A Story of Hope, Hard Work, and the Promise of America" by Karine Jean-Pierre.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With Trump's recent idiot blunder of recommending disinfectants in the human body to treat the Covid virus, there are signs that at last his base is beginning to crumble. Do you think Trump still has a chance to win in November? And what is this going to do to the broader Republican possibilities at both the federal and state level? For the Book Club, Thom reads from his book "Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights" and "How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy, and the Racial Divide" by Crystal Marie Fleming .See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Trump's federal agents have been stealing ventilators and (PPE) personal protective equipment, from states and cities at gunpoint as they are delivered at the airport. Is his plan to steal from the blue states to give to the red ones in exchange for their political support and votes?For the Book Club, Thom reads from "Devil's Bargain," and "Health Justice Now."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Trump fires our head of vaccine development because he wouldn't get behind a Fox News hustle, are grifters exploiting our government at almost every level- including the presidency? Is a former dog breeder really the best pick to head a critical scientific effort? Meanwhile the head of the Amway scam Trump picked for education secretary is funneling billions of dollars to her buddies in private school management so they can buy private jets, just one of a parade of hustles inspired by the market-manipulator in chief; our president who is apparently willing to risk World War III to support oil futures! Will our democracy survive this?Also, Thom welcomes back economist Richard Wolff for his analysis- are we seeing the start of a deflationary spiral that will drive down wages? Will this be an opportunity for the rich to really clean up?Plus.. 'Blue State Bailouts'??... Seizing German PPE... phony grassroots groups... The growing oligarchy... could this recession last for decades?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As Trump refuses to sign a loan to the Post Office unless they quadruple their package prices ( ! ), The top officer of the American Postal Worker's Union, Mark Dimondstein, joins Thom to discuss the state of our constitutionally sanctioned parcel service. The US Post Office provides consistent, affordable delivery to ever address in America for a reasonable and uniform cost. Why are Republicans using underhanded tricks and exploiting the Covid crisis to undermine a successful, self-sustaining, independent national Post Office for the sake of for-profit package delivery corporations?And Mark Pocan, Progressive leader in the House takes caller questions on how things look from inside the beltway- even as he quarantines at home.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kevin Kamps, Radioactive Waste Watchdog of Beyond Nuclear on the impact of Covid-19 infection on nuclear regulators. Dr. Andrew Glikson Compares Climate Change To Mass ExtinctionFor the Book Club, Thom reads from "Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster" by Adam Higginbotham and "Confessions of a Rogue Nuclear Regulator" by Gregory Jaczko.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Right wing billionaires behind groups like ALEC and Freedomworks helped organize and fund tea party protests a decade ago, resulting in a healthcare program with no public option. Now they are funding hard-core right wing groups who are demanding governors stop protecting their citizens from the corona virus. Heads they win, tails you lose.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Social Security recipients with dependent children have until Wednesday noon to apply online for the $500 per child money being paid out of the CARES act. Alex Lawson of Social Security Works has the details on Trump's latest underhanded attack on our government. California Congressman Ro Khanna joins Thom for a national town hall with caller questions on the latest stimulus bill and frustrations at Trump's self-centered bumbling during our national crisis.For the Book Club, Thom reads from "Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World" by Anand Giridharadas.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Seeing Through Trump’s Lies (w/ Dr. Bandy Lee)Is Donald Trump and his lies going downhill, or uphill? Seeing through It depends on your perspective. It seems he is blaming the governors, while his mental state seems to be very questionable.Dr. Bandy Lee, Yale School of Medicine, joined Thom to discuss the current mental health of Donald Trump.For the Book Club, Thom reads portions from "Progress and Poverty In Economics: Henry George and How Growth in Real Estate Contributes to Inequality and Financial Instability" by Edward Nell, "Trump on the Couch" by Justin A. Frank, and "Becoming a Dangerous Woman" by Pat Mitchell.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Greg Palast joins Thom on his new book "How Trump Stole 2020"- detailing the latest Republican shenanigans to steal millions of Americans' right to vote. Why are Republicans really against vote by mail? Even with plenty of time to plan an alternative, will millions of us be asked to take our lives in our hands to cast our vote in November?And then Mark Gamba joins Thom- he's the mayor of Milwaulkee, Oregon who is also running in the primary as the Progressive candidate for an Oregon House seat. Could a Green New Deal be the real economic stimulus we need? How are cities coping with some of the suprising funding changes due to Covid? Plus - Who would Thom pick to be Biden's running mate?... Postcards for POTUS... Getting Progressives in the game by getting involved with the party... Trump's political mailers... and the sociopathy of the right is on full display!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Michael Savage calling right wingers like Hannity on the carpet for denying science? And speaking of that, what is up with TV preachers getting their audience infected while simultaneously asking for a $1200 donation? Why are right-wing billionaires funding the protests against stay at home orders? Why are TV doctors on Fox news advocating letting people die so that business can resume? Is all of this because billionaires fear that their taxes will be raised to pay for economic stimulus?? .. Is it case of 'Follow the money'?Plus - Why is Covid infection exploding among slaughterhouse workers?... Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton moves to block absentee ballots... Israel reports that Trump new about Covid in November... And why does anybody watch Trump's daily TV rallies?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom speculates on the legendary struggle between good and evil and how the corona-virus seems to putting an end to the right-wing billionaire scheme of trickle down exploitation.Trump aims his anger at Democratic governors who have banded together to save their people on their own. If Trump can't take credit for it, he will stop it.Believing that the state compact is an affront to his power to govern, Donald Trump is setting out to punish states that are not listening to him about reopening the country.For the Book Club, Thom reads portions from "This Land: How Cowboys, Capitalism, and Corruption are Ruining the American West" by Christopher H. Ketcham and "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.

Thom discusses using yoga and exercise to dispel Trump's omnipresence on cable television as responds to listener calls from transgender unemployment through primary election concerns.For the Book Club, Thom reads portions from his book The Hidden History of the War on Voting, also Sideswiped by Robert Ney and Take Hold of Our History by Harvey J. Kaye.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The corona virus has torn the mask off the failure of Reaganism. As we discover the depths of the giveaways to the very rich squirreled away in the CARES Act, will Americans wake up and stop yet another billionaire bailout? With the 245th anniversary of Lexington and Concord coming up, will Americans today say 'no' to the king and to a growing oligarchy?- or will many continue to fall pray to conservative propaganda behind the ignorant protests in Michigan?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. David Nabarro of the World Health Organization says that until a vaccine is developed, the corona virus will likely “stalk the human race“ for quite a while.Because Trump utterly failed in keeping the virus away from the United States and refuses to fund and implement a nationwide testing and contract tracing program, simply slowing down hundreds of thousands of coming deaths may well be all we have left.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Donald Trump Going Full Dictator? National Vote by Mail has to happen or the Republicans will steal the election and our democracy with it!Wisconsin showed us the Republican game plan for the election and our only hope is to make vote by mail national! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

People of color are dying from the corona virus at massively higher rates than the average population. Do conservatives care about the deaths of the most vulnerable- those with hypertension, obesity, blue collar jobs, poor health care, poor diets, or even people who are just old? Is a cold-hearted fantasy of 'herd immunity' behind the constant declarations that this crisis is overblown and behind the lackluster efforts on the part of Republicans to protect people? What does it mean to be historically disadvantaged as a pandemic virus sweeps the nation? If the price of rapidly toughing out this virus is the death of many vulnerable people, is that a price conservatives are willing to pay?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Representative Primila Jayapal, a leader of the Progressive Caucus, joins Thom to observe the spectacle of Trump's insane mismanagement of the carona virus. What have been and will be the legislative goals of Progressives as they struggle to protect America over the resistance of the Republican-majority Senate?Plus- Will we learn to love this clean air and want to keep it after the pandemic is over?.. And what were the lessons of the Great Depression that could inform us in the current crisis?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When even the Financial Times recognizes that Reaganism and neoliberalism has been shown to be a failure, how will we dig ourselves out of this economic crisis? Professor Richard Wolff joins Thom with his analysis. Can we trust the Federal Reserve and the rest of the government to keep the economy going- for all of us? And why did Trump fire the Inspector General?As Biden proposes to drop the Medicare eligibility age to 60 is he moving in a more Progressive direction? Thom asks if we should repeal the Bankruptcy Act of 2002 that made it impossible to discharge student debt.How many thousands of dead Americans is a fair price to pay to get partial herd immunity and put the economy back in gear? Who would benefit, and could it be that this is Trump's unspoken policy? And Thom's listeners reflect back what they're seeing happen to the economy from where they sit.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today a lively discussion of legal ways that Democratic-leaning states could possibly band together to do things like provide universal health care, create community banks, or take action on climate change. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we rapidly approach tens of thousands of dead, is there a word for the lies of Trump and Pence that have led to losing so many Americans? When we know that military intelligence knew about the virus in Wuhan as far back as last November, how can Republicans justify delaying testing and failing to prepare to protect our front line health care workers, many of whom now have the virus? Is Pence trying to strongarm CNN into carrying Trump's daily speeches? And meanwhile, things just get weird with Jerry Falwell.And Zach Corrigan of Food and Water Watch joins Thom to discuss the origin of the corona virus- and many other diseases that cause human suffering- from eating animals.And as Bernie bows out of the race, but not out of the struggle, Progressive leader in the House Mark Pocan takes on listener questions about what Progressive in Congress are fighting for, and what recent legislation really means for the common person.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has the Supreme Court made a partisan decision by not allowing Wisconsin to extent the deadline for absentee ballots?- even when many citizens haven't even received their ballot yet?; The Republican War on Voting rolls on! And with nearly all the urban polling places closed in Wisconsin's primary- but not the rural ones- is this the test run for massive voter suppression in November?And now it comes to light that Trump's family is heavily invested in the company that makes the drug that Trump keeps promoting (even though it has often fatal side effects). When will all of America wake up to the fact that we have a grifter in the White House?And Brit journalist Victoria Jones joins Thom with the latest scuttlebut on Boris Johnson's severe case of Covid. And as the Queen makes her fifth-ever speech to the nation, how is Britain responding to the pandemic?And as Trump continues to ask the Supreme Court to throw out the Affordable Care Act, will 20 million Americans lose their health care coverage after that decision a month from now?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can Fox News be sued for endangering people's lives with their entertainment product they pass of as news? Thom is joined by Washington State citizen Arthur West- his group WASHLITE - Washington League for Increased Transparency and Ethics has Fox News in court over their months-long insistence that Covid was some kind of 'Democrat Hoax', and urging people to take plane flights and otherwise endanger themselves.For the Book Club, Thom reads portions from his book "Threshold" and also Greg Sargent's "An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The good news is that kind-hearted Samaritans are thinking of ingenious ways to help senior citizens in isolation. The bad news is that when red states start being heavily impacted by Covid-19, watch for the Trump machine to start slinging blame at the Left as a scapegoat. And - Jared Kushner, America's 'blunderkind' knows better than the experts!- or not...How to swipe your credit card without exposing it...Should Biden and Bernie team up?.. Coyotes in Manhattan... How Cuba is handling lockdown... The propagandists fawning over Trump in his press room... And is Trump using this crisis to accelerate his attack on the professionals that keep the federal government running?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We now know that Trump was warned by the military early February in an unclassified briefing that as many as 150,000 Americans were likely to die- and in fact he probably knew much earlier- so why didn't he do anything? And now that thousands of Americans are dead- and counting- from what Trump called a month ago 'A Democrat Hoax', will the Fox News crowd finally realize what kind of man they are following, or will they follow him blindly into a crisis? Should Trumpsters be asked to wear their maggot hats so we can see them coming and keep at least six feet away?Plus - Trump's ridiculous response letter to Chuck Shumer... avoiding pandemic-inspired scams... with so many people losing their jobs and higher costs due to the pandemic become a death-spiral for the health insurance system?.. bailing out the rich- again... the L.A. rent strike... qAnon carona virus truthers... And the mooseherder checks in with his 'Republicans for Biden' plan... See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Economics professor, Dr. Richard Wolff joins Thom to discuss why the Coronavirus Crash could be worse than the Great Depression.A normal person as president would anguish over telling his nation that a quarter million people were going to have to die because he listened to Fox News hosts and spent two months holding rallies and playing golf when he could have been ordering test kits, ventilators and personal protective equipment.The election, and a new president, cannot come fast enough.For the Book Club, Thom reads from Richard Wolff's "Understanding Socialism."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom welcomes Amit Narang, Regulatory Policy Advocate with Public Citizen on Trump's accelerating destruction of environmental law and the EPA, including the rollback of fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks. Is Trump cynically using the pandemic as cover to gift his corporate buddies everything they ever wanted?And, unlike every other developed country which are supporting their citizens with monthly checks, Trump and the Republicans have said they will not be paying out anything beyond the $1200 check. How far will that $1200 go for the average person?Mark Pocan, Progressive leader in the House of Representatives, joins Thom to answer caller questions on the implications of the stimulus passed in the CARE act, and what more Progressive Democrats are hoping to achieve to help people in need in the coming days- and what the Republican majority Senate will likely refuse to pass.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Thom convenes his 'support group for WE THE PEOPLE'- and asks his listeners what they are grieving the loss of in this time of crisis?... And what positive steps can we take to stay strong?Meanwhile, does Trump have blood on his hands for his long irresponsible dithering? A major Freedom of Information act release shows White House Officials knew about this crisis for months during which Trump still pretended publicly that 'this is just the common cold'. As deaths in red states begin to mount, will Republicans pivot to blaming the lack of preparation on the impeachment?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why did George Washington's contracting smallpox in his youth make him more employable? Are American corporate policies creating a workforce of corona virus survivors?And Alex Lawson of Social Security Works joins Thom to raise the alarm of a dirty trick Republicans slipped into the latest stimulus bill they might use to undermine Social Security later on.Plus- what happened to the $3000 ventilators the government paid to develop in 2007? Why can't America match the level of economic support Europe and Canada is giving to its workers? And did Trump give away the game on Fox News when he said about the efforts to require vote by mail "if you’d ever agreed to it, you’d never have a Republican elected in this country again,”? Why were briefings to Congress early in the year telling them to expect the coming pandemic given the highest level of national security, making it a crime for Congress to warn the people? What is the connection to the pre-crash stock sell-offs by some of our representatives? And why did Trump ship tons of protective gear and ventilators to China on the 7th of February, when Trump was still telling Americans the disease was 'a Democrat hoax'?And, will Republican states claim they can't certify the November election so that the a Republican will win based on an alternate process in the 12th amendment to the constitution?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a virus- which he not so long ago called 'a democrat hoax'- stills the business of mankind across the planet, has Trump moved his insane and lying ego-boosting rhetoric from his rallies to his press conferences? As sycophantic Republican governors are slow to take safety orders, is Trump favoring red states with federal support? And can we all possibly come to admit the madness of neo-liberalism in the face of its absolute failure in the United States to respond to this crisis? Thom's brilliant callers digest the historic implications of the pandemic- and the threat to American democracy it may represent. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Trump such a sociopath that he's willing to let people die in states he doesn't like? Trump told Hannity he 'has a feeling' we won't need that many ventilators even as infection numbers arc sharply upward and thousands of Americans are already dead. The first American teen to die from Covid suffered a related heart attack after being turned away from treatment because he didn't have health insurance. How is this possible in the richest country in the world? And what kind of man is leading this obscene parade?And Peter Maybarduk- the director of Global Citizen's 'Global Access to Medicine' group- joins Thom live. What is the status of the medical supply chains around the world as countries close their borders- and how will that affect the deployment of treatments for the pandemic? Did Gilead sciences try to game the system to price gouge the world for a possible treatment they have? Should we be reviving American pharmaceutical manufacturing like what we used to have in Puerto Rico? And how could the Defence Production Act be applied to cranking out a possible treatment?Plus Thom's callers digest the issues ranging from the pandemic to Joe Biden to the gold standard to Latvian fake news to the reality or unreality of the stock market.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we pass 1000 Americans dead from the pandemic, why is Donald Trump choosing now to prioritize plans to cut many of our basic environmental protections on behalf of his corporate buddies? Did Jared Kushner put a monkey wrench in negotiations to retool a GM plant to make ventilators?- is this what happens when a family of grifters takes over the White House? And with Mississippi's governor reversing all the local shelter-in-place orders and re-opening that state, are Republicans making the same sort of 'mistake' that GW Bush did when he ignored clear warnings about Osama Bin Laden? As Britain's National Health Service begins to be inundated with a tsunami of Covid cases, and with the nation under lockdown enforced by threat of arrest, correspondent Victoria Jones gives Thom an idea of what life- and politics- are like in the UK right now. And Thom reads from "Dark Towers: Deutsche Bank, Donald Trump, and an Epic Trail of Destruction" by David Enrich.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.